You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

There are two things I pray that God would impress on your heart today: 1) that He loves you very much; and 2) that He needs you very much.

First, if you doubt God’s love for you, let me tell you again: “God loves you very much.” These are more than just words; God has shown us it’s true. The Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). You are valuable to God. He wouldn’t have sent Jesus to die for you if He didn’t think you were worth saving. He saved you because He loves you.

Second, God saved you because He has a purpose for your life. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:16). God has a purpose for our lives: He wants us to bear fruit that will last.

Although God could have used some kind of cosmic loudspeakers to tell everyone in the world about Christ, He has chosen to entrust that job to each of us. Listen to Christ’s final words on earth: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). There are people who won’t make it into heaven because no one ever told them about Christ. The Bible says, “‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:13-15).

Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone tell you your feet are beautiful? God saved us because he loved us, and also because He needs us to share that love with others. I want to encourage you today to consider sharing the message of Christ with someone else. Think of the joy of seeing someone in heaven because you told them about Christ. And think of the sorrow of not seeing someone there because you didn’t.

Let Me Pray for You

Lord, I pray for those who need to know today how very much You love them. I pray Your love would overwhelm them, even now. I ask that You would also show them how very much You need them. Lead them to people who need to know about You, then give them the words to speak. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Take Time in His Word

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16).

• Read Ephesians 2:8-10. What has God created us to do?
• Read John 15:4-6. What do we need to do so that we can produce fruit?
• Read Matthew 25:14-30. Do any talents come to mind that God has given you that He might want you to use for His kingdom?

Take Time in Prayer

Listen to the song Go Into All The World. Take a few minutes to ask God to reveal His great love to you. Ask Him to bring to mind specific gifts He has given you, and to show you how you can use them to share His love with others.

After You Pray

Our faith can be a very personal thing, but not so personal that others can’t see it. Here’s how Jesus puts it: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). If God has lit your lamp, let it shine.

Lord, show me how I can share Your love with others.