Thursday Devotional - Jesus is Truth – With Selfless Surrender (3/14/24)

As a child, if you knew you did something wrong, but your parents hadn’t found out yet, did you voluntarily tell on yourself? Or did you try to pass it off like it was your sibling’s or someone else’s fault? Or did you hide in your room hoping they wouldn’t notice? J I’m guessing most of us didn’t voluntarily tell on ourselves. Well, Jesus did! He didn’t do anything wrong in God’s eyes, but the jealous chief priests and Pharisees sent soldiers to arrest Him on the charge of blasphemy against God. Jesus had escaped their arrest numerous times before, but He knew it was now God’s time for Him to be arrested. 

John 18:3-9        ³So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. ⁴Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" ⁵"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) ⁶When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." ⁸"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." ⁹This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."

As a parent, boss, spouse, friend, or co-worker, you might be shocked if someone boldly admitted their mistake without you even asking who did it! However, would you fall to the ground? The fact that the soldiers fell to the ground, after Jesus admitted He was who they wanted, leads me to believe the soldiers were more than shocked by his words! I wonder if Jesus was radiating the glory of God!!! Jesus, a few hours before,  had just prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ²For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:1b-3) 

Maybe God was allowing the disciples, soldiers, and officials to see but a piece of His glory even before Jesus’ death, resurrection, and full glorification. Those who hadn’t yet believed were given another sign and an opportunity to believe! 

Plus, Jesus’s selfless surrender showed His love and submission to His Father, His great love for us, and His immediate concern for His disciple’s safety. 

When was the last time you and I made an excuse or blamed someone else to get out of trouble? How will you and I selflessly live like Jesus, looking out for the best interests of those around us instead of only thinking about ourselves? That will bring glory to God!

Thursday Devotional - Jesus is Truth – With full Control (2/1/24)

Control – many of us like to think we are in control of our life or want to be in control or want more control! However, God is the One who is really in control, not only for this life, but He’s in control of life after death!

After raising Lazarus and later entering Jerusalem on a donkey to a welcoming crowd, many people sought to get closer to Jesus. Many probably hoped he was going to overthrow Roman rule with his power. However, Jesus instead talked about death and not clinging to this life.  

John 12:20-26         ²⁰ Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

The sooner we realize we aren’t in control and surrender our lives to God’s will and His control, the more peace we will have. As we follow Jesus’s example of humble surrender, it will become more and more natural to serve God rather than ourselves.

 

Where are you and I looking for honor for ourselves instead of for Jesus?

No Ways Tired

He had to go through Samaria on the way.  Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.  Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.  Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”  John 4:4-7

Are you tired?  The last couple of weeks have been the most mentally draining weeks of my life.  Yes, the George Floyd thing weighs heavy on my mind and heart.  But I will try to give it context.  A friend of mine the other day asked me what is so different.  Last week I spoke of the weight of fear for the last forty years.  Now, I speak of the fatigue that came with carrying it for so long.  There were friends that were tired of talking about it, and they wanted to grieve and deal with their own personal pain.  Because of my mom, I cannot.  She always taught me there were some things bigger than you, and she spoke of African Americans like Mary McLeod Bethune and Medgar Evers.  She was a History major at U of M, and she poured a lot of it out on me.  Moments like the Selma march and the March on Washington in the ‘60’s were told to me like bedtime stories.  And of course whenever I would complain about how tired I was, she would remind me of the history of people who too were tired but nonetheless kept walking.  Kept marching.  Theirs was a higher purpose.  In lieu of that, I had to keep speaking up because if one heart could be changed, it would make a difference.  I find solace in the words of Paul speaking with conviction to win others to Christ.  He said:

If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.  What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.  1 Corinthians 9:17-18

So, while I am tired I am also guided by a greater purpose helping others join to help my African American brothers and sisters, who have been hurting for so long.  So while I may be drained of all my mental energy, I pray being reminded of the James Cleveland gospel hymnal saying:

