Based on “The Church—Why We Do What We Do, Part 4” by Pastor Mark Balmer;
2/27-28/10, Message #MB409; Daily Devotional #5 - “H.S. Supernatural Miracles”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24) Every time I sit down to write one of these devotions, I encounter the GAP. Standing on the Dock of Decision, I gaze across to the waiting ship, the H.S. Supernatural Miracles, and face a choice. I can see my struggle with disobedience (sin) and lack of faith, as well as my faltering performance and meager abilities swirling black and forbidding, pushing an ever increasing distance between my go nowhere dock and God’s glory bound ship. The longer I resist the call to board the ship, the harder it becomes to jump across that ever expanding GAP. I have discovered two lifelines that I use to attach myself to the ship in order to lessen that GAP from the dock, so I can take a trip on Jesus’ sailing ship. I attach myself to the front of the boat with a line of grace. I acknowledge that it is only through God’s grace that I can attempt to serve and please Him. It’s His grace that forms a thought in my mind and puts the words on my heart to share that thought with you. Grace helps me to step out of my comfort zone. Every time I tell myself that I haven’t got what it takes to do this, grace reminds me that it’s not my ability, but my availability that pleases God. Grace only expects me to do the best that I can do. After grace pulls me over the GAP, I attach myself to the back of the boat with peace. It is not for me to work a miracle through my efforts. That is God’s job. If you receive food for thought through this message, it is God’s doing. I wrap my mind and heart in the peace of knowing that God’s will is done in spite of me. I refuse to fret and stress by looking back at what I should have changed or what I might have written. I put the results in God’s hands so I can face the next GAP coming my way.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Paul was examining the “GAP” when he wrote Romans 7 and 8. He was well aware of the distance between his beliefs and his actions and came to the conclusion that he couldn’t cross that GAP on his own. He needed the GAP filler. So do I, and so do you. He went on to say, Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). He filled in the GAP with the same Grace And Peace (G.A.P.) lifeline (Jesus) that you and I can use today.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Are you standing on the Dock of Decision? Is the ship, H.S. Supernatural Miracles, passing by while you look at the dark waves in the GAP? Launch out on the lifelines of Grace And Peace Jesus is throwing your way. Ask God to empower, stretch, and use you, then grab hold of that lifeline and launch out. You may be amazed at the impact your ship’s waves will create in our world.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 4:7
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All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.