Refined by Fire ..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Refined by Fire

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Peter 1:6-7

God is always at work in our lives. Even during seasons of adversity, He wants to accomplish something powerful and good. How should this knowledge affect our response? Today's passage teaches us to choose to rejoice during difficult times. This doesn't mean we have to be happy about the hardship itself. Instead, joy comes from drawing close to the Lord and believing steadfastly that through His redemptive power, He is growing and preparing us. If your usual response to trials is anxiety, anger, or depression, the idea of having joy in the midst of a negative situation might not seem logical. However, if you look beneath the surface, you will discover that this biblical directive makes sense for several reasons.

Often, our natural reaction to pain is to run in the opposite direction, and as fast as possible. However, God wants to teach us endurance--much like a long-distance runner builds up strength in training--so that we can fully benefit from what He is doing in our hearts. He uses trials as a refining fire to purify us like gold and bring us to greater spiritual maturity. As we realize that we are actually being made more complete through our adversities, we'll begin to face challenging times with confidence that He always has our best interest in mind.

While a worldly viewpoint sees hope and joy in the midst of dark times as naïve, a spiritual perspective discerns that we're really progressing on a journey toward life at its fullest. We can be filled with supernatural joy, knowing that the Lord is making us into world-changing spiritual warriors.

The Glory of God in Man..... Craig Denison

 The Glory of God in Man

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

We have a great High Priest who constantly intercedes on our behalf. The Son of God and Man loves you more deeply than you can fathom. He prays for you, that you might walk in the abundant life his death affords you. And in John 17 we get a glimpse into the fullness of his desire for all those who would believe in him. As we dive deeply into the riches of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer this week, may your heart be awakened and your life be transformed by the riches of God’s love.

Scripture:“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” - John 17:22-24

Devotional:

As disciples of Jesus, we are being fashioned into his likeness that we might be reflections of his glory. Jesus prays in John 17:22-24,

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Through the power of Christ’s death, we are now filled with his very Spirit who is working constantly to fashion us into Christians in the truest sense of the word. To be a Christian is literally to be “a little Christ.” We are meant to be marked by similarity to the one whom we serve and love. Our lives are to be filled with his love. Our minds are to be transformed by his words. And our hearts are to be devoted to serving him alone.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Through the death of Jesus we can come before God with unveiled face. Jesus came to declare the truth about who our Father is and to clear the path to restored intimacy between humanity and our Creator. And as we devote our lives to seeking the face of our heavenly Father, we will naturally become like him.

God’s desire is that we would live with the same freedom, intimacy, power, authority, and good works as Jesus. He sent his Son to die that we might be clothed from the inside out with Christ himself, thereby affording us a new life, nature, and identity. You are not the person you were before salvation. When you were filled with the Spirit of God, you were filled with the very glory of God, the image of Christ engraved upon your heart.

And while this concept of becoming like Christ often sounds heady and theological, it couldn’t be of greater practical importance. It couldn’t be more vital for us to believe and pursue the life given to us by the grace of God. Being transformed into the image of Jesus has powerful and practical implications for you and me. When you spend time with the Father, he desires to love you with the love he has shown Christ, a tangible and transformational love. He longs to set you free from the bonds of worldliness and sin. He longs to empower you and lead you to a life of purpose, miracles, and good works filled with the love of God himself. And he longs to lead you to a destiny laid before you since the foundation of the world.

Take time to seek the face of God today. Come before him with unveiled face and allow him to reveal to you the imprint of Christ upon your heart. Allow the Spirit to show you the purpose for which you were created. And receive the love of God that has the power to transform you into the very image of Jesus Christ, your Lord and example.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s glory given to you at salvation. Reflect on the importance and availability of living like Jesus.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” >Galatians 2:20

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”>John 17:22-24

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” >2 Corinthians 3:18

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh. Ask him to engrave upon your heart the love and image of Christ in new ways. Ask him to guide you into a direct encounter with Jesus that you might know him personally.

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” >Ephesians 5:18

3. Spend time allowing God to transform you, love you, and set you free. Ask him what in your life isn’t like Jesus. As he reveals sin in your life, confess it and turn to Jesus as your model. Seek out a life like his today.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” >1 Peter 2:21

The death of Christ has more powerful implications than you or I will ever know this side of heaven. God has truly paved the way for us to live a life of incredible abundance. He offers us a life greater than we will find in anything of the world. May you pursue all the wealth of relationship available to you by the blood of Jesus. May you be transformed into his reflection on the earth. And may others come to know him by the depth of his love in you.

