Tag: servant

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: September 12, 2014

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Colossians chapter 4

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Paul was a people person. All of his relationships were Christ- centered. In the last chapter of Paul’s letter to the Colossians he names at least eleven different people. Paul realized that he needed people if he was going to serve the Lord. It takes people working and serving together to build a church and to bless the world with the Gospel message. Paul needed people to pray for him. He said, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.” (Colossians 4:2-4 NLT) Paul needed people to partner with him. He referred to Tychicus as a “beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord.” (Colossians 1:7) He referred to others as “fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.” (Colossians 4:11) Paul needed people who were personal to him. His friends shared a closeness, and a passion to advance the kingdom and make known the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul’s friends were compatible. They each had the church’s best interest at heart. They each had the same convictions and believed the same truth. From those who loved Jesus, to those who labored for Jesus, to those who were locked up for Jesus, Paul’s list of friends proves that people need people.

Prayer: “Dear Father, we thank You for the people in our lives who are a special blessing to us. May we each be a friend and also have a friend in the Lord. Please send faithful people to minister along side of us. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 13

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Some years ago I was invited to preach Revival in a church that practiced foot washing services. Foot washing is a symbolic act of service first performed by Jesus as a ministry to His disciples. It teaches us humility and service and the need to minister to one another as believers. Foot washing is an act of love. It can best be pictured in the act of forgiveness. Jesus forgave our sins whenever we were saved. We were made clean by the power of Jesus blood. Our cleansing and salvation wasn’t anything we deserved, it was an act of God’s love and mercy. As we walk through this sinful world our feet may need washing. We must come to Jesus daily and confess our faults to experience His forgiveness. We must also forgive one another. Forgiving our brothers and sisters in Christ is taught and commanded in Jesus illustration of foot washing. When we don’t forgive fellow believers our fellowship is broken. When fellowship is broken our prayers are hindered. When prayers are hindered we are ineffective and the devil has won. The devil fights dirty. His goal is to divide God’s people. The devil will whisper something to one believer and then whisper the opposite to another believer in an attempt to pit them against each other. Jesus taught us to resist the devil and to love and forgive one another. Is their someone in your church family that you need to wash their feet? To forgive is like washing someone else’s feet. You are not condoning their sin but instead you are declaring God’s grace. Forgiven people are able to forgive people. When we won’t forgive it is like drinking poison hoping someone else will die. It only hurts us. But when we forgive we are showing a spirit of servanthood displayed by Jesus Christ. Billy Graham said, “A servant is someone who helps another succeed.” How many times has Jesus washed your feet?

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank You for cleansing us of all sin. Help us to serve and forgive one another. Keep us in unity and sweet fellowship as the people of God so that our prayers are not hindered. Make us more like Jesus. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron