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October 5 — Let Your Good Works Shine

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5;16     Jesus told His followers that they are the light of the world. It is a remarkable description. Light makes things visible. It provides direction. It pushes back darkness. Even a small light can make an enormous difference when everything around it is dark. Then Jesus explained one of the ways His light becomes visible through us: through the good that we do. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds…” At first, these words might seem to conflict with Jesus’ later instruction in the Sermon on the Mount not to practice righteousness merely to be noticed by others. But the difference is found in the purpose. Jesus does not tell us to perform good deeds so that people will admire us. He tells us to live faithfully so that people may see something of God through us. The goal is not, “Look at me.” The goal is, “Look at ...
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October 4 — Serving the Lord in All We Do

“Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” — Colossians 3:23-24     Much of life is ordinary. We wake up. We prepare for the day. We go to work or attend to responsibilities at home. We answer messages, complete tasks, prepare meals, run errands, care for people, solve problems, and take care of things that need to be done. Then the next day arrives, and we do many of those things again. It can be tempting to imagine that serving God happens primarily during the obviously spiritual moments of life—when we worship, pray, study Scripture, volunteer at church, or participate in a ministry. Those things are certainly important expressions of service. But Paul gives us a much larger vision. “Whatever you do,” he writes, “work at it with your whole being, for the Lord.” Whatever you do. Those words bring God into the ordin...
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October 3 — Here Am I. Send Me!

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” — Isaiah 6:8     There are moments when God places an opportunity before us and waits for our response. Sometimes the opportunity is unmistakable. At other times, it comes quietly through a need we notice, a person we encounter, or a gentle conviction that there is something we should do. The question is not always whether God can use us. The question is whether we are willing to be used. Isaiah’s response, “Here am I. Send me!” is one of the most memorable declarations of willingness in Scripture. But it becomes even more meaningful when we remember what happened before he spoke those words. Isaiah had experienced an overwhelming vision of God’s holiness. Confronted by the majesty of the Lord, he became painfully aware of his own sinfulness and cried out, “Woe is me!” Yet God did not leave Isaiah in guilt and shame. His sin was atoned for, and his guilt was ...
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October 2 — Created for Good Works

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” — Ephesians 2:10     Have you ever wondered whether your life truly has a purpose? Scripture answers that question with a wonderful assurance: you are God’s workmanship. You are not an accident or an afterthought. God knows you, loves you, and has created you with purpose. Your life matters to Him, and He desires to work through you in ways that bring His love and grace into the lives of others. Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:10 are especially meaningful when we remember what comes immediately before them. In verses 8 and 9, Paul explains that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works. Then he tells us that we have been “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” The order is important. We do not perform good works in order to earn God’s salvation. We do good works because we have already received His salvation. Grace comes first. Good works ...
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October 1 — Called to Serve

“Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:43-45     What does greatness look like? The world offers many answers. Success. Influence. Recognition. Achievement. Power. But Jesus gave His disciples a very different answer. Greatness looks like service. The disciples had been discussing positions of honor in the kingdom of God. They were thinking about who might be greatest. Jesus redirected their thinking. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” In God's kingdom, greatness is not measured by how many people serve us. It is revealed by our willingness to serve others.   Pause and reflect: How do I usually measure a successful or meaningful life? Do I think primarily about what I have accomplished, or do I also consider how faithfully I have loved an...
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September 30 — God Finishes What He Begins

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6     Every meaningful project begins with a first step. A seed is planted. A foundation is laid. A journey begins. Yet not every project is completed. Human plans are often interrupted by changing circumstances, limited resources, or unexpected challenges. God's work is different. What He begins... He finishes. “He who began…” The Christian life begins with God. Long before we sought Him, He sought us. Long before we loved Him, He loved us. Our salvation is not the result of our own efforts. It is the gracious work of our Heavenly Father, who called us to Himself through Jesus Christ.   Pause and reflect: Can I see ways that God has been at work in my life over time? As you look back over the past months or years, where do you recognize His patient guidance, His transforming grace, and His faithful care? How does remembering His past...
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September 29 — A New Creation

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17     One of the most beautiful truths in the Christian life is that God does not simply improve us. He makes us new. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, something profound happens. Our relationship with God is restored. Our sins are forgiven. His Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. A new life begins. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ…” Notice the wonderful inclusiveness of this promise. It is for anyone . No matter your past. No matter your failures. No matter your regrets. No matter how many times you have stumbled. The invitation of Christ remains open. Everyone who comes to Him in faith is welcomed into new life.   Pause and reflect: How has Christ made me new? Looking back over your journey with Him, what changes do you see in your heart, your priorities, your relationships, or your character? What new work might He still be accompli...
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