Shoulder to Shoulder

Tuesday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Zephaniah 2-3
NT: Revelation 11
W&W:

Today’s Reflection:

Christmas is the season we celebrate God’s coming to earth in the form of humanity – in his Son, Jesus Christ. But, we must always remember why Jesus took on flesh and blood: so that he might become a sacrifice for sins. The Bible says: “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood” (Hebrews 13.12). Had he not come in the flesh, he would have no blood with which to make us holy. The cradle points to the cross.

Today’s Old Testament reading reminds us that God will one day “purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder” (Zephaniah 3.9). That verse reveals a good ordering of life’s interests:

1. Purity first – be right with God. Get right with God. Set your heart on God. Let Jesus make you holy. This is why he came.
2. Prayer next – get to know God. Commune with God. Understand God’s will and Word. Worship God.
3. Then service – serve God. Serve him by serving others.
4. Finally fellowship and partnership – we are to be shoulder to shoulder with God’s people in doing the work of the Kingdom. God didn’t create us, he doesn’t save us, he doesn’t call us for us to fly solo. He calls us into fellowship with him and others, to partner in the work of God.

Purity... Prayer... Service... Fellowship... Follow that order and be amazed at the effectiveness of your life!

This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
John 1.14a: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…