Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“Do whatever He tells you.” 
John 2:5b (NLT) 

The second chapter of John’s Gospel reveals the first of eight miracles Jesus performed recorded in John’s narrative.  Six of these miracles are unique among the Gospels to John.  The first was turning water in wine at a wedding celebration.  Weddings in Jesus’ day were more than a single day’s event.  They were festivals for the whole community that could last all week!  Careful planning was made to ensure that plenty of provisions were ready for everyone to enjoy.  To run out of wine was more than a social embarrassment.  When Mary saw that the wine supply ran out, she took the problem to her son.  What do you do with your problems?   

I find a couple of insights from this first miracle.  Our problems are really God’s opportunities in disguise.  They give God the opportunity to work in our behalf and display His glory!  So, what do you do when you face a problem or a provision beyond your ability to resolve?  Here are a couple of suggestions we learn from what Mary did: 

1. Tell Jesus. 
2. Trust Jesus to handle the situation. 

It’s interesting to me that Mary didn’t try to tell Jesus what to do about the problem or how to resolve it.  She didn’t ask Him to perform a miracle.  She simply trusted Him to help solve the problem and instructed the servants at the wedding feast to do whatever Jesus tells them.  I love the simplicity of this.  When we give our problems to the Lord, do we trust Him to work in our behalf and respond by doing whatever He tells us to do?   

Sometimes what Jesus tells us to do doesn’t seem to make any sense.  He told the servants to fill up six stone jars with water. These jars could hold 20 to 30 gallons!  After filling them with water, Jesus instructed them to pour some of the water out and take it to the master of ceremonies.  Why?  What good would it have done to give the master of ceremonies some water when what he needed most was wine?  It must have seemed absurd!  Yet, without even questioning why, John said, “So the servants followed His instructions.” (Vs. 8)   

We know the rest of the story.  The water had miraculously turned into wine and not just ordinary cheap wine.  It was the best wine of the festival!  God had saved the best for last!    When you read this chapter take special note of verse nine.  “When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.”  Only the servants who had obeyed Jesus’ instructions knew the real story!  They not only witnessed a miracle in the making but participated in it as well!  Whenever we align our lives with the will of God and do what Jesus tells us to do, we position ourselves for a miracle!  These servants got to experience a miracle because they were available and humble enough to do what Jesus told them to do.  It was just a small thing, but it took faith.  They risked embarrassment taking the water to the master of ceremonies.  They didn’t know the water would turn to wine.  They simply obeyed what Jesus told them to do! What is Jesus telling you to do? Read John 2 and ask Him.

The post Following Jesus Made Simple appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. … The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-2; 14 (NIV) 

I want to invite you to join me on a journey with Jesus this month.  It’s a journey you may have never taken before or perhaps it will be like a welcomed reunion.  I want to invite you to join me as we journey together through the Gospel of John and rediscover Jesus!  I believe these 21 chapters in John over the next few weeks will be life-changing!   

Each weekday we will read a chapter in the Gospel of John to rediscover who Jesus really is. John was one of Jesus’ closest disciples. He was part of Jesus inner circle and called himself the disciple whom Jesus loved in John 13:23. John shows us Jesus as fully human and fully God. While Matthew’s Gospel traces Jesus’ lineage to Abraham and Luke to Adam, John traces Jesus’ lineage to eternity. Matthew made a Jewish connection in his narrative of Christ. Luke, the only Gentile author, connected Jesus with all mankind, but John gives us a Divine connection – Jesus is God! In the first verse of his Gospel he writes, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (NIV)

As we take this journey with Jesus through the Gospel of John, you’ll get the most out of it if you will journal your thoughts and insights or questions along the way.  Write them down in a little notebook.  As you encounter Jesus in each chapter, the Holy Spirit may prompt your heart with personal applications and steps of action to take in obedience to what you read.  This is where your faith will move from static belief to dynamic growth!   So, here’s what we are going to do in this journey together: 

• Read it 
• Write it 
• Do it 

It’s that simple, but make no mistake, it will be life-changing!  We’ll pray for one another along the way, and I would love to hear the insights and ways you’ve found God speaking to you through His Word.  Please share them. 

As you read the first chapter of John, you’ll notice how unique John’s narrative is of the life of Jesus. John begins “In the beginning. …” and tells us that Jesus “existed in the beginning with God.” He reveals who Jesus is and who you and I are in Christ when we receive Him as our Savior and Lord! “Experiencing this simplicity is the greatest need today throughout the church worldwide.” says author Ian Thomas, “The utmost need in every ministry group, every missionary outreach, every denomination, is to rediscover the Lord Jesus Christ and the indispensability of His indwelling presence within the believer.”  (The Indwelling Life of Christ) 

Jesus came to make God known!  In this first chapter He invites you and me, along with those early disciples, to “Come and see for yourself. …” who Jesus really is. (John 1:39; 46)   

Are you ready to begin?  Read John chapter 1 and jot down the insights God gives you of Jesus. Draw close to Him as you come to know Him better and experience the intimacy of His love for you. Let His life within you illuminate your understanding and take you into a closer relationship with Him than you ever dreamed possible!

The post Rediscovering Jesus appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Kris Shook’s Devo

“They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.”
Psalm 106:39 (NIV2011)

While Psalm 105 was a summary of God’s goodness and faithfulness, Psalm 106 is a summary of our sinfulness. It describes the condition of a nation before it collapses. It serves as a warning that we may avoid the same national crisis that Israel faced when they forgot God, the God who had delivered them and blessed them. In verse 39, the Psalmist records the final indictment against the nation. He writes, “They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.” In response, the Bible says, “Therefore the LORD was angry with His people and abhorred His inheritance. He gave them into the hands of the nations, and their foes ruled over them.” Psalm 106:40-41 (NIV) What a tragic end to a nation with so much promise and privilege! But this would not be their final chapter.

This is such a powerful Psalm for our nation today. We have been blessed by God to be a blessing, yet how often have we committed actions that have defiled us and prostituted ourselves to a godless culture. We say we are one nation under God, but too often act as a nation without God. When Israel abandoned God, He gave them up to the nations around them, whose cultures they had prostituted themselves with and whose sin they had embraced. They were treated with cruelty and oppression until they cried out to God. Psalm 106:44-45 (NLT) describes the mercy of God when the Psalmist says, “Even so, He (God) pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. He remembered His covenant with them and relented because of His unfailing love.”

God is faithful even when we are faithless. He will never forget His promise to us. Historically, revivals often follow the most desperate of times, after people have corrupted their culture by defiling themselves, when evil seems to have won the day and darkness reigns. Yet the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) remains. “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Notice who God is addressing in this promise – “My people”; those “… who are called by My name. …” Repentance must begin in the household of faith. We must turn from our sin and turn our hearts back to God. When we do, we have the assurance He will hear our prayer, forgive our sin, and heal our land. 

May the prayer of Psalm 106:47 (NIV) be our prayer today as we conclude this study, “Save us, LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise.”

The post Avoiding A National Crisis appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.”
Psalm 106:37-38 (NIV2011)

Whether it’s a church, a business, a family or a nation, we are all just one generation away from extinction. This is why it is so imperative to protect and train up our sons and daughters. In Ephesians 6:4 (NLT) the Bible says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” The generation of Israelites that entered the land of Canaan failed in this regard. Although they served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for them, Judges 2:10 (NLT) tells us, “After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things He had done for Israel.”

The consequences for failing to teach the next generation subjected them to the culture around them. They engaged their children, the next generation, to an evil culture beyond their ability to resist without God, and verse 11-14 records the tragic outcome, “The Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD. They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth. This made the LORD burn with anger against Israel, so He handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.”

Is this not the plight of what we are witnessing in our own nation when we engage our children to a culture without God? The challenge of the church, the mandate of every Christian family is to disciple the next generation so that they will be mighty in spirit and know how to stand alone against evil. When Moses was leading Israel through the wilderness to the land of promise, God told him to tell the people, “When the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (NIV2011)

The preceding verses tell us how they could prevent themselves from forgetting the Lord. Verses 6-9 say, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Recognizing the painful consequences of Israel’s failure to do this in that generation that entered Canaan, the Psalmist later writes in Psalm 78:5-8 (NLT) that “(God) gave His instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.”

The good news is that a generational curse can be broken through the power of the cross. We can choose today to protect our sons and daughters by training them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. The Message paraphrases that passage in Ephesians 6:4 by saying, “Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.” Israel teaches us that if we are one generation away from extinction, then we can be just one generation away from revival! For that to happen we must repent now of engaging our children to this culture and commit to leading them in the way of our Master, Jesus Christ.

The post Standing for the Next Generation appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land, as the LORD had commanded them.”
Psalm 106:34 (NLT)

When we compare the failures of Israel to our own nation and our own lives, we are led to repentance. Like Israel, how often have we compromised with the world around us and failed to remove the potential for future sin?  It’s one thing to feel bad when we do wrong but that’s not really repentance. The kind of sorrow that leads to repentance and leaves no regret is when we admit our mistakes and take action to correct them so that we can prevent making them habitually. Many people confuse repentance with being sorry they got caught. Guilt should be a warning light on the dashboard of our conscience to lead us to fix the problem before it creates a bigger one. Putting tape over the light is not a repair. Ignoring our sin only leads to greater damage. Real repentance not only acknowledges the sin but puts in place boundaries and safeguards to make it less likely to commit the same sin. It’s called “accountability.”  To whom are you accountable? This is one reason we are to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another that we may be healed. I like the way The Living Bible puts James 5:16. It says, “Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.”

Because we are all broken, we all need healing. God provided a practical way for us to avoid compromising with the sins of our culture. He gave us fellowship with one another so that we could encourage each other and pray for one another. When I admit a failure in my life to a trusted Christ follower who I know loves me and won’t judge me but pray for me, I become accountable. Through their prayer, support and accountability, I find strength to say no to the temptations that would be beyond my ability alone to resist. This is why it is so important to be connected to a life group in a local church. When Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, he said, “Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command. If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody.” Galatians 6:1-3 (TLB)

God never designed us to be “Lone Ranger” Christians. In fact, even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. Do you have a Tonto? Do you have an accountability group of trusted friends who love Jesus and love you too much to let you drown when you’re in water over your neck? People who would risk their own lives to rescue you. We all have blind spots. Even when Jesus sent His disciples out to minister, He sent them by two’s! The Bible says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) You can avoid compromise and protect yourself and others from the potential of habitual sin through accountability with fellow Christ followers. Don’t be the one who falls and has no one to help them up. Connect with a life group today. For more information contact wc.org/lifegroups.

