Everyday Devos

Just Keep Serving

2009-11-09T07:52:00.001-08:00

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

1 Corinthians 4:5

There were believers in Corinth who had become arrogant. They were proud of their new position in Christ. In the arrogance they claimed authority that was not theirs. Paul and the other apostles, but Paul especially, was degraded in their minds. In this chapter Paul lays all of that out.

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

1 Corinthians 4:8-10

Two things are competing for my attention in this chapter. One is that the way of Christ will be difficult. To truly be a servant of Christ, and not expect to be served by Christ, will bring difficult days. It is not a cake walk! We need to battle against feelings of position and entitlement.

The second is not getting tied up in the perceived motivations of people. Way too much time can be used up trying to figure people out. Just move forward serving Jesus and wait for the Lord’s return. He will bring to light the darkness of men’s hearts. He will expose their motives and will judge them accordingly. To those who faithfully serve, they will receive their praise from God at that time.

Holy Father – find me faithful to Your cause and willing to serve regardless of the circumstances. You outweigh every other and are my motivation for life. I live for you today…

Considered Righteous

2009-11-05T13:10:00.001-08:00

“We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Galatians 2:15-16, 21

How is a person considered righteous and free from sin in the eyes of God? This must happen for God to relate to us at all. If we are still considered sinful, God must drive us out from His Presence because He is holy and cannot co-exist with sin.

You might think that the way to be considered righteous would be to do right things, perfectly and all the time. What humanity learned from the Law of God in the Old Testament is that we are unable to live perfectly righteous before God all the time.

So God sent Jesus! Now it is through faith in Him and trust in what He has done for us that a person can be considered righteous and live in God’s Presence. Because of this, everything changes! What I live for changes. How I live changes.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Father, thank You for the freedom of crucifixion! Of course the freedom that Jesus brings because of His obedience to You, but also my own death with Christ. I am free to live for You and I do today.

Heaping Abuse

2009-11-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. ¹⁸And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” ¹⁹Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰come down from the cross and save yourself!”

³¹In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! ³²Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Mark 15:16-20, 29-32

As if crucifixion wasn’t a big enough insult, people heaped abuse, both physical and verbal, on Jesus. And the King of Glory took it. He took it from the sinners He was dying to save. Their sin was on display and directed toward Him, the One who could forgive them of sin.

I am no different. I would, because of my own insecurities, heap abuse like this. That potential is in me… but it is not of God. It is not living like Jesus to do that. He did not respond to the abuse. He humbled Himself and was obedient to His Father.

The only ones Jesus spoke roughly with were the religious leaders.

As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, ³⁹and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁰They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

Mark 12:38-40

This was not abuse, however. It was truth that Jesus was speaking. He had no insecurities that would lead Him to sin against people like those who crucified Him did. I must find myself centered in Christ and live confidently in Him.

Lord, thank You for Your Spirit that lives with me. And thank You for how You are making me like You. Do whatever You’d like with me. I live for You and Your glory. My confidence is in You.

Jesus' Confession Led To His Own Death

2009-11-03T10:16:00.000-08:00

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 14:61-62

A mob of people with clubs and swords came in the middle of the night led by Judas the betrayer. They arrested Jesus and brought Him before this Jewish ruling council called the Sanhedrin. “Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.” (vs 56) Jesus remained silent throughout all the false and contradicting accusations. Finally when asked directly by the High Priest if He was the Christ, Jesus responded. This one response was all He said but it was what the Sanhedrin needed to pursue killing Jesus.

Jesus would go “just as it was written about Him.” But it was His own words that would bring this about. This makes ironic sense because Jesus’ death was God’s will. The Just dying for the unjust. This most significant of all human events would not come about by anyone else’s testimony, just Jesus’! His testimony is true. And wicked humanity killed the Son of the Blessed One, proving again how much we needed a Savior.

