SOLITUDE AND SERVICE
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Posted:Feb 18, 2016 2:08 am
Last Updated:Feb 19, 2016 4:11 am 16694 Views
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Read: Luke 9:1-2,10-17
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 23–24; Mark 1:1-22
He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
Luke 9:11
Comedian Fred Allen said, “A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well-known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.” Fame often brings loss of privacy along with a relentless frenzy of attention.
When Jesus began His public ministry of teaching and healing, He was catapulted into the public eye and thronged by people seeking help. Crowds followed Him wherever He went. But Jesus knew that having regular time alone with God was essential to maintaining strength and perspective.
Jesus balanced service and solitude by taking time for rest and prayer with His Father.
After Jesus’ twelve disciples returned from their successful mission “to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick,” He took them to a quiet place to rest (Luke 9:2,10). Soon, however, crowds of people found them and Jesus welcomed them. He “spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing” (v. 11). Instead of sending them away to find food, the Lord provided an outdoor picnic for 5,000! (vv. 12-17).
Jesus was not immune to the pressure of curious and hurting people, but He maintained the balance of public service and private solitude by taking time for rest and for prayer alone with His Father (Luke 5:16).
May we follow our Lord’s example as we serve others in His name.
Dear Father, as Jesus Your and our Savior honored You in solitude and service to others, may we follow His example in our lives.
Turning down the volume of life allows you to listen to God.
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OPENING DOORS
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Posted:Feb 17, 2016 2:16 am
Last Updated:May 1, 2024 8:2 pm 16419 Views
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Read: Matthew 28:16-20
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 21–22; Matthew 28
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:19
Charlie Sifford is an important name in American sports. He became the first African-American playing member of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour, joining a sport that, until 1961, had a “whites only” clause in its by-laws. Enduring racial injustice and harassment, Sifford earned his place at the game’s highest level, won two tournaments, and in 2004 was the first African-American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Charlie Sifford opened the doors of professional golf for players of all ethnicities.
Opening doors is also a theme at the heart of the gospel mission. Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).
Jesus' work on the cross opened the way to the Father for everyone.
The word nations (v. 19) is from the Greek word ethnos, which is also the source of the word ethnic. In other words, “Go and make disciples of all ethnicities.” Jesus’ work on the cross opened the way to the Father for everyone.
Now we have the privilege of caring for others as God has cared for us. We can open the door for someone who never dreamed they’d be welcomed personally into the house and family of God.
Lord, help me to be sensitive to others I meet today. Give me the words to tell others about You.
Jesus opened the doors of salvation to all who will believe.
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WRITTEN ON OUR HEART'S
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Posted:Feb 16, 2016 3:09 am
Last Updated:Feb 17, 2016 2:16 am 16402 Views
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Read: Deuteronomy 6:1-12
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 19–20; Matthew 27:51-66
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Deuteronomy 6:6
In my neighborhood, religious inscriptions abound—on plaques, walls, doorposts, commercial vehicles, and even as registered names of businesses. By the Grace of God reads an inscription on a mini-bus; God’s Divine Favor Bookshop adorns a business signboard. The other day I couldn’t help smiling at this one on a Mercedes Benz: Keep Off—Angels on Guard!
But religious inscriptions, whether on wall plaques, jewelry, or T-shirts, are not a reliable indicator of a person’s love for God. It’s not the words on the outside that count but the truth we carry on the inside that reveals our desire to be changed by God.
When God's Word is hidden in our heart, His ways will become our ways.
I recall a program sponsored by a local ministry that distributed cards with Bible verses written on both sides that helped people memorize God’s Word. Such a practice is in keeping with the instructions Moses gave the Israelites when he told them to write the commandments of God “on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deut. 6:9). We are to treasure God’s Word in our hearts (v. 6), to impress it on our , and to talk about it “when [we] walk along the road, when [we] lie down and when [we] get up”
(v. 7).
May our faith be real and our commitment true, so we can love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength (v. 5).
Father, may Your words be more than nice sayings to us. May they be written on our hearts so that we will love You and others.
When God’s Word is hidden in our heart, His ways will become our ways.
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A WIDOW'S CHOICE
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Posted:Feb 15, 2016 5:26 am
Last Updated:May 1, 2024 8:2 pm 16381 Views
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Read: Psalm 34:15-22
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 17–18; Matthew 27:27-53
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
Psalm 34:18
When a good friend suddenly lost her husband to a heart attack, we grieved with her. As a counselor, she had comforted many others. Now, after 40 years of marriage, she faced the unwelcome prospect of returning to an empty house at the end of each day.
