2020 Daily Devotion - Day 70

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When James Whistler was at the height of his artistic career, a wealthy patron purchased one of his pictures on the condition the artist would accompany him home and help select a spot to hang the picture. Once at his mansion, the man held up the picture, first here and then there, each time asking, "How about this?”

Finally, Whistler said, "You are going about this all wrong. What you must do is remove all the furnishings from the room, hang the picture where it will be best displayed, and then arrange the furniture in relationship to the picture."
Many would like to add God to the furnishings of their lives. What He requires is that He be placed as the focal point of our existence, and only then, may we arrange the miscellaneous paraphernalia of our lives. Too many people want to simply have Jesus be an addendum to their lives, instead of the Lord of their lives; totally abandoned to Him.

Romans 6:3-4 NRS
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Since we have been baptized into His death, it means that we have died to our own will and Christ to live as Lord of our lives.

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, in our baptism we died to ourselves. We have died to our pride and ego. We have died to our self-will and wanting to be in charge. We are now meant to “walk in newness of life”. Help us to be who we are in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
 
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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