Lord Jesus, it would have been nothing for You to have reduced the rulers and false witnesses down to nothing. With Your wisdom and authority they could have been leveled low in that environment, and yet You chose to remain silent because You were following God the Father’s plan. You were obedient to Him to the point of death on a cross! At any point You could have taken rightful command, but You didn’t. In fact, it was Your own confession about Yourself that led to Your death. How You put up with our arrogance and sin… and you offer us salvation! Thank You for what You’ve done; what You are doing and what You will yet bring about. You alone are Lord!

God Enjoys Newness

2009-10-28T07:33:00.001-07:00

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.”

Mark 2:22

I think of the Scripture where God says, “I am making everything new” (Revelation 21:5). He also enjoys new songs (Psalm 40:3; 98:1). Our creative God enjoys newness! If we were more like Jesus, we probably would too. Instead, most people loathe change. They fear it. Routine and sameness is valued because it is known. Where’s the growth in that? Where’s the adventure? God enjoys the adventure, I think. He loves it when I have faith in Him and join Him in the new thing He is doing.

One thing I must do is not just focus on the new thing alone but also the new container. Someone who is in the business of making wine is also in the new wineskin business. Old containers won’t work. You make like them, but you’ll lose both the new thing and the old container if you use it. That brings double the frustration and you might decide to forget the new thing… to toss aside that new dream or direction, but it was really the container’s failure. We rarely blame the old container because we like what’s familiar. Don’t leave the adventure! Just get new wineskins. It can seem like a lot of work, and maybe it is, but it’ll be worth it!

Father, what new thing do You want to lead me in? What unnerving faith adventure do You have in store for me? Help me to embrace Your leading and trust You completely. Give me Your creativity and a confidence in You that does not shrink back to the comfortable and familiar. Be glorified through my life today, I pray.

Don't Follow The Majority

2009-10-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there.

Acts 27:9-12

The majority often makes decisions. The majority is most often wrong! Don’t make your life decisions based on what the majority thinks. If you have a single person who is filled with the Spirit of God and who loves you – ask what they think. The centurion went with the flow of the majority and ended up going with the flow of hurricane force winds for 14 days and nights! (Acts 27:27)

The most important voice for me to listen to is the Holy Spirit’s voice. Often times I can hear Him through others who are attune to His leading. To follow any other opinion is often disastrous. I will follow Jesus.

Lord, speak to me in powerful, clear and succinct ways so that I may be led by You and make wise decisions. Do Your work through me. Use my voice to speak to others. Give me the insight and discernment to know when it’s not You leading me – all for Your glory!

Become What I Am

2009-10-26T07:37:00.000-07:00

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Acts 26:28-29

It is quite the statement Paul made. He would have the King and all in that courtroom ‘become what I am…’ Is this arrogance or is it Paul obeying Jesus’ commission (Matthew 28:18-20)? In another place Paul would write ‘follow me as I follow Christ’ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Wow! This is another shocking statement. Generally we deflect this kind of attention and point people to Jesus. We’re human. We’re frail… so follow Jesus, not me!

This is not arrogance by Paul. The thrust of the Great Commission is to ‘make disciples.’ That’s the imperative Jesus gives to His disciples. Only disciples can make disciples. In essence, we are to reproduce in others what we already are as followers of Christ. Follow me as I follow Jesus.

What about our brokenness and sin? If we’ve been discipled in Christ, our brokenness is also to be reproduced in others. How I am handling my weaknesses, temptations and sins needs to be reproduced in others if I am following Jesus. So follow my brokenness as I yield my life to Christ. Even Paul had a ‘thorn in the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Should we follow a guy who isn’t perfect? Yes, because he’s following One who is.

Paul’s story of persecuting the church became a part of his task of making disciples. How he responded to Jesus was something for others to learn from. Most did not. The words of Jesus to Paul are powerful here…

I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Acts 26:17-18

As a disciple of Jesus Christ I am far from perfect, but others can follow me, learn from me and my imperfections, because I have crossed over from ‘darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God.’ I have received the forgiveness of my sins and am living in God’s grace. I pray that all who are listening to me today may become what I am…

Lord, I yield to the work You are doing in my heart today. I want those who follow me to be following You. So break me, build me, fill and use me today for Your purposes. All the glory and honor belong to You. You are awesome, mighty and worthy of my life.

