February 8, 2012

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” – Hebrews 6:10

Working for God’s Kingdom usually doesn’t result in great earthly accolades. We don’t walk down red carpets, appear on late night talk shows, or hoist huge trophies over our heads in front of thousands of fans. In fact, many people have devoted their lives to serving God’s people and have never received any recognition at all. This just doesn’t seem fair. Isn’t doing God’s eternal work more important than singing a pop song or catching a football? Yes, it is! But don’t worry. Even though this world is unjust, God is not unjust. God remembers every little thing you have done for Him and His people. From the Sunday school class you taught, to the work day you showed up for, to the time you cleaned the church bathroom. God remembers. And God has a reward waiting for you that is far beyond any trophy, red carpet, or television appearance this world could ever hand out. Lord, we thank You that You never forget the love we show You by helping your people. Let that thought encourage us to continue in Your work.

 

February 1, 2012

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Last week we talked about the fact that God is pleased when we live our moment-by-moment lives for Him, just as much as he is pleased with our “spiritual” activities throughout the week. However, there is another great truth to 1 Corinthians 10:31. That truth is that God loves to use the things in our life that we love to do. What do you love to do? What is your passion? It can be anything from fishing to drag racing to scrapbooking; God wants you to do that for Him. So often the things we enjoy in life end up drawing us away from God so that they quickly become sinful. The reason this happens is because we do not realize that those things can and should be done with Kingdom purposes. Use your fishing trip to share Christ with a friend. Use your musical talents to perform at a nursing home. Use your love of movies to begin a spiritual conversation with a friend. Whatever you love to do, it can be done for God. And when you begin to practice this truth, serving God becomes an amazing amount of fun. He gave you your passions and He wants to use them to do incredible things. Lord, let our lives be filled with incredible joy as we do everything for You.

January 25, 2012

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

I think we too often categorize our activities throughout the week, thinking that there are certain “spiritual” things that we do for the glory of God, and then there are other everyday, mundane things that God is not really concerned with. But the truth is, God is interested in every part of our life, especially the everyday, mundane things. We think God is impressed with lengthy prayers or tearful times of worship, when maybe God is much more concerned with how we treat our waitress at lunch or the five minutes we take to talk to our neighbor after a long day at work. I am convinced that the greatest glory is brought to God when Christians live out their Christianity in the smallest details of life, and especially in everyday relationships. Lord, let every aspect of our lives bring glory to Your Name.

 

January 18, 2012

“The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.” – Proverbs 23:24

There is great truth to this proverb. It is a very powerful thing for a father to have pride in a righteous and wise son. In fact, it is a great joy for any parent to see their child grow up to be righteous and wise. However, the principle behind this proverb does not only apply to parents and children. The reason parents have great joy when their children become successful adults, is that they know what a crucial role they were able to play in that child’s life. I believe this joy is something God wants us to feel even if we do not have children. God wants us to invest in others. He wants us to sacrifice and give in order to help someone else grow and develop. Whether it is a child, a relative, or a coworker, we should be investing in others in hopes that they would grow righteous and wise. When they do, you can beam with pride, knowing that you were able to play at least a small role in their development. Lord, help us to sacrifice in order to invest in others, because you gave everything in order to invest in us for all eternity.

 

January 11, 2012

“…I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20

I believe most our disobedience and disbelief could be cured if we only truly understood who Christ is and what He has done for us. If we could simply get one glimpse of heaven and one glimpse of hell, realizing that we belong in hell but through Christ’s sacrifice are given the free gift of heaven, then obedience, belief, and worship would be second nature to us. Lord, please make the truths of heaven, hell, and the Cross clearer to us every day; and help us to better understand the incredible power of redemption through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

 

January 4, 2012

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

What does it mean to be a new creation? It means that Jesus Christ has replaced your old, sinful heart with a brand new Christ-like heart. Very literally, the core of who you are is brand new. Even though this renewal is not physical, that does mean it does not have physical manifestations. A saved soul will always be seen in that person’s life. Some people see instant change in behavior. Other people experience a change in thinking that slowly affects their behavior over time, bringing their actions into alignment with the will of God. Either way, however, a change must take place. While on this earth, we cannot separate our soul from our body. Therefore, a new creation of soul will always result in a new creation of life and actions. Does your life reflect your change of heart? Lord, work such an incredible work within us that our outward actions could not help but be affected.

