March 9, 2010

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.” – Job 42:10

So often we fail to grow as Christians because our prayers never reach outside ourselves. We are always asking God for strength, forgiveness, or guidance for “me.” We focus very little attention on praying for others. However, to grow in Christ we must turn our concerns outward to those around us. This applies to our friends and enemies…especially in prayer. When we begin to make others the priority, we grow tremendously in Christ, because we are following His example. Jesus, even though he was God, did not cling to His place in Glory but instead gave it up and became a servant for me and you (Philippians 2:5-8). Lord, bless my brothers and sisters and even my enemies with all that I have asked for myself in the past.

 

March 2, 2010

“Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’” – John 21:16

When we turn Christianity into a system of beliefs or simply a set of moral teachings, we have destroyed it. What the vast majority of people fail to realize about the Christian walk is that it is really all about a relationship: a deep, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Serving Him because of your devotion to Him is the only way to be a true disciple of Christ. Oswald Chambers put it best when he said, “Jesus Christ calls service what we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Discipleship is based on devotion to Jesus Christ, not adherence to a belief or a creed.” Lord, fill our hearts to overflowing with love for You and let that be the driving force behind all our Christian service.

February 23, 2010

“‘Lord, if it's you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” – Matthew 14:28-30

Peter begins his walk toward Christ in an excellent way. He does not consider the impossibility of the task. He does not consider any of the earthly circumstances. All Peter pays attention to is the fact that Jesus is out there calling for him to come. When Peter keeps his focus on Jesus and pays no attention to the raging storm around him, he does the impossible: he walks on water! But this great show of faith does not last long. Soon Peter begins to look around at the circumstance and realize “I can’t do this!” The truth is, none of us can accomplish the abundant life that Christ calls us to. He beckons us to come out with him and experience the impossible. If our only concern is walking with Christ, we will succeed. However, if we focus our attention on the circumstances of life and let them determine what is possible and what is not, we will sink every time. Lord, You are the only one who has authority in our lives. Forgive us for letting our circumstances master us and please give us the faith to keep focused on You and You alone.

 

February 16, 2010

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” – John 15:13-15

I would guess that there are many Christians who would die for Christ, but would not lay down their life for him. We may think of these two things as the same, but they are not. The decision to die for Christ is a brief moment and is quickly followed by life in heaven. To lay down your life is a decision that must be made day after day for years. It is harder to lay down your life than to die. However, we are much more useful to God when we lay down our life than when we die. To simply die for someone may be heroic, but to lay down your life for someone is true love. Lord, make us a people who love you in such a way that we daily lay down our lives for you, just as you have done for us.

February 9, 2010

“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.” – Luke 11:9-10

Christ promises that whoever seeks him will find him. He also promises that anyone who thirsts can be filled with living water. So what’s the problem? What is holding us back? The problem is that many of us today are not thirsty for God and we are not seeking Christ. We have become content with the temporary pleasures of life and never seek anything greater. To truly follow Christ, you must come to the realization that the greatest pleasures of the world are garbage when compared to the amazing life that God offers through Jesus Christ. When you are not satisfied with the temporary, you will begin to thirst and seek the eternal things of God. Lord, open our eyes to see and long for the things of true value.