Category: Obedience

One Who Reflects Christ

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Facial Expression, Fruit of the Spirit, Love, Love God, Love your Neighbor, Obedience, TruthfulLeave a comment

A Quality of a Mature, Reproducing Disciple of Jesus Christ

 

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Eph. 4:15, 2 Cor. 3:18, Gal. 5:22–23, Matt. 22:37–39

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

  1. Truthful – Ephesians 4:15 ~ Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head
  2. Facial Expression – 2 Corinthians 3:18 ~ So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord’s Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord.
  3. Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23 ~
    But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
  4. Love God and Neighbors – Matthew 22:37-39 ~ And He replied to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

APPLICATION (How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

  1. Truthful – Our love for, and respect of, the One that we serve, Jesus, should force us to be like, and do just like, Jesus. He always told the truth and so should we. Then according to this verse, we will be more complete in growing to be more like Jesus, our Savior and soon coming King.
  2. Facial Expression – I believe that if my mind is centered on the glorious Savior that I love and adore and who blesses me so immensely every day, then my heart will be overjoyed and my face will surely express that joy that I feel. As a child I sang a chorus ‘I have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart’, and having that kind of joy in my heart should always reflect in my facial expression. It is almost impossible to have the ‘joy, joy, joy, joy’ in my heart, but yet a sour/unhappy expression on my face. This verse says that having this type of joy to where it is expressed on our faces, makes us more like our glorious Lord!
  3. Fruit of the Spirit – I love how the writer says that there is no law against any of these fruit being expressed in and through us, and what is amazing is that even today there is still no law against reflecting these character qualities. These are qualities of Jesus our Savior. These are fruit of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us when we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. If we struggle with any of these, I believe that we need to go back to the cross and make sure that everything is right in that decision that we thought we first made, because I don’t believe that the Holy Spirit will mess up in not reflecting the ‘fruit’ qualities.
  4. Love God and Neighbors – I love the way that the Amplified Bible emphasizes that our love for God is the first, the great, most important and principal commandment! Wow, that really sums it up on where our allegiance belongs! Of course, additional emphasis is on loving God with everything we have within us – heart, soul and mind. But the later part of this Scripture goes even deeper, because it says that we should similarly love our neighbor (those that we come into contact with daily – those that we should be neighborly to). I believe that this is a lot more challenging, because these ‘neighbors’ sometimes lie, backbite, or even try to harm us, yet God says in His Word that we must love them with all of our heart, soul and mind, in the same way that we love Him and strive to be a reflection of Him.

PRAYER (With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

All of the above are very tall orders dear God, and I acknowledge today that I can only accomplish these with Your love, strength and guidance. I want to reflect You though my every word and action. Please be my constant guide and director each and every day. Please give me strength and determination to reflect You in every circumstance. Lord, may my life be fallow ground in which Your Holy Spirit will find freedom to reflect all the Fruit of the Spirit, so that You may receive honor and glory.

Work ‘Til Jesus Comes

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Disciple, Obedience, Reaching the Lost, Share God’s Word, Work Til Jesus ComesLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Acts 1

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

Acts 1:20-21 ~ …It also says, “Let someone else have his job.” So we need someone else to help us tell others that Jesus has been raised from death.

APPLICATION (How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

In these verses Peter is quoting something from the book of Psalms, in reference to the job left vacant by Judas after he died. Today I will be attending the visitation of a saint who recently died. She and her husband have been active workers in the church ever since I could remember attending the local church. The question becomes, who will take her place? It is so easy for us to sit back and watch the work being done. It is so easy for us to quickly find excuses why we shouldn’t be busy about God’s work, and why we believe that God was not speaking to us when He said that “Now is the day of salvation” and that we should do all we can to spread the gospel and the love of Jesus. Am I doing all that I can in the work of the local church? Is there something else that God would have me do for His glory and edification?

PRAYER (With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

I pray that God will raise up new workers for the local church and a new level of commitment. I pray that God will direct me to the work that He can most effectively achieve His purpose through what I might do. I pray for guidance not to accept ‘Positions’ just for the sake of seeing positions filled, but knowing that God will achieve His purpose through anything that I might commit to. I pray for those who have sat on the sidelines and watched others work diligently for the kingdom, that they will rise up and commit to the Master to work diligently until the day He calls them home. I pray that ‘

I Pledge Allegiance…

On By Ed AlgreenIn Allegiance to the Lamb, Bible Believing, Christian, Disciple, Obedience, Reaching the Lost, Righteousness, Thank You Jesus, Victorious LifeLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Acts 1

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

Acts 1:6-8 ~ While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?” Jesus said to them, “You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”

