Daily Devotional - Monday, July 6

In Ephesians 1:7-8 we see a theme that repeats itself. (In Him, His blood, His grace, He lavished..) It reminds me of the classic Christian song "Jesus Paid it All" by Elvina M. Hall, written in 1865. He has done it all. All the work we could not do. We cannot add to it or improve on it. This fact alone makes me so grateful.

Sadly we often stop there in out thinking about our relationship with God. We should instead press deeper and ask ourselves how we should respond to this incredible grace. Paul gives us part of the answer in 2 Timothy 1:9-15. He says that we need to guard and retain this gospel we have been entrusted with. Furthermore in 2 Timothy 2:1-2 we are to "..entrust this gospel to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." So we need to preserve and guard it so that we can teach it to other men and women who will in turn teach new disciples. That is part of the answer.

We see the theme of discipleship continue in Matthew 28:19-20. In Greek it begins "as you are going/in the course of your going" The going in this passage is assumed. It is expected. It is part of normal Christian life. It continues to say that we need to make disciples of all people groups. We do this by baptizing them and teaching them to do everything that Jesus commanded the apostles and us to do. This includes teaching them to see going to people without the gospel as normal. Teaching them to baptize and disciple new believers. Repeat as necessary until Jesus returns for His bride, the Church.

So rejoice in what He has done for you, paying in full your sin debt. Remember to ask yourself the question why. The answers found in scripture should be our motivation for why we are going to Montreal in August. Rejoice, be grateful, and then go.

- David Voth

In addition, we would like to say Happy Birthday to Garry Gates, who turns 51 years young today. Have a blessed birthday, Garry, and may God give you many more!