Do You make Christ Known?

Monday, January 6, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: 1 Peter 1:13

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Today's reading:  Genesis 16-17 Matthew 5:27-48

Do You Make Christ Known?

Matthew 28:19-20

19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Yesterday, we wrote about the 50-odd times we hear God command us to 'do unto others' in the New Testament. This passage in Matthew, what we know as the 'Great Commission', does not use the 'others' term but implies it. It says, "...baptizing 'them'(others). Jesus tells us His main directive. This is what Jesus came for-to set people free.

How does this all happen? It goes back to the greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:37-39: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

We see almost unbridled excitement for sports teams and great athletes and movie stars and famous musicians. The world makes them known and studies how they were made great and achieved such success. We fill stadiums and great halls with hoards of cheering fans-fanatics.

The way of Christ is in relationships. The 'doing to others and for others'-Jesus taught us as he prayed and healed all the time loving each heart He touched.

The more we grow in Christ, the more we learn to love Him and the more we love Him, the more we will want others to know of His endless love for them.

This all goes back to the secret place where we meet God and the time we spend with Him and in His word. We hear all the time about how love in this world hurts through turmoil and loss, etc. God's love never hurts. He never disappoints, on the contrary, He always fills and frees and encourages.

'Others' must hear from people who know this life in Christ-this freedom and peace and power.

Know Him and make Him known-love Him and you won't be able to keep it to Yourself. Yes, we all have much work to do-but, then, there is always loving to do.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Your name is greater than all other names-past present-and future. Your kingdom is forever. Forgive me my failure to do Your will. Give me the burn in my heart to obey and follow. Lead me away from fear.

Merciful and forgiving God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen