by Stephen Butler
The Word:
“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!” Joshua 24:14 (NKJV)
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14 (NKJV)
The Story:
Years ago, I fashioned myself a writer, more specifically, an essayist. In college and grad school, I wrote a column for my school newspaper, and after university I wrote for a blog. But in 2006, my writing dropped off. In 2007, it was a trickle, and for the past year, my writing has been nonexistent, to the point that I’ve even had difficulty writing this devotional. In light of my lack of production, it would be fraudulent for me to call myself “a writer.”
The Reflection:
In the same way that my claim to be a writer depends upon me actually writing, a sincere and truthful claim to be a Christian depends upon our following Christ. We present ourselves as followers of Christ when we serve Him and keep His commands.
The Application:
Each day this week, before you leave home, think about how you can present yourself as a follower of Christ to world you will encounter. How will people know that you serve the Lord? And before you go to bed each night, reflect on the day and how well you represented the Lord. What can you do better tomorrow?
The Prayer:
Lord, I hate moving my hopes, dreams and desires to the side. My pride and ego lead me to believe I know what’s best for me. But the truth is that my pride and ego prevent me from fully seeking and serving You. Please give me a heart to keep Your commands and serve You so that I, too, may know You as a friend.