APPLICATION (How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Back when the apostles first received this command, we are to understand that this was a future statement intended not just for the apostles but for all on whom the Spirit of God falls. Later in Scripture we are taught that the Spirit comes upon all who seek forgiveness of sin and call upon the name of Jesus as Lord (Christians). The church as we know it today is made up of Christians, therefore the command that was given to the apostles and to all on whom the Spirit falls, is to tell everyone about Jesus. Are we successful in following that command today? I’m sure that we can easily look upon ourselves and quickly respond that we could be doing a whole lot more. However, it seems to me like Luke is telling us that to those on who the Holy Spirit falls, they will be given power, and they will then tell everyone about Jesus. So I believe that the question this morning is not how well are we doing at spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but more along the lines of, how is our relationship with the Father? Have you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior? If you have – are you maturing a relationship with Him and giving Him full reign of Your life so that His Holy Spirit might use you to tell everyone about His love and saving grace? To be a citizen of this country, one must swear allegiance to the country and could therefore become eligible to represent this country in battle. Have you sworn allegiance to the Maker of the Universe, the King of all kings, your Creator, so that through His Holy Spirit He might find you eligible to represent Him before a lost and dying world, a battle against the foes of this world?

PRAYER (With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

In Your Word you have told us that You sometime use the ‘foolishness of preaching’ to reach the lost. In this passage You have shared through Luke that You will give us the power of Your Holy Spirit and use us (Christians) to share the love of Christ with a lost world. Father, I feel so unworthy of such an honor, but I dare not question You. Thank You for giving me the liberty of representing You to the lost. May I never be a stumbling block to the work of Your Holy Spirit. May I represent You well so that those that I speak to or have dealings with will witness the love of the Father, and have an uncontrollable desire to want to know You as Lord and Savior. Thank You for convicting me of my sin and finding me worthy to use as Your instrument in this wicked world.

Our Reaction to God’s Word

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Bible Believing, Christian, Follow Jesus, God’s Word, ObedienceLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Nehemiah 8; Acts 1

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

Nehemiah 8:9 ~ And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all of them, This day is holy to the Lord your God; mourn not nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.

APPLICATION (How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

We have heard the saying ‘We have come a long way baby’ and I believe that we always think of that as ‘progress’ or ‘improvement’ over things that our ancestors dealt with (plagues, premature infant deaths, no electric power, no powered stoves, etc), however this passage opened my eyes to how hardened to the Word of God we have become also. For many of us, the only time we hear the Word of God read is in church, yet we just about fall asleep while it is read, and we very much take it for granted that it is not meant to reveal our weaknesses or fault or sin, but merely telling stories about the sin of others many, many years ago. Friend, the more I study God’s Word the more I understand how alive it is, and how applicable it is today. You see, when we serve a risen, living God, then when He speaks to us through His Word, of course it is intended to speak to us in very relevant terms to meet our needs today. God wants His very best for His people today – that means He wants His very best for me and for anyone else who reads His Word today! Let’s put on the whole armor of God today, His Word, so that we may be best prepared to face the challenges of the devil and all challenges that will face us out in this wicked world in which we live. Remember, ‘

In Appreciation!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Celebrate God, Christian, Obedience, Praise, Righteousness, WorshipLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Nehemiah 8; Acts 1

OBSERVATION

Nehemiah 8:5-6 ~ Ezra was up on the high platform, where he could be seen by everyone, and when he opened the book, they all stood up. Ezra praised the great LORD God, and the people shouted, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped the LORD.

APPLICATION

In the chapter before, the story is relayed about the people who returned from exile to Jerusalem and how they were called together so that Nehemiah could do a roll call. In this chapter the people were gathered at the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra, the high priest, to open the Law of Moses and read it to them, and the verses above give the rest of the detail. While I know that they had a lot to be thankful for, I am sure that God’s children today has equally as much to be thankful for. However I find it shocking how so many will allow the slightest excuse to keep them from God’s house on Sunday. Then, I find that so many will attend church but appear to be in a frozen state – either to be resurrected by the singing or hoping that the preacher will perform well. When last have we automatically stood to our feet when the Word of God was opened, or when have we bowed with our faces to the ground and worshipped the God of the universe in thanksgiving for all that He has done for us? We (Christians) were a people destined for hell, yet our loving Savior died on a cross that we may have life and have it more abundantly in Him. We know many friends or family sick or in hospital, yet in God’s love and grace He has seen fit to give us good health to enjoy each and every day. We should be like the people of Ezra’s day and be ready to stand and welcome the Word of God for hours on end. We should be in a constant mode of worship, and in respect to our Holy God, bow our heads to the ground or even lie prostrate on the ground as we petition before our God. People, friends, family, let us look for opportunities to hear the Word of God and give thanks to the Almighty, and let’s not wait until we are forced to do so because of circumstances that we might find ourselves in.

