The Significance Of A Smile

He is recognized as a pioneer medical missionary, an African explorer who wanted to discover the source of the Nile River, a scientific investigator and a reformer of the political system in England.

One day at a Missionary Conference in London, a gracious man with a contagious smile noticed a young boy standing quietly with a puzzled look on his face. With a kind expression and that wonderful smile, he approached the youngster and asked, “Wouldn’t you like to become a missionary?”

Years later David Livingstone said, “It was that smile and the kind, questioning face that led me to become a missionary.”

Paul once wrote of Moses and said that “his face shown with the glory of God.” The glory that was evident in the face of Moses came from his relationship with God – the source of all glory then and now.

And Paul also wrote, “I pray that God who gives you hope will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in Him.”

There is an obvious connection in Paul’s mind that is expressed in his writings: If the glory of the Lord is on the inside of the Christian, it will be obvious to those around us by the expressions on our faces. If you know and love Jesus you will express His grace and glory through the smile on your face and the kindness in your voice.

Prayer: We ask, Heavenly Father, that we will be so filled with Your Spirit that our faces will reflect Your beauty, our voices Your kindness and our deeds Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Looking for God's Gift

A young child ran to his neighbor’s workshop in tears. His friend put his strong arm around the small boy’s shoulder and asked, “What’s wrong, my young friend? Why are you crying?”

“I can’t sing and I can’t play,” sobbed Antonio.

“Well, my little friend,” said Amati, “there are many ways of making music. If you have music in your heart, nothing else matters.”

Antonio felt better after hearing the comforting words of his friend. And the expression of concern he felt through the hug made him know that someone cared for him deeply. As a result of this kindness he began to visit with Amati and started to learn the craft of making violins. The day finally arrived when the violins made by Antonio Stradivarius were recognized as the finest violins in the world.

God has a perfect plan for each of us. He wants to take the “raw” gifts He has given us and transform them through His power into deeds of power and glory that reflect His grace.
Though at times it may seem as though we are struggling to find a purpose in life and a way to honor Him, we must always remember that He will never leave us or forsake us as long as we look to Him for guidance.

God wants what is best for us but we will never know what that is until we surrender our lives completely to Him.

Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to recognize the fact that You have something unique for each of us to do to build Your Kingdom and willingly surrender ourselves to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:1,2 …I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship...Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Do Our Words Really Matter?

It was the mid-week prayer service. The crowd was small but the singing loud. The final hymn before the Bible study was “For You I Am Praying.”

A visitor turned to a member of the church who was standing next to him and asked, “For whom are you praying?”

“No one, really,” came the response. “I just came to sing.”

Often the hymns we sing and the words we speak are completely disconnected from the lives we live. Sometimes our faith is so frail that we fail Him.

But if our relationship with God is what He expects it to be and we want it to be, we must give Him our love and our lives, our heads and our hearts, our desires and our dreams. And we must ask Him to empower us, by His grace and goodness, to live lives that will be pleasing to Him.

God’s first expectation of us is that we totally commit our lives to Him. Paul, writing to the Romans said, “I beg you, in view of all that God has done for you, to make a decisive decision to present all that you are or have to God as a living sacrifice – which is only reasonable.”

If we do that – make that decisive decision to surrender our lives to Him – the songs we sing and the words we speak will be consistent with His expectations.

Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to be certain that our walk matches our words and that we behave what we say we believe. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

God's Master Plan

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle studied to be a physician. After completing his studies he established a medical partnership with a friend. It did not go well and they soon parted ways.

Shortly afterward, he opened his own practice. Initially he had very few patients and to pass away the long, boring days he began to write factious crime stories. His first writings were not well received. But since he had empty hours to fill, he continued to write.

Two of his characters were Sherlock Holmes and Watson. His stories were framed around much of the information he learned while a medical student, and it was his use of “differential diagnosis” in his writings that brought much of the intrigue to his works. It did not take long before his stories gained much attention and his writing career was established.

It may be intriguing for some to wonder why he did not go directly into writing crime stories rather than the field of medicine. Certainly that was an option. But it was his understanding of “differential diagnosis” that made his crime stories different and brought him success.

Often we wonder why we are sometimes called to go through “things” that seem foolish and worthless, boring and frustrating. But God has a plan for each of us and we must be patient with Him until He reveals it.

Prayer: Help us, Father, to be patient and open while You are preparing us for our life’s work. May we do our best to develop our talents carefully and wisely for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God Wants You

A little girl went to church for the first time. She was full of questions.

