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 Micah 5:4 He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord.Christ's reign in his Church is that of a shepherd-king. He has supremacy, but it is the superiority of a wise and tender shepherd over his needy and loving flock; he commands and receives obedience, but it is the willing obedience of the well-cared-for sheep, rendered joyfully to their beloved Shepherd, whose voice they know so well. He rules by the force of love and the energy of goodness. His reign is practical in its character. It is said, "He shall stand and feed." The great Head of the Church is actively engaged in providing for his people. He does not sit down upon the throne in empty state, or hold a sceptre without wielding it in government. No, he stands and feeds. The expression "feed," in the original, is like an analogous one in the Greek, which means to shepherdize, to do everything expected of a shepherd: to guide, to watch, to preserve, to restore, to tend, as well as to feed. His reign is continual in its duration. It is said, "He shall stand and feed;" not "He shall feed now and then, and leave his position;" not, "He shall one day grant a revival, and then next day leave his Church to barrenness." His eyes never slumber, and his hands never rest; his heart never ceases to beat with love, and his shoulders are never weary of carrying his people's burdens. His reign is effectually powerful in its action; "He shall feed in the strength of Jehovah." Wherever Christ is, there is God; and whatever Christ does is the act of the Most High. Oh! it is a joyful truth to consider that he who stands today representing the interests of his people is very God of very God, to whom every knee shall bow. Happy are we who belong to such a shepherd, whose humanity communes with us, and whose divinity protects us. Let us worship and bow down before him as the people of his pasture. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Peter 1:15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;1 Thessalonians 2:11,12 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, • so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Ephesians 5:8-11 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light • (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), • trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. • Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; Philippians 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 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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