Restoration of Sonship..Craig Denison Ministries

 Restoration of Sonship

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

The story of the prodigal son moves my heart to delve into the depths of God’s limitless grace. I find myself in every facet of Jesus’ words. I identify with both the son’s rebellion and the power of the father’s love. As children of God we are in constant need of reminders about God’s mercy toward us. When the world rejects us, God calls us in. When the world writes us off, God clothes us with righteousness and honor. May this transformative story of the prodigal son guide you to a deeper and more intimate relationship with your loving heavenly Father.

Scripture:“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” - 2 Corinthians 6:18

Devotional:

By the sacrifice of Jesus, you and I have been made sons and daughters of the Most High God. We’ve been redeemed and transformed into children and heirs to the kingdom of God. Romans 8:15-17 says,

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

In the story of the prodigal son, the father clothes his wayward and rebellious son with a robe, a ring, and sandals. All three of these symbols represent a restoration of sonship in different ways. The son who returned to his father to simply be employed as a slave was immediately restored as a child and heir. The father had no desire to make his son pay for his own sins; he simply wanted restored relationship with his child again.

Our heavenly Father feels the same way about us. At salvation we were restored to right standing in the eyes of God. 2 Corinthians 6:18 says, “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” >1 John 3:1 says,“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” No matter what sins we commit, we will always be a child of God. No sin we ever commit can rob us from the inheritance of glorious relationship afforded to us by the death of Christ Jesus. His love is stronger than our sin.

An epidemic exists in the church today of believers living and serving their Father as slaves rather than as sons and daughters. A slave works and serves apart from intimate relationship with their master. A son lives with the empowerment of true relationship with the Father. Many disciples are trying to live for Jesus—they go to church, go on a mission trip, teach a small group, and even try and read their Bibles—but they have no real fellowship or relationship with the Father. I lived much of my Christian life that way. It wasn’t until I began to experience the Father’s heart (knowing that he longed for me to truly know him), experience his love and nearness, and be empowered by a new identity that I began living as a son.

Allow your heavenly Father to clothe you with his presence and speak to your true identity today. Ask him what it looks like to live as a son or daughter who truly knows the Father. And experience the overwhelming joy and peace that comes from intimate relationship with your God.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on your identity as a son or daughter of the Most High God. Allow Scripture to fill your heart with a fresh desire to pursue deeper levels of relationship with your Father.

“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” - >2 Corinthians 6:18

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” >1 John 3:1

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” >Romans 8:15-17

2. In what ways do you feel you might be living as a slave more than a son or daughter? Where are you lacking a revelation and experience of God’s love for you?

3. Ask your heavenly Father to reveal the depths of his love today. Ask him to guide you into a fresh encounter with his grace. Ask him to restore you and lead you into greater depths of relationship with him.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” >Romans 8:37-39

How astounding is the love and grace of our Father that we would be considered his children. How vast is his love for us that with no effort of our own we would be transformed into heirs with Christ. There is no greater privilege than being the son or daughter of the Creator. There is no greater love than that which the Father has for us. And there is no greater life than one spent in full relationship with the very Father who would run out to meet us, call us his son or daughter in our weakest moments, and bring us into his family. 

Extended Reading: Romans 8

I'm Not Busy; I'm Where I Belong..RACHEL MARIE KANG

 I'm Not Busy; I'm Where I Belong

RACHEL MARIE KANG

“‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

I can’t tell you when it happened because I don’t remember, but I can tell you how it happened — how the words became a trigger, sending shock waves up my spine and chills down my cheeks.

The trigger comes in different phrases, sometimes decorated with sarcasm and sighs. Sometimes it comes with a smile or sometimes as a slight. Sometimes it comes from strangers, or it even comes from those I know and love.

You’re so busy, they say.
You’re never available.
You must have your hands full.

The words cut and sting, seeping deeply into me and dancing with the old me who tried so hard to be and do all things for all people, at all times, in all places.

And I want nothing more than to say, “I’m not distant! I’m not preoccupied, and I’m not busy — I’m where I belong.”

I’m reminded of Luke 10, the story of a holy scenario where a woman named Martha opened up her home to Jesus while her sister Mary opened up her heart. (Luke 10:38-39)

In the midst of my season, in the midst of the swirling feelings that tell me I’m failing or letting everyone down, Jesus’ words echo within me: “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42).

I am Mary, standing in an ordinary home and paying no mind to piles of dishes. I am Mary, staring into the holy here-and-now, holding out my hands to embrace the one(s) immediately before me. I am Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, back bent and knees bowed right where I belong, right where I’ve always needed to be.

Can it be that Martha, comparing and complaining, was begging and beckoning Mary to leave a place where she belonged? Can it be that this story is not as much about busyness as it is about being and embracing where you belong?

Neither of the two women were wrong in the way they welcomed Jesus. Can it be that the tension between them came because of comparison?

This tension — this misunderstanding of another’s calling to do and be — happens in relationships anytime we deem anyone obliged to the obvious.

