Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- October 22, 2012
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
God makes things beautiful, so in turn they can make beautiful things. For instance, an artist who has tasted the grace of God is able to take a blank canvas and create a complex and attractive expression of Christ’s love. A writer can take a blank sheet of paper and describe, in desirable detail, what it looks like to worship the Lord, despise sin and serve people. Architects make plans, builders make houses, homeowners make warm homes and chefs make meals. Senators make laws, technicians make systems, leaders make decisions and gardeners make gardens.
What are you making for your Maker? Perhaps you have made loved ones who love the Lord and people, a legacy of wise living, eternal financial investments and relationships built on respect and unselfish service. You are God’s wonderful workmanship created in Christ for good works. Yes, He molds you with messy circumstances, painful processes and daily discipline. Your spiritual formation in Christ is not always easy, but it is fulfilling. Indeed, Jesus doesn’t make any junk.
“When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.” Isaiah 29:23
The Lord has prepared beforehand what needs to constitute the work of our hands. The world tempts us to spend abnormal amounts of time in time bound busyness. However, our heavenly Host frees us to focus on faith and timeless significance. Christ’s desire is that we integrate our being with our doing. He wants us to assimilate what we learn at church with what we do at work and home. We are joint-heirs with Christ to advance His Kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.
Furthermore, the last words of Christ to us, His disciples, were to make disciples. This is the end game for our Lord. Are you in the disciple-making business? Do you pour into others—so out of their overflow—they pour into others? Yes, disciples are made not born. You learn Scripture, so that you can share Scripture with other students of the Word. Disciple making invites the power and presence of Christ. Thus, ask God who you can invest your time in to help make them a mature disciple of Jesus. Model for them how their Maker wants to make them a disciple maker!
“Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 The Message
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for those who invested in me, so I can invest in others.
Related Readings: Isaiah 49:6; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:14
Post/Tweet: Disciple making invites the power and presence of Christ. www.wisdomhunters.com/2012/10/made-to-make/ #Discipleship
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“He molds you with messy circumstances, painful processes and daily discipline. Your spiritual formation in Christ is not always easy, but it is fulfilling.”
(fulfilling?-hhhhmmmm)
Unfortunately, over the years, I have learned that this is not God’s doing. The painful part of it is knowing that it isn’t God.
Some have taken their God-given authority to rule animals and things in the earth too seriously. (Enough said here.)
But I claim God’s peace in the midst of the “man-made storm”.
My responsibility is to continue to pray, to walk in (agape) love, to lean on, to depend on, and to trust that God will answer my prayers and be my shelter. I choose to trust that their are still some excellent, God-fearing, loving, forgiving, kind, honest people here on earth. I CHOOSE TO LOVE INSPITE OF THE MEN-MADE MESS!!!! And I thank God for this outlet!!! He is sooooo merciful!!!! Praise God!
I love forwarding this devotional via tweet. The best way to get back at Satan is with the word. When I first began to tweet I was sent a porn tweet. I am determined that if those people are so determined, we should be equally if not more so to spread the word of God to those who may never attend a church, open a Bible or hear a sermon. Thank you for another opportunity to spread the words of Jesus Christ, giving to others what my parents gave to me.