Sunday, March 23, 2014

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 19

I spent most of today with my wife. It was a great day! Granted I am still having my lack of sleep thing and coughing for no reason, but still a great day. 
We spent most of the day registering for baby things at Buy Buy Baby. It was an eye opening experience. I thought I didn't have a lot of money before. Now, I was just saddened by how expensive things are for a baby. We did have one rule, if Kelli and I lived without it as a kid, our kid doesn't need it either. Like a baby wipe warmer, LOL! It was a ton of fun picking out items. Granted I didn't pick a lot of pink things. I has some moms agree with me that they don't like that all girl stuff is just pink. That is so boring! I don't know if people will even buy us anything of our registry but it sure was eye opening to see what it things cost. 
I stopped to reflect on the devotion for today and the most interesting part for me personally was to see how God loved me. He must truly enjoy being a father. He did create us after all. He let me become a Father as well. That must mean he must trust me with the task of raising one of His daughters. I know He will help me. I pray that I can show her a glimpse of the love He has shown me.



Day 19

Scripture

1 Corinthians 13: 9-13
-          9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Wisdom

-          In his writing to the Corinthian church the Apostle Paul wrote about thinking like a child. In this very well known piece of scripture we see that being a Christian involves maturity. We start out as children but slowly mature into more advanced thinking in our Faith. Especially when it comes to love.
-          We have to remember that when we are young we look at love and acceptance from a much skewed view. First we believe that God’s love is based upon how good we are. We are conditioned this way as children. Mommy gives us a treat for good behavior so why shouldn’t God love us more for not being bad. Second we believe that the acceptance of others is based upon performance. Our friends, family, coworkers, and superiors may review our worth based on performance, not on our character. But God does not judge based on performance. Finally we believe that a better social status means we will be better accepted. We have been tricked into believing that material possessions like a nice car or an expensive house or the most toys and trophies define who we are. God doesn’t care of these things and neither should we.
-          These things are lies; enemies of love. Paul writes about moving past childhood faith into a place of maturity. When we understand, truly understand, that God’s love to us is free; we will then have true peace and security. This will bring us to a place of love. It takes time, hardship, and support to experience the love that God has for us. It does not come through how the world defines love. It is supernatural. It takes faith and hope.

Apply

-          Do you understand that although people judge you, God loves you?
-          Read this statement: God loves me for who I am. Read it again. Now close your eyes and take a deep breath and say it to yourself 3 times. Be assured that God loves you!

Prayer

-          Praise God for His wonderful love. For His awesome acceptance of you and all of us. Thank Him for His sacrifice for us. Ask Him for the heart to love Him like He loves us.

No comments: