Bless Those Who Persecute You..Craig Denison Ministries

 Bless Those Who Persecute You

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

This week we’re going to take a look at seven principles found in Romans 12 that describe the marks of a true Christian. The intent of studying this passage is not to condemn or lead you to comparison. Instead, let Paul’s teaching fill you with a deep, transformative longing to wholeheartedly pursue the life God intends for you. Ask God to help you see yourself as he sees you, to see the grace he’s placed upon your life by the blood of Jesus so that you might walk more fully in the power and anointing of the Spirit. Open your heart to God, and let him do a mighty work in you. He is near to you, ready to mold and shape you into a disciple filled with and fueled by his incredible love. May you discover God’s grace and perspective this week as you examine your life in light of this powerful passage of Scripture.

Scripture:“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Romans 12:14

Devotional:

Think back on an unresolved conflict you’ve had. Maybe a friend, spouse, family member, or coworker wronged you. Reflect on the anger, frustration, and sense of injustice you felt. Maybe you still feel those feelings today when you remember that situation. Conflict without grace and forgiveness is like a small hole in the fabric of our emotions that seems to tear larger and larger with every passing day. The more we play the scenario over in our heads, the worse it seems to get. The feelings of unforgiveness and the need for fairness carry with them an increasingly heavy burden. And the Bible teaches us that unforgiveness and seeking fairness are weights we were never intended to bear.

Jesus completely turned our system of fairness on its head. In Luke 6:27-31, he said, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” The way of God is grace-filled, unconditional love, not fighting for what you feel owed. Jesus himself “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). Jesus chose to never reciprocate the persecution and cursing he faced. Instead, he lived his life in the pursuit of blessing everyone with grace and mercy so that they might know the depth of God’s love. And he calls you and me to do the same.

Matthew 5:43-45 says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” We are called to live our lives out of the understanding that we are sons and daughters of God. And Jesus says that loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us demonstrates our position as God’s children. You have been delivered from the world’s system of fairness. You no longer have to fight to get what is owed to you. Instead, you can choose to cast off that weight and bless and serve those around you.

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them” (Romans 12:14). God will fight for your justice. He will be your protector and defender. Leave those heavy needs at the foot of the cross, and come follow the way of your Savior. The only path to experiencing the fullness of abundant life is choosing to bless your enemies instead of fighting with them. God’s path to peace and joy is founded on the concept of grace. When you choose to bless others, even if they don’t deserve it, you are choosing to live your life in light of eternity. You have been forgiven and offered grace not because you deserved it, but by the mercy and love of your heavenly Father. Follow the example and teaching of Jesus today, live your life in obedience to his word, and experience the fruit of choosing to bless everyone around you regardless of how they treat you.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness and grace.

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6:27-31

2. Now ask the Spirit to fill you with the desire to be like Jesus and obey his word. Trust that God’s commands are meant to lead you to the absolute best life you could live.

“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

3. Spend time in God’s presence, allowing the love and grace he offers you to mold and shape you into the likeness of Jesus. The more time you spend with God, the more you will become like him. Rest in his nearness.

Blessing those who have hurt you is one of the hardest things to do as a believer. It requires the perspective and fortitude to choose God’s ways over what feels most gratifying at the time. But you have the power to choose the abundant life God makes available to you in every moment. The Holy Spirit will help you forgive and offer grace to others if you will allow him to. Choose to bless those who persecute you today, and watch as the love and honor you show others brings heaven to earth around you.

Extended Reading: Matthew 5

Raising Kind Children Who Reflect the Heart of God..LAURA WIFLER

Raising Kind Children Who Reflect the Heart of God
LAURA WIFLER 

“Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.” Romans 15:7 (CSB)

It was a hot July day, and we had picked up a few of my children’s friends to take them to the pool.

My youngest daughter, who lives with intellectual disabilities, jabbered excitedly in the car, talking about water and goggles and pretzel bites (her favorite snack to get at the concession stand). But because of her speech delay, I was likely the only one who could understand what she was specifically talking about.

As we pulled into the parking lot and piled out of the minivan, my daughter grabbed one of the friend’s hands and continued speaking enthusiastically to her, pointing at the pool and laughing as they walked in.

“I can’t understand anything she’s saying,” the friend said to my older daughter, with a nervous laugh, as she tried to pull her hand away.

My older daughter, who is 7, replied, “She has disabilities. But you can still be friends with her. She makes a really good friend.”

As a mom to a child with global disabilities, I often see the discomfort children have when interacting with others who are different from them. I understand this! Even as adults, it’s natural to feel hesitant when observing behaviors or movements that we’re not used to.

But God calls us, as believers, to move toward those who seem different from us and to extend kindness and compassion. What my 7-year-old daughter said that day to her friend was a deep truth that reflects God’s heart. “Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God” (Romans 15:7).

