The Upper Room Daily Devotional 31st March 2023 – “Who Are You?”

THE UPPER ROOM ROOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Upper Room Daily Devotional 31st March 2023, Friday Message. As you study today’s devotional, remember this; “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)

“Who Are You?”
Linda Chandra (Banten, Indonesia)

TODAY’S READING
John 1:19-28

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” – John 1:23 (NIV)

The Upper Room Daily Devotional 31st March 2023 MESSAGE

At church one Sunday I learned of a woman in the community whose husband had just died. They had four children. At God’s urging, I attended the funeral to lend my support. I did not talk much. I just sat beside her, listened to her story, and helped when needed. After the funeral ceremony was over and all her relatives went home, she asked, “Who are you? Are you one of my relatives that I have never met? Why did you sit with me until it was over?”

I replied, “I’m not your relative. I just wanted to sit with you, listen to your story, and offer help to you if you needed it.” Then she said, “Thank you for being with me. My relatives give me a lot of advice, but you don’t talk much; you only hear my sad stories. Why?” I said to her, “Because the God I know is always with me, even during the saddest times in my life.”

I have learned from today’s scripture reading that when someone asks, “Who are you?” I should tell that person more about God who saved me than about myself. In such an answer, God becomes greater as I become smaller. For as John the Baptist tells the Jewish priests, I am not the Messiah or a prophet; I am only “the voice of one calling in the wilderness.” To God be all glory.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, may we glorify you in our actions and in our words. Make us humble so that we can magnify your name. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
When I am smaller, God is greater.

PRAYER FOCUS
Those recently widowed

The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More

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