Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (All scripture is from MSG)
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Scripture Quote: Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God's field in which we are working. Or, to put it another way, you are God's house. (1 Corinthians 3:8-9)
Paul was a joint worker with Christ in seeking the salvation of people. He begged those he ministered to not to neglect or slight God's offer of pardon. There have always been those who have been told of the plan of salvation and about God's abundant mercy who still rejected God's plan of reconciliation. Then, as now, those people are lost to the joy, inner peace and eternal life available to them through Christ. We sometimes get caught up in fear of rejection, not accepting that it is the message that is rejected, not the messenger.
We are under the misguided impression that we can control how others receive our message of hope, but that is not our role. God's people have the privilege of offering Christ's message without being obligated to do anything more than explain it. Once a person knows the terms on which God is willing to be reconciled to them, that person makes his choice. It is Jesus that they accept or reject, not us. Rather than being embarrassed by rejection, we can choose to fervently pray for the foolish soul that choses to forfeit his own redemption - Use God's grace to continue with His message for the next person.
Today’s meditation: God’s Saints serve Him.
Memory Verse: Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1)
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