8-31-2009
Thank You!
During my prayer time this morning I couldn’t help but think about how many times I’ve owed God a thank you, yet may have been so wrapped up in the moment I simply didn’t do so. Then I stopped to think about how many times others have done great things for me or for those close to me, and I failed to give them thanks. This immediate guilt ran over me as I prayed a prayer of thankfulness. God is amazing, and it’s important we acknowledge what he does for us every second of every day.
Whether we are aware or not, everything thing that happens is a blessing; even the worst times. God works for the good of those that love him. It can be tough to see through the clouds of darkness that come into our lives at times, but having a grateful heart and an understanding that God’s working for our betterment at all times provides hope for our future. Make sure every prayer time has a time slot for the big “Thank You” God deserves.
There are many times God is seen as a miracle worker, and not as GOD. Let’s not go to God for the simple purpose of getting what we want. In fact we should pray that our will be God’s will and vice versa. We are called to stay on HIS path, not our path. Our path is sure to lead to failure. When doors close, be grateful, and know God must be at work, and he clearly has different plans for you. Stay focused on God’s path, and watch the doors of clarity open up in your life!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 9:18-38
2. Give thanks to all
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
You Never Know
8-27-2009
I don’t know about you, but for me I certainly struggle at times with whether or not I’m making an impact. For example, I spoke to a group of kids over a month ago about why I coach baseball, etc. and how Christ is the reason I do what I do. The audience was a group of baseball players, and after the message you never really know if anything sunk in or not. I mentioned my pre-salvation days, and how my relationship with Christ has grown over the years. I basically pulled back the curtains and let this group of young men see the life of Logan Stout from childhood to today.
Long story short, I received an email from one of the kid’s parents recently telling me how she had a conversation until 5 in the morning with her son about the message I gave! As I read her email, I couldn’t help but tear up (in a good way) by her response. She informed me about the struggles her family and son have been through over the past few years, and how the testimony of my life really made an impact on her son. The purpose of this story isn’t to bring any type of credit to me in any way; it’s simply to encourage those of you that are doing the right things for the right reasons to stick with it! You are going to make mistakes along the way, I know I do all the time, but whatever you do, never underestimate the power of your actions. Stay bold for the truth and the truth shall set you free!
Application:
1. When you feel underappreciated, stay focused on the one person you should aim to please at all times, God. You will have your reward when it’s time!
I don’t know about you, but for me I certainly struggle at times with whether or not I’m making an impact. For example, I spoke to a group of kids over a month ago about why I coach baseball, etc. and how Christ is the reason I do what I do. The audience was a group of baseball players, and after the message you never really know if anything sunk in or not. I mentioned my pre-salvation days, and how my relationship with Christ has grown over the years. I basically pulled back the curtains and let this group of young men see the life of Logan Stout from childhood to today.
Long story short, I received an email from one of the kid’s parents recently telling me how she had a conversation until 5 in the morning with her son about the message I gave! As I read her email, I couldn’t help but tear up (in a good way) by her response. She informed me about the struggles her family and son have been through over the past few years, and how the testimony of my life really made an impact on her son. The purpose of this story isn’t to bring any type of credit to me in any way; it’s simply to encourage those of you that are doing the right things for the right reasons to stick with it! You are going to make mistakes along the way, I know I do all the time, but whatever you do, never underestimate the power of your actions. Stay bold for the truth and the truth shall set you free!
Application:
1. When you feel underappreciated, stay focused on the one person you should aim to please at all times, God. You will have your reward when it’s time!
Easy On The Rules
8-26-2009
Growing up I thought of church as a long list of rules I wasn’t supposed to break. I can honestly say the message of salvation wasn’t exactly the lasting message though it should have been. I recall the 10 COMMANDMENT and other “laws or rules” that needed to be followed to “show” I was a Christian. Matthew 9:14-17 touches on this topic, and the topic of fasting lends us to the teachings of Christ.
Jesus Questioned About Fasting
14Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
15Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
16"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
What we read here is the confusion between following LAW versus following Christ. To fast is to show your acknowledgment that you sin and that Christ is coming to redeem you. Jesus’ followers were with him, so their need to fast was irrelevant. The key point we should get out of these passages centers on the fact that many focus too much on the rules and not enough on the love of Christ. We are called to love others, not judge others. Leave the judging up to God. Let’s stay focused on the positives and speak the good news to all whom will listen.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 9:14-17
2. Love, don’t judge
Growing up I thought of church as a long list of rules I wasn’t supposed to break. I can honestly say the message of salvation wasn’t exactly the lasting message though it should have been. I recall the 10 COMMANDMENT and other “laws or rules” that needed to be followed to “show” I was a Christian. Matthew 9:14-17 touches on this topic, and the topic of fasting lends us to the teachings of Christ.
Jesus Questioned About Fasting
14Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
15Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
16"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
What we read here is the confusion between following LAW versus following Christ. To fast is to show your acknowledgment that you sin and that Christ is coming to redeem you. Jesus’ followers were with him, so their need to fast was irrelevant. The key point we should get out of these passages centers on the fact that many focus too much on the rules and not enough on the love of Christ. We are called to love others, not judge others. Leave the judging up to God. Let’s stay focused on the positives and speak the good news to all whom will listen.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 9:14-17
2. Love, don’t judge
Help Those In Spiritual Need
8-25-2009
In yesterday’s devotional we read Jesus’ teaching in Matthew chapter 9:12-13 instructing us to help the those lacking a relationship with Jesus Christ. Versus 12-13 say, “ 12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
I do my best to find the good in people, so when Christ calls us to seek out the sinners so they may hear the words of Christ, how do we do that without finding the bad in people? I believe the answer is simple: see how great of an impact someone will have in the world once they rid themselves of the negative qualities that hold them back. In other words, see what others don’t. While someone may appear to be full of negative qualities, see beyond the external and remember we are all children of God in need of redemption. Do all you can to pull out the best in people. It’s going to take a lot of patience and work, but think about the generations of people in their family alone you could be making a major impact on just by helping one person!