God Working Through People

2009-10-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

Acts 15:4

The mission of the church is God’s mission. It doesn’t belong to the church. We didn’t originate the mission and we don’t even carry it out. Oh, we’re involved, but it’s not us doing it. God is carrying out His mission through His people.

Paul and Barnabas had this perspective. Of all the things they accomplished – and they accomplished a lot – they understood that it was God accomplishing His work through them. I noticed this yesterday in the last couple of verses in Acts 14.

On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

Acts 14:27-28

And then a third time…

The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

Acts 15:12

This perspective changes everything! Since it’s God’s Mission that He is accomplishing through me, I cannot take credit when good things happen. All glory goes to God. I also can’t accept the self-condemnation that easily comes with defeat and setbacks. I am just the Lord’s servant.

What’s important is for me to keep that yielded, humble attitude that listens to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God sees through my busyness. My busyness does not mean the Kingdom of Heaven is advancing through me, it just means I’m busy. The Kingdom advances as God works through me. It’s His work done through His man.

Father, help me steward my life well. It is a gift from You! May I be about your mission, listening and learning from You and seeing You accomplish things that bring You glory.

Answered Prayer

2009-10-20T07:13:00.001-07:00

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Acts 12:5

God answers the prayers of the church and miraculously rescues Peter from prison. When he comes to where the church had gathered and were still praying (Acts 12:12), they were in disbelief to the reality of their prayers being answered. But it was true! Peter had been delivered from certain death. He described how the angel of the Lord brought him out of prison.

Pray earnestly. Expect God to answer! He will always answer. Maybe not in the way you would like, but God will always answer. And as we’re learning from Job – regardless of His answer, Almighty God is worthy of our reverence. Worship Him.

Father, lead me to places of deeper, more earnest prayer. I want to see Your power displayed through my life and the life of Your church. Display Your power for the community to see so that all glory may be given to You.

A Great Number

2009-10-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

“With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.”

Psalm 108:13

“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

Acts 9:31

“The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

Acts 11:21

Reaching people for Christ will not happen without Jesus. The Presence of His Spirit must be for there to be a strengthening of His church and a growing in numbers. Without God there will not be victory. Without Him at work in and through His church, great numbers of people will not turn to the Lord.

Is it all about numbers? No… and yes! God is not impressed with numbers. What number would ‘WOW’ God? He’s the One who created the billions and billions of stars. He’s the One who created the billions and billions of people. He knows the stars and the people by name. Those who follow Jesus should also not be impressed by numbers. And yet each number is a lost person found! And just as Luke 15 tells us, all of Heaven rejoices when a single sinner repents and turns back to the Lord. We will rejoice in what Heaven rejoices in! If we rejoice in one, of course we will rejoice in a thousand, but not because of the number but because of the Gospel that has the power to save people. Lots of people!

Whether one or a thousand, no one will be saved without the Presence and power of God. This is the Kingdom of Heaven on earth! It will not advance apart from the King of Heaven present and at work in the hearts of people.

So what do we do then? We pray! We pray and make sure that we are available to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He will grow us and His church simultaneously, but we need Him. He will do it. He’ll have the victory in and through us, all for His glory.

And so we pray like the early disciples (Acts 4:24-31):

“Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together

against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Complete Healing

2009-10-14T09:30:00.001-07:00

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Acts 3:16

The crippled beggar was well known by the people as a crippled beggar. He was healed completely and Peter & John explain how. Through the Name of Jesus and faith in that Name, complete healing came to that man.

