Seize the Moment – Day 1204
The Transformation of Your Story!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, July 4. Happy Independence Day! Please join me in wishing a happy birthday to the United States of America.
Do you want to see your story transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ? In Mark 1:17, Jesus invited His first disciples, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Though He used the same word of invitation in the original Greek, Matthew 11:28-30 is translated differently, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Both invitations of Jesus reference the Jewish apprenticeship concept of hālakh, which is the Hebrew word used in today’s psalm, as the psalmist wrote in Psalm 86:11-12, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever.” [emphases added]
In today’s psalm, as well as in Jesus’ invitations, the purpose is the same, when we walk with God, we learn how to become like Him; therefore, we unite to His purposes. Jesus used the imagery of being yoked with Him – our hearts learn to revere God above all (the fear of the Lord), so that we reflect Him as image bearers, representing Him as we walk in the way. The motive of Jesus’ invitation is apprenticeship – having our heart motives, mental attitudes, and soul volitions transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, who showed us the heart of God!
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 86, meditating upon the transformation of your story to the glory of God as you learn how to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 20:37).
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.