Application:
1. Read Matthew chapter 9 versus 1-13
2. Make time to change lives
In yesterday’s devotional we read Jesus’ teaching in Matthew chapter 9:12-13 instructing us to help the those lacking a relationship with Jesus Christ. Versus 12-13 say, “ 12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
I do my best to find the good in people, so when Christ calls us to seek out the sinners so they may hear the words of Christ, how do we do that without finding the bad in people? I believe the answer is simple: see how great of an impact someone will have in the world once they rid themselves of the negative qualities that hold them back. In other words, see what others don’t. While someone may appear to be full of negative qualities, see beyond the external and remember we are all children of God in need of redemption. Do all you can to pull out the best in people. It’s going to take a lot of patience and work, but think about the generations of people in their family alone you could be making a major impact on just by helping one person!
Application:
1. Read Matthew chapter 9 versus 1-13
2. Make time to change lives
Go
8-24-2009
As a refresher, Matthew was a part of the unpopular crowd. He was an evil tax collector, and Jesus changed everything. Everyone questioned Jesus and his followers as to why he would hang out with tax collectors and sinners like Matthew and here’s what Jesus had to say:
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
We need to be careful to not think too highly of ourselves. Jesus wants us to make an impact in people’s lives that don’t know him; therefore we must reach out to those in need. Don’t just sit around in your little bubble of church going friends and act as if the rest of the world is in the wrong. We need to surround ourselves with great accountability as iron sharpens iron, but we must also use what we’ve learned to sharpen others. God can’t use us to save souls if we aren’t reaching out to those that need to be saved.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 9:1-12
2. Make a list of those people in your life that need to know about Christ and show them Christ. Don’t beat people over the head with the Bible, and do not talk down to them. Simply plant the seeds and allow the Holy Spirit to take over!
As a refresher, Matthew was a part of the unpopular crowd. He was an evil tax collector, and Jesus changed everything. Everyone questioned Jesus and his followers as to why he would hang out with tax collectors and sinners like Matthew and here’s what Jesus had to say:
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
We need to be careful to not think too highly of ourselves. Jesus wants us to make an impact in people’s lives that don’t know him; therefore we must reach out to those in need. Don’t just sit around in your little bubble of church going friends and act as if the rest of the world is in the wrong. We need to surround ourselves with great accountability as iron sharpens iron, but we must also use what we’ve learned to sharpen others. God can’t use us to save souls if we aren’t reaching out to those that need to be saved.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 9:1-12
2. Make a list of those people in your life that need to know about Christ and show them Christ. Don’t beat people over the head with the Bible, and do not talk down to them. Simply plant the seeds and allow the Holy Spirit to take over!
What Reputation?
8-21-2009
Matthew was a messed up dude, and Jesus’ choice to bring him along reveals to us that we shouldn’t worry about what the world thinks. Hanging out with Matthew isn’t exactly the popular thing to do, and biblical commentaries reveal it hurt Jesus’ reputation, yet Jesus doesn’t care about his reputation. He cares about saving souls for the kingdom of God.
Matthew 9:10-11 says, 9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
We should all learn a valuable lesson from Jesus’ actions and relationship with Matthew and other “not so popular people” of the world. He didn’t care who you were or what you’ve done, and he certainly wasn’t concerned with his ranking in the popularity contest. What he did care about was your salvation. He dined with the lowest of the low so that they may turn from their ways of the past and live a life honoring to God.
What’s your past consisted of? It’s important to understand God’s view of the past. He is willing to forgive and forget if you will simply confess your sins, and start a new life in Jesus. Away with the old ways of you, and let’s start a fresh you. Nothing you’ve done in the past can keep you from a relationship of Christ if you are willing to accept him into your heart.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 9:10-11
2. Are you more concerned with your reputation or saving souls?
Matthew was a messed up dude, and Jesus’ choice to bring him along reveals to us that we shouldn’t worry about what the world thinks. Hanging out with Matthew isn’t exactly the popular thing to do, and biblical commentaries reveal it hurt Jesus’ reputation, yet Jesus doesn’t care about his reputation. He cares about saving souls for the kingdom of God.
Matthew 9:10-11 says, 9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
We should all learn a valuable lesson from Jesus’ actions and relationship with Matthew and other “not so popular people” of the world. He didn’t care who you were or what you’ve done, and he certainly wasn’t concerned with his ranking in the popularity contest. What he did care about was your salvation. He dined with the lowest of the low so that they may turn from their ways of the past and live a life honoring to God.
What’s your past consisted of? It’s important to understand God’s view of the past. He is willing to forgive and forget if you will simply confess your sins, and start a new life in Jesus. Away with the old ways of you, and let’s start a fresh you. Nothing you’ve done in the past can keep you from a relationship of Christ if you are willing to accept him into your heart.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 9:10-11
2. Are you more concerned with your reputation or saving souls?
How Well Do You Follow?
8-20-2009
Matthew was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, and he responded immediately to the call of Christ, something I wish I did a better job of. Matthew is the one who compiled the very book in the Bible we are currently reading (the book of Matthew). Matthew was not the ideal candidate to be chosen by Jesus as a disciple being that he was a Tax Collector. Tax Collectors were pretty much hated by all, and the fact Jesus accepted Matthew reveals he wants everyone from every background to enter the Kingdom of God. Matthew had a lot to lose by following Jesus, yet he left in a heartbeat.
Matthew 9:9 says, “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”
Matthew didn’t even hesitate to follow Jesus, despite the fact he had a lucrative job, and he knew he would be unemployed immediately if he left to follow Christ. As we reflect on the amazing story of Matthew’s life it’s amazing to see how a talented guy like Matthew could use his gifts and skill set to make a major impact for the Kingdom of God! His skills earned him a lot of money as a tax collector. As a disciple of Jesus Christ he used those same skills to save souls!
Application:
1. Are you using your God given abilities to honor the Kingdom of God?
2. What’s keeping you from following Christ daily?
Matthew was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, and he responded immediately to the call of Christ, something I wish I did a better job of. Matthew is the one who compiled the very book in the Bible we are currently reading (the book of Matthew). Matthew was not the ideal candidate to be chosen by Jesus as a disciple being that he was a Tax Collector. Tax Collectors were pretty much hated by all, and the fact Jesus accepted Matthew reveals he wants everyone from every background to enter the Kingdom of God. Matthew had a lot to lose by following Jesus, yet he left in a heartbeat.
