Even Men Should Praise the Lord (Psalm 148)

Psalm 148 paints a beautiful picture of all creation praising the LORD - the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. Each verse awakens my mind to the deeper realities that each member of the creation was created to worship God!

• the angels
• heavenly hosts
• sun
• moon
• shinning stars
• highest heavens
• waters above the skies
• sea creatures
• ocean depths
• lightening
• hail
• snow
• clouds
• stormy winds
• mountains
  
• hills
• fruit trees
• cedars
• wild animals
• cattle
• small creatures
• flying birds
• kings
• nations
• princes
• rulers... (and even)
  
• young men
• maidens
• old men
• children

Unfortunately, these do not all exalt the Lord - at least not intentionally. A sad but true reality is that men and women (myself included) willfully dishonor the Lord and thus deny Him the praise and worship He deserves.

Our lives were meant to reflect His glory - His grace and love. But, far too often the opposite it true. We live in habitual sin - paralyzing the heart of flesh that was exchanged for our old heart of stone and leaving us utterly useless in promoting the gospel. We are dim mirrors at best; no wonder people can't seem to see Jesus in us.

Today, as an act of worship, turn to Christ to wash away your sin. Be renewed and made whole again. Show the world what Jesus has done in you! Shine for Him!

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither 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. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Here's a great video of Matt Redman singing "Shine" at Passion '07. Enjoy!

The Power of Words

Today's full reading: Colossians 3:18-4:18

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:5-6 NIV)

Much has been said in recent days about the power of words. Consider this verse as you go about your conversations today. I firmly believe that there comes a point in nearly every meaningful conversation that a witness for Christ can be spoken. Christian speech should always be wholesome in order to strengthen a brother or sister, or display the grace of Christ to a lost world.

Today, as an act of worship, weigh your words carefully in every conversation. Ask the Lord to guide your tongue to honor him through every single word.

Here are a few more verses to consider on the subject.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)

"But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." (Colossians 3:8 NIV)

"Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." (Ephesians 5:4 NIV)

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37 NIV)

"for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!' Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:13-15,17 NIV)

The Significance of Unity

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6 NIV)

As Paul approaches the end of the greatest letter ever written (Romans) he makes a point to highlight a major key to effective Christian ministry: unity. It cannot be overstated. Without unity the church will be utterly ineffective in honoring Christ and spreading the gospel.

Jesus said it this way, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:25) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:20-21)

As we ponder these verses for a few minutes today, let's ask a few questions of ourselves.

• Are we united with Christ and his church?
• What are the challenges we must overcome to stay united with other believers?
• What causes discord and strife between believers?"

First off, "Are we united with Christ and his church?" In order to know whether or not you are united with Christ you must ask the question, "Am I abiding in Christ?" or "Is Christ living in and through me?" You cannot cling to your belief of being united with Christ based on a past decision or commitment; you must anchor your unity with Christ on the basis of walking daily with him. You are united with Christ if you are walking with him everyday seeking to do his will. Furthermore, I have heard it said that you cannot love Christ and hate his church. The Bible refers to the church as the bride of Christ. Christ is one with his church.

Secondly, "What are the challenges we must overcome to stay united with other believers?" There are perhaps many challenges we face in this area. The main challenge is going to be giving sacrificial unconditional love. This is not possible in and of ourselves, but with Christ living in and through us we can love others in this way.

Finally, "What causes discord and strife between believers?" Historically, there have been hundreds if not thousands of examples of discord and strife among Christ followers. This is a given when dealing with sinful people. Most of these examples can be associated with two sins: pride and selfishness. When pride rears its ugly head even the unity of best friends is at stake. Selfishness is just as destructive in the church. We must overcome these sins. May we never forget Christ's example of selfless love.

Today, as an act of worship, praise God for demonstrating his sacrificial love that we might be united with him and his church. As we respond to Romans 15:5-6 may we turn away from discord and cling to Christ that our lives will magnify the glory of his grace.

The Gospel and The Great Commission

"'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?" (Romans 10:13-15 NLT)

If you believe the Bible then you must agree that there is only one way a person can be saved. This may sound elementary to some who wish to move on to the teachings of righteousness (see Hebrews 5:11-14) . However, to me, this passage in Romans is a clear explanation of how the Gospel and the Great Commission are beautifully designed to show God's amazing love and magnify his glorious grace.

