26 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 26 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“They will perish, but you remain forever, they will wear out like old clothing.  You will change them like a garment and discard them.  But you are always the same; you will live forever.” Psalm 102: 26-27

Some days I feel like I have aged dramatically and passed that point where I have lived more life than my future holds.  Most of the time, I look at that with joy because death is not the end.  The psalmist is in a similar spot when he acknowledges his mortality. “For my days disappear like smoke, I am withering away like grass.” (v.3, 8)  For some knowing this initiates a heavy and depressing feeling.  The reality of death is real even though we try to suppress it.

In truth, everyone will die.  The death statistic has not changed since the first person died, 10 out of 10 people die.  There is an exception for a couple of people in the Bible, Enoch, and Elijah. Those that were raised from the dead by Jesus died a second time.  This passage speaks about one person that does not change but lives forever.  He is God.  Well, what about Jesus?

In Hebrews 1, the writer states something interesting.  He says that God identifies his Son Jesus with the very verses of Psalm 102. God credits Jesus with the creation of the universe, earth, and all that is in it.  He states that Jesus will live forever and He is always the same.  Chapter 13 of Hebrews says he is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Christ did die, but He rose again to life.

Knowing Jesus beat death and lives forever is the truth that sets the believer’s mind free from aging, death, and fear of it.  It frees us from fearing death and desperately doing all we can to fight it.  Death becomes merely a door to the full presence of the holy, majestic, awesome, and glorious Triune God.  I have nervous anticipation of walking through that door, but He who is on the other side of it is far more wonderful than anything on this side of the door.

If you are afraid of growing old and dying, put your trust in Jesus for what he did for you on the cross and he will give you eternal life that starts the day you surrender to him.  He will give you peace to live a purposeful life now until you walk through the door and see him face to face.

Are you struggling with getting old and the reality of death?

Reading Plan: Psalm 102; Ezek. 34:17-31; Heb. 8:1-13;  Luke. 10:38-42

24 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 24 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“I will be careful to live a blameless life-when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.  I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.  I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.  I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.” Psalm 101: 2-4

Psalm 101 is a short chapter but swings a heavy punch.  While I eat breakfast in the morning, I scan the news to see what is happening in the world from entertainment to politics and everything in between.  Then I pray and open the word of God to truly feed my soul with real nourishment.  The Lord speaks truth into my daily life of what is good and evil.  He sheds light on the dark places of my heart and on the path He expects me to walk.

As I read this today, I recall the images and headlines on the news feed.  It is clear when I look at the word of God, wickedness stands out in the world and in my own life.  God’s wisdom and direction are there in the Word if you read it.  A course of action is to ask, ‘Am I living a blameless life? Am I godly and righteous in name only? Then intentionally look to make changes to the things you currently know.

Thankfully God doesn’t normally reveal all of our issues to us at once.  God did that with Isaiah and he felt undone, ruined.  That’s probably an understatement.  We can work to live the life God wants for us, but we have to deal with our problems head-on with God’s help and our fellow believers.  These three verses above are enough to keep us busy for most of our life.  It starts with you and what you feed on.  You are what you eat.

News, politics (worldviews), Instagram, FB, other social media, music, and movies are good place to start.  You are affected by what you take in and can cause spiritual and moral drift.  We have to be intentional in fighting these things and embracing Jesus.

What are you doing to live a blameless and righteous life?

Reading Plan: Psalm 101, 109:1-4, 20-30; Ezek. 11:14-25, 23; Heb. 7:1-17;  Luke. 10:17-24

23 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 23 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.  These were his instructions to them: ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into the fields.’” Luke 10:1-2

This is one of my favorite passages for disciple-making.  Up to this point, Jesus has modeled what ministry will and does look like.  They have heard Jesus teach and preach.  They have seen how he interacts with people from all kinds of backgrounds whether poor, rich, healthy, sick, lost and found.  The disciples needed to see how Jesus really lived among them.  

