Based on “Humbly Confident” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 5/5-6/12,
Message #6096; Daily Devotional #5 - “Rely upon Jesus”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): It seems so easy to begin and finish something we’ve done many times before, giving it little thought. Perhaps we start our day, the same as we do every day. Go to work, just as we do every day. Accomplish our work, come home, spend time with family, do those things that we do around the house and then go to bed without having given much thought to God. Perhaps we feel we have confidence in our own abilities to take care of our own lives. To handle what needs to be handled, whether it is something complex, like managing our finances, or something relatively simple, like writing this week’s devotion. But being self-dependent is not what God wants from us. Jesus Christ wants to have a relationship with us.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) Paul wrote in the book of Philippians, I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13) Christ followers are not self-sufficient but are, instead, Christ-sufficient. It is because we are linked to His life and His power in us that we have sufficiency. Paul is saying..."Look, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." What does he mean by that? He means we can be connected to Christ. We should be totally dependent on Christ and His power working in us. Paul knew that he could not do everything, but only those things that God gifted and empowered him to do. Don’t think that you can do whatever needs to be done.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6) Paul knew his sufficiency always came from the power of God. As Christ followers, we cannot try to live our lives in our own strength or our own direction. Our sufficiency comes from God. Start today by presenting it and the events therein to God and asking for His guidance and His will and that you be filled with the Holy Spirit. You’ll be amazed at what God is able to do in you, as well as through you.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Ephesians 3:16-18
GH
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.