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Closing the Gap 9.5.18

By September 5, 2018Daily Devotional

Week 35 “Labor in the Lord” Day 3

Pray:

Ask God to reorient you to Himself. Confess any known sin. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus and His sacrifice for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s Word. Pray for others in your life that they, too, would know and love God today.

Read:

Col. 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reflect:

“Whatever you do, word or action” is absolutely comprehensive.  But is it a realistic expectation? Realistic or not, it is the command, the objective, the target for our lives.  On the one hand it may be an unreasonable goal, but on the other hand it is the only reasonable thing for a believer to aim for.  How can it not be? You were purchased at the price of the Cross and so you belong to Christ. “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:20).  Since you belong to Christ you are to honor him with your body. Body? What about mind, Spirit, and heart? This is practical and actionable. Your body is where your “soul” interacts with the world.  Your hands do things, your feet take you places, your eyes absorb photons that form images that shape you, and your ears do the same with sound waves. Your lips form words in collaboration with your vocal chords.  Your body is like a little “planet” where everything is to give glory to the God who has made it. The rest of the physical world cannot help but praise God. Animals, oceans, rocks, and stars do not and cannot rebel against his glory, they can only manifest it.  Humans alone in the physical creation have the capacity to rebel against their design purpose. But you, if you are believer, have been purchased for Christ. Now then, whatever you do, every action and every word, do it all in the great family name of Jesus. You are his son, you are his daughter…reflect him and show the family resemblance. No part of your life is to be empty of purpose and meaning.  All that you give your life to doing – whether at home, at work or at play – do it as one who has been purchased and redeemed. Not purchased into slavery, but purchased from it. And the cost was not silver and gold. It was blood. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19).  Whatever you do, do it for his glory.

Pray:

(Personalize this prayer today; make it specific to the circumstances that face you.)

Ask God to lead you through His Spirit as you go through your day. Ask Him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell Him “Yes” to His will and ask Him for His power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask God to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today.

 

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