Monday, May 27, 2013

Day 92: Aiming High



Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31

Aiming for constant joy and delight in God is what we are made to do. There is much to be joyful for when we have Christ in our lives. We can endure any struggle because He's by our side, and we can find immense joy when we see the wonderful things He's made. Not only can we take joy in the beauty of nature and the wonders of how He works, but we can take joy because He works through the seemingly impossible times in our lives. He orchestrates things just perfectly that the messes and heartbreak form into a perfect and full plan that is for the good of His kingdom and for our own good. Never stop finding joy in Him and in what He has done for you.


Reading: Luke 9:10-27

Aiming high in love is the greatest thing Christ did for us. He is the ultimate example of unconditional love. When it came to feeding 5,000 people, Jesus fed them, instead of sending them on their own to feed themselves. Jesus goes into what it means to be His follower and we can see that love is the basis of it. We must turn from our selfishness and become more selfless, putting Him and others before ourselves. Jesus calls us to not cling to our own lives but to lay it down for Him and gain life by giving ours away. This means we surrender everything to Him, including our jobs, lifestyles, agendas, plans, dreams, everything. When Jesus calls us to takes up our cross for Him, this is not a symbol of carrying the burden. This is a symbol of putting ourselves to death for Him. We have no plans or dreams because they are dead to Him. He will guide our steps and lay out our lives. We are to give it over to Him, instead of selfishly trying to take control of it for ourselves. 
We are to never be ashamed of Him. Jesus says that when we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us. This can be the biggest challenge in today's world. Speaking the name "Jesus" can cause so much conflict in out world today. People despise it. They despise the Bible. When you live it out in no fear though, you are acting in a passionate love for your Savior. Don't gain the approval of the people around you what all you need is the approval of God. Striving for their approval could lose you His.


Reading: Numbers 33:1-34:29

Looking back on the journey the Israelites had through the wilderness, we see how faithful God was to them indeed. Despite the grumbling and the hardship, God still carried them through. In this recall of their journey, may we be reminded to aim high when it comes to following God's instruction, cutting off any threat of sin in our lives and always striving to get more into God. We can learn quite a bit from the mistakes the people made as they repeatedly complained and whined, despite what God had done for them in many miracles and in major ways of provision. May we never overlook what God does in our lives, but hold ourselves at a higher standard, pleasing Him with our thankfulness and attitudes. 


Aiming high in life can carry us far. When we always keep the mindset of improvement, we will find ways to grow. God expects us to hold ourselves to a higher standard in being set apart in this world, instead of falling and settling for the ways of it. Aim high to go far.


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