The Joy of a Love-based Life.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

The Joy of a Love-based Life

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” The greatest of all aspects of the Christian life is love. Love is to be at the foundation of all we do, all we are, and all we hold on to. If we focus on love and allow the Holy Spirit to strip everything else away, what will be left is a life of blessed simplicity rooted in face-to-face relationship with our heavenly Father. As we spend time this week looking at the simplicity of love, I pray that all the weighty, frivolous things of the world that rob you of an abundant life fall away in light of the glorious goodness of God’s unconditional and wholly available love for you.

Scripture:“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

Devotional:           

In God we have access to the fullness of joy. In Psalm 16:11 David says to God, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” God has set out for us all a path to the fullness of joy found only in his presence, and that path is marked by love. We can have joy in and out of every season because God never stops loving us.

When we base our lives on the love of God rather than the thoughts, perspectives, and pursuits of the world, we position ourselves to live filled with the joy that comes solely through relationship with the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We have been ransomed from the ways of this world and brought into the kingdom of our heavenly Father. And in this kingdom we discover a wealth of joy found in the Spirit of God dwelling with us.

The Holy Spirit longs to make us a joyful people. He longs to lead us away from that which will steal our joy and guide us to green pastures and still waters. But a choice remains constantly before us. Will we choose the stress, burdens, and insecurities of this world or will we follow God into a more abundant life of his joy-filled presence? We have a very real enemy tempting us every day to choose a world that will never fulfill us. While we may not be his any longer, he will do whatever he can to rob us of the abundant life afforded us by the powerful sacrifice of Jesus. But 1 John 4:4 tells us, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

The Holy Spirit dwelling within us is perfectly capable of guiding us away from the temptations of the enemy and toward the joy that can only be found in living for God’s kingdom. If we will choose today to be loved by God and love him in return, we will undoubtedly be filled with joy. Joy is a consistent symptom of seeking first the kingdom of God because his kingdom is marked by joy.

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” I pray that your life will be marked by rejoicing today. I pray that you will so encounter the love of God that you are filled with joy in all you do. Choose today to base your life on the unconditional love of your heavenly Father. Choose to love him and others in all you do in response to the wealth of affections he has for you. Experience his love today and be filled with inexpressible joy.

Take time in guided prayer to encounter God’s presence, commit your day to the wholehearted pursuit of love, and receive the joy available to you in God’s kingdom.

Guided Prayer:

1. Ask God to make you aware of his nearness. Receive his presence into your heart and rest in the joy and that comes with it.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

2. Commit yourself to pursuing love today in all you do. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you love God and people with your thoughts, actions, emotions, and words.

“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

3. Receive the joy of the Holy Spirit. Ask him to bear the fruit of joy in your heart, work, and relationships. Ask him to transform you into a person marked by joy.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This life is too short to live for anything but the kingdom of God. All other kingdoms fall away. Anything we build up that is of this world will return to dust just like us. Make the choice to live for a greater purpose than worldly acceptance and discover the wellspring of joy available to you in the kingdom of your loving heavenly Father.

Extended Reading: Matthew 6

This Is Why Your Art Matters..RACHEL MARIE KANG

 This Is Why Your Art Matters

RACHEL MARIE KANG

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Genesis 1:3 (NIV)

I was just a young girl when I learned how to see brokenness more than any other thing.

Even when I could not name it, I looked for it — in the ruin of run-down buildings, in flowers faltering and failing to bloom.

More than just seeing brokenness, I could sense it, could feel it sweeping around me, seeping in and out of me. I was so good at gathering broken things and burying them deep within, until I was no longer just beholding brokenness — it was beholding me.

Brokenness was becoming me.

All of us are born into this brokenness. All of us are birthed and brought into this earth of inevitable darkness, a darkness that burns beneath the bone.

You already know the story of a serpent hissing whispers of shame, of the forbidden fruit and the inevitable fall of man. (Genesis 3) So instead of telling you about the woman taking a bite and breaking the heart of God, I will tell you the story of God’s breaking — of God breaking up the darkness and bringing forth light.

It’s the story of God staring out into the darkness, to which He speaks, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).

It is here where our stories begin. It is here where the looming possibility of the incredibly hard and terrible things that happen in our lives first lingers. Our stories began when God created boundaries to contain and control the darkness and the deep.

We began with the world that God called good but that He still allows to remain with “a sense of wildness and chaos that must yet be controlled,” in the words of Jeffery M. Leonard, Professor of Biblical Studies at Samford University and author of Creation Rediscovered. Of course, that wildness and chaos is humankind’s own fault, not God’s — it's the result of our sin.

Leonard also writes that “God charges humankind with taking up the divine mantle of creating and working to push back the boundaries of this chaos still further.”

It is within this tension of a controlled chaos — not yet completely cast away — that God ultimately initiates tikkun olam. This is a Judaic concept that defines this tension as God’s purpose of leaving room for repair in this world. In this restorative plan, God invites us to participate in the work of pushing back the darkness in this world, of tending to this wild planet, of tending to our own wild hearts and of playing a part in restoring all things to the way they could and should be.

Restoring all things to peace.

