Many years ago, I had the privilege of teaching a seminar at a large EQUIP conference in Southern Ontario.  This annual event was designed to equip teachers, youth leaders and parents with hints and tools as they serve in their local church. Each seminar leader was responsible for coming up with a topic that would capture the attention of conference participants and entice them to sign up.  When I presented my topic on ‘prayer,’ the conference organizers suggested I pick a different topic, something that people would ‘actually’ sign up for.  I did not change my topic.  They gave me this small little room that could hold 10-15 people, but on the conference day, they moved me to one of the largest rooms due to so many people signing up! Funny how that works!  ha ha.

One particular year, I was teaching away and I kept asking the participants what time it was, as the conference organizers were very clear we could not run overtime.  I forgot my watch at home that day.  At one of the break times, a gentleman came up to me and said, “I feel God is telling me to give you my watch.”  My response was one of surprise as he undid the watch from his own wrist and handed it to me.  I received the watch with much thanksgiving, and as I put it on I noticed that it was very light and ‘felt amazing’ on my wrist.  Needless to say, I did not have to ask the participants what time it was anymore.  I didn’t think much more of it, except about the fact on how nice and generous that individual was.

A number of years later, the battery died in the watch.  I went down to one of those inexpensive places that replaces watch batteries.  When I arrived and showed them the watch, they informed me that they were not able to replace the battery on ‘this’ watch, and that I needed to go to a jeweller.   I thought to myself that either this guy was incompetent to do the job, or he was lazy.  I left frustrated.

Eventually, after putting my watch aside and ignoring the need to replace the battery, I went to the local jeweller here in Elmira, Ontario.  Upon arrival I explained that ‘the other guy’ could not replace the battery and was told to come to here instead.  I then told him that ‘some guy gave me the watch at a conference.’  The jeweller’s eyes suddenly twitched with curiosity.  It was so noticeable that I quickly asked what was so special about this watch.  The jeweller began by showing me the brand name, “Movado”, then the engraving on the back, ‘Sapphire Crystal’, and lastly the ‘14k’.  I had never noticed.  He told me this was a very nice watch and that at the time of its original purchase, it was easily worth at least $1500.00.  I gulped in surprise!  He then asked me if I would like a new wristband and have it cleaned up.  Of course I immediately said yes.

From that day on, I have taken great care of the watch.  I only wear it on special occasions.  What you don’t realize is that after I first got the watch, we had moved and had a lot of renovations to do on our house.  I wore the watch while building a new shed, tilling the garden, adding plants around the house, and basically for any other handyman job I had.  I did not know the value of what was on my wrist.

This is the exact same reality for when we come to know how much we are valued in Christ Jesus.  If you believe you are unloved, unacceptable, unvalued, you are guaranteed to live out your life based on that belief.  If however, you discover the true worth you have in Christ and believe it, you will live out your life based on the new belief.  Your behaviours will begin to reflect your beliefs!

Whenever I wear my watch, I see a ‘Grace Watch’ and I am thankful for all that I have been given.  My prayer is that as you walk through this 40 day grace journey, that you will discover the riches of Christ in you and that you will more and more live a life that reflects the truth of who you are in Christ.

QUESTIONS FOR THE DAY

1. If you wear clothes that are designed for gardening, are you afraid to get them dirty?
2. If you wear ‘good clothes’ for a special occasion, are you ‘more careful’ so they are not easily soiled?
3. What is the difference between the two sets of clothes?
4. What is the difference when you try to change behaviours in order to get God to approve you, or when you know you are approved, your motivation and response to that approval?
5. Do you know that you are FULLY loved, valued, and accepted by your heavenly Father?
6. What difference does this truth make in your life?

Verse for the Day

1 Corinthians 6 (The Mirror Bible, Francois Du Toit)

6:9  Do not be distracted into error; the typical lifestyle of unrighteousness has nothing in common with the kingdom of God. (The kingdom of God is the dominion of the Christ-life.) 6:10  People who continue to engage in prostitution, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality in any of its forms, stealing, greed, drunkenness, abusiveness, and rage while they profess to be believers are deceiving themselves and have distanced themselves from the life of their design. 6:11  What you once were in terms of your lifestyle has radically changed! You have been cleansed, restored to total harmony (holiness) and made righteous. The name of the Lord Jesus declares your salvation; the Spirit of our God realizes salvation in you! (1 Cor 1:30, 2:2) 6:12  I am free to do what I want, but if what I do is not appropriate, I refrain from doing it! I am not snared by sudden notions!

VIDEO FOR THE DAY

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) – Chris Tomlin  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, you know me better than I know myself.  Please begin to show me how you see me.  Show me what you have done for me, to me, in me.   As I begin to fully believe this truth, may it transform my outward behaviour based on my inward reality of Christ in me.