Matthew 9:9 says, “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”
Matthew didn’t even hesitate to follow Jesus, despite the fact he had a lucrative job, and he knew he would be unemployed immediately if he left to follow Christ. As we reflect on the amazing story of Matthew’s life it’s amazing to see how a talented guy like Matthew could use his gifts and skill set to make a major impact for the Kingdom of God! His skills earned him a lot of money as a tax collector. As a disciple of Jesus Christ he used those same skills to save souls!
Application:
1. Are you using your God given abilities to honor the Kingdom of God?
2. What’s keeping you from following Christ daily?
Spiritual vs. Physical Health
8-19-2009
It’s easy to buy into the priorities of the world (wealth, fame, etc.), therefore it’s extremely important we stay focused on the priorities God’s laid out for us. Matthew 9:1-8 gives us a great example of our short sided thought process with regards to what’s really important.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"
4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7And the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
The people were so concerned with the paralytic’s physical well being; they looked over the spiritual blessing of salvation Jesus gave him. I believe their intentions were good in that they wanted to see the paralytic healed, but they lost focus of what really counts. Moreover, they challenged Jesus because he didn’t heal the man immediately. Human’s primary concern in this case was the physical healing. Jesus’ primary concern was the spiritual healing that needed to take place. As we read, Jesus did heal the man physically, and then they all believed he was God. When Jesus healed him spiritually they accused him of blasphemy. Let’s not lose focus of our calling and duty. Work on your spiritual well being just as much, if not more than you work on everything else! Think about it, if we worked on our spiritual growth as much as we do our physical well being (working out, eating, etc.) just imagine how different the world would be!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 9:1-8
2. Start Today on growing spiritually.
It’s easy to buy into the priorities of the world (wealth, fame, etc.), therefore it’s extremely important we stay focused on the priorities God’s laid out for us. Matthew 9:1-8 gives us a great example of our short sided thought process with regards to what’s really important.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"
4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7And the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
The people were so concerned with the paralytic’s physical well being; they looked over the spiritual blessing of salvation Jesus gave him. I believe their intentions were good in that they wanted to see the paralytic healed, but they lost focus of what really counts. Moreover, they challenged Jesus because he didn’t heal the man immediately. Human’s primary concern in this case was the physical healing. Jesus’ primary concern was the spiritual healing that needed to take place. As we read, Jesus did heal the man physically, and then they all believed he was God. When Jesus healed him spiritually they accused him of blasphemy. Let’s not lose focus of our calling and duty. Work on your spiritual well being just as much, if not more than you work on everything else! Think about it, if we worked on our spiritual growth as much as we do our physical well being (working out, eating, etc.) just imagine how different the world would be!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 9:1-8
2. Start Today on growing spiritually.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Love The Wrong
8-18-2009
Loving those that wrong you can be a very difficult task, yet that’s exactly what Jesus calls us to do. As we continue to navigate through the book of Matthew, Jesus encounters two demon-possessed men. A demon possessed individual is someone that is under the control of one or more demons. Demons are fallen angels who joined Satan is his attempt to challenge God, and the one thing that overcomes the demon-possessed is the love of God. Read as Jesus handles the demon possessed:
“When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ‘What do you want with us Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Jesus knew they were demon-possessed, yet he still met with them. He went out of his way to show the power of God. The lesson here is simple: look for opportunities to share the love of God with those that have wronged you and wronged others. Seeking revenge or acting in anger doesn’t glorify God. Every human being is a unique creation of God, and some have wandered WAY off the path of righteousness, but our job is to love not judge. God allows everyone to be in your life for a reason. Let’s not miss opportunities to make an impact. It’s easy to seek revenge. The hard right thing to do is love those that wrong you!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8-28-34
2. Who’s wronged you recently, and how can you respond to the call of Jesus?
Loving those that wrong you can be a very difficult task, yet that’s exactly what Jesus calls us to do. As we continue to navigate through the book of Matthew, Jesus encounters two demon-possessed men. A demon possessed individual is someone that is under the control of one or more demons. Demons are fallen angels who joined Satan is his attempt to challenge God, and the one thing that overcomes the demon-possessed is the love of God. Read as Jesus handles the demon possessed:
“When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ‘What do you want with us Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Jesus knew they were demon-possessed, yet he still met with them. He went out of his way to show the power of God. The lesson here is simple: look for opportunities to share the love of God with those that have wronged you and wronged others. Seeking revenge or acting in anger doesn’t glorify God. Every human being is a unique creation of God, and some have wandered WAY off the path of righteousness, but our job is to love not judge. God allows everyone to be in your life for a reason. Let’s not miss opportunities to make an impact. It’s easy to seek revenge. The hard right thing to do is love those that wrong you!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8-28-34
2. Who’s wronged you recently, and how can you respond to the call of Jesus?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Two Signs of Success
8-17-2009
As I’ve studied successful people two things became rather clear: they will be persecuted or criticized and they will be different. Jesus Christ is the most successful person to ever walk the earth and he was absolutely persecuted for his actions, and he 100% went against the grain.
Why persecution? Why do people criticize the successful? People do not want to see you succeed without them, and they are going to look for any and every reason to pull you down. Josh Hamilton plays baseball for the Texas Rangers. Josh is a devout Christian, and he tours around the country in the offseason doing speaking engagements and spreading the message of Christ. In 1999 he was the 1st pick overall in the Major League Baseball Draft, but soon after he was out of baseball due to a drug and alcohol addiction. Once he came to know Christ, his life got back on track, he returned to baseball, and was an All Star for the Rangers in the 2008 season. In 2009 he began to struggle with his alcohol addiction again, and his performance on the field went downhill fast as well. Being the man of integrity that he is, he openly admitted his struggle to the world. Here’s the interesting part. The media rarely mentioned the FACT that Josh toured the world confessing his sins to thousands of people about drug and alcohol addiction, and how Christ saved his soul from his addictions, but they had no problem blasting him on the news about his struggle to stay clean. Notice, the media celebrates the downfall of Josh, but rarely mentions the amazing message of salvation that took place in his life! His success story far outweighs his struggles, but the first key to being successful holds true: you will be persecuted and criticized.