Paul begins by quoting the prophet Joel, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' (Joel 2:32 NIV). That being the case and the only way of salvation he then explains how this happens throughout the world.

In reverse order, believers are sent out to preach the Gospel, people hear the Gospel and believe, and then they call on the name of the Lord to save them. Once that is established they grow in faith and knowledge of the will and Word of God and then repeat the cycle. (see Matthew 28:19-20 and Hebrews 6:1-3)

Today, as an act of worship, join me in praising God for making a way for us to be saved. He chose to use ordinary men and women to share the Gospel with us, and now it is our turn to go and tell. You and I have a unique testimony (how we came to believe in Christ and how he is working in our lives today). Ask the Lord to give you specific opportunities to share it with others today.

The Prayer of Jesus

I read a great book last night with my wife Elaine. The book is called The Prayer of Jesus, written by Hank Hanegraaff. It is a pretty short book (less than 3 hours to read aloud at a pretty slow pace), but the content is stout.

To give a quick summary, Hanegraaff presents how the Lord's Prayer is a model for our communication with the Father. It should not to be used as a mantra, or simply as a means to get what we pray for. It is a model to guide our communication with God in such a way that our relationship with the Father is deepened. Building, strengthening, and deepening our relationship with God should be the first and major priority of our prayers.

Hanegraaff does offer some great takeaways in the last chapter that I thought you and I would find particularly challenging this weekend.

1. Make the paradigm shift. Stop seeing prayer as merely a means of obtaining your requests. Start seeing prayer as a means of enjoying the riches of a relationship with God.
2. Confess your sins daily. Every single prayer, including the prayer of Jesus, will bounce right off the ceiling if there is unforgiveness in your heart, which is precisely why Jesus ended his public sermon on prayer with the words: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)
3. Get into the Bible. God's will is revealed in his Word. Thus the only way you can know his will is to know his Word. The more we meditate upon God's Word, the clearer his voice will be as we daily commune with him in prayer.
4. Discover your secret place. The secret to prayer is secret prayer. Your public presence is a direct reflection of your private prayer life. If you spend time in the secret place, you will exude peace in the midst of life's storms. If you do not, you will be a poster child for Busy-anity rather then Christianity.
5. Make prayer a priority. Wisdom is the application of knowledge...if you faithfully practice a new discipline for twenty-one days, it may well stay with you for the rest of your life.
   
   -Hank Hanegraaff, The Prayer of Jesus, ch. 10
   

Remember, the world we live in travels at a breakneck pace often leaving us rushed and frenzied more of the day than not. Our prayer life must be more than placing a drive thru order. I highly encourage you to read this book!

Today, as an act of worship, take these thoughts to heart as you commune with the Lord. Seek him with all your heart as you pray along the lines of...

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
(Matthew 6:9-13)

Strength Will Rise: Obeying The Will Of God

"The following night the Lord stood by [Paul] and said, 'Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.'" (Acts 23:11 ESV)

Paul set an amazing example of persevering in the will of God. He endured much grief, pain, stress, and persecution for the Kingdom. Acts chapter twenty three records a turning point in his ministry and future. It is here that we read the clear word he received from the Lord about him going to testify in Rome. What great assurance and joy it must have given Paul to know he was on track with God's will for his life. This was a huge moment of confirmation.

Each of us who desire to live a Christ-centered life need to know what God's will is.
We need to pursue it will all our heart. It can sound confusing and very mysterious to hear some people describe the process of discovering the will of God. There are certainly things we cannot know about the will of God, however there is still much we can and should know about his will for our lives and his church.

A good word of advice I once received from a Christian friend about discovering the will of God is this: "Don't worry about the mysterious and confusing aspects of the will of God until you are certain you are obeying what is clearly identified in the Bible as the will of God."

Here are some verses that clearly identify what God's will is for every Believer.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. living as servants Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

(Mark 12:30, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, 1 Peter 2:13-17)

Once we are certain we are living in obedience to the word of God, if there is any doubt about a decision that we need to make we should simply take it to the Lord in prayer and wait for him. He will confirm his will to us and strengthen us to accomplish it. There is a popular worship song called "Everlasting God" that echoes Isaiah 40:31 saying "Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord." How true those words really are!