Extended Reading: 2 Corinthians 3

Walking in God’s Calling When You’re Afraid..... PAULA FARIS

 Walking in God’s Calling When You’re Afraid

PAULA FARIS

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV) 

In March 2020, when the pandemic started shutting down the entire world, we left our home in New York City and drove to South Carolina, where my sister and her family reside.

We thought we’d be gone two weeks. But we never returned to NYC to live.

You may wonder why we chose to stay in South Carolina … and the answer is simple: We had a peace from God that we were supposed to stay.

Did we know why? No.

Um, God, are you really calling us to a small, rural town? With no backup plan and no jobs lined up? 

Everything happened so unexpectedly — I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to my home or pack up my office at ABC News. No closure. No hugs. Things didn’t end how I thought they would — on my terms, with a neat and tidy bow.

This new path wasn’t necessarily our first choice or what we wanted. However, in hindsight, it’s exactly what our family needed.

We trusted that peace we felt in our spirits — so, as terrifying as it was, we decided to press into our fear and step out in faith even though we were scared as ever.

Oftentimes, God calls us to do things that are risky, don’t make sense or might seem crazy. Things that we’re scared to do. In the Old Testament, we see God call Joshua to do something extremely risky, something others may have thought was crazy: taking down the mighty walls of Jericho that had stood unmovable for years.

Scripture doesn’t explicitly tell us that Joshua was afraid, but in the first nine verses of Joshua Chapter 1, God tells Joshua three times to be strong and courageous (vv. 6, 7, 9). So we can gather that Joshua was fearful in the face of this assignment! He might have even felt ill-equipped or incapable.

Maybe you’re feeling like that now. Or you've felt like that in the past.

Time and time again in my life, I’ve felt incapable, unqualified and unready for what God has called me to do, telling myself, “There’s nothing special about me; I’m going to fail and humiliate myself. I’m crazy to pursue this … God, I’m just not ready.” The doubts and lies go on and on.

But I always come back to Joshua 1.

God told Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you … Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5b, 9, NIV).

The same is true for us today. When God calls us, He equips us. And the best thing He equips us with is Himself.

What’s on your heart today? What is frightening you? Maybe you feel called to something, but you’re too terrified to take the next step. Maybe you’re scared of being seen in a different capacity. Maybe you’re afraid of failure or the financial implications. It could be something as simple as trying a brand-new hobby. Or it might be walking away from a job because it’s destroying you.

Whatever it is, remember this: When God calls you, God equips you.

While He commands us to be strong and courageous, He’s also a gracious and merciful God who knows we’ll often feel fear along the way. Yet it’s up to us to press into our fear. And when we do, God promises He’ll be there because “the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9c).

If you’re being called to something new and have God’s peace about it, take that first step — push through your fear —and watch God show up and show off.

For just as God promised Joshua, He’ll be with you and I wherever we go.

Dear God, thank You for calling me into new and exciting things. Thank You for knowing me so intimately that You know all my fears. As You call me to step out in courage, please continue to remind me that You are with me, You never leave me, and You have equipped me. I trust that, as I obey You, You will do all You’ve promised. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

You Are With Me..... By: Amanda Idleman

 You Are With Me

By: Amanda Idleman

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4

This entire chapter talks about how God is our Shepherd and consequently, we are like his sheep. As our Shepherd, the text lays out the ways that God looks out for us, provides for us, guides us, and in the dark season of life he is right there with us. The chapter ends with the promise of Heaven, stating we will one day live with God in his house forever.

The picture in verse 4 is of a shepherd who is unable to get his flock back before nighttime. In the dark, the shepherd would move from the back of the flock to the middle so the sheep could gather around him for security. This beautiful illustration paints a picture of a caring God that never leaves us alone in the dark!

This verse has been recited as comfort over those facing the end of their lives. The words are rich with meaning and inspire peace for the most dire moments of our lives. Christianity.com explains in their commentary that these words point to the great hope that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, at a steady pace, to reach our final destination which is revealed in verse 6 of the chapter. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” When we pass through the valley of death we have the great hope in the fact that we will one day dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Enduring Word’s commentary explains that we merely face the “shadow of death” because Jesus came and bore the full weight of sin and death on his shoulders. David’s words point us to the great Rescue that would come and die in our place so that our death would merely be a passing from this life to an eternity in Heaven. We can live without fear because God leads us and takes our place on the cross!

One of the most difficult parts of our human existence is that we all will “walk through the valley the shadow of death” and it’s a dark and painful place to be. We may first experience this valley when we walk alongside a loved one as they pass from this world into Heaven. We may mourn the loss of a miscarriage, infertility, the darkness that disease brings into a life, and of course we all have to face our own mortality eventually.

It is so very comforting knowing that God is with us in the midst of the hardest things we will face. This has to be one of the most applicable truths of the Bible: when we face darkness and death, God is by our side! He provides what we need to pass through these moments without fear.

