The Passion to Obey..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Passion to Obey

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 14:15

For a sermon I gave several years ago, I jotted down a list and titled it "The Evolution of a Passion to Obey God." That passion doesn't just spring up, full-blown at salvation. We do enter our new life in Christ with a desire to please Him, and that does include obeying Him. But an intensely determined pursuit of His will develops more slowly.

In fact, the first stage--fear of the consequences of disobedience--barely qualifies as reverence for God. But as we progress in our faith and form a commitment to obey the Lord, we eventually reach the final stage, which is love and devotion to Christ. Wouldn't you rather follow Him out of love than out of fear?

Getting from the first stage to the last begins with what you might expect--an increasing knowledge of Jesus Christ. As we dig into God's Word to see how He provided for the saints, we develop a desire for His best. Men like Moses, David, and Paul weren't satisfied with what the world had to offer, and we won't be either when we witness His work in the lives of His followers. So we test out obedience and discover that God's promised blessings are real. As we acquire a record of consistent rewards for doing His will, we recognize the wisdom of obedience.

Can you find yourself on the spectrum between fear and devotion? It is my hope that you have committed to obeying God and that you are reading His Word daily to learn how to keep your promise. God wants your best--your passionate pursuit of His will--because He is giving His best to you.

Do We Know Him?..... Craig Denison

 

Do We Know Him?

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

One of the most scandalous truths of the gospel is that our Creator longs to be encountered by his creation. God longs to meet with us. His greatest desire is for relationship with us. I can’t fathom why God in all his holiness and goodness makes himself available to us, but it is the powerful truth of Scripture. God is pursuing each of us with his relentless love, seeking out those who might respond to his open invitation by opening the door of their hearts to him. My prayer is that in response to God’s desire to meet with his people we would be those who say yes to centering our lives around his nearness. May your week be marked by the reality of God’s presence and love.

Scripture:“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

Devotional:           

Of all that God longs to reveal to us, his children, he most desires that we would simply come to know him. Of all the great mysteries, truths, plans, and longings of his heart, he most desires that we would find all our satisfaction, joy, and purpose in relationship. Jeremiah 9:23-24 describes this profound desire in the heart of God. Scripture says,

Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.

What greater knowledge is there than that of God? What greater pursuit exists than knowing the heart of our Creator, the God who would lay down his life to make himself available to us? You and I can know God in deeper, more transformative ways than we can know anyone else. Through the blood of Christ, God has made himself more available and nearer to us than we have yet to discover.

Psalm 46:10 is a powerful and incredible command of the Lord. Our heavenly Father says to us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” In a world wrought with the hectic chaos of task after task, God says to us, “Be still and simply know me.” In a world founded on the principles of earn and receive,  God has an open invitation before us to know him apart from any merit of our own. We can know God simply because he desires to be known. We can know God simply because he loves us right now, as we are.

More than God desires any work of our hands or any gifting he could place within us, he wants us to know him. So often we get caught up in the works of the kingdom and forget that our chief purpose in life is simply to be enjoyed by God and to enjoy him in return. This life is meant to be about relationship above all else. It’s meant to be about continually encountering the heart of our heavenly Father that we so often live without.

Out of all that we know, may we know God himself the best. Out of all the knowledge and wisdom we can gain from Scripture, may our highest pursuit be a true, intimate knowledge of its Author. Out of all the earth-shattering works set before us, may we know the God whom we serve. And at the end of our days, may our lives have been chiefly marked by a true, passionate, intimate relationship with our heavenly Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the availability of knowing God. Allow Scripture to stir up your desire to know God above all else.

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

2. What pursuits are higher in your life than knowing your heavenly Father? What is a higher priority to you than simply having relationship with God? Take an honest look at your heart, time, actions, and perspectives.

3. Ask the Lord to help you be someone who is simply enjoyed by him and enjoys him. Ask him to help you cast aside all other pursuits that aren’t in line with this chief pursuit. Make space and time to “Be still, and know that [he] is God” (Psalm 46:10).

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

Recentering our lives around relationship with God is a process in which God has total patience and grace. He knows that you will only center your life around that which you chiefly enjoy. He knows it takes time for him to become your chief joy. But this is most definitely the highest, most important process you can pursue. When he becomes your chief joy, all other aspects of life find their proper place. When he becomes your chief joy, your emotions will no longer be subject to the fickle, fleeting things of the world, but rather grounded in the unshakable, unchanging nature of your heavenly Father. May you offer your whole heart to God today that you might fully enjoy him. May his love and presence be the foundation of your life. And may you seek relationship with him above all else.

Extended Reading: Psalm 46

When You Think Your Mess Is Too Big for God..... SHEILA WALSH

 When You Think Your Mess Is Too Big for God

SHEILA WALSH

“GOD made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.” 2 Samuel 22:21 (MSG)

I’ve been trying to follow a healthy eating plan of one kind or another for about 40 years. In my 20s and 30s, I could eat balanced meals and drop a few pounds. Now things are a little different.

What I really need to do is add exercise to my daily routine. But every time I join a gym, I never go. So I thought having an incline treadmill machine at home would be my breakthrough.

Day one went well, but on day two, I was very sore. Not wanting to overdo it, I decided it would be best to rest.

Unfortunately, that little “rest” lasted for about five years! Then the pandemic hit in 2020, and after weeks of binge-watching The Great British Baking Show on the sofa, I realized I needed to try again. I pressed the “start” button on the treadmill … but it did nothing. No movement at all. I pressed it again — nothing.

Finding the manual, I attempted everything suggested in the troubleshooting section to no avail. I even called the customer service number. The certified advisor on the other end asked me this simple question: "Is your unit plugged in to the wall?" 

Thanking him profusely, I hung up even as I could hear my husband laughing in the background. After plugging in the treadmill and hitting “start,” off I went. I felt a surge of hope as I started to go faster and raised the incline. It was then that I flew off the machine, hit the bedroom wall and broke my toe. More rest required.

What I have found on my own journey is that I mess up a lot. It's one thing to mess up with your exercise plan, but what do you do when it’s something bigger in life? Family, friends, job, church, your relationship with God. Some days are much harder than others, but I've found a few things that have helped me find my way back to hope on some darker, messy days. Maybe they’ll help you, too.

1. Make peace with your story and remember that you are not your past. You can be real and vulnerable with God. Give Him all of your broken pieces. The great news is that God can do beautiful things with a broken life when you give Him all the pieces. Remember this truth from our key verse, 2 Samuel 22:21: “GOD made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.
2. Replace shame with grace. Shame doesn’t belong to you even when you think it does; Christ took it all on Himself on the cross. If you’re feeling like you should be doing something differently, something more — like you shouldn’t feel this way or you should be able to handle it on your own — those “should” words are red flags for shame. Leave those thoughts and feelings at the cross, and replace them with your Father’s grace.
3. Re-wallpaper your mind. Let go of past labels you've put on yourself and lay your pain at the feet of Christ. We’ve all messed up, and that’s why Jesus came. Find a promise from God’s Word to counter every lie you’ve believed about yourself. For instance, replace “I am not good enough for God” with the truth of Hebrews 10:14: “For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy” (NLT).

In my darkest days, long before my treadmill debacle, I was tempted to give up on myself … and I don’t want you to. The bottom line for every one of us is that God is still writing our stories. Your story is not over yet. The missing pieces of your puzzle are in the safest hands of all, even if you can’t see them right now. How do I know that? That’s who He is. That’s His story.

Your mess is not too big for God. Take all your pieces to the One who loves you most.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I can bring all the broken pieces of my life to You. Thank You that my mess is not too big for You. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

He Will Cover You with His Feathers ..... By: Amanda Idleman

 He Will Cover You with His Feathers 

By: Amanda Idleman

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. - Psalm 91:4

The imagery that David uses in this passage gives us believers a great sense of security and hope. God covering us with his feathers is just like a hen that covers her chicks under her wings to protect them from harm, the elements, and from predators. We can nestle in close to him for comfort and safety. God shields us from the threats we face and even the emotional turmoil events of our lives can cause.

