Loving Strangers..Craig Denison Ministries

 Loving Strangers

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Loving others is one of the most important and difficult commands Jesus gave us. We are a messy, broken, needy, and sinful people. We constantly deal with our own wounds and those of others. Because there is no perfect person, the foundation for loving others must be based outside of the merit or worth of others. The foundation for love must come from the God who is love. As believers we must be constantly tapped into the love and grace of our heavenly Father so that we can love others selflessly and powerfully. May you receive the love of your Father and be empowered to love others this week as we look to grow in our obedience of Jesus’ command to love people.

Scripture:“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” >Hebrews 13:2

Devotional:

Matthew 25:34-40 gives insight into God’s passionate love for the lost, broken, and alienated. Scripture says,

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

The world around you is living every day apart from the saving and freeing knowledge of God’s love for them. They try to find hope in the created rather than the Creator and discover that the world contains nothing to help them. Relationship with Jesus is the sole source of hope for the earth. And God longs to use us to love the strangers around us so that they might enter into relationship with our Lord who longs to sustain them, provide for them, help them, and offer them eternal hope.

I am not by nature an outgoing person. The concept of talking to complete strangers scares me to death. Apart from God, my natural propensity is to go from place to place without interacting with anyone. But that is not the life my heavenly Father is calling me to. We are not called to keep this free gift of salvation for ourselves, but to share it with all those God is beckoning to himself. God longs to fill each of us with the courage to love the unloved. He longs to fill us with passion to see the world around us awakened to the goodness of Jesus. Every time we set foot outside our homes, we are entering into a mission field filled with countless people who need what we have to give.

Galatians 5:14 says, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” You were created to receive the love of your Father and go out to share that love with a lost and dying world. God is calling you to a lifestyle of sacrifice, courage, adventure, and passionate pursuit of lost sheep who desperately need a Shepherd.

Allow God to strengthen you and fill you with courage to love strangers today as you enter into a time of guided prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s command to love your neighbor as yourself. Allow God to fill you with a desire to reach the unreached today as you reflect on his word.

“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” >Galatians 5:14

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” >Matthew 25:34-40

2. What fear holds you back from loving others? What thought, perspective, or past experience does God need to address and speak truth and love to in order for you to effectively love others? Allow him to come and meet with you in the deepest places of your heart.

3. Ask God to fill you with courage to engage with others today. Ask him to fill you with his love for those around you whom you have never met. Find your source of security in his opinion alone.

Luke 10:2 says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” May we be laborers who work diligently for our Lord today. May we love others with the depth of love we have been shown in Christ.

Extended Reading: Luke 15

Exercising Different Strengths When We Feel Weak..ELIZABETH LAING THOMPSON

 Exercising Different Strengths When We Feel Weak

ELIZABETH LAING THOMPSON

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

I rush into a mirrored room filled with women, all prepping for the exercise class to begin. Which will be in approximately 40 seconds.

“Excuse me. Sorry, oops — sorry.” I stumble through a maze of yoga mats, searching for an open space. I feel a roomful of eyes on me, and for a heartbeat I consider slinking back out the door, sparing myself the humiliation of being That Annoying Late Girl. But the instructor is still fiddling with her headset, and I really need to exercise, so I decide to swallow my pride and stay.

I slouch up to two women, so embarrassed I barely manage to make eye contact. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, “but can I please squeeze in between you?”

Both women smile and spring into action. “Of course!” says one, bending over to make room between their mats.

“Take my weights,” says the other, already sprinting across the room to get another set.

Within seconds, I’m set up between them, and they’re tossing me conspiratorial, we-did-it grins. We exchange groans of misery throughout the class, and afterward we swap names. As I pack up, a happy warmth spreads through me, and it’s not just the exercise endorphins.

It’s the feeling of … grace. Of being forgiven a blunder and welcomed with a smile. And, surprisingly, it’s a feeling of belonging.

On the drive home, I think about how God loves to turn worldly wisdom on its head. I recall the Apostle Paul’s words about a time when he begged God for relief from a weakness, but God told him to embrace it:

“But [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

I don’t like feeling weak. It makes me feel … well, weak. Inferior. Incompetent. Needy. I vastly prefer feeling strong, self-sufficient, responsible. But God says weakness is a place where He can work, a place where He — and His people — can shine. When we are weak, then we are strong.