They saw really nice and good encounters with people who wanted to know how to be made right with God or desired to be healed.  They also saw difficult encounters with those that rejected the Master’s teaching and were offended to the point of hatred.  Many wanted to kill him like the prophets of old.  Jesus told them in Luke 10 that there will be people in the places they would go who would reject them.  Jesus gave them instructions to deal with that.

The men learned that Jesus was already planning to go to the locations he was sending them.  They got a chance to earn their PHDs, preaching, healing, and delivery.  These patterns for ministry would serve them well in the years to come.  Before they started this short mission, he told them to pray.  The scope of ministry for them and us for that matter is huge.  If you are not working in the harvest field you won’t understand this passage or care. 

 In the first outing back in chapter 9 there were twelve and now seventy=two.  They have multiplied, but seventy-two disciple-makers are not enough, there needs to be more.  Where do you get them?  Jesus says that you ask for them from the Father.  He will give them more, out of the harvest that they are entering.  Their harvest was the villages and towns around 146 of them, but ours is every nation and tongue of the world.  

Are you praying for more disciple-makers? Are you one?

Reading Plan: Psalm 97, 99, 100; Ezek. 7:10-15, 23b-27; Heb. 6:13-20;  Luke. 10:1-17

22 MAY 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 22 MAY 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Another said, ‘Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.’” Luke 10:61-62

Some people get exasperated with the political leaders or don’t like the one that just won office and threaten to renounce their citizenship and move to Canada.  That is a pretty bold move to do something like that! What you find is that for the majority of these people, it is a stunt or they actually think about what would happen if they did renounce and leave.

When you renounce something there is always something that replaces it.  If you renounce citizenship in the United States, you lose your voice in elections, rights, and privileges as citizens, and lose the right to move freely in the country or stay in the place you currently live.  If you become a citizen of Canada, you take on all the rights and responsibilities of that nation.  You take the good and the bad of that.  Is it worth it?  You have to weigh the cost and the benefit of that decision.

Jesus lets his potential followers know that there are costs to following him and we should not take them lightly.  These Lordship teachings filter out people when the gospel is shared.  We must understand that once you surrender, you are bound to the terms the King has laid out.  There is no turning back, as the old hymn states.  (I Surrender All)

It is a renouncing of your old life and embracing the new one that is in Christ.  There are new rights and privileges along with new challenges in being a citizen of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus wants us to understand that before we embrace Him, for the road is narrow that leads to life and it has many trials and temptations along the way.  Jesus always says that it is worth, every struggle, pain, and suffering because it is nothing compared to the glory of heaven.

Are you willing to renounce your earthly citizenship for a heavenly one?

Reading Plan: Psalm 89:1-18; Ezek. 4:1-17; Heb. 6:1-12;  Luke. 9:51-62

21 MAY 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 21 MAY 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel.  Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.  If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins.  But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.” Ezekiel 3:17, 19

If you drive down main streets in major cities, you might see a person holding a sign with a warning.  Hollywood makes fun of these people in television programs and movies.  Their signs say, ‘The end is near’ or ‘Jesus is returning, repent!’.  I just saw the last one yesterday as we headed to the train station.  On one hand, I look at it and say, ‘Amen, good job’.  On the other hand, it says, ‘There is a more efficient and effective way’. 

Either way, the Lord is calling us to be Watchmen to some level.  We don’t have to wait for some extra-biblical message that God will speak in our ears.  He has given us the complete and perfect message from the Bible, called the gospel message.  It is powerful to convert the soul.  Someone holding a sign of woe to the city, speaking to a friend or stranger about Jesus, and urging repentance is good work.  The Holy Spirit can and does use that to convict sinners and bring them to faith.

Take a look around you today when you head out to the store, go to school, or work.  If you saw a person walking in front of a car, what would you do? Take a video? Honk your horn? Yell at the top of your lungs? Grab them? Do nothing? For Christians, it has been mandated and commanded that we rescue the perishing and dying.  We do that by warning, exposing sin, speaking the truth, and sharing the gospel.  If they don’t respond, it is on them.  We must be faithful Watchmen until the end.

Are you on a search and rescue mission? If not, what are you doing?

Reading Plan: Psalm 66, 67; Ezek. 3:16-27; Eph. 2:1-10;  Matt. 10:24-33, 40-42

18 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 18 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:18-20

Do you realize that a survey was done across the United States asking, what is the great commission? There was a shock in the results.  I would have thought 98% would know this, but wait for it…51% didn’t know what it was.  51%!  I honestly felt sick to my stomach.  The great commission is the sole mission of the church, period.

Everything we do directly supports that mission or sends people to do that mission.  What we have to do is periodically look at ourselves and ask, are we on a mission? Are we doing it? Are we supporting it? Form follows function, they say.  If your churches are not designed to make disciples that make disciples and they are not being made and multiplied, then we should shut the doors.  We have become a country club.

You can ask pastors, where is all of your effort, time, and money being spent as a church? They will tell you that 90% of their resources are spent on a Sunday morning event.  Less than 1% of church leaders in the United States say they do discipleship well.  Think about that.  If our military didn’t know the mission, didn’t train their service members to fight, and spent all their time and money on one day of work, we would be speaking Chinese right now.

This is a gross dereliction of duty for churches in the United States, not just leaders.  We strive after things that Jesus didn’t tell us to do like high-tech worship, personality and feel-good inspirational messages, programs to entertain, extra-biblical signs and wonders, revival, and big crowds.  Jesus didn’t tell us to be focused on any of that.  Jesus would not be pleased that we have abandoned his leadership and are insubordinate to his commands.  We all need to repent!

Do you know what the great commission is?

Reading Plan: Psalm 8, 47; Ezek. 1:1-14, 24-28b; Heb. 2:5-18;  Matt. 28:16-20

17 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 17 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And if God cares so wonderfully for the flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.  Why do you have so little faith? Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” Luke 12:28, 31

We spend an exorbitant amount of time looking at what we don’t have and remain focused on that missing thing.  We think that the missing item will make our lives complete, but it won’t.  People worry about everyday needs and wants that consume their lives.  They are searching for food that satisfies them, a relationship, affirmation, fame, and fortune, but they are not looking for what really matters in life.

Jesus, speaking to Christians specifically, points out that all of creation is taken care of and they do not have to worry.  We, who are made in the image of God, can learn from creation that God is sovereign and provident.  If we understand who the King is, we will have true peace.  Those that are not Christian, do not seek after God, no not one.  Jesus does the seeking and initiates the relationship.  

Jesus tells us what to do, ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else”.  Our focus is not on what is missing from our lives, but on what is important to God.  The great thing is that God doesn’t leave that to a guess, it’s right there in the word.  Matthew 6:33 add righteousness to the mix of what is important.  Learning to do things that have eternal value and live all parts of life (work, play, gov., relationship) the way that would be pleasing to the King.  If we do that all the things we ‘need’ will be added to us.

Are you focused on what is missing in your life or the Kingdom of God?

Reading Plan: Psalm  119:97-120; Prov. 17; James 5:13-18;  Luke 12:22-31

16 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 16 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.  But don’t just listen to God’s word.  You must do want it says.” James 1:20-22

When I have time, I watch a guy on Youtube that shares his faith regularly in the community to see how people receive his message.  You get all kinds of responses, kind of like a traffic light.  Some people give him the red light by either not wanting to hear it or becoming combative right from the start.  As people hear the word of God spoken, some get angry because the word convicts them.

Isn’t interesting that our response to God’s word can be anger? We read it and immediately look to society’s ills and proclaim judgment and condemnation, yet we do not deal with the sin in our own lives. The anger at the word that hits us or society does not go far enough to make real change.  Everyone knows in their heart what is right and wrong, but is not always in alignment with it. When we are convicted, we play down the gravity of our sin and join the rest of society as equally guilty.  

We say things like, ‘Everybody does it’.  James gives us the solution, but not by dilution.  Let the word do its work in your heart and pull up the weeds of filth and evil in your life and get rid of it.  Do what it says to do.  Hearing it alone does not make you wise or strong, only obeying it.  It is like going to the gym.  If you only look at the weights and not lift them, then you won’t experience the benefits and become fit.

