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Markethive

The Selfish Life? Or Jesus?

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A follower is made for God’s calling.

Written by GodLife on 09/08/2016

Series: Weekly Devotional

Tags: Evangelism, Growth, Identity, Leadership, Self Esteem

I answered, 'Why should someone like me have to run and hide in the temple to save my life? I won’t go!'

Nehemiah 6:11

Nehemiah was a leader who did not let pressure, apathy, ridicule or opposition stop him. He knew what to do and how to do it. Most of all, he knew his identity: a chosen and beloved servant of the most High God.

Here are three ways God can give you the same identity:

1. God makes sure you can relate to sinners

Sometimes new believers are surprised to find that their old nature is not gone. You’ll always need God’s grace. Without Christ as your center, you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5) Colossians 2:6 says "As you have put your trust in Christ Jesus the Lord to save you from the punishment of sin, now let Him lead you in every step." If you have nothing you did not receive, (1 Corinthians 4:7), and nothing to hide, (Proverbs 28:13) judgmentalism and hypocrisy make no sense.

2. God means for you to make His mission your own

Hebrews 2:10 says that God "…chose to bring many children into glory.” In chapter 12, we are told how to follow Him: "…by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross…" (Hebrews 12:2) For Jesus, the joy was anticipating you with Him in glory! Soon, heaven will be your home! But while we’re still on earth, will you be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) to those who have never heard His name?

3. God gives you a new nature

Last week's devotion described turning away from a selfish life. Once you put all your hope in Jesus, many great things happen to you: Christ comes into your life, (Revelation 3:20), you become God’s child, (John 1:12) and receive the Holy Spirit, (Romans 8:15). All your sins are forgiven, (Colossians 1:14)and you have the gift of eternal life! (1 John 5:11) You go from being a child of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) to a worker alongside God Himself! (1 Corinthians 3:9) God even approves you to represent Him to the world: "So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!'" (2 Corinthians 5:20) Like Nehemiah, you are a servant of the Most High God! https://www.fgcoetzee.blogspot.com

Pray this week:

Father, teach me what it means to represent you to the world.

What does it mean to live your life in a way that is fitting for the gospel? (Philippians 1:27)

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

What Is Our Purpose In Life?

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Why did God create us?

Written by Gary Fleetwood on 06/02/2018

Series: Weekly Devotional

Tags: Creation, Life, Love, Purpose, God

who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

2 Timothy 1:9

Have you ever wondered, “Why am I even here? What is my purpose in life?” One of the most important discoveries that a person can make is when they realize they were made for God. In fact, the Scriptures tell us that man was the very pinnacle of God’s creation. Obviously, God did not need to create man. It was not like God was lonely and needed someone with whom He could talk and share His feelings about things. God didn’t need to create someone so they could give Him some advice or some help later on — not at all.

So, if God did not really need man, then why did He create him?

The reason that God created man was so that man could bring glory to God. That is important because it guarantees that our life has incredible meaning and purpose. God created us for His purpose, and when our life is aligned with His purpose, our life becomes the most fulfilling. So, if someone asks, “What is my purpose in life?” the answer is, “To bring glory to God.”  

Just think for a moment how incredible it is to know and understand that your life is important to God, the One who created all things from nothing, and valuable to the God who has existed forever. So often the world seems so big and we seem so small. The world has so many people in it, which can make us feel so insignificant, unimportant and small. 

However, that is not the case with God.  God knows us deeply and personally.  He made us, and everyone that He made is important and valuable to Him.  No one is an accident, and we all have been made in the image of God and given the capacity to know God. The tragic part is when we do not realize how valuable our life is to God. But our true purpose in life comes from God and is for God.

At this point you may be thinking, “Is it wrong for God to seek glory for Himself?” It is not wrong if He deserves that glory – which He does. Just suppose that you worked really hard for something in your life. You labored, you worked day and night, you sacrificed over a long period of time, and eventually you received that for which you had worked so hard. Would it be wrong to honor you at that point? Certainly not! Why? Because you deserved to be honored for your hard work and sacrifice. Well, just think of God in the same way. God created a perfect world, deeply loved whom He created, and eventually made the greatest sacrifice possible when He gave His only Son to die for our sins so we could spend eternity with Him. If there was ever anyone who deserved honor and glory, it is God the Father and His amazing Son.

So, if someone truly believes in God and in Christ, what does that really mean for their life?

Jesus made this remarkable statement in John 10:10 when He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

That is exactly what God has purposed for our life – that we may have His supernatural power working in our life in a big way. Then, to make it even better, when we enter into His presence we are going to experience the most amazing life possible. The Bible says that in His presence there is “fullness of joy.” 

When we look at God’s creation and see all of the different creatures He made, it should be obvious that we are the only part of His creation that has the ability to know Him, to have meaningful fellowship with Him and to spend eternity with Him. We are the most important of God’s creation. We are most able to live a life that brings glory and honor to God. This has to be the greatest purpose that anyone could ever experience in their life – to be rightly related to the God of all eternity through faith in His Son Jesus Christ and to always be bringing glory and honor to Him.

Pray this week:

Father, will you please give me a deeper understanding of why you created me for your honor and how my life can achieve the very purpose for why you actually created me?

What does the fact that Jesus Christ became a man actually say about our importance to God the Father?

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member