July 28, 2017 … I’m Clean

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 209 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of iNatalie Grant live singing … Clean … poignantly singing of the reality of the cleansing all Christians have received from the blood of the Lamb.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st John 1:7 [NLT] … 
7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 
… And that’s what living in the forgiveness and light of Christ is all about!
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st John 1:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… John helps Christians see the truth about living the forgiven life of a born-again believer, … living in the light of that forgiveness.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Psalm 119:176 [NLT] … 
176 I have wandered far away like a lost sheep; … come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands. 
… For those who know the Lord as Lord, he will come get us and save us from our selves.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Isaiah 53:6 [NLT] … 
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s path to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on HIM the sins of us al. 
… We just need to reach out and let Jesus find and rescue us.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … John 19:30 [NLT] … 
20 “It is finished!” 
… As His blood flowed out in love to save all who believe on Him, He declared … !!!

Reference Passage #4 [NKJV] : … Revelation 3:20 [NLT] … 
20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 
… For saved Christians, Jesus wants in to save us to save us from ourselves. All we have to do is hear Him and open the door to our hearts.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David Roper, told a personal story to illustrate how how we Christians are forgiven. The ODB author wrote: My friend Norm Cook sometimes had a surprise for his family when he arrived home from work. He would walk through the front door, and shout, “You’re forgiven!” It wasn’t that family members had wronged him and needed his forgiveness. He was reminding them that though they doubtless had sinned throughout the day, they were by God’s grace fully forgiven. 

If we’re Christians here today, … saved by the blood of Christ and His finished work on the cross, … are we living in the truth and realization that we, who know Him, are forgiven and have been cleansed of our sin?

Yes, we’re redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! And we’re being restored into His image day-by-day, moment-by-moment, by His Spirt, Who dwells in us.

And all our Lord wants us to do is hear Him knocking on the door of our hearts - right now - and to let His Spirit in to do the work He completed on the cross.

Hey, fellow Christian, as Natalie Grant sings, … we’re clean! … Let’s go live like it!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O LORD, … Thank You for saving me from my sins and cleansing me as it proclaims in 1John 1:7-9. Hallelujah, I’m clean; … now help me to live that way! … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

July 27, 2017 … Always With Me

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 208 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Michael Card singing … Immanuel … poignantly singing of the love we, in Christ, have always in His Spirit. Immanuel … God with us … ALWAYS!!

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 14:23 [NLT] … 
23 Jesus replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them. 
… Jesus resides in my heart ALWAYS!
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 14:15-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus promises the presence/power of the Holy Spirit residing in the hearts of believers. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus, with me always, … showing me the way.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Romans 8:31b [NLT] … 
31 … If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 
… But do we live as though Jesus is with us ALWAYS?

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … Hebrews 13:5b [NLT] … 
24 For God has said, … “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” [Deut. 31:6] 
… But do we live as though Jesus is with us ALWAYS?

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Anne Cetas, told a story to illustrate how God resides in us, never leaving or forsaking us. The ODB author wrote: The elderly woman in the nursing home didn’t speak to anyone or request anything. It seemed she merely existed, rocking in her creaky old chair. She didn’t have many visitors, so one young nurse would often go into her room on her breaks. Without asking the woman questions to try to get her to talk, she simply pulled up another chair and rocked with her. After several months, the elderly woman said to her, “Thank you for rocking with me.” She was grateful for the companionship. 

When Jesus was about to go to the cross, He promised His inner 12 that He would be with them, even when they felt abandoned, by sending the Holy Spirit to reside in their hearts [see highlight passage]. But they didn’t get it, … not until after the resurrection and His ascension into heaven.

God promises born-again Christians the same Holy Spirit to be our companion, guide, and advocate and to NEVER leave our hearts or forsake our walk on this earth [see Deut. 31:6, 8 and Hebrews 13:5]; … but only if we believe it and surrender to that truth [Prov. 3:5-6].

The questions are … do we get it? Do we believe it? And do we live it? … Because, as the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit in his heart wrote (Rom. 8:31b, … "If God is in us, who can be against us." 

