BGEA Devotions Mar 1
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When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
You know Jacob’s story.
He was manipulated by Laban multiple times but Leah kind of winds up in the crosshair.
Rachel was prettier, out front, and noticed.
Leah was not as attractive physically, hidden, and not the first pick.
Most of us think we’re Rachels…the further away we get from our salvation experience, we can change the narrative a bit.
The more celebrated we are at work for our talents and abilities, we can subtly think that God picked us like Jacob picked Rachel.
We think we’re desired like Rachel and innocent like Jacob…
But we have more in common with Laban while we were dead in our sins.
We have more in common with Leah - incapable of an life on our own…
You and I were enemies of the Holy, Loving, Perfect, Sovereign GOD - we were actively engaged with hostile acts of treason with our sin - yet GOD
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
—-
Great encouragement, but how to we counter that tendency - to think more highly of ourselves than we should.
How do we FIGHT THE DRIFT away from the day Jesus saved us staying front of mind?
The danger is…If we’re not careful, we (Christians doing Christian things in a Christian organization for a Christian cause) can operate like functional atheists apart from being intentional about a GOSPEL-REVEALING CULTURE in our teams.
A Gospel-Revealing team should be joyfully and humbly steward one another’s gifts.
A Gospel-Revealing team should be joyfully and humbly steward one another’s gifts.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
A Gospel-Revealing Team will exalt Christ as they lovingly focus on what matters most.
A Gospel-Revealing Team will exalt Christ as they lovingly focus on what matters most.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
“they lovingly focus on what matters most.”
not the talent but the treasure
not the container, but the content
not the strength of the flesh, but the power of the Spirit
A Gospel-Revealing team will know and celebrate one another’s salvation stories.
A Gospel-Revealing team will know and celebrate one another’s salvation stories.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Tip: Use the method we teach in the CLWC.
Briefly share your life BEFORE Christ!
Then spend the most time on HOW you came to Christ.
How you heard
What you heard
What you did
Then tell about how Christ is making you new!
When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.