Day: January 27, 2016

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Living in Two Worlds

Juneau, Alaska

Even though we live in this world, our life comes from God.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things.  You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ your life appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:2-4 God’s Word to the Nations

When you and I think of mammals we probably think of furry things that live on terra firma not those that dive to unspeakable depths in the ocean, yet that is the world of whales.

Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska

They share with us the need to breathe air, but they differ from us in their need for water. It is in the ocean that they give birth to their young, guard against predators and find food. Yet without air they could not live.

Likewise, Christians live in two worlds.

Here on terra firma we give birth to our young, protect our property and raise food that sustains our lives. But we stop living without the breath of heaven.

Our hope is not set on worldly things, though this is where we hang our hats for now. Paul reminds us that we have died to these worldly things through Christ. The real breath of life is that which we cannot see, hidden with Christ in God.

I pray that today you breathe deeply of your true life.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Imitating Reflections

Fox Run Regional Park, Black Forest, Colorado

What kind of life in Christ are we reflecting to others?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”
1 Corinthians 11:1 New Living Translation

It’s obvious from this picture that the trees on the water are a reflection of the trees next to the shore, yet sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish whether you’re looking at a reflection or the real thing.

Fox Run Regional Park, Black Forest, Colorado
Fox Run Regional Park, Black Forest, Colorado

We have been redeemed to reflect Christ.

We are invited to imitate Paul, or as happens today, those who are mature in their faith. God doesn’t want us left to our own devises to figure out what it means to walk in Christ. He gives us godly examples for us to imitate.

My favorite baseball player as a kid was Willie Mays. I’d stand in the street and throw a baseball as high in the air as I could then imitate Willie’s patented basket catch. Like Willie, God has raised up mature followers of Christ for us to imitate. 

However, imitating other human creatures falls short because sin. Even Paul had a hot temper that got him into trouble (Acts 15:36-41). Ultimately we imitate Christ. As we imitate Christ we reflect his imagine. There are days when the reflection is better than other days. In fact, some days it doesn’t seem that we’re reflecting his image at all.

Even though we might not perfectly reflect Christ, we continue to strive to mirror him. The gift of forgiveness is that amazing gift God hands us each day that we might once again strive to display his love.

Maybe God is using our faith for someone to imitate.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner