Wednesday Reading: Revelation 3:15-20
Key Verse: Revelation 3:17
17 Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
Devotion:
How do you take criticism? Most of us do not like being criticised in many ways but will accept criticism where we think it is valid. But imagine getting loaded with this sort of criticism listed in these verses... So many of us take it for granted that we are Christians because we do go to church and we do do some of the right things. That is not what God wants from us. He does not want a whole bunch of “middle of the road” people because that just doesn’t help anyone. You can look at a really bad person and realise that there must be good because not everyone is like that. You can look at a really good person and think that you would like to be more like them... but you just go along with the others because they are close to your comfort zone.
We don’t all have to be the most zealous people who spend all day reading our bibles and all day praying; how would we ever get to reach out to other people with God’s word. But equally, how will we reach out unless we do allow other people to see a difference in us? In order to show that you are a Christian, you have to be different. You have to stand out from the crowd. You have to be willing to do a little bit more than people expect so that they will notice a difference. There are many people in life who do do a little bit more and they are noticed, be it for good or bad reasons; that is what we have to do – be adventurous and walk a bit further down God’s road each day so that we will be strengthened and encouraged. You will not only see a difference in your life, others will see a difference too and they may just get to hear about God because of that difference they see in you. God wants us to be different, to stand out in the crowd, to give Him the glory.
Points to Ponder:
Are you different?
Are you standing up for Jesus?
