What’s that series of movies called? Mission difficult? Mission easy-peasy?
Ahhh…Mission Impossible.
Not possible. Can’t be done.
But somehow Tom Cruise always manages to complete the mission, doesn’t he? Somehow, with his resume of spy skills and his team to support him, he always gets the win.
Philippians gives us a few ‘Missions Impossible’… are you ready? Here they are:
-Consider others above yourself.
-Consider loss what you used to consider gain.
-Rejoice always.
-Don’t be anxious.
Before you turn the missions down because they are clearly impossible to accomplish, take a look at what’s in our arsenal:
“I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”
All of these missions, at their core, are a matter of perspective. And isn’t the best part of every spy movie the part where you go, “Ahhh! That’s what’s really been going on the whole time!”
That is what Paul is offering us here with this credo.
[Consider others above yourself.] Seeing ourselves through the lens of the one who gives us strength changes the way we see others and therefore can change the way we treat them.
[Consider loss what you used to consider gain.] Considering the value of what success really is from Christ’s perspective will likely equal a shift in our priorities.
[Rejoice always.] Viewing our everyday with the eyes of him who conquered the cross and is coming to reign can give us strength to find joy in the mundane and even a glimmer of hope in our pain.
[Don’t be anxious.] Looking in the eyes of the Prince of Peace as he takes our burdens and walks with us through our trials reminds us that we are not alone.
That is how we complete our mission. That is how we, like Paul, are able to do all things through him who gives us strength.
Tom Cruise may do all his own stunts, but Jesus can do all of everything…so, yeah…go ahead and take that mission. You’ve got a good team.
-Susan Landry
Today’s Bible passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Philippians 1-4
The tagline might read: This motley crew of misfits does nothing but bicker and fight amongst themselves…is it Guardians of the Galaxy–or us?
In both cases, establishing a sense of identity leads to unity and purpose, and some big winning.
Ephesians 1-3
If Ephesians were an epic movie experience, the first half would establish how God sees us, our true identity. We’d hear our characters use words like chosen and included, forgiven, grace and saved. We would watch them go through a transformation from dead in transgressions to alive in Christ.
Somewhere in this segment, God would find an intensely personal way to show one of our characters “the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus,” … and I would definitely cry.
Ephesians 4-6:
As we prepared for act two, our characters (and we, ourselves) would recognize the real meaning of it all, and we might finally “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”
Taking hold of the fullness of the love that Jesus has for us. Really understanding this love that goes beyond how much we know. Big stuff. That’s why this flick is such an epic.
Knowing who we are changes how we live and how we treat others, and that’s where the second half of the story leads.
When we are able to see ourselves through the lens of this all surpassing love, we can be humble, gentle, patient, speak and act in love; and things like bitterness, anger and rage take a back seat to kindness and compassion.
There’s a scene at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (that I always rewind and watch a second time if I’m alone). It’s just a short conversation between Rocket and Peter.
Rocket : He didn’t chase them away…Even though he yelled at them, and was always mean… And he stole batteries he didn’t need.
Peter [Realizes Rocket’s talking about himself, not Yondu]: Well, of course not.
{Gulp} {Tear} This team of individuals, unable to get along at the start, becomes not only a team but a family. And this moment of tenderness makes me cry every single time. Every time!
When the struggle is no longer against one another, we can fight the real battle…together, perhaps?… and win.
The true enemy is the darkness of evil, not each other. But we can only truly realize that, truly embrace that, when we are able to see ourselves in the light of our true identity, as God sees us. Until then, we’ll keep losing ground and wondering why.
Ephesians has no talking Racoons or Trees with attitude, but there are definitely supernatural powers and epic battles. And like any good superhero movie, the heroes sometimes need little reminders now and then to live up to their potential. That just might be how this lesson will fade out…
“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
– Susan Landry
Today’s Bible reading passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Ephesians 1-6.
The best movies are more than a fun way to spend a couple of hours, they leave us with something. And a film doesn’t have to be deep and dramatic to be able to find lessons in it. Analogies are everywhere. Learning can come from many places.
Our devotional trailer opens on a fleeing man, Onesimus, with the voiceover telling us, “Under Roman law, there were no limits to the punishment a slave master could inflict on a runaway slave….but sometimes redemption comes when we least expect it. ”
Onesimus somehow found Paul, and over time he grew a faith…and a friend, it seems. At some point, Paul sent a letter to Onesimus’ former owner, telling him he was sending the slave back to his previous master.
“I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you… If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.”
Charge it to me.
