Jesus Calling - April 21st, 2024

Jesus Calling: April 21st

     Let Me control your mind. The mind is the most restless, unruly part of mankind. Long after you have learned the discipline of holding your tongue, your thoughts defy your will and set themselves up against Me. Man is the pinnacle of My creation, and the human mind is wondrously complex. I risked all by granting you freedom to think for yourself. This is god-like privilege, forever setting you apart from animals and robots. I made you in my image, precariously close to deity.
     Though My blood has fully redeemed you, your mind is the last bastion of rebellion. Open yourself to My radiant Presence, letting My Light permeate your thinking. When My Spirit is controlling your mind, you are filled with Life and Peace.


RECOMMENDED BIBLE VERSES:

Genesis 1:26-27 (NLV)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man like Us and let him be head over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every thing that moves on the ground.” 27 And God made man in His own likeness. In the likeness of God He made him. He made both male and female.

Romans 8:6 (NLV)
6 If your sinful old self is the boss over your mind, it leads to death. But if the Holy Spirit is the boss over your mind, it leads to life and peace.

Additional insight regarding Genesis 1:26: Why does God use the plural form - "Let us make human beings in our image"? One view is that this is a reference to the Trinity - God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of all who are God. Another view is that the plural wording is used to denote majesty; kings have traditionally used the plural form in speaking of themselves. The grammar doesn't decide the matter for us, but in either case, it is God who created humans in his image, and God has revealed himself to us as a Trinity clearly through the whole of the Scripture. From Job 33:4 and Psalm 104:30, we do know that God's spirit was present in the Creation. From Colossians 1:16, we know that Christ, God's son, was at work in the Creation.

Additional insight regarding Genesis 1:26: In what ways are we made in God's image? God obviously did not create us exactly like himself because God has no physical body. Instead, we are reflections of God's glory and character. Some feel that our reason, creativity, moral capacity, speech, or self-determination is the image of God. Most likely, "the image of God" describes our entire self, not just one part of us. We will never be totally like God because he is our supreme creator. But we do have the ability to reflect his character in our love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness. Knowing that we are made in God's image and thus share many of his characteristics provides a solid basis for self-worth. Human worth is not based on possessions, achievements, physical attractiveness, or public acclaim. Instead, it is based on being made in God's image, which gives us an unshakeable reason to feel positive about ourselves. Criticizing or downgrading ourselves is criticizing what God has made and the abilities he has given us. Knowing that you a person of worth helps you love God, know him personally, and treat others as his image-bearers.

Additional insight regarding Romans: 8:5-6: Paul divides people into two categories: those who are dominated by their sinful nature and those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit. All of us would be in the first category if Jesus hadn't offered us a way out. Once we have said yes to Jesus, we will want to continue following him because his way brings life and peace. Daily we must consciously choose to center our lives on God. Use the Bible to cover God's guidelines, and then follow them. In every perplexing situation, ask yourself, What does Jesus want me to do? When the Holy Spirit points out what God wants you to do, do it eagerly. [For more on our sinful nature vs our new life in Christ, see Romans 6:6-8; Ephesians 4:22-24; and Colossians 3:3-15.]

Previous Date's Daily Devotional:
April 20th

Next Date's Daily Devotional:
April 22nd