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O LORD, … I know that You are with me, … in my heart. And as the old woman in today’s ODB, You rock with me … ALWAYS! … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

July 26, 2017 … Jesus - Our Lifeguard

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 207 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Mercy Him singing their song … Even If … poignantly singing of our need for God to reach down in the overwhelming moments of life to be our Savior.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2nd Samuel 22:17 [NLT] … 
17 “He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of the deep waters. 
… David, rescued along with God’s people, from their enemies, uses the word picture of being rescued from deep waters of death.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2nd Samuel 22:17-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David and God’s people are rescued from certain death by their God.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon, passing along to his son, the wisdom he had gleaned from God, showing that God is our rescuer and guide in life.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … John 5:24 [NLT] … 
24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. 
… Jesus assures us that all who truly believe in Him as Lord/Savior will be rescued from sure death and brought to life FOREVER.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, uses an illustration of Jesus as our LIFEGUARD, saving us from death in the deep waters of life and bringing us back to life. The ODB author wrote: I scanned the water intently, on alert for signs of trouble. During my six-hour shifts as a lifeguard, I watched from the side of the pool to ensure the safety of those swimming. Leaving my post, or even becoming lax in my attentiveness, could have grave consequences for those in the pool. If a swimmer was in danger of drowning due to injury or lack of skill, it was my responsibility to pluck them from the water and return them to safety on the pool deck. … [See photo] … 
When we feel overcome by the troubles of life, we can rest in the knowledge that God, our Lifeguard, sees our struggle and, because of His delight in us, watches over and protects us. 

And that’s the truth which King David was trying to relate to believers in the highlight passage, linked above. He, leading God’s people, had been saved from sure death at the hands of the more powerful Philistine army; and he likened it to having been saved from the deep waters of life.

I’ve always liked the word picture of God as the ultimate Lifeguard, … the one who brings us out of the deep waters of death and breathes new life into us; and then He watches over and protects us as we swim upstream in the rivers of life.

He has and He will save me from the deep waters, but as the group Mercy Me sings in the linked song, … “EVEN IF” He doesn’t save me from some deep water peril in life, I still trust that He will revive me in Glory to live with Him forever.

And I know that He watches over all born-again believers today as our LIFEGUARD.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O LORD, … I know that You’re there, watching over me, as I swim thru the waters of life. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

July 25, 2017 … Life - Our Teacher

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 206 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group 4HIM singing … The Basics of Life … poignantly singing of our desire as Christians to get back to the basics of Godly living, life’s teaching which we can pass along in faith to our progeny as our legacy.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 37:25 [NLT] … 
25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. 
…Passing the baton of wisdom along to the next generation of believers.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 37:1-6, 23-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David, later in his life, passing along God’s wisdom to others so that they can avoid the pitfalls he encountered in life.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Joshua 1:8 [NLT] … 
8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 
… God’s word is our GPS, … our guide to success in life.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon, passing along to his son, the wisdom he had gleaned from God.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 
23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. … 
…A command from Jesus which must be passed along to those who come after us.

Reference Passage #4 [NKJV] : … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 
… Life is God’s teacher as He weaves ALL THINGS together for our good as Christians.

Reference Passage #5 [NKJV] : … 1st Corinthians 11:1 [NLT] … 
1  And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
… Paul, desiring that others follow his lead because he knew he was following Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, uses the lessons King David learned from his life in Psalm 37 to pass the baton of his experience to later believers. The ODB author wrote: John F. Burns spent forty years covering world events for The New York Times. In an article written after his retirement in 2015, Burns recalled the words of a close friend and fellow journalist who was dying of cancer. “Never forget,” his colleague said, “It’s not how far you’ve traveled; it’s what you’ve brought back.” 
Psalm 37 could be considered David’s list of what he “brought back” from his journey of life, from shepherd to soldier and king. The psalm is a series of couplets contrasting the wicked with the righteous, and affirming those who trust the Lord. 

If anyone reads this, … I’m 73 years old as I journal here; and I've been a Christian for 34 years. I certainly hope and pray that I have, I can, and I will pass along what God's Spirit has taught me in all these years, onward to my loved ones and fellow Christians, … maybe you.

So, as the linked song exhorts, it's “BACK TO THE BASICS OF LIFE” which I have learned from God's word each day; and also from living my life, so that I can pass the baton of my experience to any who might come here to read what God gives me to share so that others might avoid the pitfalls of life.

So, I pray that you might grow today from God's truth [see Scriptures above] and from this small portion of my experience. And my friend, I'll be back here tomorrow to share more with you from God’s truth and my life.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O LORD, … help me to pass along Your basics of life to those who come after me. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

July 24, 2017 … Many Into One …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 205 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Avalon singing … No Orphans of God … poignantly singing of God’s saving grace which brings all who surrender to King Jesus as Lord into His family … the body of Christ.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ephesians 3:6 [NLT] … 
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 
…There are no orphans in God’s family (see linked song).
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ephesians 2:19-3:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul explains God’s plan to build a family where anyone can be united into one body. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Romans 1:16 [NLT] … 
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes - the Jew first AND also the Gentile. 
 … The Gospel is for EVERYONE!