I don't feel no ways tired,
I've come too far from where I started from.
Nobody told me that the road would be easy,
I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me. – I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired

God wants us to know He understands both who we are and where we are.  I was listening to a sermon that spoke of today’s verses, and it was eye opening the way he explained it.  He focused on the sixth verse where Jesus was said to be ‘tired from the long walk’ and ‘sat wearily beside the well.’  The part that perplexed him was this question.  If He is God, why would He be ‘tired’ and ‘weary?’  The pastor concluded, “I worship a God who is powerful enough to give me strength and was human enough to get tired.”  This part of the story revealed just how relatable He is to us.  When even Jesus was tired, He still shared a story with a Samarian woman who came to draw water.  When He was done with His conversation with her, “Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” (John 4:39).  You see even when we ourselves are tired, we can still change hearts and minds if we just rely on Him.  If Jesus could convert a town while tired with just one interaction, imagine what He could do for us if we trust Him in our times of fatigue and weariness.

True strength comes not only on our own abilities but also our willingness to surrender to Him.  Yes, there are those times where we want to go back to our childhood, and have a tantrum saying, “I don’t want to!”  But the truth is we can find strength in God for as Paul said so well, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)  So rest your weary head on Jesus, and let Him renew your strength to continue pressing forward.  What can you lay at God’s feet today?  Where is your mind weary and in need of God’s perfect peace?”  My prayer is that even when tired, we remember Jesus is our refuge to feel no ways tired.  Amen.

Thursday Devotional - Selfless Surrender

As a child, if you knew you did something wrong but your parents hadn’t found out yet, did you voluntarily tell on yourself?  Or, did you try to pass it off like it was your sibling’s or someone else’s fault?  Or, did you hide in your room hoping they wouldn’t notice? J  I’m guessing most of us didn’t voluntarily tell on ourselves.  Well, Jesus did!  He didn’t do anything wrong in God’s eyes, but the jealous chief priests and Pharisees sent soldiers to arrest Him on the charge of blasphemy against God.  Jesus had escaped their arrest numerous times before, but He knew it was now God’s time for Him to be arrested. 

John 18:3-9        ³So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. ⁴Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" ⁵"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) ⁶When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." ⁸"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." ⁹This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."

As a parent, boss, spouse, friend, or co-worker, you might be shocked if someone boldly admitted their mistake without you even asking who did it!  However, would you fall to the ground?  The fact that the soldiers fell to the ground, after Jesus admitted He was who they wanted, leads me to believe the soldiers were more than shocked by his words! I wonder if Jesus was radiating the glory of God!!!  

Jesus, a few hours before, had just prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ²For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:1b-3)  Maybe God was allowing the disciples, soldiers, and officials to see but a piece of His glory even before Jesus’ death, resurrection, and full glorification.  Those who hadn’t yet believed were given another sign and an opportunity to believe! 

Plus, Jesus’ selfless surrender showed His love and submission to His Father, His great love for us, and His immediate concern for His disciple’s safety. 

When was the last time you and I made an excuse or blamed someone else to get out of trouble?  How will you and I selflessly live like Jesus, looking out for the best interests of those around us instead of only thinking about ourselves?

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.

Change We Can Believe In

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.  These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.  Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.  He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.  He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.  James 1:14-18

Someone once told me that the only thing in life that you could consistently count on is that it is ever changing.  Since being born again over a decade ago, there has been a lot that has changed for me.  It’s really amazing when it’s something you have never done before.  You gain a strength that you never had, and before you know it, you’ve changed for the better.  That is what this lent season was for me.  God showed me that He would be with me always, and I learned to call on Him when I felt weak.  Thus, I could stay true to His will for my life.  He proven that while He is the same God as He has always been, my relationship is ever changing for the better.

