Love Does..Craig Denison Ministries

 Love Does

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

James 2:26 tells us, “Faith apart from works is dead.” If we are going to experience the fullness of life offered to us through our faith we must be those who put our words into action. We must not profess to love God on Sundays and live as if he isn’t present, real, or good on Monday. May your faith come alive this week as you seek to be a doer of the word.

Scripture: “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” James 2:26

Devotional:

God has designed the Christian life to be one filled with adventurous and redemptive action—action that is fueled by the love and work of Jesus in our own lives. So great is God’s love for us that he would leave the glory of heaven, take on flesh, and destroy the power of sin and death with his loving sacrifice. God's love was so great that he gave himself up for us who are undeserving and could never repay him. And he longs for his love to be the foundation for all we do, think and feel.

As Christians we are to reflect the love we’ve been shown in Christ through the way we offer compassion and love to those around us. God has appointed us as the sole carriers of his message of redemption for all. He longs to use you to share and exemplify the hope that comes solely through relationship with him. Love doesn’t mean all that much just as an idea. The power of God’s love comes through action. It comes through helping a stranger, showing compassion and mercy to those who wrong you, serving someone while expecting nothing in return, and sharing the hope of Christ through word and deed. Jesus proved that love isn’t just an idea. Love does.

Bob Goff champions the cause for putting action to love in his book, Love Does. In it he writes, “He says to ordinary people like me and you that instead of closing our eyes and bowing our heads, sometimes God wants us to keep our eyes open for people in need, do something about it, and bow our whole lives to Him instead.”In his book he articulates an important spiritual principle—your faith was never intended to be limited to hearing. Your faith was never intended to be limited to conversation. James 2:18 tells us, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

What does your love mean if it isn’t demonstrated? What would the love of God have meant if he stayed in heaven and never suffered for us? How would you feel about God if he could have saved all of humanity but didn’t? Jesus would have been completely justified to stay on his throne. God would have been completely justified to wipe out humanity and start over every time we chose idols over him. But instead he put action to his love for us. He committed the most incredible act of love possible in sending his Son to die for you and me. Jesus didn’t just talk about love.His love was demonstrated in every crack of the whip on his back, in every taunting word, in every nail that pierced his body and in every excruciating gasp for air in which he prayed for us rather than end the torture. He lived out his love for you and me, and he calls us to do the same. 1 John 4:9-11 says,

 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Spend time with God today asking him how you can put your faith into action. In what ways has the love of God been demonstrated to you? In what ways can you share with those around you the incredible gift that’s been given to you? Oftentimes, we think of the big things: leading someone to Jesus or selling everything we have. But putting your faith into works could be as simple as a phone call, a cooked meal, a kind word, or a hug. Whatever God shows you, choose to live life as a believer whose faith and works are tethered, bringing redemption to a world desperately in need of God's grace.

Guided Prayer:

1. Take a minute to meditate on God’s love put into action. Choose to make Jesus your example.

 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9-11

2. Now ask God how he would have you put action to love today. What can you do to show the Father’s love to those around you?

“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” James 2:26

3. Ask the Spirit to fill you with the strength and courage to do the works he has planned for you today in love. Let him empower you with his presence.

The Holy Spirit longs to help you connect with God and live out of the fruit of your relationship. He longs to empower you to love others. By his power and grace you can do incredible, eternal and impactful things with your time on earth. You are the child of God, made in his image and filled with same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Lean on God, ask for his help and have the courage to submit to his leadership today.

Extended Reading: James 2

The Glorious Gift of God’s Grace..Emily Rose Massey

 The Glorious Gift of God’s Grace

By Emily Rose Massey

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV).

I have always been a list maker and fueled by accomplishment. At some point, being successful and driven became the meaning behind every breath I took; I found purpose in my performance and productivity. I loved the high from “the hustle” and having my schedule full to the brim. I spent years upon years upon years crowding the margins of my existence with: Dance class, gymnastics, cheerleading, running track, Student Council, Marching Band, Pep Band, Concert Band, Art Club, Peers Group, musicals & plays, auditions, performances, church choir practice, tutoring, youth ministry, college and career ministry, worship team rehearsals, Bible studies, prayer meetings, church leadership meetings, drama practices, event planning committees, speaking engagements…

… just to name a few.

This vicious cycle of constant hustle was all I knew for well over 20 years of my life. I still wrestle with the temptation to find my worth in my productivity and seeking my happiness when everything is “perfect.” That is an exhausting way to live, and if you are not careful, this mentality will creep into your spiritual life and soon you will be trying to work to earn God’s favor and love. But as Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, we know that we cannot earn our salvation because it is a gift from God:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV).

 And just as God is sovereign in salvation, He is also sovereign in our sanctification. He is the one who oversees us mature on our walk with Him. The same grace that saved us is the very same grace that keeps us and molds us into the image of Christ, day by day. From the moment of your conversion, you became God’s work-in-progress, and the greatest news of all is that He doesn’t grow weary, stressed, or exhausted with you. He will complete the work He began in us (Philippians 1:6).

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Your inconsistencies and failures are not going to change. Your disobedience, your lack in trust… none of that is going to change the work nor thwart God’s plan in your life. God starts it, God finishes it. We simply need to lean on His strength and grace and ask for wisdom to walk in obedience. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, and He will help you walk in God’s will. You don’t have to muster up your “faith muscles” to see that happen. You simply need to trust that God’s plan for your life will be accomplished, not because there is anything good in you, but because of His goodness and faithfulness! 

