For your benefit, and for the benefit of others

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sanctification”

Our Bible verse for today: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Our thought for today: “For your benefit, and for the benefit of others”

As a boy, John Newton ran away from home and went to sea as a simple seaman. But when the ship got to Africa John was sold to a wealthy African woman to be her houseboy. Soon he ran away from that too and for a while, lived with a native tribe in the wilds of Africa. Finally, he ended up back on a ship at sea as a seaman. He was good at the life of a sailor and quickly rose in rank until he finally became the captain of his own ship.

John Newton was an angry, violent, and cruel man who had great success buying and selling slaves. Eventually Newton sunk so low in life and was so miserable that he finally came to faith in Christ. The difference in him was startling and profound. John left the seafaring life, went to Bible college, and became a pastor, preacher, teacher, writer, and the composer of many hymns. His most famous hymn, the one that is still sung frequently by God’s people today is “Amazing Grace.” “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”

The thing is, once John Newton was saved God could have left him on a ship at sea, largely isolated from people. But God had plans for John Newton that could only come to fruition within the context of church life. John had spiritual gifts and abilities that he didn’t even know existed, but which would surface in time and which would be of great benefit not just to Newton himself, but to the people of his church and to the larger Christian community as well. John Newton needed to be in a church setting – and so do we.

I’m thinking you probably are not a mean, angry, slave-trading sea captain. And perhaps you aren’t destined to write a great hymn that will be sung by God’s people for hundreds of years. But God does have much He wants to do in and through you, and much of that will happen within the context of church life.

We will think about this more in the coming days but for now I want to call your attention to our verse for today, Ephesians 2:10. You are God’s masterpiece. Other translations say you are God’s workmanship. Either way, He created you and saved you so you can then do the things He has planned for you. As we will see tomorrow, much of what God wants to do in and through each of us is supposed to happen in community, not in isolation.

God’s plans for you are for your benefit, but they are also for the benefit of others.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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