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Friday October 11, 2024
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Today’s Daily Devotional
Today’s Daily Devotional
Matthew 8:3-4 (MSG) Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there, all signs of the leprosy were gone. Jesus said, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed body to the priest, along with the appropriate expressions of thanks to God. Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done." The Lord calls us all to go out and be a witness for Him throughout the world. Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 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, 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. Yet so many treat that like it’s a command to be a “light switch” in the world instead of a light to the world. Yet we are not told to go out and be a witness (a light switch), but rather that our lives are a witness to the world. But how many want to go share the gospel, or may tell others about Jesus, yet go back home and treat their family bad, or go home and watch porn, or “R” rated movies, or steal from the company they work for, or bad mouth others, or gossip, or…. That’s being a light switch for the Lord, meaning we turn on our Christianity around others, but when we are away from them, we turn our Christianity off and live a life just like the world does. Jesus warned the Pharisees and us about such behavior, and even called them “hypocrites” which is an actor. Matthew 23:27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. That’s just what being a light switch for the Lord is. You act one way around certain people appear beautiful outwardly”, then flip the switch and act another way around different people full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness”. Even Paul had to address this with Peter, who was being a hypocrite, or acting differently around different people. Galatians 2:11-13 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. Yet how many are like Transformers for the Kingdom of God. They are like cars or planes or trucks, being like the world. Yet when trouble comes around, they act like mighty robots. Or they simple transform themselves from being like the world (Cars, planes, truck) around non- Christians. But get them in a church or around other Christians, they transfer into a Super Christian (Robot). Yes men do see our outward appearance and how we “appear beautiful outwardly” but the Lord sees our insides, the real us that we can not hide from the Lord “but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. So if this has been you then you may be asking, “what do I do?”. Jesus said: And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.” Luke 13:3b (NLT2) Seek the Lord and ask His forgiveness, and you will be forgiven. Repent (turn from) the sin of hypocrisy that you have been doing, and as Jesus said: Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.” Revelation 2:5 Now is not the time to turn and run with our tail between our legs like a dog who got punished, but rather, repent and be that witness to others, but also to live the life we are being a witness about, which is a life, walking with Jesus Christ, because the time is short, and the days are evil, so it’s time to stand for the truth, and live for the truth, even when others are not watching or seeing you do so. Ephesians 5:15-16 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT2) And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. And no longer be a light switch for the Lord but be a light to the world and keeping that light shining even when others can’t see it. Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
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