Daily Devotional: 7/22/18 - DIFFERENCE MAKER PT. I

"For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth." Acts 13:47

Paul quoted this from Isaiah 49:6 where the prophet Isaiah talks about being a servant of the LORD. Together with Genesis 12:1-3 ("the LORD had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great , and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'") and Exodus 19:5-6 ("'Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then our of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.") this is considered the Great Commission of the Old Testament. Then of course we got the "Crucial Last Words"/Great Commission of the New Testament in Matthew 28:18-20 ("Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.").

• They are all similar on the lines that God wants us to spread the message of his grace, peace, love and mercy to ALL (no matter who they are) in order to grow his Kingdom on earth and we have the promise that he will be with us throughout the entire process molding and transforming our hearts and the hearts of others.

The book of Acts (Acts of the Holy Spirit) is a great book totally recommend it, in my opinion it is probably the most underrated book in the entire Bible, but that is something for another day (I will save you from the ranting). One Sabbath Paul and Barnabas doing what they did best and preached in a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, their message was so moving the people invited them back out the next Sabbath to do it again (Acts 13:16-41).

The next Sabbath arrives and boom almost the whole town is there to hear these great men preach the Word - v. 44 (imagine!). The local Jews were extremely jealous, so they went up to the crowd and tried to contradict everything Paul and Barnabas were saying - v. 45. But Paul being Paul (no holds bar) was like "boiii what's up with you" and dropped the bar of verse 46-47 like a straight Bible wielding gangsta.

• This is a perfect example of how we should be in life. Paul follows the example that Jesus left for him and he was ready and equipped with the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Bible and Jesus were not shy of telling us that Jesus is the Light of the world; just a few scriptures Luke 2:30-32 ("For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations; a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."), John 8:12 ("When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"), John 9:5 ("While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.").

• We as Christians/Disciples/Followers of Jesus (whatever you want to call yourself) have to follow this example. We have to reflect His perfect image and lead my example. We have to be the light to this world.
• Matthew 5:14 says, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."
• We are called to be Light Bearers.

John 13:34 says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you much love one another." Jesus gave us this command for a reason, this world is dark loveless place (because we humans ruined it), so Jesus wants us to be the anomaly and wants us to love everyone. But he does not want us to love them just any way, he wants us to love people the way he loves us.

• He set the standard. He is the bar and the example for us to live by.

Jesus loves us unconditionally (like he died on the cross for us, if that does not prove that point I do not know what will). He loves us always . He loves all. For Jesus it did not matter who you were, where you came from, what you did, or what you believed he loves  them with all that he has and he did not think twice about it.

We are called not only to follow the example of Jesus, but to lead and show his example. We have to be a light in the world. We are called to complete the mission Jesus started and that is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching in his beautiful and perfect name.

• We are called to be Difference Makers, the ones people can go to and lean on.

Lord, thank you for being the Light to this world. Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins, even though we mess up daily you constantly and mercifully forgive us. I pray you are continually filling us with your Light and allowing it to overflow out of us. Allow us to be the walking light in this world. Allow us to teach and love in your name,. I pray all this in your son's glorious awesome name.

#LetsBeAMovement