Meditation

03/24/2020

“Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.” (Psalm85:4–7)

The power of a holy, revived life is great in evangelism. Revival comes whom God’s people seek forgiveness and a new sense of God’s love.

All believers are to seek that constant spiritual renewing that they may be holy people, powerful in God’s hands. Holy lives are vital to evangelism and revival.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, You gave us Your Spirit that we might stay within Your will and also to remind us that we are to maintain holy lives. We falters and fall into sinful ways, but You have given us a way back into Your grace and mercy, by seeking forgiveness for our sinful ways and seek to be back within Your will. It is in this manner, that the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us, flows again and we are able to minister to others by our witness and Your merciful forgiving nature. This, we ask in Jesus’ precious name. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“By not witnessing for God, you are witnessing against God!”

KNOWING GOD:

“Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.” (Ezekiel 37:28)

God seeks to live with and in His people. His presence leads His people to a holy, pure life (Leviticus 19:1-37). Worship of God leads to holy living which, leads others to acknowledge and worship God. A holy life makes evangelistic efforts effective.

I AM:

“I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you that have been prevented from doing so until now in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the others Gentiles. I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, bot to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of he gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘the righteous will live by faith.’” (Romans 1:13-17)

Paul described three elements of his life which gave power to his evangelistic efforts: a sense of obligation, eagerness, and pride instead of shame in the gospel. Christ’s death for him put Paul in debt, under obligation to witness. The sense of obligation made him eager to pay the debt and preach to all people. He was on fire for the gospel. Thus he took pride in the gospel and could find no reason to be ashamed of it. His life centered on the gospel (Greek – euangelion, the root of the English word evangelism). The gospel was powerful good news putting people in right relationship with Christ and thus providing salvation. This produced a righteous life dedicated to sharing the gospel with others, and others saw him and recognized that his life was indeed holy; therefore, his messages was also holy and true.

Second Thought of the Day:

“John replied, “A man can received only what is given him form heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and if full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; must become less.) (John3:27-30)

John replied, “A man can received only what is given him form heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and if full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; must become less.’’

John promoted Jesus at the cost of his own popularity. The coming of Christ makes the joy of God’s people complete. John fully understood what God had called him to do and he did so, until the point when Jesus arrived to be baptized by John. The power of a holy life is vital to effective evangelization. Humility is a strong characteristic of such a life, and John exemplified that quality. He compared to the “Light” of the person and ministry of Jesus, changed their respective positions. Humility, therefore, is an honest evaluation of oneself in the light of Christ.