Do you see how Paul is mirroring the story of the cross here?
In this story we are Onesimus. Like him, each of us deserves punishment. We owe a debt. And like him, someone offered to take the punishment on our behalf, to pay our debt.
Someone has given us a second chance.
Maybe you’ve never really been in the position of needing a true second chance. Or maybe you have and you’ve just forgotten how demeaning and low it can feel. The graciousness of Paul, to speak of Onesimus as ‘my son’, ‘my very heart’, and ‘a dear brother’ must have allowed Onesimus to hold his head high as he returned to his former home.
The account of Onesimus and Philemon may be a short one, but the way that Paul used this opportunity to illustrate the gospel story is pure genius.
Maybe, in Onesimus, Paul wanted each of us to know that we are beloved. That we are worth saving. We are worth sacrificing for.
Maybe he’s telling us that knowing our true value allows us to hold our heads high as we live in our ‘former home’ until our forever home is ready for us. We are Abba’s children. We are Christ’s dear brothers and sisters.
This would be one movie that would pack an emotional punch, and you could be sure you’d leave the theater changed…if you were really paying attention.
And speaking of paying attention—the next time you are unsure of your standing, remember that you have a letter in your pocket that says, “Charge it to me,” and lift your head a little.
-Susan Landry
Today’s Bible reading passages can be read or listened to here at BibleGateway – Colossians 1-4 and the itty bitty book of Philemon
A movie trailer gives us a taste of a film but by no means covers the depth of its entirety. When we read chunks of Scripture, it’s impossible to capture the fullness of its message in a short devotion. I hope that a short peek each day at a moment in each reading will tempt you to read the passage on your own and see what other plot twists you find!
Although Paul is the main character of the film, this trailer starts with a closeup of the Centurion.
A rugged soldier, captain of 100, standing on the deck of a ship at sea. He’s worried. A storm is brewing and as he looks to the man beside him, the man says, “You should have listened to me.” The man is not a sailor, he is a Jewish scholar and a prisoner, and he proceeds to instruct the Centurion how he can save everyone on board.
“Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”
Scenes flash across the screen of the Centurion cutting ropes in the blowing rain, Paul praying to God, the ship running aground a sandbar, soldiers arming to kill prisoners before they can escape, and the Centurion stepping in to protect Paul.
Dry and ashore the island of Malta, we watch, from the Centurion’s vantage point as Paul is bitten by a poisonous snake with no ill effects and as the islanders come to him to be healed. Music swells and we know that this is a story of changing perspectives and growing faith, and ours is growing right along with this hardened soldier’s.
Acts 28:16 says, “When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” If I were writing this movie, I’d take some artistic license and that soldier would be the very same Centurion from the ship. It would make a great last shot, wouldn’t it?
Really, though, I wonder how this Centurion’s life was altered having made this trip with Paul. We’re told that his name was Julius, “When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius,” but not much else. The things that Julius saw and experienced must have changed him. They must have.
Along those lines, think of the ‘Centurions’ in your life. Those who live life in your peripheral. They might not be main characters, but they are on the sidelines. How is their life being altered having had you in it? What can you do to be more intentional about being a positive influence, planting a seed, showing a glimpse of the Father so that their story might be changed?
-Susan Landry
Today’s Bible passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here –Acts 27-28
Tomorrow we read 2 of Paul’s letters – Colossians and Philemon.
Throughout today’s reading and yesterday’s reading as well, we are told of the arrest and imprisonment of the apostle Paul while in Israel. He testifies before several different people in authority before eventually being sent to Rome to presumably face Caesar. He spends as much as two years in jail under Felix’s watch.
Why did God allow Paul to be in chains for so long before ultimately going to Rome to spend even more time in jail until his death? I am certain this time was not without purpose. One key from this passage that stands out to me is found in chapter 26, beginning in verse 25:
“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
Paul was afforded opportunities to influence high ranking officials that he likely would not have had were it not for him ending up in chains. He had those same opportunities in Rome. And as we know, Rome eventually became the center of the Christian world. It wasn’t until 313 AD, however, that the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which accepted Christianity: 10 years later, it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. So it took a while after the death of Paul (approximately 62-64 AD), but I believe the two are linked.
We have had many opportunities ourselves to influence people by our actions and by our words. Some of these times have been very intentional, as when we try to minister to someone, or very unintentional, as when perhaps someone we don’t even know notices something different about us because of our faith.
Sometimes, if we are lucky, we get to see some of the impact we can have on others. But more often than not, we will never know what fruit our actions and words will bear in others.
