The 3/28 daily verse is Gal 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (NIV)
We all know people who are different than us. They may be of another nationality, a different race, a different sex, or a different mindset than us. God says he sees that person as no better or worse than you or me; but the same, if we are in Christ Jesus (if we put our faith in him). Jesus has taken away all the contrasts, from A to Z, for those of us that believe he is the Messiah and trust him as our Savior.
I wouldn't say God has no favorites. I'd say we're all favorites, because we're all one in Christ Jesus. No matter who we are, or what we've done, we can all be encouraged that Jesus came to save us ALL. He makes no distinctions between us and wants each of us to know and trust him. That's really good news...for everyone!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Stay in your lane
The 3/27 daily verse is from John 3:27, "John replied, 'God in heaven appoints each person's work.'"
In this verse, John the Baptist is responding to some of his disciples who have come to him with concerns over, what seems like, a bit of confusion and maybe some pride. They wanted to know what the deal was with Jesus, the one John had told them was the Messiah. Jesus had come on the baptising scene and many people were now going to him to be baptised, instead of coming to John.
You gotta love John, though; this dude who wasn't out to impress anyone. Anyone who wears a camel-haired tunic and has a diet of locusts and honey, doesn't seem as if he cares what anyone really thinks of him. He was just there to do the job God had set before him...to prepare the way for Jesus...and he knew how to stay in his lane. He was quick to allay any fears that this new guy was knocking them out of a job. He wanted them to know that Jesus was, in fact, the very reason for their efforts.
Previously, in scripture, it states that John was there to tell everyone about Jesus, the light of the world, who was to come. It says that John was not the light, but the witness to the light. And he was okay with that. John knew who he was and the work that God had appointed him to do. More importantly, he knew who Jesus was. He recognised him when he came and pointed others to him.
Can you imagine a job more important than preparing the way and telling others about the Messiah to come? I can't think of many. Yet, this unassuming bug-eating desert dude was completely on task, without one iota of pride over the role that God had given him. He knew that his work was to point only to Jesus. Can I say the same? I would hope so, but I also know that I can take some pointers from John.
I am reminded that Jesus is the focus for whatever I do in ministry or in life. If I fulfill the calling to which God has appointed me, there's no need to worry about what someone else is doing. Recognition isn't necessary, because, like John, I'm only here to point to the One who is the Light of the World. Will there be times when I have to swallow my pride or even eat some humble pie. Absolutely, but that's allright...at least bugs aren't on the menu.
In this verse, John the Baptist is responding to some of his disciples who have come to him with concerns over, what seems like, a bit of confusion and maybe some pride. They wanted to know what the deal was with Jesus, the one John had told them was the Messiah. Jesus had come on the baptising scene and many people were now going to him to be baptised, instead of coming to John.
You gotta love John, though; this dude who wasn't out to impress anyone. Anyone who wears a camel-haired tunic and has a diet of locusts and honey, doesn't seem as if he cares what anyone really thinks of him. He was just there to do the job God had set before him...to prepare the way for Jesus...and he knew how to stay in his lane. He was quick to allay any fears that this new guy was knocking them out of a job. He wanted them to know that Jesus was, in fact, the very reason for their efforts.
Previously, in scripture, it states that John was there to tell everyone about Jesus, the light of the world, who was to come. It says that John was not the light, but the witness to the light. And he was okay with that. John knew who he was and the work that God had appointed him to do. More importantly, he knew who Jesus was. He recognised him when he came and pointed others to him.
Can you imagine a job more important than preparing the way and telling others about the Messiah to come? I can't think of many. Yet, this unassuming bug-eating desert dude was completely on task, without one iota of pride over the role that God had given him. He knew that his work was to point only to Jesus. Can I say the same? I would hope so, but I also know that I can take some pointers from John.
I am reminded that Jesus is the focus for whatever I do in ministry or in life. If I fulfill the calling to which God has appointed me, there's no need to worry about what someone else is doing. Recognition isn't necessary, because, like John, I'm only here to point to the One who is the Light of the World. Will there be times when I have to swallow my pride or even eat some humble pie. Absolutely, but that's allright...at least bugs aren't on the menu.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The Caveat
The 3/26 verse of the day is Galatians 3:26, "So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (NLT)
I've heard people say that we're all God's children. I can see how one would say this, in that he is the Almighty God who created everything and everyone. But I have to wonder how we can reconcile that to the verse above. In my limited understanding, I detect a caveat in this verse.
