appnotes
DAY
1
READ 2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-19
DAY
2
READ 1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17
DAY
3
READ ROMANS 4:1-8
Have you noticed that all roads lead somewhere? Sometimes
it’s thousands of miles to a new city full of new experiences.
Other times, the road we are on leads to a dead end. In life, our
past can be a highway without an exit. The baggage of our past
seems to dominate our present and misdirect our future. But
that all changes when God rescues you. Your history no longer
determines your destiny. When we cross the line of faith, we are
radically changed. Sure, we have the same skin color, the same
stride when we walk, and the same voice when we talk. But we
have changed spiritually. We are brand new. It is like we have
been picked up and put on a new path. Now, every day begins
with a fresh start, new mercies, and the promised destination of
Heaven.
Have you ever watched a master at their craft? The teacher who
makes learning effortless? The sculptor that carves perfection
from raw stone, ice, or wood? The mechanic that can turn a hunk
of junk into a prize-winning show car? We don’t just admire the
product; we admire the person. The greater the mastery, the
greater the glory. Paul called himself the “worst of sinners.” I
think I might be a contender for the title, how about you? But
what Paul says next is profound. God is a master at restoring
even the worst of us. God bent down over the raw materials of
our lives and with patience, power, and love made diamonds out
of dust. As a result, we don’t just admire the product; we admire
the Person. The greater the mastery, the greater the glory.
Sometimes we avoid God like we would dodge creditors calling
to collect. We know our sin is bad, so we figure we need to
pay. We spend time trying to build up some moral credit before
we face God. We hope that our past lapses will be overlooked
because of recent moral acts. But that’s not how it works at all.
Our sin deserved punishment, but God’s love drove Him to pay
it. The debt is paid. All of it. There is even credit in the bank to
cover future failure. What a relief! We don’t have to run from God
when we fail; we can run to Him. How happy are those whose
sins are forgiven!
DAY
4
READ EXODUS 34:4-7
DAY
5
READ GALATIANS 6:7-10
Ever play Whack-A-Mole? It’s that arcade game where moles pop
up, and you have to knock them down. As the game progresses,
they pop up faster and faster until you cannot get them all. Our
past is like that. It keeps popping up as we frantically try to smash
it back out of sight. We end up repeating patterns we inherited
from our parents. We ignore patterns in our kids because we
have been guilty of it too. Today’s reading teaches us that
unaddressed generational patterns can ruin our relationships.
God doesn’t punish us for what our parents have done, but we
can repeat their mistakes if we do not change (Exodus 18:20). It
might be time to ask yourself, “Where is this coming from?” and
make some healthy changes.
You cannot grow an oak from a pumpkin seed. Duh, right? It’s
not rocket science: what you plant is what you get to harvest. As
Paul points out in today’s reading, the same is true in our lives.
What you see coming out of your life is a direct result of what
you have put into your life. You have a hard time being generous
because you’ve planted consumerism. You erupt with anger
because you’ve fed entitlement. Maybe that’s a little discouraging.
But realize this, the same principle that is working against you can
work for you too! Start with what is right in front of you today. Be
kind to the critical. Choose to close Facebook to get face time with
God. Fill your mind with God’s truth and you’ll be surprised what
wisdom comes out! Let God’s love pour into you and see how
patient you become!
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