Jesus Is Your Brother

Grace United Methodist Church, Millsboro, Delaware

“But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent His Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that He might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as His own children because God sent the Spirit of His Son into our lives crying out, ‘Papa! Father!’ Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance” (Galatians 4:4-7 The Message).

You understand that God planned all of this before you were in the womb. He chose the time that Christ would come to free us from the law of sin and death. He chose the day that Christ would be raised up to show the world that He overcame death. He chose the day that Christ left this Earth and ascended into Heaven. And He chose the day you were born.

The only problem is, you were born into slavery. Slavery to sin. So then He put circumstances in your life that eventually drew you to Him. He was with you through every valley. He was there for every mountain you’ve climbed. He used all of it to make you into the person you are today.

On the day you chose Christ, He opened His arms wide and pulled You into Him and Him into You. As soon as you chose Christ, you became sealed with the Holy Spirit. You became His adopted child. Our Heavenly Father is a gracious Father and a generous Father.

The miracle is that you can call Jesus your brother. And if he is your brother, you also have complete access to the Father. Now is the time to enjoy that access.

This is day nineteen of a forty day devotional, The Miracle of You. Click here to order.

Click here to check out my website.

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Sifting Archaelogical Rubble

Vicki Andree Books

During our stay in Jerusalem’s Old City, David and I spent a day sifting through an archaeological dig. It was an adventure of a lifetime. We went to the Tzurim National Park for a day of volunteering.

Our trainer instructed us on how to properly find artifacts. We sifted through the debris for pottery, metal, bones, mosaic tiles, glass, and special rocks. We dumped a bucket of debris on a screen and sorted. David took photos. David found a piece of glazed blue tile and I found an old coin. The archeologist cleaned it up and tagged it. All finds are kept by the project and documented.

At the end of the day, we are awarded certificates of participation. I loved this project.

Click here to watch a video of how this operation is accomplished.

It is a memory I will always cherish.

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You Are One In Christ Jesus

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, PA

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NKJV).
Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…”

Equality. It’s a conundrum in our world. Our Governments enacts laws to insure that everyone is treated equally. It seems to be what everybody wants. In 1870 the right to vote was expanded to include all races. It wasn’t until 1920 that women were given that right. Evidently, it takes some time for equality to kick in, even with the government.

Erich Fromm, got close to defining equality when he said, “We are all alike, on the inside.” Of course, one would think a psychoanalyst like Fromm would know that is definitely not true. People can be very different on the inside.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) said it this way. “All people are equal, it is not birth, it is virtue alone that makes the difference.” I would ask Mark Twain how he could make such a convoluted statement. If virtue makes the difference, then they are not equal.

The truest quote I found was in an ageless proverb, announcing the stark truth. “Six feet of earth make all men equal.” That is all the world can offer.

We are all one in Christ Jesus. It is our faith in Christ that surpasses Jew, Greek, slave or free, male or female. If we are in Christ, we are all equal heirs. When we approach His throne, all of us must be on bended knee. We are equal because the same Holy Spirit is in each of us. As the apostle John learned when he asked for a special place in Heaven, Jesus has no need to show favoritism.

The miracle is that He has an unlimited supply of love. He loves each of His kids totally, completely, and without limits all the time. You never have to wait your turn. Your time is now.

This is day eighteen of a forty day devotional, The Miracle of You. Click here to order.

Click here to check out my website.

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