“In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5
Pride is usually the driving force fueling the generation gap between the young and old. The young don't want to listen to those who have a few years of wisdom under their belt, and the old are too proud to try and understand the new views of a younger generation. How do we fill the gap, then? Scripture says that we should respect those who are older than us, listen to those who may be younger than us, and be humble enough to admit that we can learn from each other. What are some ways in which you need to humble yourself today to listen to someone to whom you might previously have had closed ears? What is God seeking to teach you through that person?
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“I am the vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have give you. Remain in me and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” John 15:1-4
There is something deep within human flesh that wants to try really hard to do something for God. However, this passage reminds us that we can do nothing apart from God. The Christian life is not about me living for Jesus; the Christian life is about Jesus living His life in and through me, out of the overflow of my abiding in Him. Fruit, then, is simply the life of Jesus in me being lived through me...it is not my work, but His life. Today, abide in Him and let Him bear fruit – His life – in and through your life. This perspective leads Jesus followers to live in humble dependence on Jesus for everything. In all things, we need Him! Are you trying to perform for Jesus, or are you allowing Him to live in and through you? Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:13-14
On a hot desert day outside of Phoenix, a few teens came across a bubbling, fresh spring of water. It was such refreshment for three thirsty teens. Years later, they went back to that area, surprised to find that same fresh bubbling spring which provided the same refreshment. Like that bubbling spring, Jesus doesn’t offer us life in Him that is a stagnant pool or a polluted well that dries up. The opportunity to know Him and spend time with Him is for today and tomorrow. You may have experienced personal relationships that ended, but there is no end to a relationship with Jesus. Come to the spring and drink of His life today. What dry parts of your life need the refreshment of Jesus today? “But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he wore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 7:8
Are you aware of how God views you? He sees you as holy when you are His child, and He has chosen His children for Himself. He chose to set His affection on you because He said He would. God is a promise keeper and a God of integrity, and, if He says He will do it, then He will do it. When God made you His child, He also made you a promise. The promise was that He will never leave you or forsake you, and that He will always love you. God wants to be with you every day in a personal and intimate way. For you and me, spending time with God means making a plan to do so. Make a plan today to spend time with God. As someone once said, “The road to nowhere is paved with good intentions.” What promises of God can you lay hold of by faith in your current situation? “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” Ephesians 3:12
My dad is stronger than your dad!” Children who say this believe with all their heart they have access to something to which no other child has access. They say it with a bold confidence, daring anyone to prove otherwise. Similarly, the kind of boldness Paul is talking about here is an unreserved, fearless freedom to speak about the plan of Christ. That plan, as explained in his letter to the Ephesians, is that both Jews and “the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (v. 6). The plan is that we all have been given access to God through Christ! That is indeed good news! Are you bold about embracing the access you have to God because of Jesus? |
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June 2018
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