Day 23: Privilege in Following

Reading: Psalm 14:1-7

Being a Christian come with many privileges, whether we realize it or not. In this Psalm, things feel hopeless and dark. Not a single human being is righteous or good. Only Jesus, Who was fully God and fully man was the only sinless one. Even when we are a part of this dark world, giving in to temptations and sin, God still gives us this amazing gift that will grant us eternity with Him. The truly wicked will disobey God and deny Him. God is with those who obey Him, and He will protect His people. We all are human, and we will all mess up. But the true thing that separates us from the world is our acknowledgement of God and Jesus. We strive to follow Him and His plans for us. When we screw up, we run back to Him and repent. Be blessed by this incredible gift God has given us.

What privilege do you see as a follower of Christ?



How do you feel set apart from the rest of the world as a Christian?




Reading: Matthew 16:1-20

Jesus gives us as a church a powerful authority here. He tells Peter that he will be the rock in which His church will be built. Jesus trusts Peter with His church, and He trusts us with His church. We are granted a responsibility to carry out the mission and will of Christ in reaching out to those around us. If we base church on no one but Christians, what is the purpose of the church? How do we carry out the mission when we focus on ourselves and our comforts? Jesus makes it clear here that He depends on us and trusts us with His plans. When we can acknowledge that He and He alone is our Messiah, as Peter did, we can gain the right to have authority in His mission. He builds us up to go and spread His mission to others. But when we abuse the church and make it something of our own, we lose the entire purpose of what we are called to do.
Keeping in mind that God will provide and guide us through, we need to make sure we keep our minds open at all times to His will and calling, especially as a church. Don't abuse the power God has given you in being His follower, but strive to make His church about Him.

What do you see the purpose of church being?



What do you believe God intended for the church?




Reading: Genesis 45:1-47:12

We see an amazing story play out here as Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers. And even more powerful - the forgiveness he gives to his brothers, even after all the hardships he endured. But Joseph recognizes a privilege he has as a follower of God. God used him to do amazing things through his hardships. We have this privilege as well. When we go through life, not knowing why things happen the way they do and left wondering about our situations, we can rest assured that God has a plan to use us in mighty, mighty ways, when we follow Him. Joseph tells his brothers that he is not mad at them for selling him into slavery in Egypt because God used him to save lives.
When we have a mentality and attitude like Joseph, we can take on almost anything that comes our way. God gives us so much authority and trust in carrying out His plan, that He is confident in us enough to know that we'll get through the hard stuff in life, and give Him the glory when it becomes great. Because Joseph followed God's timing and plan, he was able to save lives, including his family's, and bless his family with his riches and status.

What about your life do you feel God is working in for His plan?




What tough situation do you find yourself in that you are trusting God with? Could you have an attitude like Joseph's through it?




As followers of Christ, we are granted so many privileges and so much authority in carrying out God's plan for a broken world. Though we can be surrounded by those who could care less about the faith and what it means to be a follower of Christ, we are granted protection and presence from God when we obey His leading. As a church, we need to make sure we are not abusing the power Christ has given us in carrying out His mission in reaching a lost world, rather than making church about ourselves. And like Joseph, when we face years of hardship, we can hold on to an attitude of hope and awe as we see God's plan play out through it.