6-30-2009
The two greatest commandments we are given is to LOVE God above everything, and to LOVE your neighbor as yourself. If we could think of a word that implies the opposite of love it could possibly be anger. Jesus gives us strict instructions to rid ourselves of anger not only by the way we act and speak, but also in the way we think.
I’ve been told you will do what you think. If we think angry thoughts, chances are we will speak and act in angry ways eventually. God informs us to control our attitudes. Easier said than done right! I am a very passionate and competitive individual, and if there’s one thing I don’t enjoy, it’s losing. I was reminded years ago about the time I beat a seven year old boy in a game, and my girlfriend at the time couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t let him win. My response was, “I don’t know how to LET someone win!” I’ve grown since then, but I still have room for a lot of growth when it comes to controlling my temper.
As a baseball coach, there are a lot of times when anger wants to take over, and quite honestly it does take over. Though I’ve improved a lot, I still have a ways to go. I look at Jesus as the perfect example of how to act during frustrating times. He is always demonstrating love and patience during the most difficult situations. One of my greatest assets is my transparent honesty; however it can also be one of my greatest weaknesses, as I will say what I am thinking WAY TOO OFTEN. When we can learn to handle tough situations with patient love, Jesus will be glorified. When we handle situations with a humanly emotion, no one wins.
We all get angry at times, so our instruction during these moments is to solve any potential conflict or problem before it becomes a bigger conflict or problem. Matthew 5:25 says, “Settle matters quickly with your adversary.” In other words, the longer you allow a problem or anger to fester within you, the worse it can get over time. Sit down with the person or persons you are having the issue with and talk through the problems in a loving way. Remember, if you are looking for a fight, you are going to get a fight, and NO ONE wins in that situation. If you are looking for a peaceful resolution, you are going to find a peaceful resolution where everyone involves win.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 5:21-26
2. Have you allowed your anger to surface? Do you have angry thoughts? Who do you need to reconcile with so you may look at all people in a loving and peaceful manner?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Law
6-26-2009
The bible is chalked full of law, and some people think Christianity is nothing more than a bunch of rules to be followed. “Don’t do this”, and “do that,” is the common theme when asking someone about the “rules” of the bible. It’s important to understand we are called to live a life of love and obedience. We aren’t supposed to be a bunch of rule followers; we are called to be Christ followers.
When God is IN US, our love and obedience will follow. Legal compliance and following the rules doesn’t make you a Christian, as those acts make people happy. We are put on this earth to love people, but not at the expense of what’s right by God. If your goal is to make people happy, you are missing the purpose of the law of the land in accordance to the bible. God is the sole person you are to please, and when doing so, the right people will also be pleased. The “do’s” and “don’ts” are in place to help us understand the life God wants us to live. Following the rules on the surface means nothing. Being transformed by the biblical principles (laws) will change your life.
There are those that follow the law because they are supposed to, and then there are those that have been transformed, and thus live their lives the right way because it’s who they are! If you follow the laws of Jesus Christ, you will please the one person you need to be concerned with pleasing.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 5:17-20
2. Are you a law follower so you don’t get in trouble, or are you a Christ follower in which obeying the laws of the bible is understood?
The bible is chalked full of law, and some people think Christianity is nothing more than a bunch of rules to be followed. “Don’t do this”, and “do that,” is the common theme when asking someone about the “rules” of the bible. It’s important to understand we are called to live a life of love and obedience. We aren’t supposed to be a bunch of rule followers; we are called to be Christ followers.
When God is IN US, our love and obedience will follow. Legal compliance and following the rules doesn’t make you a Christian, as those acts make people happy. We are put on this earth to love people, but not at the expense of what’s right by God. If your goal is to make people happy, you are missing the purpose of the law of the land in accordance to the bible. God is the sole person you are to please, and when doing so, the right people will also be pleased. The “do’s” and “don’ts” are in place to help us understand the life God wants us to live. Following the rules on the surface means nothing. Being transformed by the biblical principles (laws) will change your life.
There are those that follow the law because they are supposed to, and then there are those that have been transformed, and thus live their lives the right way because it’s who they are! If you follow the laws of Jesus Christ, you will please the one person you need to be concerned with pleasing.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 5:17-20
2. Are you a law follower so you don’t get in trouble, or are you a Christ follower in which obeying the laws of the bible is understood?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Be the Salt and the Light
6-25-2009
I received an email today, and it really hit home with me. To summarize the email, it basically asked the question why. In other words, why does this or that happen, and why do people do this or that. It seems people have lost focus of what we are called to do on this earth as Christ followers.
Matthew 5:13-14 gives us a great analogy of what we are called to do:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
I believe too many of us get caught up in playing God. We over analyze, judge, and label people. God doesn’t want us doing any of this. We are called to affect people in a positive way by loving them with the kindness that Christ showed the world. As a Christ follower, people should know it! I am baffled at how many people claim to know Christ, yet their actions would indicate otherwise (I’m guilty of this at times as well). We are called to be a light in the dark world. People need to know you are different by both the words you say, but most importantly by the way you live. Be the salt and light in the lives of EVERY person you come in contact with, not just your close friends and family. Every single one of you has a gift to make an impact in the world for the kingdom of God. Use the gift(s) God’s given you to make an impact. Don’t keep them to yourself, and if you aren’t sure what your gift is, ask someone that knows you. Don’t sell yourself short! Let’s light up this world!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 5:13-14
2. Does your salt have flavor?
3. Is your light shining bright?
I received an email today, and it really hit home with me. To summarize the email, it basically asked the question why. In other words, why does this or that happen, and why do people do this or that. It seems people have lost focus of what we are called to do on this earth as Christ followers.
Matthew 5:13-14 gives us a great analogy of what we are called to do:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
I believe too many of us get caught up in playing God. We over analyze, judge, and label people. God doesn’t want us doing any of this. We are called to affect people in a positive way by loving them with the kindness that Christ showed the world. As a Christ follower, people should know it! I am baffled at how many people claim to know Christ, yet their actions would indicate otherwise (I’m guilty of this at times as well). We are called to be a light in the dark world. People need to know you are different by both the words you say, but most importantly by the way you live. Be the salt and light in the lives of EVERY person you come in contact with, not just your close friends and family. Every single one of you has a gift to make an impact in the world for the kingdom of God. Use the gift(s) God’s given you to make an impact. Don’t keep them to yourself, and if you aren’t sure what your gift is, ask someone that knows you. Don’t sell yourself short! Let’s light up this world!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 5:13-14
2. Does your salt have flavor?
3. Is your light shining bright?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
What Club?