PRAYER

I pray that You will not have to force us to a position of where we find ourselves pleading at Your feet dear God, but that we might become a people who look forward to hearing Your Word. I pray that we might always be conscious of all that You did for us, and all that You do for us every day, so that we may be a people of praise and thanksgiving. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, please help me to be constant in Your Word and look for every opportunity to learn more about You so that I may become more and more like You every day. Thank You for who You are and for all that You do in love and compassion towards me. You are an awesome God, my Savior, my Redeemer and my Friend, and I am eternally thankful to be Your son!

Do You Truly Represent Jesus?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Follow Jesus, Humility, Obedience, Repentance, RighteousnessLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Luke 14 

OBSERVATION

Luke 14:34-35 ~ Salt is good, but if it no longer tastes like salt, how can it be made to taste salty again? It is no longer good for the soil or even for the manure pile. People simply throw it out. If you have ears, pay attention!

APPLICATION

Jesus had just explained to the crowds following Him what it really meant to be a disciple. Linked very closely with that explanation, He wanted them to know that He was also concerned about those who decide to follow Him and then fall by the wayside. In an earlier devotional I discussed how some may make a decision for Christ, and once they feel like ‘their ticket is punched for heaven’ then they return back to their old ways. Jesus said in these verses that when someone does something like this they are no good for anything. Taking that into account, I feel like we can deduce that fellow Christians would turn their backs on someone like that because they have defaulted on a decision that Christians thought they were serious/sincere about. To their old friends that knew them as they were, imagine how they must be looking at them and saying “you only thought that you were looking for a different life, now you want us to trust you and accept you back into our lives? Go away, for we can’t trust you”. We would truly be of no real value to either group because we can’t get our hearts and souls on one side of the fence or the other. Another verse says, let our “yeahs be yeah and our nays be nay”, in other words when we are led to making a decision and we make it, stick to it and give it all you can. Jesus is looking for folk who accept the gift that He has given to us, and to live a life dedicated to Him. This will not only bring honor to God, but allow the individual to shine in the eyes of those that see a changed life so that they too may see the need for changing their lives. I believe that God is looking for ‘Followers’ or ‘Disciples’ not just folk that make decisions and make no commitment to live up to that decision.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus I thank You for Your Holy Spirit that You have given to guide me and be with me each and every day, to help me overcome those obstacles that may otherwise trip me up and cause me to walk in ways that are not pleasing to You. Please continue to help me be a warrior for You, a shining light and example to others. Help me to never be a stumbling block to another, and please help me to always honor my commitments and decisions. Please direct me so that I will always be effective in my witness to others, allowing Your light to be evident in anything I may say or do. May

Being a ‘Disciple’ of Christ

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Born Again, Christian, Disciple, Follow Jesus, Obedience, Repentance, Righteousness, Victorious LifeLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Luke 14 

OBSERVATION

Luke 14:25-27 ~ Large crowds were walking along with Jesus, when he turned and said: You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life. You cannot be my disciple unless you carry your own cross and come with me.

APPLICATION

We quite often use the word ‘disciple’, so this morning I did some research to understand fully what it means. The dictionary defines it as a follower of Christ. A theologian goes into more detail and describes the term by giving us 7 qualities of a mature, reproducing disciple of Jesus Christ:

Reflects Christ
What am I doing to be more like Christ?
Eph. 4:15, 2 Cor. 3:18, Gal. 5:22–23, Matt. 22:37–39

Fellowships with Believers
How can I develop relationships with God’s family?
Heb. 10:24–25, Eph. 2:19

Lives Biblically

What am I doing to know and put into practice
the teachings of the Bible?
2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Peter 1:3–8

Gives Sacrificially

How am I handling the resources God has
entrusted to me?
2 Cor. 9:6–9, Prov. 11:24–25

Serves Others

How can I further develop/discover my SHAPE
for ministry?
Eph. 4:11–13, Rom. 12:3–8, 1 Cor. 12

Worships Daily

How can I surrender my whole heart/life as worship?
Rom. 12:1–2, Psalm 27:6, 95:6–7

Shares Faith

What am I doing to actively fulfill my life mission
of sharing Christ?
Acts 20:24, 1:8, Matt. 18:18–20