Today, as an act of worship, surrender your life to the will of God as outlined in his word. Praise him for promising to strengthen us to go where he wants us to go, do what he wants us to do, and be who he wants us to be.

Enjoy the video below (on the blog) of "Love The Lord" by Lincoln Brewster. It's a great song based on Mark 12:30 which we read today. I'm excited about learning the song and using it in corporate worship sometime soon. (I use it in personal worship quite frequently already!)

Should We all Make the Ultimate Sacrifice?

Stephen was among the first Christian martyrs after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Today we read his story in Acts chapter seven. Stephen was a man full of the Holy Spirit. He spoke the truth with boldness even in the face of persecution. And, he made the ultimate sacrifice because of his willingness to witness for Christ.

The summary of his message to the Jewish leaders was "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." (Acts 7:51-53)

The Jewish leaders did not respond to his comments favorably. In fact, they drug him out of town and stoned him to death. Should we all make this ultimate sacrifice? Well, we may not have to, but take a closer look at what Steven actually did. He just witnessed for Christ. Isn't that what we have been commanded to do? Go and make disciples of all nations. Be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8) . If witnessing for Christ cost us our lives so be it! When I gave my life to Jesus that is exactly what I did - I gave it all!

Today, as an act of worship, join me in thanking God for the faithful witness of Stephen and his willingness to witness to those who had the power to reject his message and take his life. Praise God that they had no power over his soul. May we be completely surrendered to him as we go about our day, and faithfully witness as the Lord gives us opportunities.

You Will Receive Power

Today we begin reading through the book of Acts. The final words of Jesus were concerning our receiving the Holy Spirit and our being his witnesses to the ends of the earth.

"After his resurrection, "[Jesus] appeared to [his followers] over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while Jesus was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight." (Acts 1:3-9)

Read Acts 1:8 one more time, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This is not the first time Jesus has spoken of this reality.

Earlier Jesus said this, "It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you." (John 16:6-15)

He had also previously given his followers what we now call the great commission saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son 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." (Matthew 28:19-20)

What we have just read are some of the most encouraging passages in the Bible. If we are ever going to be able to live the life that God wants us to live we need the Holy Spirit to live in us. It is impossible to live the Christian life without his help. If we are going to personally obey the great commission we must have help through the Holy Spirit.

Today as an act of worship thank God for his great promise to never leave us or forsake us. Thank him for giving us power to be his witnesses in all the world. Thank God for keeping his word by sending the Holy Spirit. Ask God to open your eyes to the work of the Holy Spirit that is going on around you today so that you can join him.

Make Us One

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:20-23, 26)

On the night before he was scourged and crucified Jesus prayed these words. Take a closer look at the heart and apex of his prayer. Literally moments before Jesus was arrested he was praying for all of his followers including you and me. He was praying that we would be fully united with him and the Father, and in doing so, live in harmony with one another.

The phrase that stands out to me is, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." Think through the depth of this statement and consider this truth: the evidence of Jesus' coming here from the Father to save a lost world is wrapped up in our unity. Moreover, the way the world perceives the love of God is directly connected to the love they see in us.

Are you unified with Christ? Are you unified with his church? It is incorrect to say you love Christ but not the church, his bride. "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:19-21)

Today as an act of worship, praise God for his acts of love toward you. Thank him for fulfilling his promise to never leave us. Thank him for the fellowship of believers. If you are not at peace with God right now, know that you can be. He offers us a full pardon from all our sin. If there is strife or discord between you and a brother or sister, pray for unity today. Obey the father by taking the right steps to resolve the matter.

Additional scriptures: Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 1:9, Matthew 18:15-17, 28:19-20,

Enjoy this video entitled "Make Us One"

We Are More Than Conquerors

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Romans 8:31-32, 35-37)

Today we take a look at two amazing passages of scripture from John 16 and Romans 8. Both passages speak clearly of the sufficiency and rescue provided to us in Jesus Christ.