6-24-2009
I had a conversation with a young man about “church” and I was shocked at some of the questions. He asked me what the cost is to go to church, and how do you get in. It was as if he thought going to church was liking joining a club in which you had to be invited in, and the way in was to do certain things for people. As I listened and answered the questions, I couldn’t help but wonder how many others have the same types of questions.
When Jesus spoke, people listened, and when he said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near,” (Matthew 4:17) his followers wanted to know what they had to do to get in heaven. Can you imagine listening to the savior of the world lay out the behavior and attitudes of the blessed and the fear of loss that sets in when you realize you need to do whatever you can to get in His kingdom!
The title of this devotional is what club? The reason for this title is there isn’t a club! We are all one body, and those of us that accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior know where we are going when our life on earth is over. The message Jesus lays out for us is very clear, repent and live a blessed life that honors God. If people on earth would spend one tenth the amount of time living for God as they do trying to satisfy their worldly cravings, imagine how much better our world would be. If you feel you’re too far on the “bad” end of the spectrum, you aren’t! It’s never too late to turn your life around. In fact, a buddy of mine that I haven’t seen in years looked me up at www.loganstout.com and he emailed me the following question, “When did you get so religious!” You see, when he and I were hanging out, God wasn’t rolling off my tongue at all. My response to him was, “my senior year in high school.” God desires for us all to live a blessed life, and in order to do so, live for him and not for the world, and you will receive the riches of heaven!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 5:1-12
2. Do you live a life of blessedness or does your happiness depend upon earthly events? Earthly events will always let you down!
I had a conversation with a young man about “church” and I was shocked at some of the questions. He asked me what the cost is to go to church, and how do you get in. It was as if he thought going to church was liking joining a club in which you had to be invited in, and the way in was to do certain things for people. As I listened and answered the questions, I couldn’t help but wonder how many others have the same types of questions.
When Jesus spoke, people listened, and when he said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near,” (Matthew 4:17) his followers wanted to know what they had to do to get in heaven. Can you imagine listening to the savior of the world lay out the behavior and attitudes of the blessed and the fear of loss that sets in when you realize you need to do whatever you can to get in His kingdom!
The title of this devotional is what club? The reason for this title is there isn’t a club! We are all one body, and those of us that accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior know where we are going when our life on earth is over. The message Jesus lays out for us is very clear, repent and live a blessed life that honors God. If people on earth would spend one tenth the amount of time living for God as they do trying to satisfy their worldly cravings, imagine how much better our world would be. If you feel you’re too far on the “bad” end of the spectrum, you aren’t! It’s never too late to turn your life around. In fact, a buddy of mine that I haven’t seen in years looked me up at www.loganstout.com and he emailed me the following question, “When did you get so religious!” You see, when he and I were hanging out, God wasn’t rolling off my tongue at all. My response to him was, “my senior year in high school.” God desires for us all to live a blessed life, and in order to do so, live for him and not for the world, and you will receive the riches of heaven!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 5:1-12
2. Do you live a life of blessedness or does your happiness depend upon earthly events? Earthly events will always let you down!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sermon on the Mount
6-23-2009
The Sermon on the Mount took place on a hillside, where Jesus laid out the “Beatitudes.” In Jesus’ teachings we see what really matters, obedience. We aren’t called to “go through the motions” of Christianity. He doesn’t want us to go to church, sit, sing, pray, and leave. There isn’t a checklist to follow in order to understand and know Christ. The Beatitudes lay out the simple game plan, servant leadership and obedience. Jesus wants REAL people, not a bunch of legalistic/do and say all the right things people. He wants us to be transformed from the inside out.
I truly believe many of us know what to do, and may even be able to give great advice, yet we struggle to follow that same advice ourselves. Others may not have a clue where to turn. Then there are the few that get it. They’ve been transformed and continue to work daily to strive for sanctification (to be Christ like). Wherever you are in your Christian journey, the key is what you do starting NOW. The past is the past and we can’t change that. The great news is God doesn’t want you thinking about the past. He wants us to press onward, and through the grace of God we have the freedom to accept Christ and be forgiven of our sins of the past. Through the gift of salvation, we are made new, so now what?
Jesus instructs the disciples and all Christ followers to understand what they’ve signed up for. Jesus does a great job of under promising and over delivering. He doesn’t say how great life is going to be on earth. In fact he informs his followers of how bad it will be. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). As a Christ follower, you aren’t going to be the norm. Very few have the discipline, faith, understanding, and obedience to truly live the life God’s called us to live. We are all sinners, so in that aspect, none of us live up to the standard. Here’s the key, do everything in your power to avoid the traps of the temporal. In other words, the world creates a selfish, prideful, lustful, self-serving attitude. Christ wants the exact opposite out of us. Live as Jesus did, and you will receive the REAL REWARD. Our lives are so short, yet we crave everything on earth. An eternity in heaven is the ultimate reward, and nothing compares to what we all should look forward to!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 5:1-10
2. As you read the Beatitudes, how do feel about each one of them as you reflect on your life?
The Sermon on the Mount took place on a hillside, where Jesus laid out the “Beatitudes.” In Jesus’ teachings we see what really matters, obedience. We aren’t called to “go through the motions” of Christianity. He doesn’t want us to go to church, sit, sing, pray, and leave. There isn’t a checklist to follow in order to understand and know Christ. The Beatitudes lay out the simple game plan, servant leadership and obedience. Jesus wants REAL people, not a bunch of legalistic/do and say all the right things people. He wants us to be transformed from the inside out.
I truly believe many of us know what to do, and may even be able to give great advice, yet we struggle to follow that same advice ourselves. Others may not have a clue where to turn. Then there are the few that get it. They’ve been transformed and continue to work daily to strive for sanctification (to be Christ like). Wherever you are in your Christian journey, the key is what you do starting NOW. The past is the past and we can’t change that. The great news is God doesn’t want you thinking about the past. He wants us to press onward, and through the grace of God we have the freedom to accept Christ and be forgiven of our sins of the past. Through the gift of salvation, we are made new, so now what?
