July 29 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

God is using us to win others and bring them to the obedience of faith.

When this happens, we must be careful not to take any credit. If we are going to speak about it at all, we should follow Paul's example and talk only about "what Christ has accomplished through me."

The work of Christ did not come to a close with his ascension. When Paul speaks of Jesus as the subject of his missionary work, he is not using a pious phrase. He is simply stating the reality of Christ's ongoing work— "what Christ has accomplished through me." Jesus' work is not limited to what he did while on earth; today he continues his work through us.

The dignity and nobility of the Christian life and the Christian church is precisely that we are tools of God. The gospel that was proclaimed by the apostles and that we are studying in Romans takes on flesh and blood in today's believers. God uses Christians to make other people bow before him.

The question is not whether Christ is alive. He is! The question is not whether he is working. He is! The question is whether Christians are making themselves available as willing tools for Christ's ongoing mission.

How many of us are able to tell "what Christ has accomplished" through us to win others?

If we take the time to answer this question, we should reply as members of the body of Christ, the church. The Christian mission has countless aspects. It includes works of mercy to assist the needy, Christian political activity, training Christian teachers, translating the Scriptures, ministries in countless institutions, sending workers abroad, and much more.

Christ uses all the members of his church in this one grand work. "Join me in my struggle by praying to God for me," said Paul (v. 30). God uses all members of his church to bring all people to obedience.

How are you being used?

REFLECTIONS

Reflect on how God is using you in his ongoing mission. Pray for a willingness to work for the Lord as opportunities are provided.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.