When a baby was presented for baptism she became more interested than ever. Noticing her attentiveness, her father said, “The parents are giving her to God.”

After the baptism, the minister gave the baby back to the parents.

Not understanding, she whispered to her father, “I guess God didn’t want that one.”

Not so! God wants every one of us.

On one occasion He said, “Come to Me, all of you…” On another occasion He said, “If you come to Me I will not reject you.”

We have all experienced the pain of rejection. We know what it is like to feel alone. Family members leave us. Friends turn their backs on us. But Jesus? Never!

Someone said, “With Jesus, the welcome mat is out and the door is always open.” Paul said, “…nothing…will ever separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” There is nothing that we have done or ever will do that can separate us from Him, His love or His salvation.

Prayer: Father, we are so grateful for Your love that reaches out to all of us. We are thankful that Your arms are always open to each of us. We rejoice in Your salvation that can save and keep us: in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture: Romans 8:38, 39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I Have To Give It Up!

It was the worst game of golf he had ever played. As he missed his putt on the final green, he flew into a terrible tantrum, screaming and swearing and flailing his arms. Beating his putter on the grass, he cried, “I have to give it up!”

“Give up golf?” asked the caddy in disbelief.

“No,” snapped the golfer, “my ministry. The church is taking up too much of my time. Those people expect too much of me and always expect me to take care of them.”

Pure and simple, time is a special gift. It is a commodity that, once used in one way or another, can never be retrieved. Once gone, it is forever lost.

One expert on time put it this way: “Time is life. It is irreversible and irreplaceable. To waste your time is to waste your life. To master your time is to master your life.” Lost time leads to a lost life.

We must always begin each day with God in a time of worship – prayer, Scripture reading, meditating on His Word and recognizing His role in our lives. If we make Him our first priority and focus on Him throughout the day, we can trust Him to direct our paths and bless each moment He gives us.

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to not only do things right, but to do the right things in the right way, at the right time. I surrender my time to You and ask that You help me to use it wisely, for Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Scripture: Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

What To Live Without

A young lady was bragging to her girlfriends about her good fortune. “I have two handsome men who want to marry me, and I can’t decide which one to choose. I can live with either of them!”

One of her friends wisely said, “Your job is to determine which one of them you can live without.”

Everyone has a decision to make: Will we accept or reject Christ as our Savior.

When we choose to accept Him and the life He has to offer, we settle our eternal destiny. Once we have accepted Him as our Savior our life will be different. When we turn from sin to the Savior, we are given the power to live an abundant life – a life that is satisfying and fulfilling and one that pleases and honors God.

Sin is not a defect in our personality but a disease that destroys us. Sin is not an attitude or an accident, but a decision to turn against God. Sin is not a mistake but a willing rebellion against God’s laws. God’s Word says that “the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are eternally grateful to You for giving us the opportunity to choose life through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We ask that You will become the Master in our lives and keep us from sin. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God And The Issues Of Life

Years ago a luxury ocean liner was making its way from England to America. Shortly after dark it encountered a massive thunderstorm and heavy seas. The ship began to heave first one way and then the other because of the enormous waves. One of the passengers sought out the captain and shouted in a loud voice, “Do something!”

“Madam, we are doing our very best,” he said calmly, “and we are trusting in the providence of God.”

“Is it that serious?” she asked.

The word “providence” comes from two Latin words, “care” and “preparation beforehand.” For the Christian this means that before we encounter problems or pain, trials or troubles God has already made His preparation for us to be safe and secure no matter what He brings into our lives.

We must realize that God sees “things” beforehand and knows what happens to us before it actually happens. Because of His knowledge and power, He will arrange the outcome of these “things” to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

Paul certainly believed in the providence of God. In his letter to the Romans he assures us that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called by Him.” If it comes into our life it is because God has a purpose and plan for it. Accept it and look for God’s hand in it.

Prayer: Help us, Father, to trust You when days seem dark and nights seem long. May we realize and accept Your “providence” for us in everything! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

All Together, Now!

One morning on their way to school a group of young boys was walking past a home with a large iron gate. Michael thought he would provide a bit of humor for the group and decided to put his arms and head through the gate and said, “Look at me! My head and hands are on one side of the gate but my heart and body are on the other side.”

Before he could get his head and hands out of the gate, one of his friends slammed the gate and Michael Faraday was badly hurt. He overcame his injuries and became one of the most influential scientists in history for his contributions in the field of electromagnetism.

Later in life he said, “That experience taught me one thing: My heart, head and hands should always be on the same side.”

This great scientist explained an important truth: there is a path that flows from the heart to the head and from the head to the hands. Simply stated, what begins in our heart usually grows, and in one way or another, spreads outward and ends up dominating the way we live, what we live for and what we do.

God’s Word reminds us that we must “not let any part of our body become a tool of wickedness.” So, when our eyes are enticed to look at objects that may lead to temptation and sin, we must immediately look to Him to “deliver us from evil.”

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to realize that sin has a way of beginning with an innocent glance that can lead to everlasting destruction. May we keep our eyes on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 6:12-14 …Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life,” and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

A Word That Is Not In God's Word

Carl Sandburg was a great American author who won several Pulitzer Prizes for his poetry. Near the end of his life he was asked, “What’s the ugliest word in the English language?”

Without hesitation he answered, “Exclusive!”

But that word is not found in God’s Word. In fact, the Apostle Paul said, “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!” And anyone includes everyone.

How wonderful it is to know that the God of love and the love of God are not exclusive. No matter who we are or what we have done, He loves us. No matter where we have been or whom we have traveled with, He loves us. No matter how dirty we get or how often we have disappointed Him, He loves us. He loves us when we are at our best and when we are at our worst. Anyone at anytime can call on Him and He will hear and help!

But Paul follows his statement about God’s gracious invitation with the question: “How can they believe in Him and receive Him if they have never heard of Him?” With this critical question he places a great responsibility on every Christian: We must take the Good News of God’s message of salvation to those who are unsaved. Unless we accept this challenge from Paul, those whom we know that are lost are doomed. We must do for others what others have done for us.

Prayer: Father, we are so grateful that someone took Paul at his word and shared Your message of salvation with us. Help us to do the same while there is still time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 3:14 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Why Do We Suffer?

Many of us, from time to time, ask ourselves the age old question: “If God is God, and if God is a great God and if God is a good God and if God is a powerful God, why does He allow bad things to happen to me and others who have good intentions and want to please Him?”

Deep down we do believe that He is a good and great and powerful God. But that question still nags at our innermost thoughts and feelings and from time to time challenges our faith with subtle doubts.

He certainly does have everything under His control and He does desire our very best. But not all things, such as sorrow and suffering, seem good while we are going through them.

I remember very well my mother’s homemade bread. I would return home from school and the entire house would be filled with the aroma of fresh baked bread and wanting some butter and homemade strawberry jam to go with it.
The flour, yeast, shortening and baking soda needed to be “put together.” But when Mom followed a “recipe”, allowed them to “rise” and then baked them in a hot oven, the results were amazing and wonderful.

Is that not how God works? Some pain here. A lot of suffering there. A time of grief. Sorrow for a season. Financial problems. Discouragement over a loss. That’s God’s mixing everything together for our good and His purpose.

Prayer: Father, give us grace and courage to look at our lives the way that You look at them - knowing and believing that everything works for our good and Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have called according to his purpose.

Time Out!

One morning in a small town in Switzerland the clock in the tower stopped. Children unaware of what happened naturally thought that they had more time to stop and enjoy the lovely spring day. Secretaries on their way to work stopped to visit with their friends in the little shops that surrounded the square. Men reading their newspapers took some extra time to enjoy their stories. After about thirty minutes, the clock started again and the children, the secretaries and the businessmen, noticing that the hands were moving, ran off to their appointments. These people were late because the clock they trusted pointed to the wrong time.

Each of us has a personal clock ticking inside of us. It has a specific number of “ticks” that God has allocated to each of us that will determine how long we will live. There are times when we think that our clock is pointing to a great number of days that we cannot see nor count on. We may have a year in mind when we plan to retire and begin to live a life of ease and do things we have delayed doing.

God’s Word reminds us, however, that “None of us live for ourselves.” God has given each of us the power to make plans and dream dreams and to look forward to the future. But the most important thing we must do is to include God in our plans. Do not forget that “while we live, we live to please the Lord and when we die, we go to be with Him.”

Prayer: Help us, Father, to listen to the “tricking” of our clock - to always be aware of the fact that we have no assurance of tomorrow. May we make each day count for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 14:7-8 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

This Isn't Working Either!

It was Mom’s “Day-A-Way” and Jake and Dad were having the time of their lives. As soon as she left the games began and were non-stop until it was time for lunch.

After lunch it was time for a nap. But the activities of the morning were so intense that Jake could not settle down. Shades drawn and lights out were not enough. He’d climb out of his bed and look for Dad expecting the fun and games to start again.

Finally, in desperation, Dad decided to lay down with Jake, expecting eyes to become heavy and sleep to come to his rescue. After a few moments, Jake sat straight up in bed and said proudly, “This isn’t working either, is it?”

God in His eternal wisdom gave each of us a conscience - a moral compass that signals what is right or wrong. No matter where we go in the world, from one culture to another, people know deep inside what is right or wrong. All societies have laws that keep people together and set limits on what is appropriate or how to treat others.

And even though we, as well as others, know what is right and what is expected of us, we seem to want to do what is wrong. God has planted His standards on everyone’s heart and when any heart becomes troubled - for whatever reason - it is His Holy Spirit beginning to do His work to begin convicting us of our unrighteousness and God’s holiness.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for “early warning signals” that alert us to Your standards. Make our hearts very sensitive to Your laws and convict us when we do wrong. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 2:15 Since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

The Greatest Offering

It was the final night of the annual missionary conference. Many missionaries from many nations had gathered to tell of the work of God all around the world. Hearts were deeply touched and many lives were changed.

The pastor concluded the final service with an offering that was to be shared among the speakers. The plates were filled with money and checks. But in one plate was a note that simply read, “Myself.” Underneath the word “Myself” was the name and phone number of the person who signed it.

The next day the pastor called the young man who signed it and asked, “What do you mean, James?”

“I’m giving myself to become a missionary,” he said. And then he added, “I’m willing to go anywhere and do anything at any cost to serve the Lord.”

James made an important gift to God: his body. Unfortunately, many Christians believe that God is only concerned about our souls. Not so! We need to realize that our bodies belong to God just as much as our souls. When we give Him our souls He expects our bodies as well.

The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and is the only instrument through which the Holy Spirit works. So, Paul says, “Take your body and think of all that it does each day - the skills, tasks and the abilities - and offer it to God; and when you do, follow Him wherever He leads You.”

Prayer: May we realize, Father, that You expect us to give our bodies to You just as Your only Son did. May we not limit what You can do because we fail to surrender. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.

Prayer And Providence

An ocean liner was in the midst of a terrible storm while making its way from England to America. The ship was swaying violently from side to side and heaving up and down as the waves washed over the bow.

The captain was trying his best to calm the people and encourage them not to be frightened. Suddenly a lady shouted, “Do something!”

“We’re doing our best,” said the captain calmly, “and we are trusting in the providence of God.”

“Oh my word,” she cried. “Is it that bad?”

The word providence comes from two Latin words. One means “before” and the other means “to see.” When the Christian speaks of “providence” it conveys the message that God knows the outcome of the events in our lives before they happen. Not only that, He knows and understands how those things which we sometimes resent are working to shape us into the person He wants us to be!

Paul said that whatever happens in the life of the Christian happens for the Christian’s best interests. In fact he said that “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Not that everything that happens to the Christian is good in and of itself. It means that everything that happens is to shape us into the likeness of Christ – and that’s for our good. As we become more and more like Him, He can use us more and more to do the work He has for us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we not only accept the fact that You are at work in our lives, but really believe it is because You love us and want us to be like Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:28 For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Completely Covered

According to Greek legend, Achilles was the greatest warrior who ever lived. In Homer’s Iliad, he was the hero of the Trojan Wars. When he was a baby his mother wanted him to be invulnerable to injury. So, early in his life she took him to the River Styx, believing that it had miraculous powers, held him by his heels and dipped him in the water. Only his heels were not covered by the water.

He became a great warrior! Unfortunately, he was killed in battle by a poisoned arrow that pierced his heel – the only spot that was not covered by the water from the River Styx. It is from this legend that we talk of “our Achilles heel.”

Although it is only a legend it teaches us a significant fact: Our surrender to Christ must be complete. Paul advises us that we are not “to let any part of our body become a tool of wickedness to be used for sinning...instead...let your whole body be as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.”

Surrender is often difficult for some of us for fear that we will fail our Lord. Does this come from the idea that we think we are responsible for victory over sin? We are not! It is God working in us and for us and through us that gives us victory over sin through Christ. Whatever we do not surrender to God is claimed by Satan and causes us to sin.

