Work of Art
Prayer 365 // Love in Action (Day 1)
More From This Week:
Today's Scripture:
“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NIV
Today's Devotional:
The Apostle Paul expressed his desire to not impress others with his education, prestige or persuasive language. Instead he presented his life itself as a demonstration of God’s power through his testimony. In yesterday’s message titled “Is Love Demonstrated”, we uncovered that the greatest demonstration of God’s power was through His love. It’s His love that saved us through the gift of His son Jesus and it's that same love that changes us.
Paul had an encounter with this life saving and changing love on the road to Damascus. Ever since, he has been sharing his testimony of how God changed his life. Essentially, Paul's transformation has been a demonstration of God’s power through love. Before this change, Paul was a persecutor of the believers – those who professed faith in Jesus. Many were imprisoned and even killed because of their faith. Yet it was by God’s love that He decided to use Paul for His glory instead of doing away with him.
Paul became a work of art under the masterful hand of God’s love because everywhere Paul went, people saw the love of God in action. They witnessed it for themselves when they looked at a man that once brought havoc everywhere he went and now carrying heaven everywhere he goes. This was a work only possible by the hands of God.
As I reflect on 2020, this was a year that I had my own Damascus Road experience. I was trotting along, thinking that I was doing right. Pastoring, preaching and teaching, only to have it revealed by God’s love that I was unforgiving towards those who had hurt me. The way I knew this was true was because I couldn’t remember the last time I sincerely prayed for them. From that moment I made a change and walked in true forgiveness led by the love of God. This change of heart changed my life and then began to change the life of those around me such as my family, friends and even our ministry. My life became a canvas of God’s love and on my heart He painted a picture of His Son, Jesus.
Friend, I encourage you to allow your life to be a work I believe that, like Paul, God desires to use your life as a canvas of His love. He desires to transform your life into a work of art and put it on display for others to see the power of His love. When God changes your life, you won’t have to prove it. Instead, people will experience it – your life will tell the story in itself.
Prayer focus: that you would become a canvas of God's love.
I'm praying for you and with you,
Pastor Enrique Brooks
Paul had an encounter with this life saving and changing love on the road to Damascus. Ever since, he has been sharing his testimony of how God changed his life. Essentially, Paul's transformation has been a demonstration of God’s power through love. Before this change, Paul was a persecutor of the believers – those who professed faith in Jesus. Many were imprisoned and even killed because of their faith. Yet it was by God’s love that He decided to use Paul for His glory instead of doing away with him.
Paul became a work of art under the masterful hand of God’s love because everywhere Paul went, people saw the love of God in action. They witnessed it for themselves when they looked at a man that once brought havoc everywhere he went and now carrying heaven everywhere he goes. This was a work only possible by the hands of God.
As I reflect on 2020, this was a year that I had my own Damascus Road experience. I was trotting along, thinking that I was doing right. Pastoring, preaching and teaching, only to have it revealed by God’s love that I was unforgiving towards those who had hurt me. The way I knew this was true was because I couldn’t remember the last time I sincerely prayed for them. From that moment I made a change and walked in true forgiveness led by the love of God. This change of heart changed my life and then began to change the life of those around me such as my family, friends and even our ministry. My life became a canvas of God’s love and on my heart He painted a picture of His Son, Jesus.
Friend, I encourage you to allow your life to be a work I believe that, like Paul, God desires to use your life as a canvas of His love. He desires to transform your life into a work of art and put it on display for others to see the power of His love. When God changes your life, you won’t have to prove it. Instead, people will experience it – your life will tell the story in itself.
Prayer focus: that you would become a canvas of God's love.
I'm praying for you and with you,
Pastor Enrique Brooks
Did you know that Thryve Church prays together 365 days a year? Join us Monday-Friday at 6:30am & Saturdays at 8am for "Prayer at the Altar" by dialing 339- 207-7471 and then join us Sundays at 11am for Worship Service! Learn More