Because you are different, you will have what others don’t have. It’s easy to fall into the traps of the world. It’s very difficult to stand up for what’s right! Therefore, in order to have what others don’t, you must be willing to be what others aren’t and do what others aren’t willing to do. Think about it…if over 90% of the people in the world are in debt, doesn’t it make sense to want to be a part of the less than 10% that’s not? If the majority of the people in our country are overweight, doesn’t it make sense to be a part of the few percent that are in shape? Again, you are going to be different if you want to be successful, and remember you will be criticized for doing so!
Application:
1. What keeps you from being different? There’s a reason people read about pioneers…no one reads about a settler!
2. Are you a pioneer or a settler?
As I’ve studied successful people two things became rather clear: they will be persecuted or criticized and they will be different. Jesus Christ is the most successful person to ever walk the earth and he was absolutely persecuted for his actions, and he 100% went against the grain.
Why persecution? Why do people criticize the successful? People do not want to see you succeed without them, and they are going to look for any and every reason to pull you down. Josh Hamilton plays baseball for the Texas Rangers. Josh is a devout Christian, and he tours around the country in the offseason doing speaking engagements and spreading the message of Christ. In 1999 he was the 1st pick overall in the Major League Baseball Draft, but soon after he was out of baseball due to a drug and alcohol addiction. Once he came to know Christ, his life got back on track, he returned to baseball, and was an All Star for the Rangers in the 2008 season. In 2009 he began to struggle with his alcohol addiction again, and his performance on the field went downhill fast as well. Being the man of integrity that he is, he openly admitted his struggle to the world. Here’s the interesting part. The media rarely mentioned the FACT that Josh toured the world confessing his sins to thousands of people about drug and alcohol addiction, and how Christ saved his soul from his addictions, but they had no problem blasting him on the news about his struggle to stay clean. Notice, the media celebrates the downfall of Josh, but rarely mentions the amazing message of salvation that took place in his life! His success story far outweighs his struggles, but the first key to being successful holds true: you will be persecuted and criticized.
Because you are different, you will have what others don’t have. It’s easy to fall into the traps of the world. It’s very difficult to stand up for what’s right! Therefore, in order to have what others don’t, you must be willing to be what others aren’t and do what others aren’t willing to do. Think about it…if over 90% of the people in the world are in debt, doesn’t it make sense to want to be a part of the less than 10% that’s not? If the majority of the people in our country are overweight, doesn’t it make sense to be a part of the few percent that are in shape? Again, you are going to be different if you want to be successful, and remember you will be criticized for doing so!
Application:
1. What keeps you from being different? There’s a reason people read about pioneers…no one reads about a settler!
2. Are you a pioneer or a settler?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Jesus Calms The Storm
8-14-2009
Yesterday we discussed the fact that storms will take place at some point in time in everyone’s life. How we respond to those storms is a direct reflection of our spiritual maturity. As a believer in Christ, we understand the true nature of God and that he has plans for our eternal relationship with Him. When storms occur we tend to be reminded of our need for a savior just as the disciples did in the following verses.
In Matthew 8:23-27 it says:
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
There isn’t a storm Jesus can’t stop on earth or in our lives. When those storms come, don’t panic, pray. Just as the disciples turned to Jesus to calm the storm, we should pray to Jesus the same way. There’s no reason to panic when you allow Jesus to run your life. When you begin to feel afraid remember the words of Jesus, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” We all have moments of weakness, and it’s extremely important to go directly to your savior during these times of need. We tend to try to solve problems ourselves and turn to God as a last resort. Try the opposite approach. Let’s turn to God first so he will guide and direct our energies, thoughts, and actions. Pray daily that God will grant you wisdom and mental clarity. Let’s be proactive so when the storms hit, we are prepared!
Application:
1. Do you have fear in your life? Why?
2. What’s keeping you from turning those fears to God? Don’t panic, pray!
Yesterday we discussed the fact that storms will take place at some point in time in everyone’s life. How we respond to those storms is a direct reflection of our spiritual maturity. As a believer in Christ, we understand the true nature of God and that he has plans for our eternal relationship with Him. When storms occur we tend to be reminded of our need for a savior just as the disciples did in the following verses.
In Matthew 8:23-27 it says:
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
There isn’t a storm Jesus can’t stop on earth or in our lives. When those storms come, don’t panic, pray. Just as the disciples turned to Jesus to calm the storm, we should pray to Jesus the same way. There’s no reason to panic when you allow Jesus to run your life. When you begin to feel afraid remember the words of Jesus, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” We all have moments of weakness, and it’s extremely important to go directly to your savior during these times of need. We tend to try to solve problems ourselves and turn to God as a last resort. Try the opposite approach. Let’s turn to God first so he will guide and direct our energies, thoughts, and actions. Pray daily that God will grant you wisdom and mental clarity. Let’s be proactive so when the storms hit, we are prepared!
Application:
1. Do you have fear in your life? Why?
2. What’s keeping you from turning those fears to God? Don’t panic, pray!
Storms
8-13-2009
Life is full of storms, they are inevitable, and it’s how we respond to the storms of our lives that lead to peace of mind, success, and a positive outcome. As I write this devotional another email just hit my inbox about an individual that just lost their job; people are searching for answers.
I ran into a guy I see frequently at the gym yesterday, and he randomly asked me if I was retired. Being that I don’t know this guy, I really didn’t know how to respond. He had just finished his workout and was putting his tie on when he asked, so I responded, “I don’t know if I’ll ever retire, I love what I do. Are you heading to work?” I will spare you the response, but he clearly didn’t want to go to work, and something like, “Ya, I’m stuck in the rat race and I guess I’ll die running it,” came out of his mouth.
There are so many people with the “I’m stuck in the rat race and WON’T get out mentality.” Remember, you will get what you expect to get, and as long as you live in fear mode you better be prepared for a lot of storms. There are times I wish I could jump inside people’s heads and change the way they think. If you aren’t happy where you are, do something different. It may take time to transition, and you may have to work double time until you are able to leave the job you have, but if you aren’t happy where you are, God may just do you a favor and let your employer remove you from the rat race.
