Friday, February 12
Only four seconds on the clock. The quarterback firmly plants his feet into the battered field and prepares himself for the final play of the game. He grits his teeth, clenches his hands, and takes one slow deep breath before he calls the start of the play. He can hear the cheers of the fans in the stands and the heavy breathing of his fellow teammates; he can smell the sweat drip off of his face and the freshly mown field under his feet; he can feel the cool air around him and the rush of his final play of high school football. The quarterback catches the snap, fakes a pass, and ducks through the defense of the other team to score the winning touchdown. The crowd erupts into deafening cheers of victory and his teammates pummel him with rough hugs and high fives. “I did it,” the quarterback thought. “I’ve won!”
Have you ever been in a situation like this? A situation in which people shower you with encouraging words, thanks, and congratulations for something you have done? If so, how did you respond to the situation?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:20- 31 (I Corinthians is before 2 Corinthians and after Romans in the New Testament).
In this passage, Paul explains to the church in Corinth the importance of understanding their own insignificance in comparison to God’s wisdom, knowledge, strength, and being, and that, in our weaknesses, God chooses to work through us to glorify Himself and enable us to do things that we could not do without Him.
Pride is a lurking sin that haunts every person in nearly every aspect of their life, and often goes unnoticed because they believe pride to only be an open form of haughtiness. This is a lie that our enemy uses to cripple us and cause us to think that dwelling on ourselves is an acceptable way to walk through life. However, God calls us to “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10). Another translation says to “love one another as more important than yourselves.” As Christ followers, we are called to abandon our pride or self-centeredness and humbly allow the Holy Spirit to work through us to serve and love the people around us. Ultimately, when we let go of our pride, it becomes much more natural for us to engage in a relationship with Jesus Christ and love and treasure Him above ourselves and our desires.
“Self-forgetfulness in the presence of Greatness is the capstone of joy.” –John Piper
Only when we forget ourselves and worship our Mighty King with a humble heart, will we experience true joy and satisfaction.
The quarterback was not wrong in celebrating his victory; however, he was wrong in assuming the win was all about himself. Humbly accept the praise people give you, but remember to give thanks to God for using you in any area of your life to glorify Himself. Even in the little things.
Monday, February 15
Katie ran to the bathroom as tears welled up in her aching eyes. She could hear the laughter behind her as her fellow classmates continued to hurl insults at her for a situation that was beyond her control. With the stall door locked and the rest of the bathroom cleared of a few gossiping girls, Katie began to sob. It was one of those days. Her father had recently lost his job and her parents were on the verge of permanent separation. Her older brother and sister were coping with the situation by experimenting with drugs and alcohol, and today, Katie’s ex-boyfriend, John, loudly declared the extent of their physical relationship to the boy’s locker room during 2nd period gym. Katie’s shame was unbearable. Although she had recently surrendered her life to Christ, she never imagined the harm a few hurtful words could do to her faith. Little, righteous Katie might still have some fun in her after all; those words rang in her head over and over and over again. The boys who continued to taunt her claimed to be Christians and did not once attempt to apologize for their foolish and disgusting words.
Have you ever been teased by people who are supposed to build you up? If so, how did you respond? Have you ever teased anyone that you should have been building up? If so, have you apologized to this person?
Read Ephesians 4:25-32 (Ephesians is after Galatians and before Philippians in the New Testament).
Paul writes to the church in Ephesus and pleads with them to build each other up by speaking truth to their brothers and sisters in Christ. He warns fellow believers of the schemes of the enemy and advises them to graciously encourage one another in order to combat the evils of this world. When we begin to taunt, tease, and purposefully discourage other people, the enemy uses these hurtful words to implant lies into the minds of their receivers.
Write down things that you have said to purposefully discourage someone else in order to make yourself feel better than that person. Repent of this sin, and if possible, apologize to the person you have sinned against.
Write down ways in which you can encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and everyone around you.
Katie prayed that God would reveal truth to her in this confusing time, and the Holy Spirit faithfully comforted her aching heart. She emerged from her stall, wiped the tears from her eyes, and walked through the halls of her school with a hope that God’s grace and love is sufficient for her in every aspect of her life.
Tuesday, February 16
The moonlight glittered magnificently off the calm sea below, and I felt the warm touch of a summer’s breeze flow through my tangled hair. The sand shifted beneath my toes, and the sound of my family’s laughter in the distance brought me great comfort and peace. I slowly approached the waves moving rhythmically back and forth to brush the dry sand in front of me. Shells slid from under my feet, and I caught glimpses of tiny crabs crawling quickly toward the open shoreline. I plopped down onto a dry mound of sand and positioned myself to look closely at the beautiful sky above. With no clouds in the sky, the full moon shone brightly enough to illuminate the beach and display its full beauty to its fortunate observers. The stars blinked and glowed like fireflies in the dead of night, and some fell quickly through the infinite black of the universe to appease my ever-wandering imagination. I slowly breathed in the cool, salty air and realized I was sitting in the midst of God’s masterpiece.
Have you ever witnessed a portion of God’s creation that left you stunned, shocked, and without words to describe the depth of its beauty? Have you ever witnessed a beautiful sunrise, sunset, view from a mountain top, or the magnificence of the ocean? If so, how did you respond to God’s masterpiece?
Read Psalm 19: 1-6 (Psalms is before Proverbs and after Job in the Old Testament).
God reveals His glory to us through His creation and projects His beauty in the awe-inspiring masterpieces He has created and is creating. He uses the skies, the sun, the moon, the stars, the birds, the people, the friendships, the families, and the entirety of creation to bring fame to His name, so that we can praise Him and find joy and satisfaction in Him.
Next time you witness one of God’s masterpieces reflect on His love, His grace, His mercy, His holiness, His righteousness, His infinitude, His beauty, and His glory. Take a moment and give thanks to the mighty and captivating God that rules and reigns with grace and love.
