WEEK 39 – DAY 3

September 29, 2021

REJOICE! THE LORD IS NEAR

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:4-5

Do all people see appropriate, Christ-like behavior, in us? Do our coworkers, neighbors, friends, and our families? We wish we could answer that we are consistent in being unselfish, considerate, and forbearing. We strive to be gentle, moderate, and patient. We long to be positive witnesses for our Lord. How? The key is in the previous verse. To the extent that we delight in the Lord, that we immerse ourselves in relationship with Him, we will exhibit His characteristics. If I spend much time with someone who is from another region or country, I begin to take on their accent. When I went to Russia on a two-week mission trip, one of the translators said that I pronounced my Russian phrases with the correct voice inflections and sounded “more Russian” than the other Americans. I pick up accents by spending time with a native speaker. Susan likes to guess where someone is from based on the way they speak English. Their accent gives them away. Jesus speaks the native “language” of heaven. It is the language of selfless love. To become a more effective ambassador of heaven, we must spend much time with someone from that country. As we spend time with Christ by reading His Word, praying, and listening to his Spirit, we will become more fluent in the language of love. We will imitate the Lord’s mannerisms as a child imitates her father. If a child learns the game of baseball from her dad, she will bat and throw the ball like her dad. The Lord wrote the playbook for this game of life. We must read it to know how to approach situations with skill. He has provided the perfect coach—the Holy Spirit speaking directly to our conscience. He has graciously supplied His listening ear when we have questions about the game or just need to review a play with Him before practicing it on the field. And at the end of a particularly difficult inning, He grants forgiveness when we fail to run the bases well. 

Father, as we step up to the plate each day, help us to swing the bat with confidence and run the bases without becoming weary. Help us run victoriously like Jesus as we spend more time with Him each day.