As I reflected on this passage I thought how important it was when I got married for my wife to leave her family and give me her full devotion. Similarly I believe that Jesus is teaching that if we are to truly be His disciple, that we must dedicate ourselves fully to the task. When we give something our full undivided attention and dedication, we will succeed at it. When we decide to follow Jesus, it should not be because this is the only means into Heaven, although that is true. It should not be due to the fact that our mom or dad have always wanted that for their child, although that may be true also, but we should be willing to follow Jesus and be excited about what He has in store for us as individual children of the King. I think it is exciting to believe that Jesus has a personal desire for each of us individually, not because of anything that mom or dad may have done but because He loves me so much, and yes He loves you so much as well. Won’t you accept Him today and get to know Him personally, mature in Him daily through the qualities described to the left, then look for the blessings that He will give to you each and every day. He is an awesome Savior! He loves us so much and wants to show His love to us personally in ways that we will recognize and appreciate. He’s my King. Make Him yours today! Don’t know how?

Who Should You Invite?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Evangelism, Obedience, Reaching the LostLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Luke 14 

OBSERVATION

Luke 14:16-23 ~ A man once gave a great banquet and invited a lot of guests. When the banquet was ready, he sent a servant to tell the guests, “Everything is ready! Please come.” One guest after another started making excuses. The first one said, “I bought some land, and I’ve got to look it over. Please excuse me.” Another guest said, “I bought five teams of oxen, and I need to try them out. Please excuse me.” Still another guest said, “I have just gotten married, and I can’t be there.” The servant told his master what happened, and the master became so angry that he said, “Go as fast as you can to every street and alley in town! Bring in everyone who is poor or crippled or blind or lame.” When the servant returned, he said, “Master, I’ve done what you told me, and there is still plenty of room for more people.” His master then told him, “Go out along the back roads and fence rows and make people come in, so that my house will be full. Not one of the guests I first invited will get even a bite of my food!”

APPLICATION

I have a few more verses than usual today because this story really sent a message home to me. In my last devotional I was touched to invite friends to dinner that can’t afford to return the favor. In this story I was convicted to invite non-Christians to church, and not just because that’s the one place where they are more lightly to hear the Word of God and be convicted of their sin, but because often we will waste our time inviting and re-inviting those who profess to be Christians yet they find every excuse possible to avoid being in church with fellow believers. Now, if I also don’t see ‘fruit’ in these self-proclaimed ‘Christians’ then I need to treat them as non-Christians and witness to them as I would any other non-Christian. I sometime believe that Christians who have accepted the Lord at some stage in their lives, and have no real relationship with the Master, feel like they have their ticket punched and therefore they feel like they have no real need to be bombarded by Christians trying to get them in church or committed to some outreach, or even in-reach program of the church. Jesus came to minister to, and win the hearts of the ‘sick’ (sinners). As we busy ourselves in God’s work, let us therefore be about the Father’s work and minister to the ‘sick’.

PRAYER

Lord I feel like I will need introduction, or leadership direction, to the lost around me, because as Christians we tend to hang mostly with Christians. Please help me to be keenly aware of the unsaved and then give me opportunities to minister to them, invite them to Your house, pray for them, show them Your love, and help them to understand their lost condition and the need for a Savior that will secure their eternal destiny. Yes, I understand that we also have a need within the church for ministry to the brothers and sisters that already know You, but I am even more convinced that there is a greater need to win the lost and truly minister to the sin-sick of my community. I can only do this through Your love, direction and power, Lord, so please be my guide, protector and strength through each and every day as opportunities are presented to me.

Live a Humble, Giving life.

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Giving, Humility, Love, ObedienceLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Luke 14 

OBSERVATION

Luke 14:8-14 ~ When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the best place. Someone more important may have been invited. Then the one who invited you will come and say, “Give your place to this other guest!” You will be embarrassed and will have to sit in the worst place. When you are invited to be a guest, go and sit in the worst place. Then the one who invited you may come and say, “My friend, take a better seat!” You will then be honored in front of all the other guests. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored. Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him: When you give a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends and family and relatives and rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return, and you will be paid back. When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. They cannot pay you back. But God will bless you and reward you when his people rise from death.