That day in my gym, I saw that Paul's revelation from God was right. (Of course it was right.) Owning my weakness allowed me to experience a moment of grace — and more, a meaningful moment of connection. Admitting my weakness did not lead to rejection, as I had feared, but to relationship.

If you struggle to ask for help, I pray you’ll join me in embracing God’s upside-down wisdom. When we feel weak, we have an opportunity to exercise different kinds of strength: The courage to admit need and invite help. The humility to lean on others’ strengths. Our vulnerability allows God to strengthen us, not just with support and encouragement from others but with relationship and growth in Him.

What do you need today? Prayers? Advice for a tricky situation? Accountability for a persistent temptation? Or do you need support in life’s daily burdens — laundry, meals, grocery shopping?

When we allow others to support us in our weakness, we allow them to honor God with their gifts. They honor God as they pray for us, encourage us and serve us. In those moments, we see the body of Christ at its finest — at its strongest.

Father, thank You for redeeming our weaknesses and needs. Please help me to humbly invite and accept the help I need from You and from others. Help me to embrace Your strength instead of seeking strength within myself. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

The High Cost of Wavering Faith..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The High Cost of Wavering Faith

Dr. Charles Stanley

Deuteronomy 1:19-40

God has given believers personalities, abilities, and spiritual gifts which will equip them to accomplish His specific plans for their lives. But each one must choose to step out in faith and obedience. At times the Lord challenges us to do something that seems beyond our ability, but if we back off, we’ll miss His awesome blessings.

Let’s learn from the Israelites who made several choices that led to unbelief, resulting in a lifetime of aimless wandering. They . . .

• Listened to the wrong voices. To walk obediently with the Lord, we need to guard ourselves from being swayed by those who don’t understand the greatness of our God. Not only that, but we must also learn to recognize the lies of Satan. He wants us to become ineffective, accomplishing little for the kingdom of God.

• Relied on human perspective. At times trusting God conflicts with human reasoning. But those who choose to trust Him—even when the external evidence points to an impossibility—will find that He is bigger than any obstacle.

• Let feelings overcome faith. Perhaps the biggest hindrances to obedience are fear and inadequacy. An internal focus is a trust killer. The way to overcome our feelings is to rely on the Lord and His promises. He will equip us for whatever He calls us to do.

Every challenging call to obedience is a fork in the road of our lives. To go the way of unbelief will lead to a lifetime of regret and aimless wandering, but to courageously trust God and do what He says will result in the greatest blessing of your life. The choice is yours.

5 Verses to Gather from Psalm 25 When Life Gets Heavy..Kristi Woods

 5 Verses to Gather from Psalm 25 When Life Gets Heavy

By Kristi Woods

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: "In you, LORD my God, I put my trust." - Psalm 25:1

God and His word are faithful – even in times of heaviness, even when we might question whether He or His word could do a single thing to help us. Psalm 25 is a place I once landed when life became heavy. It quickly became a respite and refuge, a landing pad of hope. In fact, Psalm 25 in its entirety became a prayer, one offered to God Almighty often. But His word isn’t only for some of us. It’s for all of us.

Here are 5 verses from Psalm 25 we can gather when heaviness rears:

1. Verse 15

My eyes are ever on Yahweh, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Psalm 25:15

It’s all about focus.

It’s often easy to focus on problems. If we listen closely, we can hear it in conversations often. The recount of the day’s troubles and woes slip off our lips or sit firmly in our minds without hesitation. We think about the problem and wonder why, how, and why again. But what if we changed our focus from the issues at hand to Yahweh, our God - the One who has all the wisdom of the world? What if we purposed and willed ourselves to keep the Lord, His saving ways, and past miracles in focus?

2. Verse 17

The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses. Psalm 25:17

It’s all in the ask.

Sometimes it’s as simple as asking. Maybe that makes it sound far too easy, and there may be a battle in the midst, but unless we ask for help, we are lost. Hoarding our need is like trusting ourselves far more than safety deems wise. We can find ourselves in the waters of daily life, flailing alone among the pounding waves, or we can ask God for help.

3. Verse 18

Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins. Psalm 25:18

Asked to be forgiven lately?

