đđ«đ€ Christâs peace be with you. Happy 2021! How did you start your new year? I stayed up watching one of my favorite shows, âHeartlandâ. Itâs a Canadian TV series that began in 2007, so if youâre looking for a binge worthy show that will take some time to get through, this is the one. I was watching season 9 episode 4 and as the clock struck midnight, Jack (one of the main characters) had to put his longtime friend, partner, and horse, Paint, down. Iâd seen this scene multiple times before, so it was not surprise, but I still had leaky eyes. The timing just seemed fitting with the end of the year. After I finished watching that episode, I thoughtâŠâI might as well get this year started of rightâ, so I opened my Bible to see what God wanted to share with me. Picking up where I had left off, I read Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus Calls His First Disciples. How absolutely amazing it is to me that these men would just drop everything they were doing and follow Jesus when He called to them. Talk about an incredible trust and faith in the unknown. I donât know that I would drop everything to that degree. I believe that is what the Holy Spirit was trying to show me. I need to be more willing to by faith alone trust what He is calling me to. Next, I read Matthew 4:23-25 Jesus ministers to crowds of people. As Jesus was teaching in Galilee, the people listened and really heard what He was sharing with them and were amazed at how He was curing such a wide variety of afflictions. They couldnât contain themselves, they had to share what they heard, saw and experienced, which drew even more people to Him. Part of sharing the goodness of God can sometimes only breakthrough in our sheer excitement and joy about Him. You can talk and talk all day long about Him, but if people donât see or experience your excitement and joy about Him freely flowing from you, they may never truly experience or understand what all the hype is about. Finally, I read Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes. Talk about a recipe for success and a goal to strive for. No, itâs not your normal go get âem kind of goal, but itâs something that can be worked at daily. And, there are multiple characteristics to work on, so I guess if you get a little bored with one, you can start working on another.
So, God handed me a plan for 2021.
Iâm calling out to you. Will you trust and join me?
Get excited and share what you have learned and Who you have come to know with all the nations.
Donât forget to work on you. If your core is rotten, the rest of your fruit will also be spoiled. Work from the inside out and radiate a full, complete character that others will immediately recognize as Christ in you.
Bless others and be blessed.
#Heartland
#Cain â Rise Up (Lazarus)
Third Day Devotions 