Are you spiritually fit and healthy?

Reading Plan: Psalm  78:1-39; Deut. 8:11-20; James 1:16-27;  Luke 11:1-13

15 MAY 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 15 MAY 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors.  He did it to teach you that people do not live on bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Deut. 8:3

There are descriptions of God that put a gloss on or over his attributes and actions.  We know that God is love, but that is not some gooey nice caricature.  There is more to God than meets the eye and his ways are not fully known.  When things don’t go our way or we suffer in this life, complaints are made.  What is going on? Why me? 

It doesn’t help that other people will make mocking comments like, if God loved you wouldn’t be suffering.  People and our problems can make us doubt God and his faithfulness to us.  Are we really faithful to him? God shapes, develops, and corrects us through suffering and trials.  All suffering is ordained by Him, but not all of it comes directly from Him.

In this passage, the suffering of hunger is coming from God as a correction and to shape Israel’s understanding of Him.  From the basics of food to the complexity of the human body or the universe, God controls everything.  We think control of life is ours, but God is in control.  We are fully dependent on Him whether we believe in Him or not.  

Trials and suffering can come on us in order for us to learn this.  We can learn the easy way or the hard way.  The majority learn the hard way because we are hard-headed just like the Israelites.  Know this, the Lord wants us to fully rely on Him and give the honor that is due His name.  He plans on developing us into the people He desires us to be.

Are you fully reliant on God?

Reading Plan: Psalm  80; Deut. 8:1-10; James 1:1-15;  Luke 9:18-27

14 MAY 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 14 MAY 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Jesus also used this illustration: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread.  Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.’” Matthew 13:33

Storytelling is one of the oldest ways of teaching and training others.  Jesus uses a variety of stories, object lessons, and parables to paint a picture of the topic he was covering.   Storytelling helps us learn, but also to remember it and can be easily retold to others.  This particular illustration stands out to me as someone who likes to bake, and I can easily grasp the idea being painted.

Unusually Jesus talks about yeast in the negative sense, beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Mt. 16:6) Paul too spoke about yeast in the negative sense saying, this false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! (Gal. 5:9)  Additionally, Paul says, to get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. (1 Cor. 5:7)  These references to yeast are directed at evil and wicked people and their teaching which is false at best and damaging at worst.

Jesus in this passage is relating how the Kingdom of Heaven’s economy works in that the seed of the good news spreads like yeast to affect the whole thing.  Jesus started the church and issued in the Kingdom of Heaven, but it spread through ordinary people, not professionals.  Regular everyday people and nobodies spread the good news of Jesus all over the world.  Eventually, the good yeast hit you.

We continue this today by helping people learn the process of disciple-making, giving them simple tools, letting them invest in others, and watching the Lord multiply new disciples wherever they go.  Like making fresh bread, the aroma of a job well done is pleasing to the nose and the taste.

What kind of yeast are you?  good or bad?

Reading Plan: Psalm  93, 96; Prov. 14; 1 Tim. 3:14-4:5;  Matt. 13:24-34a

12 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 12 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough? Yet, how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn’t wait for his counsel! Psalm 106: 2, 13

When I read the great stories of what God has done for His people, it really is amazing how God is so active in everyday life.  Israel had gone through great trials and had seen the very hand of God do things to their enemy that was staggering.  He then cared for their needs as they made their way to the promised land.

When trouble and trials come, they get amnesia.  Israel forgets God’s love for them, His abilities, and plans determined for them.  The disciples of Jesus would do the same thing.  They saw him do all these miracles and would doubt his care and capability a number of times in that three-year period, either the near drowning during the storm or the feeding of the multitudes.  They would forget and not rely on Jesus.

When trials and troubles come, this can and will happen to you too.  Mark my words, you will get this kind of amnesia.  To guard against this, start writing down your prayers, trials, and what God has done.  Highlight the ones he has done for you when you doubt or forget.  As the hymn says: “So, amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.” As you regularly remember the blessings, it will move you to worship and trust him in life's difficulties.

