The Value of Obedience..... Dr. Charles Stanley

The Value of Obedience

Dr. Charles Stanley

Proverbs 2:1-6

Despite Peter's vast fishing experience, he returned from a night's work with nothing to show for his efforts. It's quite possible that the Lord's request to let the nets down one more time struck him as unreasonable—after all, Peter and his partners were the professionals. Nevertheless, the fisherman complied, and his obedience blessed many.

Scripture demonstrates that divine plans often defy human logic. For instance, who would design a battle strategy that involved only marching and shouting? God told Joshua to conquer Jericho that way, and doing so proved successful (Joshua 6:1-5).

Moses is another example. When he felt unsure about his leadership potential, the Lord gave reassurance in an unusual way—by telling him to throw down his walking stick. When Moses obeyed, God powerfully confirmed His choice of leader (Exodus 4:1-3).

Our Father may ask us to do something that seems illogical—perhaps to accept more responsibility when we were hoping to reduce our workload, to leave a position that He provided just recently, or to take on an assignment for which we feel ill-equipped. His plan might feel unrealistic in view of our age, stage of life, or health concerns. We must press forward in obedience, regardless of how impractical the request may appear.

To grasp the importance of obeying, think about children receiving instructions from parents or teachers. Careful listening is needed for the task to be done safely and properly. Some steps may seem pointless, but the rationale often becomes clear later. Always make obeying God your priority. 

God’s Heart to Meet with Man: Jesus to Us..... Craig Denison

 

God’s Heart to Meet with Man: Jesus to Us

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

Throughout Scripture we see countless examples of God meeting with man and countless lives being transformed as the result. These examples are in Scripture to stir our faith and fill us with a desire to meet with our Creator. When we read about the life of David, we should be filled with a longing to live as he did, centered around meeting with our heavenly Father. When we read about Gideon or Moses, we should long to know our God as they did. When we read about Jesus coming down to us or his heart for the woman caught in adultery, we should respond by pursuing encounters with our Savior. And when we read of Pentecost and Jesus’ second coming, we should seek out the fullness of God’s presence available to us on this earth in preparation for the age that is to come. May your heart be filled with a wholehearted desire to pursue meeting with God this week.

Scripture:“‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”  Matthew 1:23

Devotional:

There is no more powerful depiction of God’s love for us than Jesus stepping off his throne to humble himself, take on flesh, and dwell among men. Jesus coming down to us perfectly demonstrated God’s grace and desire to meet with man.

Imagine for a minute the sacrifice of Jesus. Prior to coming down to us, he was Spirit, like God the Father and the Holy Spirit. He dwelled everywhere in every point of time. He was in perfect communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave up the very nature of his existence that we might walk in restored relationship with God. He sacrificed being Spirit that we might simply know God’s love.

Jesus was the heart of God perfectly personified. In everything he did, he clearly displayed God’s heart for mercy, grace, justice, redemption, and empowerment for his people. He is the center of all history. All of creation looks to him as King of kings and Lord of lords. Isaiah 9:6 tells us, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

We serve the only King who would lay down his own life for his undeserving, rebellious subjects. We serve the only God who would step down off his throne and humble himself before us, even to the point of death. We serve the God of perfect love who can do nothing that isn’t completely drenched with his affection for us.

You can look at the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and know without a shadow of a doubt that God longs to meet with you. If Jesus would come to earth that you might receive redemption and restored relationship with your heavenly Father, there is no doubt that he will meet you exactly where you are, right now. Jesus’ sacrifice was so powerful that it set you free to live in true communion with God.

Ephesians 2:4-7 says,

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

May you discover what it truly means to be seated in the heavenly places with Christ. May you pursue all the fullness of relationship afforded to you by the powerful sacrifice of Jesus. May his coming to earth demonstrate its power in your life. Take time to fellowship with God today the way Jesus did. Walk as he walked. And experience today the fullness of life that only comes by meeting with your heavenly Father by his grace and love.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to meet with you as demonstrated by Jesus coming to earth.

“‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”  Matthew 1:23

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Philippians 2:5-8

2. Where do you have doubt about experiencing the presence of God? Where do you feel like it is impossible or difficult to encounter your heavenly Father?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

3. Align your perspective with the truth of Scripture. Allow Jesus’ coming to fill you with faith and expectation to experience all that he came and died to give you. Take time to press into the heart of God and encounter the depths of his love today.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7

We as modern-day believers often grow content with so much less than what’s available to us in Christ. We grow content with programs, sermons, worship, and Bible study that’s void of God’s presence. We believe that the Christian life is one solely marked by discipline and moral living rather than transformative encounters with the holiness of God. Pursue the greater things today. Press into the heart of your Creator that you might know how truly near he is. Seek him and discover the wealth of his presence and love that has been available to you all along. Instead of programs about him, may your life be marked by meeting directly with your good and loving Father.

