To Be Convinced

Wednesday, July 5, 2023 Good morning, Lord Verse of the Day: Isaiah 12:4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. Memory verse: John 10:27-28...27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Today's reading: JOB 30-31 ACTS 13:26-52 To Be Convinced Most parents have seen it-the look of disgust from a child when we gave them a 'what-not- to-do'. We told our children time and again, "We don't tell you things to hurt you but to keep you from being hurt". It means we want them to make good decisions. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 says, "For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. In other words, God calls us to make us holy-not to be impure. God does not give us instruction to load us up with rules and laws but writes His law on our hearts to make us more like Him-not for hurt but joy-to make right decisions out of love for Him. 2 Corinthians 3:3 2You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. As we read, study, pray, and work for the Lord we sometimes lose sight of our motivation. 2 Corinthians 5: 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. 15And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again. Are we truly convinced? If we are truly convinced, Christ's love compels us. What does that mean? We either do things because we are driven by need or obligation or because we are grateful and want to show gratitude in love. So, do we serve God from obligation or gratitude? It is always good to sit down before God and ask Him to show you your heart and be truthful about it. If we grow weary in God's work, it may be because we are just physically tired. But, it also may be because we are not led by love but driven by a misunderstood obligation. God wants us to know His love deeply and know that He provides the energy, physical as well as spiritual, to work in His kingdom. That is why there are promised times of refreshing. Acts 3:19 ►Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, David knew it when he wrote: "He restores my soul", Psalm 23. We must seek to be as intimate with God as we can so that there will never be any confusion. We must desire and pray that we are always led by His love. ...because He loves us... Father in Heaven, Forgive me for feeling obligated and lead me into obediently working out of love. Merciful Father and great God, In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen

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