Thomas Watson explained this passage in this way: “Christ's wings are both for healing and for hiding, for curing and securing us; the devil and his instruments would soon devour the servants of God, if he did not set an invincible guard about them, and cover them with the golden feathers of his protection.”

Rather than running around wondering how we are going to make it when we face hurt, harm, or are in need of healing, we can instead run straight under the protective cover of God’s glorious wings! God is our safe place in a very unsafe world.

Our God is also a shield and strong defender against evil. Benson Commentary explains we can enjoy God’s affection under his wings, but his truth and faithfulness also make it so we can rest in God’s promise to be our “shield and rampart,” our strong and sure defense! God will take care of us no matter how precarious or challenging our circumstances may seem.

God’s protection guards our hearts against the snare of sin. Our spiritual life is protected by God’s amazing grace and keeps us from being infected by the contagion of sin. Wisdom keeps us from being unduly afraid and guards us against folly. Proverbs 4:6 says, “Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.” When we pursue God and his wisdom that wisdom will guard us against the destructive power of sin.

God’s guarding feathers can keep us from walking into situations that would tempt us to stray from what is good in the eyes of God. It could be blinding us from a potentially toxic relationship. Sometimes it’s as simple as being a young person that is never invited to the wrong kind of party with their peers. It could be a sense of God-inspired thankfulness that helps you stay positive when the temptation to complain, gossip, or lose hope arises. God’s Spirit nudges us and sometimes may even alert us in our hearts when we start wandering away from God’s wisdom and towards the pull of sin.

Take comfort under the wings of God. He is there to protect us, shield us, and nurture us with his warm embrace. When we face sadness, temptation, loss, or any other trial we are not alone. God is there covering us with his powerful feathers.

There's a Title for That..... by John UpChurch

 There's a Title for That

by John UpChurch

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” - Colossians 1:17-18

Sometimes, we just need to be reminded of who Jesus is:

The Word: He pitched His tent with us and put flesh on God’s promises (John 1)

Son of God: He’s got the whole world in His hands (Matthew 16:16)

Son of Man: He knows our sorrows up close and personal (Matthew 17:12)

Son of David: He loved His people, even if they didn’t recognize Him (Matthew 1:1; John 1)

Teacher: He tells us exactly what we need, even if it’s not what we want to hear (John 3:2)

Prophet: He told us what would and will happen (Deuteronomy 18:15; Matthew 13:57)

Provider: He can make a little go a long way (Mark 6:30-44)

Mediator: He’s right in the middle of our struggles and pleading our case (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15)

Suffering Servant: He got busted up for us (Isaiah 53)

Lamb of God: He put sin in a full-nelson and made death cry uncle (John 1:29)

Lion of Judah: He can take care of His enemies with just His roar (Revelation 5:5, 19:21)

Counselor: He’s the cure for our addictions and struggles (Isaiah 9:6)

Prince of Peace: He signed—in blood—the peace treaty between God and us (Isaiah 9:6)

Immanuel: He never gets tired of being with us (Isaiah 7:14)

King of Kings: He’s got the power (Revelation 17:14)

The Way: He ain’t got no time for wishy-washy “all roads” arguments; He’s it (John 14:6)

The Truth: He puts the lie in our “true for you” follies (John 14:6)

The Life: He resuscitates hearts that were hardened by sin (John 14:6, 20:31)

Good Shepherd: He patiently and lovingly tracks down His runaways (Luke 15:4; John 10:11)

True Vine: He nurtures us to fruitfulness (John 15:4-5; Romans 7:4)

Friend of Sinners: He offers grace to those stumbling around in darkness (Matthew 11:9)

Balm of Gilead: He binds up our wounds by the scars on His back (Jeremiah 8:22; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)

Giver of the Spirit: He sent the One who makes the journey alongside us and leads us into truth (John 14)

Light of the World: He sends photons to those who’ve been blinded by the god of this age (Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47; 2 Corinthians 4:4)

Intercessor: He never stops praying for us (Isaiah 53:12; John 17)

Great High Priest: He took care of all the Temple work (Hebrews 7)

