BEFORE AND AFTER... Sunday

Devotional for 1/3/16

Many people make New Year's resolutions to lose weight.  That is why lots of advertising is done this time of year for weight loss.  We've all seen those before and after pictures.  I saw one the other day on Facebook of an overweight man in both pictures, looking the same.  The caption said "In just two weeks....  he lost his glasses!"  Sure enough upon further inspection the only difference between the two pictures was the glasses were missing in the second one! Ha!  Many people make those resolutions but never attain their goals.

While losing weight may be an admirable goal for physical health, the spiritual side of the picture has more eternal consequences.  Some people at the beginning of the year have a "before" spiritual picture of no faith at all, or their "higher power" is one made up by themselves or others.  Perhaps our own spiritual resolution for the year can include being better at sharing our faith with others.  All believers in Christ have room for improvement in their spiritual life, whether it be to bolster a weak or waning faith, or to strengthen what is already solidly there.  We do that through studying God's word, both alone and in group settings or worship services.  We turn to others trained to help us in our growth such as pastors.  The whole goal of maturing our faith is not so that we can enter heaven, for that has already been won for us by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But rather it is so that we can go back to those without faith and be better equipped to lovingly speak the truth and share the Gospel with them so that they too may be a part of the body of Christ.

 

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)  "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
 

Dear God in heaven, we ask that you would help us to become more mature Christians this year.  Guide us to the people who can help us grow in our faith as we study your Word.  Help us to lovingly share the Gospel with those around us, as this will strengthen both them and us spiritually.  May our "before and after" picture at the end of the year show the progress we have made for your glory, and may more souls be added to the body of Christ because of our witness to them.  Help us to stand mature and strong on your Word, no matter what happens around us or to us. Thank you for your merciful forgiveness when we falter and for your free gift of eternal life with you in heaven for all who remain faithful.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

written by Jan Andersen