So how do we help our kids model God’s love for those with disabilities? There are many ways, but here are four to get started:

1. Teach them about the Imago Dei.

Every person on the planet — no matter their abilities — has been made in the Imago Dei, or image of God, (Genesis 1:26-27) which means they have inherent dignity and value. The Imago Dei reminds us that it is a privilege to know another human being, and there is not one person who is not worthy of our time.

2. Help your child to see how they have sameness with another person.

Research shows that having diverse friendships is healthy and helps make children (and adults!) more well rounded and compassionate. But research also shows that no matter how different two people are, friendship is always formed on sameness. That might be a similar upbringing, a similar taste in movies, or a similar love for a certain type of food.

By pointing out similarities, we can help our children see that they have sameness with those with disabilities. Maybe both children love dogs, or maybe they love playing tag, wearing the same color shirt, or even simply wanting to laugh and be included. Above all, we can show our children that no matter what, they have sameness with another person simply because of the Imago Dei.

3. Expose your children to various disabilities.

Sometimes, a child simply feels discomfort around disabilities because they haven’t been exposed to adaptive equipment or haven’t had different behaviors explained to them. Thankfully, these days there are a lot of positive representations of disabilities and adaptive equipment in books, shows and media that you can pause and take time to explain to children.

In addition, when you see a person with disabilities, tell your children that you’ll explain and answer questions privately, later in the car or at home. Of course, if your child says or does something mean or rude (even unintentionally), it’s best to address it immediately.

4. As a parent, model God’s heart for those with disabilities.

As an adult, I sometimes need to be reminded of the truth my 7-year-old shared as well. “More is caught than taught,” as they say, and our children are watching to see if we have diverse friendships and live what we’re teaching them. We won’t do this perfectly, but we can pray and ask God to show us whom He wants us to move toward and love, and then act accordingly.

Because God loved us first, we can love others and see the beauty of His design in all people, no matter what they look like or how they act. As parents, we can teach our children to see all people the way God sees them — with compassion, love and tenderness. Not just to create a kinder world (though that’s a good thing) but, more importantly, to reflect the heart of God — welcoming others just as Christ welcomed us, to the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)

Father, I long to raise children who share in Your heart for those living with disabilities. Help me to model this first in my own life; then help me to teach my children. Give us all a deep understanding of what it means to be made in Your image, and show us how we can honor it in others through friendships and love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Expressions of Praise..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Expressions of Praise

Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalms 34:1-3

Glorifying the Lord is not limited to worshipping in church. In fact, praise ought to permeate the believer’s life. 

One obvious way that we praise the Lord is with our voice. We can either speak or sing our worship. Psalm writers put adoration into words and set their love to music. True worship also flows from the mouths of believers who are focused upon God’s attributes. They desire to honor Him because of who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised for the future.

Genuine worship allows the Lord to fill our hearts and minds with His presence. But praising the Lord with wrong motives is an empty act. For example, if we’re lifting our hands and singing loud only because doing so feels good, then what we’re after is an emotional high. That kind of selfish “praise” falls far short of heaven.

Our God is praised when we serve Him. People are created for the purpose of bringing glory and honor to His name. Therefore, nothing should limit our willingness to work for the King, particularly when we have a chance to share Him with others. Christ is honored when His followers speak boldly about His grace and His work—believers’ testimonies are an amazing form of praise that magnifies God’s name.

Jesus Christ is worth more than any treasure this world offers. Loving Him and understanding what He’s done for you should be all the motivation you need to praise Him with your life. Don’t just sing; serve His kingdom and share the gospel. Help to make God’s throne room ring with worship.

Imitating Christ..Emily Rose Massey

 Imitating Christ 

By Emily Rose Massey

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV). 

I am a mom of three boys, and I have many nicknames for them, but one of my favorites is “my little monkeys” because they seem to be so good at copying whatever one of them does. You know, monkey see, monkey do? From silly little dances to repeating funny phrases, you can tell these boys are brothers and best buds. Yet, with my youngest being only two years old, we have to be very careful what we say or do around him because he is learning all kinds of new words and emotions and how to handle them. It’s my husband's and I’s jobs as parents to guide our children on what kind of words and behavior honors and glorifies God. When they sin and disobey, we lovingly correct and teach them how we must go to the Lord in repentance, asking Him to help us when we are tempted to sin or disobey. We also help them understand this better when we live this out and model it for them. Children naturally imitate who they are around the most. The environment they grow up in truly shapes them as a person. It’s important that, as believers, we are continually pointing them to Christ, His Word, and His ways. 