You do not have to be a Christian to have problems. No, you simply have to be living to have problems. In fact, you may be going through what seems like your darkest hour right now. Hear the words of Christ, "I have overcome the world." Let that sink in. Ask, "What does that mean for me?"

It mean that Jesus Christ has the power to help you. He has overcome the world. He does not promise you a bed of roses. On the contrary, he promises that if you are truly living for him you will encounter difficulty. I am so thankful that he did not just leave it at that. No, he promised to be with us through our trials.

Listen now to Jesus' words to his disciples. Weigh them carefully and consider there implications for your life today. "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. (Matthew 10:17-21, 22-23)

As an act of worship, take a moment right now to thank God for his promise to be with us everyday. Pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe that are shinning for Christ in the midst of utter darkness. For individual names of persecuted believers visit www.ReleaseInternational.org More persecution resources can be found at www.SecretChurch.org

Secrets of the Vine

John 15:5

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Many years ago I committed this verse to memory. It has served me well. The truth revealed in its words is timely for the church at large and the individual Christian. Read it again. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Now break it down into small phrases and weigh out the truth.

"I am the vine..."
Jesus is the vine. He is our link to God. He makes the way for us to have a relationship with God. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:3)

"you are the branches..."
In Christ, we are extensions of God. We serve as his hands and feet. Our purpose in life is to do his will and obey his Word. "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching." (John 14:23)

"If a man remains in me and I in him..."
We must remain connected to him. It is absolutely vital that we are constantly communing with God through Jesus (the vine) if we are going to do his will. Which will bring him glory by bearing fruit for his kingdom. "See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life." (1 John 2:24-25)

"he will bear much fruit..."
Our lives will bring him glory by bearing the fruit of the Spirit and making disciples of all nations. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25) "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son 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." (Matthew 28:19-20) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

"apart from me you can do nothing."
Simply put, we can do nothing without Christ. Sadly, it is entirely possible for Christ to use us to bring glory to the Father and we totally miss it; we never see it. How tragic! Let's not miss it. Please do not miss God working in and through you to bring great glory to himself. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Philippians 2:13)

Today, let me leave you with a final scripture from Colossians encouraging us to abide in him. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:16-17)

The Truth About Love

John 14:12, 15, 21, 23, 24, 31

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. If you love me, you will obey what I command. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. The world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me."

If you read John 14 in its entirety, you will likely notice that these verses jump out as a clear theme. The chapter focuses on the last words and teachings of Jesus before he gave his life on the cross as an atoning sacrifice according to the will and command of the Father. The emphasis is for the disciples (and us) to put into practice the commands and teachings that Jesus has shared with them from the very beginning. Furthermore, this emphasis, as outlined in the verses above is accompanied by the promise of the coming Holy Spirit who will remind them of everything that Jesus has taught them.

Jesus wants us to know, beyond all doubt, that obedience is the fruit of genuine affection. And that disobedience simply shows our lack of love for the Father.

To help support this teaching let's go back to the climactic concluding parable of The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

"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 that 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." (Matthew 7:24-27)

Today, as an act of worship, show your true love for God by being obedient to His word. Do what he says!

What Would Jesus Do?

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (John 13:14-15)

The most encouraging thing about following Jesus is that he left us an amazing example. A popular phase for the last 112 years is "What Would Jesus Do?" This phase was popularized in the now famous novel written by Charles Sheldon in 1896 called In His Steps. Its amazing how relevant the book still is today. In His Steps is in the public domain and can be read in its entirety online by clicking here. If you've never read it let me encourage you to do so. Go ahead and bookmark the link so you can read it soon. You can also download it in PDF format by clicking here (6.3 MB)

Today let's seek to follow Jesus' example in everything we say and do. His example teaches us to love, serve, and give sacrificially. It also challenges us to live in complete obedience to the Father's will for our lives. May we begin each day in the Word. And then ask the question as we make decisions throughout the day, "What would Jesus Do!"

Additional Scriptures: John 13:34-35, John 15:13, Ephesians 5:2, Matthew 20:28

Entangled By The American Dream

Followers of Jesus must serve God whole heartedly without being entangled by the cares of this world. The American Dream, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” can mean many things, but often lead us down a path chasing after material gain such as: houses, cars, businesses, jobs, hobbies, recreation, and retirement.

