Wednesday Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:12-14
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:14
14 even as you have recognized us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:14
14 even as you have recognized us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Devotion:
As God’s creation, we are in front of Him every day of our lives. He is constantly watching over us whether we like it or not – but not as a spy but as a parent lovingly watches over us when we are at play. As a Christian we are bound to follow God’s commandments as well as we can and it is through that that other people are going to observe us. Our parents will often turn a “blind eye” to some of the things that we do because of their love for us. God, on the other hand cannot ignore sin because of the price that Christ has already paid for our sins. It is therefore urgent that we do continue to confess those sins so that we demonstrate our genuine affection for Him.
As God’s creation, we are in front of Him every day of our lives. He is constantly watching over us whether we like it or not – but not as a spy but as a parent lovingly watches over us when we are at play. As a Christian we are bound to follow God’s commandments as well as we can and it is through that that other people are going to observe us. Our parents will often turn a “blind eye” to some of the things that we do because of their love for us. God, on the other hand cannot ignore sin because of the price that Christ has already paid for our sins. It is therefore urgent that we do continue to confess those sins so that we demonstrate our genuine affection for Him.
It is our simple relationship with Him that allows us to live the lives that we do because it is in that relationship that He is able to continue to guide and encourage us. It is in that relationship that others will see us and be encouraged to find out more. Our best witness to others is not the words that we can come up with but the way that we conduct ourselves in our relationship with Christ. We ca continue to try and persuade people as best we can about how they are sinners or how much God loves them, but unless we are living in an active relationship with Him, how are others supposed to get the picture? There is, after all, nothing that we can add to the gospel that Christ would have us to say to others…
It is amazing to see how much a person will change when they are put in a position of power. The few that do turn out to use the power they are given for all the right reasons do get remembered, but not half as much as those that continue to change their minds and abuse their positions of power. It is the people that break the rules that are remembered – not for the good they do, but for the bad things they bring upon others. You don’t have to look too far through the history of presidents and prime ministers of almost any country to see the people that have caved in to their own lusts and greed. We need to recognise that we do have an awesome responsibility to uphold our relationship in God, not just for ourselves, but for others too.
Points to Ponder:
How do you react when you are given things?
How do you react to all the things God gives you?
How do you react when you are given things?
How do you react to all the things God gives you?