APPLICATION

On a first read through this passage we may very easily be tempted to say that this is a beautiful image that Jesus has portrayed and this should really speak to the proud. In other words, I believe that this is an easy passage to shrug off, thinking that this is not really speaking to us. But God spoke to me on several matters in this:

  1. Be humble – in a world of self promotion, because we often hear that if we don’t promote ourselves no one else will do it for us, therefore we tend to go overboard bragging about ourselves and seeking the attention of those in authority over us to ‘look at me’. Jesus gives us the example here of taking the least important seat in a meeting, and we may be honored, but taking an important seat may cause us to sometime have our egos ‘deflated’ as we may be asked to move for the honorable guest of the meeting. These days I often sit near the front for two reasons: (1) I can see any projection screens better and (2) I tend to be more alert to the speaker when I’m near the front. I believe that Jesus is speaking here to the idea of trying not to promote self by taking the best seat in the house that may have been reserved for a guest of honor. Bottom line on this is that it is better to be honored, than to self promote honor on you.
  2. Host the undeserving, not just good friends – when we host a luncheon or dinner we tend to invite friends who may have to choose whether to attend because of several other invitations for that same timeslot. Imagine how blessed the ones may feel who never get to eat out or attend a special event because they are just not a part of anyone’s inner circle of friends. They may be poor and unable to repay the favor. They may be mean and unwilling to share their time or wealth with anyone else. They may be non-Christian and not want to force themselves on believers as they may feel ‘out of place’. God has promised in this passage that He will reward us when He calls us home when we do such honorable acts.

PRAYER

Lord, I feel like this small passage that I have read many times before has come to life this morning. Thank You for drawing me to this. I pray that I may take a different outlook on life, because I want to do all within my will to follow the commands You have laid out in Your Word for me. I am even more convinced that Your Word contains direction for EVERY phase of my life and answers to EVERY question in my mind, if only I will turn to it instead of all the other directions I may turn to for advice. Please help me to have an ongoing desire to dig into Your Word each and every day, to look for ways that You would be speaking to me through the passages that I read, and then most importantly – help me to follow Your Word so that my life may be more in lined with Your will for me. Thank You for such direction, now please help to carry out what I have learned today!

Are you representing the ‘Old’ or the ‘New’?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Follow Jesus, Obedience, Repentance, Righteousness, Victorious LifeLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Luke5

OBSERVATION

Luke 5:33-39 ~ Some people said to Jesus, “John’s followers often pray and go without eating, and so do the followers of the Pharisees. But your disciples never go without eating or drinking.” Jesus told them, “The friends of a bridegroom don’t go without eating while he is still with them. But the time will come when he will be taken from them. Then they will go without eating.” Jesus then told them these sayings: No one uses a new piece of cloth to patch old clothes. The patch would shrink and make the hole even bigger. No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would swell and burst the old skins. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put only into new wineskins. No one wants new wine after drinking old wine. They say, “The old wine is better.”

APPLICATION

This passage was a challenge for me, but I felt God tugging at my heart to do the research and understand its meaning. I was truly amazed! Those that were observing Jesus and His disciples had the opportunity to ask Him about why He was so different than anything they had known in the past. Jesus basically told them here that regardless of what John the Baptist did, or the Pharisees did, they were now observing ‘the real thing’! Jesus came so that all the old myths and practices might be clarified, corrected or at least understood (if they led to Him). I see two challenges here in thinking about how this applies to us today:

  1. From the standpoint of the non-Christian – they will look at church activities and the ways that we represent Christ and they may wonder why we are so different. This is a challenge for them, because they are convinced that what they are doing is perfectly OK, so they will question why would Jesus do certain things or why would we do certain things that seem so opposite to what they believe;
  2. From the standpoint of the church/Christian – If we never change our ways and become more like Jesus, we are mismatching a ‘New’ way with our ‘Old’ ways and trying to make both ways work together. It doesn’t happen that way friend. We must separate ourselves from our ‘Old’ ways, because Jesus would have us follow Him, and I guarantee you that none of us were following Him and His example before we accepted Him as Lord of our lives. Furthermore, if we are to be the hands, lips and actions of Christ extended to a lost world, they will not be affected or touched by someone acting, doing and saying the same things that they do and say. If we claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and if we have accepted Jesus as Lord of our life the Bible says that His Holy Spirit comes and dwells within us, then we are to act, do and speak like Jesus would, and this would definitely be different to the everyday actions that are evident in our world. This is one reason why the church must be careful in trying to do things like the world is used to seeing them done, for if they see no difference they will see no reason to change. Yes, Jesus was different. Yes, we must be different if we are representing Jesus. He’s our mentor, our model and our example. Let’s truly follow Jesus so that our world may be impacted for Christ!

PRAYER

Father, thank You for speaking through Your Word, even when passages sometime seem hard to understand. May I be a true example of You today so that You may receive glory, and so that others may want to know the Savior that I love and adore. It is so easy to fall back into our old ways, but Father as we seek You daily I pray that You will create a clean heart within us and a renewed will to follow Your example and to show the world that there is a better way, and that they too can be a member of Your family and live the glorious life that is ours in knowing that You take care of our every concern and that this life only leads to a happier and more satisfying life to come – with You in Heaven.