1 NOV 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 1 NOV 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.” Psalm 119:71-72

Don’t waste your suffering.  How did that sentence hit you? Our normal or natural reaction to suffering is that we don’t want it, avoid it, and when it happens we want it to be over quickly.  I get it.  There is something more to it because we see in the Scriptures and from life that there is suffering in this world and we are all affected by it.  We can ponder in the moment when we are experiencing it and ask why? 

Rather than ask why, ask what do I do with it? What is there to learn? Can I grow from it? Paul rejoiced in his suffering because he saw it as a tool to both develop him as a person, but also a means to glorify God.  Romans 5, he says suffering will produce endurance, character, and hope.  Paul experienced God in a greater and unique way when he suffered which he wouldn’t have if he had not gone through the trial.

The Scriptures look at suffering as the refiner's fire in which precious metals are purified.  The hotter the temperatures the dross or imperfections come out.  God sovereignly allows us to endure suffering and uses it for our good.  Weakness due to suffering brings strength to our spirit and faith.  As Christians, we do not go through it alone.  God is present with us and will give us the strength to make it through it.  We are delivered through or delivered to His presence.

Our suffering can help others to be comforted when they go through suffering, look at cancer survivors.  We can testify to God’s faithfulness, goodness, and ability to turn our tears into joy.  In comparison to eternity, the suffering we experience now is nothing compared to the joy and health we will have in heaven.  If you are suffering today, may God comfort you, heal you, and give you peace.  May he move you to say like David, ‘My suffering was good for me’.

Are you suffering and don’t know how to process it?

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:49-72; Ezra 6:1-22; Rev. 5:1-10; Matt. 13:10-17

31 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 31 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat.  Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.  He told many stories in the form of parables.” Matthew 13:2-3a

Think about how many people you interact with on a daily basis.  You take the kids to school, go to the store, to the gym, to work, and a variety of other places.  If you were to guess how many people that would be, what do you think? 20, 30, 50? That number will differ for each of us, but God will use our interactions to change the world around us, often one person at a time.

Jesus spent a great deal of time traveling through towns and villages to share the good news, to heal, and to deliver people from demonic bondage.   As news traveled, the crowds began to come to him as well.  He used those interactions strategically, looking for people to become disciples.  In order to do that, he had to filter people out of the crowds who would follow him.

Jesus used parables among other ways to get to the people he desired while conveying spiritual truth to all.  The use of parables was a fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah that states that people will not believe when they hear it.  They will be revealed as spiritually dull unless the Holy Spirit opens their understanding.  The parable acts as a filter in the crowd reducing the number of people who get it thereby finding the needle in the haystack.

As you go through your daily life, you will encounter many people who will not receive the good news that you share or the hospitality you give.  That’s okay because God is using the gospel as a filter so that you will be investing in the few he desires for you to have.  That may only be one person and that may be just the right amount for now.  You can only invest deeply in a few, not a large crowd.

Is God revealing a few people in your life to invest in?

Reading Plan: Psalm 45; Ezra 5:1-17; Rev. 4:1-11; Matt. 13:1-9

30 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 30 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Jesus asked, Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he pointed to his disciples and said, Look, these are my mother and brothers.  Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” Matt. 12: 48-50

In many conversations, I hear how there are broken or dysfunctional families.  Some family members don’t speak to one another and others that bicker and fight.  The family system has its negatives when it has broken people in it.  There is no perfect family even though there are many healthy families who don’t experience the same trials as others do.  God’s plan for the family from the beginning has structure and strength when it is connected fully to him.

Jesus had a good upbringing with a mother and father in the home as well as brothers and sisters.  His parents were dedicated to God and submitted to his plan for their lives.  Their love and training helped in the development of the children into adults.  Jesus intended to create a family for God, one that would be a royal priesthood of saints.  You would know his kids by their love for one another and their devotion to God and his will.

While Jesus was teaching, his family members came looking for him to meet with him.  The crowd knew who they were and called out to Jesus to let him know they had arrived.  Jesus used this as an object lesson on who belongs to his family.  The statement that was made did not insult Mary and his brothers, it was an expansion of who the family is.  “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”  Are you doing his will?

You become a family member of God when you submit to his Lordship and surrender your life not because you were born on this earth.  That is a beautiful thing and we will ultimately become a strong family system that has no sin which leads to brokenness, no pain or suffering, and be in perfect love and unity.  We can learn to strive for that even now, but it takes courage, mutual submission, commitment to truth, to really love each other, and devotion to Jesus.

Are you a part of the family of God?

Reading Plan: Psalm 41, 52; Zech. 1:7-17; Rev. 1:4-20; Matt. 12:43-50

29 OCT 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 29 OCT 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor.  And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.” Haggai 1: 9

Do you ever get your priorities out of wack? You can get so focused on things that don’t matter and can miss the truly important stuff.  God’s people focused on building wealth, establishing themselves, building their fancy homes, and forgetting God.  In and of themselves wealth and property are not an issue.  If we make those things our complete focus then they become idols that take up our time, talent, and energy.

In Haggai, the people were sent back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the city's walls.  The favor of God was shown by influencing kings to give them the ability to restore the central part of their culture and lives.  Because they didn’t prioritize the things of the Lord, he ruined the harvest thereby damaging their economy and expectations.  God got their attention and told them his intentions both in punishment and in stating his expectations.

Where does that leave us? As the church, locally, nationally, and globally, we need to ask ourselves if we are keeping the main thing the main thing.  Are we prioritizing the work of the Lord and his mission or are our efforts and labor on our desires? How do you know? Take a look at your bank account and your calendar.  

How much do you spend on the spread of the gospel or support of the local church? How much time are you intentionally spending sharing the gospel, serving others, praying for the lost, and building up the church? Be honest with yourself and the Lord.  Don’t be surprised if God gets your attention through unpleasant measures.  Stop delaying and start doing what he says.

Are you focused on God’s priorities?

Reading Plan: Psalm 63:1-8, 98; Haggai 1:1-2, 9; Acts 18:24-19:7; Luke 10:25-37

28 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 28 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.  I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’  And you forgave me!  All my guilt is gone.” Psalm 32: 5

We carry a lot of baggage in our hearts and minds that can really weigh us down.  We still lug it around and it shows on our faces.  One of my fellow chaplains did a little skit where he had a backpack that was empty and a table full of bricks.  Each brick had a different emotion, sin, problem, and stressor written on it.  The volunteer put the empty backpack on and then began adding the bricks to the backpack.

Before long, the volunteer was visibly getting weaker and struggling to keep his balance.  Eventually, it became too heavy to carry and he fell.  In the story, Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian is carrying all his burdens in a backpack hoping to be able to unload them to someone.  He was told that if he reached the narrow gate there would be a person to take his burdens.  We are all like that, carrying around burdens that can be unloaded, but we just keep adding bricks.

Why? The psalmist experiences this and acknowledges that he refused to deal with the problems he had and his body began to waste away and he groaned all day long. (v. 3)  It got to the point that he needed help from the only person who could lift his burdens from him, God.  When he confessed “all” his sins and revealed all the bricks he had been carrying, the Lord responded by forgiving him and taking his guilt away.  

God can deal with any sin, frustration, addiction, depression, illness, ideation, demonic influence, or possession.  He can forgive you, give you perspective, and purpose, and take away the guilt and shame.  So what are you waiting for? Why do you still rebel?

Are you being crushed under the weight of your burdens?

Reading Plan: Psalm 30, 32; Ezra 4:7, 11-24; Philemon 1:1-25; Matt. 12:33-42

27 OCT 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 27 OCT 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation.  The others, however, were shouting for joy.  The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.” Ezra 3:12-13

The older I get the more I laugh when I get together with my friends and we get to talking about the good old days.  Not that today is worse, it’s actually better in my estimation.  We talk about things with a high gloss on them and sometimes we can make them out to be better than they were.  We can have such fond memories of something that we cannot bear to think of something new or start to poo poo the new thing.

In Ezra, you have the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and you have two groups of people, the old and the young.  The older generation remembers what the original Temple looked like in all of its glory.  The ark of the covenant was there, heavenly fire, mercy seat, shechinah glory, and the size and majesty of it all.  This new one would be small in comparison to the new one. These old guys had probably seen its destruction so this was a very emotional event.

Their emotions were discouraging to the younger generation who were excited to be a part of restoring the Temple and Jerusalem.  The worship that broke out was filled with mixed emotions for joy and sorrow which ultimately would cause problems.  God was doing something significant in that moment that the old guys were missing and becoming bling to what God was going to do.  Jesus himself would walk in this Temple preaching, teaching, healing, and issues in the Kingdom.  That didn’t happen in the first Temple.  

Let’s not get so caught up in the glory days that we miss what God is doing right now in our day.  Young or old we can be guilty of this and become hardened to the move of God.

Are you looking back when you should be looking at right now?

Reading Plan: Psalm 31; Ezra 3:1-13; 1 Cor. 16:10-24; Matt. 12:22-32

26 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 26 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“The Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah.  He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and send it throughout his Kingdom.” Ezra 1:1

This is the day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Has the Lord just done something in you that won’t go away? As a child, I remember my eyes being opened to the gospel.  It came through understanding what sin is and my need for Jesus.  I hadn’t done much as a kid, but it didn’t matter because God was initiating a relationship with me.  My heart stirred and was moved to the action of repentance and trust.

As a teenager, God stirred my heart in the midst of many youth group meetings and trips.  Sometimes he convicted me of sin and other times, he moved me with a passion for him or the lost.  Throughout my life, I have experienced God stirring my heart and implanting new desires in my heart for His work. (Ps. 37) It never goes away but tends to ebb and flow as I do life.  Some days are stronger and more intense than others, but it is always there bubbling up.

The passage hit me this morning as I opened up Ezra and read, “He stirred the heart of Cyrus”.  Such a small pebble hitting the pond of my heart and creating a ripple of memories that lead to worship and abiding. God is so wonderful and the magnitude of his grace is something to experience.  God throughout history works on the hearts of leaders of countries to shape history.  

Sometimes he uses the enemies of his people to correct, discipline, and pass judgment.  He also uses our enemies to move us into the places he expects us to go. (Acts 8:1) He takes nobodies, people you wouldn’t expect, and uses them to do great things.  Being stirred by God is a great thing and we should expect it, look for it, and ask for him to do it.  When he does stir his desires and plans into you, they will stay with you until you meet him face to face.  I’m sure of that!

Is God stirring in you?

Reading Plan: Psalm 37:1-18; Ezra 1:1-11 ; 1 Cor. 16:1-9; Matt. 12:15-21

25 OCT 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 25 OCT 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Cor. 15: 54-55

It is now two months until Christmas! Growing up, I remember waking up early with my brother to scope out the gifts under the tree.  Ever so often we would get a bike for Christmas and it would usually stand out because that is one thing that was difficult to wrap.  It usually would have a bow on it or it might have a sheet over it.  We loved getting a new bike.

I was particularly hard on bikes because me and my friends would do all kinds of crazy stuff like jumping over ramps, riding through mud, and racing through the neighborhood.  Oh course with all that fun we would have tremendous wrecks that required regular maintenance or some duct tape.  Our bodies can be like those bikes and take a beating while having fun or just doing life.  You might not have a lot of age on you, but you have a lot of mileage and can feel it.

Ask someone in their forties to eighties how their body is holding up.  They will freely tell you of all the aches and pains or they might give you a smile to let you know they have worn out a few parts that maintenance won’t fix.  The older you get the reality of death becomes more evident knowing you have lived more than you have left.  The hope of the gospel turns those thoughts on its ear.  Those that die in the Lord or if the Lord returns, will have a great transformation to look forward to.