Without warning, furious storms may hit your life, and for those that have a solid relationship with Christ, the storm comes and goes rather quickly with little stress. You are able to stay focused because you understand God knows what he’s doing. You know God closes one door because he has a much better door he wants you to go through.
For those of you that have wandered away from your spiritual growth, storms my hit a lot harder and last a lot longer. One thing I believe to be true is the storms of your life tend to bring you closer to God, while we tend to take him for granted when things are going great. We need to make sure once the storm passes we don’t fall back into the trap of taking God for granted. Learn from your mistakes and stay focused on your spiritual journey because there will be more storms.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8:23-25
2. Are you prepared if a storm hits?
3. If you are in a storm, are you taking the right steps to free yourself?
Life is full of storms, they are inevitable, and it’s how we respond to the storms of our lives that lead to peace of mind, success, and a positive outcome. As I write this devotional another email just hit my inbox about an individual that just lost their job; people are searching for answers.
I ran into a guy I see frequently at the gym yesterday, and he randomly asked me if I was retired. Being that I don’t know this guy, I really didn’t know how to respond. He had just finished his workout and was putting his tie on when he asked, so I responded, “I don’t know if I’ll ever retire, I love what I do. Are you heading to work?” I will spare you the response, but he clearly didn’t want to go to work, and something like, “Ya, I’m stuck in the rat race and I guess I’ll die running it,” came out of his mouth.
There are so many people with the “I’m stuck in the rat race and WON’T get out mentality.” Remember, you will get what you expect to get, and as long as you live in fear mode you better be prepared for a lot of storms. There are times I wish I could jump inside people’s heads and change the way they think. If you aren’t happy where you are, do something different. It may take time to transition, and you may have to work double time until you are able to leave the job you have, but if you aren’t happy where you are, God may just do you a favor and let your employer remove you from the rat race.
Without warning, furious storms may hit your life, and for those that have a solid relationship with Christ, the storm comes and goes rather quickly with little stress. You are able to stay focused because you understand God knows what he’s doing. You know God closes one door because he has a much better door he wants you to go through.
For those of you that have wandered away from your spiritual growth, storms my hit a lot harder and last a lot longer. One thing I believe to be true is the storms of your life tend to bring you closer to God, while we tend to take him for granted when things are going great. We need to make sure once the storm passes we don’t fall back into the trap of taking God for granted. Learn from your mistakes and stay focused on your spiritual journey because there will be more storms.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8:23-25
2. Are you prepared if a storm hits?
3. If you are in a storm, are you taking the right steps to free yourself?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Who Do You Follow
8-12-2009
We live in a world that tells us not only who to follow but what to follow. People chase financial gain, worldly possessions, and the approval of the world. Salesman do whatever it takes (manipulate, issue ultimatums, etc.) to close a deal losing focus of whether it’s the right thing to do, thus leaving a wake of hurt in their path at the goal of worldly success. People have the “grass is greener on the other side” mentality, and lives are being ruined as a result.
We are called to follow the one, Jesus Christ, as all his ways are good and pure. Everything that strays outside of the path Christ laid out for us will lead to failure. Sure, you might have some temporary (temporal) gains along the way, but our eyes should be fixed on the eternal if you want the only true reward that is lasting.
Matthew 8:18-19 says, “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the others side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Are you following the ways of Jesus wherever you go and whatever you do? Sure, following the ways of the world, and seeking the approval of the world can give you temporary satisfaction that certainly boosts the almighty EGO. Keeping your eyes and motives fixed on Jesus takes sacrifice and can lead you to a feeling of being an “outcast” to the rest of the world. You may not get the “Attaboy” response your peers get, but at the end of the road we aren’t looking for the approval of man. We want to hear the words, “Job well done my good and faithful servant.”
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8:18-22
2. Who are you following…the world or your maker?
We live in a world that tells us not only who to follow but what to follow. People chase financial gain, worldly possessions, and the approval of the world. Salesman do whatever it takes (manipulate, issue ultimatums, etc.) to close a deal losing focus of whether it’s the right thing to do, thus leaving a wake of hurt in their path at the goal of worldly success. People have the “grass is greener on the other side” mentality, and lives are being ruined as a result.
We are called to follow the one, Jesus Christ, as all his ways are good and pure. Everything that strays outside of the path Christ laid out for us will lead to failure. Sure, you might have some temporary (temporal) gains along the way, but our eyes should be fixed on the eternal if you want the only true reward that is lasting.
Matthew 8:18-19 says, “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the others side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Are you following the ways of Jesus wherever you go and whatever you do? Sure, following the ways of the world, and seeking the approval of the world can give you temporary satisfaction that certainly boosts the almighty EGO. Keeping your eyes and motives fixed on Jesus takes sacrifice and can lead you to a feeling of being an “outcast” to the rest of the world. You may not get the “Attaboy” response your peers get, but at the end of the road we aren’t looking for the approval of man. We want to hear the words, “Job well done my good and faithful servant.”
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8:18-22
2. Who are you following…the world or your maker?
Monday, August 10, 2009
Don't Be Crazy
8-11-2009
There are many things and events that are hard to believe. I’ve been asked many times, “Did Jesus really do all the things the Bible says he did? There’s no way that stuff could happen…is there?” Humans do a great job of limiting the power of God. We have a tough time seeing beyond our own experiences to believe anything out of the ordinary. Case in point:
I come home last night, and my wife and I recap the day’s events. I told her how bad my golf game was; she told me how great her workout was, etc. Just as we were finishing up the conversation she was reminded of one event she hadn’t told me about. Her dad (my father-in-law) has a dog named Webster. Webster is a wire hair fox terrier, and he has a wild side to him. Any opportunity he gets to escape he does! He loves this family, but he loves to run loose as well. Somehow he got out the front door of the house, and off he went. After about 45 minutes of driving around the neighborhood for Webster, Joe (my Father-in-law) received a phone call from CVS pharmacy saying they had Webster. Keep in mind, CVS pharmacy is on a MAJOR street in Dallas, Texas. The thought of the dog running that far away is hard to imagine, let alone what I’m about to tell you. You see, Webster figured out how to stand in front of the door to make the automatic doors open at CVS. He then proceeded to run up and down the aisles at CVS while all of the employees tried as hard as they could to catch him. Once they finally cornered him, they called Joe to come pick him up. Picture this dog running up and down the aisles of the store! Crazy!!!