This is all true for us as children of God. We are to be imitators not of the world but of Christ. After the Apostle Paul explains how the body of Christ is to be knit together and show Christ’s love and mercy toward one another, he echoes that sentiment as he encourages the church at Ephesus to imitate God:

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV).

One of the best ways we can imitate God is to continually love others sacrificially like Christ. This way of living is an offering to the Lord as we learn to lay our life down for others and prefer them above ourselves. But just like how little ones need to be modeled godly behavior, we need to surround ourselves with others who walk as ones who are Christ-exalting and Christ-honoring in all they say and do. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
We are called to imitate Christ, so it’s important that we look to those who have gone before us as we look to the scriptures and heed the instructions of the prophets and apostles and Christ Himself. We also look to the leaders and mentors the Lord has placed in our life. We can learn so much from the Apostle Paul in the scriptures. His existence was filled with suffering and pain, yet he faced it with joy and bold confidence in the Lord. We see through his life that we can trust that the Lord gives us the courage to say no to comfort and ease and yes to suffering for God’s glory. As Jesus’ disciples, we are called to follow Him. That was Paul’s mission in life – to imitate Christ. And it is what he and the rest of the apostles literally gave their lives to preach to the world through their words and actions. We may not ever get the honor to literally die for Jesus Christ because of our faith in Him, but by God’s grace, we can imitate His selflessness every day. 

When we look to the Scriptures and our godly leaders who also help us rightly divide God’s Word and equip us to serve and minister, we can have the courage to lay our life down for the cause of Christ and proclaim His glorious gospel so that others may come to know Jesus and live for Him too. Christianity is not passive but active. It’s a life of obedience to the King in and through our lives, all for God’s glory. We rest in God’s grace which fuels the Christian’s exertion to serve the King. We must remember that we are not just saved from our sins; we are saved for a purpose and Kingdom mission. We are to run the race set before us and live a life motivated by glorifying Christ. Let’s fix our eyes upon Christ, abiding in His Word, and link arms with those He has placed in our lives as we learn how to walk in Christlikeness together. 

Further Reading:

• Philippians 2:3-8
• 1 Peter 2:21-22

What Does Sabbath Look Like for You?..Amanda Idleman

 What Does Sabbath Look Like for You? (Genesis 2:2-3)

By: Amanda Idleman

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day, he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. - Genesis 2:2-3

Sabbath once was a sacred and protected sacrament. A sabbath is defined as a day of religious observance and abstinence from work. Recently, my kids and I listened to Farmer Boy by Laura Ingels Wilder and were amazed by the strict description of how the Sunday sabbath was observed during this time. Families spend the day enforcing no playing, talking, or doing much of anything. This level of strict observance of a sabbath is hard to imagine in our modern world, where life keeps going full speed ahead, 24/7.

Thankfully, we’ve embraced a more grace-filled approach to our seventh day of the week. This begs the question, “Is the concept of sabbath still applicable to our modern lives?” Are there consequences for pushing ourselves to be “productive” seven days out of the week? Does going harder really mean we accomplish more? Should we protect a sabbath day as a part of our routine? What do we gain when we schedule strategic pauses in our lives?

These are important and practical questions for every believer, as we now live in a culture that is obsessed with optimizing our time and productivity. The fact is how we use our time has real consequences. Time is a finite commodity in our lives. Intentional decisions about how we use our days are an important part of wise-living. We see this truth simply put in Psalm 90:12 which says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

God has real reasons for instructing and modeling for us the practice of taking a sabbath that we would be wise to pay attention to. He created us with real limits and a real need for Him. Sabbath is just one way that we are reminded that God is our provider. Time and time again, we see that in His economy, He does more with our obedience, even if in many ways that means we are doing less than others. When we follow God’s commands, he multiplies our time and resources.

At the start of the Bible is an account of God’s creation of our world. He worked making our known universe for six days straight and then on the seventh day He rested. He set the 7th day apart as “holy” or “sacred” (Genesis 2:2-3). God sets the precedent for the intentional use of our time. God did not need a day off, He elected to set apart time to enjoy the work He had just done!

Many of us may not feel the need to press pause on our workflow. Working hard past the Monday through Friday 9-5 may not leave us exhausted, yet God shows us that we need to be intentional about balancing the work and reflection. Part of worship requires that we reflect on and remember the things God has done (Psalm 143:5). This only happens when we make the choice to take some of our time and dedicate it to the Lord.

We so quickly lose sight of the things that matter in our lives. Just as the Israelites quickly turned to grumble when things started to get difficult, even after God had performed countless miracles on their behalf. We so easily forget what God has done for us and His mission for our lives. Sabbath is the intentional practice of forcing on minds and hearts to refocus on the beauty of God’s provision in our lives. At the end of God’s 6 days of creation, He knew his work was good! He didn’t want to blow past creation’s majesty, He wanted to soak it in.