Extended Reading: Philippians 2

You Have a New Name..... FELICIA HARRIS

 You Have a New Name

FELICIA HARRIS

“The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.” Isaiah 62:2 (ESV)

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and saw a person I rarely see: my father. It shocked me, and I contorted my face until his likeness was unrecognizable. I turned my head to and fro until I caught the angle of my chin and cheeks that favor my mother. That was more like it.

Barely having left the mirror, I felt the tug of conviction beckoning me to turn around and look again. I examined my face intently, following the curve of my thin eyebrows (courtesy of my mother) until they met in the center of my face, leading into the broad expansion of my nose (courtesy of my father). I studied my lips, satisfied that they felt uniquely mine, although my smile exposes full cheeks in homage to my mom. Finally, I pulled back and stared into my eyes, where my father’s DNA has made its home.

“You have a new name,” I told myself.

I recite this truth on the rare occasion when I am reminded of my birth connection to a man whose sin has wreaked havoc on my family. My father — who battles alcohol dependency and sexually assaulted one of his children — turned our world upside down before I was able to walk without wobbling.

For years, I struggled to love parts of me that betrayed my relation to him, and I carried the shame of how his actions devastated our family. Addiction, abuse, rejection. Our story was the kind shared in a whisper behind the shield of a hand. So, when I caught a glimpse of my father’s face in the mirror, I would shudder. I spent years running from my reflection.

Until I learned what it meant to be adopted as a child of Christ.

This biblical story of adoption clarifies why we are called sons and daughters of God, or brothers and sisters in Christ. When we are made new in Christ, our family story takes on a whole new meaning. Our adoption means that, contrary to the facial features that connect us to our mothers and fathers, we recognize we were created in the image of God and chosen, called, justified and glorified as family in a body of believers. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:29-30)

In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul describes the future glory that awaits believers, and his description mirrors how Isaiah spoke about Jerusalem in our key verse: “The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give” (Isaiah 62:2).

When Isaiah made this declaration, Jerusalem was in bad shape, marred by corruption and conquered by the Babylonians. It didn’t seem like there was much in store for the town’s future. But God sent Isaiah with a message of hope affirming that He is a God of redemption and transformation.

When your family’s story doesn’t align with the ideal image circulated widely throughout culture, it’s easy to get distracted by what things look like. However, our adoption story offers me the same hope that Isaiah shared with Jerusalem: No matter how dark and dreadful the circumstances have been in my past — or at times, in my present — my future has been redeemed. I have been transformed, and God rejoices over me. (Isaiah 62:5)

With this truth in mind, I can stand honored in front of the mirror, marveling at my reflection and knowing I am created in the image of my heavenly Father, who has given me a new name.

Father God, when I am feeling distracted or deterred by the darkness of former things, help me to remember that You are the God of redemption and transformation, and You have given me a new name. When I look into the mirror, allow me to see myself and my story as You see me, and allow me to rejoice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Whose Approval Are You Seeking? ..... By: Anne Peterson

 Whose Approval Are You Seeking? (Galatians 1:10)

By: Anne Peterson

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10

I want to tell you a story about a people pleaser. I know the story well, because I’m afraid it’s about me. My husband and I were part of a monthly jamboree which met at our town’s community center. Mike played guitar and I sang with a couple of our friends.

One month, we had an event where tickets were purchased. I remember hearing that the money and tickets were not matching up. After almost everyone left, I took it upon myself to look for the missing tickets. At the time, I didn’t realize what I was about to do was over the top. So there I was standing in a dumpster at 11:00 at night, flashlight in hand, looking through trash bags.

It was that moment I realized I had little self-respect. Pleasing others was too important to me. Soon after, I had been sharing this with a counselor who suggested I read the book, Boundaries by Henri Cloud and John Townsend. In that book, I learned how living in a dysfunctional family had affected my self-esteem. And I learned that we are to be concerned with pleasing God, not people. The next time I read Galatians 1:10, I was surprised to notice the word “or,” I had thought if I sought to please men, God would also be pleased. I was wrong.

As I studied the Bible and grew spiritually, I learned that growing emotionally was also important. As a child, I grew up trying to please my authoritarian parents who would never be pleased. And when we don’t get approval, we sometimes carry that need with us into adulthood. The problem is, even if we please others, we still have that longing for what we never received.

Somehow, I struggled to believe anyone would approve of me. Even God. But when I came to understand what His Word said, and that he loved us as sinners, it was enlightening. God loves us, unconditionally. He demonstrated his love by allowing his Son, Jesus to be our sacrifice (John 3:16).

We are offered eternal life when we accept God’s gift by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Realizing God accepted me, was something I desperately wanted, but something I felt I didn’t deserve to hold onto.