Jesus instructs the disciples and all Christ followers to understand what they’ve signed up for. Jesus does a great job of under promising and over delivering. He doesn’t say how great life is going to be on earth. In fact he informs his followers of how bad it will be. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). As a Christ follower, you aren’t going to be the norm. Very few have the discipline, faith, understanding, and obedience to truly live the life God’s called us to live. We are all sinners, so in that aspect, none of us live up to the standard. Here’s the key, do everything in your power to avoid the traps of the temporal. In other words, the world creates a selfish, prideful, lustful, self-serving attitude. Christ wants the exact opposite out of us. Live as Jesus did, and you will receive the REAL REWARD. Our lives are so short, yet we crave everything on earth. An eternity in heaven is the ultimate reward, and nothing compares to what we all should look forward to!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 5:1-10
2. As you read the Beatitudes, how do feel about each one of them as you reflect on your life?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Teacher, Preacher, Healer
6-22-2009
Matthew 4:23 says, “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. “ Let’s focus on three key points in this sentence. It says Jesus was teaching, preaching, and healing.
One of the greatest aspects of teaching a particular subject, is you must first understand the subject in order to teach it well. Jesus could teach because he understood what he was saying better than anyone else will ever understand. Jesus is the ultimate teacher!
Jesus preached the gospel. He gave clear, concise, and direct instructions as to how to live and how not to live. Jesus was committed to making what was true known to the world. Sermon after sermon, Jesus preached and preached. He was mocked by many, but clearly changed the lives and futures of many more!
Just as Jesus was the ultimate teacher and preacher, he was also the ultimate healer. Jesus didn’t just say what to do, but he blessed those that had faith in him. The fact that he was able to heal people immediately reveals he is from God. Jesus can do all and has done all. There’s nothing to big or small for the maker of the world.
As we look at the example of Christ through his teaching, preaching, and healing, how well do we carry out the example he set for us. We aren’t going to be able to perform miracles like Jesus, but we don’t have to. What we can do is teach the word of God through a real understanding of who Christ is, thus stand bold for Christ through our example, and provide healing for the sick and those in need of our heavenly father. We must understand the sickness that exists in the world not only from the physical sense, but also from the spiritual sense. Unfortunately, it’s the majority that is starving for answers and truth, and as a Christ follower it’s our job to provide nourishment.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 4:23-25
2. Whom can you feed?
Matthew 4:23 says, “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. “ Let’s focus on three key points in this sentence. It says Jesus was teaching, preaching, and healing.
One of the greatest aspects of teaching a particular subject, is you must first understand the subject in order to teach it well. Jesus could teach because he understood what he was saying better than anyone else will ever understand. Jesus is the ultimate teacher!
Jesus preached the gospel. He gave clear, concise, and direct instructions as to how to live and how not to live. Jesus was committed to making what was true known to the world. Sermon after sermon, Jesus preached and preached. He was mocked by many, but clearly changed the lives and futures of many more!
Just as Jesus was the ultimate teacher and preacher, he was also the ultimate healer. Jesus didn’t just say what to do, but he blessed those that had faith in him. The fact that he was able to heal people immediately reveals he is from God. Jesus can do all and has done all. There’s nothing to big or small for the maker of the world.
As we look at the example of Christ through his teaching, preaching, and healing, how well do we carry out the example he set for us. We aren’t going to be able to perform miracles like Jesus, but we don’t have to. What we can do is teach the word of God through a real understanding of who Christ is, thus stand bold for Christ through our example, and provide healing for the sick and those in need of our heavenly father. We must understand the sickness that exists in the world not only from the physical sense, but also from the spiritual sense. Unfortunately, it’s the majority that is starving for answers and truth, and as a Christ follower it’s our job to provide nourishment.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 4:23-25
2. Whom can you feed?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Pick Up Line
6-19-2009
I love to read leadership and personal development books, because every time I read one I feel more and more inspired. Each book is full of great tips for becoming the person you need to be in order to have the success we all desire to achieve. When I’m asked the question, “what’s the secret to success…if you could give me one key what would it be?” Each and every time the answer is “YOU”. In other words, when you work on yourself, everything else will soon fall into place. Your level of success is directly proportionate to your level of personal development. If you aren’t growing, you are limiting your level of success.
The reason I feel personal development is so important is people buy into YOU before they buy into what you are doing. I’ve spoken at many events over the past few years, and each time I hear people train on the importance of what to say, I’m often reminded just how unimportant what you say is if it’s the wrong person saying it. In other words, you can have the wrong person say the perfect things, and the sale won’t take place. On the flip side, you can have the right person say the wrong things, and the sale still gets done. People buy into people, and if you want to be a success you must make others a success, thus you must have influence.
In Matthew 4:19 it reads,”Come, follow me, “Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” I think we would all agree, “Come, follow me” isn’t exactly the best sales pitch or pick up line. The reason people followed Jesus when hearing something as simple as, “Come, follow me” is due to WHO was saying it. Jesus built a solid relationship with Peter and Andrew, thus when Jesus asked them to follow him, they did so immediately.
If you are the person God’s called you to be, people will follow. Remember, to be a great leader, you must first be a great follower of the ultimate leader! Each and every one of you are leaders whether you know it or not. If you are a parent, you have little ones looking up to you. For those of you that have a significant other, you are both responsible for leading each other. We all have people in our lives and whether you know it or not, you are influencing them and they are influencing you. You become who you hand around. Use the influence you have to make in impact in people’s lives. Focus on being the best YOU, you can be and let’s change the world one person at a time!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 4:12-22
2. What kind of influence do you have? When you ask someone for something or to meet with you, do they hesitate? Be honest with yourself, and become the person of influence God’s called you to be.
I love to read leadership and personal development books, because every time I read one I feel more and more inspired. Each book is full of great tips for becoming the person you need to be in order to have the success we all desire to achieve. When I’m asked the question, “what’s the secret to success…if you could give me one key what would it be?” Each and every time the answer is “YOU”. In other words, when you work on yourself, everything else will soon fall into place. Your level of success is directly proportionate to your level of personal development. If you aren’t growing, you are limiting your level of success.
The reason I feel personal development is so important is people buy into YOU before they buy into what you are doing. I’ve spoken at many events over the past few years, and each time I hear people train on the importance of what to say, I’m often reminded just how unimportant what you say is if it’s the wrong person saying it. In other words, you can have the wrong person say the perfect things, and the sale won’t take place. On the flip side, you can have the right person say the wrong things, and the sale still gets done. People buy into people, and if you want to be a success you must make others a success, thus you must have influence.
In Matthew 4:19 it reads,”Come, follow me, “Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” I think we would all agree, “Come, follow me” isn’t exactly the best sales pitch or pick up line. The reason people followed Jesus when hearing something as simple as, “Come, follow me” is due to WHO was saying it. Jesus built a solid relationship with Peter and Andrew, thus when Jesus asked them to follow him, they did so immediately.
