2) Our Daily Bread for 23 February 2025 Titled Humble Leadership

by Lisa M. Samra



John 1:19-28



The Testimony of John the Baptist



Mt 3:1-12; Mk 1:2-8; Lk 3:15-17



19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests

and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

21 They asked him, "Who then? Are you Elijah?"

He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."

22 They said to him then, "Who are you? Tell us so that we may give

an answer to those who sent us. What do you say concerning yourself?"

23 John said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

'Make straight the way of the Lord,' just as the prophet Isaiah said."

24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.

25 They asked him, "Why do you baptise then, if you are not the Christ,

nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26 John answered them, "I baptize with water, but One stands among you,

whom you do not know.

27 This is He who comes after me, who is preferred before me,

the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."

28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan,

where John was baptizing.





[19] And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites

from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

[20] And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

[21] And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not.

Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

[22] Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to

them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

[23] He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight

the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

[24] And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

[25] And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou

be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

[26] John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth

one among you, whom ye know not;

[27] He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's

latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

[28] These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was

baptizing.



My friend Butch Briggs has been the beloved coach for the swim teams at a

local high school for fifty-one years. Out of curiosity, I asked him how many

state championships he'd won during his five decades. In his trademark, gentle

tone he quipped, "I've not won a single championship because I've never swum

in a single race." Trying again, I asked him, "How many championships have

your swimmers won?" He happily responded, "39."



Butch taught me a valuable lesson. A coach plays an important role, but he

didn't want to take credit for what his swimmers accomplished.



Butch's humility reminds me of how John the Baptist saw his role. John was

tasked with pointing people to Jesus as the Messiah - the one who fulfilled

God's promise to send a rescuer. But John garnered so much attention that the

religious leaders wanted to find out exactly who he was. In response,

Scripture records that John "confessed freely, 'I am not the Messiah'"

(John 1:20). Even when they pressed him, John was clear that his role was to

announce Jesus' arrival (vv. 21-23). Jesus was the one they'd longed

for (v. 27).



This aspect of humility - not taking more credit than is due—is a way we can

keep a proper perspective regarding our accomplishments while recognising

others for the assignments or roles they've been given.



Reflect & Pray



Where might you struggle to display humility?

How might the Spirit empower you to act humbly?



Dear Jesus, please grant me grace

to act with the humility You so vividly displayed

and modeled for us during Your life and death.



Christ calls us to love each other by being hospitable. Learn

more by reading Humble Hearts, Open Hands.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 8 Guided by Grace Day 2 - God's purpose: The Image of Christ



Romans 8:28-29



28 (Gal 1:15; Ge 50:20) We know that all things work together for

good to those who love God,

to those who are called according to His purpose.

29 (Ro 11:2; 1Co 15:49; Eph 1:11) For those whom He foreknew,

He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,

so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.



28 And we know that all things work together for good to them

that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed

to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.



A baby dies of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and the parents are

devastated, plagued with guilt, and Asking "Why?" A 17-year-old plunges

headfirst into a pond and to the surface a quadriplegic. A single mother

of 3, struck down by leukemia, has to release he children to foster homes.

And in all these cases, well-meaning Christians stand by and attempt to

comfort: "All things work together for good, you know," they say blithely,

"just trust God, and praise him for everything."

Such pat answers are often repeated because they do contain an element

of truth; they become "pat", meaningless, and superficial, when they are

used as a panacea for all ills, whether the cure fits or not.

The truth is, God does use everything for the benefit of his people -

even disaster and tragedy. Romans 8:28 says, "In all things God works ...."

God foes not cause human suffering. He is not the author of pain

and misery. But what the Enemy of our souls intends for

destruction, God can use for growth.

The key to understanding Romans 8:28 is Romans 8:29 . The Lord makes

clear what "his purpose" is: that we be "conformed to the

likeness of his Son." Everything that happens is not good,

but nothing is wasted in the economy of God. Even the sorrow,

misfortune, and calamity that strike all of us cam be used by the Spirit

to transform us into the image of Christ.



Application



a) Have I ever had experiences that made me doubt the

"all things work together for good"?



b) How does Romans 8:29 clarify Romans 8:28?



c) How can these verses help me deal with the struggles I have in my

own life?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Is 48:15,17



15 I, even I, have spoken, and I have called him;

I have brought him, and his way will prosper.

17 (Ps 32:8; Isa 43:14) Thus says the Lord,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit,

who leads you in the way you should go.



15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him:

I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel;

I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit,

which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



God's Protection in Times of Trouble



PSALMS 91



1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God in whom I trust."

3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter

and from the deadly pestilence.

4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) He shall cover you with His feathers,

and under His wings you shall find protection;

His faithfulness shall be your shield and wall.

5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

nor of the arrow that flies by day;

6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) nor of the pestilence that pursues in darkness,

nor of the destruction that strikes at noonday.

7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) A thousand may fall at your side

and ten thousand at your right hand,

but it shall not come near you.

8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) Only with your eyes shall you behold

and see the reward of the wicked.

9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,

even the Most High, your dwelling,

10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) there shall be no evil befall you,

neither shall any plague come near your tent;

11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) for He shall give His angels charge over you

to guard you in all your ways.

12 They shall bear you up in their hands,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder;

the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

and I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him

and show him My salvation.



Psalm 91



1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:

My God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,

And from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;

Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness;

Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand;

But it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold

And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge,

Even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee,

Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee,

To keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands,

Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:

The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:

I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:

I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him,and shew him my salvation.



Remember God's promises when You pray



The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.