I’m sure you all have crazy events that have happened in your life such as the one mentioned in this devotional. What’s even crazier is thinking God can or can’t do something. Jesus Christ cured people of diseases, enabled people to see, and performed many of miracles right in front of people, yet some people still didn’t believe that Jesus was the savior. If Jesus stood right in front of you and cured someone you love dearly of a deadly cancer, then would you believe? If Jesus stood in your living room and rescued you from one of the worst struggles of your life, how would you respond? Jesus has the power to do anything. What we are called to do is put our faith and trust in Jesus. By doing so, you understand what Jesus did, who he was, and who he is! A small part of faith is the understanding and believing in something you cannot necessarily see. The fact that Jesus performed miracle after miracle isn’t crazy. What’s crazy is some people still didn’t believe!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8:14-17
2. Don’t be crazy!
There are many things and events that are hard to believe. I’ve been asked many times, “Did Jesus really do all the things the Bible says he did? There’s no way that stuff could happen…is there?” Humans do a great job of limiting the power of God. We have a tough time seeing beyond our own experiences to believe anything out of the ordinary. Case in point:
I come home last night, and my wife and I recap the day’s events. I told her how bad my golf game was; she told me how great her workout was, etc. Just as we were finishing up the conversation she was reminded of one event she hadn’t told me about. Her dad (my father-in-law) has a dog named Webster. Webster is a wire hair fox terrier, and he has a wild side to him. Any opportunity he gets to escape he does! He loves this family, but he loves to run loose as well. Somehow he got out the front door of the house, and off he went. After about 45 minutes of driving around the neighborhood for Webster, Joe (my Father-in-law) received a phone call from CVS pharmacy saying they had Webster. Keep in mind, CVS pharmacy is on a MAJOR street in Dallas, Texas. The thought of the dog running that far away is hard to imagine, let alone what I’m about to tell you. You see, Webster figured out how to stand in front of the door to make the automatic doors open at CVS. He then proceeded to run up and down the aisles at CVS while all of the employees tried as hard as they could to catch him. Once they finally cornered him, they called Joe to come pick him up. Picture this dog running up and down the aisles of the store! Crazy!!!
I’m sure you all have crazy events that have happened in your life such as the one mentioned in this devotional. What’s even crazier is thinking God can or can’t do something. Jesus Christ cured people of diseases, enabled people to see, and performed many of miracles right in front of people, yet some people still didn’t believe that Jesus was the savior. If Jesus stood right in front of you and cured someone you love dearly of a deadly cancer, then would you believe? If Jesus stood in your living room and rescued you from one of the worst struggles of your life, how would you respond? Jesus has the power to do anything. What we are called to do is put our faith and trust in Jesus. By doing so, you understand what Jesus did, who he was, and who he is! A small part of faith is the understanding and believing in something you cannot necessarily see. The fact that Jesus performed miracle after miracle isn’t crazy. What’s crazy is some people still didn’t believe!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8:14-17
2. Don’t be crazy!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Defeat
Defeat
I heard a quote one time saying, “You’re not a failure if you fail. You are a failure if when you fail you don’t get back up.” We all have moments of defeat in our lives. It may be a big business deal that falls through, a loss in a sporting event, and etcetera. There’s only one way to keep from being defeated on a regular basis and that’s by not participating. For those that participate the most, you will be defeated more often. For those that participate the most, you will earn victory more often as well.
Yesterday was a tough day for one of my Dallas Patriots baseball teams. We made it all the way to the final game of the World Series, and simply struggled in the championship. We didn’t play our best, thus the team we run ruled 8-0 the day before defeated us in the finals. Being that I expected to win, I didn’t have a “good try” speech prepared. Our boys had an amazing season finishing as the second best team in the country. The way I look at it, every other team wishes they were us except for the team that finished first! Our boys played 75 games in 63 days and won 65 of those games! They had an amazing year, and it was an absolute blessing and honor to coach them. Long story short those were my closing comments on the season.
As I look back over my spiritual journey, the loss we encountered would have hurt a lot more had my focus been on satisfying the temporal. I can honestly say that I wanted us to win the World Series for one major reason: the boys. They earned it and deserve it. Had we won, I would have sat in the dugout and simply watched them celebrate what they deserved. I’ve already had my share of Titles. I don’t need another World Series ring to give me a thrill. Here’s the realty of the situation…the comments I just made I don’t believe I could have said them just a few years ago. Reason being: I wanted to satisfy the world. I wanted to be the man! As I’ve grown in my spiritual journey I’ve learned you can’t satisfy the world. It doesn’t matter what you do or how you do it, there will always be people there to try to tear you down. Therefore, stay focused on satisfying your Lord and Savior and everything else will take care of itself. Do things with selfless motives, just as Christ did and preached. Jesus healed and saved many, and didn’t care about getting any accolades for doing so. He came on this earth to serve, not be served. If Jesus were the coach of a team, I’m sure he would find just as many teaching opportunities in the losses as he would in the wins.
Application:
1. Read Matthew Chapter 8:10-13
2. Think of times in your life where defeat starred you in the face…how did you respond?
I heard a quote one time saying, “You’re not a failure if you fail. You are a failure if when you fail you don’t get back up.” We all have moments of defeat in our lives. It may be a big business deal that falls through, a loss in a sporting event, and etcetera. There’s only one way to keep from being defeated on a regular basis and that’s by not participating. For those that participate the most, you will be defeated more often. For those that participate the most, you will earn victory more often as well.
Yesterday was a tough day for one of my Dallas Patriots baseball teams. We made it all the way to the final game of the World Series, and simply struggled in the championship. We didn’t play our best, thus the team we run ruled 8-0 the day before defeated us in the finals. Being that I expected to win, I didn’t have a “good try” speech prepared. Our boys had an amazing season finishing as the second best team in the country. The way I look at it, every other team wishes they were us except for the team that finished first! Our boys played 75 games in 63 days and won 65 of those games! They had an amazing year, and it was an absolute blessing and honor to coach them. Long story short those were my closing comments on the season.
As I look back over my spiritual journey, the loss we encountered would have hurt a lot more had my focus been on satisfying the temporal. I can honestly say that I wanted us to win the World Series for one major reason: the boys. They earned it and deserve it. Had we won, I would have sat in the dugout and simply watched them celebrate what they deserved. I’ve already had my share of Titles. I don’t need another World Series ring to give me a thrill. Here’s the realty of the situation…the comments I just made I don’t believe I could have said them just a few years ago. Reason being: I wanted to satisfy the world. I wanted to be the man! As I’ve grown in my spiritual journey I’ve learned you can’t satisfy the world. It doesn’t matter what you do or how you do it, there will always be people there to try to tear you down. Therefore, stay focused on satisfying your Lord and Savior and everything else will take care of itself. Do things with selfless motives, just as Christ did and preached. Jesus healed and saved many, and didn’t care about getting any accolades for doing so. He came on this earth to serve, not be served. If Jesus were the coach of a team, I’m sure he would find just as many teaching opportunities in the losses as he would in the wins.
Application:
1. Read Matthew Chapter 8:10-13
2. Think of times in your life where defeat starred you in the face…how did you respond?
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Just Ask
8-7-2009
Have you ever had times in your life where it felt something was missing? There just had to be more, but you weren’t exactly sure where to look? This is where I was when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. I grew up in the church, and I knew of God, but I wasn’t transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. I had never fully accepted Christ into my life, therefore I was lost. It’s one thing to know of something, but it’s totally different when you know something intimately. It was my senior year in high school when I asked Christ into my life, and that missing void has forever been filled!
Matthew 8:1-4 says, “When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
For those of you that may be where I was, just ask! Jesus can heal all things, but you must ask him into your life. In the example we read about in Matthew chapter 8, we read of a man asking to be cleansed of leprosy. Leprosy then was like AIDS today. It was bad! In the same way the man asked Jesus to cleanse him of leprosy, we need to ask Jesus to cleanse us of our sin. The answers a lot of people are looking for are all around you everywhere every day, and he is waiting for you to call on him. Jesus wants a relationship with you, and you have the free will to turn to him, ignore him, or turn away from him. I feel a lot of people are sitting in the “ignore him” category. They simply fill their lives with the things and events of this world, and anything of this world will leave you empty! Fix your eyes on the cross, and watch your life overflow with joy.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8:1-5
2. What’s keeping you from Christ?
Have you ever had times in your life where it felt something was missing? There just had to be more, but you weren’t exactly sure where to look? This is where I was when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. I grew up in the church, and I knew of God, but I wasn’t transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. I had never fully accepted Christ into my life, therefore I was lost. It’s one thing to know of something, but it’s totally different when you know something intimately. It was my senior year in high school when I asked Christ into my life, and that missing void has forever been filled!
Matthew 8:1-4 says, “When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
For those of you that may be where I was, just ask! Jesus can heal all things, but you must ask him into your life. In the example we read about in Matthew chapter 8, we read of a man asking to be cleansed of leprosy. Leprosy then was like AIDS today. It was bad! In the same way the man asked Jesus to cleanse him of leprosy, we need to ask Jesus to cleanse us of our sin. The answers a lot of people are looking for are all around you everywhere every day, and he is waiting for you to call on him. Jesus wants a relationship with you, and you have the free will to turn to him, ignore him, or turn away from him. I feel a lot of people are sitting in the “ignore him” category. They simply fill their lives with the things and events of this world, and anything of this world will leave you empty! Fix your eyes on the cross, and watch your life overflow with joy.
Application:
1. Read Matthew 8:1-5
2. What’s keeping you from Christ?
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Excellence
8-6-2009
I am in the middle of coaching my 16u Dallas Patriots team in the Mickey Mantle World Series right now, so the quest for excellence is certainly at the top of our priority list. As I thought about the mindset of the kids during this incredible time in their careers, I thought about the “quest for excellence” mindset we should always have. Why don’t we strive for excellence all of the time in all that we do? If you’re going to do something, do it right or why do it! Although we are studying the book of Matthew, and we took a break yesterday, I read a devotional that I feel we could all benefit from, so here goes. This devotional is by Boyd Bailey, and it’s awesome!
Embrace Excellence… “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
We admire excellence in others. Professional athletes, attorneys, speakers, teachers, coaches, custodians, mothers, fathers, leaders, elected officials and business men and women who excel and motivate others to excel. Their commitment to thousands of hours in focused training and competition makes their flawless performance look easy. It is their obsession with perfection that leads them to excellence. In Christ, perfection is our position. Outside of Christ no one is perfect, but inside of Christ everyone is perfect. We are perfect because He is perfect. “So that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28b). The challenge is we still live in a sinful world with sinful people and therefore perfection is diluted. Nonetheless, Jesus commanded His children to be perfect on the level of their heavenly Father. So as we seek perfection in this life, we see glimpses of glory and we do capture excellence in the process. What does excellence look like from the eyes of the eternal? Paul a protagonist of perfection describes our dilemma, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). People with an eternal perspective promote perfection. Therefore, embrace excellence as a core value in your life and work. Because you represent the Lord Jesus, be an excellent example of a Christian. Be it ministry or business, your vocation is a vicarious look at our Lord. Talk about Jesus from a platform of perfection and people will stop to listen. Excellence is your entrée into promoting a loving relationship with God. Do I settle for mediocrity, or do I aspire to excellence? Are others attracted to the quality of my character, competence and family?
Application:
1. Are you striving for excellence in all you do (work, marriage, etc.)?
2. Are you doing an excellent job at serving Christ?
I am in the middle of coaching my 16u Dallas Patriots team in the Mickey Mantle World Series right now, so the quest for excellence is certainly at the top of our priority list. As I thought about the mindset of the kids during this incredible time in their careers, I thought about the “quest for excellence” mindset we should always have. Why don’t we strive for excellence all of the time in all that we do? If you’re going to do something, do it right or why do it! Although we are studying the book of Matthew, and we took a break yesterday, I read a devotional that I feel we could all benefit from, so here goes. This devotional is by Boyd Bailey, and it’s awesome!
