Daily Devotional
Like Some RoboCop
We made a plan for a trip for my birthday, to go to Pacific Grove. When we reminded our daughter the day before that we were going, she said, “Oh no! It’s going to be raining all day!” I told her I would put on my best “safety hat,” and be careful. Glad she cares!
Well, it did rain all that day! Visibility was bad in some places. Some areas were dangerous. But I reminded Lynn of my “sterling driving record!” No accidents caused by me for over 60 years, since I was 16 years old and wrecked my first car after owning it only 3 months. Wrecked and removed from my life forever. But, we made it to Pacific Grove without issue.
When I travel, I like to seek special encounters with the Lord. Seeking the good part, like Mary, sitting at the Lord’s feet. Because of the weather, this time took place in a coffee shop in Monterey. But it was special to me. I was reminded of who I am, by Peter.
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” 1 Peter 1:1-2 (NASB)
We are aliens. We are chosen, according to God’s foreknowledge. Accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. Set apart to obey Jesus. Sprinkled with His blood.
It is like a picture, like seeing a man suddenly “invaded” by God, to his surprise. God lays His hand on him and transforms him inside, like some kind of “lightning bolt” work. That man is transformed in both purpose and perspective, and imbued with power. He is suddenly a new man, might as well have a new name and identity! He is sent out to his new work with new programming and new goals. The past is behind. The future is his world. His new laser-beamed goal, like with some RoboCop, is to obey Jesus Christ.
He is sprinkled with Jesus’ blood, now anointed and fully identified with Him as one of His own. He has special blessing and gifting of grace and peace. He becomes a man of contentment and wholeness.
He goes off immediately to his new life mission. He never turns back! The days were pre-written for him to accomplish the purpose for which God “invaded” him on that day of his call, the day the “lightning bolt” work took place in his inner man.
He goes forward until the last day, laid out from the beginning, when his last works and final deeds are fully completed, even as poured out in his being from that day of his “invasion,” according to the Father’s plans, set for him from the foundation of the world.
This is who I am. This is who you are, man or woman born again a new creation in Christ. Hear no other voice. Give way to no other thoughts. You are fully equipped and programmed to accomplish all God has laid out for you!
In this same coffee shop the day before, Lynn and I took up a conversation with an older woman named Cindy. We heard of her life. We testified of Christ. We gently corrected her from the God of her own creation. I gave her a Scripture card to take home, prepared ahead of time by hand. I assured her we would be praying for her. We completed with her one more step in the deeds of our calling in Christ!
Like some RoboCop, we all do our work, as scattered aliens, obeying Jesus. In Pacific Grove or Monterey. On a birthday trip. In stormy weather or sunny. With a “sterling driving record,” or without!
We drove home safely the next day. Like some RoboCop, we resume life and work in Fresno, still as scattered aliens. Still moving in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Obeying Jesus all the way, day by day. Sprinkled with His blood as a sign. Grace and peace surrounding us in fullest measure. Even to the last day.
Like some invaded, lightning bolt empowered RoboCop, press on. Your work unfolds before you, day by day. Here, or there, everywhere.
Well, it did rain all that day! Visibility was bad in some places. Some areas were dangerous. But I reminded Lynn of my “sterling driving record!” No accidents caused by me for over 60 years, since I was 16 years old and wrecked my first car after owning it only 3 months. Wrecked and removed from my life forever. But, we made it to Pacific Grove without issue.
When I travel, I like to seek special encounters with the Lord. Seeking the good part, like Mary, sitting at the Lord’s feet. Because of the weather, this time took place in a coffee shop in Monterey. But it was special to me. I was reminded of who I am, by Peter.
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” 1 Peter 1:1-2 (NASB)
We are aliens. We are chosen, according to God’s foreknowledge. Accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. Set apart to obey Jesus. Sprinkled with His blood.
It is like a picture, like seeing a man suddenly “invaded” by God, to his surprise. God lays His hand on him and transforms him inside, like some kind of “lightning bolt” work. That man is transformed in both purpose and perspective, and imbued with power. He is suddenly a new man, might as well have a new name and identity! He is sent out to his new work with new programming and new goals. The past is behind. The future is his world. His new laser-beamed goal, like with some RoboCop, is to obey Jesus Christ.
He is sprinkled with Jesus’ blood, now anointed and fully identified with Him as one of His own. He has special blessing and gifting of grace and peace. He becomes a man of contentment and wholeness.
He goes off immediately to his new life mission. He never turns back! The days were pre-written for him to accomplish the purpose for which God “invaded” him on that day of his call, the day the “lightning bolt” work took place in his inner man.
He goes forward until the last day, laid out from the beginning, when his last works and final deeds are fully completed, even as poured out in his being from that day of his “invasion,” according to the Father’s plans, set for him from the foundation of the world.
This is who I am. This is who you are, man or woman born again a new creation in Christ. Hear no other voice. Give way to no other thoughts. You are fully equipped and programmed to accomplish all God has laid out for you!
In this same coffee shop the day before, Lynn and I took up a conversation with an older woman named Cindy. We heard of her life. We testified of Christ. We gently corrected her from the God of her own creation. I gave her a Scripture card to take home, prepared ahead of time by hand. I assured her we would be praying for her. We completed with her one more step in the deeds of our calling in Christ!
Like some RoboCop, we all do our work, as scattered aliens, obeying Jesus. In Pacific Grove or Monterey. On a birthday trip. In stormy weather or sunny. With a “sterling driving record,” or without!
We drove home safely the next day. Like some RoboCop, we resume life and work in Fresno, still as scattered aliens. Still moving in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Obeying Jesus all the way, day by day. Sprinkled with His blood as a sign. Grace and peace surrounding us in fullest measure. Even to the last day.
Like some invaded, lightning bolt empowered RoboCop, press on. Your work unfolds before you, day by day. Here, or there, everywhere.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
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