If you are the person God’s called you to be, people will follow. Remember, to be a great leader, you must first be a great follower of the ultimate leader! Each and every one of you are leaders whether you know it or not. If you are a parent, you have little ones looking up to you. For those of you that have a significant other, you are both responsible for leading each other. We all have people in our lives and whether you know it or not, you are influencing them and they are influencing you. You become who you hand around. Use the influence you have to make in impact in people’s lives. Focus on being the best YOU, you can be and let’s change the world one person at a time!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 4:12-22
2. What kind of influence do you have? When you ask someone for something or to meet with you, do they hesitate? Be honest with yourself, and become the person of influence God’s called you to be.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Context
6-18-2009
We tend to draw a conclusion about things, people, events, experiences, and etcetera without truly understanding the entire situation or event. It might be something as silly as “so and so said this about you.” Later you find out they weren’t even talking about you, but instead they were quoting something from a movie. I love to use the following example: If I told you I would give you a million dollars if you jumped out of an airplane without a parachute, would you do it? I would assume most of you would quickly say no! Now, what if I told you the airplane was on the ground? This is a perfect example of drawing a conclusion without getting all of the information. If you knew the airplane were on the ground, of course you would jump out of the plane.
In addition to jumping to conclusion, we often misunderstand people. I know I’ve been guilty of drawing a conclusion about someone without truly getting to know them. In fact, a friend of mine asked me about one of my friends today. He said, “He seems so cold and standoffish.” The truth is he does come across that way until you get to know him. Once you get to know him, he is the exact opposite. I like to think of him as a big teddy bear. Again, this is an example of a common mistake we make.
As it relates to the Bible, it too can be taken out of context, thus misunderstood. Yesterday we spoke about the importance of understanding the Bible, so to add to that, it’s important to understand the context of the verse you are reading within the Bible. Understanding who is speaking, and who the speaker is speaking to, does make a difference. You will find people incorrectly using versus out of the Bible because they don’t understand the context of those versus. When you are seeking answers out of the Bible, you shouldn’t simply open the Bible and read a verse. Dig a little deeper to unlock the actual meaning of the verse and watch how more impactful the Bible is. For those of you reading the Bible on a daily basis, GREAT JOB! It can be very difficult to stay focused and have the discipline to feed your mind the spiritual food it needs, yet this is the most important type of non-materialistic need we have. When we are growing spiritually, the joy of the Lord rules your life, and you will see the world in the proper context!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 4: 1-11
2. Focus on getting as much information as possible before jumping to conclusions, and allow God to be a part of the decision making process.
We tend to draw a conclusion about things, people, events, experiences, and etcetera without truly understanding the entire situation or event. It might be something as silly as “so and so said this about you.” Later you find out they weren’t even talking about you, but instead they were quoting something from a movie. I love to use the following example: If I told you I would give you a million dollars if you jumped out of an airplane without a parachute, would you do it? I would assume most of you would quickly say no! Now, what if I told you the airplane was on the ground? This is a perfect example of drawing a conclusion without getting all of the information. If you knew the airplane were on the ground, of course you would jump out of the plane.
In addition to jumping to conclusion, we often misunderstand people. I know I’ve been guilty of drawing a conclusion about someone without truly getting to know them. In fact, a friend of mine asked me about one of my friends today. He said, “He seems so cold and standoffish.” The truth is he does come across that way until you get to know him. Once you get to know him, he is the exact opposite. I like to think of him as a big teddy bear. Again, this is an example of a common mistake we make.
As it relates to the Bible, it too can be taken out of context, thus misunderstood. Yesterday we spoke about the importance of understanding the Bible, so to add to that, it’s important to understand the context of the verse you are reading within the Bible. Understanding who is speaking, and who the speaker is speaking to, does make a difference. You will find people incorrectly using versus out of the Bible because they don’t understand the context of those versus. When you are seeking answers out of the Bible, you shouldn’t simply open the Bible and read a verse. Dig a little deeper to unlock the actual meaning of the verse and watch how more impactful the Bible is. For those of you reading the Bible on a daily basis, GREAT JOB! It can be very difficult to stay focused and have the discipline to feed your mind the spiritual food it needs, yet this is the most important type of non-materialistic need we have. When we are growing spiritually, the joy of the Lord rules your life, and you will see the world in the proper context!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 4: 1-11
2. Focus on getting as much information as possible before jumping to conclusions, and allow God to be a part of the decision making process.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Temptation
6-17-2009
Temptation is an interesting yet scary event in a Christian’s life. We all have weaknesses, and as a result we learn to lean on God especially during the times we are weak. Satan does a great job of hitting us where we are weak, thus it’s important to understand our strengths and weaknesses. In Matthew 4:1-11 we pick up where Satan tempts Jesus in the desert:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
As you read today’s versus, you will see that Satan has a few other tricks up his sleeve, yet Jesus never gives in. We are all tempted from time to time. What are your weaknesses? What are your temptations? For those of you in school reading these devotionals, you may be tempted to cheat on a test. You are trying to get the best grade you can, and you fall prey to cheating. Don’t cheat; don’t let Satan win the battle! For all the couples that read these devotionals, you may be tempted to cheat in a different way. Satan may be inserting the “grass is greener on the other side” mentality. Don’t let him win! Stay focused on what’s true and what God calls us to do.
When we say, “stay focused on what God calls us to do,” it’s really easy to do so when times are good. It’s during the tough times your faith is really tested. Testing will come, thus we should be ready and alert! There’s no surprise, Satan wants to get you. He really likes to get those of us that stand bold for Christ. By proclaiming your faith in God, you basically put a bull’s eye on your chest. When you are tested, that’s your way of showing the world and most importantly, God, where you stand. Don’t give the devil a foothold.
Being tempted isn’t a sin, but giving in to that temptation is a sin. Here’s a good guide to see if you are being tempted: if there’s a thought in your mind that you shouldn’t do something, then it’s probably best to not do it. Equipping yourself with the word of God, gives you the ultimate weapon to fight temptation. It’s one thing to have a weapon, but it’s another to use it! Satan knows the Bible forwards and backwards, but he doesn’t obey the Bible! Meditate on the word of God, and allow God’s word to transform the way you think and live, and you will be able to resist even the toughest temptations you have.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 4:1-4
2. Write down your temptations (eating, laziness, addictions, etc.).What are you going to do to make sure Satan doesn’t continue to win?