Embrace Excellence… “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
We admire excellence in others. Professional athletes, attorneys, speakers, teachers, coaches, custodians, mothers, fathers, leaders, elected officials and business men and women who excel and motivate others to excel. Their commitment to thousands of hours in focused training and competition makes their flawless performance look easy. It is their obsession with perfection that leads them to excellence. In Christ, perfection is our position. Outside of Christ no one is perfect, but inside of Christ everyone is perfect. We are perfect because He is perfect. “So that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28b). The challenge is we still live in a sinful world with sinful people and therefore perfection is diluted. Nonetheless, Jesus commanded His children to be perfect on the level of their heavenly Father. So as we seek perfection in this life, we see glimpses of glory and we do capture excellence in the process. What does excellence look like from the eyes of the eternal? Paul a protagonist of perfection describes our dilemma, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). People with an eternal perspective promote perfection. Therefore, embrace excellence as a core value in your life and work. Because you represent the Lord Jesus, be an excellent example of a Christian. Be it ministry or business, your vocation is a vicarious look at our Lord. Talk about Jesus from a platform of perfection and people will stop to listen. Excellence is your entrée into promoting a loving relationship with God. Do I settle for mediocrity, or do I aspire to excellence? Are others attracted to the quality of my character, competence and family?
Application:
1. Are you striving for excellence in all you do (work, marriage, etc.)?
2. Are you doing an excellent job at serving Christ?
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Rock vs. Sand
8-5-2009
It seems every long lasting structure starts with a foundation. If you are building a home, you must make sure the foundation is solid, because if it’s not, then the house is sure to have problems. Our life must be well grounded. It’s our responsibility to make sure our spiritual foundation is set or everything else will fail.
Matthew 7:24-27 says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
How many times have we been asked/told to do something and didn’t, and later we hear those famous words “I told you so!” It’s extremely important to practice what we read or hear. I’ve had the privilege to speak at various events around the country giving motivational concepts, etc. and I see hundreds and sometimes thousands of people vigorously taking notes on everything they hear. So, I decided to add something to my presentations involving the last step: take action! I believe most people take great notes at the seminars and conventions, but they don’t follow through with action. They put their notes on the shelf when they get home, and a few days later they’ve forgotten everything they heard. Jesus wants us to take action on the truth. To build a house on rock is to carry out the message of Christ, to respond with obedience and discipleship. Those that hear the message of Christ, yet do not respond are living a foolish life. When you live a foolish life your house will crumble!
You’ve heard the good news of our Savior, so let’s respond by spreading the good news to the masses that are in desperate need of a solid foundation. If you need to rebuild your foundation, start now!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 7:24-27
2. Take Action!
It seems every long lasting structure starts with a foundation. If you are building a home, you must make sure the foundation is solid, because if it’s not, then the house is sure to have problems. Our life must be well grounded. It’s our responsibility to make sure our spiritual foundation is set or everything else will fail.
Matthew 7:24-27 says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
How many times have we been asked/told to do something and didn’t, and later we hear those famous words “I told you so!” It’s extremely important to practice what we read or hear. I’ve had the privilege to speak at various events around the country giving motivational concepts, etc. and I see hundreds and sometimes thousands of people vigorously taking notes on everything they hear. So, I decided to add something to my presentations involving the last step: take action! I believe most people take great notes at the seminars and conventions, but they don’t follow through with action. They put their notes on the shelf when they get home, and a few days later they’ve forgotten everything they heard. Jesus wants us to take action on the truth. To build a house on rock is to carry out the message of Christ, to respond with obedience and discipleship. Those that hear the message of Christ, yet do not respond are living a foolish life. When you live a foolish life your house will crumble!
You’ve heard the good news of our Savior, so let’s respond by spreading the good news to the masses that are in desperate need of a solid foundation. If you need to rebuild your foundation, start now!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 7:24-27
2. Take Action!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Just Do It
8-3-2009
I was born and raised in an athletic family, therefore I played just about every sport there was. As with any sport you have coaches, and my high school baseball coach coined a phrase that has stuck with me to this day. Anytime we had to have a big play he would say, “Find a way to get the job done.” In other words, “JUST DO IT.” He didn’t care what had to be done, he simply wanted execution. As I relate this experience to our spiritual journey, I think God wants us to “just do it.”
There are a lot of talkers and very few doers in the world. As former Dallas Cowboy coach, Jimmy Johnson would say, “If you’re going to talk the talk, then walk the walk.” When it comes to living life in a Christ-like manner, “JUST DO IT” is the basic message we read about in Matthew 7:21-23.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Those that live a fake life will be exposed at some point in time. If they aren’t exposed on this earth, they will be exposed when they meet their maker. There is only one way to enter the gates of Heaven, by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and our obedience to him. To simply “be a good person” doesn’t cut it. It’s about faith in Him who created you, and living as God calls you to live. May you live your life today and everyday as God has called you to live, and as you desire to live because of the price Christ paid for us all!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 7:21-23
2. Just Do It!
I was born and raised in an athletic family, therefore I played just about every sport there was. As with any sport you have coaches, and my high school baseball coach coined a phrase that has stuck with me to this day. Anytime we had to have a big play he would say, “Find a way to get the job done.” In other words, “JUST DO IT.” He didn’t care what had to be done, he simply wanted execution. As I relate this experience to our spiritual journey, I think God wants us to “just do it.”
There are a lot of talkers and very few doers in the world. As former Dallas Cowboy coach, Jimmy Johnson would say, “If you’re going to talk the talk, then walk the walk.” When it comes to living life in a Christ-like manner, “JUST DO IT” is the basic message we read about in Matthew 7:21-23.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Those that live a fake life will be exposed at some point in time. If they aren’t exposed on this earth, they will be exposed when they meet their maker. There is only one way to enter the gates of Heaven, by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and our obedience to him. To simply “be a good person” doesn’t cut it. It’s about faith in Him who created you, and living as God calls you to live. May you live your life today and everyday as God has called you to live, and as you desire to live because of the price Christ paid for us all!
Application:
1. Read Matthew 7:21-23
2. Just Do It!
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