Be alert

I James 5:8-9

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

With trick or treating this past week, these verses came to mind for me with how today’s world is a scary place.  We are constantly surrounded by a roaring lion that is looking for someone to devour.  The worst part, that roaring lion can often be disguised as something not at all scary.  Halloween we saw lots of kids dressed all sweet and innocent and yet that was a real cover up for them and then there were other kids that are very sweet and shy that may have dressed up as something super scary. 

We are warned to be alert and of sober mind.  It seems this is something that many find harder to do these days as well as they are trying to cover up something in their lives that they simply don’t want to face. 

Today I just want to give a gentle reminder that we all need to be aware of what is going on around us, be alert and be of sober mind so that we do not fall prey to the roaring lion that may be dressed as a cute kitty cat. 

Thursday Devotional - Empowering Power

Romans 1:11-17  ¹¹ I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:11-17

Paul is an amazing example of one who truly loved God, loved other people, understood God’s power, and humbly relied on God’s power to do what God had called him to do – preach the gospel! By faith, God’s gospel empowered Paul to serve! By faith, God’s gospel can empower you and me to serve where called.

This past week I got to prepare and give a 30 minute talk on Romans 3 to a group of over 200 women in our Bible study. Being one of the leaders is a job God’s specifically called me to do for over a decade, but it still doesn’t come easy! God has always provided what was needed, though.

I like to be ready by the night before, but last week I wasn’t. Some of my illustrations didn’t fit well, but God gave me a couple different illustrations the day of that helped me (and hopefully others) better understand what Paul was teaching. Yet again, God empowered me to do what He called me to do (in His time)!

      

Where do you get the strength to serve? Do you and I rely on our own self-discipline and self-righteousness? Or, like Paul, do you and I rely on God’s power through His righteousness, giving Him the glory? His power is far greater than my abilities!

Alice

Tues Devo: Know what?

Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (NASB)

Hello,

Do you ever get caught up in your drive to know something that it hits you later – is this what I am even supposed to be driving to know? I know for myself that this happens to me sometimes with what God wants me to do. It is easy (I doubt I am the only one) to put my focus and energy on my actions I am looking to take – instead of just continuing to dig into His character and person.

It starts with knowing Him and being obedient – and it never moves from there.

We this with King Asa in the Old Testament as well “Asa did good and right in the sight of the Lord his God, for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment.” (2 Chronicles 14:2-4 NASB)

If we think about comparing the difference between focusing on knowing God vs knowing His will, a careful look needs to be had at our planned outcome. When we seek to know God, our outcome is (should be) obedience out of love along with a greater amount of wisdom and discernment. When we seek just His will, there is a trap that our outcome is rationale for taking our desired actions and being in control. I am not saying that is always the case, but it is a danger point we should be wary of.

I challenge all of us (starting with myself) to focus our seeking on God – and letting the rest fall in place from there.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill