Aug 06 2024

Today's Bible Verse

Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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In this verse, Paul tells the Christians of Thessalonica (modern day Greece) that the Lord has called them to the Gospel to glorify Jesus and partake in His glory. The verse reminds us that we all have a purpose: to bring glory and honor to the Lord. Today, we can rejoice in the truth that we never have to feel as though our lives lack purpose or are without meaning. We all have a God-given calling.

Yet sometimes, even Christians can feel as if our lives have no purpose or meaning. These feelings usually hit when we encounter some kind of difficulty or suffering; it can come out of nowhere and deeply wound us. However, when those feelings come, we can remember the truths we see in this verse: We have a calling from the Lord, and it is better than anything we could imagine.

Paul writes that the Lord calls us by the Gospel, meaning that the Gospel is an invitation necessitating a response. When we hear how Jesus died to set us free from sin, we must decide whether or not we will follow Him, surrendering our lives to Him and living in accordance with His commands. This is His call to each of us.

The call is costly. When we decide to follow Jesus, we are surrendering our claim on everything but the love of the Lord. We are saying that we will do whatever the Lord asks us, even if it is painful or confusing. It is making a predetermined decision to say yes to the Lord, regardless of the costs. It is a huge decision that changes the course of our lives… but it is the way to purpose, freedom, and experiencing the glory of the Lord.

When we decide to step into the highest calling of the Christian life—to walk in obedience to the Lord's commands—we get to experience life in a new way. We can pray to the Lord and watch how He moves in our hearts and lives; we no longer have to be afraid of what might happen in our futures. We get to enjoy a rich and fulfilling relationship with God, who loves us more than we could ever understand.

This is the high calling of the Christian life, and the invitation to it is open today, just as it was nearly 2,000 years ago when Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the high calling that I have in you. There is no better life than one lived in utter dependence on you, one that rests in your great love at all times. Thank you for calling me and for changing my life. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Aug 05 2024

Yesterday's Bible Verse

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. :

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Yesterday's Bible study

In this verse, Paul tells us that the Lord does not choose us based on our own merit. Everything good in us is the result of the Lord moving in our lives. The goodness and love that we have for other people originate in the love that the Lord first showed us. Because of that, we cannot feel self-satisfied or boast about our calling or all that God accomplishes through us. Keeping this truth in mind helps us remain humble so we give glory to the Lord in all circumstances.

Humility is one of the most important characteristics of a Christian. It recognizes that we did not—and could never—earn our salvation, which was a gift from the Lord through Jesus. We cannot be proud of our own spiritual maturity, our biblical knowledge, or how we love and serve other people… because all of those are effects of the Lord working in us. He works in our hearts so we become more and more like Him.

Walking in humility gives us freedom. It allows us to be unconcerned about what others think about us, our position, or our prestige. When we are not consumed with putting ourselves first and our own image, we are set free from the race of success, materialism, and greed. Instead of worrying so much about ourselves, we are able to put our focus on the Lord and what matters most to Him—other people. Humility allows us to embody Jesus on a new level so we can love other people as He did.

When we remember the grace and mercy of the Lord, we can prevent our flesh from glorying in His presence, as the verse says. So instead of acting as if the Lord is lucky to have us, we can walk in humble submission. Instead of taking pride in our walk with Him or our own spiritual maturity, we can take pride in God himself. Our focus shifts from ourselves to the Lord!

And, when that happens, our eyes are opened to the miracles that He has worked and will continue to work in our own hearts.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, I can never thank you enough for saving me. There was no reason to save me, but you loved me, and so you did. Help me to remember your grace and to walk in humility. In Jesus' name, amen.
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