Based on “Role Models, Part 2” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 9/17-18/11,
Message #6076; Daily Devotional #4 - “Little Ears”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. (John 10:10) Plants need to be nourished, so they can bloom and bear fruit. Just as important and critical is our spiritual nourishment in keeping us on the right track as Christ followers. What we see and hear has a big impact on our lives. God has created each one of us uniquely and intends for us to live purposeful, fruitful lives.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12-13) An old saying I learned some time ago says, “When the wrapping stays long enough on the bar of soap, the wrapping itself becomes soap.” While I always giggled when I heard it, in fact this saying holds true in a lot of ways. Today, we are really products of what we have seen and heard over the years. Our habits, beliefs and attitudes regarding life have all been influenced by the people around us. I observed a sweet little girl as she copied everything her mother did. I thought her mother must have been her heroine; she even imitated her mother’s facial expressions and habits. Her little ears were quick to hear everything mom had to say, and she took every word seriously. As adults, we are not very different. God has given us the grace to discern between good and evil. Thank God, every word we hear can be filtered through the standard of God’s Word. I have personally learned a lot of things from believers in my adult life which have enriched my life. These include the joy of giving to the works of God and the needs of men, blessing my children on a daily basis and putting God in the center of all my plans.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): How great is the love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1) God has blessed us, the church, with so much! Are your ears listening? There are so many resources in the household of God, and He wants us to get involved. The Lord has set you free to be blessed and to be a blessing!
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Ephesians 4:14-16
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.