“Our Daily Bread”
http://odb.org/2012/10/21/harvest-day/
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht
Today’s writing was done by a very dear friend of mine that lives in South Africa… Her name is Shelly-Ann Roos, and she is a sister in Christ… Oh the power of the world wide internet !!
Any reader, who has something they have written that could be used to glorify the Lord, is welcomed to participate in the writing for this group… I originally wanted to find 10 to15 writers for this Facebook group; so we would only have to write something 2 or 3 times a month… That was over 3 years ago, and I have only had 5 or 6 days that were written by others… If you’re interested in helping out, e-mail me or message me on Facebook… Everything I post is sent out the day before to several people, to be pre-read for biblical accuracy…
Exodus 9:16… But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. (NKJV)
In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 13 (1-23)…Jesus teaches us about the condition of the human heart to receive Him in a parable about 4 different kinds of soil. By comparing the gospel to a seed, and the heart to the soil, Jesus sets up a number of different circumstances and conditions. In verse 4, the birds eat up the seed that falls by the wayside; in verse 5, the soil is rocky and there is not enough good soil for the seed to take root, and the young shoots wither and die; in verse 7, the seedlings are choked by thorns. However in verse 8 something exciting happens. Jesus says this, in…Matthew 13:8… “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (NKJV)
There are a lot of teachings on this passage that focus on the condition of the soil; and I love that the Word is so personal. When we spend time with the Holy Spirit with our heart wide open to Him; He will search our hearts and know our anxious thoughts (Psalm 139:23). Our own “thorns”, “rocks”, and “birds” will be exposed; be it unforgiveness, bitterness, or addiction. And sin, or ground that we are allowing the enemy to ensnare us with, God will deal with, as we submit our lives to His grace…
1 Peter 5:6-7… Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (NKJV)
Today however; I want to move a step beyond preparing the soil. I have explored in the Word lately; the subject of having a root that goes so deep down in Christ with-in me, that no storm can uproot it and no heat can wither me…
Matthew 13:6… But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. (NKJV)
To produce a crop that Jesus describes in verse 8; a plant needs to be getting nutrients and water… And to have a sufficient supply to produce fruit, the root system needs to be deep and healthy. I myself, found my root system broken; when I recently went through a divorce and was left picking up the pieces of my life. I was shaken. I believed in God. I never doubted in Him, or His grace. And yet there I was; as empty as an unbeliever, scrambling and searching for….? And there lay the question.
It took months, mistakes, and searching to find the answer I had been looking for...Jeremiah 29:13…And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (NKJV) My purpose had never been rooted in Christ’s love for me. My purpose had been primarily that of wife and mother. A Servant at church. A Woman of the community. A Go-to-girl. Whatever the day or the people around me needed. But don’t get me wrong friends…I believed this to be, and still do…Godly callings.
However, my faith was so shaken when one of these purposes so easily crumbled. And it’s been through this journey that I’ve realized…there are many purposes and callings God will call each of us to individually, throughout our lives. These may change with seasons, with some carrying with us throughout our lives. Some may grow, and some God may remove. But whether it be a career, another person, duties with-in the body of Christ, a ministry, or whatever…the danger is when our identity is attached to this calling; instead of our purpose in Christ arising out of our identity in Him.
Our identity in Christ!! That’s the root! The evidence of which is living out our full purpose in Him. If we are securely rooted in who we are in Christ Jesus, come heat of the sun or winds of the storm, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Christ is the One who calms the storm. Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the Lion and the Lamb; our sufficient portion and our Rock…so our identity, our purpose and our eternity is secure and unshakeable.
There is a purpose, flowing out of who Christ created us to be, that every one of us in the body of Christ is called to. One purpose that should have us getting out of bed in the morning…and staying in the Word day and night. One purpose that we share, and that we should be encouraging each other with.
Exodus 9:16… But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. (NKJV)
That our lives may become a living testimony for Christ; and that everyone around us will see His power in our lives, and know He is Lord. And that in presenting our bodies a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), we would die to ourselves…commit all to God…and obey Jesus, and the last commission He left us, before ascending into heaven…
Matthew 28:19-20… Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (NKJV)
Dear Merciful God of Grace, give us the courage to let go of all that seeks to hold us back from the destiny we have secure in You. Lord that our hearts would have a fresh revelation of You, so we would step into our roles as adopted children of the Most High God…a Royal Priesthood and a Holy Nation. Father that we would find our identity in You; our purpose for Your joy; and our lives a living testimony of Your power. Through the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
written by shelly-ann roos
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