The Bread/Water of Life: He’s our daily nutritional requirement for a spiritually balanced life (John 6; Revelation 21:6)

Alpha and Omega: He gets the first and last word… always (Revelation 22:13)

Lord of Glory: He makes angels belt out never-ending praises (Psalm 24, 103:20; James 2:1)

Firstborn among the Dead: He paved the path that leads to His place (Colossians 1:18)

Intersecting Faith and Life: Jesus has so many titles because He fulfills all our needs. Wherever you are in life, whatever you need, He’s got it covered. As my father-in-law sometimes says, “Jesus picked up His cross and said, ‘Hang on to Me. We’re going through.’”

With Him, you will make it out alive.

A Prayer to Not Borrow Trouble..... By Meg Bucher

 A Prayer to Not Borrow Trouble

By Meg Bucher

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8

Lately, this world has given us a plethora of fresh new reasons (and recycled old ones) to walk through our days in fear, confusion, worry, and shame. We can borrow trouble for hard days that haven’t hit us yet. Can you relate?

Recently, while running along the lakeshore, I wondered when the next injury will sideline me. If I’m not careful to take these thoughts captive, these blessed moments of respite become riddled with anxiety and paranoia about health. Ugly habits can begin to seep through the cracks in my armor. I begin to take credit for all I have and get to do, while worrying about when it will end, and things will get hard again. I forget to prioritize time with God the way I do when I desperately need Him to relieve some real-life pain.

Idols can seep in and swell up in my heart, pushing my Savior aside. Or worse yet, I can fail to stop and fully enjoy the blessing God has given to me! Remembering God only gives me one day to live at a time relieves my tension.

Today’s verse reminds me to let go and let God do what God does. “As regularly as generous giving depletes the resources of the cheerful giver, God’s grace replenishes what is needed,” the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible explains. “This gives such a person complete sufficiency that comes from depending on an all-sufficient God.”

The VOICE paraphrase of what Paul wrote to the Ephesians reads, “Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, to Him be all the glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

So today, I smile as I run down the road, especially when it’s hard and hurts. My eyes see my Creator’s hand as I cruise by the water, and I take intentional time to peacefully watch the world go by from my front porch. Because this day, God made. So I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Let’s Pray:

Father,

For the scenery you paint on the landscape of my life, and the breath you fill my lungs with, the friends you surround me with to share laughter, and the family to love and be loved by… all glory goes up to you. Your faithfulness is never-ending, your mercies new every morning. There is none like you, Abba Father.

Calm my anxiety, worry, and fear over when the calm water will kick up again. Help me not borrow trouble for hard days that aren’t here yet. Increase my confidence in you, my wisdom, and my ability to let your love flow freely through my everyday life.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Gratitude in Affliction..... Dr. Charles Stanley

Gratitude in Affliction

Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalms 119:65-72

At Thanksgiving, we typically express gratitude for God's blessings. But did you ever consider thanking Him for something that doesn't seem like a blessing—such as a trying circumstance you want Him to remove or change? A grateful heart is most precious to God when, humanly speaking, our situations don't warrant giving thanks. By making four foundational decisions, we can begin to see the value of our adversities and respond with appreciation.    

Believe and trust the Lord. Only by viewing life from a scriptural perspective can we understand His purposes in our trials and trust His wisdom in allowing them.

Accept the situation as coming from God—either directly sent or permissively allowed. If we truly believe He's working for our good (Rom 8:28-29), we can choose to receive each difficulty as coming from His loving hand. Then we can say "Thank You."

Submit to God in the circumstance. Although we may not like the situation, knowing that God "[is] good and does good" (v. 68) allows us to confidently place our lives under His authority.

Draw from Him the strength to endure. No one has the ability within himself to endure hardships with gratefulness. Only by relying on the Lord can believers go through adversity with an appreciative heart.

Now, think about that circumstance you would like changed, and with a new mindset, offer this prayer to God: "Lord, I accept this situation as coming from You. In faith and trust, I place myself under Your loving authority, and draw from You the strength I need to endure with gratitude."