Thursday Devotional - Smart, yet Insane?

Have you ever been told it is insane to believe in Jesus as your Savior?

You may have heard someone say that faith is for the weak and unintelligent. It isn’t, but it is certainly for the humble. Prideful and arrogant people don’t want to admit they are nothing without God.

As Paul was speaking to all the educated and powerful people in Jerusalem and Caesarea, they recognized his great learning and intelligence. It confused especially Festus, though. Paul’s humility and selflessness, because of his faith in God, was “abnormal” for someone of his intelligence.

Acts 26:20-25 ²⁰ First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I [Paul] preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. ²¹ That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. ²² But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— ²³ that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

²⁵ “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.

Do people see your faith as “abnormal” for someone who is intelligent? My sister was once asked how she could be so smart and yet believe in God.

Anyone can be knowledgeable, but a truly wise person is fully surrendered and dependent on God, their Creator and Sustainer! It isn’t insane. As Paul states, it’s “true and reasonable!”

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Beautiful Feet

As a continuation from last week, the good news of Jesus Christ providing salvation and forgiveness of sins and His righteousness is available to all who call on Him. For those of us who have already called on Him (believed, placed our trust), we have the privilege and obligation to share the good news with others. We can be beautiful feet! 

Romans 10:14-15           “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!”         Romans 10:14-15

Has the Lord shown you individuals in your life (even here at work) that need to hear the good news? 

Have you and I prayed for them and an opportunity to share?

How have you and I prepared for the opportunity?

How have you and I trusted God for the boldness and confidence needed?

What a blessing it is to be able to see the Lord working in someone’s life as they hear, believe, and call on His name! It's been a huge blessing to see James place his trust in Jesus as his Savior and to watch his faith grow this past year and a half. At 5 years old, he is unashamed to talk to others about his Savior, which is a great encouragement and motivation to us! He has beautiful feet! Do you and I?

Alice 

New Year's Resolution - Certainty

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.  Hebrews 4:14-16 

This has been a year one of ups and downs.  Yes, some years are rougher than others, and this one had more challenges than I’ve had in a while.  However as I have fought and clawed through the tough times, I managed to find strength not only in myself but also in God.  It was one of those years where I looked back at some of the devotions I wrote, and had to live them out.  I had to remember not to worry and to stay awake at all times to ensure I was attune to what God was calling me to do (see May 24, 2017).  Other times it was to trust in who Jesus Christ was and not focus on what He has done for me (October 17, 2017).  More than anything, I’ve learned that I can move forward with confidence knowing that I do not have to be worried about failing.  I have certainty in Jesus that if I truly trust Him, everything will be alright. 

When we walk with Jesus, we have certainty that all things will work out for His glory.  There are times where we feel like we are losing the battle, and other times, we will feel like we did not get what we wanted.  But we must remember that we cannot lose the war if we have Jesus Christ, who give us strength to fight on and can find a way for us when we cannot see one for ourselves.  He is that shining light that we can follow, and while we may not always get what we want, He will always give us more than what we will need.  That we can sure of, and therefore, we should as Paul said, “Come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.”  Do not fear of failure or disappointment.  He will be there for you.  You can be certain of it. 

As the year comes to an end, remember that we walk by faith on the righteous pathway leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ.  You might have begun this year struggling with work, home, faith, or other areas.  However today, I want to assure you that the King of Kings is still on the throne!  When you know this deep in your heart, your fears and worries will soon disappear.  I leave you with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King the night before he was killed.  Listen to the certainty he had, and think of how this must have been words of strength to many in the equality struggle ever after his death: 

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like any man, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. 

This is what certainty in Jesus Christ sounds like.  What wall can you walk through with this certainty?  What will you do this year knowing God is with you?  My prayer is that you walk with boldness and courageousness as you head into the new year with one simple phrase; certainty.  Amen, and may you have a blessed and Happy New Year!

Thursday Devotional - Selfless King

Leading up to yesterday, I helped organize a big event here at work (the technology unconference). I tried to coordinate volunteers for the day. It was interesting how few people volunteered to be a volunteer. Then, only about half of the original volunteers actually volunteered. Thankfully, many of the volunteers did more than their share and took on extra tasks or went above and beyond what we asked them to do. Also, the planning committee shuffled around to cover holes.  

