Daily Devotional - 1st September, 2012 - Why are you Worried?

Daily Devotional - 1st September, 2012

God knows the future from the beginning. So then why do we find ourselves so worried about life? Maybe that statement doesn't apply to you, but I know many wonder about the value of their life. Or rather, they wonder whether their life is having any eternal significance. "Is my life actually achieving anything of worth?" If you have been wondering this lately, I have a word for you.

Let me say, it's not helpful to play a tape over and over in your head that questions your value in Christ. What matters, is that your life is IN christ, not what you achieve FOR Christ. God's love for you is not conditional upon your perceived 'success' or otherwise in ministry. God's love for you is a free gift from God, and actually, nothing can separate you from that love (Romans 8:38-39). Man's opinion of you does not necessarily match God's opinion of you. In fact, God's opinion of you is what matters.

God is sovereign. God knows you future. Rest in him and deepen your revelation of the absolute extravagant love of God.

Ponder: Consider the fact that God knows who you are, and loves you intimately.

Bible: 1 John 4:7-12

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Two words that have literally floored me

My heart pounds right now, as I consider the words the Holy Spirit has implanted in my mind. They won't pass from me. The words seem to be ingrained there for this particular moment. These two words fly in the face of my future plans. They challenge my intended motives for conflict resolution. While I was ready to catch up with someone with all guns blazing, these two words have gripped me. They have floored me, really. It's a dint to my ego, let's be honest, but they're words God has planted into my mind. No other humanistic reasoning will I accept - these two words would not have popped into my mind other than a powerful deity at work... Well the two words...
Extravagant Love.

That's all, extravagant love. I had intended on throwing the law at someone. I had intended to give them a piece of my mind. I had intended to swat the fly with a sledge hammer. But those two words came into my mind, and I thank God.

See, God showed extravagant love when he sent his son, Jesus Christ to die for the sins of humanity. I had forgotten that. Here I am being woken up by God, and I hear the voice saying, 'Hey, extravagant love, not overpowering law, or humanistic condemnation... get it right. You're following me, remember?'
What a challenge I face right now. Will I bow before God, and humbly accept this word for my life and ministry? Or will I say, no way, and try to do things in my own strength, with my only plans and futile endeveours?