Devotion 04 February 2026

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  1 Corinthians 15: 3b-4

READING: 1 Corinthians 15: 3-10

When we have been called by God and equipped by Him, we become God’s messengers, not His message. God’s relentless grace and love for us shows up our short comings and sinfulness and our need for forgiveness, which is a part of our calling.

In our reading today, we read of Jesus’ appearance to people after His resurrection. He appeared to five hundred, then to James and then to the other apostles and finally to Paul.  Paul, by his own admission, did not deserve to be called an apostle.  He only understood his desperate need for a Saviour when he looked at himself through the lens of God’s love.  All people called down the many centuries, became God’s messengers and they passed on God’s message.  This applies to us today, when we accept God’s calling.   God’s grace initiates the work in and through us.  It changes our understanding of our need for God’s saving grace.  Our good deeds, love and mercy do not earn for us God’s favour and forgiveness.

When God calls Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1 : 4 – 10, the Lord says He has known him since before he was born.  He says to Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid – for I am with you and will rescue you.”   The Lord touched his mouth and said, “ Today I have put my words in your mouth,”  and he puts him in charge of many nations to tear down, to build and to plant.  We too are called by God to be God’s people in the world.

These and many other callings found in the bible show us that we are not alone and that God equips each one according to His mission for us.  We read that God says, “Do not be afraid.”  God addresses this fear and assures us we will not be alone.  In 1 John 4 : 18 we read, “ There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”   Our call to specific ministries may change at different time of our lives and Jesus will equip us accordingly every time.

Prayer

Loving God, we thank you for the many ways you call us to partner with You in love for the world.  Jesus we long to follow you, help us to say “yes” to Your calling and “no” to anything that prevents us from obeying Your Call.  In Jesus Name we pray.  Amen.