Wednesday Reading: Matthew 11 7-15
Key Verse: Matthew 11 11
11 Truly I say to you, Among those who have been born of women there has not risen a greater one than John the Baptist. But the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
Devotion:
One of the most important things that we have to remember as we grow up in this greedy world is not to be caught up in the greed that surrounds us. It is far too easy to go with the flow and accept or take what others around you are taking, doing or even saying. It is far too easy to let go of what you have in Christ and grab hold of all those things around you that seem nice at the time. You may well stand up and say that you still have a firm hold of Christ and you are not grabbing hold of the world, but think again for a minute...
Christ gave John the Baptist as an example of someone who had literally left the things of the world behind so that he could grab hold of his heavenly quest. He let go of the smart clothes and fine foods and fine living and placed his life squarely in God’s hands. Even then, after showing himself to be such a loyal servant of God’s, Christ said that he was not even as good as the lowest of the low in heaven. What a gap there is between us and heaven! The only way we can span that gap is by believing in Christ so that He alone can span that gap for us – there is no way we can do that ourselves.
You may also get upset by those people around you that want to know Christ; the people that you think have no right to meet Christ because of the life that they are living. They seem to come along and take Christ by force because of the massive difference between their lives and a heavenly life. But we are not the judges because Christ went to that cross for everyone, not just the good people! Not everyone that followed Christ around was looking for a heavenly life... some were there to trap Him and others to kill Him. We have to be very aware that we walk in that crowd and that there may be those close to us who will trip us up before we know what has happened. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on Christ and not on the world that surrounds you!
Points to Ponder:
Do you think some do not deserve Christ?
Are you sure you see the right people?
Key Verse: Matthew 11 11
11 Truly I say to you, Among those who have been born of women there has not risen a greater one than John the Baptist. But the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
Devotion:
One of the most important things that we have to remember as we grow up in this greedy world is not to be caught up in the greed that surrounds us. It is far too easy to go with the flow and accept or take what others around you are taking, doing or even saying. It is far too easy to let go of what you have in Christ and grab hold of all those things around you that seem nice at the time. You may well stand up and say that you still have a firm hold of Christ and you are not grabbing hold of the world, but think again for a minute...
Christ gave John the Baptist as an example of someone who had literally left the things of the world behind so that he could grab hold of his heavenly quest. He let go of the smart clothes and fine foods and fine living and placed his life squarely in God’s hands. Even then, after showing himself to be such a loyal servant of God’s, Christ said that he was not even as good as the lowest of the low in heaven. What a gap there is between us and heaven! The only way we can span that gap is by believing in Christ so that He alone can span that gap for us – there is no way we can do that ourselves.
You may also get upset by those people around you that want to know Christ; the people that you think have no right to meet Christ because of the life that they are living. They seem to come along and take Christ by force because of the massive difference between their lives and a heavenly life. But we are not the judges because Christ went to that cross for everyone, not just the good people! Not everyone that followed Christ around was looking for a heavenly life... some were there to trap Him and others to kill Him. We have to be very aware that we walk in that crowd and that there may be those close to us who will trip us up before we know what has happened. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on Christ and not on the world that surrounds you!
Points to Ponder:
Do you think some do not deserve Christ?
Are you sure you see the right people?