But that’s OK. All we can do, much like Paul, is to do the best we can, and then allow God to develop the seeds that we have spread. One thing is certain though. You have to plant seeds in order for them to grow. What are you doing to plant seeds in others? Do something! Be an encourager. Share your faith. Or just be really kind to others. You never know what kind of amazing impact you can have, even if you don’t see it.
-Greg Landry
Today’s Bible reading passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Acts 24-26.
I am a fairly humble fellow. I do not stand out in a crowd. I do not try to draw attention to myself. In fact I don’t like attention. I don’t consider myself arrogant and I am very aware of my flaws. And yet, there are still times when I allow myself to feel superior to others. Maybe we all do that at times?
No matter how many flaws we have, all of us are better at something than someone else. And in those moments where we take notice of that, it is easy to allow our egos to puff up a bit, isn’t it? Maybe that is even especially true for those, like me, that are more keenly aware of our shortcomings than our triumphs.
Paul touches on humility several times in chapter 12, and typically when I read these passages, I instantly think about people that are very arrogant, and think, “this doesn’t really apply to me,” or “I’m doing fine in this area.” But then (sometimes) I think about the thoughts that I opened with.
Beginning in verse 3, Paul says, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
There you have it. Each of us should NOT think of ourselves more highly than we ought. Well then how highly SHOULD we think of ourselves? Frankly, I would say pretty high, because we are each pretty incredible creations of God. And we have each been blessed with many abilities and talents. But as Paul points out, we have all been given DIFFERENT abilities. And it is key to remember that we have been given those abilities. We didn’t do anything ourselves to acquire natural abilities. Some people are born with great musical talent. Others with sharp intellect. Still others with amazing athletic skill. Paul here is speaking primarily of spiritual gifts, but all abilities and talents are indeed granted by our Creator. I really appreciate when I see gifted athletes giving credit to God for their abilities during post-game interviews. I am not always sure how sincere they are, but the message is true regardless.
In verse 10, Paul says to Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one other above yourselves. This is an outward extension of humility, and here, should be motivated by love. How often do you honor others above yourself?
Finally, Paul comes back to humility again in verse 16.
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
We should not just be showing humility to the people we are comfortable being with, or the people that are “our kind of crowd.” We should be showing humility to, and honoring above us those whom we would consider to be of low position.
Again, this is the example Jesus left for us, and it is a humility that is motivated by love, which Paul sums up perfectly in verses 9-21.
So, think of yourselves very highly, as an amazing creation, but do not think of yourself more highly than someone else. That is when you are thinking of yourself more highly than you ought. It’s about recognizing that God has given each of us different gifts, to be used to His glory.
-Greg Landry
Today’s Bible reading passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Romans 11-13.
Tomorrow we will finish the book of Romans (chapters 14-16).
I think Romans chapter 8 is one of the most encouraging sections of scripture. And boy can we use some encouragement right now.
It is so sad to see so many suffering from the effects of the Covid virus. Many, many people have lost work and income. Many children are not able to attend school in person. Abuse has increased. And many people have died or have otherwise physically suffered from this virus. It is very easy and very natural to be discouraged and worried right now. But for Christians at least, we need to cling to the fact that present circumstances do not alter the future promise that God has made.
One day, there will be no need to fear death from a virus or anything else. We will be made perfect in the coming Kingdom! That is the hope talked about in Chapter 8, and it is a hope that can not be taken from us.
Until that day comes, be encouraged, fellow believers, in the words Paul shares here. Verse 28 says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. That’s encouraging! That doesn’t mean everything will be perfect as we want it to be, but God, in His infinite wisdom knows what is best for our own good even if we do not.
Verse 31b – If God is for us, who can be against us? That is a great statement. What God has put in motion is unstoppable. No one will stop God’s plans, and God’s plans include YOU!
Yes, this pandemic stinks. And it doesn’t seem the end of it is super soon. But we have a certain hope in that coming day, and nothing can take that hope away or prevent that day from coming. Likewise, these momentary troubles can not separate us from the love of Christ. Paul tells us in verse 37 that in regards to these troubles we are “more than conquerors.” We WILL get through these momentary troubles. For that is all they are, in the bigger picture.
Finally, chapter 8 concludes with more incredible encouragement:
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I hope that is as encouraging for you as it is for me. Take these passages to heart. Remember them when the world seems to be against you or, as now, the world seems to be falling apart. Remember that your creator, your Father, your God is FOR YOU! And nothing can take that, or His future promise for you, away.
-Greg Landry
Today’s Bible reading passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Romans 8-10.