On the contrary, Jesus didn’t just volunteer to selflessly sacrifice 3-4 hours of his time, but was innocently killed for you and for me! He was crucified as “The King of the Jews.”

John 19:14-18         ¹⁴ It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. ¹⁵ But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
¹⁶ Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. ¹⁷ Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Jesus selflessly died, fulfilling God’s plans.

Death for someone else (especially someone who is innocent dying for someone who isn’t innocent) is the most selfless act of all!

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal King and Savior? No one else will ever do what He has already done for you. If Jesus is your King and Savior, how are you and I selflessly sacrificing so God can accomplish His plans through us?    

Alice

Thurs Devo: Go, Tell It on the Mountain!

I’m taking a break from our adoption story this week to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

During the Christmas season, my family had a few traditions that we have started now with our new children! At dinner time each night we light the advent candles, sing a Christmas carol, pick a Christmas card we’ve received and pray for the person that sent it to us. James and Sarah love to participate by praying themselves for the person, trying to sing along to the carol, or blowing out the candles at the end of dinner.

One of the kids’ favorite carols is “Go, Tell It on the Mountain,” probably because it’s upbeat, has a catchy chorus and I added hand motions to it. The message of the carol is great for us all to focus on or sing in our heads throughout the day!   

Chorus:

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

Verses:

While shepherds kept their watching
Oe’r silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth

Down in a lowly manger

Our humble Christ was born

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn

John 10:14-18         ¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Who will you and I share the message of Christmas with this week who isn’t already part of God’s sheep pen? The Savior of the world left His secure home with God to experience all the pain of this world. He then willingly died on the cross and rose from the dead to provide salvation to those who believe!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Alice

Love Above Our Mistakes

For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   Galatians 2:19-20

Do you ever feel as if you can do nothing right?  There was a time at work where I felt everything I did was wrong.  Even the things I did right I would question.  I would double and triple check to ensure that even the things I normally did well were correct.  It got to a point that it became difficult to function.  Then after making yet another mistake, I asked myself, “What am I doing?”  Here I was focusing more on trying not to make mistakes than trying to learn more about doing things better.  It reminded me of when I first gave myself to Christ to become born again.  When I made the choice, it did not matter how wrong I was living.  It mattered that I was forgiven of past (and future for that matter) sins, and I would focus on how to live a life that God had both intended for me and honored Him.

God’s intention for our lives is to look forward to serving Him better and not focusing on our mistakes.  In reading the verses today, it should serve as a relief to all of us.  We all should aspire to live for God and to follow His laws and commandments.  The verses above are not meant to make us feel good when we sin.  Instead, it is to unburden us when we realize the gravity that we have sinned.  We all fail to meet God’s perfect example, and if we are truly followers of Christ, there should be a certain level of self-disappointment.  However rather than dwell on that which we have faltered, Jesus died on the cross both to say that we are forgiven and to grow spiritually from those failures.  We should fully understand that the gospel of Christ is one of continual growth and an ever closer walk with Him.  Paul’s statement confirms as much for he aspires for His will (life) less and Christ instead to dwell within him more.

The laws of God is what we aspire to live by, but it is not the purpose of our relationship with God.  Jesus said, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40).  Thus, we are to above all love God and His people, and if we continually grow learning His word with those two loves in mind, we are indeed living ‘trusting in the Son of God.’  Where do you struggle with God’s laws?  How can you focus on Godly love instead of Godly judgment?  My prayer is that we focus on God’s love for us above our mistakes.  Amen.

Thurs Devo: Dependably Above and Beyond

God said “The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout.” So, who’s staff do you think sprouted? You probably guessed it. It was Aaron’s, of course!

Numbers 17:6-9       ⁶ So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. ⁷ Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.

⁸ The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.⁹ Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

God doesn’t just partially keep His word, or kind of do what he says. He fully follows through. In fact, He goes beyond what He promises! Aaron’s staff not only sprouted, but it budded, blossomed and produced almonds all in a day’s time!!!