Temptation is an interesting yet scary event in a Christian’s life. We all have weaknesses, and as a result we learn to lean on God especially during the times we are weak. Satan does a great job of hitting us where we are weak, thus it’s important to understand our strengths and weaknesses. In Matthew 4:1-11 we pick up where Satan tempts Jesus in the desert:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
As you read today’s versus, you will see that Satan has a few other tricks up his sleeve, yet Jesus never gives in. We are all tempted from time to time. What are your weaknesses? What are your temptations? For those of you in school reading these devotionals, you may be tempted to cheat on a test. You are trying to get the best grade you can, and you fall prey to cheating. Don’t cheat; don’t let Satan win the battle! For all the couples that read these devotionals, you may be tempted to cheat in a different way. Satan may be inserting the “grass is greener on the other side” mentality. Don’t let him win! Stay focused on what’s true and what God calls us to do.
When we say, “stay focused on what God calls us to do,” it’s really easy to do so when times are good. It’s during the tough times your faith is really tested. Testing will come, thus we should be ready and alert! There’s no surprise, Satan wants to get you. He really likes to get those of us that stand bold for Christ. By proclaiming your faith in God, you basically put a bull’s eye on your chest. When you are tested, that’s your way of showing the world and most importantly, God, where you stand. Don’t give the devil a foothold.
Being tempted isn’t a sin, but giving in to that temptation is a sin. Here’s a good guide to see if you are being tempted: if there’s a thought in your mind that you shouldn’t do something, then it’s probably best to not do it. Equipping yourself with the word of God, gives you the ultimate weapon to fight temptation. It’s one thing to have a weapon, but it’s another to use it! Satan knows the Bible forwards and backwards, but he doesn’t obey the Bible! Meditate on the word of God, and allow God’s word to transform the way you think and live, and you will be able to resist even the toughest temptations you have.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 4:1-4
2. Write down your temptations (eating, laziness, addictions, etc.).What are you going to do to make sure Satan doesn’t continue to win?
The Ultimate Baptism
6-16-2009
Imagine baptizing the Savior of the world. Well, John the Baptist did just that! In Matthew 3:13-15 it says:
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
Words cannot express the humility of Jesus Christ. Here he is, the Savior of the world, and he allows a mortal to baptize him. John is clearly blown away by the situation, and he gets the ultimate act of approval of his works, by Jesus Christ’s baptism.
As I think about all of the hard work and energy John the Baptist must have exerted, to get a response from the very one he has been serving has to be the ultimate feeling of accomplishment and reward. God gave John a mission, and he carried through. As you go about your life, think about all of the goals, aspirations, and benchmarks you want to reach. Are there going to be tough times, YES! As Zig Ziglar says, there’s no such thing as a smooth mountain. It’s the potholes and ridges that enable us to keep climbing. Stay focused on what you feel God has called you to do and you will be successful. There will be times where you may question what you are doing, but as long as you are doing what you feel God has called you to do, stick with it!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 3:13-17
2. Stay focused on the Godly missions you have been called to do.
Imagine baptizing the Savior of the world. Well, John the Baptist did just that! In Matthew 3:13-15 it says:
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
Words cannot express the humility of Jesus Christ. Here he is, the Savior of the world, and he allows a mortal to baptize him. John is clearly blown away by the situation, and he gets the ultimate act of approval of his works, by Jesus Christ’s baptism.
As I think about all of the hard work and energy John the Baptist must have exerted, to get a response from the very one he has been serving has to be the ultimate feeling of accomplishment and reward. God gave John a mission, and he carried through. As you go about your life, think about all of the goals, aspirations, and benchmarks you want to reach. Are there going to be tough times, YES! As Zig Ziglar says, there’s no such thing as a smooth mountain. It’s the potholes and ridges that enable us to keep climbing. Stay focused on what you feel God has called you to do and you will be successful. There will be times where you may question what you are doing, but as long as you are doing what you feel God has called you to do, stick with it!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 3:13-17
2. Stay focused on the Godly missions you have been called to do.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
John the Baptist
6-15-2009
John the Baptist was a Jesus type of leader. When I say he was a “Jesus type of leader,” I am alluding to the fact that he served people, and did not crave the spotlight like so many leaders do. As we’ve read in the Bible, Jesus was a humble, servant leader. He didn’t crave attention, and he certainly didn’t have the nicest things. When we read about the Kings and other leaders of the time, they all craved attention, and many would literally kill people if they felt threatened by their power. King Herod is a perfect example of a leader with some good qualities, but his jealousy, fear, and suspicious nature eventually led to his seeking the death of Jesus, thus destroying all the good he could have done.
John the Baptist was a prophet whose life mission was to announce the coming of the Savior of the world. He didn’t have any power in the political system at the time, but he simply relied upon the power of God. His ability to speak the bold truth of the coming of the Savior was enough to baptize hundreds of people. When John the Baptist spoke, people listened!
As we read Matthew 3:4 we see that John the Baptist was a bit interesting, “John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.” I think a great lesson we can learn from this is different is okay. Be who you are, and don’t try to be something you’re not. John was fearless and bold with his message, yet he kept his messages focused on the Savior. While most leaders would give themselves the glory, John delivered message after message about the coming of the One!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 3:4-10
2. Make sure to stay focused on the message of Christ at all times, and be bold.
3. Avoid giving yourself glory at ALL times
John the Baptist was a Jesus type of leader. When I say he was a “Jesus type of leader,” I am alluding to the fact that he served people, and did not crave the spotlight like so many leaders do. As we’ve read in the Bible, Jesus was a humble, servant leader. He didn’t crave attention, and he certainly didn’t have the nicest things. When we read about the Kings and other leaders of the time, they all craved attention, and many would literally kill people if they felt threatened by their power. King Herod is a perfect example of a leader with some good qualities, but his jealousy, fear, and suspicious nature eventually led to his seeking the death of Jesus, thus destroying all the good he could have done.
John the Baptist was a prophet whose life mission was to announce the coming of the Savior of the world. He didn’t have any power in the political system at the time, but he simply relied upon the power of God. His ability to speak the bold truth of the coming of the Savior was enough to baptize hundreds of people. When John the Baptist spoke, people listened!
As we read Matthew 3:4 we see that John the Baptist was a bit interesting, “John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.” I think a great lesson we can learn from this is different is okay. Be who you are, and don’t try to be something you’re not. John was fearless and bold with his message, yet he kept his messages focused on the Savior. While most leaders would give themselves the glory, John delivered message after message about the coming of the One!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 3:4-10
2. Make sure to stay focused on the message of Christ at all times, and be bold.
3. Avoid giving yourself glory at ALL times
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Repent
6-12-2009
We’ve all had experiences where we’ve felt wronged, and most of the times the feelings are just. I experienced this yesterday. My first emotional response is shock, followed by anger, and then I want to call everyone involved. As I’ve matured in my spiritual journey, I’ve learned to handle these situations differently. Where I might have called while my emotions were high, I’ve really learned to relax and not let it bother me as much because I now understand why people do things they shouldn’t do.