Do you struggle with trying to earn God’s love? When you fail and sin, do you hide from God or try to fix it yourself by “trying to do better?” Beloved, you do not have to run away from God. He sees it all and knows that you are going to undoubtedly mess up. That is why He sent His Son Jesus to earth to live the perfect life for you, to fulfill the law completely for you. His death on the cross paid for your punishment of the curse of the law that you will never be able to uphold. Come boldly to the throne of grace today and receive new mercies that Christ died for you to have. Lean on His strength and grace today and see the work that He started in you continue until His glorious return or when you meet Him face to face. Trust that He is working and yield to it. 

Further Reading:

• Romans 5:20-21
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13

 

Stop Worrying and Put Your Trust in God..Cindi McMenamin

 Stop Worrying and Put Your Trust in God

By: Cindi McMenamin

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” - 1 John 4:18

I’m sure you and I would never worry at all if we could be assured that our children would be happy, healthy, and safe all their days. But life comes with no such assurances. And while I personally can’t promise the well-being of your children, I can offer you some ways to eliminate worry, experience peace, and enjoy the task of parenting no matter how young or old your children are and no matter how much damage they might have done already. It’s all about leaning on the One who can do far more for and with your child than you ever could.

Scripture says God has not given us the spirit of worry or fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). And a mom can have a tremendously positive influence on her child when she is exercising not worry or fear, but God’s power, love, and a sound mind.

Trusting God with your children is not just wishful thinking and hoping God agrees with your prayers. It’s a lifestyle of leaning on the Living God who can accomplish all that we cannot, and who can determine what is best for your child when you and I only think we can. And it starts with letting go of the worry.

Worry says to our children and others: "God can't work this out." Therefore, worry is the sin of having no confidence in God. I know that you, like me, aren’t consciously thinking those words when you worry. But I also know you don’t want to display that type of mistrust to your children.

How we live will, to a great degree, impact how our children live. What we worry about, they will tend to worry about. On the flip side, where we put our trust will greatly impact how they will choose to handle situations in life, too. Even if they don't imitate your faith or degree of trust, they will know on Whom you rely (or don’t rely) and it speaks louder to them than any lecture.  The choices we make – including whether we decide to worry or trust God – will no doubt influence our children's choices well into their adulthood.

God gave us a formula in His Word to help us stop the worry:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT).

The very next verse tells us how to stop the worrying, so we can experience that kind of peace that comes through praying about everything:

…Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise (verse 8).

As you focus on God’s goodness, God’s love, and God’s ability to control all that you cannot, there is no room in your mind for fear or worry.

Trust Him. He can control all you think you must and all you are convinced you can’t. And He knows exactly what He’s doing in your child’s life – and yours.

A Prayer for the Words We Speak..Ashley Moore

 A Prayer for the Words We Speak

By Ashley Moore

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” - Proverbs 12:18, ESV

The words," sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me, " couldn't be further from the truth. From being taunted as a child to office gossip, we've all experienced the bruising effects of words on our lives. I’m willing to bet if I were across the table from you right now and asked you to recall memories, you could easily recall a time when someone said something hurtful to you. Because the truth is, whether we acknowledge it or not, our words carry so much weight. Our words can be used to build up or tear down. They can motivate or discourage. They can be a source of an inflicted wound or healing balm for another’s soul.  

So let me ask, has anyone said anything hurtful about you? Do their words stick with you now, possibly years after they were spoken? Maybe you still hear the voice of your overly critical mother when you make decisions. “Don’t do that; I won’t have people thinking I raised an idiot!”

Or perhaps you wince at the memory of the teacher embarrassing you in front of the entire class. “Honey, don’t think for a second you will get into college with these test scores.” Or perhaps a confidante betrayed your trust, turning your personal hurt into public shame? “You know, I don’t feel bad for her divorce; I bet he left her because she is such a nag.”

Our key verse is true. Words can cut us oh so deep. Other places in Scripture communicate the weight of our words as well.

• Proverbs 18:21 says the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
•  Proverbs 17:28 says, even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. 
•  Proverbs 15:1 reads, A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

We’ve all likely been on the receiving end of the rash words spoken by another person. Maybe their words stoked strong emotions in us or led us to retaliate unkindly, adding salt to the wound they inflicted. 

Conversely, I shutter as I think of who may have a painful memory of hurtful words I’ve spoken. With the knowledge from Scripture and with the help of the Holy Spirit, let us be diligent in choosing our words purposefully. We can use our conversations to provide comfort, not elicit pain. After all, our role as Christians is to be the aroma of Christ everywhere we go (2 Corinthians 2:15-17). We want our words to be a refreshing, alluring scent trail to be followed and not don’t a stench for those who Christ is calling to Himself. 

Words can be painful. Sometimes I think it might be easier to endure sticks and stones over a verbal attack. May we extend forgiveness to those who have carelessly spoken a rash word that caused us pain. And ask the Holy Spirit to transform our rash words into words full of wisdom that bring healing. Should a harmful word escape our lips, may we be quick to repent and repair, acknowledging the impact of what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a rash word. 

Let’s Pray:
God, thank you that the blood of Jesus covers not only my sin but the sins that others have inflicted on me. You died for every harsh word we’ve spoken and the words that others have spoken against us. Thank you. Lord, forgive us for how we have carelessly spoken and hurt the people around us. God, thank you for the reminders from your life-giving Word that the things we say are so powerful. God, would you make us tender to conviction when our tongues become sharp? Would you set a guard over our mouths and keep watch over the door of our lips, Lord (Psalm 141:3). May we wield the power of our tongues to build each other up and encourage one another. And when we fail, Jesus, would you forgive us and give us the courage and wisdom to use our words to bring healing?
In Jesus' name, amen.