“So he answered and said to me: ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 NKJV
Welcome to the 43rd weekly devotional recap of the year. This week, we learnt about the qualities of a believer who is made in the image of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the light of the world and salt of the earth even while planted in Babylon.
On Monday, we learnt that we can do extraordinary things by the help of God’s Spirit in us. We can function in the supernatural like Jesus who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). We can also excel in our natural endeavours, taking up spheres of influence for the sake of the Gospel.
On Tuesday, we were reminded that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) and we shine our light when we tell the world about the finished works of Christ. Since we have been called into God’s marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9), we must bring others in.
Wednesday’s article further emphasized who we are as light in this dark world. We were instructed to stand out amidst all the contradictions and negative influences in the world today (Philipians 2:15). While we strategically seek to penetrate the world systems, we cannot lose our convictions while at it. We must consecrate ourselves, preserve our devotional fervour and surround ourselves with godly influences (Hebrews 10:24).
Not only are we the light of the world, the Bible also calls us the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) and so on Thursday, we dived further into the series, as we were taught to see ourselves as the preserving agents of the world. The world is in a fallen state and it has only been preserved by the presence of we, the believers who are in it. We must contine to stand against the wiles of the devil and insist on the salvation of lost souls by praying relentlessly (James 5:16) and proclaiming Christ’s message wherever we go.
To wrap up the week on Friday, we were reminded that we are God’s workmanship, we were made in His image and we must walk in that consciousness. We must strengthen our convinctions about who God says we are, by looking to the scriptures and allowing the Word of God to dwell in us richly.
Dear believer, you have the Holy Spirit, you are the light of the world, the salt of the earth and you were made in God’s image. This weekend, reflect on these realities and renew your convictions.
Bible Reading Plan: Jeremiah 7-9