The post Avoiding Compromise appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them; for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips.”
Psalm 106:32-33 (NIV)

Rash words were spoken by Moses near the end of their wilderness wanderings. “Meribah” means “quarreling”. Numbers 20 records the story. Once again, the children of Israel were complaining and quarreling with Moses. Since there was no water where they camped, the Bible says,“… they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. The people blamed Moses and said, ‘If only we had died in the LORD’s presence with our brothers! Why have you brought the congregation of the LORD’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!’” Numbers 20:2-5 (NLT)

Moses had put up with their complaining and quarreling for 40 years in the wilderness. No doubt, he was tired. This wasn’t the first time they had come to a dry hole on their journey.  The first time was in Exodus 15, just three days after God had delivered them from Egypt. The only water they could find then was too bitter to drink, but God showed Moses a tree so that when he put the tree into the bitter water it became sweet and they were able to drink it. Then again in Exodus 17, the place where they camped had no water. They complained against Moses and were ready to stone him to death, blaming his poor leadership. When Moses cried out to God there, the Lord told him, “‘Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.’ So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?’” Exodus 17:5-7 (NIV)

Here we are again, some 40 years later, and the people haven’t changed a bit! You would think we might learn from the lessons of the past and God’s faithfulness to provide, but how often have we responded just like Israel when we are tested and tried. Moses had had it! Enough! This time when the people complained and quarreled against Moses, he exploded with anger and spoke rash words! Unlike before, when God told Moses to strike the rock, this time Moses was to speak to the rock and water would come out of it. In anger, though, Moses summoned the people to come and gather at the rock as he shouted, “‘Listen, you rebels! … Must we bring you water from this rock?’ Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.” Numbers 20:10-11 (NLT)

Moses called them “rebels!” and gave them the impression that he and Aaron performed the miracle of bringing water from the rock by striking it twice. Rash words led to rash actions on Moses’ part and it would cost him dearly.  In verses 12 and 13 the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “‘Because you did not trust Me enough to demonstrate My holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!’ This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the LORD, and there He demonstrated His holiness among them.”

Although the people were helped and God provided the water they so desperately needed, Moses was disciplined in the most painful way. He would be prohibited from entering the promised land. Rash words have consequences, especially when they lead to rash actions and we glorify ourselves instead of God. This story and how the Psalmist recounts it in Psalm 106 provide a great warning to us all, especially to those in leadership. Our words matter. If the meekest and most humble man in all the earth could fail, we must take heed, less we also fail. Even when others anger you, you must be careful not to speak rashly. This is difficult, isn’t it? In fact, without the Spirit of God empowering us, it would be impossible. James tells us in the New Testament that the tongue is impossible to tame and full of deadly poison in James 3:8. Proverbs 13:3 (NIV2011) tells us, “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”

Given that we all struggle with speaking rash words, the Psalmist offers this prayer as a model for us to pray. “Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.” Psalm 141:3 (NLT)

The post Rash Words appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Kris Shook’s Devo

“Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead!” Psalm 106:28 (NLT)

God had given clear instructions to Israel in the wilderness when He spoke to Moses in Leviticus 18:2-5 (GW) and said, “Tell the Israelites: I am the LORD your God. You used to live in Egypt. Don’t live the way the Egyptians do. I am bringing you to Canaan. Don’t live the way the Canaanites do. Never live by their standards. Follow My rules, and live by My standards. I am the LORD your God. Live by My standards, and obey My rules. You will have life through them. I am the LORD.” But the Psalmist records the tragic choice Israel made when they entered the land in Psalm 106:28 (NLT) “Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead!” What happened?

Before imitating the pagans around them, Israel found themselves entertained by their culture. Sin always begins with an appeal to our fallen nature. John writes a warning in 1 John 2:15-17 (TEV) to beware of what we entertain in our minds and with our eyes. He says, “Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father. Everything that belongs to the world—what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of—none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world. The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.”

The subtle temptation that ensnares us is when we begin to entertain the things of this world. What’s the harm in that we think? I’m not doing anything wrong. It’s just entertainment. But when we choose to be entertained by the culture around us our defenses begin to drop. Soon we begin to compromise our values and the standards of God’s Word. We’re simply one step from imitating what we’ve entertained. Our sinful self desires what we see. This is how the serpent lured Eve into taking a bite of the forbidden fruit.

James describes the process like this in James 1:14-15 (GW) “Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death.”  The warning is clear. Be careful what you entertain. The Psalmist made this commitment in Psalm 101:4 (MLB), “A perverse nature shall be absent from me; I will not entertain evil.” If I want to avoid a perverse nature, I must not entertain evil.

This would be a good time to examine ourselves and review what we’ve chosen to entertain us? Is it holy? Is it pure? Is it good? Is it true? Does it strengthen or weaken your faith? Will it lead you closer to Christ or cause you to drift? I love the way The Message puts it in Philippians 4:8, “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

The post Be Careful What You Entertain appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead! … they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs.”
Psalm 106:28, 35 (NLT)

Revival is when we redeem the culture around us with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Apostacy is when we reflect that culture and adopt their evil customs as our own. This was the sin of Israel. As a nation, they were supposed to be a “Theocracy”. God had called them. God delivered them from Egypt where they were slaves, and God forged them into a nation with laws and covenants. He was to be their leader. Yet, when they finally entered the Promised Land, they were only one generation away from losing their distinctiveness. The victories gained under Joshua, were soon lost after his generation died. The book of Judges records why in Judges 2:10-12 (NLT) “After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things He had done for Israel. The Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD.”

This tells me that we are only one generation away from extinction if we commit the same mistakes Israel did. I find two fatal errors. Israel was called to be different. They were to show a watching world what a people chosen by God should look like. They were to reflect His image and likeness as an example to other nations. Instead, they allowed the gravitational pull of the sin around them to bring them down until they personally began to imitate that culture. As a result, they made the second fatal mistake. They failed to train the next generation. How else would it be possible for another generation to grow up not knowing the Lord or remembering the mighty things He had done for Israel? This is why we invest so much in our children’s and student ministries at Woodlands Church. Our future depends on it! Each generation is like a relay race and the most critical moment in a relay race is at the exchange of the baton. You can be ahead in the race but, if you drop the baton, you will fall behind and may lose the race. One of our core values must be to stand for the next generation! How else will they know the Lord, if we do not tell them and show them by the difference in our own lives.