What healing do I need? Where’s the brokenness in my life? Complete, not partial, healing comes through Jesus. Having faith in His Name means that I trust Jesus’ position, authority and mission. He is who He said He is and He’s done what no one else could do! The Good News is that redemption and the forgiveness of sin can be experienced through Jesus. This is spiritual healing! And it’s complete! The other places of brokenness will also be healed completely as I have faith in His Name.

Jesus, I believe in You. Heal me up completely. Bring glory to Yourself through my life this day.

Stand Up And Praise The Lord Your God

2009-10-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

“Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.”

“Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Nehemiah 9:5-6

Same Mission; Same Spirit

2009-10-12T07:16:00.001-07:00

Jesus said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:7-8

Here is one of the great mission verses in the New Testament! Jesus describes the new life and activity of His disciples and the power source from which, or from Whom, they will be able to do His mission. Their new life in Jesus’ Kingdom will be one of giving witness to who Christ is and what He has done. The power to live such a life will come from the Holy Spirit who will fall on them. The Holy Spirit will be their Guide and Comforter and the One who will supply for all their needs. He will give them even the words they need to witness for Jesus and fulfill His mission.

This same Spirit empowers me, and all of God’s church, to be about this same mission. We are witnesses for Jesus. We give testimony about who He is and what He has done! Jesus is the Son of God who has redeemed, by His own blood, all who place their faith in Him. Repentance and the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to all the nations!

Holy Spirit, energize Your church for the mission you’ve called us to. Breathe life and vitality into us that we would proclaim the greatness of Jesus. Enliven our hearts that we might live lives worthy of this Gospel and be a blessing to everyone we meet. We are servants in Your Kingdom, living to bring You glory. Be glorified this day!

Tempted To Pray

2009-10-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Luke 22:31-32, 39-40, 45-46

Jesus is not unaware of our weakness and susceptibility to temptation. He also, better than we, knows the spiritual realm and the fact that God’s enemy, Satan, is constantly working for our downfall. Temptation comes to lead us to sin and separation from God, who cannot co-exist with sin. Jesus understands all that’s going on with us… so what does He tell His disciples? “Pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” He even told Simon that He was praying for him so that his faith would not fail. That’s what can happen. That’s the goal of the enemy: to shake and uproot our faith in Jesus.

Temptation is one of those few things in life that is common to every person. We all experience temptation and Satan’s attempts to unravel our faith in God. What’s our defense? Prayer.

I don’t understand all the mystery of prayer, but what occurs to me this morning is that prayer works as a defense against temptation by diverting our hearts and minds back to God. The forbidden apple on the tree was appealing to Eve and it captured her attention over God’s love and will for her. Every temptation attempts to do the same to us. It clouds our minds. The fog rolls in and we do not see the love of God and His desire for us. We fall into temptation because we do not see clearly.

Earnest prayer lifts the fog! It clears out our minds by redirecting us back to the Father who loves us. Our faith is not unraveled but actually strengthened during these moments and temptation can be avoided. How? God provides the way of escape! Paul wrote…

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Father, thank You for Your great love for me. Thank You for Your Spirit that lives with me and leads me. Help me to pray more and find in You the strength for everyday life. You are awe-some.

A Bias For Movement

2009-10-08T07:32:00.001-07:00

Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”

Ezra 10:4

The bulk of Ezra 9 is Ezra praying prayers of repentance. He is ashamed because of Israel’s great sin against their holy God. He does praise God for being so gracious.

“What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have deserved and have given us a remnant like this.

Ezra 9:13

Even so, the heaviness of guilt remains. Ezra sits ashamed and appalled before God.

Shecaniah comes to Ezra as the first Nike spokesman. (He has a great name! Say it out loud 2-3 times…) Shecaniah acknowledges all that Ezra has prayed as true but then says, ‘Just do it!’ “Rise up; take the matter into your hands. Take courage and do it.” Ezra rises up and does it! It wasn’t perfect… not a 100%... but good things came about. God was exalted and holiness was promoted in the hearts and lives of His people.

