Thursday Devotional - Prayer in Dilemma

In addition to praying for my Dad’s health last week, I also prayed for wisdom to know when to let my Mom and sister, Jane, know about the situation. When we first headed to the ER, my Dad had asked me not to tell them (since it was the middle of the night where they were and he didn’t want to worry them so far away). So, I only let Mary (my sister in CT) know. I kept Joe and Mary updated as tests progressed.   

James 1:5-8 ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

After praying and talking to Joe and Mary about when to tell Mom and Jane, one idea was to wait until after all the tests were over. However, I wasn’t at peace with that and kept praying. Finally, after hours of tests Sunday night and just before heading into a stress test Monday, with a heart catheterization most likely on Tuesday, I felt God clearly gave me an answer.

If my daughter, Sarah, took Joe to the ER while I was far away, what would I want her to do? I would want her to tell me even if Joe asked her not to tell me!!! It seemed like a dilemma between honoring one parent over another, but I didn’t feel right about not telling my Mom. It seemed God kept having me play the Sarah/Joe scenario in my head until I understood it as my answer.

Where do you need wisdom today? God gives wisdom generously! So, let’s ask Him for it, patiently wait for it, and actively look for it!

Alice

Building The Brand

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.  I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.  Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!  John 17:22-24

I once read a book called, “It’s Not What You Sell.  It’s What You Stand For.”  The fundamental concept of the book is there are certain companies that focus on selling, but those who are truly remarkable focus on what they represent.  What they represent becomes part of the fabric of everything they do from the start of building a product to the services they provide their customers.  It was here that I began to fully embrace what it means to be a Christ follower.  I know what you might be saying to yourself.  “Here comes Kent, and another one of those business to Bible analogies,” you are thinking.  In this case, let me just be honest, and say, “Yes, you’re right.”  However, this one is incredibly impactful because there is a great deal of relevancy to some of the challenges of the church today.

We are ‘the brand’ of Jesus Christ, and as such we must always remember what we stand for more so than just ‘selling the brand.’  Many will tell you that there is a war of faith going on, and I believe they are right.  A few weeks ago, I spoke of the inner struggle of what we want versus what God wants in controlling of our lives.  The struggle I speak of today is one where the battle lines are drawn about who do we represent.  To be a disciple of Christ is such a tight rope to walk.  There is a part of us that believes we are indeed the righteous ones, but as you see, sometimes we sell ‘Christ’ but truly do not stand for Him.  Some will fight for the rights of the unborn, but then they turn a blind eye to babies living in poverty saying it’s the parent’s fault.  Others love those they are connected to, and yet, close themselves to knowing others because they are different.  You see, this is ‘the brand’ we put out there.  This is at times me.  I wrote this to call myself out and ensure I was uncomfortable because if you are comfortable being a Christian, you’re probably not a good Christian.

Today’s verses serve as a reminder that we have been empowered by Jesus Christ himself.  The ‘brand of Christ’ requires pain, suffering, and anguish along with love, inner-peace, and joy.  We can’t ‘sell’ God.  Selling means we want something out of it.  ‘Standing’ for Christ means we reveal who we are being a shining of example and speaking His truths.  Thus, being Christian is not just a Sunday service and saying grace at meal time.  It is doing things you may not be comfortable with.  It may be serving at a homeless shelter, consoling a woman grieving over her battle with cancer, or walking with a protestor for moral justice.  It does not matter what you do.  What matters is that you move motivated by God and His Spirit to represent Him in each and every moment.  You never know when that moment where you stand for Christ is when He is revealed to others.

Serving Jesus Christ is relatively simple to do.  The journey is difficult, and it is filled with both bumps in the roads and detours ahead.  But if you believe in Him, it will be alright.  One of my favorite songs at church, ‘We Believe,’ has a chorus line that goes:

We believe in God the Father.
We believe in Jesus Christ.
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He's given us new life.
We believe in the crucifixion.
We believe that He conquered death.
We believe in the resurrection
And He's comin' back again, we believe.

So, let us be the people that Jesus prayer over in today’s verses so fervently.  How can you best represent Christ?  What changes must you make to stand up for Him?  My prayer is that as followers of Christ, we are His representatives in ‘building the brand.’  Amen.

Man-Up

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

13 Keep your eyes open for spiritual danger; stand true to the Lord; act like men; be strong; 14 and whatever you do, do it with kindness and love.

Yesterday we visited a church where the pastor preached on this scripture.  Being Father’s Day, he was really wanting to preach to the men.  What I really enjoyed about it is that he wasn’t all feel good about it.  He really dug in.  The Greek term that here is translated to say act like men, he explained is a single word in the Greek language and it is really telling men that they need to step up, to “Man-Up” as the pastor put it.  This message though, is not just for the males.  We, as Christians, are called to follow the direction here in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.  It got me thinking and breaking down these verses a bit.  Here is what I take away from these verses:

·         Keep your eyes open for spiritual danger – What surrounds you that could pull you away from Christ?  Be aware of it and avoid it.

·         Stand true to the Lord – Don’t be a Holiday Christian, or even just a Sunday Christian.  Live for God daily.

·         Act like men – Be a positive example and serve others

·         Be strong – Don’t like someone else or something else pull you away

·         Whatever you do, do it with kindness and love – Be the example that we are called to be. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all called to “Man-Up” for Christ.  I pray that this week you will seek those opportunities.