Can you think of other times God has gone above and beyond what He promised?

The biggest and most important one is when He sent His Son, Jesus. From one of the verses we read last week, He promised to send a Savior to save us from our sins:

Matthew 1:21            ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

But God did so much more through sending Jesus:

Acts 5:30-32              ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Not only did God send Jesus to save us from the deserved penalty for our sins, but He also gave the Holy Spirit to guide us on this earth in addition to eternal life with Him after this life!

Will you join me in praising our dependable God for always going above and beyond what He has promised?

As Kent talked about yesterday, let’s not be foolish and ignore all the proofs and signs God has already given, but wisely recognize, believe, and proclaim all God has done!

Alice

Seriously?

One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!  Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.  Matthew 16:1-3

My eleven year old daughter really makes me laugh at how she tries to get out of the obvious. This phenomenon is not unfamiliar to any of you who have parented a child. The other day, an ice cream bar that I had been saving suddenly was missing. I asked my wife if she had eaten it, and she said no. Being that there are only three of us in the house, the finger naturally goes to my daughter. We asked if she had eaten the ice cream, and she said emphatically, “No!” My wife and I look at each other, and say, “Seriously?” While we had to hold her accountable and reinforce the importance of telling the truth, we continue to laugh about how ‘creative’ she was in trying to explain for the unexplainable.

This brings me to how we as believers encounter people who choose not to believe in Christ. We must without hesitation be able to confirm both His existence and truths. We encounter those who choose not to believe even though the signs are right there in front of them. The verses today refer to such a instance where the elite and knowledgeable sects of the Jewish faith questioned Jesus’ authority . . . dare I say again. This was after Jesus had (get this) fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21) and then another 4,000 with seven loaves and a few small fish (Matthew 15:32-39)! So in reading Jesus’ response, we get the impression of ‘what the heck does He have to do to convince these people?!?!?’ Seriously? Rather than appeasing them, Jesus, the master that He is, tells them of the sign of Jonah, which referred to His own resurrection. This would be proof beyond all doubt of Jesus’ divinity. We are often presented with things where people will question the existence of the true living God. We must answer with a sound mind and heart not focusing on what we do not know (i.e. why a tragedy occurs). Instead, we must focus on what we do know (His grace, His word, the transformative changes in our lives). Only then are we able to be advocates for Him.

Our personal relationship with Christ answers all doubts of His existence. While nonbelievers may come up with evidence of His nonexistence, we know beyond question how real He is. Our mission is not to convince others of His existence. Ours is to be knowledgeable of it and present the evidence to them for their spirit within cannot deny it. Where do you doubt Christ’s existence and how will you address it? How will you without hesitation tell of Jesus’ existence in your life? My prayer is that we confirm our truths so when questioned of Christ’s existence, we simply say to ourselves, “Seriously?” Amen.

Thurs Devo: God's Signs

Now back to the book of Numbers… We left off two weeks ago where Moses and Aaron initiated and made atonement for the rebellious Israelites. By that point, the Israelites should have had enough proof and signs that God had specifically chosen Moses and Aaron for their unique roles in leading the Israelites. However, God graciously gave the Israelites yet another sign.

Numbers 17:1-5       The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. ³ On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. ⁴ Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. ⁵ The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”

God gave the Israelites a sign of His choosing. Neither Moses nor the Israelites thought of it or asked for it.

God has given us numerous signs regarding Jesus, His Son and Savior of the world. First, He foretold many of the signs centuries before Jesus’ birth. Here is one of the prophesied signs and the fulfillment 800 years later.

Isaiah 7:14    ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:20-23      ²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Do you and I search out and believe the numerous signs God has given to us about Himself and Jesus?

Or, are you and I like the Israelites in Moses’ day? Do we listen to the ideas, questions and fears of the people around us rather than remembering and focusing on the proofs and signs God has already given?

God is generous and gracious with His signs. The Bible is full of them!!! Let’s pray for the Holy Spirit’s help to read (search for), recognize and remember God’s signs. 

Alice