The best rewards are found in our ever changing relationship with God.  Many people have stated that God changes for an ever evolving society.  They most commonly refer to beliefs on slavery and the gay community as examples.  This is simply not true.  God’s word is true, and He is never changing.  What does change is our understanding of His will for our own lives.  Through His grace, we learn to forgive others, and through His love, we learn that love never fails.  Through His wisdom, we make better choices, and by trusting in Him, we find true purpose for our lives.  Through reading His word and growing through His Holy Spirit, we are the ones who change as our understanding is both deeper and greater.

We are all changed through Jesus Christ.  John 1:12:13 says, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”  That moment is only the beginning, and we continually evolve into the wonderful children of God that He loves so much.  What is God challenging you to change today?  What changes can strengthen your relationship with God?  My prayer is we embrace God’s ability to change us for the better for this is as a famous campaign slogan said, “Change we can believe in.”  Amen.

Certainty over Luck

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.  `Hebrews 11:32-34, 39-40

There are many things in life that people will say is left up to chance.  “Hopefully, we will get lucky,” one would say.  “There’s risk in everything,” another might say.  With so much uncertainty in the world, why should we ever feel certain that things will turn out in our favor?  After all, what goes up must come down, right?

Faith in God gives us certainty that all things happen with good intention.  Last week, I mentioned faith as, “Assurance about what we do not see.”  (Hebrews 11:1b)  Years ago, I remember getting into an accident and totaling the car I was just about to finish paying off.  This was just after my wife and I had just purchased a new home which we knew would tighten our budget.  Then, my wife was laid off from work just prior to our move.  Did I mention that this was the year of the Great Recession?  I still remember vividly where we had nothing left in our bank account, and I just looked to God crying, “I don’t know what else you want me to do.  I can’t do this on my own.”  Now some would believe that we were victims of bad luck or unfortunate circumstances.  Yet when we had nothing, we still had God.  The very next day, a check came in the mail covering all the upcoming expenses for the next week.  That’s what faith will do.  And what did God’s intention teach me?  First, I learned dependency on God and surrendering all to Him.  Second, I learned contentment appreciating what God has blessed me with.   When we have faith in God, there is no luck or coincidence.  There is God’s righteous intention and the chance to gain wisdom and clarity of His purpose for our lives from it.

Acceptance of God’s will gives clarity in all situations.  Things cease to affect us adversely, and become opportunities to gain understanding of God’s plan for our lives.  What circumstances have you been given that need a God-centered perspective?  How can we have certainty of God’s goodness in uncertain times?  My prayer is that we don’t buy into luck but instead have certainty in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Thurs Devo - God's Presence Felt

God is always available. He is always there. We may not always feel His presence, though. It usually means we aren’t living in total surrender and obedience to Him. He wants to dwell among us, but He can’t be in the presence of sin. He has given us instructions in His Word so that we can enjoy His presence.

When God setup the Israelite priesthood and ordained Aaron and his sons, He gave them specific instructions to follow in order for Him to dwell among them. The tedious and repetitive tasks were to also remind them of their rightful place before a holy God. After completing His instructions for the week long ordination process, God promised to bless them. The priests and the rest of the Israelites would experience God’s glory and His presence!   

Leviticus 9:6        ⁶ Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.”

After Moses and Aaron did just as God commanded, then they were able to receive and give His blessing and see and feel His presence!
Leviticus 9:22-24               ²² Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down. ²³ Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. ²⁴ Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Just this past week my family felt God’s overwhelming presence as He directed us through a very sad and hurtful situation with some fellow believers. There’s been joy in the midst of the hurt, as we’ve seen God amazingly answer prayers for direction! Sometimes the answer came through added hurt, but God worked good out of it by using those circumstances to make it very clear what we’re to do! Even with the pain, there’s no greater joy than feeling God’s presence. As we’ve followed His lead one step at a time, He’s given clear confirmation over and over again, overwhelming us with His Presence!

How have you seen and felt God’s presence as you live to obey Him?

What blessings has God given to you and me as we obediently live out His commands and do the work He’s instructed us to do?

God’s Presence can be felt!