 

December 21, 2011

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Chris the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” – Luke 2:8-14

The fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a stable is no secret this time of year. Everyone knows the story and everyone knows that this is why we celebrate Christmas. So what is missing? How come not everyone gives their lives over to follow Jesus? Well, even though we all talk about the fact that Jesus was born, we still seem to forget the Gospel (which means “good news”) on Christmas. The real good news is not that some historical character was born. If we miss who Jesus was, and what he came to accomplish, then His birth becomes meaningless as well. The good news, according to the angels, is that the Savior was born. He came to save everyone from death and condemnation. How could He do this? Because, according to the angels, He was “The Lord!” God Himself stepped down into a broken, filthy, hurting world in order to rescue his beloved people. Now that is good news! When Jesus was born, it was announced by prophets, angels, and even the stars in the sky. Everyone from shepherds to kings came to worship Him. This Christmas, don’t just settle for saying “Jesus was born.” It is our responsibility to tell the rest of the story to everyone we can. Because there in lies the true good news of Christmas! Lord, let us continue the legacy that the angels initiated that night and proclaim the good news of our Savior to everyone we meet.

 

December 14, 2011

“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

One of the biggest questions that we ask God is “why is there suffering?” We ask this question in many different forms, ranging from “why me?!” to “why do bad things happen to good people?” Even though we live in a broken world, and suffering is the result of sin, we will never fully understand exact circumstances that God allows. However, I believe it is always fruitful to ask what can be accomplished through this suffering. God often uses the darkest times in our lives to teach us the deepest truths. In addition to this, I believe it is sad that we seldom look at suffering in someone’s life as an opportunity to show God’s love. When someone is hurting, whether physically, emotionally or spiritually, they are often left alone. As selfish people, the last thing we want to do is share in someone else’s suffering. However, when someone is hurting, we have a great opportunity to show God’s love to them. I believe one reason why God allows suffering is so that we can learn to love and minister to one another. So ask yourself today, “Who am I avoiding because I know they are suffering?” and then begin to look for opportunities to show them God’s love in the midst of their pain. Lord, let us be instruments of peace and love in the midst of a suffering world.

 

November 30, 2011

“He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” – Luke 10:2

Would you go to work on the first day and tell the boss exactly what you would and would not be doing that day? Would you have the audacity to make up your own job description on the spot to suit whatever you wanted? Well, that is exactly what we do with God all the time. The reason Luke 10:2 says that the workers are few is because very few Christians approach God, ready to do what He asks. Instead, through our prayers and actions, we constantly say “here is what I want to do,” and “this is what would be best for my life.” When we do this, God often allows it because of His incredible patience. However, this kind of approach puts a road block between us and God’s true purposes for our life. Do we ask God how He would like to use us? Or do we even consult God at all before setting out on our day? If you want to be useful for God’s Kingdom, begin each day by saying: “Lord, here I am. I’m Your worker. How would You like me to be used today?”

 

November 16, 2011

“Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” – Ezekiel 18:23

We all have those people in our lives that, for whatever reason, have caused us a lot of pain and grief. These people live in opposition to God’s good plan and, therefore, cause trouble for themselves and everyone around them. Maybe it is someone at work, maybe it is a neighbor, or maybe it is a family member. As humans, we often wish for God to remove those people from our lives at the very least, and sometimes we even long for God’s vengeance on those who have seriously injured us. But is this God’s heart? God is just, and the wicked will be punished if they continue in their wickedness. However, God always longs for each person to come to repentance rather than continue in their wickedness and be punished. That should be our heart as well. This is what Jesus meant when he said we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). We do not pray for them to live long happy lives in their wickedness. Instead, we pray that God would touch their hearts and they would come to repentance. After all, the only thing better than getting rid of an enemy is gaining a brother or sister in Christ! Lord, replace our desire for vengeance with a heart that longs for people to come to repentance.

 

November 2, 2011

“Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:5

When we are witnesses for God, whether preaching the Word or sharing our testimony, something supernatural takes place. The Holy Spirit goes out to touch hearts and speak to souls. Our actual words are not nearly as important as the condition of our hearts when we share the Gospel. If we share God’s love with pure hearts, then God’s Spirit goes out and does the actual work of the ministry. It happens this way because only God can change hearts and save souls; we do not possess that kind of power on our own.