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Ephesians 4:4-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father over ALL.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Philip Yancey, uses the concept of “community” to teach about the totally non-discriminatory nature of the Gospel, which saves all who come in faith to be a part of the family of God. The ODB author wrote: “Community” is the place where the person you least want to live with always lives, says Henri Nouwen. Often we surround ourselves with the people we most want to live with, which forms a club or a clique, not a community. Anyone can form a club; it takes grace, shared vision, and hard work to form a community. 
The Christian church was the first institution in history to bring together on equal footing Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slaves and free. 

As the group Avalon sings in their song, linked above, “there are no orphans in the family of God.”

And God’s family, His church, is the ultimate model of COMMUNITY, because ANYONE and EVERYONE who comes in surrender to receive God’s saving grace, … Jew or Gentile, man or woman, black or white (or any color for that matter - see photo) …is accepted into the body of Christ, … His community of love, … the family of God.

And all I have to write here and now is my prayer that all who read here are a part of our family, … God’s family.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O how I pray that all who’ve come here today, Lord, have surrendered to You, King Jesus, for Your saving grace and are part of our family, … Your family. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

July 23, 2017 … Quiet Service …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 204 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Steve Green singing … Find Us Faithful … powerfully singing of being faithfully serving Christ ,… not just for human accolades and prizes, … but merely for God’s glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Colossians [NLT] … 
12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 
… Epaphrus was one of his friends who was with him in prison and one who Paul cited to Christians for his quiet service to God by praying for other Christians.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Colossians 4:7-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul gives honor to a number of quiet servants who had served God by helping Paul in prison. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 
23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… Jesus clearly declared we are to follow Him by denying our own self interests.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Romans 16:22 [NLT] … 
22   I, Tertius, the one writing this letter for Paul, send my greetings, too, as one of the Lord’s followers. 
 … I’ll bet most reading here don’t know or remember the name of Tertius, the man who was the scribe who actually penned the words of the Book of Romans for Paul while he was imprisoned.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … 1st Corinthians 15:58 [NLT] … 
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 
… Paul reminds Christians that any/all work we do for Christ, no matter how obscure, is never wasted.

Reference Passage #4 [NKJV] : … Galatians 6:9-10 [NLT] … 
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. 
… What we do for others, and especially for fellow Christians, no matter how quietly, honors God and will ultimately reap a harvest in Heaven.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Cindy Hess Kasper, uses an interesting Hollywood behind-the-scenes figure to illustrate how many serve God’s kingdom quietly and with no public accolades. The ODB author wrote: Hollywood musicals were wildly popular during the 1950s and 1960s, and three actresses in particular—Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood, and Deborah Kerr—thrilled viewers with their compelling performances. But a huge part of the appeal of these actresses was the breathtaking singing that enhanced their acting. In fact, the classic films’ successes were actually due in large part to Marni Nixon [see photo], who dubbed the voices for each of those leading ladies and who for a long time went completely uncredited for her vital contribution.

Before you read this ODB piece, if I had asked you who Marni Nixon was, would you have been able to answer me accurately. Few of you, I would guess. And in a like way there are probably quite a few fellow Christians in our lives who very quietly serve God behind-the-scenes, almost never being noticed or recognized by fellow church members.

I love the Apostle Paul recognizing a number of his buddies who had served him while he was imprisoned. But even though the name is in the Bible (see Romans 16:22) most of us would not be able to know that one named, Tertius, who actually penned the words to one of the most important books in the Bible as Paul’s scribe. And who do you know who has been named after ”Epaphrus”, the faithful prayer warrior who ministered to Paul by praying in one of his imprisonments in Rome [see highlight passage]?

And if we’ve taken in the linked song, sung by Steve Green, and read the exhortations from God, thru Paul, in 1st Cor. 15:58 and Gal. 6:9-10, I hope we realize that we are not here, as Christians, to be recognized for any of our service to God, other than to receive our rewards in heaven.