A caveat can be described as a cautionary detail to be considered when interpreting something. I interpret this verse to say that we are all children of God THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST JESUS. I don't know about you, but this tells me that faith in Jesus is necessary to be a child of God. I believe this requires action on our part. We don't just get to be children of God. Whether this means children here on earth or, ultimately, in heaven, I'm not completely sure, but if I'm reading it at face value, I have to believe that these words are pretty simple to understand. I don't want to have to wait to see what they mean; I don't want to take my chances; I want to cover my bases and put my faith in Jesus, thereby knowing that I am, indeed, a child of God forever.
Still not convinced. Let's do a further word study. The word "through" means "by way of" and the word "faith" means "belief and trust in". Even if you are the most educated person or renowned bible scholar in the world, I can't see how you could unpack this scripture to mean anything different than just what it says. I thank God for simplicity. I think he knew I'd need that!
I hope you're a child of God. You certainly can be - by putting your faith in Jesus. That's an important detail I'm thankful I considered and acted upon. I'm especially grateful to be a child of God. Thank you, Jesus.
I've heard people say that we're all God's children. I can see how one would say this, in that he is the Almighty God who created everything and everyone. But I have to wonder how we can reconcile that to the verse above. In my limited understanding, I detect a caveat in this verse.
A caveat can be described as a cautionary detail to be considered when interpreting something. I interpret this verse to say that we are all children of God THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST JESUS. I don't know about you, but this tells me that faith in Jesus is necessary to be a child of God. I believe this requires action on our part. We don't just get to be children of God. Whether this means children here on earth or, ultimately, in heaven, I'm not completely sure, but if I'm reading it at face value, I have to believe that these words are pretty simple to understand. I don't want to have to wait to see what they mean; I don't want to take my chances; I want to cover my bases and put my faith in Jesus, thereby knowing that I am, indeed, a child of God forever.
Still not convinced. Let's do a further word study. The word "through" means "by way of" and the word "faith" means "belief and trust in". Even if you are the most educated person or renowned bible scholar in the world, I can't see how you could unpack this scripture to mean anything different than just what it says. I thank God for simplicity. I think he knew I'd need that!
I hope you're a child of God. You certainly can be - by putting your faith in Jesus. That's an important detail I'm thankful I considered and acted upon. I'm especially grateful to be a child of God. Thank you, Jesus.
Friday, March 25, 2011
My Divine Intervention
The 3/25 verse of the day is Dan 3:25, "Look! Nebuchadnezzar shouted. I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!"
The above scripture displays God's mighty power, protection and deliverance. King Nebuchadnezzar had bound up and thrown Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, into a blazing furnace seven times hotter than usual, after they refused to worship his false gods and gold idol. It seemed imminent that these three were destined to feel the heat.
But the king soon noticed that there were not three men in the fire, but four! And even he had sense enough to deduce that the fourth one had not been in there when the doors had closed and that the glow he radiated was not exactly from the flames. Nebuchadnezzar called this fourth man a divine being. For all his bone-headed moves, he finally got something right! Not only was there a fourth man in the fire, but he had untied the other three and they were walking around in the fire, unharmed. Yes, I'd call that Divine intervention!
Many of us have gone through fires of our own. Some of you may even be feeling the heat of a furnace now. It may seem like the flames are going to consume you, that you won't make it out. But don't give up. You are not alone in the fire. You can even walk around in victory with his divine help.
Can you relate to coming out of a fire with God's divine help? I certainly can. The flames tried to burn me, but I looked around and he was with me...a radiant, glorious light; my Divine intervention.
The above scripture displays God's mighty power, protection and deliverance. King Nebuchadnezzar had bound up and thrown Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, into a blazing furnace seven times hotter than usual, after they refused to worship his false gods and gold idol. It seemed imminent that these three were destined to feel the heat.
But the king soon noticed that there were not three men in the fire, but four! And even he had sense enough to deduce that the fourth one had not been in there when the doors had closed and that the glow he radiated was not exactly from the flames. Nebuchadnezzar called this fourth man a divine being. For all his bone-headed moves, he finally got something right! Not only was there a fourth man in the fire, but he had untied the other three and they were walking around in the fire, unharmed. Yes, I'd call that Divine intervention!
Many of us have gone through fires of our own. Some of you may even be feeling the heat of a furnace now. It may seem like the flames are going to consume you, that you won't make it out. But don't give up. You are not alone in the fire. You can even walk around in victory with his divine help.
Can you relate to coming out of a fire with God's divine help? I certainly can. The flames tried to burn me, but I looked around and he was with me...a radiant, glorious light; my Divine intervention.
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