Dr. Howard Hendricks, a former Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, used to say, “If your Christianity doesn’t work at home, it doesn’t work. Don’t export it!” Our kids have amazing hypocrisy radars! Are they seeing Christ in us? How are our lives lived differently from the world around us? Are we showing them how to live the Christian life? If not, there is too much at stake for us to remain unchanged. Begin today repenting of personally imitating the culture around you and commit your life to Christ. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit, to live a quality of life that has no other explanation but Christ in you. Connect with other Christ followers to hold you accountable and encourage you in your daily walk. Let your life be an example of the difference knowing Christ makes.

The post Is Your Life an Example? appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“… They did not obey the LORD.”
Psalm 106:25b (GW)

Complaining and disobedience cost an entire generation in the nation of Israel the pleasant land God intended to give them. Like a defiant two-year-old they tried God’s patience and forfeited His blessing. Psalm 106:24-26 (GW) says, “They refused {to enter} the pleasant land. They did not believe what He said. They complained in their tents. They did not obey the LORD. Raising His hand, He swore that He would kill them in the wilderness.” Only after that generation that left Egypt died, did the next generation enter the promised land of blessing. Only two men, Joshua and Caleb, faithful spies that believed and obeyed God’s word, survived to enter from that generation. It would take 40 years for that first generation to die off in the wilderness before the next could enter.

God left the record of Israel’s failure in the wilderness for a reason. In 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (NLT), Paul writes, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” In other words, we have an opportunity to learn from their mistakes, so we don’t make the same ones. Israel shows us that what God has blessed in a nation, He can humble if that nation forsakes Him. We must be careful. This is a critical time in our nation. Like Israel, we’ve been unmistakably blessed by God. We’ve experienced His undeserved favor! Yet, too often we have not done what God has told us to do.

The lesson from Israel is that disobedience leads to death. Their disobedience grew out of their complaints and unbelief and led to open defiance of God’s commands. In the New Testament, the Bible says that “the wages of sin is death.” But there’s hope! That’s the good news of the Gospel! Romans 6:23 goes on to say, “… but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” The promised land God offers today is an abundant life through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Have you received that gift? Do it today. Open your heart to Jesus Christ and thank Him for the grace and forgiveness He offers you freely. Turn from your life of disobedience and commit your life to follow Him! The Bible says, “Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3 (NLT)

In John 14:21 (NLT), Jesus told His followers, “Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them.” When we repent of not doing what God has told us to do and begin to obey His commands, something amazing begins to happen! Jesus begins to reveal more of Himself to us! Oswald Chambers says it like this, “Obey God in the thing He shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. …The tiniest fragment of obedience, and heaven opens, and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away. God will never reveal more truth about Himself until you have obeyed what you know already.” What is it you know God wants you to do? Maybe it’s something He is telling you to stop doing. If disobedience brings death, obedience brings blessing. Take that tiny step of obedience today and experience more of God than you’ve ever known! It may just change a nation!

The post The Danger of Disobedience appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Chris Shook’s Devo

“They complained in their tents …”
Psalm 106:25a (GW)

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that seemed appropriate for our cultural climate. It read, “STOP GLOBAL WHINING!” I laughed out loud! It doesn’t matter if it’s the mainstream or social media, if you don’t have a complaint to express, you’re apparently not with it. Since when did negativity become so in today? I’m afraid it’s even affected Christ followers. I’ve seen more than a few that looked like they had been baptized in vinegar. I call them “Sour Saints.” So much for the “joy of the Lord!” Such was the case for Israel in the wilderness. Instead of entering the promised land, they settled for the land of pouting and grumbling. Psalm 106:25a (GW) says, “They complained in their tents …” Have you ever done that? It’s interesting to me that the Psalmist records that it was in their tents that they complained. One translation said, “they murmured” in their tents. That suggests to me that their complaints began under their breath. They were secretly complaining against Moses. They were pouting about their conditions and thought that as long as no one else knew, and they kept it to themselves, it didn’t matter. But God looks at the heart. He sees our motives and knows our attitude. Have you ever secretly complained about something? Who hasn’t? So what should we do with our complaints? I love what the Psalmist tells us in Psalm 142:1-3 (TEV). He says, “I call to the LORD for help; I plead with Him. I bring Him all my complaints; I tell Him all my troubles. When I am ready to give up, He knows what I should do.”

News flash – God is big enough to handle our complaints. Just complaining won’t change anything. It only makes us bitter, resentful sour saints. But when we take our complaint to God and tell Him all our troubles, something miraculous happens. Our perspective begins to shift from how big our problems are to how big our God is!

So here’s a challenge for today. Stop complaining under your breath. Take your complaints to God. Express to Him how you really feel. Be gut-level honest and vulnerable. Confess those secret complaints and be open before God about your troubles. Cry out to Him for help. When you’re ready to give up, He knows what you should do. Before you know it, He will turn your mourning into joy!  

The post Sour Saints appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“… they did not believe His promise.”
Psalm 106:24b (NIV)

Many believers today act like functional atheists. They say they believe God but act as if His promises were untrue. Israel did this when they refused to enter into the promised land. The Psalmist said, “Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.” Psalm 106:24 (NIV) Why? The New Living Translation says, “The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn’t believe His promise to care for them.” Have you ever struggled with that as well? I have. A crisis comes and we soon forgot all that God has done for us in the past. Rather than recalling His promises, we panic. Fear replaces our faith. This is especially challenging when we do pray, and God is silent. How do you handle the silences of God?