In Matthew 3:1-2 we have insight into John the Baptist’s major theme of repentance. “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” John the Baptist’s preaching of repentance is exactly the way I like it, DIRECT AND TO THE POINT. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near,” is about as direct as you can be.
To repent is to understand wrongdoing, and to turn everything over to the Lord. Stop doing the things that lead to sinning. If you truly repent, the proper actions will follow. In other words, you will stop manipulating, stealing, cheating, gossiping, lying, etc. Will you sin in the future, yes, but you will realize what you’ve done immediately, ask for forgiveness and make things right. Those that continue to do wrong reveal everything about their lack of repentance. It’s obvious they haven’t truly turned their lives over to Christ. Its one thing to believe in God, but it’s another thing to be transformed by God and to live for Christ. Satan believes in God, but that doesn’t make Satan a Christ follower, just like I believe in baseball, but that doesn’t make me a baseball! Belief is not enough for a transformation of who you are today in to what Christ ultimately desires for you and I to be. Therefore, when people say or do wrong, understand they have problems, and what they say or do is a reflection of their lack of character, etcetera, and not a reflection of who you really are. At the end of the day, all we can do is show them the kindness Christ showed the world, and the mercy and grace God gives us daily.
When you come across those that do wrong on a consistent basis, please understand they need to be transformed by the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ. They do wrong, because they live a worldly life and not a Godly life. Do not judge those people, for God is the only judge, but instead love those people and find the good in them. In my case, the person did wrong out of greed. I’m sure you will have many cases, so remember to respond in a loving way and do not react with emotion. Teach those folks what repentance is, just as God has done and will do for us. Remember, God will take care of the wrong; our job is to do right. Jesus came to the earth as a humble servant, to serve not be served, but he WILL COME AGAIN, and this time it’s for justice.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 3:1-3
2. Look deep into your soul and pick out any worldly motives you have, and fill that part of your soul with Godly motives.
We’ve all had experiences where we’ve felt wronged, and most of the times the feelings are just. I experienced this yesterday. My first emotional response is shock, followed by anger, and then I want to call everyone involved. As I’ve matured in my spiritual journey, I’ve learned to handle these situations differently. Where I might have called while my emotions were high, I’ve really learned to relax and not let it bother me as much because I now understand why people do things they shouldn’t do.
In Matthew 3:1-2 we have insight into John the Baptist’s major theme of repentance. “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” John the Baptist’s preaching of repentance is exactly the way I like it, DIRECT AND TO THE POINT. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near,” is about as direct as you can be.
To repent is to understand wrongdoing, and to turn everything over to the Lord. Stop doing the things that lead to sinning. If you truly repent, the proper actions will follow. In other words, you will stop manipulating, stealing, cheating, gossiping, lying, etc. Will you sin in the future, yes, but you will realize what you’ve done immediately, ask for forgiveness and make things right. Those that continue to do wrong reveal everything about their lack of repentance. It’s obvious they haven’t truly turned their lives over to Christ. Its one thing to believe in God, but it’s another thing to be transformed by God and to live for Christ. Satan believes in God, but that doesn’t make Satan a Christ follower, just like I believe in baseball, but that doesn’t make me a baseball! Belief is not enough for a transformation of who you are today in to what Christ ultimately desires for you and I to be. Therefore, when people say or do wrong, understand they have problems, and what they say or do is a reflection of their lack of character, etcetera, and not a reflection of who you really are. At the end of the day, all we can do is show them the kindness Christ showed the world, and the mercy and grace God gives us daily.
When you come across those that do wrong on a consistent basis, please understand they need to be transformed by the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ. They do wrong, because they live a worldly life and not a Godly life. Do not judge those people, for God is the only judge, but instead love those people and find the good in them. In my case, the person did wrong out of greed. I’m sure you will have many cases, so remember to respond in a loving way and do not react with emotion. Teach those folks what repentance is, just as God has done and will do for us. Remember, God will take care of the wrong; our job is to do right. Jesus came to the earth as a humble servant, to serve not be served, but he WILL COME AGAIN, and this time it’s for justice.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 3:1-3
2. Look deep into your soul and pick out any worldly motives you have, and fill that part of your soul with Godly motives.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Prophecy
6-11-2009
Matthew Chapter 2:22-23 says, “But when he [Joseph] heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
These versus of the bible reveal two important facts: Joseph continues his obedience by listening and responding to God’s will, and what was said would happen in the old testament (Micah 5:2). In Micah 5:2 it reads, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah (the district from which Bethlehem was located), though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will rule over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” The notes in the NIV for this passage read, “This ruler is Jesus the Messiah. Micah accurately predicted Christ’s birthplace hundreds of years before Jesus was born. The promised eternal King in David’s line, who would come to live as a man, had been alive forever-“from of old, from ancient times.” Although eternal, Christ entered human history as a man, Jesus of Nazareth.”
A prophecy can be defined as a prediction. What’s amazing is the prophecies of the Old Testament were amazingly accurate with regards to Christ’s birth. The example of Micah’s prophecy is one of many examples, thus giving us clarity in the validity of the Bible as a whole. When we dig deep into the word of God, it becomes abundantly clear that the Bible is not just some random collections of stories, and is in fact accurate accounts of what was, is, and will be. Some people appreciate the Old Testament more, and vice versa, and though one or the other maybe more enjoyable to read at times, it’s extremely important to understand the validity of both. Remember, you cannot escape your own perspectivity, thus we as human beings on earth will never understand the magnificence of God!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 2:19-23
2. Take note of the prophecies (predictions) that are divinely inspired in Bible…how great would it be if you were divinely inspired? Stop, Pray, and Listen J
Matthew Chapter 2:22-23 says, “But when he [Joseph] heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
These versus of the bible reveal two important facts: Joseph continues his obedience by listening and responding to God’s will, and what was said would happen in the old testament (Micah 5:2). In Micah 5:2 it reads, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah (the district from which Bethlehem was located), though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will rule over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” The notes in the NIV for this passage read, “This ruler is Jesus the Messiah. Micah accurately predicted Christ’s birthplace hundreds of years before Jesus was born. The promised eternal King in David’s line, who would come to live as a man, had been alive forever-“from of old, from ancient times.” Although eternal, Christ entered human history as a man, Jesus of Nazareth.”