There are times for earnest prayer and there are times to get up and get it done. There are many times when I’ve acted when I should have prayed and prayed when I should have acted. Some excuse inaction with prayer. “I’m waiting on the Lord.” I get that, but have you moved so far ahead of God that He needs time to catch up? Are you that fast?

What we need to do is pray and go and then pray AS we go. Through the Holy Spirit very present in our lives we can be directed as we move. Sometimes we can be paralyzed with the thought of heading in the wrong direction, so we don’t move in any direction. I believe that God is able to redirect me while in motion. And if I am going in the opposite direction, He is fully capable of getting my attention. It’s like the classic illustration: You can’t steer a parked car.

Having a bias for movement can be pleasing to God, I think, as long as I have my heart in tune with Him. If I’m listening as I go, He is pleased with my movement and can lead me. This is much better than inaction, even if I justify it with prayer. God has no problem keeping up with me. He also can get my attention at any moment. So I will move forward. I’ll take courage and just do it.

Father, forgive me when You’ve wanted to lead me but I was sitting in neutral. Thank You for the people in my life that bring my Your strength and courage. Direct my life this day as I live and act for You.

Considered Worthy

2009-10-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

Luke 20:34-36

These verses come in the middle of a chapter where the religious leaders are questioning Jesus’ authority and trying to trap Him in what He says. Jesus was able to ‘see through their duplicity’ (vs. 23). Answering the Sadducees who were skeptical of the resurrection, Jesus said that those who are ‘considered worthy’ will be part of that age. The feeling I get from Jesus’ words is that most won’t. Most people in this age will not be in that age. Those who are considered worthy will be the minority. This is very different than the pervasive thought that most all people will find their way to Heaven. Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

How does a person find that small gate? How do we walk on the narrow path? How can I be ‘considered worthy’ of the age to come? The answer is found in the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Father, thank You that Jesus has made me worthy, by Your grace. Help me to stay on this narrow road everyday. I live for You and Your glory.

Hiding Your Mina

2009-10-06T07:19:00.000-07:00

Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

Luke 19:20-21

Jesus tells this parable that teaches us about Himself. He is the One of noble birth who is leaving and will return as King. There are those who did not, and do not, want Him to be King. That doesn’t matter. He is King!

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a colt in the verses immediately following. This is an image of a victorious king who has returned from battle. The people are shouting His praises and the religious leaders say that He should stop them from such foolishness. Jesus replied, ‘If they don’t, the rocks will cry out.’

These images of Jesus as King are significant! His teaching is important for my life today. The King will be returning and will want to know what I did with the life He entrusted to me. My ‘mina’ is a stewardship that belongs to the King and He wants a return on His investment.

Fear can keep me from risk. Fear can keep me from reward, too. The fearsome words of the King to the ‘wicked servant’ motivate me, as Jesus intended, to not hide my mina. Invest it! Use it! Turn it into more. I cannot allow the fear of loss to paralyze me into inaction.

King Jesus, I honor You today. Thank You for the investment into my life. Move me to action so I can return to You more than You have given to me. All for Your glory!

Looking For Faith

2009-10-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

“Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied.”

Luke 18:40-41

Why did Jesus ask the blind man what he wanted Him to do for him? This guy had been shouting out to Jesus from the place where he begged. Regardless of those who were telling him to shut-up, he kept on yelling ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’

Jesus stopped and instructed that the blind man be brought to him. Why? Because anyone who could see would know that the guy was blind. If he was able to see, he would have been following Jesus, but he wouldn’t have had his request.

So Jesus asks the obvious question. As the Son of God He could see, not only people’s physical condition but their spiritual condition too. Jesus was looking for an answer… He was looking for faith.

Faith is most often expressed with our lips. We verbalize faith. We confess with our mouths what we believe. The blind man knew his problem and believed that Jesus could heal him. He wanted to see.

Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

Luke 18:42

I am constantly in need of what only Jesus can provide. Even though He knows my needs before I ask, that doesn’t mean I don’t ask. In fact, the opening parable of this chapter teaches us the exact opposite. We need to ask persistently!

My asking (or not) demonstrates my faith in Jesus. It shows my heart-set toward Him. Will I run to Him for help and provision or will I try to provide for myself? Jesus is looking for faith.

Lord, You know my needs today. You know better than I do the physical, spiritual and emotional help I need. I believe You are Jehovah Jireh, my Provider and I ask You to meet all of my needs according to Your riches in Christ Jesus. There’s nothing I lack that You cannot provide, so as You will and for Your glory, help me this day. Give me this day my daily bread.

When My Heart Is Overwhelmed

2009-10-03T22:58:00.000-07:00

http://vimeo.com/6783995

Receiving True Riches

2009-10-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will give you true riches?

Luke 16:11

Trustworthy. Worthy of trust. The verse before this one says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” The verse after it says, “And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?” Who will give me property of my own if I’ve not been trustworthy? No one. Who will give me true riches? Nobody.

The stuff of earth can be easily dismissed as unimportant because it’s not the stuff of the Kingdom. This is not the right way to think about worldly wealth. Money and possessions are a proving ground. They hold the variables that are great for testing trustworthiness. If we are found trustworthy with what God entrusts to us, more and greater things – the things of the Kingdom – will be entrusted to us.

I want to be entrusted with everything God wants to give me, but I need to be faithful with what I already have. Twenty new believers to disciple won’t be given to me if I can’t be trusted with the Twenty bucks in my wallet. The vitally important decisions in the Kingdom won’t be given to me to make if I can’t make wise decisions in my household.

Father, poor stewardship decisions are always accessible… they are all over the place! Please give me wisdom by Your Spirit to be faithful in every decision so that You will find me trustworthy. I desire the true riches Jesus talks about. Bless me with them as You see fit, for Your glory. I live for You today.

Hope In What Doesn't Fail

2009-10-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Psalm 147:11

I like the idea of being someone in whom God delights. That He would take pleasure and find joy in me is an amazing thought. And not just me, God takes delight in everyone who fears Him. His whole Kingdom will be made up of these people who honor and respect Him. This makes sense since it’s His Kingdom!

God’s people put their hope in His unfailing love. This is the right thing to do! Why put your hope in things that are weak and frail… in things that will fail? We are often disappointed when we do that. Our hope naturally goes toward what is strong and reliable. There’s nothing more strong and reliable than God’s amazing love for us! So we live like we have hope.

Our human relationships fail often. The economy takes a painful downturn. Our own spirits become deflated. You can’t even hope in yourself, really. But Jesus never fails! He never wavers. He doesn’t change. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)… and He loves us! That’s not going to change.

Lord, You are great and mighty and worthy of my life. I honor You and worship You alone. Thank You for Your unfailing love. I live in it today…

Full House

2009-10-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

“ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

Luke 14:22-24

God wants a full house! He is preparing a great feast for all eternity and is inviting the most unlikely of people. Those who were invited but had excuses will not be there. This parable describes God’s grace and anger intertwined, which is intriguing! God’s anger is toward those who did not make Him a priority. His grace is directed toward everybody else. There’s no person who is not invited to His great feast of Heaven.

I usually let people off the hook pretty easily. To those who are mature in the faith I extend a lot of grace – which is okay, but maybe there are times when righteous indignation (a.k.a. a kick in the rear!) is called for.

And sometimes I am less gracious to those who wouldn’t know better. We shouldn’t expect those who are not walking with God to make decisions as if they are. Of course they are going to be selfish and sinful and make poor choices that affect me. God’s amazing love and grace needs to be poured on them.

But why do I pour grace onto the Christian who is making poor choices because of their sin and selfishness? Maybe some godly anger would be a more loving response to them.

As for me, I will make no excuses in responding to God’s invitation. There’s no better invite in this world than to walk with Him now and into eternity!