Someone counted over 7,000 promises in the Bible that God has made to mankind. These promises will lead us into the “pleasant land” of His presence and grace. Let’s take a moment just to review seven of them. As we do, ask yourself in what ways have you acted as if His promise was not true in your life? What circumstances have caused you to doubt His promise? How can you affirm His promise in faith today?

1. God promises to always love you! In Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”  There’s nothing you can do to make God love you more and there’s nothing you can do to make God love you less! His love is eternal and unconditional!

2. God promises to never leave you! In Matthew 28:20 (NLT), Jesus said, “… I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” I love the way the Amplified version puts Hebrews 13:5, “… for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]”

3. God promises to give us peace. In John 14:27 (NLT), Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

4. God promises to meet our needs. Paul writes in Philippians 4:19 (NIV), “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”  

5. God promises to hear and answer our prayers. In Jeremiah 33:3 (MSG), God says, “Call to Me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.”

6. God promises us the strength we need. In Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) God says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.”

7. God promises to guide us. Psalm 32:8 (NLT), “The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”

Have you been missing out on the pleasant land because you’ve acted as if God’s promises weren’t true? Unbelief will keep you stuck in the wilderness. Stop wandering around. Choose to believe God’s promises. Enter in the pleasant land of His presence with the confident assurance that His promises are true!

The post Believing God’s Promises appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Chris Shook’s Devo

“Then they despised the pleasant land. …”
Psalm 106:24a (NIV)

Israel’s experience in the wilderness provides a sober warning for us today. How was it possible for them to “despise the pleasant land” when it was the very land God had promised them, a land they should have cherished after leaving 400 years of slavery in Egypt? Is it possible for us to despise the gifts of God in our lives as well?

Moses had given them a description of this “pleasant land” in Deuteronomy 8. In verses 7 through 10 he wrote, “For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land He has given you.”

They must have longed to enjoy this pleasant land as they imagined what it would be like. What a contrast to the barren wilderness they were walking through to get there. They would be free! They would have their own land! God would be there God! Jeremiah reveals the heart of God who gave this land to Israel in Jeremiah 3:19 (NLT) “I thought to Myself, ‘I would love to treat you as My own children!’ I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land— the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling Me ‘Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from Me.”

What went wrong? How did they go from cherishing the thought of what God desired to give them to despising it? Israel had been out of Egypt for about two years when the Lord brought them to a place called Kadesh Barnea on the border of the Promised Land. Numbers 13 and 14 records the tragedy that happened there. Instead of trusting God to give them the land, the people asked Moses to appoint a committee to survey the land and bring back a report (Deuteronomy 1:22-23). While that may have seemed reasonable, God had already done this for them.  In Ezekiel 20:6 (NLT), the bible says, “Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: When I chose Israel—when I revealed Myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt—I took a solemn oath that I, the LORD, would be their God. I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them—a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere.” The point is Israel did not need more facts; they needed more faith. God said it was a “pleasant land” and a “good land” but ten of the twelve spies came back with an evil report. They said that Canaan was a dangerous land filled with giants, high-walled cities, and fierce armies. Their faith was tested. They had a choice to make. Would they believe God’s promises and inhabit the land or shrink back in fear? Unfortunately, the bible records that they reacted in fear – weeping, complaining and planning to return to Egypt. While their attitude should have been one filled with praise and gratitude for all that God had done and promised He would do, they were filled with fear and despised what God had promised. They gave in to their fears, believing they would die at the hands of those who inhabited the land and their children would become slaves.

It broke God’s heart. In Numbers 14:30-31 (NLT) God said, “You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised.”

Israel had become unfaithful and ungrateful. They despised what God had given them. They refused to receive His gift, rejecting this pleasant land. In what ways have you failed to cherish what God has given you? When we reject Christ, we fail to cherish the gift of salvation He freely offers. Unbelief is at the heart of the problem. We’ll talk more about that tomorrow.

Dear God, I am so sorry for the times I have failed to cherish what You have given me. How often have I taken Your good gifts for granted and responded with ingratitude? As I repent of this attitude, I pray You will align my heart with Your heart that I may receive every good and perfect gift You have for me. When my faith is challenged, help me to trust You and believe in Your promises and not give in to my fears. My hope is in You, Lord.

The post Do You Cherish What God Has Given You? appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt.”
Psalm 106:21 (NIV)

Israel suffered from spiritual amnesia. The Psalmist says, “They forgot the God who saved them …” Despite the great things He had done for them defeating the gods of Egypt with the ten plagues and establishing a nation out of a group of slaves, Israel drifted when they forgot their salvation. Have you forgotten your own salvation? The price Jesus paid to deliver you and set you free from sin, from the hurts and habits and hang-ups that once enslaved you?

One of the occupational hazards of our faith is how easy it is to forget our own salvation and begin to drift away from God. The writer of Hebrews must have had this in mind when he wrote this in Hebrews 2:1-3 (NLT/NKJV) “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we (neglect) this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?”

Warren Wiersbe, a noted author and pastor said, “This admonition is written to believers, for the writer includes himself when he writes ‘we.’ The danger here is that of neglecting our salvation. Please note that the author did not write “rejecting” but “neglecting.” He is not encouraging sinners to become Christians; rather, he is encouraging Christians to pay attention to the great salvation they have received from the Lord.” 