But Jesus comes and calls to us in different ways. And in this, we are invited to uniquely respond in the many authentic and different ways we desire to work for and worship Him. Sometimes this looks like cleaning carpets and preparing programs. Sometimes it looks like saying “no” and abiding in slow and unseen seasons.

You might be tucked away with toddlers, or you might be in the quiet of your writing room. You might be bent over at the feet of an aging parent, or you might be lost in worship on your way home from work. You might be stepping into Bible study or cleaning the only toilet in your home for the umpteenth time. You might be saying “no” to someone or something — sports games or serving — all so you can say “yes” to the one(s) in front of you.

I don’t know what calls you’ve missed or the meetings you’ve rescheduled. I don’t know the shaded boxes on your calendar that serve as boundaries around your giving, serving, doing and being.

But this I do know: We don’t have to break our sight from the one(s) before us. We don’t have to make the world believe we’re making the most of our time. We don’t have to come up with excuses; we don’t have to strain to explain ourselves.

Hear and heed the call to be and do for Jesus above all others. Until Jesus calls us further and deeper, we will keep leading and loving right where we are, in the ways we are.

Father, help us to be OK with being where we are — no matter what that looks like. We want to see You in whatever ways You call us to serve or be still. In Your presence is where we belong. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Another Divine Helper..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Another Divine Helper

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 14:16-18

Have you ever wished you had a 911 number that rang in heaven whenever you had a need? Well, I have good news for believers. We all have divine assistance that’s even closer than a phone call: our Helper dwells within us. But if we are unaware of Him, we’ll miss many opportunities to benefit from the greatest asset in our Christian life—the Holy Spirit’s presence.

Christ knew that when He left the earth, His disciples would be totally inadequate for the task He was giving them—to evangelize the world. Though they’d spent three years with Jesus, all they had seen and learned would still not sufficiently equip them for what lay ahead. They needed supernatural help, and so do we—someone who will come to our aid, empower our service, and transform us from the inside out.

The Holy Spirit is the only one who can achieve all this. Consider His qualifications:

1. He is a personal Helper, not some inanimate force. God’s Spirit is a member of the Trinity and coequal with both the Father and Jesus Christ.

2. He is a practical Helper who involves Himself in every aspect of our lives.

3. He is an adequate Helper because He’s omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

4. He is an available Helper who permanently lives within us.

Do you have any need that requires more power than omnipotence? Are you facing a decision that requires more knowledge than omniscience? Nothing we encounter is bigger than the omnipresent One who lives within us. Be calm and confident. No matter what challenges you face, He can help.

Tough Love, for the Sake of the Church..John D. Barry

 Tough Love, for the Sake of the Church

By John D. Barry, CEO of Jesus' Economy

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer” - 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15

Community standards are regularly held at institutions, especially Christian universities. What about community standards for our churches? Paul the apostle had some thoughts on this for the church at Thessalonica.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6–18. Reflect on 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15:

“Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.” (NIV)

Honor and shame were a major part of Graeco-Roman society. Shame would have been a powerful motivator toward repentance. If a person felt isolated, they would realize what they had lost because of their behavior and likely repent. While this can seem harsh, keep in mind that the Christian community at Thessalonica had little recourse but this option. Also, keep in mind the larger context.

The Christians at Thessalonica were experiencing intense persecution, which would have included being socially ostracized (2 Thessalonians 1:4). Thus, they depended on one another. In the midst of this, there were certain people in their community who refused to work while demanding charity from the church (2 Thessalonians 3:6–12). These people would have drained the church’s resources and made their already difficult situation dire. 

It’s also likely that the church regularly ate together and shared many of their resources (compare Acts 2:46; 4:32; 1 Corinthians 11:18–22). Thus, the church at Thessalonica had to consider the entire community. A person who took advantage of the community by abusing charity had to be kept in check.

I wonder if we have lost this level of accountability (compare 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1)? Do we allow for people in our church community to easily disregard standard obligations such as hard work and truly loving the hurting? Do we allow for misguided theology to be used as an excuse in the process (compare 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4)? Are we allowing people to represent our churches and Jesus who clearly do not represent our values? It seems to me that there is a lot we can learn from Paul’s guidance here.

But what’s critical is that we note Paul’s overall framework: that we love a person to repentance (2 Thessalonians 3:14). Furthermore, he is clear that we should not treat those we are calling to repentance like enemies (2 Thessalonians 3:15). Tough love can be good. But it should be administered with grace and mercy—for the purpose of helping the individual and the community.

A Prayer for Focus..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for Focus

By Emma Danzey

Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Focus is something that we all could use more of in our daily lives. Whether it is keeping our mind fixed on what we are working on and zoning into the details that we need to tend to, focusing on our children or grandchildren who are present to show them how much we care or focusing on the sermon in church on Sunday.

