Our Daily Bread Devotional for Friday 3rd November 2023

Our Daily Bread Devotional for Friday 3rd November 2023

Welcome!!! Read Our Daily Bread Today’s Devotional for Friday. The word of God is food to the spirit man. Read and digest the word of the Lord for today and see how powerfully it will impact you.

Our Daily Bread Ministries is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread.

Today’s Topic: Reflecting the Light of the Son

Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 30–31; Philemon

Bible Verse: You are the light of the world. – Matthew 5:14

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 5:14–16

INSIGHT – 2ND NOVEMBER 2023 OUR DAILY BREAD:

Jesus’ words in the well-known Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) can seem intimidating—even overwhelming—in how they challenge the normal patterns of human behavior. He focuses on selfless kindness and compassion—even to the point of personal sacrifice (5:38–42). But the intent isn’t to cause believers in Christ to feel inadequate. Instead, this sermon paints a picture of God’s original design for humanity. In Genesis 1, God created us to bear His image—to reflect Him to the inhabitants of the earth. As people in the process of becoming like Jesus (Ephesians 4:12–13), we’ve been called to reflect who God is. Christ’s sermon invites us to return to our ancient role of reflecting our Creator to a darkened world.

For further study, enjoy this ODBU lecture Sermon on the Mount. By: Jed Ostoich

ODB 3 NOVEMBER 2023 (FRIDAY MESSAGE)

After I had a conflict with my mother, she finally agreed to meet with me more than an hour away from my home. But upon arriving, I discovered she’d left before I got there. In my anger, I wrote her a note. But I revised it after I felt God nudging me to respond in love. After my mother read my revised message, she called me. “You’ve changed,” she said. God used my note to lead my mom to ask about Jesus and, eventually, receive Him as her personal Savior.

In Matthew 5, Jesus affirms that His disciples are the light of the world (v. 14). He said, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (v. 16). As soon as we receive Christ as our Savior, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. He transforms us so we can be radiant testimonies of God’s truth and love wherever we go.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be joyful lights of hope and peace who look more and more like Jesus every day. Every good thing we do then becomes an act of grateful worship, which looks attractive to others and can be perceived as vibrant faith. Surrendered to the Holy Spirit, we can give honor to the Father by reflecting the Light of the Son—Jesus. By: Xochitl Dixon

Today’s Reflection & Prayer

When have you noticed the light of Jesus shining through another person? How has someone else’s good deeds prompted you to praise God?

Dear Jesus, please shine Your vibrant light of love in and through my life so I can give honor to the Father and encourage others to put their trust in You.