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Saturday, Jan 7
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DEVOTIONAL: “GROWTH THROUGH SHARING”
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Ever since my sabbatical in 2020, I’ve been using the Libby app (https://libbyapp.com) to listen to books. Every once in a while, I come across a book that is absolutely fantastic. Take a guess what one of my initial thoughts is after enjoying the book? I want to find someone to share it with! I want to tell others who like books about this great story so they can enjoy it as much as I did.
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You do this too. After enjoying a great restaurant, or an excellent film, or an awe-inspiring national park, or even just a funny video, you most likely want to share it with someone.
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After spending the first 11 chapters of his letter to the church in Rome talking about the Gospel, Paul shifts in chapter 12 to the implications of the Gospel. In verses 9-21 (which was part of today’s reading), he describes what a Jesus-follower should look like. One thing that sticks out to me is how Jesus-followers are expected to be generous in all things:
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In other words, just like my reaction to a good book, the reaction of a Christ-follower to the good news of Jesus should be one of sharing. But it isn’t just sharing the gospel with words. It is sharing the gospel with your life (which, by the way, will include words!).
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So how might you need to share the gospel today, this next week, and this whole year? Is there someone with whom you need to rejoice or weep? Is there someone to whom you need to show honor? Is there someone in need to whom you need to contribute some of your resources? Is there someone with whom you need to tell about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection?
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Generous God, make me more like you! Help me to share all you have given me through Christ with those around me. Let my family sing your praises at my funeral because of the life you lived through me. Let my co-workers desire a relationship with you because of your work within me. Let my neighbors be thankful you put me in their neighborhood. Empower me through Your Spirit to live out Romans 12 naturally because of the growth of the Gospel within me.
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Feel free to open your Notes app to write down a thought or two from today's reading or write out your own prayer.
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Choose 1 person in your life who doesn’t know Christ. Write down his or her name every day for the remainder of the 21 Days as a reminder to pray for him/her each day.
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