October 7, 2013 … God’s Redeeming Power

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 280

Devotional Song: Go to this link -  Please take the time to meditate on this powerful song, sung by Nicole C. Mullen, entitled My Redeemer Lives, … a proclamation of the Creator of the Universe Who was resurrected to testify that He is all powerful and can redeem all things in our life, including the time He gives us to serve Him.

Highlight meditation passage – Acts 8: 39-40 : [Phillip’s obedience to God’s Spirit redeemed the time he devoted to the Uni] …  
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.
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 Highlight reading study of Acts, Chapter 8: Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Ephesians 5: 15-17 … [In the evil/demanding times, we must do all we can to be obedient and redeem the time God gives us to serve Him.] … [NLT] …  
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

 Reference Passage #2: Ephesians 5: 15-17 … [Another Bible version of Eph. 5:16-17] … [NKJV] …  
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Reference Passage #3: Prov. 3: 5-6 … [Always following God’s will for our lives will redeem the time He gives us to serve Him.] … [NLT] …
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

My Journal for Today: Ever been torn between what you felt was God’s calling and the demands of the world, … e.g., the “tyranny of the urgent”, or maybe the demands of our own flesh? … Aw common! I’ll bet you’ve been there, felt that, and have a T-shirt of such a time.

 All Christians, given the stalking of Satan (see 1st Peter 5: 8), the demands of the world, and/or the pulls of our deceitful hearts (see Jer. 17: 9) will always conspire to draw our attention away from where God would lead us. The truth of my oft-repeated scripture from Proverbs 3: 5-6 calls attention to the struggle we often have between where God is leading us and where we FEEL we want to go.

Today, for his readers, Os Hillman uses the example of the newly anointed Phillip, who was documented in Acts 8 traveling through Samaria where many miracles where on display and large numbers were being saved. And during these exciting times, Phillip encountered an angel of the Lord, who charged Phillip to go south and contact one Ethiopian Eunuch. It could – or likely would – have been tempting for Phillip to want to stay in Samaria where exciting works were being accomplished for God; but Phillip was obedient to God’s call; and after he invested his time as God had directed (see Acts 8: 39-40), Phillip was somehow (miraculously) transported back north to Samaria where he continued God’s mission work near Caesarea.

The message here is the same one preached by the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians in Eph. 5: 15-17 [see two Bible versions above] … that we are to let God redeem our time from His providence and plans for our service to Him. And as that passage teaches, from Paul to the 1st Century Christians, we today also live in evil times; and we also charged to do all we can to live circumspectly and following God’s directions for our lives. And if we do that, we can expect God to redeem His time … in His will … for His glory.

So, today if we’re feeling pulled away from God’s will by the demands of our selfish desires or the luring of the world, we need to respond to God’s calling and follow only His will.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, thank you for keeping me on track … YOUR track. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online blog entitled Today God Is First [TGIF], authored by Os Hillman. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read Hillman’s TGIF blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.