Based on “The Church—Why We Do What We Do, Part 3” by Pastor Mark Balmer;
2/20-21/10, Message #MB408; Daily Devotional #6 - “Share with Others”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:3-7)
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): These verses indicate that God is very serious about His Word! Apparently, He cannot impress upon us enough the importance of walking in the world with divine revelation. Like a model builder who does not read the directions for assembly and winds up with a dysfunctional mess, so we too can botch up our lives without the proper instructions. With painstaking care our Creator has personally written out His will and desire for our lives in a Book that mankind cannot and will not destroy! So what’s holding us back: time, desire, fortitude, laziness, or lame excuses? I’m sure He has heard them all, but still He waits patiently for us to come taste and see that He is good! (Psalm 34:8) And man, is He good! With a love that never ceases He reveals Himself to every seeker and delights in every expression of wonder that we discover in His Word. With a broad smile upon His face, our loving Father enjoys watching us uncovering the mysteries of our Creator and loving Him more with every discovery. No other god loves so deeply and forgives so completely as our God.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Yet, these verses teach us that this divine revelation is not to be hoarded or secretive, but is intended to be shared and given freely upon request. We are to teach our discoveries to our children, family, friends, and anyone else who has an ear to hear. It is multiplication, and not isolation, that keeps this Kingdom healthy, and it starts in our homes. Christianity is a very public faith, and it glorifies God when we connect and share our love and belief in Him with our children, teaching them His precepts. Just as Jesus makes us known to the Father, so should we make our Savior known to our children. None of us wants to be accused of being ashamed of the Gospel, because we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ is not ashamed of us! And we have the awesome opportunity to tell the next generation all about Him.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Psalm 78:4; Colossians 3:20; Joshua 24:15
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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.