Isn’t forgiveness at the heart of much? It’s at the core of Jesus returning to earth. It’s the purpose of love, His walk with man, and our eternity. It’s at the heart of His ascension, and it’s certainly at the heart of our day-to-day. Sitting with the Lord, asking Him to consider our afflictions and troubles sits solidly with faith. Asking Jesus for forgiveness is its building place.

4. Verse 20

Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you. Psalm 25:20

Where do you take refuge?

Imagine a hurricane or winter storm descending on our location. What if we bounded out the front door and sat on the lawn, our legs crisscross as we watched the storm brew? Can you feel the harsh elements pelting our cheeks, causing them to grow increasingly rosy with each sting? We’d either find ourselves chilly with the frigid, northern temperatures or soaked silly in one big puddle as the army of raindrops continued to their battle. Sitting stark in the elements, choosing to withstand the conditions versus seeking shelter, seems silly, doesn’t it?

Where we take refuge is paramount – both in the natural and in the spiritual.

Choosing not to seek God’s refuge or heading to the wrong shelter, such as sin or an addiction, can cause the sting of the pelting adversary to grow worse. Our Father’s refuge is a safe haven.

5. Verse 21

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Psalm 25:21

Wait lately?

It’s safe to say waiting isn’t at the top of most people’s list of favorites. Simply look at rush hour traffic or lines at the grocery store – folks don’t love to wait. Christians aren’t exempt. When God calls us to wait, we sometimes find it hard, uncomfortable even. Waiting simply doesn’t feel natural. It seems like wasted, lost effort. In reality, it might be one of the strongest “moves” of faith we ever make.

Waiting on God is righteous and overflowing with wisdom. It’s His way of guiding us faithfully, and it’s the building place of trust. Instead of reaching for our own preserver, what if we reach for His? What if we allow integrity and uprightness to preserve us as we wait on Him? What if we cling tightly, determine to simply wait on the Lord, holding hope in Him?

Yes, what if. And what if we gather Psalm 25, especially these five verses and walk solidly with God when life gets heavy.

A Prayer to Keep Doing Good..Meg Bucher

 A Prayer to Keep Doing Good

By: Meg Bucher

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” - Hebrews 13:16

Salty tears dampened my knees as I sat paralyzed in the spot I land in when things fall apart. This day, it wasn’t just my world unraveling and upending, it was the entire world. Together and all at once, everything started to come to a screeching halt, as the pandemic virus, COVID-19, began to sweep into the corners of our everyday lives. Those first days felt akin to a roller coaster ride, simultaneously rallying to carry on individually while pushing the limits of innovation to reach out to others.

Hebrews 13:16 commands us, “do not neglect to do good and share what you have.” Suddenly, the way we help each other drastically changed. The need expounded, while our ability to physically help and hug each other was rapidly stripped. When hard pressed, we can simply allow ourselves the grace to give up and hunker down, or we can embrace the impossible things God has purposed us to do.

What does it look like to help and hold people when we must stay six feet apart? We look to God’s truth as a guide and trust in His providence, faithfulness, and goodness.

“Share what you have,” today’s verse implores. This pandemic has put the resilience of the human spirit on display. From our homes, we have utilized technology to stay connected, rally in support, and raise funds for those who fuel food banks. We’ve lit up our neighborhoods with lights and donned windows with rainbows as signs of hope and togetherness.

Jesus makes it possible for us to tap into the goodness of God. Everything He does is good …because He is good. He sees us, He hears our prayers, and His heart is moved. His care is unequivocal. We can trust Him, in times of plenty, and it times of pandemic, to be all we need. He goes before us, preparing the way.

Each of us is created to glorify God with our lives, and so we must not neglect to do what is good and share what we have. This obedience brings glory and honor to God.

Let’s pray to not grow weary in welldoing:

Father,
This is the day you have made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it. You know what today will bring, and what tomorrow’s needs will be. If we awake to breathe today, we can be assured it is with great purpose, in order to bring glory and honor to You, the One True God. Jesus, our Savior, Friend, and Redeemer, it is through You we come to the Father, and spread the love of the Gospel. Remind us, through Your Spirit who convicts and comforts us, of your truth.

In moments when we find ourselves slumped into the places we land when things unravel, we know you meet us there in comfort and to supply the strength we need to stand again. Use our lives as vessels of love and truth. Let us see ourselves through the lens of faith, and the Father’s purposeful perspective. The author of Hebrews reminds us not to neglect to do good and share what we have, because such sacrifices are pleasing to You, Father.