In the midst of her grief, our friend leaned on the One who “is close to the brokenhearted.” As God walked with her through her pain, she told us she would choose to “wear the label widow proudly,” because she felt it was the label God had given her.
God is always close to broken hearts.
All grief is personal, and others may grieve differently than she does. Her response doesn’t diminish her grief or make her home less empty. Yet it reminds us that even in the midst of our worst sorrows, our sovereign and loving God can be trusted.
Our heavenly Father suffered a profound separation of His own. As Jesus hung on the cross He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). Yet He endured the pain and separation of crucifixion for our sins out of love for us!
He understands! And because “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted” Ps. 34:18, we find the comfort we need. He is near.
Dear heavenly Father, as we think about the sadness that comes from the death of a loved one, help us to cling to You and trust Your love and goodness. Thank You for being close to our broken hearts.
God shares in our sorrow.
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UNDIGESTED KNOWLEDGE
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Posted:Feb 12, 2016 5:05 am
Last Updated:May 1, 2024 8:2 pm 16660 Views
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Read: John 8:39-47
| Bible in a Year: Leviticus 13; Matthew 26:26-50
If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
John 8:31
In his book on language, British diplomat Lancelot Oliphant (1881–1965) observed that many students give correct answers on tests but fail to put those lessons into practice. “Such undigested knowledge is of little use,” declared Oliphant.
Author Barnabas Piper noticed a parallel in his own life: “I thought I was close to God because I knew all the answers,” he said, “but I had fooled myself into thinking that was the same as relationship with Jesus.”
At the temple one day, Jesus encountered people who thought they had all the right answers. They were proudly proclaiming their status as Abraham’s descendants yet refused to believe in God’s .
“If you were Abraham’s ,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did” (John 8:39). And what was that? Abraham “believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). Still, Jesus’ hearers refused to believe. “The only Father we have is God himself,” they said (John 8:41). Jesus replied, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God” (v. 47).
Piper recalls how things “fell apart” for him before he “encountered God’s grace and the person of Jesus in a profound way.” When we allow God’s truth to transform our lives, we gain much more than the right answer. We introduce the world to Jesus.
Father, thank You that You receive anyone who turns to You in faith.
Faith is not accepting the fact of God but of receiving the life of God.
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TURN OFF THE SCOREBOARD
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Posted:Feb 11, 2016 2:51 am
Last Updated:May 1, 2024 8:2 pm 16777 Views
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Read: Ephesians 4:25-32
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 11–12; Matthew 26:1-2
Forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
At his ’s wedding reception, my friend Bob offered advice and encouragement to the newlyweds. In his speech he told of a football coach in a nearby town who, when his team lost a game, kept the losing score on the scoreboard all week to remind the team of their failure. While that may be a good football strategy, Bob wisely advised, it’s a terrible strategy in marriage. When your spouse upsets you or fails you in some way, don’t keep drawing attention to the failure. Turn off the scoreboard.
What great advice! Scripture is full of commands for us to love each other and overlook faults. We are reminded that love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:5) and that we should be ready to forgive one another “just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).
God doesn't simply forgive when we repent; He removes our sin.
I am deeply grateful that God turns off the scoreboard when I fail. He doesn’t simply forgive when we repent; He removes our sin as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12). With God, forgiveness means that our sin is out of sight and out of mind. May He give us grace to extend forgiveness to those around us.
Lord, thank You for not holding my sins against me and for granting me a second chance. Help me today to forgive others just as You have so freely forgiven me.
Forgive as God forgives you—don’t keep score.
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JESUS OVER EVERYTHING
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Posted:Feb 10, 2016 1:39 am
Last Updated:Feb 11, 2016 2:51 am 16871 Views
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Read: Colossians 1:15-20
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 8–10; Matthew 25:31-46
He is before all things.
Colossians 1:17
My friend’s decided to wear a sports jersey over his school clothing one day. He wanted to show support for his favorite team that would be playing an important game later that night. Before leaving home, he put something on over his sports jersey—it was a chain with a pendant that read, “Jesus.” His simple action illustrated a deeper truth: Jesus deserves first place over everything in our lives.
Jesus is above and over all. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). Jesus is supreme over all creation (vv. 15-16). He is “the head of the body, the church” v. 18. Because of this, He should have first place in all things.
Jesus deserves the best of our time, energy, and affection.
When we give Jesus the highest place of honor in each area of our lives, this truth becomes visible to those around us. At work, are we laboring first for God or only to please our employer? (3:23). How do God’s standards show up in the way we treat others? (vv. 12-14). Do we put Him first as we live our lives and pursue our favorite pastimes?
When Jesus is our greatest influence in all of life, He will have His rightful place in our hearts.
