Daily Life of Chris Davis

Serve Pittsburgh

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:34:42 CDT

Starting this afternoon I will be on a trip with a group of junior highers from Awaken, our student ministry. We have put together a small mission trip for them. We will be doing various projects around the city as well as participating in the youth conference at Greater Works Outreach.

If you would like to follow along in our adventure, check out our trip blog at: http://awakenyouthchurch.com/pittsburgh

I'm sure a few photos or videos will make their way to my site as well.

Be praying for us over the weekend. Gonna be fun!

Hebrews 11: Faith

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:07:33 CDT

Consider: Hebrews 11

What a chapter to blog about! Obviously there is no way I could adequately communicate the fullness of what this chapter means. The stories of these men and women who have lived their abundant life of faith before us is amazing. Simply amazing.

One thing I do want to point out though is hidden in verse 2, which reads:

"God gave His approval to people in days of old because of their faith."

The Gospel is simple, right? Yes, absolutely. We are saved by Grace through faith. It's simple.

It is SIMPLE, but it is not without action.

Let me explain what I mean.

It seems as though we live in a day and age where a large portion of the human race "believes" in a deity of some sort. For many, Jesus is that deity... for many others it is Allah, Buddha, etc. There are many options out there when it comes to belief, and what some would consider faith.

So belief, in and of itself, is not enough. Dare I say faith in this regard, in a deity is not enough?

What God considers as faith is completely different than how we see it.

It is faith in God and Jesus, His Son that is the requirement (see John 17:3).

But it shouldn't stop there...

Some say they have faith in God and in Jesus. But that's where it stops, thus making their faith quite inactive and really ineffective. I'm not talking about works in order to be saved... but what I am saying is that those who say they are saved should take their faith beyond simply SAYING they believe.

Hebrews 11 is full of men and women of faith. They had faith. But if you'll notice their faith is nothing like many people's faith today. They did something WITH their faith. They didn't just SAY they had faith, they LIVED their faith. They did things that forever changed the Kingdom of God. And without many of them, we wouldn't have the lineage that brought us Jesus.

The faith that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6) is faith that is active and alive, not just a moment in our lives or a statement we like to throw around.

As James says, faith without works is dead (see James 2:17).

Been waiting 5 years...

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:24:15 CDT

Ever since Isaiah was born, I've been looking forward to the day just he and I would go camping. I really enjoyed camping when my dad would take us and I have many great memories from that. I knew Isaiah would love it too. And he did.

Here are a few photos from our one-night adventure:

Our Tent

Thomas and Friends enjoying the dirt

Helping Daddy with the firewood

We had a great time! He was already making plans for the next time we will go camping (which is a good indication he had a blast). His requests... that we pick the same camping spot, that we go swimming and that Mommy and Leah come along.

The first two requests should not be that hard to do... the last, keep praying Isaiah. ;)

Isaiah 9: Passionate Commitment

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:51:46 CDT

Consider: Isaiah 9

One thing that gets me excited is when the Word highlights part of God's personality. If you weren't aware, He does have personality. He isn't just the cosmic operator in the sky.

Isaiah lays out a prophetic word in chapter 9. This is a very popular passage as this is where we have listed the various titles of Jesus: "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (see Isaiah 9:6).

A line in this passage that is passed over many times when the above Scripture is read is the end of verse 7. Check out what it says:

"The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this!"

We have a guarantee that is based on the passionate commitment of the LORD.

But think about it. The LORD did not have to put this in the Scriptures. It has already been establish in other portions of Scripture that "He is not a man that He should lie". So just His simple Word is guarantee enough. Yet He throws in His passionate commitment to let us know how He feels about this topic of Jesus coming to save the day.

Rest in the fact that our God is passionate, He is passionately committed to Jesus ruling and reigning and He is passionately committed to His relationship with you (see also Exodus 34:14)!

Hebrews 2: He Is Able

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:39:55 CDT

Consider: Hebrews 2

Hebrews is such a great book! In chapter 2, we get a glimpse at the greatness and the amazingness of Jesus. I don't know if amazingness is even a real word... but it is in context of Jesus. This chapter is all about the One God sent to redeem us.

The chapter closes with this encouragement:

"Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, His brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since He Himself has gone through suffering and temptation, He is able to help us when we are being tempted." - Hebrews 2:17-18

Did you catch that? HE IS ABLE.

God is not just One who is in heaven who doesn't understand or doesn't care... HE DOES! He understands very much so what we go through on a daily basis because He Himself went through those things. He was tempted as we are tempted and suffered as we suffered.

You are not alone, and yes, Someone understands YOU.

You may feel alone... you may feel like no one understands your pain or what you're going through. But there is Someone who does... His name is Jesus.

He is able to help you. He is able.

Worship and His Presence

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:59:57 CDT

As I was reading through chapter 3 of A.W. Tozer's book, the Pursuit of God, something stuck out to me that has never really hit me before. I've read this book many times and each time the LORD highlights something in my heart from what Tozer wrote.

There are so many cliches and presuppositions out there concerning worship and to even tackle them would be a never-ending task. However, there is a mindset that I want to point out that could have us missing out on so much. What I think we're missing out on is His Presence.