Do you forget what God has done for you during times of trouble?

Reading Plan: Psalm  106:1-18; Prov. 12; Rom 14:13-23;  Luke. 8:40-56

11 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.  If we live, it’s to honor the Lord.  And if we die it’s to honor the Lord.  So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  Christ died and rose again for this very purpose-to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.”        Romans 14:7-9

These verses sit in the middle of a passage that gives a warning to believers of the dangers of negative criticism.  The words judgment and condemnation are flung about as synonymous to people these days.  When people are corrected or rebuked, they feel the sting of guilt and shame.  It is an unpleasant feeling that affects the giver and receiver alike.

Paul and Jesus himself, tell us not to judge in a manner that tears people down.  We should judge in a manner that builds people up and fortifies them for this life and the next.  Paul is dealing with people that are being harsh with things that are not sins, but making them feel like they are.  That can damage a person and their walk with the Lord.

Ultimate judgment comes from the Lord and we will have to give an account to Him for everything we have said and done.  When it comes to sin, we are to judge and correct for the purpose of building the other person up.  Jesus told many after their encounter to go and sin no more.  He was never light on sin and never left it unchecked.  We do not have a license to sin.  

The verse above is the foundation of our being and doing, we live and die to honor the Lord.  How we live is important to God and we have much freedom to express our thanks and praise to Him.  Even in our death, we can bring God glory.  Tenderly correcting one another along the way, will ensure their growth and ours.  We can then stand confidently before God accounting for our actions in this life.

Are you fortifying relationships or blowing them up?

Reading Plan: Psalm  70, 71; Prov. 11; Rom 14:1-12;  Luke. 8:26-39

10 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 10 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities.  For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Romans 13:1

Politics.  Some people love to talk politics especially when the season of elections is upon us.  It is that time of year again as the presidential hopefuls cast a vision for what the United States should look like and the policies they would like to change.  Once in office, people fuss that their candidate didn’t win or their candidate did and look with anticipation of change.

We do this cycle every four years and sometimes it can’t come quickly enough and other times it went too fast.  We have become a society of grumbling and complaining because our political and personal desires are not being met.  We must be careful not to make our political ideology become an idol.  The answer to life’s problems does not come with a change in leadership or ideas, it comes at the hand of God alone.  Jesus says that things will get progressively worse before he returns.  

We are in a very different situation than Paul.  He is under the rule of Nero, who is extremely harsh to Christians.  Yet, he gives us a reality check.  No matter who is in office, God placed them there.  That doesn’t mean that he or she is a good leader or their ideas are good.  They could be straight-up evil, yet we still must submit. 

 Jesus himself told Pontius Pilate, that he would not have the power to crucify if it wasn’t given to him by the Father and submitted to his verdict and sentencing.  Since God places leaders in position, it would reflect poorly to bad mouth them or rebel against them.  This would be disobedience to God himself.  Whether you like them or not, give glory to God and live in a manner that brings him pleasure.

Are you submitting to the government or complaining?

Reading Plan: Psalm  72; Prov. 10; Rom 13:1-14;  Luke. 8:16-25

9 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 9 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed.  A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.  For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and be made known to all.” Luke 8:16-17

As a child, I learned songs that remain in the back of my mind.  When a phrase is read or a tune played, it brings it back to mind.  “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine..” Some of you are now humming a few bars or outright singing it now.  That will be stuck in your head all day, you are welcome.  It is a nice little diddy that encourages us to live out our faith in everyday life.  

Jesus likes to use metaphors, parables, sonship directives, and hard sayings in his teachings.  He does this to sift out people who will not believe or are there for the wrong reasons, but also as an object lesson to stick in their memory.  In doing this, it is quickly passed on to others orally.  Our faith is not a private matter only to be expressed on Sunday or in our home.  It is to be the foundation for all of life.

The light of faith has been given so others can experience God and come to saving faith.  It is also there for fellow believers to gain wisdom, insight, and direction when we are going through dark times.  The world wants you to put your faith in a box, but Jesus says to let it shine, to affect every part of your life, and to shape a biblical worldview.  This is not a suggestion from Jesus, it is expected.