The enemy loves to get us distracted, not only in small areas like the ones mentioned but also in a larger way. He wants us to be thinking with temporary mindsets However, in Colossians 3:2, God calls us to put our thoughts towards things above, not worldly things. Today as we pray and ask the Lord for focus, may we each have a renewed sense of what is eternally significant and purposeful. May we not miss the opportunities to see each day as a mission field for eternity. May we focus on the mission at hand with confidence.

Let's Pray:

Lord Over My Mind,
I need you to help me today. Give me clarity and strength to think on things of you and not of my flesh. There are so many things competing for my attention. Help me to remember that the tasks and situations at hand are temporary. Remind my soul of what is spiritually significant. Reveal Your will and Your purposes to me and help me to live them out by Your Spirit.

God You say in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Please enable my mind to think on the things of You. Give me thoughts that are honorable and focused on Your love. When I am tempted to stray, redirect my thought patterns to bring glory to You.

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” God, I know that one of the enemy’s favorite places of attack is on the mind of a believer. He cannot take our souls, so he loves to get into our heads with lies. Give me the armor of You to protect me from his schemes. Guard my mind and help me to take every thought captive to You. Help me to not live in a scattered way but on the solid Rock that is You. Be my steady and remind me of Your Scriptures. When I am tempted to stray in my thinking, renew my mind with the truth of Your Word.

Jesus, as I desire to serve You and focus on Your purposes, give me a sense of Your presence. Allow me to fix my eyes on You. I am not strong enough to run this race, but in Your power I can keep my focus on the finish line of faith. You say in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” When I am tempted by laziness, apathy, or selfishness, remind me of the importance of the mission at hand to sharing the gospel with the world. Help me to press on by the strength of Your Spirit to accomplish all that I need to in Your name.

Remind me how You are working in and through me, even in the simplicity of the everyday encounters. Moments that seem insignificant, You use them for Your glory. Times when I feel like it is hard to stay on mission, redirect me with Your Word and through Your Spirit to stay the course.

Thank You for Your great gift of focus. Guide me to have Your mindset each and every day. When I am attacked with distractions and scattered in thought, still my soul and slow my mind from wandering. Give me the determination and the discipline that I need to accomplish Your will. In Your powerful name, I pray Jesus, Amen.

He Makes Beautiful Things..Amanda Idleman

 He Makes Beautiful Things

By Amanda Idleman

Ecclesiastes 3:11, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

God is doing the work of creating beauty not perfection. A part of the Christian faith looks like growth, change, and obedience. We are always looking to our Savior asking him to make us more like Him. If we are not careful this holy process of sanctification can quickly transform into us striving for perfection. We stop relying on God as the one that creates new things out of our lives and start believing that by our own strength we can become “good enough” to earn our own salvation.

Shame and guilt can distract us from the work of grace that God is doing in our lives. When all we see is how we are less than perfect, we can get distracted from the hope that is alive in our world. Our hope is that He makes beauty from our ashes.

As a parent I fall short yet amazingly I can behold so much beauty in the lives of my children everyday. As a wife I make mistakes, oftentimes over and over again, yet the perseverance and love that is enduring in our home is stunning. In my friendships and with my family, I don’t always have the right words but I am grateful for the way the stories of our lives are being written together. As a Christ-Follower, I often fall short and lack wisdom but God is still doing a good work in my life.

Our hearts can be encouraged by the knowledge that even though the headlines in our world and sometimes the headlining thoughts in our minds are filled with negativity, ugliness, and darkness; God is still alive and active in our world. His light is illuminating the dark places, showing his ability to redeem his fallen creation. He has not given up on us.

Genesis tells us the story of how God formed our world. When he finished and finally breathed life into his creation, he paused to say “It is good” (Genesis 1:31). This world began as something good but soon sin and death entered the scene and began to cast a shadow on God’s work. Since then the story of the world has been God coming down to Earth doing all he can to rescue, redeem, and illuminate his fallen creation. Beauty is being made of us despite our fallen nature.

The book of Revelation tells us that one day God’s beauty will be forever in our sights. We won’t have to struggle under the shadow that evil casts on this world. The new Heaven and new Earth will be our eternal home, with our God set securely on his throne of grace (Revelation 21). Our souls long for such a peace filled day! For now, we are a part of his work to bring His Kingdom down. His Kingdom is a place of creativity, beauty, light, and vibrance. Let’s be those that look for that beauty everyday, fighting against the urge to fixate on the problems.

May the Holy Spirit illuminate the beauty of God’s creation for you. He is making everything beautiful in his perfect timing. He offers hope, peace, joy, healing, redemption, reconciliation, and comfort to his children even in our profound brokenness. His grace is enough for us (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Pause and journal about the ways you have seen God’s beauty around you. Write down ways God has brought healing even when you have failed. Recount how he has protected you when you faced a dangerous situation. Think of how God has taught you and grown your character during a difficult season. Note how God’s creativity and beauty is on display in creation and the people in your life. Perfection is not required for beauty to exist.