Day 11
Bible Texts:
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Jesus says we are to be humble. Humble, first of all, before God. That is the way Jesus began His ministry. He began by teaching humility. Take a look in the Gospels, the first thing that Jesus preaches is this, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus says, “Repent. Turn back to God. Be humble before God.” He is not being mean, nor is He simply beating an old drum. He is speaking divine truth. All people are called to return to Him, to come back to God, to be humble before God. But also to be humble before one another, to understand that none of us can stand before a holy God and brag about what we have accomplished. Instead all of us are invited to yield our lives to Him and receive what He has to offer to us.
He calls us into a relationship with Himself. Isn’t that precious that the Living God considers you and me so important that He wants to spend time with us? Do you realize what an honor that is that God desires to be in that kind of relationship with you and with me? That’s what Jesus offers and that’s what He is calling us to. That kind of life is no longer self-centered. It’s God centered. It is a good way to live, to realize that God is in the details of my life, that God is more than just the one I’m going to meet at the end of days. God is the one who is with me in every moment of my life, and He is the One who has loved me so much that He was willing to offer up His only Son as the payment for my rebellion so that I might receive the daily joy of living in a relationship with Him and getting to know Him better.
What God desires is people who live in a relationship with Him and who are used by Him to impact others and to change the world. He calls us to “let our light so shine,” as He puts it, that others may see our behavior and our actions and give glory to God. That kind of behavior is not stuck up religion, that kind of behavior is gracious, Christ-centered living. That kind of behavior leaves a lasting legacy.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you work diligently at leaving a lasting legacy, one that reflects gracious, Christ-centered living. Pray for a renewed relationship with Jesus and share your desire with Him to continue to grow in knowing Him better. Pray for family members, friends, neighbors and others that they might also experience a renewed relationship with Jesus. Ask Him to make you a shining Light that others may come to know Him also. Pray for a renewed yearning in America to return to God, that America would once again become a Shining Light for Jesus, and a Beacon in the darkness.
By Pastor Chris Dodge
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Jesus says we are to be humble. Humble, first of all, before God. That is the way Jesus began His ministry. He began by teaching humility. Take a look in the Gospels, the first thing that Jesus preaches is this, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus says, “Repent. Turn back to God. Be humble before God.” He is not being mean, nor is He simply beating an old drum. He is speaking divine truth. All people are called to return to Him, to come back to God, to be humble before God. But also to be humble before one another, to understand that none of us can stand before a holy God and brag about what we have accomplished. Instead all of us are invited to yield our lives to Him and receive what He has to offer to us.
He calls us into a relationship with Himself. Isn’t that precious that the Living God considers you and me so important that He wants to spend time with us? Do you realize what an honor that is that God desires to be in that kind of relationship with you and with me? That’s what Jesus offers and that’s what He is calling us to. That kind of life is no longer self-centered. It’s God centered. It is a good way to live, to realize that God is in the details of my life, that God is more than just the one I’m going to meet at the end of days. God is the one who is with me in every moment of my life, and He is the One who has loved me so much that He was willing to offer up His only Son as the payment for my rebellion so that I might receive the daily joy of living in a relationship with Him and getting to know Him better.
What God desires is people who live in a relationship with Him and who are used by Him to impact others and to change the world. He calls us to “let our light so shine,” as He puts it, that others may see our behavior and our actions and give glory to God. That kind of behavior is not stuck up religion, that kind of behavior is gracious, Christ-centered living. That kind of behavior leaves a lasting legacy.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you work diligently at leaving a lasting legacy, one that reflects gracious, Christ-centered living. Pray for a renewed relationship with Jesus and share your desire with Him to continue to grow in knowing Him better. Pray for family members, friends, neighbors and others that they might also experience a renewed relationship with Jesus. Ask Him to make you a shining Light that others may come to know Him also. Pray for a renewed yearning in America to return to God, that America would once again become a Shining Light for Jesus, and a Beacon in the darkness.
By Pastor Chris Dodge
1 Comment
Amen.