Promotion
Comes from the Lord
TODAY’S
SCRIPTURE
For not from the east nor from the west nor from the
south come promotion and lifting up. But God is the Judge! He puts down one and
lifts up another.
Psalm 75:6-7, AMP.
TODAY’S
WORD
Have you ever noticed that people tend to act differently
around those they think can do something for them—people who appear to have
status, wealth or influence in life? I believe that the way we treat people is
a test. At times, God will bring people across your path that may seem
insignificant. They may not appear to be able to do anything for you, but in
reality, they are divinely linked to your destiny. They hold the key to your
promotion and increase. Will you treat them with respect and honor even if you
think they can’t do anything for you?
The truth is that the people we’re playing up to or
trying to win their favor may be the ones that open a door for us, but they
don’t hold the key to our destiny. Promotion doesn’t come from them. Promotion
comes from God. And, God will use the most unlikely people to open doors of opportunity
for you—a hotel bellman, a maid, an intern, or an unpopular kid at school.
Let’s pass the test and treat everyone like Jesus put them in our path because
He probably did. Remember, God is watching and promotion comes from Him.
PRAYER
FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for promotion. Thank You for ordering
my steps and leading me on the right path. Today I choose to honor and respect
everyone, and in turn, I choose to honor You in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
***
3 hours ago
“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15 NIV)
In the middle of all the hustle and bustle of this season, let’s pause and think back to the first Christmas. Have you ever stopped to put yourself in Joseph’s shoes? Here was a guy who found out his fiancé was pregnant, claiming she was visited by an angel and that it was God’s baby. And she wanted him to believe her!
In an instant, Joseph’s whole world was turned upside down. This was not the way his life was supposed to turn out. It just didn’t make any sense.
Do you know the feeling? Maybe your finances suddenly take a turn for the worse, or layoffs are looming at work, or you’ve just received news of a health crisis in your family. How are you going to handle it? What do you do when things in your life don’t make sense?
Joseph made the choice to do what God said to do, and it changed everything. Joseph chose to obey God even though he didn’t understand what was happening.
Today, the word “obey” has a negative connotation. We view obedience as a forced, unwilling decision to do something we don’t want to do because we’re afraid of punishment.
But that’s not the kind of obedience that’s in God’s Word. Obedience in the Bible means this: love + trust + action.
It starts with love, as Jesus said in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (NIV). Obedience comes from knowing that God loves you and you love him in return.
A lot of people think obedience is about fearing God, but God wants us to see obedience to him as a relationship of love. And out of love comes trust. If you trust what God is saying to you, and you believe that he loves you, then that will lead to action.
You need to have all three, because action without love is just rote religion — and love without action is just mere talk.
Joseph was able to accept what Mary and the angel told him because of his relationship with God. He knew God loved him, and he loved God. He trusted God and made the choice to do what God asked him to do. And because of that, Joseph’s life is still impacting lives today.
Talk About It
- Is your relationship with God based on love or fear?
- How would you describe your level of trust in God?
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