So, let’s all serve our Lord, no matter how quietly, knowing that our service will shine His light in a darkened world and honor Him with glory.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I’m wrapped in Your peace today as I relish in Your truth. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

July 22, 2017 … Really Scared! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 203 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Mia Fieldes singing her song … Fearless … powerful singing of being fearless because God is all around us, lifting us up, surrounding us with His love and grace.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … 
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 
…It’s true … BUT … do we believe it?
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Highlight Passage [context]: Philippians 4:4-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, gives Christians His prescription for fearful times … prayer!!
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Psalm 16:8 [NLT] … 
8 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.  
… Having faith that God is ALWAYS there with us.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Isaiah 26:3, 41:10, 13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… If we believe the Prophet is true, why would we ever fear anything?

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … 2nd Cor. 12:9 [NLT] … 
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
 … If what Jesus told Paul is true (and it is!!), why would we ever fear anything?

Reference Passage #4 [NKJV] : … 2nd Timothy 1:7 [NLT] … 
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 
… A spirit of fear can only come from Satan … NEVER from God.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, teaches on our need to trust God, believing in His truth, . even when things are fearful in our lives. The ODB author wrote: “I’m really scared.” This was the poignant note a teenager posted to friends on Facebook as she told them of some upcoming medical tests. She was facing hospitalization and a series of procedures in a city three hours from home and anxiously waited as doctors tried to discover the source of some serious medical problems she was experiencing. 
Who of us, in youth or later years, has not felt similar fears when facing unwanted life events that are truly frightening? And where can we turn for help? What comfort can we find from Scripture to give us courage in these kinds of situations? 

If one is on Facebook, we see posts like that all the time. Perhaps when a relationship is damaged or when someone has been given a diagnosis of “cancer,” as in the ODB example. The question is not will we undergo fearful experiences or circumstances; but rather how we’ll handle that spirit of fear [see emoji photo] when we feel it. We’ve all BEEN THERE and have worn that t-shirt, haven’t we?! 

But what Mia Fieldes sings in the linked song, and what God’s word declares (above) over and over again, is that God is always with the faithful; and that a spirit of fear never comes from God … ALWAYS from the enemy.

So, I exhort all of us to meditate today (and maybe for many days) on, and even memorize, the Scriptures above; because if we use God’s prescription for feelings of fear in these truths, we will feel God guarding our hearts with His peace, … feeling Him replacing the spirit of fear with the power and grace of faith.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I’m wrapped in Your peace today as I relish in Your truth. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

July 21, 2017 … Glowing In The Dark …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 202 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Jason Gray singing his song … Glow In The Dark … powerful singing of our need to shine Christ in our lives for all to see His light.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Romans 13:14 [NLT] … 
14 … clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. 
… Put on His robes of righteousness rather than wearing our rags of sin for others to see. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Romans 13:11-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul teaches Christians to PUT ON the ways of Christ and wear Him so that others can see Him as we live.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … John 14:21 [NLT] … 
21 Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them.” 
 … Jesus says that He reveals Himself in those who live in obedience to His word.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … 2nd Cor. 5:17 [NLT] … 
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
… And we, as disciples of Christ, must wear that newness for all to see.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … Colossians 3:12 [NLT] … 
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 
 … We should wear Christlikeness for all to see Him in how we live.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, used a clothing word picture to illustrate how Christians should “put on” Christlikeness to let Him shine thru our lives. The ODB author wrote: In her book Wearing God, author Lauren Winner says our clothes can silently communicate to others who we are. What we wear may indicate career, community or identity, moods, or social status. Think of a T-shirt with a slogan, a business suit, a uniform, or greasy jeans and what they might reveal. She writes, “The idea that, as with a garment, Christians might wordlessly speak something of Jesus—is appealing.” 

Wearing something in public, perhaps like the t-shirt in the attached photo, says something, doesn’t it? And really, almost anything we wear makes a statement to others. That’s why, interviewing for a new job, we are encouraged to “dress for success,” rather than looking like a person the interviewer can’t trust.

Therefore, as born-again Christians, who’re being “made-over” in Christ [see 2Cor. 5:17], we need to “put on” that newness (i.e., the image of Christlikeness as in Col. 3:12) so that others can see Christ’s character in our actions, avoiding being seen wearing the old, sinner self in us. The world is such a dark place; and so, as Jason Gray sings in the linked song, we need to “glow in the dark” with Christlikeness.

So, fellow chosen one, let’s all go out and glow for Jesus today, wearing His robes of righteousness rather than choosing to put on our rags of sin.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Let others see me wearing Your robes of rightness today. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.