The words of Tozer that got me thinking were:

"The interior journey of the soul from the wilds of sin into the enjoyed presence of God is beautifully illustrated in the Old Testament tabernacle. The returning sinner first enter the outer court where he offered a blood sacrifice on the brazen altar and washed himself in the laver that stood near it. Then he passed through a veil into the holy place where no natural light could come, but the golden candlestick which spoke of Jesus, the Light of the World, threw its soft glow over all. There also was the shewbread to tell of Jesus, the Bread of Life, and the altar of incense, a figure of unceasing prayer.Though the worshiper had enjoyed so much, still he had not yet entered the presence of God."

Can you imagine being a part of the temple? Especially when the Presence of God would come down in such a way you couldn't even stand? I don't know about you, but that would be quite thrilling and amazing!

But I wonder how often it might have become commonplace? How often did they just go through the motions? Or how often did they do the things of worship... even with a right heart, yet they stopped short of entering the Presence?

The truth of the matter is what they were doing was the extent of their worship. They didn't each individually have the opportunity to enter His presence after engaging in their method of worship, because only one man, once a year could enter the Most Holy Place. So ultimately, they did everything they could do.

But with us, the veil has been torn. IT HAS BEEN TORN. It no longer exists. Yet how often do we worship, we do all we know to do, even with the right heart and we still miss His Presence all together. Is that possible? Sure it is. I think it's even possible that we can come to a place where we enjoy worship... and think that in that is the Presence of God.

This post was not intended to give a solution, but more so spur you on in your pursuit. Could it be that we've capped our worship experience at the point of where we think or feel we've reached the end... but really His Presence is just around the corner?

Titus 3: Not Good Enough

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:53:54 CDT

Consider: Titus 3

If you haven't gotten it already, you're not good enough. You're just not. I'm not either. None of us are. If we were than Jesus' death would have been pointless. It seems so often we try, try and keeping trying to prove something to God that we're good enough to get into heaven, but the fact is, we're not.

In Titus 3: 5-6, this is what Paul says about not being good enough:

"He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did."

Check out a few bits from that passage:

He saved us, not because of the good things we did

It's all because of His mercy

He generously poured out His Spirit on us because of Jesus

It doesn't say "He sparingly poured out His Spirit"... or "once we got our act together, He poured out His Spirit"... no. It says He generously poured out His Spirit because of Jesus and what He did for us.

Today, rest in the fact that you're not good enough. May be an odd way to look at it, but it's the truth.

1 Timothy 1: Hold tightly

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:47:14 CDT

Consider: 1 Timothy 1

Paul is laying out an interesting challenge here to Timothy, his son in the faith. Listen to what he says in verse 19:

"Cling tightly to your faith in Christ, and always keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked."

That verse speaks to a lot of things, but primarily it simply says our faith has to be the solid thing in our lives. What are our lives founded on? Stuff? The pursuit of happiness? The American Dream? What is it that keeps us going everday?

Paul told Timothy to cling tightly. He didn't say hold loosely. Or get around to working on your relationship with God when you feel like it. NO. He said cling tightly.

I kind of picture how little kids will latch on to their mom or dad's leg and just hang on with all they have. That's clinging.

So what happens if we don't cling? Check out verse 20:

"Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples of this. I turned them over to satan so they would learn not to blaspheme God."

Not clinging is a big deal. Not being grounded in your faith in Jesus is a big deal. It's not just a nice little raise-your-hand-once decision. This faith is life-altering and eternity-changing.

Cling to your faith. Cling to Jesus. He is the only One who never changes and He is the One who pursuing your heart.

2 Timothy 2: Challenges

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:34:52 CDT

Consider: 2 Timothy 2

This entire chapter is one of challenge. Paul doesn't beat around the bush, he gets straight to the point with Timothy and he encourages him in his faith and relationship with God.

First Challenge:

2 Timothy 2: 4 - "And as Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the One who has enlisted you in His army."

How plain and simple is that? So often we allow things of this life to entangle our hearts. Notice Paul didn't use the normal Christian cliche of just "keeping God first". He said if we got focused and distracted by this life, we then could not truly satisfy Jesus. It's more than just trying to keep God first but actually living your life so that you are satisfying the heart of God.

Second Challenge:

2 Timothy 2:10 - "I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen."

Again, a plain and simple challenge. Paul is letting Timothy know of his suffering for the Gospel, yet he is making sure Timothy knows that it is worth it!

Is it worth it to us? We barely know what suffering is here in America because of our freedoms. Would you be willing to endure anything?

Third Challenge:

2 Timothy 2:19 - "Those who claim they belong to the LORD must turn away from all wickedness."

Where do we even get the idea that sinning is OK for Christians? I've heard many believers talk of since Jesus has forgiven all of our sins for all time then it doesn't matter what we do after we believe. Need I remind you that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks?

Paul says that we MUST turn away from all wickedness...

Fourth Challenge:

2 Timothy 2:22 - "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust."

He didn't say walk, he said run. And he didn't just say run, but run from. Get away from the junk. Sin is so not worth it. It will destroy our lives.
There are a few other challenges in this chapter, but I felt it important to focus on those above.

In this middle of this chapter, Paul gives us a look at part of our reward for meeting these challenges and fulfilling them.

2 Timothy 2:21 - "If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for His purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use for every good work."

I don't know about you, but I like being used by God. I like being ready when Jesus says GO. The challenges that Paul laid out in this chapter will keep us ready.

Fireworks tent

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:04:55 CDT

I'll be going "under the radar" for the next two weeks or so... may post stuff... may not... but I've not forgotten about the blog if nothing gets posted.

:)