Changing The Mirror - The Devotional

In the world, we worry. We are anxious. We have to be. Or else how will things get done? How will we pay our bills? Feed and clothe ourselves and our families? How will we get that job, get that promotion, keep ourselves and our loved ones safe? How will we protect ourselves if we don't worry about it? In Christ, we have Someone who has already taken care of all our needs. Jesus says that it's the people who don't know God who worry about their lives. But in Him, we can be assured that He knows about our needs and Has made provision for us. One of the names of God in the Old Testament is Jehovah-Jireh (yireh). This name basically means that God has seen and has made the provision. Finally, God is our Heavenly Father. Unlike our earthly fathers, God is perfect. He is perfect in love because He is love. And God, the Creator of EVERYTHING, is the perfect Provider. Basically: whatever's going on with you right now - there's no need to worry - God's got this!  Scriptures Matthew 6:25-34 Philippians 4:6-7

In the world, especially in corporate settings, everybody knows about the CYA policy. Cover your... rear-end. Basically, worldly wisdom tells us that we've got to have our own backs, because no-one else will. In Christ, things are vastly different. In Christ, God Himself has our backs. And that sets us free and gives us the security blanket we need to look out for each other. In fact, God issues the command to us to not take matters into our own hands and try to get revenge when we are wronged. God says He will deal with those matters in His way... and in His time. That's what we don't like. We want to defend ourselves NOW. But in Christ, there's a better way. A way that honors God, that reflects the transformational work that His Spirit is doing in us, and that demonstrates the depth, width, and height of God's love, which the Bible says 'covers a MULTITUDE of sins'. Scripture Romans 12:17-21

In the world, when someone wrongs you, you protect yourself by holding it against them. You may forgive if they admit they are wrong. Or you may forgive because people are now beginning to talk about the emotional and even physiological baggage that accompanies unforgiveness. Turns out: God has a different standard of forgiveness which He has demonstrated since the beginning of time. He instructs us to offer to others the same forgiveness we have received from Him. That is hard. Actually, it is humanly impossible. Because when God forgave us, the Bible says He separated us from our sinful past 'as far as the east is from the west' [insert Scripture reference]. Not only that, but God - GOD - blots our sin from His memory [Isaiah 43:25]. In other words, forgiveness is divine. Yet God commands us to forgive.  Thankfully, because His Holy Spirit lives in us, we CAN forgive. Not in our own strength, but in the strength and love of the Lord. Not based on our emotions, but by deciding to forgive in obedience to

The world tells us to toot our own horn, to be sure to let everyone know our accomplishments, to put ourselves first. God tells us to prefer others above ourselves in love.  This is not a command to **NOT** take care of ourselves, or to put ourselves down in comparison to others.  Rather, it is a command to recognize that **God has already taken care of our needs,** and so we are able and equipped to: - love, - serve and  - give honor to those around us. **Humility also leaves room for God to honor us.** When we seek to pile honor on ourselves in our own insecurity, we have already received our reward.  But when we humbly do the work the Lord has called us to do, not for recognition but out of love for and obedience to Him, He Himself rewards us. Scriptures (New Living Translation) Philippians 2:3-11 Luke 14:7-11

In the world we have a sense that we must take care of ourselves - because no-one else is looking out for us.  While that may be true in the world, it doesn't have to be. God promises us that in Him, we have everything we need to live, and to live Godly lives that please Him (2 Peter 1:3). AND He also promises that no matter what we go through, He will take care of us completely, protect us, and be with us at all times.  In Christ, we're not just happy-go-lucky. We're not optimistic. WE HAVE FAITH IN A GOD WHO'S FAITHFUL. And that faith and security will make us look really strange to people around us! In this series we will look at how, in Christ, we are able to live completely counter-culture and yet survive, thrive and please God as Jesus did.

So now we have freedom in Christ. Now what?

In Christ, we no longer have to live under the control of fear.

In Christ, we are set free from bearing the punishment of our sin. We are forgiven!

In Christ, we are set free from bearing the punishment of our sin. We are forgiven!

When we came to faith in Christ, we were set free: from the power and penalty of sin, and from being enslaved by fear. In this week's devotional series, we dive into what it means to have Freedom in Christ.

Your existence was carefully planned for. Your future is carefully planned for. Fifth and final in the series on Psalm 139.

Whatever issues you may have with your physical appearance, know that God Himself crafted you. He has declared you 'wonderfully made'. Fourth in the series on Psalm 139.

You're not alone. Somebody cares. Somebody is watching you with eyes of love. Third in the series on Psalm 139.

The Lord knows you completely, perfectly. He sees you as you are and He loves you still. Second in the series on Psalm 139.

God LOVES you. He KNOWS you. He WATCHES over you. He MADE you - perfectly. And He has PLANS for you. Today is the first in a series on Psalm 139.

God has adopted you, become your Father, and made you part of His Divine Family. You are not alone!

God has spiritual wealth stored up for you for today **AND** an inheritance for everlasting life. You are secure in HIM.

As we live our daily lives in surrender to our heavenly Father, we begin to develop a divine family resemblance.

In Christ, you are adopted by God. Now you can approach God directly - because you have Divine Access.

When you accepted Christ, you were adopted by God. Now what on earth does that mean? Today is day one of this week's series where we'll dive into what it means for God to be our Father.