A prophecy can be defined as a prediction. What’s amazing is the prophecies of the Old Testament were amazingly accurate with regards to Christ’s birth. The example of Micah’s prophecy is one of many examples, thus giving us clarity in the validity of the Bible as a whole. When we dig deep into the word of God, it becomes abundantly clear that the Bible is not just some random collections of stories, and is in fact accurate accounts of what was, is, and will be. Some people appreciate the Old Testament more, and vice versa, and though one or the other maybe more enjoyable to read at times, it’s extremely important to understand the validity of both. Remember, you cannot escape your own perspectivity, thus we as human beings on earth will never understand the magnificence of God!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 2:19-23
2. Take note of the prophecies (predictions) that are divinely inspired in Bible…how great would it be if you were divinely inspired? Stop, Pray, and Listen J
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Are You Listening?
6-10-2009
The title for this devotional is based upon the obedience of being still. As we dive into Joseph’s role in the birth of Jesus, we first read about his obedience to listen to the angel as Joseph was given clarity about the purity of Mary. In Matthew chapter 2:13 Joseph hears from the angel a second time.
“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up, “he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” In case you didn’t do your homework last night J, here’s the background of what’s taking place. King Herod wants to be the man, therefore, when he hears that this “Jesus” is being born, Herod takes this as a threat to his power. King Herod then uses the Magi, also known as wise men, to find Jesus so Herod could have him killed. Once they realized what Herod was up to, the Magi avoided Herod at all cost. The Magi were good and worshiped Jesus, Herod is the bad guy here. Getting back to the scripture we read at the beginning of this paragraph, Joseph hears from the angel for a second time. This time the angels warn Joseph that Herod wants to kill Jesus, so they should flee to Egypt, and that’s exactly what they did.
Due to the fact King Herod was outwitted by the Magi, he chose to have every boy under the age of two to be killed hoping one of them would be Jesus. The sad reality is all of this would have been avoided if Herod wasn’t so concerned with power. He literally wanted to kill Jesus because he was afraid of what could be. The reality is Herod missed the entire reason for the birth of Christ because he was too absorbed in selfish and prideful motives. Think about this situation for a second…things go terribly wrong because someone abuses their power for selfish and prideful motives. Imagine how amazing the world would be if we could rid ourselves of such thinking. After all, Christ has taught us well. He came to SERVE not be served.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 2:13-18
2. Do you allow selfish and prideful motives to run any aspects of your life? If so, what needs to take place so that Christ can be the focal point of everything you do?
The title for this devotional is based upon the obedience of being still. As we dive into Joseph’s role in the birth of Jesus, we first read about his obedience to listen to the angel as Joseph was given clarity about the purity of Mary. In Matthew chapter 2:13 Joseph hears from the angel a second time.
“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up, “he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” In case you didn’t do your homework last night J, here’s the background of what’s taking place. King Herod wants to be the man, therefore, when he hears that this “Jesus” is being born, Herod takes this as a threat to his power. King Herod then uses the Magi, also known as wise men, to find Jesus so Herod could have him killed. Once they realized what Herod was up to, the Magi avoided Herod at all cost. The Magi were good and worshiped Jesus, Herod is the bad guy here. Getting back to the scripture we read at the beginning of this paragraph, Joseph hears from the angel for a second time. This time the angels warn Joseph that Herod wants to kill Jesus, so they should flee to Egypt, and that’s exactly what they did.
Due to the fact King Herod was outwitted by the Magi, he chose to have every boy under the age of two to be killed hoping one of them would be Jesus. The sad reality is all of this would have been avoided if Herod wasn’t so concerned with power. He literally wanted to kill Jesus because he was afraid of what could be. The reality is Herod missed the entire reason for the birth of Christ because he was too absorbed in selfish and prideful motives. Think about this situation for a second…things go terribly wrong because someone abuses their power for selfish and prideful motives. Imagine how amazing the world would be if we could rid ourselves of such thinking. After all, Christ has taught us well. He came to SERVE not be served.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 2:13-18
2. Do you allow selfish and prideful motives to run any aspects of your life? If so, what needs to take place so that Christ can be the focal point of everything you do?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Stop, Pray, Listen
6-9-2009
I choose not to believe in coincidence, as I feel we take God out of the picture if we think things just randomly happen. I believe those of us in tune with God’s will in our lives view the events of our lives as having meaning. In other words, everything happens for a reason. We don’t know the reason, but we should do our best to listen and take notice of what’s going on.
Yesterday we read in Matthew 1:18-25 about Joseph’s shocking news that his soon to be wife was pregnant even though they hadn’t made love. Jesus was placed in Mary by the Holy Spirit, and Joseph’s obedience to God eventually allowed for their marriage. One of the keys we discussed in yesterday’s devotional was the act of listening. We tend to get caught up in the business of the world, and we don’t take the necessary time to stop, pray, and listen for the will of God in our lives (you can read yesterday’s devotional by going to the blog listed at the top of the page). Interesting enough, I had three of my former youth contact me today! They were seventh graders in my youth group in Richardson, Texas when I first started working at the church. I don’t know exactly why God had all three of them contact me on the same day, but what I do know is there must be something behind it. My job is to stop, pray, and listen for what God may want me to do. It may be something as simple as reconnecting and giving them some advice. Who knows! The point is, take notice of the events and people in your life. I can assure you God is in the midst, you simply have to stop, pray and listen.
Joseph did an amazing job of following God’s will and listening to what God had in store for him. In Chapter 2 in the book of Matthew, Jesus is born in Bethlehem, and we read about King Herod’s evil plan to kill Jesus. King Herod, hungry for power, prestige, and all of the glory, was anxious to do anything and everything to keep Jesus from taking any of his glory from him. We will continue this topic tomorrow…
Application:
1. Read Matthew Chapters 2:1-12
2. Stop, Pray, and always be listening for the will of God!
I choose not to believe in coincidence, as I feel we take God out of the picture if we think things just randomly happen. I believe those of us in tune with God’s will in our lives view the events of our lives as having meaning. In other words, everything happens for a reason. We don’t know the reason, but we should do our best to listen and take notice of what’s going on.
Yesterday we read in Matthew 1:18-25 about Joseph’s shocking news that his soon to be wife was pregnant even though they hadn’t made love. Jesus was placed in Mary by the Holy Spirit, and Joseph’s obedience to God eventually allowed for their marriage. One of the keys we discussed in yesterday’s devotional was the act of listening. We tend to get caught up in the business of the world, and we don’t take the necessary time to stop, pray, and listen for the will of God in our lives (you can read yesterday’s devotional by going to the blog listed at the top of the page). Interesting enough, I had three of my former youth contact me today! They were seventh graders in my youth group in Richardson, Texas when I first started working at the church. I don’t know exactly why God had all three of them contact me on the same day, but what I do know is there must be something behind it. My job is to stop, pray, and listen for what God may want me to do. It may be something as simple as reconnecting and giving them some advice. Who knows! The point is, take notice of the events and people in your life. I can assure you God is in the midst, you simply have to stop, pray and listen.