Are you letting your light shine?

Reading Plan: Psalm  61, 62; Prov. 9; Rom 12:1-21;  Luke. 8:1-15

6 MAY 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 6 MAY 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Then he told John’s disciples, ‘God back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard-the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.’ and he added, ‘God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.’” Luke 7’23

We deal with daily expectations ranging from the service we should receive at a restaurant to relationships.  There is an inlaid hope that things will work out in our favor and we will be happy at the end of the day.  It does not always work like that.  Expectations are not always met for various reasons.  

John the Baptist is sitting in Jail for speaking truth to power and he is beginning to wonder if Jesus is truly the Messiah or if he got it wrong.  Expectations are not being met, so he sends his followers to investigate.  Maybe his expectations were not in alignment with reality.  Has that ever happened to you? Jesus gives them a testimony of word and deed that will answer the real question, the Messiah is on the scene.

John’s situation doesn’t change, but it does give him peace in the midst of it.  His expectations are reset against the plumb line of the Good News.  Jesus makes a statement at the end saying, ‘God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.’ People hear things about Jesus and form expectations that are out of alignment with the truth, then get angry and close their ears to his message.   God has given us the testimony of word and deed, but only a few will receive it.  Those that do receive the blessing of God.

Are your expectations of God out of alignment?

Reading Plan: Psalm  55; Prov. 6; Col. 3:12-18;  Luke 7:18-35

5 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 5 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

There is a saying, ‘Don’t be so heavenly-minded that you are of no earthly good’.  This passage has a different take.  When Jesus comes into your life, you will be transformed from glory to glory.  Your heart will change.  Your hunger and passion will shift from the things and ideas of this world to God.  You will find ultimate satisfaction and peace in God himself.

Your mindset will change.  Like the hymn says, ‘the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace’.   Your focus naturally goes where your heart is located.  Jesus says, ‘Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. When you are saved, Jesus turns your goals and drive toward things that really matter.   We focus on him and his desires for us.  We are shaped into his image by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Our human nature is cut out and a new nature is put into us and we are given new clothes to wear.  It is like putting on a uniform in the military, in that your identity and purpose are different.  Paul has to tell us what God expects when we put on this holy and righteous uniform.  We are acknowledging that the old is dead and the new has come, and we embrace all the things that are important to God.  As we follow his lead, we are transformed into his likeness thereby bringing glory to God.  In turn, we have the peace of God and joy forever.

When you become heavenly-minded, you really become an earthly good.  Your life brings more of heaven to earth.

Are you focused on the realities of heaven or earth?

Reading Plan: Psalm 40, 54; Prov. 5; Col. 3:1-11;  Luke 7:1-17

4 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 4 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye: Hypocrite! First, get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” Luke 6:41-42

My kids’ teacher used to say, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself.  Having good self-awareness is important in life.  We can think too highly of ourselves and come off as arrogant or foolish in the eyes of other people.  In this passage, Jesus is speaking about how we engage other people and our own soul condition.

Judging and condemning others is not our role as a believer with one exception.  We cannot judge people that are not Christians, but we are to judge those that are.  (1 Cor. 5:12) We are to help each other become the person that God wants us to be and that requires discernment, judgment, correction, and love.  Iron sharpens iron by scraping, not beating.  Beating warps and damages the steel.

You might have the gift of seeing other people’s sin (tongue in cheek), but not be able to see your own.  For us to become useful instruments in the hand of God, we need to honestly and humbly deal with our own sins before we help others with theirs.  Both brothers in this story need to be sharpened and developed, so we have to deal with issues of sin directly.  We can’t leave each other in sin, because that is not the loving thing to do.  We both get stronger when this is done right.

Are you damaging or sharpening others?

Reading Plan: Psalm 50; Prov. 4; Col. 2:8-23;  Luke 6:39-49

3 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 3 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“My child, never forget the things I have taught you.  Store my commands in your heart.  If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.” Proverbs 3:1-2

The purpose projected by the writer of proverbs is to seek wisdom and cherish it like the treasure that it is.  The problem is, we seek after everything that our flesh desires.  Our own self-interests captivate our lives to the point we become addicts to pleasure.  The sad reality is that nothing in this life really satisfies and we are left wanting.  

