Bible League: Living His Word (It doesn't matter to me if they were "important" or not. To God everyone is the same.)— Galatians 2:6 ERV Although there are various levels of service in the church, every member is the same to God. Some people may have high authority in the church. The Apostle Paul even ranked them according to the office they hold. He says, "And in the church God has given a place first to apostles, second to prophets, and third to teachers. (1 Corinthians 12:28). Despite this, Paul also says that God considers the weakest members of the church to be indispensable and has given them greater honor (1 Corinthians 12:22-23). He also says that God did this so "that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another" (1 Corinthians 12:25 ESV). There are at least three things that follow from this: First, it is important that you do not allow your sense of self-worth to become attached to what position you hold in the church. Just because you have a high position in the church does not mean that you are of greater value to God than others. Likewise, just because you have a low position in the church does not mean that you are of lesser value to God. When it comes to God's love, care, and concern for His people, every member is the same. Every member is important. Second, it means you should not allow your sense of self-worth to become attached to what others in the church say about you. That's what Paul did. He was not over-awed by the leaders of the church in Jerusalem, even though they held positions of high authority. As our verse for today makes clear, it didn't matter to him that they were considered important in the church, because to God everyone is the same. Finally, it means that you should not strive for a position of high authority in the church simply to improve your sense of self-worth. You are already important to God. You won't become any more important to Him by gaining in authority. You are free, then, to do what God calls you to do, not what you feel you need to do in order to feel good about yourself. If you strive and struggle for importance, you are not really serving God. Be at peace, then, with what you are in Christ Jesus. Don't strive to be something you're not simply to improve your sense of self-worth. If it is His will, God will lift you up in due time. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 112-115 Psalm 112 -- Blessed is the man who fears the Lord NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 113 -- Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 114 -- When Israel went forth out of Egypt NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 115 -- Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 1 1 Corinthians 1 -- Greetings and Thanksgiving; Exhortation to Unity; We preach Christ crucified NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand.Insight Just as a shepherd protects his sheep, Jesus protects his people from eternal harm. While believers can expect to suffer on earth, Satan cannot harm their souls or take away their eternal life with God. There are many reasons to be afraid here on earth because this is the devil's domain. Challenge But if you choose to follow Jesus, he will give you everlasting safety. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 31:4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.Our spiritual foes are of the serpent's brood, and seek to ensnare us by subtlety. The prayer before us supposes the possibility of the believer being caught like a bird. So deftly does the fowler do his work, that simple ones are soon surrounded by the net. The text asks that even out of Satan's meshes the captive one may be delivered; this is a proper petition, and one which can be granted: from between the jaws of the lion, and out of the belly of hell, can eternal love rescue the saint. It may need a sharp pull to save a soul from the net of temptations, and a mighty pull to extricate a man from the snares of malicious cunning, but the Lord is equal to every emergency, and the most skilfully placed nets of the hunter shall never be able to hold his chosen ones. Woe unto those who are so clever at net laying; they who tempt others shall be destroyed themselves. "For thou art my strength." What an inexpressible sweetness is to be found in these few words! How joyfully may we encounter toils, and how cheerfully may we endure sufferings, when we can lay hold upon celestial strength. Divine power will rend asunder all the toils of our enemies, confound their politics, and frustrate their knavish tricks; he is a happy man who has such matchless might engaged upon his side. Our own strength would be of little service when embarrassed in the nets of base cunning, but the Lord's strength is ever available; we have but to invoke it, and we shall find it near at hand. If by faith we are depending alone upon the strength of the mighty God of Israel, we may use our holy reliance as a plea in supplication. "Lord, evermore thy face we seek: Tempted we are, and poor, and weak; Keep us with lowly hearts, and meek. Let us not fall. Let us not fall." Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 45:11 Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.Ezekiel 36:26,27,37 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. • "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. • 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock. Matthew 18:19,20 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. • "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Mark 11:22,23 And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. • "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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