Wednesday, February 9, 2011
END TIMES READING PLAN: Revelation 14
SCRIPTURE READING
Galatians 1:22-24 (ESV); And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. And they glorified God because of me.
Paul’s conversion was a big deal among the believers of the churches. His testimony must have come as a shock to many who, at one time, would have uttered his name in fear. Paul’s life was a demonstration of the incredible power of the cross. The work that Jesus had done in His death and resurrection just a few years earlier had found a tangible expression in this persecutor gone preacher. And the believers gave glory to God for the transformation.
We all have been created in the image of God. Paul told the church in Ephesus that they were God’s workmanship, created in Christ – in His image – to do good works. How often do we look in the mirror while getting ready in the morning and say to ourselves, “I have been made in the image of God, and He has good works for me to do today!”? Humanity’s reflection of the image of God is one of the most fantastic truths of the Bible! God values us so much that He put imprints of Himself into us – we are creative, inspirational, fun-loving, sensitive, and adventurous – all because we bear His image! This should cause us to live differently. Like the Judean believers, the people who we interact with should glorify God when they see the way that we live. Our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and pleasures should point others to gaze upon the beautiful God who is the true image of glory and goodness!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Think about what is stirring in your heart as you read today’s devotional. Ask the Holy Spirit what He has in mind for you to glean from it.
2) Who do you know whose life is a total testament to the Lord? How is it evident? How did they encourage your own walk with the Lord? Use the Lord’s work in this person to glorify God for how good He is.
3) Evaluate yourself: Do others look at you and glorify God in response? Does your conversation, leadership, submission, work ethic, etc. cause others to see God? Ask Him to help you grow in a consistent lifestyle that brings other people to a place of praise.