Joseph did an amazing job of following God’s will and listening to what God had in store for him. In Chapter 2 in the book of Matthew, Jesus is born in Bethlehem, and we read about King Herod’s evil plan to kill Jesus. King Herod, hungry for power, prestige, and all of the glory, was anxious to do anything and everything to keep Jesus from taking any of his glory from him. We will continue this topic tomorrow…
Application:
1. Read Matthew Chapters 2:1-12
2. Stop, Pray, and always be listening for the will of God!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Birth
6-8-2009
The birth of Christ has been a heavily debated event amongst both Christians and nonbelievers. The fact that Jesus’ birth was completely abnormal in that Mary, his mother, was a virgin, leads many to believe it couldn’t be. Humans often struggle with the biblical account of Jesus’ birth because humans do what humans do best; we forget that GOD IS GOD. Even “Christians” argue that the bible is full of stories and is meant for illustrative purposes, and say the bible isn’t completely true. I’m not going to argue with the folks that take the bible as absolute truth, and I am not going to argue with the others that say the bible isn’t true at all. What I am going to say is this: STOP TRYING TO LIMIT THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD! We cannot fathom what he can and can’t do, so let’s stop trying, and instead focus on God’s word.
As you can probably imagine, Joseph, the soon to be husband of Mary, was a bit shocked at the events God chose to take place. Remember, Joseph and Mary weren’t married yet, but during this time period, to give birth before marriage was humiliating. Joseph didn’t know what to do. In Matthew 1:19 it says, “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” During this time period, it was common to have a women stoned to death if she was found cheating on her husband. Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes. If you’ve never made love to your soon to be wife, and then you found out she was pregnant, what conclusion would you come to? In verse 20 it says, “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
If you are Joseph, now what do you do! He just found out the lady is he “pledged” to wed, Mary, is now pregnant, and all assume she slept with someone else. He is doing all he can to avoid humiliation, and do to the love he has for Mary, he doesn’t want her stoned to death, and now he gets this dream from God telling him to marry Mary and name the baby Jesus. We all know what Joseph does, he marries her and they name the baby Jesus. The angel declared to Joseph that Mary’s child was of the Holy Spirit, and Joseph not only heard the dream, but he followed through. He never slept with Mary until after the birth of Christ.
You may have heard people say something like, “God is speaking to me,” and you may not really understand what this means. The bible tells us that God speaks to us through his written word, the bible, and through others on earth and our life experiences. I’m not saying that God can’t literally speak to you, because he can do whatever he wants. What I am saying is, don’t wait up for God’s voice because you may be waiting for a long time. You probably won’t hear a voice, but God speaks to us every day through the events in our lives. Here’s the problem; most of us are “too busy” to hear him, or we don’t do what we know we should. Very few people actively listen for God, and then do what God’s called them to do. What we can learn from Joseph’s situation is simple; he was in need, he listened for God, and then he followed God’s will in his life. If you look even deeper, you see the obedience of Joseph led to the Savior of the world, Jesus’ birth! We all have times of happiness, grief, and other emotional states. Let’s not call on God when we are desperate, but instead call on him daily, and most importantly listen for the answer, because he will answer every time. The answer may not be what you are looking for, and it certainly may not come as fast as you would like, but he will answer you. Remember, God’s timing is perfect, and he’s never running late.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 1:18-25
2. How’s your prayer life? Do you listen for the answers? Do you take action once God puts something on your heart?
The birth of Christ has been a heavily debated event amongst both Christians and nonbelievers. The fact that Jesus’ birth was completely abnormal in that Mary, his mother, was a virgin, leads many to believe it couldn’t be. Humans often struggle with the biblical account of Jesus’ birth because humans do what humans do best; we forget that GOD IS GOD. Even “Christians” argue that the bible is full of stories and is meant for illustrative purposes, and say the bible isn’t completely true. I’m not going to argue with the folks that take the bible as absolute truth, and I am not going to argue with the others that say the bible isn’t true at all. What I am going to say is this: STOP TRYING TO LIMIT THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD! We cannot fathom what he can and can’t do, so let’s stop trying, and instead focus on God’s word.
As you can probably imagine, Joseph, the soon to be husband of Mary, was a bit shocked at the events God chose to take place. Remember, Joseph and Mary weren’t married yet, but during this time period, to give birth before marriage was humiliating. Joseph didn’t know what to do. In Matthew 1:19 it says, “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” During this time period, it was common to have a women stoned to death if she was found cheating on her husband. Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes. If you’ve never made love to your soon to be wife, and then you found out she was pregnant, what conclusion would you come to? In verse 20 it says, “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
If you are Joseph, now what do you do! He just found out the lady is he “pledged” to wed, Mary, is now pregnant, and all assume she slept with someone else. He is doing all he can to avoid humiliation, and do to the love he has for Mary, he doesn’t want her stoned to death, and now he gets this dream from God telling him to marry Mary and name the baby Jesus. We all know what Joseph does, he marries her and they name the baby Jesus. The angel declared to Joseph that Mary’s child was of the Holy Spirit, and Joseph not only heard the dream, but he followed through. He never slept with Mary until after the birth of Christ.
You may have heard people say something like, “God is speaking to me,” and you may not really understand what this means. The bible tells us that God speaks to us through his written word, the bible, and through others on earth and our life experiences. I’m not saying that God can’t literally speak to you, because he can do whatever he wants. What I am saying is, don’t wait up for God’s voice because you may be waiting for a long time. You probably won’t hear a voice, but God speaks to us every day through the events in our lives. Here’s the problem; most of us are “too busy” to hear him, or we don’t do what we know we should. Very few people actively listen for God, and then do what God’s called them to do. What we can learn from Joseph’s situation is simple; he was in need, he listened for God, and then he followed God’s will in his life. If you look even deeper, you see the obedience of Joseph led to the Savior of the world, Jesus’ birth! We all have times of happiness, grief, and other emotional states. Let’s not call on God when we are desperate, but instead call on him daily, and most importantly listen for the answer, because he will answer every time. The answer may not be what you are looking for, and it certainly may not come as fast as you would like, but he will answer you. Remember, God’s timing is perfect, and he’s never running late.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 1:18-25
2. How’s your prayer life? Do you listen for the answers? Do you take action once God puts something on your heart?
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