Prayer: Dear Lord, when the routine makes me weary, and the children become “testy;” help me to remember I am “called” to be Your ambassador. Amen
Scripture: For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 NIV
What does that mean? Once we have told Jesus we are sorry for our wrongdoings, once we have believed He is the Messiah and Savior of ourselves and the world, once we have stepped aside and invited Him to take charge of our lives, we are saved.
Romans 8:29 (NIV) informs us that “…those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” That is such good news! When we become saved, God sets His pre-Creation plan into action. That plan is for us to grow and mature, to become more like Jesus.
In that journey, He also “calls” us, not only to be His children but to fulfill the purpose for which we were born. Hebrews 12:1b (NIV) instructs us to “…run the race marked out for us.” God’s plan is individual for each of us, unique just like our thumb prints, a place “ordained for…[us]…” and “…written in …[God’s]…book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16b, NIV). Why? So we may lead others to make the decision to join “God’s ‘Chosen’ Club.”
Many of us have also been “called” to be teachers. Through this venue, He has given us the privilege of being “Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NIV). Therefore, we are taught, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23, NIV).
Finally, God promises us that we are increasingly “glorified” in this life as well as eternally. That’s enough to give us strength for every day! So, when the routine makes you weary, and the children become “testy;” remember you are Christ’s “called” ambassador. You may be the only “light” the children see in this dark world. Let’s rest on this promise: “… in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV).
Copyright Jeannette Carroll. To connect with the author, email j.carroll.devotionals@gmail.com
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