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

 

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

 Craig Denison Ministries

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

Outside the Circle..SUSIE LARSON

 Outside the Circle

SUSIE LARSON 

“God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.” 1 Corinthians 1:28 (NLT)

When I was in high school, I was actively involved in lots of activities. But due to some childhood trauma, I was also painfully insecure.

I couldn’t find my footing to save my life. You’d find me on the sidelines at the varsity football games with the cheerleaders, but I wasn’t a legitimate member of their group. They didn’t care for me much. But I don’t fault them for that because I didn’t care for me much either.

Maybe this is your story too. Something happened in life to push you outside the circle. Now, on one hand, you don’t want to give too much power to the opinions of others, but on the other, you don’t want to live with a lie embedded in your soul.

God loves you. He designed you masterfully. And He does His best work through humble, broken people who know they need Him.

One day I cried out in prayer to God, knowing I had a flawed view of myself but at a loss for what to do about it. The Lord whispered to my heart, Susie, you’ve felt outside the circle your whole life, but that circle is actually an illusion. It has no value in heaven. Then I pictured Him drawing a circle around me when He whispered, You’re inside My circle, and that’s the only one that matters. The truth settled into my soul that day.

God consistently uses people who seem to be outside the circle, and He seems to love to do so. He takes regular, flawed, weak people and positions them to interrupt the enemy’s plans and establish His ultimate purposes on the earth:

• Joseph was an outsider, as far as his brothers were concerned. Then he became an insider in Egypt. God promoted him and positioned him to save a nation. (See Genesis 50.)
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• Moses was an insider raised by Egyptians. But God called him to be an outsider and align with His people, Israel, at a significant cost to Moses, so that He could lead them out of captivity and into freedom. (Read the book of Exodus.)
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• Jesus was an insider — seated in heaven, one with God and the Holy Spirit — and stepped down from His throne to enter the womb of a teenage girl. He who knew no sin became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God through Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He became an outsider so we who bear His name would become insiders — heirs to the Kingdom, filled with His Spirit, assigned to carry out His purposes on the earth. Hallelujah! (Read the Gospels.)
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• Paul was an insider: a Roman citizen and a persecutor of Christians. God knocked him off his horse and called him to be an outsider. Paul then followed Jesus and walked with those he’d once terrorized, and God used him to change the world. (Read Acts 9.)

Over and over again, God upsets the status quo. He purposely chooses the weak, the outcast and the marginal for His great purposes, as 1 Corinthians 1:28 says:

“God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.”

How many people go through life thinking they are outside a circle that holds no value in heaven? What would change for you if you understood and embraced your place at the table of grace? What if you genuinely saw yourself as the apple of God’s eye?

Maybe you feel left out like I did — outside the circle of others and even outside God’s circle. Friend, while others may not choose you, God will always choose you. He created you just as you are, and He has a purpose and a plan for how He wants to use you — just as you are. What others think of you and what you think of yourself will never compare to how God thinks of you, His daughter!

And the best news is that if we wish to see ourselves as God sees us, all we have to do is ask Him for His vision, His perspective of us. He delights in every detail of our lives.

Heavenly Father, I love You! Awaken fresh faith in me. Forgive me for giving more weight to what I think of myself than what You think of me. I want to know You more! Open my eyes to see what You see. Grant me a tangible sense of Your presence and Your love. Change me from the inside out. I want to walk and live and pray with such bold, humble confidence that mountains move and many come to know You. Stir up a passion in my soul, Lord! In Your Name, I reject rejection and accept acceptance. I refuse apathy, and I embrace engagement. Give me a fresh vision for where You are taking me, and put fierce faith in me to follow You there. I will guard my heart with all diligence, and I trust You to establish me in Your purposes for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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.

Why Grace is the Most Powerful Gift of All..John D. Barry

 Why Grace is the Most Powerful Gift of All

By John D. Barry, CEO of Jesus' Economy

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you”  Thessalonians 3:18

Paul could have ended 2 Thessalonians in dozens of ways; instead, he focuses on one thing alone: grace. Because grace is the most powerful concept of all.

Often, all we need is a little grace. Grace is renewing. It reaches deep inside us. It finds the despair and pain and offers love. It says, “Yes, you may be unworthy but you are loved and forgiven.”

Paul devoted much of his writing to the concept of grace. It is the grace of God, as shown through Jesus’ death and resurrection—for our sins, so that we could have relationship with God—that drove Paul’s entire life. Grace is what Paul himself had experienced as a redeemed sinner. It is grace that I have experienced as a redeemed sinner. It is grace that we all need.

How different would our world be if we all offered people the grace we have received? If instead of holding grudges and demanding apologies, we lived with a spirit of forgiveness? If instead of hoping that people would fall on their sword, we offered grace and love? If instead of being bitter we offered hope? If instead of considering ourselves better than others, we noted the incredible and unmerited redemption we have in Christ?

Imagine what could be if the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is what we proclaimed to everyone. Imagine what could be if grace drove our entire lives and if it’s what we wished for each and every person.

What parts of your life need to be transformed by grace today? Who can you show incredible grace to today, in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ? 

A Prayer for College Students..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for College Students

By Emma Danzey

John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Whether you have children in college, grandchildren, friends, or just care about the next generation, it is so important that we pray for them at this time of year. The start of a school year can really create a trajectory of an entire year. What clubs, ministries, and organizations that a student chooses put them around certain people and environments? This can either help them in their faith or pull them down.

