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Devotional 7.11.25

July 11, 2025 – Tell The Story

Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

Scripture Reading – Psalm 78

 

What’s your story? What is God’s redemptive story? Do those intersect for you? This week is a good time to reflect on those questions. The writer of Psalm 78 is recounting the lessons from Israel’s past. Asaph is doing this to remind them of who God is, the mighty and faithful acts he’s done, and that Israel (the tribe of Judah, v. 68) are God’s chosen people. The psalmist’s desire is that they not only repent of their sin and unbelief (v. 32), but that their transformation and turning back to God and obeying his commandments would result in a testimony that would leave a lasting legacy for future generations (vv. 4-5).

 

Our call to worship is the ending of Matthew’s gospel with what is known as “The Great Commission.” Jesus commands his followers to make disciples by sharing the good news of the gospel with all nations, and to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This week Lakeside gets to experience, and live out, Jesus’ commandment through the blessings of a baptism and of sending a team to Mexico for a short-term mission trip.

 

Justin Alvarez will share his testimony and be baptized during our Sunday morning worship service. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward transformation. It’s a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ and how he’s changed your life, symbolizing the old self dying with Christ and being raised up with him (Eph. 2). 

 

We aren’t called to an isolated and private faith. We are called to an infectious, visible faith, one that can’t help but bubble over in action as a response. That enthusiasm is palpable in the team as they are ready to serve at Abba Father’s Children’s Home and the surrounding community in Puerto Escondido, sharing the good news through their acts of service and gospel presentations. As we worship in different countries and languages this week, let’s celebrate and praise God for the faithfulness of those who have lived out The Great Commission over the last two thousand years, and the ways the gospel has been personally transformative for each of us. May our lives and testimonies be an opportunity to leave a lasting impact and legacy in the kingdom of God.


Further reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Acts 1:8, 2:29-39; Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 2:1-10


Reflection Questions:

1.     What’s your story? What is God’s redemptive story? Do those intersect for you? 

2.     Why is important to not allow our faith to become isolated and private?


Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for pursuing and loving me. Thank you for adopting me as your child by faith, made possible through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lord, help me to be bold to speak out and share my life, faith and testimony to leave a lasting legacy for this, and future generations. Amen. 


A playlist of the morning worship songs can be listened to here.



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