I’m skipping right to the end of chapter seven, to a dilemma that many Christians wrestle with.
Starting in verse 15, Paul says, I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Paul really nails what I and so many other Christians struggle with – the question of why do I continue to sin if I have turned my life over to Christ? Certainly all Christians still sin. I know my sins, and you know yours. But why do we continue to repeat certain sins over and over, if we know they are wrong, and we want to change our behavior? It’s frustrating. Many new Christians especially think they have left sin behind once they have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, only to be discouraged to discover that their sin nature is alive and well within them, as Paul points out.
I cannot begin to attempt to explain or examine every facet of sin, and why Christians still find themselves caught up in various sins, but I can offer at least one strategy that has worked for me, dealing with a specific sin. We should all have strategies for overcoming our biggest sin obstacles.
The following is an excerpt from the marriage book From This Day Forward by Craig and Amy Groeschel.
-“I have a special software installed that, although it allows me to get on the internet when I need to, filters what sites I can get to. And it sends reports of everything I see to my accountability partners. Maybe this sounds extreme to you (which doesn’t bother me at all). Maybe it sounds like a lot of trouble. It is. An obvious question might be, “So are you really that weak and vulnerable Craig? That if nobody was watching, you’d look at things that were immoral or impure?” I can honestly say the answer is, “No, not really.” Right now as I’m writing this, and as I’m thinking about these things, I’m in a really good place. My resolve is strong. I’m confident in my relationship with Christ, and everything is going really well. So why bother? Because if you are honest, you know that not every single moment of your life looks like that. Sometimes I get tired. Sometimes my feelings get hurt, or I get angry, or I feel like I’m not getting everything I deserve. And then, in those fleeting moments of weakness, every door to temptation that I might otherwise try to turn to is completely, thoroughly, securely locked. Strong Craig of this moment is looking out for weak Craig of those other moments.”
This is great advice. (By the way, the software he is speaking of is likely called Covenant Eyes, which we use in our house). When we are strong, we often don’t think about our weaknesses. But that is the best time to acknowledge them and plan what to do in case they return. If we can cut off access to committing some of the sins we have struggled with, then do it, if at all possible.
But when we do sin, whether large or small, habitual sin or not, we need not be discouraged to the point of giving up. Remember that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. And Paul humbly acknowledged that even he struggled with continuing to commit sins after accepting Christ. Our sin nature will not be completely shed until, Christ returns, and he delivers us from it. Until that day, we should be working to sin less and less. There are certainly strategies we can employ to try to accomplish that, as mentioned already. But thanks be to God that Christ’s blood covers us, despite our sins.
-Greg Landry
Today’s Bible passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Romans 4-7.
This is the first of 5 straight days going through the book of Romans. That’s not much time for a book loaded with so many great refrigerator verses. This is also my favorite book to read through, and something different stands out to me almost every time I read from it. So my intent is to share one or two things that stood out to me THIS TIME from each section.
Romans 1:16 says, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
I hope you are not ashamed of the Gospel. I do understand the temptation to be somewhat embarrassed or secretive of it. Many of the ideas and truths in scripture are no longer “acceptable” in today’s progressive world. That’s not really new, but it seems to be more true than ever before. I think we also are often afraid of appearing foolish for believing many of the miraculous aspects of scripture, up to and including the existence of a Creator God.
1:17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.“
We as believers must live by faith. We have never seen God. We did not witness the mighty miracles recorded in the Bible. But thankfully, we do not have a blind faith that is not backed up by evidence. We have had life changing experiences due to our decision to accept Christ. We have had direct answers to prayers. We have an abundance of historical documents and artifacts that confirm scripture. We also have evidence of our faith all around us and even inside of us.
1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Simply put, we can know there is a Creator because we reside in His creation. You can know there is a Creator because you are reading this right now, and YOU were created! Well, at least that’s what scripture tells us. But the secular world has different ideas, doesn’t it? The secular world is only interested in what can be proven. Or at least that is what they claim. This is where the foolishness comes in. We Christians are viewed as foolish for believing “a big guy in the sky” made everything in nature, when science has clearly shown that all living things have evolved from a common ancestor over millions of years. Those who deny Darwinian evolution are mocked by its adherents.
Either the world was created or it wasn’t, and those who fall on the wrong side of belief in this area probably are foolish. So which side does the actual evidence back? As a side note, I have presented this very topic at churches and camps in the course of hours and sometimes days, so this is going to be a VERY abbreviated version of that.