Prayer: Help us, Father, to remember that the battle and the victory are in Your hands. We know that if we surrender to You we will not be defeated. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 6:12-14 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 

Careful: God At Work

One morning a man, seeking direction in his life, was going through his mail. He had prayed earnestly for direction from God but it never seemed to come. On this day, however, things changed.

Tucked away in the pile of mail he was sorting through was a magazine that was addressed to his neighbor. He looked at the cover and saw an article entitled, “The Needs of the Congo.” His curiosity got the best of him so he opened the magazine and read the article. It touched his heart deeply.

For days he prayed about its contents and the opportunities and challenges it presented. Finally, one day he declared, “My search is over.” He went to the Congo, lost himself in his work and became a great medical missionary and author. Ultimately he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work.

Albert Schweitzer was a theologian, philosopher, organist, and physician. But one day he became a medical missionary where he lost himself in God’s will doing God’s work among the lost and dying.

Was it an accident that the mailman put the magazine in the wrong mail box? Of course not. He too was doing God’s work. Although some may consider it an “accident” it was actually “an act of God” to get his attention.

Prayer: How marvelous are the different ways, Lord, You use to get our attention to do Your will. Help us to be alert to see and hear what You have for us to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

Obstacles Can Be Opportunities

Centuries ago, a king had a group of his soldiers place a large stone in the middle of a road during the night. They worked in silence following his orders because he wanted no one to see them place a sack beneath the stone.

The next day he sat in a balcony where no one could see him and watched as the people passed by. All of them looked at the stone, paused a moment and then walked around it. Some became angry and wanted to know who could possibly have a reason to interrupt their lives with such a horrible inconvenience. Others cursed the stone thinking that their oaths would make a difference and the stone would move under its own power.

Finally an elderly peasant paused, looked at the stone and then summoned all of his strength and pushed it out of the way. To his surprise he discovered a purse beneath the stone. When he opened it he discovered many gold coins and a note from the king. The note read: “Whoever moves this stone is entitled to the coins in this purse.”

God works “in everything,” according to Paul, “for our good.” It does not mean that whatever happens to us is good. But that “good” will come to us if we fulfill His purpose for our lives and grow into His likeness.

Prayer: Give us, Dear Father, the vision to see every obstacle in life as an opportunity to use the strength You have given us to grow into Your likeness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Irreversible Call

The legendary Babe Ruth was known for stating his opinion – whether wanted or not. On one occasion there was an umpire who displeased “The Babe” and he violently disagreed with one of his calls.

Shouted Ruth, “There are 40,000 people in the stands who know that pitch was a ball!”

“Maybe so,” said Umpire Pinelli, “but mine is the only one that counts.”

Not quite. There is an Ultimate Judge. Scripture declares that “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God. Yes, each of you will give a personal account to God.”

Paul states clearly that there is a Righteous Judge before whom we play the game of life. He knows each of us by name and everything there is to know about us. He is infallible and impartial and cannot be bought or bribed.

Unfortunately, many Christians adopt or adapt their standards of conduct on what others in society are doing. This reflects a weak faith and a disregard for the teachings of the Word of God.

Since we will all give an account to the Lord for every thought we think and deed we do, we must look to Him for His guidance and His Word for directions.

Prayer: Father, we often live life as if what we do does not matter. Awaken us to the reality that we will stand before You to be judged for everything we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 14:11 It is written: “’As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”

Active Or Effective

To be active for God is one thing but to be effective for God is quite another thing. Anyone can be active but not everyone will be effective.

Being “active” can be compared to “riding” a stationary bicycle: there is a lot of motion but no movement. Or spending an hour in a rocking chair going back and forth: you end up in the same place having gone nowhere.

For the Christian to be effective means making a positive impact on the world with our lives. It means that we have lived lives that made a difference in the lives of others – a difference that can be seen, a difference that can be felt, and a difference that will bring others to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

We begin this life of effectiveness by giving our life to God through the work of Christ. When we give our lives to Him, He will accept us as we are and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And when He cleanses us, He will fill us with power that comes from His Holy Spirit dwelling with us. When he fills us with His Spirit He can use us effectively.

There are many things we can do but only one thing we must do. Paul said, “Present your bodies to God!” God has pleasing and perfect plans for all of us to do His work effectively. But we must first present ourselves to Him.

Prayer: Lord of our lives, help us to understand how much You want us to work with You in reclaiming Your world. May we present all that we are to You, now! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.