Daily Devotional: 12/18/2018 - SCRIPTURE SERIES PT. I (KM)

"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human heart." 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

This is a new series that I started back out towards the end of July, The Scripture Series. I was inspired after going on an encouragement date with a sister from Long Island and one with from our region. Usually at the end of these dates like the next day later or whenever they have the chance the sisters will write a card. And because I am me and I feel if someone gets me something I have to get them something in return, so I decided to combine the love for art and Scripture into one. But then I was like "BRAIN BLAST" why not make one for all the sisters in our campus for an encouragement for the upcoming semester and year. That was how The Scripture Series was created and this is only Part One with hopefully many more parts to come so we can encourage and give sisters hope all across the world.

• Women have it hard no matter where they go or what they do. They lack equality in every aspect. They are constantly objectified and are constantly being taken advantage of. It is our job as men and as human beings to treat all these women with respect, love and the dignity they deserve.
• I am going to try and keep these relatively short, but if God leads long we go long. Going to throw some fun facts and some scripture and call it a day.

Here are a couple fun facts for you, the first being that orchids do not have a classic root. They have usually have a rhizome, tuber or a aerial root.  The second fun fact is that the color pink is symbolized for joy and happiness. I love this fun fact for the sole purpose that this fact describes this particular person so much. She is the prime example of how to live in happiness with Jesus.

• When you have Jesus in your life it is so easy to find joy and happiness in all there is in life.

Both this sister and I use to work together (until she left me, what a jerk, still love her). The workers at this place are not morally and ethically stable and it can be super draining. Also the workers there are not really the happiest, they will find the littlest of things to complain about. But this did not stop us, we kept the energy that Jesus blessed us with. At least once a day (I still get it, especially when we open, 6 am, or when we close 12am) we got the "how do you have so much energy", "why are you so happy", "what are you on".

• The simple answer is Jesus. (Psalm 37:4, Isaiah 12:2-3, Romans 5:2)
• Jesus and coffee is what keeps me going.

As Jesus's disciples we are called to a higher standard, just as the above verse says (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). We have to show that we are a letter from Christ. We were written, signed and sealed with the Spirit.

• William Barclay says about this verse, "Every Christian, whether he likes it or not, is an advertisement for Christianity. The honor of Christ is in the hands of his followers. We judge a shopkeeper, by the kid of goods he sells; we judge a craftsman by the kind of articles he produces; we judge a Church by the kind of men it creates; and therefore men judge Christ by his followers."
• Plato had said that a good teacher does not write his message in ink that will fade; he writes it upon men.

We not only naturally reflect his image, but when we become follows we reflect his light and his Spirit.

• We are to act like Jesus and complete his mission.

Orchids have a different type of root than other flowers. The other flowers do not share in the same type of glory and honor as the orchids, for they are different. The same is with us when we accept Christ into our heart and into our life. We are no longer of this world. We are held at a higher standard (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17).

• People should be able to tell who we are by the way we act.
• Would a deaf man be able to tell you’re a Christian by the way you walk/act?
• Would a blind man be able to tell you're a Christian by the way you talk?

All the joy in the world comes from the action of Jesus. When you have God on your side you have so much to be happy and thankful about. Matthew 6:26 says, Look at the birds of the air; they do not reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? We have so much compared to the rest of God's creations and they all give him glory .

How are you reflecting his image? Do not distort for we were all beautifully and perfectly handcrafted in his image. Find the joy in everything you do, for tomorrow is never promised and we have no time to waste.

Lord, I pray and thank you for all you do. We bless us with so much and we can never repay you for all you give us. You give us breathe and you give us life. You give us purpose. Give us the wisdom and strength to glorify you in everything we do. The birds and the lowest of animals give you glory with every breathe they take, with every chirp and tweet they sing to you. Allow us to find the happiness and joy that you have provided for us. I pray all this in your son's glorious name, Amen.

#LetsBeAMovement