Jesus was upfront and personal with the crowds that followed Him throughout His ministry; He did not beat around the bush when outlining His expectations of them. In the middle of Matthew chapter eight (8:18-22), Jesus gave an order for everyone to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, but for some this did not go down well. They had other things on there calendars and other obligations that they felt were more important. Thus we are at the root of today’s teaching: PRIORITIES!

What obligations have we made that would hinder us from obeying a direct order from God? We, as Christ followers, must operate much like soldiers in an army. Soldiers cannot entangle themselves in civilian matters to the point of hindering them from fulfilling their first obligation to their commander.

Today, as an act of worship, join me in renewing our pledge of service to God. Lord, You are my number one, my commanding officer. You have the right to instruct me and teach me. You know what is best for me. I will serve You anywhere, anytime, in anyway. Use me for Your glory!

Food for thought and comment: What are the biggest obstacles people face when first turning to Christ? What obstacles were the most challenging for you?

Are You A Healer?

I have found that many people are very skeptical of miraculous healings. However, no one can deny that Jesus’ public ministry was literally saturated with miracles many of which were physical healings.

During one account Jesus went in Peter’s house only to find Peter’s “mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her.” (Matthew 8:14-15) Later on that same evening many other sick men and women were brought to him. Of those who were brought to him, the Bible says, “He healed all who were sick.” (Matthew 8:16) Jesus cared deeply for his followers and their families. He demonstrated his sympathy, kindness, and love for human suffering by taking the time comfort them and heal them.

Today, as an act of worship, let’s take our cue from Jesus by easing someone’s suffering. We may not think we can do the miracles that Jesus did, but there are things that we can do to demonstrate compassion, kindness, and love toward those who are sick and hurting all around us. Remember the Bible says, “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Food for thought and comment: What are some specific ways a person can help someone who is physically sick? Have you ever had someone help you when you’ve been sick? What did they do and how did it make you feel?

Got Faith?

As I am thinking about this devotion I have come to the realization that I need a “faith lift.” I can honestly say that I’m pretty comfortable right now and have not had to walk by faith very much lately. Ironically it is comfortably depressing. How did I get to this place? Are you in this place? Have you been in this place?

Now that I am looking back at my journey with the Lord I see some pretty significant steps of faith along the way. (To me they were giant leaps!) It encourages me to see that when I leaned on God He was there for me. When I believed and walked in faith He protected me and poured out His blessings in my life.

Matthew records a story of a centurion man who came to Jesus pleading for health of one of his servants who was paralyzed and in terrible agony. Jesus responded by offering to go and heal the servant, but the man objected saying, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed!” (Matthew 8:8)

Wow! I could hardly believe it myself. This centurion believed Jesus was able to heal his servant just by saying the word. And in fact that is just what Jesus did. But first Jesus affirmed the centurion by saying, “I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel!” (Matthew 8:10)

Today, as an act of worship, let’s demonstrate our faith and trust in Jesus bringing Him our burdens the way the centurion did. “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22)

Food for thought and comment: Have you ever truly walked by faith? (Meaning, you felt God leading you to do something (project or task) so you committed to do it, but you knew that if God didn’t show up you would utterly fail.) Why is it so hard to have faith in God? How can a person demonstrate their faith in God?

The Power of an Affirming Touch

People are funny. Have you ever known someone who was a “hugger?” Every time you see them they give you a hug. Some times it drives me crazy, but other times it’s nice. You may or may not be a hugger, but either way we are all physical creatures. We have five senses: hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling and touching. Each sense offers us a point of connection with the outside world.

Physical touch is something that we can easily take for granted, not just touching something or someone else, but also the feeling of being touched by someone else. Some people hug, some people shake hands, while others pat on the back or high five. Very few people will voluntarily go for extended periods of time without some form of affirming touch. It’s simply the way we have been created; it’s our nature.

Jesus and the people he rubbed shoulders with were no different; humans have always desired the affirming touch of another. However, in the ancient culture, before modern medicine, if a person had a serious skin disease, they were exiled from the entire community for the rest of their life or until the disease was completely gone. They were not allowed to touch anyone and had to shout out in humiliation “unclean, unclean!” whenever they were anywhere close to other people.

