So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. . . . For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31, 33
Our theme for March, “Pierce my heart to live up to Your potential for me,” is quite a big challenge. One that we could not accomplish on our own. However, it’s important for us to realize and remember that without God’s Spirit living in us, and without our allowing Him to work in our lives, we can never reach the full potential He has for our lives.
This month’s reading takes us on a journey alongside many people––some, like Jesus, who allowed God to be in control of His life, and others, like Saul, who although starting with seemingly great potential, decided he was better off doing it on his own. In Matthew, we’ll finish the book by reading of Jesus’ ultimate plan for His life––to die for us and be raised again. Isaiah prophesies of Jesus’ plan: “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (53:12). We’ll begin Mark by reading of Jesus’ calling of twelve men whose lives would have had little potential to do great things, had it not been for Jesus’ power.
As we read, we will encounter Ruth, a girl who, although being raised in an ungodly, immoral country, fulfilled God’s potential in her life by choosing Him and His ways, placing in her future lineage the great king David, and later Christ Himself. As we conclude Genesis, we read of Joseph’s unlikely potential amid slavery and imprisonment. We watch as he continued to be faithful to God, resulting in the great potential he had for saving his country and family and becoming second in command only to Pharaoh.
We, too, can live up to the potential God has for our lives if we allow His Spirit to work in us and through us. In doing this, we, like Ruth, choose to allow Him to guide us through our lives. While writing the church at Corinth, Paul says, “Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord’” (1 Cor. 1:31). He reminds them, and us, that whatever we do, we are to do knowing that it is God Who works in us. God has called us and chosen us for a reason: “but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24). As we go about our lives, let us remember that we ourselves “are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in [us]” (1 Cor. 3:16).
By Lisa Grimenstein
Suggested March Reading
MAR 1 1 Cor 1-2
MAR 2 Gen 32-35
MAR 3 Judg 17-21
MAR 4 Ps 24-26
MAR 5 Job 17-18
MAR 6 Isa 45-50
MAR 7 Matt 23-25
MAR 8 1 Cor 3-4
MAR 9 Gen 36-39
MAR 10 Ruth
MAR 11 Ps 27-29
MAR 12 Job 19-20
MAR 13 Isa 51-55
MAR 14 Matt 26-28
MAR 15 1 Cor 5-6
MAR 16 Gen 40-43
MAR 17 1 Sam 1-5
MAR 18 Ps 30-32
MAR 19 Job 21-22
MAR 20 Isa 56-61
MAR 21 Mark 1-2
MAR 22 1 Cor 7-8
MAR 23 Gen 44-47
MAR 24 1 Sam 6-10
MAR 25 Ps 33-35
MAR 26 Job 23-24
MAR 27 Isa 62-66
MAR 28 Mark 3-4
MAR 29 1 Cor 9-10
MAR 30 Gen 48-50
MAR 31 1 Sam 11-15
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