 

October 26, 2011

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

 

We never need to question the circumstances God allows in our lives. Each time, place, and person that moves through our lives is part of God’s divine purpose for us. Now, not everything in our lives is good, but God, in His unfathomable sovereignty, has the power to bring about good from even the worst circumstances. However, this promise is only for those who are called according to His purpose. We were meant to do the work of God. If you spend your life waiting for God to call you to some ministry, then you will be missing the ministry He has for you to do right here and now. God wants you to do His work in the place and circumstances you find yourself in today, that is why He has placed you there. Lord, show us the opportunities to touch lives for Your Kingdom in every moment of our lives.

October 19, 2011

“Come near to God and he will come near to you…” – James 4:8

As Christians, we cannot be satisfied with simply hearing the truth. Hearing truth does not bring us closer to God. We must act upon that truth. James 4:8 requires action on our part. We must come near to God. The truth we hear from a sermon or a Bible study must manifest itself in the daily actions of our lives. Truth that you hear but do not put into practice becomes wasted truth in your live. It is worthless for your Spiritual growth. In another place, James puts it this way: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). By hearing truth and following it up with action, we draw closer to God. And if we draw closer to God, the Scripture promises He will not hide or move away, but He will draw closer to us. And the thought of God drawing close to me is a privilege I cannot even begin to fathom. Lord, let us be a church of truth AND action.

 

 

October 12, 2011

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” – John 14:15

Obedience and salvation do not always go together. For instance, you can be obedient to God’s laws, but not have a personal relationship with Him. This was “the righteousness of the Pharisees” (Matthew 5:20). However, it is also possible to trust in Jesus for your eternal salvation and yet continue to live in disobedience to Him in many areas of your life. This will get you to heaven, but only as “one escaping through the flames” (1 Corinthians 3:15). Both of these options are possible, but the first leads to death and the second results in a miserable existence. In contrast, when your salvation is matches with heart-felt obedience, you begin to experience the miraculous and dynamic existence God intended for His children. Lord, give us the wisdom and strength to live out our love for You through obedience to Your Word.

 

October 5, 2011

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

One big step toward living out God’s purpose in your life is to realize you are not your own. When you accepted Christ’s sacrifice as the payment for your sin, you gave yourself over to God…you were bought at the price of Jesus’ blood. So after that, your life is not really about you. Your comfort and pleasure are all to be forgotten for the purpose of serving Jesus Christ. Now this may sound like a life of misery, but nothing could be further from the truth. In God’s system, it is only by giving up your self and all its desires that you find true peace and joy. This is what Christ meant when he said “whoever loses his life for me will save it” (Luke 9:24). However, this means the opposite is also true. If you continue to live a self-centered life, only fulfilling your own wants and desires, you will, in the end, live a life of misery. So, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Lord, lead us to die daily to ourselves, so that we may live abundantly in You.

 

September 28, 2011

“Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:4

Faith does not guarantee blessings; it draws us closer to God. Drawing closer to God is always a blessing in itself, but the process is not always perceived as blessing. Drawing closer to Him means trials and testing. Drawing closer to Him means bringing to light the evils that still reside within our hearts. These things are often difficult and unpleasant, so don’t expect a life of sweet comfort simply because you have faith. However, having a faith that draws you closer to God does allow you to live above circumstances; with power, purpose, and eternal hope. Lord, strengthen our faith and draw us closer to you.

 

September 14, 2011

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6

Faith is to our spirit what wisdom is to our mind. Faith guides in all of the actions of the spirit, and the more we have, the better decisions we make. Both faith and wisdom are gifts from God, but they do not simply fall from the sky. They are developed through experience with Him. Faith is not blind or ignorant, but, like wisdom, is based on what we know and what we have experienced. Therefore, if you want more faith, you must spend more time with God and let Him teach you. Lord, open our eyes to the things that will strengthen our faith.

September 7, 2011

“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

Living for God’s purposes is not really about “what can I do for God?” It is more about “what is God going to do with me?” We must begin with the mindset that our plans and goals will lead us nowhere. But if you allow God to completely take over your life, He will accomplish incredible things that you could have never imagined. Lord, take our lives and accomplish awesome things for Your Kingdom!