Thank You, Father, for Your kindness that leads me to repentance and Your grace that enriches my life. I live for You! Whatever You invite me to, I RSVP as a ‘yes!’

Using Up Soil

2009-09-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

Luke 13:6-9

There are Christians who are using up the soil. There have been seasons where I’ve been taking up space too. We are planted. We have all that we need, but there is no fruit evident in our lives. In the parable the owner says, ‘Cut it down!’

Who is this caretaker? Maybe it is someone like Moses who pleaded with the Lord when the Israelites were complaining and moaning. God was going to destroy them and start over again with Moses. Moses pleads for the people and God relents. The owner of the vineyard relents after this caretaker suggests a one-year strategy – we’ll dig around the tree and fertilize it… if it doesn’t produce fruit next year, then we’ll cut it down. “We already have 3 years invested in this tree,” I imagine him thinking. “Let’s take some action and give it one more chance.” We don’t know what the owner said, but the implication was that that was the plan.

What’s the point of Jesus’ parable? God expects fruit! Taking up space is not okay. Our lives need to have something to show for the investment He has made in us. The life of Jesus needs to be lived through us and reproduced in others. Fruitfulness is loving others for no reason except that we’ve received such great love. It is…

“…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Our God is so loving that it’s hard to imagine that He would ‘cut us down,’ but He would. Using up the soil is not acceptable for our Holy God. He has expectations of the life He’s invested in us. He expects fruitfulness.

As we’ve learned from John 15:1-8, fruitfulness does not come through our own efforts. Fruitfulness comes naturally, automatically, as we are connected to the Vine, Jesus. Our highest calling in life is to remain in vibrant relationship with Jesus.

Lord, be fruitful through my life this day. Lead me, prune me and use me for Your purposes.

Sell Your Possessions And Give To The Poor

2009-09-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12:32-34

In Luke 12 Jesus tells the parable of the Rich Fool, the man who hoarded his resources and was not ‘rich toward God’ (Lk 12:21). Jesus goes on to tell His followers to not worry about their life, what they will eat and drink. This concern is our natural tendency. The reason we can not worry is because God has decided to give us the Kingdom and He is happy about that! Because of all this, what does Jesus tell His disciples to do? Here it is: “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.”

In this American culture we do not sell our possessions, we accumulate them! The only time we sell a possession is when we’ve upgraded and want to get rid of the old model.

Sell your stuff and do what with the money? Give it to the poor.

I have been a faithful giver ever since my first job at 16. I don’t know, however, that I have a significant out-go that blesses the poor. If the charitable organizations I give to channel resources to benefit the poor, then maybe I do. But I don’t know for sure. This needs to change and fast! Jesus could not have been more clear about what matters financially in His Kingdom. I can’t remain unsure whether I’m doing what He said to do or not. I cannot have a ‘sure hope so’ mindset when it comes to my resources… His resources that I’m stewarding.

Lord Jesus, I want to honor You with my life and through my faithful stewardship. Direct me to where You want Your resources to help the poor. And thank You for blessing me with the Kingdom of Heaven! (Are you kidding me!?) What riches I have in You!

Ask!

2009-09-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:9-13

I am not a very good ‘asker.’ My tendency is to provide for myself. The problem is 1) I don’t provide for myself very well and 2) what I am able to provide isn’t from me anyway. God provides everything I have and enjoy… even my next breath is a gift from Him.

Jesus tells us to ask and it will be given to us. This is not heavenly room service where we get whatever. This is tapping into our Resource for life and walking with our Heavenly Father. He is like our earthy fathers, except without the imperfections! And He knows how to give good gifts to His children.

I love the last line: “How much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Amazing! To each of my ‘asks,’ the Holy Spirit is the answer! He is God’s provision for me. God’s Spirit living with my spirit, now that’s amazing!

Father, I ask for Your Spirit today. Live through me. I trust You to provide for all of my needs according to Your riches in Christ Jesus. Thank you!