The penalty for neglecting and forgetting their own salvation was severe. Had not Moses stepped in to intercede for the people, God said He would have destroyed them in Psalm 106:23. The writer of Hebrews warns us that we will not escape if we neglect our own salvation by forgetting the price Jesus paid to ransom us.  Peter reminded Christ followers, “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)

When I find myself taking my salvation for granted, forgetting what my Savior did for me, I’m reminded of an old hymn that brings me back –

Lead Me to Calvary
King of my life, I crown Thee now
Thine shall the glory be
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow
Lead me to Calvary

Lest I forget Gethsemane
Lest I forget Thine agony
Lest I forget Thy love for me
Lead me to Calvary

May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee
Even Thy cup of grief to share
Thou hast borne all for me

Lest I forget Gethsemane
Lest I forget Thine agony
Lest I forget Thy love for me
Lead me to Calvary

Oh God, lead me to Calvary. Help me never forget the price You paid for my salvation. Forgive me for the times I’ve taken for granted all You’ve done to rescue me. Thank You for loving me enough to die for me and rise again to share Your saving life with me!

The post Drift Prevention appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Kris Shook’s Devo

“The people made a calf at Mount Sinai; they bowed before an image made of gold. They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull.”
Psalm 106:19-20 (NLT)

“They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall.”
Psalm 106:36 (NLT)

It may be hard to imagine a nation like Israel bowing before an image made of gold. Even after all God had done for them, delivering them from slavery in Egypt, bringing them through the Red Sea on dry ground, providing water from a rock in the desert and feeding them with manna every day! How could they forget? How could they trade their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull? Yet, when Moses was away on the mountain with God for 40 days, the people got nervous without their leader. They demanded that Aaron make for them a golden calf that they may worship. They wanted a god they could see. They rejected the eternal God “their Glory” for a manmade piece of gold that could not see, hear, speak or act!  In verse 36, the Psalmist records that the nations idolatry led to their downfall. The New International Version says their idols became a snare to them. The word in Hebrew for snare can be translated as a noose for catching animals. In other words, an idol is really a trap! We may not bow down to a golden calf today, but how often have we traded our glorious God for the snares of this world: power, pleasure and possessions? If we’re honest, we’ve all worshipped an idol instead of God. Anytime we put anything or anyone ahead of God, we commit idolatry. The very first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3 (NIV)

When most of us consider the Ten Commandments, we tend to view them as restrictive, limiting our freedom and fun. But behind every negative “Thou shalt not …” is a positive and powerfully liberating truth that will set us free to be all that God intended for us to be and experience a quality of life packed with the sheer adventure of His saving life! 

When God says we are to have no other gods before Him, nor are we to worship an image or idol, He’s really saying He wants an exclusive and personal relationship with us! It’s as if He’s saying, “I want you to experience all of Me!” And we can’t do that if we allow anyone or anything to come between us and God. You were made by God and for God!  He designed us with a God-shaped vacuum that only He could fill. He knows that our lives will only be complete when we are rightly related to Him. That’s exactly why He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to seek and to save those who were lost and estranged from Him. Have you opened your heart to Him? When you do, He promises to come in and fill your life with His love and presence. 

The first commandment teaches us a powerful principle, the Principle of Priority – to put God first in everything we do. If you want God’s blessing in your life, put God first. If you want His blessing in your marriage, put Him first in your marriage as a couple. If you want His blessings in your finances, put Him first in your giving. Wherever you want God’s blessing in your life that’s where you need to put Him first. Jesus put it like this in Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” 

Dear God, I’m so sorry I’ve put _______________ before You. Today, I repent of worshipping an idol instead of You and ask You to forgive me. I choose to put You first in every area of my life, my time, my resources, my relationships and my decisions. Thank You that You will supply every need I could possibly have and that You alone are God! I want all of You!

The post Does God Have First Place? appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD.”
Psalm 106:16 (NIV)

Envy is one of the seven deadly sins according to Christian tradition. It will make you a miserable person and prevent you from enjoying your life or entering the joy of others. Envy is different than covetousness in that envy not only wants what someone else has but resents the fact that they have it at all! One pastor described envy like this, “Envy asks, ‘Why them? Why do they get what I don’t have?’ Gratitude asks, ‘Why me? Why do I get all that I have?’” The best antidote to the sin of envy is a grateful heart. The problem with envy is that it shifts our focus from all that God has given us to what others have around us. It creates jealousy in our hearts.

The Psalmist recorded the trouble envy led to in the nation of Israel. It created dissension and division. It stalled an entire nation from making any progress! Sound familiar? Psalm 106:16 says, “In the camp they grew envious of Moses and Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD.” Envy will rob us of God’s purpose for our lives. God consecrated Moses and Aaron for His purpose and they were fulfilling that purpose in leading the nation. Then jealousy and envy led to a rebellion against their leadership. Numbers 16 and 17 records the crisis in the camp as a Levite, named Korah enlisted 250 fellow rebels complaining against Moses and Aaron out of envy for power and position. Sounds like modern day politics, doesn’t it? In his commentary on this passage, author and pastor Warren Wiersbe writes, “Korah was a Levite in the family of Kohath whose privilege it was to carry the tabernacle furnishings. But Kohath was not satisfied with that task; he wanted to function at the altar as a priest (Num. 14:8-10). Pride and selfish ambition have always brought trouble to God’s people (Phil. 2:1-11; James 4:1-10). These rebels were opposing the will of God, for it was the Lord who chose Moses and Aaron to lead the nation, and so the Lord destroyed Korah and his followers.” How sad that Korah allowed envy to rob him of his high privilege and calling! As we pray for our nation in crisis, we must examine our own hearts. Am I jealous of others? Do I envy their position? Have I responded to the promotion of others ahead of me with resentment? When we repent of the sin of envy, we can be free to rejoice in the success of others and learn contentment through praise for all that God in His mercy and kindness has done for us. We are free to fulfill the unique purpose God has for our lives.

