Make today Count.
“For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,” - Hebrews 2:11 ESV
It’s the first of a new month, a new month of bizarre new normality like pyjama days, and preferring terms like yesterday, the other day, tomorrow and another day, to the actual names of the days of the week. It is a new day though, a day in which God’s mercies are new, and His faithfulness is unchanged (Lam 3:22-23).
When we look at today like that, it has promise and purpose, and promise and purpose make a day worth living. Today we’re starting a new sermon and devotional series entitled “The Greatest”. We’re picking it up in the second chapter of Hebrews, with the revelation that Jesus, God in the flesh, is not ashamed to be the brother of those who put their faith in Him.
In these unusual times many of us find ourselves in circumstances ranging from uncertainty to desperate vulnerability. We may battle to see purpose or promise, and yearn for counsel and support of someone wiser and greater than our challengers.
Whoever wrote Hebrews, has a message for us from God today - Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, has a wise and powerful older brother who knows what we’re going through, from experience. The Scripture calls Him the one who sanctifies. He’s the one who sets us apart for a Holy purpose and cleans us of our sin. He’s constantly working on those who believe in Him, to shape us into the people that God created us to be, to do that work He prepared for us to do.
Jesus is not ashamed to stand and proclaim us as His own brothers and sisters. He is with us and ready to strengthen and encourage us to make the most of the promise that today holds, whatever that may be.
Dear Father God, Thank You that You have made it possible for us to be Your children. Please forgive our sin and strengthen us in our trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Thank You Lord Jesus that you are not ashamed to call us brother and sister. Please help us today Lord, to live for You, for Your purpose and in the security of Your promises, written in the Holy Scriptures. Father please give us a hunger for reading Your Word, the wisdom to understand it, and the supernatural power to live it out today, and always. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You, To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today, In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us, All Your purposes for Your glory.
Teach us, Lord, full obedience, Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail— Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds; Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises, And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built And the earth is filled with Your glory.
Today is a gift, it’s an opportunity to know God deeper, to become more like Jesus, and to do something of eternal value in gratitude for what Jesus has done for us. Take some time to write down the abilities that God has given us, and the resources He’s made available today. Then ask Him to show us how to use them today, to make today really count.