your daily crossroad
Truth in Love
We also need to speak truth in love to each other when certain parts of the body are failing to thrive. If the arms are too weak to lift or the legs too stiff to walk, we cannot ignore these broken parts, but must point out the weakness and act in love to help support that struggling part of the Body until they can fully function once again.
If the Body of Christ is too busy people-pleasing to point out areas of weakness in itself, it will quickly come to a grinding halt and fail to serve the Head. We often think we are doing each other a service by holding our tongues and not sharing the insight the Lord has given us into areas of weakness in one another. We are afraid to stir the pot or to hurt feelings. But when we speak truth in love, we can constructively criticize. We can rebuild alongside one another, making an even stronger body as it collectively supports itself in the strength of Christ and for His glory.
Surrender
I recently read, Surrendering our first instinct, which is what we want or what will best suit us in this life is probably one of the hardest things to master. How often have we been defeated by a bad habit, a lousy attitude, or a wrong mindset? We make promises to improve. We ask someone to hold us accountable. But deep inside, we know that we don’t have the will or the ability to change. We can talk, we can plan, we can read self-help books, but we still find it difficult to overcome and control many of the things that are inside us!
Thankfully, God knows our weakness, and He also knows the remedy! The Bible says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22–23). The only way to gain self-control is by allowing the Holy Spirit to have free rain in our lives.
In other words, our key focus is not effort but surrender—to live moment by moment submissively trusting in the Lord rather than in self. Paul says this is what it means to “walk in the Spirit” (v. 16).
Are you ready for a change? You can change, for God is in you. As you surrender control to Him, He will help you bear the fruit of His likeness.
A Prayer To Forgive Others
God Hears our Prayers
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 71:1-12
God’s Love
I recently read about how God’s love is certainly at the heart of the mission and message of Jesus. In his earlier gospel account, John recorded the words, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
God’s love is so strong, available, and stabilizing that we can confidently step into each day knowing that the good things are gifts from His hand and the challenges can be faced in His strength. For all of life, His love is what matters most.
Thank You, O Lord, that Your love is rich and pure, measureless and strong! I ask that you hold my hand on this journey called life. May I rest assured in knowing all my challenges can be faced in Your strength and Yours alone. Your love stands when all else has fallen. Amen.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 John 4:7-19
Words
Saying only what is helpful to others would be transformative for many of us. Speaking what is helpful doesn’t mean only saying things that make others feel good. It will sometimes mean speaking hard truths in love and constructively criticizing others for their own good and for the glory of God. Building human beings up, much like construction of any type, takes hard work, sweat and tears. It’s not all easy compliments and flattery. Building up our brothers and sisters requires a strong foundation of truth and love and a desire to see the other grow in the Lord.
Opportunities
During the week in which Christ would be killed, Mary of Bethany anointed Him with expensive perfume (John 12:3; Mark 14:3). Some of those present were appalled, but Jesus applauded her. “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me,” He said. “She hath done what she could. She is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” (Mark 14:6–8).
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
God’s Gift
God has given us more than we deserve through Christ. We deserve death because of our sin (Rom. 3:23). Yet, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (5:8). We were unworthy, yet Jesus—sinless and holy—gave up His life so we could escape the penalty for our sin and one day live forever in heaven.
Eternal life is a gift from God. It’s not something we earn by working for it. We are saved by God’s grace, through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8–9).
Eternity
Our short lives here are sowing times so we must sow while we can. For a time is coming when the chance to store up treasure in heaven will pass. A time is coming when you and I will no longer be able to witness the truth and love of Christ to those still lost. Now is the time to sow into eternity.
Our hours on earth are the time we’re given to plant the seeds we and others will reap for eternity. We must look for ways to impact eternity in this common, ordinary day full of laundry and to do lists.
There are those lost and dieing and it is our responsibility as pilgrims passing through to impact lives daily and to leave an imprint. One day we will all face eternity, it’s not a matter of if but when and we are called to save those who are lost. You may be thinking, how can I make a difference, by showing the love of Christ to those you come in contact with, even in the moments when you may not want to show love, look beyond that and be eternity minded. Sometimes even when someone isn’t being kind or showing love that’s exactly what they need is love. You can impact someones life for eternity by showing them the love of Christ. I would recommend thinking, how would Christ handle this situation? With love.
Prayer
Trophies of Grace
In the first, I was feeling ultra-rebellious. I hadn’t just disobeyed. I disobeyed with flare. I was defending my sin and staring my father in the eyes arguing with him over who was really right. During those kinds of confrontations, I usually racked up an additional two or three spankings on top of the one I’d been sent to him for. I can still feel the sting of those spankings and my heart still remembers the angry defiance I felt as my retribution was handed out. I remember it sadly. I wasn’t a sweet little girl in those moments. I was ugly, rebellious and criminal. Justice was served and it wasn’t pretty.
In the second, I remember being sad and sorry for my disobedience before my foot crossed over the threshold into my father’s presence. I was already crying. Already asking for forgiveness before he could even speak. I remember the next moments clearly. I stood sobbing, awaiting the blow. My body knew the pain that was coming and I was tense, but more than anything, my little 7-year-old self was heartbroken at my own wrongdoing and I was so ashamed. As I waited for my punishment, I heard my father say my name. I looked up at him and he said ‘I’m not going to spank you.’ I couldn’t believe it. I knew I’d done wrong; he knew I’d done wrong. ‘I’m going to show you grace. Do you understand what that means?’ And just like that, I did. I understood what grace was and I loved it.
Matt Chandler said, “You will be either a picture of God’s justice or a trophy of His grace.” When I think back on these two scenarios of my sin and its consequence, it strikes me that in the first scenario, my memory is mostly of myself, of how naughty and unlovable I was. In the second, I remember my father and his grace and love. The day he showed me grace, he won me over. I became his trophy. The day I received justice did not make for a pretty picture, but it certainly was a picture. It was fair, sad and ugly.
At the end of your life, will others see your persistent defiance, pride and self-sufficiency? Or will they see a tribute to a loving and graceful heavenly Father? Be the purchased and redeemed Bride of Christ. Lose your will to His and shake off your willful independence and lean fully into His grace. It is far, far better to be a testimony to His grace than an example of His justice.
Freedom
Finding Joy
All of us can feel relief and contentment when we have come through a hard time. We can rejoice and praise God for how He has brought us out of it. But the challenge is, how joyful are we in the midst of it?