The post Breaking Free of Envy appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Chris Shook’s Devo

“… in the wilderness they put God to the test.”
Psalm 106:14b (NIV)

Where do you go when you need wisdom? A trusted friend? Dr. Phil? While those may offer a measure of wise counsel, the truth is no one knows you like the one who created you. God knows us better than we know ourselves. Jeremiah realized that when he wrote, ^“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV) In the following verse he adds, “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind …” (Vs. 10a) Only God can truly know our hearts. He can see our motives. Only He knows the future. Here’s how the Psalmist describes God’s knowledge of you and me, “O LORD, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”  Psalm 139:1-6 (NLT) Realizing how much God understood him, it’s no wonder he ends with this prayer, “… lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Vs. 24b)

God has a path for you and me. When Israel failed to take that path, they found themselves wandering in the wilderness. Cultural changes and everyday distractions can shift us off course and before we know it, we find ourselves wandering in the wilderness as well. We lose sight of the path God has for us and we don’t know what to do. If you’re at that intersection in your life you have a choice to make. You can seek the counsel of men and hope you get good advice, or you can seek the wisdom of God. One practical way I’ve found helpful in seeking God’s wisdom is to give God FIRST consideration in all my decisions. Then I seek His counsel in His Word. Does God’s Word have any clear counsel about my decision? If He does, the answer is simple. The only question then is will I obey His Word or go my own way.  Like Israel, if I choose to go my own way, I put God to the test.  One translation says I’m testing His patience. I’ve done that as well and found myself having to repent of going my own way. In His love and grace, He quickly forgives and restores me on the right path He has for me.

God’s desire is to give us the wisdom we need for skillful living. In fact, James 1:5 (NLT) promises us, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” That gives me such hope!

Maybe this is the very promise you need to claim today as you repent of going your own way or doubting God’s wisdom in your life. He is for you! He knows you better than anyone and loves you more than anyone. As you turn to Him today, thank Him for His wisdom to lead you in the path of everlasting life. Then listen for His still small voice, that gentle prompting of His Spirit that will guide you as you seek Him in His Word each day.   

The post Trusting God’s Wisdom appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

“In the desert they gave in to their craving …”
Psalm 106:14a (NIV)

Israel’s behavior in the wilderness was like the terrible twos. Failing to remember God’s kindnesses to them, they rebelled time and time again when they didn’t get what they wanted when they wanted it. Despite how many times God rescued them, they would return to their old ways, rushing ahead with their plans rather than waiting on God’s. In verse 14, the Psalmist records this, “In the desert they gave in to their craving …” The New Living Translation says, “In the wilderness their desires ran wild …”

Notice the first phrase, “In the wilderness …” It’s in the wilderness where our desires run wild, where we give in to our cravings. We think we know what is best for us and demand God to comply. Whether its food, alcohol and drugs, or an immoral relationship, our cravings can control us. In verse 15, the Bible says, “So He (God) gave them what they asked for, but He sent a plague along with it.” Here’s the lesson: Be careful what you ask for, you may get it. Sometimes you may get what you want but then no longer want what you got! That’s because we really don’t always know what is best for us. God does. When we trust that He loves us and knows what is best for us we can rest with confidence that He will provide all we need.

The real question is do you desire Him more than what you want? In Psalm 37:4 (NIV), the Bible says, “Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Have you learned to delight in the Lord? To delight in someone means to experience great pleasure and joy in his or her presence. That happens only when you know the person well and spend time with them. The Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it like this: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” You and I can enjoy that kind of intimate and personal relationship with God where we delight in Him. He desires a love relationship with you. Listen to how the Psalmist describes that kind of relationship in Psalm 73:25-26 (NIV), “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Don’t let the cravings of this life prevent you from experiencing the real fulfillment of your heart’s desire in delighting yourself in the Lord. All other desires overpromise and under deliver. If you want to control your cravings, transfer those desires to God and learn to delight yourself in the Lord.  Begin by repenting of giving in to your cravings in the past. They only leave you feeling hollow inside. Ask God to become the desire of your heart and begin to enjoy His presence with you each day.   

The post Controlling My Cravings appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“… They wouldn’t wait for His counsel!”
Psalm 106:13b (NLT)

Few things are as difficult for me as waiting, especially when I know what I want. Maybe you can relate. Yet, the Bible is filled with illustrations of those who moved impulsively without seeking God’s counsel. It never turned out well. It hasn’t for me either.

