Devotionals: Two Thoughts for Today
Treasure Pearls
..read the pieces of making a difference I someone else life,offer them gems of life it touched me!
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” 1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
I look down at my hand on the steering wheel and notice the beautiful pearl ring on my middle finger. As I gaze at the special jewelry, memories of my recent Florida trip rush to mind as I think about the fun times my daughter and I had searching for oyster pearls.
Quickly becoming a tradition, Abby and I have discovered the excitement of picking out oyster shells at Sea World. Divers, disguised as mermaids, plunge to the bottom of a huge glass tank and we point out the exact shells we want them to retrieve. Once on dry land, the oysters are cracked open to reveal the beautiful treasures beheld inside.
I must say that my Abby is extremely lucky and has picked out shells that have yielded large white pearls, twin pearls (which is extremely rare) and even a blue pearl. Anticipation and excitement fill the air because we do not know exactly what we’re going to get. It’s like we are partaking in a little mystery as we await the cracking of the shell. And so many times, we have been surprised by the perfect jewels we have received with this fun activity. On our last trip to Florida, Abby and I had matching pearl rings made to always remember this fun tradition we partake in together.
The Bible makes no secret about the precious treasure we behold as Christians. It is no mystery that God has blessed us with power through the Holy Spirit, as stated in
2 Corinthians 4:7. Though we as humans may be weak, just like the oyster shells, who can be cracked and busted, God has entrusted us with the salvation message to tell others. The miracle is God’s power dwells within us to help us render His treasure to those we come in contact with, have relationships with, do life with.
Be encouraged to offer the gems within you to someone today. Do not be timid or shy about communicating your faith to others. Draw confidence from knowing God is with you every step of the way to provide strength, courage, and opportunities to share your heart.
“Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing me with the inner-dwelling Holy Spirit who gives me strength and courage to share Your story with others. Help me to never take Your gift of salvation for granted or the price You paid for my debt of sin lightly. Guide me in seeking out others who need to hear Your message. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
By Alisha Ritchie
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Seeking Soul Significance
Posted: 19 Feb 2016 03:00 AM PST
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Do you yearn to live a life of significance? During a season of vocational and spiritual discontent, I silently prayed, “Surely there’s more to life than this…” A relentless restlessness resonated in my soul. Initially, I ignored my uneasiness, because I was comfortable with life as usual, but internally, I felt unfulfilled and empty. So I started asking God to help me discover a dynamic and thriving faith.
By divine design, God has integrated an insatiable desire for significance into our spiritual DNA. Often, we try to fulfill this yearning by prioritizing fame, fortune, or other temporal treasures and pleasures, which may appear to satiate us temporarily. However, the aching emptiness persists and reverberates in our souls.
Paul reminds us that God created us anew to live a life of selfless significance – a life of good works that God prepared in advance – a life that fully and faithfully shares and reflects Him. Paul, Luke, and others practiced occupations while prioritizing sharing the gospel in word and deed.
Are you seeking soul significance? I rediscovered soul significance while serving on a community outreach team. God challenged me to transcend cultural and occupational obligations and expectations and to faithfully share Him with the community. Whether you are a preacher, physician, poet, or plumber, God has redeemed you to experience a thriving and dynamic faith journey – a journey that reflects eternal significance and influence.
It is only when we fully realize our value and potential in Him and surrender to His direction and influence that the aching restlessness subsides and we begin to live with abiding joy and satisfaction.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me anew in Christ Jesus. Help me to reevaluate my priorities and to discover and embrace the good works you have planned for me. Open opportunities for me to reflect my faith with those in my community. Enable me to experience a thriving and dynamic faith through selfless service. Amen.
By Allan Mitchell
Used by permission
http://www.thelife.com/dailydevotions
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From the Darkness into the Sunshine 