Gainesville, Florida, United States - Trinity United Methodist Church - Daily Scripture - Devotion for Sunday, 9 March 2014 "I’M THE CHILD OF GOD"

Gainesville, Florida, United States - Trinity United Methodist Church - Daily Scripture - Devotion for Sunday, 9 March 2014 "I’M THE CHILD OF GOD"
SCRIPTURE: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.--PHILIPPIANS 1:6
I’m different. There are people in this life who look at me and try to figure me out in terms of limitations, but the truth is that I don’t have any. I’m the child of God. And because Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He’s my brother and protector. I’m limitless and blessed beyond human imagination.
Jesus is personal in my life, more valuable to me than money or mansions. He’s not only my brother and protector; He’s also my friend and advisor. I go to Him when I’m in trouble and hurting. I go to Him when things are going great. He leads me through my prayers and by the example of His own life.
When things were going badly for Jesus, He remained a servant and kept about His work. He knew who He was and why He was here, and never wavered from His purposes. I try to do the same. No matter how badly things are going, I keep serving. I show up for church. I go to work. I raise money for the American Heart Association and the March of Dimes. I conduct my food drives. I remain kind.
When people were mean to Jesus, He loved them anyway. He remained their teacher and friend. In the end, He laid His life down to save them. I try to be that loving. As you can imagine, I’ve always been picked on and cursed by bullies who don’t understand people who are different. But I’ve learned to be as soft and strong as Jesus. What small-minded people think doesn’t matter to me. With Jesus, my purpose here is greater than trying to respond to cruel words and unkind actions. I see all that as opportunities to show bullies the love of Christ. When I remain soft and loving, they see Christ. When I bless them and serve them in spite of their cruelty, they see God’s love. I hope I touch their hearts. I try.
Through Christ’s example on the cross, I’ve learned to forgive people immediately. Because I’m working with and living for God, I turn bullies over to Him and never look back. In forgiveness, God is brought into the situation, and I’m spared hurt and anger. He’ll deal with them for me. I get back to God’s work and forget every incident so quickly that I even have trouble recalling the details later.
I’m don’t worry about what I don’t have. I’m too rich for that. I thank God for creating me, for allowing me to be born into a family with great parents and great sisters, and for the many blessings of my life. I feel Jesus on the inside of my soul and show Jesus on the outside. I let people see my faith the way I live it. God is doing a good work in me. He’ll continue until I go to heaven and His good work is completed. Jesus is that promise.
Dear God, use me that I can have Jesus in my life and help me to be an example for others so that I can to bring them the Lord as I did my mother. Amen.
Andy Jasperson
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