Daily Devotional: Friday, Sept 4

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Myth: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves Truth: God Helps Us Because We Cannot Help Ourselves

Weekend Music links on iTunes: All Over the World by Matt Redman; Holy Is the Lord by Chris Tomlin; For Who You Are by Hillsong; Cover Me Down by Marcus Jones; You Saw Me Hillsong.
 

Read: John 15:12-17 

Think: It's been said that God has an upside-down view of the world, turning human wisdom on its head. God makes the last become first and the weak become strong.  He exalts the humble, and humbles the proud. This week, we've been looking at the myth that "God helps those who help themselves".  Maybe one problem with this saying is that it gets the whole issue upside-down. Could it be that we keep thinking about God helping us, when we should be thinking about us helping God?

Nearly a generation ago now, a writer named Henry Blackaby wrote a powerful book called Experiencing God. In it, Blackaby urges Christians to find out what God is doing, and join him in it. I think he's on to something. The biblical narrative shows God at work in the world, both in individual lives and on a grand scale. From creation, through Jesus' death and resurrection, and pointing to an ultimate victory over sin and death, God is active!

In the same way Jesus invited the twelve to work with him, he invites each of us to join him in remaking this world in which we live. We offer ourselves as his servants, but he calls us ‘friends'. A servant and friend of Jesus - now that's what I want to be.

Pray: Lord, I ask for your help all the time. Today, I want to turn that around. It seems crazy that I could help you in any way, yet you've taken me on as a servant and friend. I just want to let you know that I'm here to help.  Put me to work!

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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