The Bible records a specific encounter that Jesus had with a man who had leprosy. Look closely at Jesus’ first response to the man. “Large crowds followed Jesus as He came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before Him, worshiping. "Lord," the man said, "if You want to, You can make me well again." Jesus touched him. "I want to," He said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.” (Matthew 8:1-3)

I believe that Jesus gave hope to that man simply by touching him. It was, perhaps, the first time anyone had purposely touched him in years. Can you imagine what the man must have felt when Jesus wrapped His fingers around his diseased arms and gently lifted him up? Can you hear the gasps and whispers of the crowd who were amazed at such an act of compassion?

Today, as an act of worship lets let God use our hands to show compassion to those outcasts who need it most by offering them a touch of affirmation. It may be a handshake, it may be a hug, but let God be in control.

Food for thought and comment: Have you ever been in that place where you just needed a touch from someone? Perhaps you were abandoned, home sick, heart broken, or lonely. Did anyone come to help you? How did it make you feel?

Are We Practicing What He Preached?

Jesus closes His “sermon on the mount” with a very gripping illustration of two carpenters who build houses. (Matthew 7:24-27) All builders know that any structure must have a sure foundation if it is going to stand very long. However, the first carpenter builds his house on the Rock, but the second one builds his house on the sand.

It should not surprise us to learn that when the storms came only the house that was built on the rock remained. The house that was built on the sand was completely destroyed.

The smart man, who built his house on the Rock, is the man who heard Jesus’ teaching and acted on it. The man who built his house on the sand is ignorant because he too heard Jesus’ teaching, but ignored it and it cost him everything. Our lesson is to carefully follow Jesus’ teaching; don't ignore it or brush it off!

Today, as an act of worship, let’s make a quick list of the things that God has told us to do lately. Review the list carefully. Now let’s be sure to follow through with everything God has already spoken to us about. Why should God give us a fresh word of instruction for daily living, if we have not yet acted on what he has already given us?

Food for thought and comment: Have you ever “built your house on the sand” and when the storms of life came you lost everything? What did you learn in the aftermath?

Do Apples Grow on Orange Trees?

The purpose of worshiping God daily is to grow in Him. We should be walking more closely to God today than we did yesterday. One of the ways we grow in our faith is through reading His word, The Bible, but another way we grow in Him is by nurturing godly relationships with other believers.

Relationships are very important to God. He wants us to encourage one another in the faith everyday. (Hebrews 10:25) However, He also warns us about counterfeit Christians by saying, "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit.” (Matthew 7:15-16)

The way you can tell if a person is the read deal is by examining their character. No one is perfect, but Christians should be full of integrity, purity, and humility. Our lives should reflect the presence and power of God.

If a person claims to be a Christian, but is not bearing fruit for the kingdom then they are most likely one of three things either lost, a baby Christian who has not started growing in Christ, or a Christian who bore fruit at one time, but quit because of sin. Either way, beware of these individuals! “You’ll recognize them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:20)

Food for thought and comment: What type of fruit do you look for in another believer? How can a new Christian begin to bear fruit for the kingdom?

The Road Not Taken

“The Road Not Taken,” by Robert Frost, is a very well known poem. It accounts the story of a traveler who, among other things, understands the impact of making a critical decision to take one path instead of another.

Being a follower of Jesus presents a similar challenge. We must make the decision to take the road less traveled. Jesus says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

It can be very difficult at times to choose the narrow path, because so many of our friends, family members, and co-workers may be walking down a completely different path. And therein lies the challenge: live counter culture; go against the grain! Popular culture will lead us astray from the narrow path that Jesus wants to guide us along.

As an act of worship, today, let us live counter culture by honoring God with our words and actions in our homes, on our jobs, in our relationships, at our schools, and everywhere we go in-between.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

- Taken from “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost (1920, Mountain Interval)

Food for thought and comment: I'm looking for some of your thoughts on how to live counter culture. What are some of the ways you have attempted to live counter culture? What major challenges might a person face when taking the road less traveled?