As a Creationist, my confidence in the world being created is because everything actually appears to be created. Staunch evolutionist Richard Dawkins even admits that (though he proposes that possibly aliens created our world). Again, if everything appears to be created, then there is likely a Creator.
Perhaps the best evidence that living things specifically are created is the DNA found within every living cell of every living thing, including you. This DNA is essentially a programming code, much like your computer uses, but DNA is much more complex. Bill Gates has said that DNA is a more complex code or programming language than any of his best programmers could have created. Languages and codes do not arise by chance, and to suggest otherwise is actual foolishness. Beyond that, living cells themselves, as well as the systems that they combine to create, are so unbelievably complex, that they are beyond the law of probability to have evolved by chance.
So to believe in a Creator does still require faith, because we have not seen our Creator. But it is not a blind faith, because we have ample evidence that we reside in His creation.
On the other hand, if you do not believe in a Creator, then you also must have a large amount of faith. You must have faith that something can come from nothing (even though this has never been demonstrated to be possible) because this is how big bang theorists imagine the universe started. You must have faith that living things can come from non-living things (even though this has never been demonstrated to be possible) because this is how most secular thinkers imagine life began. And you must have faith that less complex organisms can become more complex over time, completely by chance (even though this has never been demonstrated to be possible) because this is the essence of a belief in Darwinian evolution.
Do not be ashamed of the faith that we hold dear. It is indeed a faith-based belief system, but not a blind faith. And keep in mind that those that do not share our faith have also been created by our Great God, and are also loved by Him. If we have opportunities to share our faith and the reasons we believe with non-believers, I sure hope you will take them. In the end, they will be without excuse if they have not accepted Christ, but what a shame it would be if they had an opportunity to hear truth from someone like you, and you passed on that opportunity.
-Greg Landry
Today’s Bible passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Acts 20:1-3 and Romans 1-3.
We are going through our final chapters in Paul’s letters to the Corinthians! Thank you for sticking with me through this last week and listening to my ramblings
As Paul is finishing up his letters, he seems to talk a lot about boasting. Boasting can be defined as possessing something as a source of pride. Paul is possessing the knowledge of the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and what that means for his sinful life. He takes pride in the fact that he belongs to Christ, and he wants others to be proud of that too (10:2). He doesn’t want people to be proud of themselves or their own accomplishments, but only be proud of the Lord and being part of a group of believers (10:17).
In chapter 11 Paul talks about those who do boast about themselves and discusses how at the very most we should only be willing to boast about our weakness (11:30). In order to be in a position that you are not only willing to share a weakness but are seeking to openly and proudly share a weakness, you must be truly dedicated and excited to be part of that movement. Paul understood the impact that sharing his weakness, or his testimony, would have on believers because he got to experience first-hand the grace of God.
Paul didn’t always want to deal with the things that created his testimony, he calls them a thorn used to torment him (12:7). He asked for the things that were difficult for him to be taken away, and Jesus told him “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (12:9). Paul did not innately know that the things that were difficult, that were shaping his testimony, were going to be used for God’s glory. But when he learned that his weakness would only more greatly reflect grace, he did not shy away and try to hide or change his weaknesses to present himself as higher than he was to the church. All too often Christians can feel this pressure to hide the parts of their life that weren’t “pretty” in the eyes of other believers. But most times, what we have gone through and come out of because of the grace of God is one of the most powerful tools in bringing people to Christ and encouraging believers. We should be boasting in our weaknesses, in what God has brought us out of, with the purpose of growing and strengthening the Church.
Paul closes his letter by saying this: “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (13:11). Part of becoming mature can include developing and sharing your testimony. Being encouraged can happen when you share and hear about testimonies from other believers. We are all of the same mind when we focus on growing and strengthening the Church. And being at peace comes from knowing that each believer has that same focus. When we are able to do all of these things, God will be with us and give us His strength to complete tasks we never thought possible.
We make up the Church, and we are responsible for continuing to grow the Church and keep one another strong in the faith. Paul’s letters are a great place to start when looking for ways to be part of the Church, but there is absolutely a level of personal communication with God that is necessary to know where He wants you to be. I encourage you to take time today to reflect on your own testimony and to ask God who He wants you to share this testimony with. You may be surprised where He leads you!
Thank you all for joining me through the Corinthians! This week has been a great time for me to refocus on the mission, and I hope it was for you all as well. Until next time, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”
-Sarah Blanchard Johnson
Today’s Bible passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – 2 Corinthians 10-13
Tomorrow we begin a new week reading Acts 20:1-3 and Romans 1-3.
Seek Grow Love 