We know all good things come from You, and You make good, all things. Let us share in the good works you have prepared for us, by the outflowing of our faith in Christ, to the people You have placed in our lives. We pray for Your favor, God, and Your protective embrace, as we look out into the world to do good and share what we have.

In Jesus’ Powerful Name we Pray,
Amen.

Pray Like Jesus..Anne Peterson

 Pray Like Jesus

by Anne Peterson


“Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” - Mark 11:24

Prayer. It’s a lifeline to those of us who know the Lord. Do we approach God’s throne room with confidence? Or stand outside that door, timidly, wondering if we should even voice our plea? For me, I like to picture myself as a little child who knows she is welcome. I can just open the door and walk in, climb onto my father’s lap, and tell him what I need. God is never too busy to hear from us (1 Peter 3:12). And when we are in trouble, God’s ears are open to us (Psalm 34:17).

We’re also told that God answers our prayers before we’re even done asking (Isaiah 54:24). Standing at the grave of our baby granddaughter in 2016, I remembered the many tearful prayers I had prayed from the very moment we heard Olivia had Trisomy 18, a terminal genetic disorder. She would never live a normal life. It was after her birth I learned she might not make it to her birth.
I prayed nonstop for her, for my son Nathan, and for his wife Heather. 

I also prayed for our other grandchildren who would meet, love, and then miss this little miracle in our lives. Fear tried strangling any joy we had, and on some days, for me, fear won. We didn’t know what to expect. And though we were told it was terminal, no one told Livie. Month after month, she kept living and growing. She smiled, she laughed, she even made raspberry sounds with her daddy. 

But at 14 months, the God who created her called her home. And even though we knew she would have no limitations in heaven, we grieved the little one we didn’t get to know long enough. When Jesus heard Lazarus, whom he loved, was ill, he didn’t rush over to his house. Jesus wasn’t to go yet. He waited till Lazarus had died. Jesus knew his purpose was always to glorify God, his father. And Jesus never lost sight of that.

Jesus thanked God because he knew God personally. And we can pray like Jesus did when we remember how big God is, instead of focusing on our big situations. As I read the story of Lazarus, I don’t picture Mary and Martha angered when Jesus got there. They just stated what they believed, that if he had come earlier, Lazarus would not have died. Jesus knew what he was doing. 

What strikes me the most about Jesus’ prayer is not what he prayed, but the order in which he prayed. Jesus didn’t tell Lazarus to come out of the tomb and then thank God for hearing his prayer. Instead, Jesus thanked God first for hearing his prayer, and then called out to his friend, Lazarus.

Sometimes God gives us faith to believe he’ll answer our prayers. And sometimes we lean with our whole weight in what we know about God’s character. We know that God can do what we need, but we don’t know what his purposes are. We are fortunate that God’s Holy Spirit brings to our mind other answered prayers. Just as David remembered how God helped him fight a lion and a bear as he stood before the Philistine, Goliath.  

I love it when God works in my heart, and I feel encouraged even though nothing about my situation has changed. Sometimes quietly singing an old hymn or verse will stir my mind. Our loving Father tells us to cast our cares on Him, because he cares about us (1 Peter 5:7). Sometimes we don’t feel God’s love when we’re facing the death of someone we love. We grow through our trials when we pour out our hearts, leaving the results up to God.

Sometimes we give God our requests, but we never truly let go. Like Jesus, we need to lay them before God. And when God’s answer is not what we wanted, we need to remember God is always working for our ultimate good, no matter how it feels. God’s ways are not our ways, his thoughts are much higher (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Intersecting Faith and Life:
When have you struggled letting go of your expectations in a difficult situation? What helped you loosen your grip?

Lord, help us to trust you in the difficult times in our lives. Remind us of other hard times you’ve worked in our lives. Help us lean on you and not on our own understanding. And Lord, teach us to thank you first because you are always faithful. We pray this in your Son’s precious and Holy name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Loosely, a poem by Anne Peterson
How can I hold this more loosely, Lord,
when it matters so much to me?
How can I change the perspective I have 
to one of eternity?

I really don’t think I can do this, Lord, 
it’s painfully hard to do.
Help me to see that you’re in this with me, 
and help me surrender to You.
© 2016