This is why your art matters. Every journal entry written, photograph captured, song strummed and graphic designed — every letter penned — drips and drowns with more weight and wonder than you will ever possibly come to imagine or understand. Whether in public or private, we bring forth art not as a way of claiming that we are right about anything but as a way of climbing back toward the light.

God’s plan in the beginning wasn’t simply to save us from the inevitability of sin. His desire all along was that we, just like Him, would live and long to push back the darkness and forever hold our gaze upon His goodness and His great light.

This is not to say we play any role in working for our own salvation. Jesus Christ completed that work once and for all on the cross. Rather, it's the work of the restoration of things (communities, classes, churches, relationships, our own lives) that we are invited into … and art is just one of many ways to do so.

In response to His great love and grace, we will sing and dance and cultivate creativity in the corners of our homes.

We will read books and write our own.

We will pen poems and post photos to our socials.

We will knit scarves to keep strangers warm.

We will find creative solutions to teach our children and tend to the land.

We will experiment with recipes and invite others into our hospitable homes.

We will live our lives courageously, cultivating our art and being captivated by the art of others.

We will know that, in all that we say and do and make, we are coming to know Christ and helping to make Him known.

God, let me hear the sound and song of Your love over the lies. Awaken courage as I live to cultivate creativity. Shine a light onto my heart, and release Your healing into the world through my art. Let it be so, in and through me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Looking for Fruit..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Looking for Fruit

Dr. Charles Stanley

Galatians 5:16-26

As believers, we all want the fruit of the Spirit, but how can we know if we truly have it? Even unbelievers can display these qualities when conditions are positive. This nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is not what we do, but who we are, and it is primarily on display in Christians when circumstances are unfavorable. Two characteristics help us recognize these traits in our lives.

Fruitful believers are not controlled by their environment. Everyone experiences trials and pain, but those who are filled with the Spirit do not lose His fruit because of their situations. They keep their joy even when difficulties overwhelm. If someone speaks harshly, they respond with kindness. Because the Holy Spirit is in control, He is free to produce His fruit no matter what the circumstances are. Even though such believers may feel pain, anger, or a desire for revenge, they choose to trust the Lord to protect them and direct the outcome.  

Fruitful Christians recover quickly after a fall. These believers are not perfect, but they are sensitive to the Spirit's conviction and are quick to return to the Lord in repentance. In fact, they are actually grateful for the correction and praise God, not only for revealing their weakness but also for drawing them back to obedience.

No one produces these amazing qualities in himself. Trying harder to be godly will never work. Character transformation occurs when we submit to God, giving Him complete control of our lives. Only then will the Spirit be free to produce fruit that remains even in the deepest, darkest storms.

A New Way to Walk in the World..Scott Patty

 A New Way to Walk in the World

By Scott Patty

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. —1 Corinthians 10:31

We need wisdom to walk this way. There are many issues and opportunities in life that require us to think about the best way to glorify God. At times the questions of life have a simple, straightforward answer. Don’t steal, murder, or commit adultery. Do honor your parents, love your neighbor, and tell the truth. At other times, things are not quite so clear. But that doesn’t mean we have no guidance for a way forward that brings glory to God.

First Corinthians 8, 9, and 10 give us wisdom. I encourage you today, or this week, to read all three of these chapters.

From 1 Corinthians 8, consider what builds up the faith of other Christians. Thinking about how to serve the spiritual growth of your fellow church members can help you make good decisions about how to live in the world.

From 1 Corinthians 9, consider what commends the gospel to people in the world. Making decisions about your interactions in the world based on how people need to hear the gospel is a great way to glorify God.

From 1 Corinthians 10, consider what promotes devotion to Christ in your own life. Every day we make big and small decisions that can either harm or enhance our obedience to God.

This is a big chunk of the Bible, written by the apostle Paul almost two thousand years ago. This wisdom still applies to us. My prayer is that as you think on these things, the Lord will give you understanding for how to glorify him as you walk in the world.

A Prayer to Rejoice in God’s Unfailing Love When Life Is Stressful..Tiffany Thibault

 A Prayer to Rejoice in God’s Unfailing Love When Life Is Stressful

By Tiffany Thibault

When I said, “My foot is slipping”, your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. - Psalm 94:18-19

Life, people, deadlines, illness, bills, responsibilities, mechanical issues. They all seem to mount up, break down, and cause moments of stress which burdens us down in their unrelenting fury. We want to quickly work through finding solutions and find a way to neatly tie everything up so that we can move on to more fun, more relaxing or more of the things that bring us joy.

Sometimes, in the midst of all the broken-down stuff of life, when issues keep piling even more stuff on top of us, there is the potential for us to nosedive into the pit of anxiousness and depression. Sometimes it seems as if there is no way out, no relief in sight, no ending to all the stuff. Sometimes it feels as though you are losing control of your hope, your finances, your health, and even your sanity in those moments of unrelenting issues.

The writer of this Psalm was faced with tremendous stress. He knew that he was slipping into anxiety, as he was overwhelmed with all the stuff that life was throwing his way. He turned his eyes to the Lord and cried out for help. He focused on the unfailing love of the Lord. Unfailing. He knew that the Lord's love for him would not ever stop, it would never break, it would not end, ever! He knew from firsthand experience that though he was feeling anxious in all his situations, that the Lord’s presence brings him comfort and even joy.