We are reminded in John 1 that Jesus is the Light, and He has overcome the darkness. When believers live out daily life with Christ, they have opportunities to shine His light in dark places. College is definitely a place filled with darkness. From anti-Christian professors to party scenes, to identity crises, anxiety, depression, and independence gone wild, college is a make-or-break time in the life of many young people. This is a time when alcoholism develops, drug addictions take root, sexually transmitted diseases occur, and more. We need to seriously pray for college students today. The enemy is after them and uses this time for a lot of damage, however, our great God can use this time for a lot of good and strengthening individuals' faith. It is such an amazing mission field for those who love Jesus. The light shines bright in the dark places.

Let's Pray:

Dear Father,
Thank you that You care about college students. Even when they are in a place of great trials and temptations, You are the Light who will guide those who are seeking You. We pray over those who know you to not be drawn away from walking with You for temporary pleasures and popularity. We pray for strong identities in You. We ask that You would be the anchor for believing students to be respectful and loving to others but remain firm on the truth of Your gospel and Your Word. Help them to seek out and find college ministries and groups that encourage their faith and motivate them to walk the narrow path with You. Help them to be witnesses to their classmates, professors, and those younger than them. Please protect them and guide them as they make decisions each day.

Lord, we pray for those who do not know you in college. Would the light shine so brightly in the students and professors who do know You that they would desire that change within themselves? Help them to be approached and given the gift of the good news of Christ. We pray for boldness for evangelism, friendships, and sharing the truth in love. We ask for You to lead the students away from tempting situations and towards the things that are of You. Protect them from damaging choices. We pray over concerned parents and family members that they would have peace in You and not stop praying for their loved ones.

We pray for the student who knows You as Savior but has not truly grown in a relationship with You. God, they are teetering in these kinds of environments. Help them to make the decisions that You would want for them out of learning of Your great love. If they should stumble and go their rebellious ways, convict their hearts gently and help them to turn back to You. Your grace is given, grace upon grace.

Remind students who fall that You are there always to pick them back up, and Your love for them has not changed even in their sins. We pray that other believers who are stronger in their faith would come alongside these students and love them well. Help them to have positive friend groups that sharpen them and motivate them to seek You. We pray for parents and family members who are concerned about these students. Help them to have peace and trust in Your working in their lives. Remind them that You see and love their child more. Give them hope that You hear their prayers.

Lord, please bless the college students of today. In a culture of confusion, help them to find all their answers and identity in You. Amen.

You Have Been Healed..Emma Danzey

 You Have Been Healed

By Emma Danzey

1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

He Himself Bore our Sins in His Body on the Tree
When we take a step back and look at an overview of Scripture, we see such detail and thought in the redemptive plan of Christ. God knew that humanity would sin. He instructed Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:17) The serpent then twisted the words of our Creator and tempted the woman and the man who was with her. Unfortunately, both disobeyed and sinned. Humanity was officially separated from their loving God because of their choices.

Fast forward to the time of Christ. Jesus lived the perfect life that we could not live. He suffered, died, and rose again on the third day. (Luke 24:46-47) Death was defeated, Satan lost, and our Lord won us back to Himself. It is particularly amazing that Jesus’s death was on a tree. In thinking back to Genesis, sin began at a tree, and now, sin would be defeated on a tree. Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all. Anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. This is not just an overview of sin that He bore, but our personal sins. Any evil thought, bad habit, rude words, or sinful attitudes or actions were taken on the cross. We do not need to live in fear of eternal punishment when we have accepted this great gift through Jesus.

That We Might Die to Sin and Live to Righteousness
This is not a one-and-done kind of life. So many people are tempted to make a salvation decision and stop there. However, God has invited us into His kingdom work. He has a particular mission for each of us on this earth to complete. He wants us to know Him through His Word, by His Holy Spirit, and in prayer. We have full access to the Lord of all.

He calls us to die to sin and live righteously. This means each day, when we are tempted to think and act sinfully, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us live by the Spirit and not our flesh. This means that we are continually open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. This means that we are relying on God to help us to navigate hard decisions in representing Him well. The Lord does not require perfection from us because we have already failed, this is why Jesus came. Jesus took our place. God does, however, invite us to live lives that model Christ through the Holy Spirit as a witness to those around us.

By His Wounds You have Been Healed 
Ultimately, the worst diagnosis we could get is eternal death and separation from God. Unfortunately, this was everyone's fate. However, by Jesus’ wounds, His death, and resurrection, He has healed and set us free. He is the eternal antidote. He is the Savior of the world. When we are tempted to forget His great sacrifice and gift to us, we can ask Him to remind us what He has already healed us. He has taken away our eternal woe and dread and given us hope and peace of an eternity with Him in Heaven. We can have calmness of mind. We can rest in God alone. Jesus’ sacrifice was once and for all. Hebrews 9:26 says, “Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Intersecting Faith and Life:?
How does thinking about Jesus’ sacrifice on a tree put you in awe of God’s redemptive plan from the Garden of Eden? In what ways is God calling you to die to your sin and live for Him? How can you celebrate the eternal healing that Jesus has given you by His wounds?

Further Reading:

• Genesis 2:17
• Isaiah 53:5
• Luke 24:46-47