Blessings!
Today’s Promise is 1 Peter 2:1-3 CJB:
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, of all deceit, hypocrisy and envy, and of all the ways there are of speaking against people; and be like newborn babies, thirsty for the pure milk of the Word; so that by it, you may grow up into deliverance. For you have tasted that Adonai is good.”
Devotion:
I was at the pool one morning, swimming laps with my daughter. In the lanes next to us, the young swim team was practicing. This morning, another woman was sitting with the coach, watching the kids swim. My daughter and I noticed that the coach would correct a swimmer, then, as soon as the swimmer had taken off again, the coach would make degrading comments about the child to the observer. The swimmer may not have heard her comments, but everyone else in earshot did. My daughter, who had previously been invited to join the swim team, commented that she was glad she hadn’t joined. The point is that God, as our life coach, sees us screw up all the time, and corrects us when necessary. But He doesn’t then turn to His angels and say, “That kid is so stupid. I can’t believe he keeps making the same mistake.” In fact, God doesn’t even remember our past mistakes, once we have repented.
How different is the world, where the favorite pastime is finding fault or digging for dirt on people and broadcasting it to world, stirring up hate and strife. The true children of God are more hungry for Him than for drama and self-aggrandization. If indeed we have received God’s grace and forgiveness, we should be as humble as newborns, eager to lay aside all of this nastiness and start anew. We should be seeking God’s perfect Word and the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and grow us into what our Father created us to be–more like Him.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know that, in my own insecurity, I have slandered others, and I take no pride in that. Please, forgive me, in Jesus’ name, and grant me more grace to see others as You do, Your children, who need you. And help me to remember that You have received me just as I am. So, I no longer need to prove my worth to anyone–including myself. Help me to love myself as You do, that I may extend that love to others. Amen.
Have a victorious day in the Lord!
Rebecca