Dear Jesus, You deserve the best of my time, energy, and affection. I crown You King of my heart and Lord over everything I do.
How can you put God first in your life today?
Put Jesus first.
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SECRET MENU
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Posted:Feb 9, 2016 5:32 am
Last Updated:Feb 10, 2016 10:16 am 16835 Views
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Read: John 4:31-34
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 6–7; Matthew 25:1-30
I have food to eat that you know nothing about.
John 4:32
Meat Mountain is a super-sandwich layered with six kinds of meat. Stacked with chicken tenders, three strips of bacon, two cheeses, and much more, it looks like it should be a restaurant’s featured item.
But Meat Mountain isn’t on any restaurant’s published menu. The sandwich represents a trend in off-menu items known only by social media or word of mouth. It seems that competition is driving fast-food restaurants to offer a secret menu to in-the-know customers.
Jesus invites all of us to trust Him to satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts.
When Jesus told His disciples that He had “food” they knew nothing about, it must have seemed like a secret menu to them (John 4:32). He sensed their confusion and explained that His food was to do the will of His Father and to finish the work given to Him (v. 34).
Jesus had just spoken to a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well about living water she had never heard of. As they talked, He revealed a supernatural understanding of her unquenched thirst for life. When He disclosed who He was, she left her water pot behind and ran to ask her neighbors, “Could this be the Messiah?” (v. 29).
What was once a secret can now be offered to everyone. Jesus invites all of us to trust His ability to satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts. As we do, we discover how to live not just by our physical appetites but by the soul-satisfying Spirit of our God.
Father, we praise You for revealing Your truth to us. Help us live each day in the power of Your Spirit.
Only Christ the Living Bread can satisfy the world’s spiritual hunger.
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CAN'T TAKE IT BACK
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Posted:Feb 8, 2016 3:07 am
Last Updated:Feb 9, 2016 5:32 am 17046 Views
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Read: Galatians 5:13-26
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 4–5; Matthew 24:29-51
The fruit of the Spirit is . . . gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
I couldn't take my actions back. A woman had parked her car and blocked my way of getting to the gas pump. She hopped out to drop off some recycling items, and I didn't feel like waiting, so I honked my horn at her. Irritated, I put my car in reverse and drove around another way. I immediately felt bad about being impatient and unwilling to wait 30 seconds (at the most) for her to move. I apologized to God. Yes, she should have parked in the designated area, but I could have spread kindness and patience instead of harshness. Unfortunately it was too late to apologize to her—she was gone.
Many of the Proverbs challenge us to think about how to respond when people get in the way of our plans. There’s the one that says, “Fools show their annoyance at once” (Prov. 12:16). And “It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel” (20:3). Then there’s this one that goes straight to the heart: “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end” (29:11).
As we cooperate with God and depend on Him, He produces the fruit of the Spirit in us.
Growing in patience and kindness seems pretty difficult sometimes. But the apostle Paul says it is the work of God, the “fruit of the Spirit”
(Gal. 5:22-23). As we cooperate with Him and depend on Him, He produces that fruit in us. Please change us, Lord.
Make me a gentle person, Lord. One who doesn’t quickly react in frustration to every annoyance that comes my way. Give me a spirit of self-control and patience.
God tests our patience to enlarge our hearts.
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A SERVING LEADER
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Posted:Feb 5, 2016 1:43 am
Last Updated:Feb 8, 2016 3:07 am 16914 Views
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Read: 1 Kings 12:1-15
Bible in a Year: Exodus 36–38; Matthew 23:1-22
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. Matthew 20:26
In traditional African societies, leadership succession is a serious decision. After a king’s demise, great care is taken selecting the next ruler. Besides being from a royal family, the successor must be strong, fearless, and sensible. Candidates are questioned to determine if they will serve the people or rule with a heavy hand. The king’s successor needs to be someone who leads but also serves.
Even though Solomon made his own bad choices, he worried over his successor. “Who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill” (Eccl. 2:19). His Rehoboam was that successor. He demonstrated a lack of sound judgment and ended up fulfilling his father’s worst fear.
We need God's wisdom for the humility to serve rather than be served.
When the people requested more humane working conditions, it was an opportunity for Rehoboam to show servant leadership. “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them . . . ,” the elders advised, “they will always be your servants” (1 Kings 12.7). But he rejected their counsel. Rehoboam failed to seek God. His harsh response to the people divided the kingdom and accelerated the spiritual decline of God’s people
(12:14-19).
In the family, the workplace, at church, or in our neighborhood—we need His wisdom for the humility to serve rather than be served.
Dear Lord, please give me a humble servant’s heart. Help me to lead and follow with humility and compassion.
A good leader is a good servant.
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