May 28 – See My Greatness

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise, his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3
(Life Application Study Bible)

Jesus Tells Us…Let me surround you with My presence.  I am King of Kings and Lord of lords.  When you come close to Me, I come even closer to you.  You may feel overwhelmed by My Power and Glory.  You may feel small compared to My Greatness.  These feelings are actually a form of worship.  You are telling Me that you know how powerful and wonderful I am.  Some people do not like my Greatness.  They don’t like feeling small compared to anything, not even Me.  They want to be in complete control, and they want to be the most important.  They may even be so wrapped up in themselves that they don’t see Me at all. 

Jesus Concludes…Don’t fall into the trap.  Enjoy being in the presence of My Greatness.  Be glad that you have such a great and all-powerful God who loves you and is taking care of you.

Psalm 145:3; 1-Timothy 6:15-16; James 4:8; Acts 17:28; Psalm 145:4-6 Study Notes.

Footnotes Psalm 145:4-7, How do we tell the next generation of God’s power?  We begin by making church attendance and biblical education central in the experience of our own children.  We can also tell our stories of believing in Jesus.  When did faith in Christ become personal and vivid for you?  Use family meals and social events to share about Jesus.  Talk about your experiences.  Show your family and others in your circle of influence how God helps you through each day.

Passage 1-Timothy 6:15-16, 15Which God will bring about in his own time, God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, who no one has seen or can see.  To him be honor and might forever.  Amen.

Footnotes 1-Timothy 6:11-12, Paul uses active and forceful verbs to describe the Christian life: flee, pursue, fight, take hold.  Some think Christianity is passive, advocating that we have to wait for God to act.  On the contrary, we must have an active faith, training, working hard, sacrificing, and doing what we know God wants. It is time for action on your part?  Christian service, like athletics, requires training and sacrifice.  Our discipline and obedience largely define whether we will be contributors or merely spectators.  How would other believers rank your contributing role on Christ’s team?

Passage James 4:8, Come near to God and he will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Footnotes James 4:7-10, How can you come near to God?  James gives five ways: (1) “Submit to God” (4:7). Yield to his authority and will, commit your life to him and his control, and be willing to follow him.  (2) “Resist the devil” (4:7). Don’t allow Satan to entice and temp you.  (3) “Wash your hands, and purify your hearts” (that is, lead a pure life) (4:8).  Be cleansed from sin, replacing the desire to sin with the desire to experience God’s purity.  (4) “Grieve, mourn and wail” in sincere sorrow for your sins (4:9).  Don’t be afraid to express deep, heartfelt sorrow for what you have done.  (5) “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” Recognize that your worth comes from God alone.  To be humble involves leaning on his power and guidance and not going your own independent way.  Although we do not deserve God’s favor, he wants to lift us up and give us worth and dignity, despite our human shortcomings.

Passage Acts 17:28, ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’  As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring’

Footnotes Acts 17:27-28, God is revealed in his creation and is close to every one of us.  Through his Holy Spirit, he lives within all who believe in Jesus Christ.  But he is not trapped in his creation, he is transcendent.  God is the Creator, not the creation.  This means that God is sovereign and in control, while at the same time he is close and personal.  We do not shape God to meet our needs, we serve his as the holy God who loves us.  If you find yourself trying to make God fit your expectations, ask him to reveal himself to you as he really is, and to help you find your purpose in him.

Passage Psalm 145:4-6, 4One generation commends your works to another, they tell of your mighty acts. 5They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.  6They tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.

Footnotes Psalm 145:4-7, How do we tell the next generation of God’s power?  We begin by making church attendance and biblical education central in the experience of our own children.  We can also tell our stories of believing in Jesus.  When did faith in Christ become personal and vivid for you?  Use family meals and social events to share about Jesus.  Talk about your experiences.  Show your family and others in your circle of influence how God helps you through each day.

Jesus Tells Us is from the Jesus Calling 365 devotions for kids.

THE WORLD…we see history

Nelson Mandela

In 1960, during a demonstration police massacred scores of protesters Mandela was jailed,
and was imprisoned on Robben Island and elsewhere almost continuously from 1962 to 1990.

KEYSTONE-FRANCE

In 1956, Mandela (third from left), was the leader of the African National Congress.  Here, Mandela and colleagues charged with treason by the South African Union, walk to the courtroom, where their trial is being held.  The trial would last for four years, with the final accused being acquitted in 1961.

He stands today as the father of his country, as much as George Washington stands as the father or ours.  South Africa’s first true president.  Rolihlahla Mandela, was born in a rural, thoroughly black part of the country in 1918.  He herded cattle and appeared destined for the life of meager subsistence that was typical at the time for blacks.  At the missionary University of Fort Hare, however, Mandela emerged as a fighter, becoming involved in student protests critical of the white colonial administration of the school.  He apprenticed at a law firm in Johannesburg and chafed at apartheid, South Africa’s system of racial segregation that empowered the imperialist whites, while oppressing the native blacks.  Inspired to work for change, Mandela joined the nonviolent Youth League of the African National Congress (ANC) and embraced passive resistance, such as burning his identity papers.  As more blacks began to push for their rights, the South African government responded with violence.  In 1960, during a demonstration at Sharpeville, police massacred scores of protesters and the ANC, among other groups, was outlawed.  Mandela was jailed, and was imprisoned on Robben Island and elsewhere almost continuously from 1962 to 1990.