Thursday Reading: Romans 1:1-7
Key Verse: Romans 1:6
6 among whom you also are the called-out ones of Jesus Christ:
Devotion:
After reading the first three verses yesterday, did you continue on with the next few verses? Paul had given account of his own calling to be a preacher and an apostle and now he continues to exult Jesus Christ before turning to the people who would be reading this letter. Just to make sure they knew how important their own calling was (no matter how small) he reminded them of who Jesus Christ was. Besides being the Very Son of God, He is the one who did all those miracles not because He could but because it would glorify God. He was the one who laid down His own life so that we would be able to receive His grace and be called to do His work.
So does that mean He only called out the disciples, apostles, preachers and prophets? No, far from it. He called each one of us who is willing to listen to the gospel. He called each one of us to take a step forward and to say “Yes Lord, I will do your will”. He called each one of us to come forward and just say that we are willing to do something for Him. It does not mean that we will all be preachers but rather that we are willing to allow God to use us in the best possible way for His glory. Christ called out people as He walked the earth. He called forward men and women who were willing to be examples by which we can learn more about Him. They were not all preachers but they certainly are recorded in the bible so that we can learn about Christ!
Maybe all He wants you to do is to step back from your earthly ways and to walk closer with Him. Maybe He just wants you to show other people that you are willing to change your life so that you can be closer to Him. Even these steps, though they be small, will lift up His name to glory. It’s not all about shoving God’s Word down people’s throats but about getting them to know the real Jesus Christ so that they will be more willing to listen to His Word instead of turning it aside just because it is His Word.
Points to Ponder:
Do you make friends easily?
Are you showing others you are a friend of God?
