Passage of the Day:
Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister[a] sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you, Luke 17:1-6.
Reflection:
Whether you realize it or not, people outside of church are watching you. You may be the only Bible that these individuals see. Is your faith gathering co-workers, neighbors and strangers closer to Jesus? Or is your attitude, driving habits and language scattering seekers further and further away from God like the ones Jesus rebuked in today’s featured passage. You only have two options when you wake up today: gather or scatter.
Prayerful Action:
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess, Deuteronomy 30:15-16.
Fueling Your Faith this Spiritual Season:
First century Christians pleaded with Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus’ response includes either holding a mustard seed in his hand or pointing to a full-grown mustard plant. During Moses’ farewell address to Israel as their spiritual leader, he points to the choices that you make in life. Good decisions result in blessings from God which extend your days on earth. Unfortunately, poor choices are self-inflicted decisions which bring upon curses and unexpected death. Don’t let faith be a feeling that you have when you draw close to the Lord. Make a conscious effort daily to gather the lost, lonely and needy closer to God through your faith.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
No one likes to be yelled at in public. However, when you’re drifting away from God, conviction from the Holy Spirit usually motivates me to stand in faith. May the lyrics of today’s song inspire you to be consistent in gathering others closer to God daily.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 