Living
With Enthusiasm
TODAY’S
SCRIPTURE
You will go out in joy and
be led forth in peace…
Isaiah 55:12, NIV.
TODAY’S
WORD
The word “enthusiasm” comes
from the Greek word “entheos.” “Theos” is God. When you’re enthusiastic, it
simply means you are full of God. When you get up in the morning excited about
your future, recognizing that day is a gift and go out with a spring in your
step, pursuing your goals and passionate about life, then God will breathe in
your direction. Studies even tell us that people who are enthusiastic get
better breaks. They’re promoted more often. That’s not a coincidence. When
you’re full of passion, you have the favor of God.
Remember, God didn’t
breathe His life into us to drag through the day. He didn’t create us in His
image, crown us with His favor, and equip us with His power to just go through
the motions of life. You may have had some setbacks, the wind may have been
taken out of your sail, but this is a new day! God wants to breathe new life
back into you. If you’ll get your fire back, get your passion back, the wind
will start blowing once again. When you’re in agreement with God, He can cause the
winds of favor to shift in your direction!
PRAYER
FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank You
for another sunrise, another day, another opportunity to praise You and pursue
the dreams You’ve given me. Help me to stay filled with Your joy which is
strength so I can serve You with my whole heart in everything that I do in
Jesus’ Name. Amen.
***
"Praise God for the privilege of being in Christ's family and being called by his wonderful name!” (1 Peter 4:16 LB)
Healthy families have family pride; members are not ashamed to be recognized as a part of the family. Sadly, I’ve met many church members who’ve never publicly identified themselves with God’s family by being baptized.
Baptism is not some optional ritual to be delayed or postponed. It signifies your inclusion in God’s family. It publicly announces to the world, "I am not ashamed to be a part of God’s family." Jesus commanded this beautiful act for all in his family.
For years I wondered why Jesus’ Great Commission gives the same prominence to baptism as it does to the great tasks of evangelism and edification.
Why is baptism so important? Because it symbolizes one of the purposes of your life: incorporation into the fellowship of God’s eternal family.
Baptism declares your faith, shares Christ’s burial and Resurrection, symbolizes your death to your old life, and announces your new life in Christ. It is also a celebration of your inclusion in God’s family.
Your baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. It represents what happened the moment God brought you into his family.
Baptism doesn’t make you a member of God’s family; only faith in Christ does that. Baptism shows you are part of God’s family. Like a wedding ring, it is a visible reminder of an inward commitment made in your heart. It is an act of initiation, not something you put off until you are spiritually mature. The only biblical condition is that you believe.
The Bible says, "Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn't ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11 CEV).
Let that amazing truth sink in! Because Jesus makes you holy, God is proud of you.
Talk About It
- Being included in God’s family is the highest honor, the greatest privilege you and I will ever receive. Nothing else comes close. Why not pause right now and thank God that he included you?
- If you haven’t been baptized as an expression of your faith in Christ, do so immediately, as Jesus commanded.
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