December 7th, 2020
Text: Acts 26:16
But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. (NRSV)
Have you realized that Jesus has appeared to you for a purpose? God did not create out of boredom or haphazardly. God created with vision and with purpose. God created to love and be loved as is inherent in the character of God; “God is love” (1 John 4:8b).
Jesus has appeared to you because of God’s great love for you. The purpose of Jesus’ incarnation was and is to bring those who are separated from God through sin back into a loving relationship with God as was intended from the foundation of the Earth.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then Jesus has appeared to you. The purpose Jesus now gives to you is to testify to the amazing love of God that makes all things whole. We are not to simply stand idly by enjoying the benefits of our renewed relationship with God through Jesus, we are to bear witness to that relationship with our lives.
Where have you seen Jesus at work? Testify to these things. Where has Jesus made a difference in your life? Testify to these things. How have you felt the love of God through your relationship with Jesus? Testify to these things. Stand on your feet and realize the purpose for which Jesus has appeared to you.
Pray with me:
Jesus you have searched for me out of your great love. You have found me and made me whole. Now Lord God, empower me to fulfill my purpose found in you to testify to the things in which I have seen the power of your love at work. AMEN.
But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. (NRSV)
Have you realized that Jesus has appeared to you for a purpose? God did not create out of boredom or haphazardly. God created with vision and with purpose. God created to love and be loved as is inherent in the character of God; “God is love” (1 John 4:8b).
Jesus has appeared to you because of God’s great love for you. The purpose of Jesus’ incarnation was and is to bring those who are separated from God through sin back into a loving relationship with God as was intended from the foundation of the Earth.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then Jesus has appeared to you. The purpose Jesus now gives to you is to testify to the amazing love of God that makes all things whole. We are not to simply stand idly by enjoying the benefits of our renewed relationship with God through Jesus, we are to bear witness to that relationship with our lives.
Where have you seen Jesus at work? Testify to these things. Where has Jesus made a difference in your life? Testify to these things. How have you felt the love of God through your relationship with Jesus? Testify to these things. Stand on your feet and realize the purpose for which Jesus has appeared to you.
Pray with me:
Jesus you have searched for me out of your great love. You have found me and made me whole. Now Lord God, empower me to fulfill my purpose found in you to testify to the things in which I have seen the power of your love at work. AMEN.
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