Friday, April 14, 2023

Friday, April 14, 2023
Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

“I Am” was the name the Lord gave Himself when asked by Moses, and I can’t think of a name more fitting. All things came from God, all things exist through God, and all things belong to God. You can’t separate even one particle of creation from the Creator, and not one moment of time either. We serve a truly amazing God, who made a universe full of good, meant for good, and destined for good. And yet, even though it’s been plagued by sin and ruined by people, the Lord had a rescue plan, and His name was Christ. To God be the glory forever and ever, from whom, through whom, and to whom are all things.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Thursday, April 13, 2023
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Chances are you either struggle with self-esteem, or you have too much of it. Nobody is perfect, and certainly nobody is without faults, shortcomings, and sin. 1 John tells us that “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” But therein lies the beauty of God’s grace: that even while you were a sinner, Jesus died for you, and even though you have weaknesses, He uses them for His glory. His strength and never-ending love are most obvious when they’re present in a broken life, taking who some would call a lost cause, and using them to do great things.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Ten years ago you weren’t the person you are today, and the same will be true ten years from now. People change, and if you let hard times get the better of you, they can change you for the worse. But God is always working on His creations, and He can use both good and bad experiences to shape you into someone better than the you of yesterday. Be aware of the ways the Lord may want to mold you and be willing to let Him make you more like Christ, even if it hurts. We all have a part to play in God’s grand story, and each character looks different, but no matter how we differ from each other, you should always look more and more like Him.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

When Christ entered your heart, the trajectory of your life was forever changed. No life is lived in vain when God is involved, and no moment passes by that He can’t give purpose. As humans, sinful and finite, we can’t accomplish much of anything meaningful in our short lives. But with God at the helm, your story becomes part of God’s story, and can be used to accomplish eternal things. Listen to His calling, go where He leads you, and serve Him with everything you have. All things work together for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose, no matter how big or how small they may seem to us.

Monday, April 10, 2023

Monday, April 10, 2023
Romans 15:17-18
Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—

God deserves all the glory, honor, and praise there is. The very breath in your lungs belongs to Him, and so does your life. The things you accomplish for Him, you accomplish with His help. The road you walk in life, you walk holding His hand. Paul was determined never to boast about himself, because He knew that despite all the amazing things that he had done, the Lord deserved all the credit. It’s only by His will and His mercy that any of us can accomplish anything in His name, and so, we give God all the glory for the great things He has done, and will continue to do through His people!

Friday, April 7, 2023

Friday, April 7, 2023
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

For most of history, the Jewish people were God’s chosen race. But when Jesus died, the veil was torn, and His love and forgiveness became a gift for both the Jew and the Gentile. Now the body of Christ, of which you are a part, is the chosen people and holy nation. You’ve recognized your need for a Savior, realized the sacrifice God made to wipe your sins away, and accepted that gift, becoming a part of the Lord’s family. He called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light, so that, the scripture says, you may proclaim His excellence. This wonderful gift isn’t meant to be hidden inside you like a candle under a bowl; it is to be shared with the lost and dying world that the Son of God bled for.