 

August 31, 2011

“You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath…Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” – Psalm 39:5-7

A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from the young man who was the ring bearer at our wedding. He was calling to see if my daughters would be the flower girls at his wedding! Instances like these make me very aware of how fast our lives on this earth go by. The psalmist says it well when he declares, “Each man’s life is but a breath.” This thought can quickly become depressing. If everything we work for and all we amass in life will end quickly, what is the point? Is there any hope? Well, the psalmist also gives us the answer to that question. The only way to live this life is with hope in the Lord. In God, our life, our relationships, and our achievements for the Kingdom can all last for eternity. So how are you using the short time you are given? Are you wasting your “breath” amassing things that will perish? Or are you putting your hope for eternal significance in the hands of God and living this life for His Kingdom? Lord, teach us to use this fleeting life to accomplish works of eternal significance.

 

August 24, 2011

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18

Jesus makes it very clear that true love for Him must manifest itself in our lives. Jesus says three times, “Do you love me? Then feed my sheep” (John 21), and elsewhere “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). We are not allowed to love Jesus simply in theory. To love Him means to love through our actions. Loving Christ with all your mind, with all your heart, and with all your soul will always result in showing that love with all of who you are. Lord, place such an incredible love for You within us that it shines brightly in every aspect of our lives.

July 26, 2011

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Prayer is one constant throughout all circumstances in life. Sometimes we are called to action, sometimes we are called to be still, sometimes we are called to speak up, and sometimes we are called to be silent…but we are always called to pray. It is the appropriate response to every situation. Lord, give us hearts that long to speak with You no matter what the day brings.

 

July 5, 2011

“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did-- with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” – 2 Kings 23:25

Josiah was a pretty incredible king. For decades Judah was ruled by evil king after evil king. There were horrible things going on in the land, including prostitution and infant sacrifice. However, when Josiah become king, he tore down all the idols, destroyed the places where evil sacrifices were taking place, and single-handedly turned an entire nation back to the one true God. And Josiah was only eight years old when he became king! Now you may not be a king, and you may not have the power to destroy all the evil you see around you. But take a moment and think with me: how could you change your world for God if you devoted your heart, soul, and strength to Him every day? Even though we are not all kings, we all have a sphere of influence. And we can do great things for God within that sphere as long as we are whole-heartedly devoted to Him. Lord, help each of us to daily turn to You with all our heart, soul, and strength so that we can lead those around us back to You.

 

June 28, 2011

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:23-25

I have been out of town for the last couple weeks, (as you have probably noticed by the absence of weekly devotionals from me). I was away for both work and fun: going on a mission trip, attending a family reunion for a couple days, and taking my very last seminary class in Denver. Each experience was very different, but one thing stuck out to me the whole time I was gone: I really missed my family and my church. Sure, I saw my family in between trips, and of course I was here Sunday mornings. But seeing my family a little in the evenings is not near enough for me. Likewise, fellowship with my church family only once a week is not enough. I have always longed to lead a church that people attend because they love being together, not because any sense of duty or guilt. I hope you are part of our church because of the strength you receive from meeting with your brothers and sisters. If you have felt a little off lately, or down, or like things are not going your way, maybe you should make a new effort to meet more regularly with your church family. God never designed us to go through this life alone. We need one another, which means, not only are you missing the encouragement you need to thrive, but others are missing the encouragement you can offer them. So let’s not give up meeting together, but instead, let’s regularly lift up and encourage one another so we can all live the abundant life God has planned for us! Lord, I thank You so much for my brothers and sisters at Mesa Christian Fellowship. Their love and encouragement gives me great strength to continue your work. I pray that I could offer the same to them.

 

June 7, 2011

“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” – Genesis 5:24

The amazing thing about Enoch was not that he escaped natural death. The amazing thing about Enoch was that he walked with God while still on this earth. You see, the true test of our devotion to God does not come in some great moment of bravery or heroism. It comes by daily walking close to him through all the seasons of life. Many people believe that they would show great devotion to God at the moment in time when their life depends on it. However, those moments are seldom at best and most of us will never be given that opportunity. We are not told of any great exploits or heroic moments from Enoch’s life. Enoch simply spent every moment walking close to God. This is true devotion. Lord, teach us to be true children of God by walking hand in hand with You every moment of our life.