Based on “Stand Firm and Stand United” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 7/24-25/10
Message #6056; Daily Devotional #4 - “Crowned with Glory and Honor”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31) God gave the very best He had, to show His love for us and how much value He places over our lives. How much value has God placed on our lives, and how important are we to God? We should not look any further than Calvary for answers. The world and all it has to offer cannot satisfy the greatest need of man.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: (Psalm 8:3-6). We naturally want to invest in worthwhile ventures, things that appear substantial to us, but defining who we really are cannot be based on things without eternal value. A lot of suffering in the world today is a result of ‘misplaced values.’ Disappointments, unfairness, oppression, and a lot of other things can make people disillusioned about who they really are. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings light to the world and opens our eyes to see ourselves and others the way God Himself does. Even while we were yet sinners and totally lost spiritually, God sent His Son, Jesus, to redeem us from destruction. God knew our true worth from the beginning; He has called us and expects us to live our lives worthy of Him at all times.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9). Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us everlasting life (John 10:10). Christ followers have been called into God’s wonderful life and crowned with honor and glory. By His grace, we should live worthy of our calling. We must live differently from the world, in order to bring hope and restoration to others through Jesus Christ. By the way we live, we can help others see the real value God has placed over their lives. When people find hope in Jesus there is an understanding of why life is worth living and to die is even gain. May the Lord give us all the grace to live worthy of our great calling. Amen.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Philippians 1:27-30
LO
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.