There are times when I am hiking through the mountains and I just get so thirsty.  When I get that drink of cool water, it just hits the spot.  You know that feeling, right? Nothing satisfies like water.  God has created in each and every one of us, a thirst and a hunger.  In this life we can feel it and try to satisfy it with relationships, food, drink, materials, and other ideas the world offers us.

The longing and thirst still remain because nothing in this world satisfies this kind of thirst, but God himself.  God has revealed himself in the Scriptures of the Bible and he says that we cannot live on bread alone, but from every word that comes from the Father.  When we inwardly digest it, there is satisfaction and life.  It hits the spot like nothing else.  His words to us ring clear if we want to be satisfied in this life. Surrender your life to him and get his word into your heart.  Then you will find satisfaction.

Are you dissatisfied with this life? 

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:49-72; Prov. 3; Col. 1:24-2:7;  Luke 6:27-38

2 May 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 2 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“My child listen to what I say and treasure my commands.  Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.  Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.  Search for them as you would silver; seek them like hidden treasures.  Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5

Fear the Lord.  Let that sink in for a moment.  Whenever I hear someone speak about the fear of the Lord, they are quick to rephrase it to mean reverence or awe or shift our view to another more enjoyable attribute.  They water it down to make it more palatable for your senses so that it is not too salty. Are we missing something when we do that?

Yes! We lose the very thing that the author intends for us to find, wisdom and understanding.  When we look at the law, the ten commandments, it reveals to us our own human nature.  It reveals sin in our lives and our false self-assessment to be good people.  We are torn up from the floor up, broken beyond repair.  We would like to think we can fix ourselves, but all attempts at self-improvement fail.  Putting lipstick on a pig doesn’t change the fact that it is still a pig.

More importantly, the commands teach us about the nature of God.  He is holy.  God is completely perfect and sinless.  No one can stand before God in their sinful state and survive.  His Holiness will pronounce judgment and pay out the wages you have earned which is death.  That is scary! Terrifying! 

It is at that moment that the law becomes our schoolmaster that begs for salvation.  Jesus holds the keys to life and death, and makes the choice to give it or not.  Awe and reverence come after you have been shaken to repentance, but fear opens the eyes to see who God really is and our need for him.  It makes us desperate for a cure and to have peace with God.

Do you have the fear of the Lord?

Reading Plan: Psalm 45; Prov. 2; Col. 1:15-23;  Luke 6:12-26

1 MAY 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 1 MAY 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you.  We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.  All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” Col. 1:9-10

When you pray, do you primarily list your needs and the needs of others? Does it resemble a shopping or Christmas list? Many of us rattle off a list of things we desire and of course “to bless” us or our family and friends.  Maybe we are pleading for God to get us out of a jam or trial.  Those may not be bad things present to the Lord, but there may be a more fitting conversation to have.

Paul gives us some insight into his prayers for himself and others.  When praying for himself, he is asking for boldness from God to be faithful and to share the good news with those that he meets on his journey.  When Paul prays for others, he desires that God would make them into the person that He desires.  There is an expected hope that people reach spiritual maturity.

To have ‘complete knowledge’ is to become mature in this life to the will of God and understand how to live in it.  He doesn’t want people to just go through life, but to grow through life.  If you are mature, then you will know how to please God and be filled with joy no matter where you live on earth.  You can live under harsh governments and immoral and hostile societies, and various socio-economic conditions.  You can be fruitful no matter where you are planted.

When you pray, leave that Christmas list in the drawer.  God is not Santa.  He is more concerned with your development and holiness than your happiness.  You will find true joy when you start asking God to make you into the person He desires and start obeying what He has already written in His Word.  

Are you praying to God for stuff or your maturity?

Reading Plan: Psalm 41, 52; Job.23:1-12; Col. 1:1-14;  Luke 6:1-11