Sabbath allows us to “soak in” God’s presence, to reflect on His good gifts, to meditate on His promises, and to reconnect with Him so our lives can be lived with the proper perspective.

If our desire is to live a life in a relationship with Jesus then we have to make time to connect with him. Sabbath is an essential way to focus your attention on Jesus. That could be through attending a church service, reading the Bible, singing worship songs to God, praying, being in nature, creating, connecting to a community of believers, or listening to an insightful sermon. God speaks in a variety of ways, but we know we hear him best when we commit time to focus our hearts on him.

A Prayer to Seek First the Kingdom of God..Kristine Brown

 A Prayer to Seek First the Kingdom of God

By Kristine Brown

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

Rising food prices and empty store shelves. The cost of gasoline and cutbacks in many businesses. World changes affect all of us. It’s enough to rattle our nerves and cause fear in our hearts. We want to spend wisely, make good decisions, and prioritize what matters most. But the truth is, many of us don’t even know if we have the means for next week’s groceries.

When things we count on collapse around us, we focus our strength and attention on our immediate needs. We may take on extra work, cancel family vacations, or just ignore the problem and hope it goes away. We do what we can for a temporary fix, and soon we realize we’re spiritually depleted and out of sync.

Jesus knew his followers would struggle with trusting God in uncertain times. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cautioned believers against worrying about such things. He knew the key to an abundant, peace-filled life and shared it with all who would listen. 

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

Isn’t it comforting to know that even today, we struggle with the same fears and worries as those who stood before Jesus when he preached his powerful message? Jesus’ words penetrated hearts that day, and they will do the same for us. All we need to do is seek Jesus first.

Maybe worrying over daily provision isn’t what makes you feel unsure. Maybe it’s worrying about a family member or a difficult diagnosis. Maybe you’ve strived for so long to create a life that “represents Jesus” that you’ve missed seeing him. I’ve been there, too, and I’m glad to say there is hope. Finding the balance we need begins with a simple yet life-changing refocus.

Seeking God’s Kingdom before anything else is the crucial step to finding the right balance in our lives, regardless of the turmoil around us. When we “fix our eyes” on Jesus, all other things pulling for our attention will settle into their proper place. Our off-balance lives will feel more centered. More at peace. Seeking first the kingdom of God will put our focus into perfect alignment. 

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord,
Thank you for understanding our hurts. Thank you for caring about the condition of our hearts and listening when we pray. You are a loving, compassionate Savior.

Jesus, lately, I’ve felt off-balance. Fear and worry over our present circumstances and our future affect my ability to find peace and joy. There are so many issues in this world. Yet you knew we would struggle with this, so you spoke words that offer hope. We have those words recorded in the Bible to remind us to seek your Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). When we do, everything else will fall into place. Thank you for the Bible. Thank you for meeting our every need as we focus on you.

Help us read your Words in Scripture as though you are right here with us, speaking to us personally because you are. Help us focus on you first every day by starting each morning in prayer. You know what we will face today, and we trust you to provide. Thank you for giving us hope. May your will be done in our lives today and every day. In your holy name, we pray, amen.

Your Dead Will Live..Debbie Holloway

 Your Dead Will Live

by Debbie Holloway

“Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy” (Isaiah 26:19).

In Luke’s account of Christ’s resurrection, angels proclaimed to the women: "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (24:5-6). This joyous news must have taken them off guard. After all, they came to Jesus’ tomb bearing burial spices with which to anoint the lifeless body of their Lord. Instead, they find dazzling angels standing watch next to an empty tomb, and hear news that they will never find Christ in a place of death and darkness.

As Easter draws closer, have you considered which aspects of your life God wants to breathe life into?

Family

Many of us have strained familial relationships that seem only to worsen when we get together for meals and services around the holidays. Do you pray for the members of your family regularly? Are you willing to open up your heart to start loving them the way God loves each and every one of them? Remember,

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Friendships

If Christ’s work on the cross teaches us anything about friendships, it’s that forgiveness and grace trumps all. After all, mere hours before his gruesome death, Jesus was ignored, abandoned, denied, and betrayed by his closest friends. He could have equally been speaking of Peter, a man in his inner circle, when he begged on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Yet, even after being left alone and misunderstood, Christ still made the ultimate act of love for his friends (and the world).

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).

Work

Often our “good” side is saved for our friends and loved ones, while our places of work get the short (or grumpy) end of the stick. As you ponder the work Christ did on the cross, and the glory of his resurrection, remember that our work can be a beautiful echo of his perfect work, holy and pleasing to God.

“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:10-12).

Intersecting Faith and Life: What area of your life needs to come alive in honor of Easter? How can you seek Christ daily in your relationships and duties?