But as I kept reading God’s Word over and over again, my thoughts began to change. It really wasn’t based on me, it was all because of God’s love. My feelings about myself were transformed by truth. Reflecting on those truths, I felt like I finally had a place where I belonged. I belonged to God. I didn’t have to strive for God’s acceptance, because when I accepted the sacrifice Jesus made, I became God’s child. Totally accepted in the beloved. I know that God will never love me any more or any less based on what I do. He loved me at my worst. And he made me righteous when I trusted Christ.

At that moment, I was given access to God’s throne room, where I can climb onto my heavenly Father’s lap, night or day, and tell him what I need. Whatever I might ask him, is nothing compared to what God has already given me (Romans 8:32).

Do you long to be accepted? Have you struggled with people-pleasing? The good news is that you can please the one who really matters. It takes faith (Hebrews 11:6).

Elbows & Ears..... by Shawn McEvoy

 Elbows & Ears

by Shawn McEvoy

I will redeem you with an outstretched arm. - Exodus 6:6

Be merciful to me and hear my prayer.- Psalm 4:1

Once, when my son was just shy of three, he informed his mother he was drawing a picture of God.

"Oh… What does God look like?" she asked.

"Well, I put some elbows and some ears," he replied, and he went back to his work.

I was told that story when I came home from work. Cute, I thought. Not exactly as awe-inspiring as Ezekiel's vision, but sounds like a weird picture. I mean, where is the face?

"The face of the Lord is not one you could look upon" ( Exodus 33:12-23), came the voice inside my head.

Where are the hands and feet?

That's you.

Oh yeah, that's true…

So… elbows and ears, huh?

Well, I guess God does reach us, and move us, and nudge us, and hold up the light to our paths. As Wayne Watson sang, "No one in this world can slip beyond the reaches of the long arm of the Lord."

And I know he hears us. He created us for fellowship. He desires praise and prayer. He's absolutely listening. He can even hear things we don't even know we're saying. As Steven Curtis Chapman sang, "The cross should have been mine, But His love broke through time, And heard my heart's cry."

So in one statement about one drawing by one child, I had digested a complete meditation on the nature of God, who He is and what He does, even what He leaves for us to do. As Casting Crowns sang, "If we are the body... Why aren't His hands healing... Why aren't His feet going?"

Intersecting Faith & Life: Consider today what part of the body you are playing, and what other parts (eyes, mouth, shoulders, etc.) describe what you know about the character of your God.

Further Reading

Matthew 5:8

A Prayer When Your Christian Life Grows Dull..... By Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer When Your Christian Life Grows Dull

By Betsy de Cruz

“O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?” – Deuteronomy 3:24

I long for a growing relationship with God that brings joy. But, honestly, I spend a lot of time coasting through my Christian life on autopilot. After I check in at church on Sunday or have my morning devotional, it’s as if I put God back into a box and go on with my life until next time. Instead of living in awe before our loving, powerful Creator, I get comfortable with the status quo. 

I forget who God really is, and the doldrums set in.

Maybe you’ve experienced it too. Your spiritual life grows dull, and you settle into a routine of church on Sundays and daily Bible reading when you manage to make time. 

We lose our desire for God, and we wonder if this is all there is to the Christian life. When our spiritual lives grow routine, Moses’ prayer in Deuteronomy 3 enlivens our hearts to seek more of God. What if we joined in this prayer and asked God for a renewed vision of who He is?

First let’s look at the context. Moses prayed these words before the Israelites entered the Promised Land after 40 years in the desert. Consider for a moment all that Moses had already seen God do. Yahweh had sent 10 plagues to Egypt, delivered His people from slavery, and parted the Red Sea for them. God had provided manna and quail for the Israelites to eat and led them through the desert in the form of a pillar of cloud and fire.

Moses had seen miracle upon miracle, yet he prayed, “God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness.”

Friend, what if we stopped a moment to ponder all that God has done in our lives? When has He provided, cared, healed, delivered, blessed, or guided us? What Red Seas has He parted for us?

Yet God has only begun to show us His greatness. He wants to do so much more in our lives.

When we begin to fall into a spiritual rut, let’s turn our hearts again towards God’s person and power. Even if we don’t feel awe or wonder, we can ask Him to awaken our hearts and give us a hunger for more. More of God. More of His presence and power. 

Let’s pray:

Lord, there is no one like you in heaven or on earth. Your power created the universe and holds it together. Your love sent your Son into the world to save and redeem us from sin. Your faithfulness has sustained your people for generations.

Thank you, Father, for all you have done in my life. Thank you for the many ways you have shown yourself faithful. Forgive me for taking you for granted and for not seeking you wholeheartedly. 

God, I know you have only begun to show me your greatness and power. Awaken in me a holy awe for who you are and what you do. Lord, give me greater spiritual hunger and thirst, so that I seek you with my whole heart. I want to know you more deeply and experience more of you in my life. Thank you for your promise to reward those who seek you. In Jesus’ name, amen.