Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Alan Jackson singing the old hymn Gospel song … Love Lifted Me … poignantly singing of how God’s grace is our security blanket in this life allowing God’s love to lift us up when we’re down.
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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Peter 4:7-8 [NLT] … 7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
… Even in light of the end of this world, we are to lift others up with Christ’s love just as Peter was charged to do.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 18:15-27, 21:15-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus lifts up Peter from the despair of his denial to the charge of discipleship by showing Peter just how much He loved Peter despite his failing.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:14-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We are to be God’s light of love in this very darkened world.
Reference Passage : … Acts 1:8 [NLT] … 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
… Jesus charges all disciples to be His witnesses of love and light, with the power provided by God’s Spirit.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington, use a personal pain to illustrate how we can rely on God - no matter what!! The ODB author wrote: Linus Van Pelt, better known as simply “Linus,” was a mainstay in the Peanuts comic strip. Witty and wise, yet insecure, Linus constantly carried a security blanket. We can identify. We have our fears and insecurities too. …
Have you ever needed that kind of “blanket”? I have! After saying or doing something I later regretted, I have felt the chilly draft of guilt and shame. I have needed to be “covered” in the manner that Jesus covered disgraced, shame-filled people in the Gospels.
To followers of Jesus, love is a blanket to be graciously and courageously given away for the comfort and reclamation of others. As recipients of such great love, let us be givers of the same.
Does anybody besides myself identify with Charles Schultz’s character, Linus, … always carrying around his security blanket because of so many fears of what might happen in the world? I do. … There’s a part of me, even tho I’m sort of a care-free type, that always needs the security blanket I have from my relationship with my Lord
The Apostle Peter was a brash, many times over confident, disciple of Christ. Yet, we know he failed His Lord many times while following Him prior to the resurrection. And when he had his “over-the-top” failure, denying the Lord thrice in the Garden [see the John 18 passage], … Jesus came back after the resurrection, giving Peter His security blanket - three times - by committing his love back to His Lord [see the John 21 passage].
And that’s what we all should get from this ODB entry and meditation on the life of Peter. Jesus is our “Linus Blanket” … always there with us, … always giving us the security of His love; … but at the same time, charging us, as He did with Peter, to witness His love and shine His light into this very insecure and darkened world (see also Matt. 5:14-16 and Acts 1:8). Yes, we can always know that our Lord provides us with the power of His Spirit to do just that. So, I will pray that we carry our Spirit-blanket into the world and go be His witness of love … even today.
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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for the security of Your eternal love.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Let me take Your Spirit and shine Your love to help lift others up as You have 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.
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