Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in YouTube images and lyrics from Joy Williams singing … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing a question which should lead us to do all we can to reflect God’s glory in what we think, say, and do.
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Highlight Verse[s]: John 17:23 [NLT] … 23 I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me.
… So, Jesus is in me; and I must do all I can to reflect His glory for others to see Him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 17:1-5, 20-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus prayed for me (us), the night before He went to the cross, that I (we) would manifest His glory in our lives.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:16 [NLT] … 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
… Jesus commands us to shine His light into this dark world for others to see the glory of His Father in Heaven. … Are we?!
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.”
… When Jesus left this earth to be re-glorified in heaven, He commanded and commissioned all His disciples to be His witnesses in this world. … Are we?!
Reference Passage : … Luke 2:1 [NLT] … 2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
… One act, ordered by one pagan, and all of history was changed forever.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mart DeHaan, uses an historical reference to illustrate how God can - and does - use many things we do to work our His plan for mankind. The ODB author writes … Caesar Augustus is remembered as the first and greatest of the Roman emperors. By political skill and military power he eliminated his enemies, expanded the empire, and lifted Rome from the clutter of rundown neighborhoods into a city of marble statues and temples. Adoring Roman citizens referred to Augustus as the divine father and savior of the human race. As his forty-year reign came to an end, his official last words were, “I found Rome a city of clay but left it a city of marble.” According to his wife, however, his last words were actually, “Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit.”
What Augustus didn’t know is that he’d been given a supporting role in a bigger story. In the shadow of his reign, the son of a carpenter was born to reveal something far greater than any Roman military victory, temple, stadium, or palace (Luke 2:1).
One act, … one order, … from a pagan emperor, and in God’s plan/purpose all history was altered for God’s glory.
And here we are, the Lord’s disciples, with the same power in us (i.e., the Holy Spirit) which raised our Lord from the dead, and with His commission to go and be His witnesses (Acts 1:8), as well as His charge to shine His light in this dark world (Matt. 5:16), and today’s linked song asks the pertinent question: … Do others really see Jesus in what we say and do? …
Think about it (see photo)! We may be the only Jesus someone else will see today! I’m praying they will … and tomorrow too!!
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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for Your light shining in my heart.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to be light-bearing witnesses for Your glory in all we think, say, and do. … 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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