Whatever you are facing today, whatever is causing you to be anxious, you too can know that even during all the stuff, that the Lord is right there with you to bring you comfort and joy. His love for you is unfailing. That means the Lord's love for you will not stop, it will not break, it will not end, ever!

Immerse yourself into the Bible, into the scriptures, searching it for all the ways that the Lord loves you. Frequently pour your heart and all your worries out to Him in prayer. Meditate on the Bible verses that speak of His love for you. He is there to comfort you, to bring you joy. He will be there with you as you go through every moment of your journey. He is there for you in all the ups and downs of your days. His love for you is unfailing.

Let's Pray:

Dear Lord,
Thank you that your love for me is unfailing. Thank you that when I feel like I am slipping under the weight of all the stuff, you are there to support me with your unfailing love. Help me to cling to that truth as I am overwhelmed by all the situations that I am facing today. Help me when I feel anxiety’s grip trying to squeeze out my peace, my patience, and my endurance. Console and comfort me, Lord, with your unfailing love so that my soul can be filled with your joy!

In Your name, I pray,
Amen

5 Lessons on Sexual Temptation from Proverbs 5.. Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 5 Lessons on Sexual Temptation from Proverbs 5

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

“Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her words are smoother than oil, in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a double-edged sword.” (Proverbs 5:3-4)

The Forbidden Woman

“Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?” asks one of the proverbs (Proverbs 6:27). The answer to this rhetorical question is obvious, as is our innate desire for sin, especially the sexual kind. God intended for sex to be an act that honors spouses, and honors Him, but much like other sins, mankind’s creativity for wrongdoing knows no bounds.

From billboards to social media, to movies on the big screen, or the device we keep in our pockets, if you want to find sex, you don’t have to look far. Young children access porn on a moment’s notice online, while some adults form groups with the sole purpose of fornicating.

Our fleshly weakness may explain why there are various passages in Scripture that warn us about uncontrolled desire. One such place is Proverbs 5, where a father cautions his son about the “forbidden woman.” Today, his wise words can serve to enlighten and strengthen us as well.

Whether we are nearing temptation, have already given in, or are seeking to remain strong, there is something each of us can learn from these five lessons on sexual temptation from Proverbs 5.

1. Establish Boundaries (Proverbs 5:1-2)
Living in a world of sin, something we all need is boundaries. Unfortunately, many of us learn this after answering the call of temptation. Too many parents give their children unmitigated access to the internet. And too many adults refuse to limit their own access for fear of missing out. No boundaries is like a wide-open door, an invitation for anything outside to come in.

Know your limits, and don’t test them. Approaching your boundary is a sign that you’re nearing a bad choice.

2. Humanize the Person (Proverbs 5:5-6)
The forbidden woman is a person, just like you, just like me. And just like us, no one chooses to sell their body when they think there is a better way to make money. Only people who have been abused, molested, and broken from early childhood pursue prostitution as a legitimate way to work. The same goes for the woman on the corner of a busy city and for the woman appearing in a late-night movie.

When we humanize people, we stop treating them as tools for our pleasure. They are people with emotions, goals, thoughts, and struggles exactly like us. They have family, friends, and more. If we knew them, whether as a relative, friend, or acquaintance, would we want them to engage in such behavior?

3. Flee (Proverbs 5:8)
Possibly the most underrated advice when facing temptation is to run. Flee. Escape the fire before you get burned. Saying no to sin early on is like pulling out a seed from the ground. Uprooting a tree is a much more difficult task.

4. Know the Consequences (Proverbs 5:9-14)
One reason we succumb to lust is that we either don’t know, or we ignore the consequences. The easiest way to resolve this issue is by ensuring that we not only know the consequences of our actions, but that we meditate on them. This is especially true if we are in seasons or places in life where temptation is higher.

Knowing what possible bad outcomes await can be sure motivation to walk the straight path.

5. Enjoy Marriage (Proverbs 5:15-19)
If marriage is a part of your life, then enjoy the blessing that God has given you. Realize that your spouse will never match up to lust. They will never look, act, or talk like those people we lust after. That’s because your spouse is real. Honor and appreciate that realness.

If you’re single, pray to God for strength to remain chaste and for discernment as to where you can put your sexual energies. Sex is a want, not a need, but no one denies that libido exists. Find a way to put that energy toward serving the community, a hobby, or anything positive that gets your mind off of sex.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
There is a reason lust makes the list as one of the seven deadly sins. Much of humanity has succumbed to the forbidden woman at one time or another, and just about all of us have heard her call. Whether we are talking about sirens from Greek mythology or Instagram models today, lust is always looming on the corner, beckoning whoever will listen. Those who answer waste time, and themselves, chasing after an ever fleeting high.

Let us as a church choose to be different today. May we each stand firmly, soberly, and righteously against temptation.

Further Reading (and Listening):

• Proverbs 6:20-35
• 2 Timothy 2:22
• 1 Corinthians 6:12-20