(NLT)

Reading today’s Daily Devotional in Our Daily Bread reminds me of the very many occasions where I have looked to get the credit for a great idea of mine, or for something I have done that has pleased others.  I can even remember how angry I have felt if someone else has taken the credit for my own work!!  Of course I desire the attention for my own means, to build myself up artificially and give myself a confidence and ego boost.  In fact even a couple of years ago, my “ego” was 200 thousand miles above sea level!!!  I nursed it daily, was very loud mouthed about my achievements and would really enjoy received what I perceived as adulation!

Of course the great feeling I would get would only last a few minutes if that.  People soon forgot events, and it no longer mattered.  Over the last year the Lord really has humbled me, sure I still struggle with the desire to “big myself up” and to say “look what I have done”, however the Lord is giving strength to resist and to take a step back!

Our actions should not be to glorify ourselves, but to give glory to the Risen Lord.  It is He who gives us breath, He who gives us life, health, opportunities, so to Him should go the glory!  In this passage in Corinthians, Paul says “who is Paul?”  He is highlighting that he is not important in the grand scheme of things!  After all, Paul may have planted a seed, but it is the Lord that does the watering!  It is God who nurtures and tends to the gardens of our heart and brings forth wonderful and amazing fruit.

All our actions should not be to seek attention, glory, credit, adulation etc, but to advance the Kingdom of God, and to give Him glory.  We may plant, and sometimes dig up the crop, but the Lord does the hard work!  By humbling ourselves and adopting a servant heart to the Lord, wanting only to do His will, others may not notice in this life, but the Lord certainly will, and He has promised us reward in heaven!

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

James 4:10 (NLT)

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Today’s Our Daily Bread reading makes an extremely good point with regard to anyone doubting the resurrection.  All of Jesus disciples (apart from John) died a martyrs death.  Yes they died for what they believed and what they were telling people about.  Their entire message was based on the fact that Jesus had risen from the grave.  Would men who were making up a story really die for a lie?  Of course not.  I found this such an encouraging way to look at any questions of doubt that may arise.

Some people who wish to disprove the message say that Jesus “woke up” or recovered from basically being unconscious because of all that was done to Him (they claim he had not died).  To clarify, there is no way that Jesus was still alive.  How on earth he had managed to live after the flogging alone, then carrying the cross over His back alone is a testament to His determination and love.  However once upon the cross, there was no way the Romans would let a man down until they were sure the victim was dead.  To be sure a spear was plunged into his side and out came a mixture of blood and water.  When someone dies the blood separates, proof Jesus was dead.  The Romans carried out thousands of crucifixion’s there was no way they were going to get it wrong.

Even if they did get it wrong (which if you remember the spear in the side, they didn’t), having been flogged, lost so much blood, been nailed to a cross and suffocated, being pierced by a spear etc, that a man would be able to make a full recovery and then roll away a tomb stone many times his own body weight to then appear to many disciples around the area.

Stolen body?  Not at all,  the Romans nor the Jews wanted to give Jesus disciples any more reason to “go on” about Jesus.  That’s why they crucified Him!  Thats also why they put guards to stop people getting near Him.  And of course as we have said, if the disciples had stolen Him, why on earth would they die for a lie?  They simply wouldn’t.  And finally then, how would we explain the many appearances of Jesus to Disciples and friends all around the area?

I am 100%, totally and utterly convinced of the resurrection and the power of the Lord Jesus over death!  I am so thankful he came to earth to die for our sins that we whom believe may have everlasting life.  Put any doubt away, and start believes in the Risen Lord.

Amen

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Colossians 1:10 – …And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God… (NIV).

Here they pray that their brother may live a life worthy of the Lord.  Not conforming to localised peer pressures, or becoming captive to sin, but living in the light and knowledge of the Lord that he may bear fruit.  His actions are a witness to those around him.

How this passage differs from previous sections on “imitating” God and living like him, is the emphasis on prayer.  It is a strong reminder that we cant live for him, or live like him without his help!  Go it alone and you will fail.  However if you have him with you at all times, you will bear fruit.

I am reminded of a verse in Revelation 22:1-3, …Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

3 No longer will there be any curse…

I can envisage that the crops and trees were growing and bearing fruit as they were feeding from the living water flowing from the throne.  We as Christians can bear fruit by drinking the living water, in reading the word, in prayer and in living for him (you cant pick one of them, they are linked).

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