Subtitle: Ask God to make more of you to be more like Him. And thank Him for His grace, which abounds more and more.
Excerpt: The Pharisees and chief priests boast about not believing in Jesus, but this will be their biggest mistake. We should examine our actions and ensure they align with God’s will, not just appear acceptable.
Scripture
Our verse for today comes from John 7:48, “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in Him?”
Background
Maybe you’ve seen some of those unintentionally funny announcements that have been printed in church bulletins. “Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet tonight. Please use the back door.” “Don’t let worry kill you—let the church help.” “Weight Watchers will meet Tuesday. Please use the large double doors at the side entrance.” “A bean supper will be held in the church hall. Music will follow.” “There will be a meeting of the Little Mothers Club. All ladies wishing to be ‘Little Mothers’ will meet with the pastor in his study.” Sayings like these might sound good when they come out, but once it sinks in, the mistake becomes obvious. And along those same lines, the Pharisees and chief priests in today’s verse are proudly boasting that they have not been duped into believing anything this Jesus has been saying. Their stance looks good before the other Jewish leaders, but ultimately it will be the biggest mistake they ever made.
Application
Sometimes in our own lives, we get to where we are doing and saying things that might appear to be normal or acceptable, but if we would look more closely or could see the end result, we would realize that the end will not justify the means. Some parents might structure much of their family time around their kids’ sports teams. Running to practices and tournaments many times a week might be good and exciting, but it might not be God’s best for you. It might be, but it might not. Doing a ten-minute devotion each day might allow you to get your mind on the Lord, but is it a piece of your entire day of serving Him, or the only time you give your Savior? Is celebrating that the cashier rung up your item incorrectly and saved you some money worthy of praise, or is it a missed opportunity for you to point out the error and honor the One who is the Truth? Surely we don’t need to change everything about our lives. But let’s not assume we don’t need to change anything. So listen and look a little more closely today.
Charge
As we seek Him today, remember that everything you say and do is part of who you are. Ask God to make more of you to be more like Him. And thank Him for His grace, which abounds more and more.
Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words
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