God gave us His Son so that we would be spared us the full weight of our sin through His great sacrifice on the cross. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” When you invite Jesus to be your Shepherd or leader, you no longer have to fear death. We just have to pass through its shadowed valley to reach an eternal home in Heaven.

In your moment of distress, be encouraged that God is closer to you than ever! He is in the middle of the dark with you, holding your hard, and gently leading you towards His goodness and mercy. These moments grow a strong faith in our hearts.

Do You Have Unfair Expectations?..... by Debbie Holloway

 Do You Have Unfair Expectations?

by Debbie Holloway

"Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11)

Last week one of the ladies in my office brought some veggie burgers to give away during lunchtime. She is sometimes sent free products or games through a certain company in exchange for spreading word about them and sending in pictures of her friends & co-workers enjoying the free product. I’d never had a veggie burger, but I thought, Hey, I won’t say no to a free lunch!

Several people showed up to the break-room to sample the burgers, but everyone was a little nervous to actually eat them. I went first, my expectations low and my mind open.

It wasn’t bad! In fact, I found it tasty and would eat it again. Later I chuckled to myself, thinking, there’s no way my husband would enjoy this. You see, my husband is a pretty big fan of a good burger. And, while the veggie burger was tasty in my opinion, it didn’t really taste like a beef burger. It had its own unique flavor. But it would be hard to give my husband something that looks like a burger and then tell him that it won’t taste like a burger. Basically disappointment would inevitably happen.

And that got me thinking even further. Isn’t that an epidemic that the human race has most of the time? We have such specific expectations about things. We hear a movie quoted and praised to death, set our expectations sky-high, and by the time we watch it, we can’t appreciate it because it doesn’t live up to the hype. More harmful than movie expectations, however, are the expectations we subconsciously place on our spiritual life, or our relationship with Christ.

“I’m supposed to feel ____ when I worship…right? But I don’t feel it. There must be something wrong with me.”

“Why don’t I hear God’s voice when I pray? Abraham did. Moses did. Does God hear me?”

“My friend _____ speaks in tongues. I’ve never done that. Does that mean I’m not filled with the spirit?”

But Scripture tells us that every human being was created unique, in God’s image, and you have a different part to play in the body of Christ than your neighbor does.

“Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body… If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be” (1 Corinthians 12:14-18).

Intersecting Faith and Life: The next time you allow your expectations to deflate you, remember that expectations rob us of joy in the here-and-now. Be present! Be thankful! Remember that your experiences and your role in the church are meant to be unique and shouldn’t be compared to anyone else’s.

Further Reading
1 Corinthians 12

A Prayer to Show Others Jesus..... By: Meg Bucher

 A Prayer to Show Others Jesus

By: Meg Bucher

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for me, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 ESV

The world is desperate for people to show them Jesus. There are a lot of people who speak of Jesus, but it’s harder to find those who truly live their lives in a way that puts Him on full display. We all know the old saying, “actions speak louder than words.” Though not quoted from Scripture, the concept is Biblical. The apostle John wrote:

“Dear children, let us know love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

He wrote to caution his readers against false teaching, to remind them to live within the love of Christ. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from it.” Some translations say, “it determines the course of your life.”

Let’s pray now to show others who Christ really is, by living our lives in a way that reflects his character and with actions that glorify him.

Father,

We give praise, honor and glory to You in the highest. Abba, You are our faithful and compassionate Father. Yahweh, You are powerful and mighty to save and always near to us. Jesus, our Savior, You died so we could be forgiven and embrace the grace and peace of God.

Our hope is in You, and Your Holy Spirit lives in us. Spirit, as You counsel, comfort and heal us, move our hearts and lead us in the will of God for our lives.

Every day when we wake to breathe, let us find a long list of things to be grateful for. Faithfully, let us lift all of our worries of this life up to You, because You care for us. May we daily confess our sins, choosing to repent and instead turn to You through Jesus.

Bless our lives, Lord. Keep us physically and mentally safe, and healthy. Guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, today and always. May we be and have honest, loyal, kind and Christ-centered friends and relationships. Bless and heal our physical ailments, and our mental strifes. We pray miracles over our lives that will bear witness to our faith in Who they come from. The God of miracles. The God who saves.

Father, help us to extend Your compassion to those people you have placed in our lives to love. Help us to remember we aren’t here for ourselves, and not to give half-efforts in anything You have given us to do. Parenthood, friendship, our jobs, our ministries, discipling other people… You don’t demand perfection, God, but You do expect our best effort. We pray we would be a witness to your goodness and glory in all the places you have put us.

In Jesus’ Name, 

Amen.