Acts 5: 29 ”But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Dear God,
Thank You for the rising glow heralding the sun and another new day; for me to recommit myself to You and be delighted in Your love and wisdom, which over the years has gradually drawn me closer to You.
Though Jesus was not now with them, the apostles had not stopped telling others about Him, and what they knew of Him when on earth, and what it meant in the lives of each individual on earth, now that He had risen from the grave and returned to His Father in heaven. Acts 5: 31 “Him God exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” The disciples of Jesus knew about the things of which they spoke, intimately, and that their lives had been impacted in a life changing way. V32”And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Today I have again asked, believing that I will be filled by Your Holy Spirit, so that I can walk as Your child in love and truth.
Proverbs 4: 18 “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines brighter unto perfect day.”
As I reflect upon Proverbs 4: 18 “I wonder at the word ‘just’ in this context, please give me a fuller understanding of this text. Just and good go together.
When invited, Jesus dwells in our heart through the Holy Spirit, bringing our prayers into a language, we are told is heavenly language, for receiving by God. For even when I believe I am truly seeking You, my attitudes and thoughts are framed by inherent sinfulness, impeding my resolve to be good as You assess goodness. From my understanding of scripture, if I was to fully reflect Jesus every day, my actions toward others would not be based upon my own selfish desires.
Romans 3: 23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” It is by Your grace, I can be justified, or as has been said, made, just-as-if-I-had never sinned. Romans 3: 24 “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is Christ Jesus.” Now, I can be called ‘just’ as I walk on the pathway of Jesus, which is bright with His light and glory. As each day passes thus committed to Jesus, His light shines within me and will grow brighter every day, as I reflect His Light with less of my input shading His brightness.
I am so glad that I can ask to You to fill me with light each day, for myself and for others to see. I also ask, that through You, I will shade the light less and less.
Amen