Do you consider God’s counsel before you make a decision and wait upon Him before acting? Waiting for His counsel honors God and demonstrates our dependence on Him. We live in a microwave culture that fosters our impatience with waiting. The truth is, God is never in a hurry, yet He is never late. When Abraham and Sarah were promised a son, they even got tired of waiting. They came up with a plan to “help” God accomplish His promise. Never a good idea! History records the result of that plan and we’ve had Middle Eastern turmoil ever since! Moses knew God had called him to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and tried to speed God’s timing up to accomplish His will. He would have to wait another 40 years until God said he was ready. It’s easy to want to take the bull by the horns when you think you know what God wants you to do and act independent of Him. King Saul learned this the hard way when he refused to wait for the prophet Samuel to come to make a sacrifice before going to battle. He acted impulsively. When Samuel did arrive, he told Saul, “‘How foolish!’ Samuel exclaimed. ‘You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of His people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.’” 1 Samuel 13:13-14 (NLT)

So, why does God ask us to wait for His counsel? Here’s the irony – most of the time that we are waiting on God, God is really waiting on us. He is waiting for us to grow in our character as He prepares us for our calling. When you think about your waiting period like that, what do you think God is trying to develop in your character? This gives value to waiting.  Don’t waste your time in the waiting room. Learn to be still in God’s presence. The important thing is knowing Him, not knowing the answer. God has a plan and a path for you. He uses the waiting period to prepare us and to protect us. It’s interesting to see how even Noah waited on God’s timing in the ark after the flood. The story in Genesis tells us that the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat on the seventeenth day of the seventh month, yet Noah waited another five months before he and his family left the ark. I think I would have wanted to exit that smelly ship as soon as I could. But God was protecting Noah and his family and preparing them for their calling to start the human race over again. If you’re waiting on God, be encouraged that God is at work in your life preparing you for His purpose. Let Him complete the process by being still in His presence and pressing in to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. Stay connected with God daily in prayer and worship. Before you know it, He will act. Then, like Noah, walk through God’s open door to a whole new world. 

“Dear God, forgive me for rushing ahead with my own plans instead of waiting for Yours. As I repent of my impulsiveness, teach me to be still and trust You to lead me. Draw me closer to You and develop my character to match Your calling.”

The post Waiting for God’s Counsel appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Pastor Kerry’s Devo

“Yet how quickly they forgot what He had done!” Psalm 106:13a (NLT)

The sin that started the Israelites on a path away from God was their forgetfulness. God worked a great miracle at the Red Sea but as soon as they needed water in the desert, they seemed to forget all that God had done for them.

I can relate to forgetting all the blessings and miracles God has done for me. So often, when I’m faced with a problem, I have spiritual amnesia and act like God has never come through for me in the past. When I fail to remember all that God has done for me, it sets me up to believe Satan’s lies that the Lord doesn’t care about what I’m going through in the present. When we forget what God has done for us in the past, our hearts immediately start to wander away from God’s provision and peace.

I love the hymn that we sing sometimes at Woodlands Church called “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”. It describes the wandering heart prone to sin and rebellion that we all struggle with even as Christ followers. Here are the lyrics:

This hymn was written by a pastor named, Robert Robinson in 1758, who struggled himself with a heart prone to wander from God. Even after a successful pastorate, he found himself straying from God and returning to his old ways of rebellion and sin. The story is told that one day while riding a stagecoach a young lady began to sing the very hymn he wrote years before. She had no idea Robinson was the author of that hymn. As she finished singing, the young woman told Robinson how much she loved this hymn and asked what he thought about the song. His startling reply was: “Madam, I am the unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago; and, I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, if I could feel now as I felt then.” The good news is that Robinson’s life did not end in the far country. Like the prodigal son, God used this encounter to restore his fellowship with the One in whom there is streams of mercy never ending.

As you read this you may be prompted to examine your own heart too. How often have you been rescued and then returned to your old ways? It’s so easy to stray when we forget what

God has done in our lives. Our most vital relationship with God must be maintained in daily fellowship with Him, loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. The good news is that God always welcomes us back when we turn to Him in repentance and faith.

The post Prone to Wander appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.

Watch Chris Shook’s Devo

“Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the LORD’s miraculous deeds. They soon forgot His many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against Him at the Red Sea … Again and again He rescued them, but they chose to rebel against Him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin.” Psalm 106:7, 43 (NLT)

Psalm 106 reads like a summary of the Book of Judges that records Israel’s cycle of sin, judgment, repentance and rescue. Because we live in a broken world and we are broken, this painful cycle repeats itself in our lives as well when we forget God’s mighty acts of kindness and begin to live independent of Him.  The Psalmist painfully describes what happens when we forget God’s goodness in our lives. It leads to rebellion against God; the sin of claiming my right to myself. In his classic devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers puts it like this, “The disposition of sin is not immorality and wrong-doing, but the disposition of self-realization – I am my own god … Sin is a fundamental relationship; it is not wrong doing, it is wrong being, deliberate and emphatic independence of God.”  We inherited this disposition from Adam. Chambers goes on to add, “Sin is a thing I am born with and I cannot touch it; God touches sin in Redemption. In the Cross of Jesus Christ God redeemed the whole human race from the possibility of damnation through the heredity of sin. God nowhere holds a man responsible for having the heredity of sin. The condemnation is not that I am born with a heredity of sin, but if when I realize Jesus Christ came to deliver me from it, I refuse to let Him do so, from that moment I begin to get the seal of damnation.” 

The good news is that God sent His Son into the world to redeem a world in rebellion. The bad news is that we chose to rebel against Him. That rebellion is self-destructive. For those who continue in rebellion, the Psalmist says, “… they were finally destroyed by their sin.”  The New Testament puts it like this in Romans 6:23 (NLT), “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”  

Have you received that free gift? How can we avoid the sin cycle that leads to death?

First, acknowledge that I have forgotten God’s kindnesses to me and have rebelled against Him. I have claimed my right to myself independent of God.

Second, turn from my right to myself and yield my life to Christ by receiving His free gift of eternal life.

Third, daily abide in His Word.  Here’s a tip from the Psalmist in Psalm 119:11 (NLT), “I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Daily doses of God’s Word offer a preventative for the sinful nature of rebellion that will constantly fight to take over again.

The post Confronting Our Rebellion appeared first on Kerry Shook Ministries.