Paul says, that we will don a new body, a glorified body, that will last for eternity.  Jesus says that there will be no more tears death, sorrow, crying, pain, and all these things are gone forever.  To me, that will be the best Christmas gift ever!  Right now we have the promise of it, but when it becomes a reality, it will be a joyous moment.  We too can say, O death where is your sting? O death, where is your victory?

Are you looking forward to the new body that Jesus will give us?

Reading Plan: Psalm 38; Lam. 2:8-15, ; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; Matt. 12:1-14

24 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 24 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.  Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! No one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’” Matt. 11:25, 27b

There are so many things that are puzzling in this life.  When talking to people about the Lord, they often take issue with things God hasn’t done.  If they were God, they would handle this problem in one way and allow other things to happen.  Sometimes believers in their frustration, wonder why God operates the way he does.  We don’t understand that God doesn’t operate like us.  His ways, motivations, and plans are different than ours. 

 If Jesus is thankful for that, shouldn’t we? The passage in Matthew is just after a paragraph about Jesus denouncing the towns where people did not repent and believe.  They had heard the message and witnessed miracles,  and many of those people had a miracle done for them and yet did not believe in him.  Jesus dusted his feet of the people who rejected him and confirmed God’s plan at the same time.  How so you may ask.

Jesus tells us that God chose to hide the truth of the good news from some people, those who think themselves wise and clever.  It says that God was pleased to do it this way.  His glory and pleasure are at the forefront of all that He does and doesn’t do.  It is a fundamental truth that He ultimately decides what can make us vulnerable and dependent on his mercy.  We can’t manipulate God into giving us his favor, grace itself is his unmerited favor.

There is another interesting and hard truth in this passage, Jesus chooses who he will reveal himself and God to.  He intentionally seeks after those he desires to be in a relationship with.  The Father and the Son determine the who and will send the Holy Spirit to initiate that relationship by changing the heart, opening the eyes and ears, and preparing them for the encounter.  Those are the people who respond positively to the message.

Do you wonder why some people are not responding to the Gospel?

Reading Plan: Psalm 26, 28; Lam. 1:1-5, 10-12; 1 Cor. 15:41-50; Matt. 11:25-30

23 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 23 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.  For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.  I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” Matthew 11:23-24

Many times in the Scriptures, we see God give a harsh reality to his people.  All the bad news comes from disobedience, sin, and idolatry to name a few.  He doesn’t want us to be self-deceived either and think we are in good standing when we don’t even have a relationship with God.  The Lord is unafraid to tell the truth and pass final judgment on people.

In Matthew 7, he says, on judgment day many will say to me, Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.  But I will reply, I never knew you.  Jesus gives sober words that should stop us in our tracks and evaluate where we are with God.  Are we truly his disciples? Have we surrendered our lives to him and are we obedient?

Most people in the world think they are good enough or are working at putting more good on the scale to outweigh the evil they have done.  They believe in their mind that the bad or evil they have done should not be that offensive to God.  Try and say that to anyone today who is offended by what you have done to them.  You will get an earful! We always play down our part and expect others to extend us grace.  We do that to God too! That’s a dangerous presumption.

Jesus in this passage lays down some hard truths.  Some people were destroyed and are rotting in hell who would have quickly repented and trusted Jesus if presented the gospel.  We are on this side of the grave and have an opportunity to respond rightly now.  What is your excuse? It is better to hear it now and be a bit butt-hurt than to hear it from Jesus and be eternally in pain knowing you rejected Him.

Will you be honored in heaven?

Reading Plan: Psalm 25; Jer. 44:1-14; 1 Cor. 15:30-41; Matt. 11:16-24

21 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 21 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.  Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.” 1 Cor. 15: 21-22

Even as I write this today, the tension of the rope of Christ’s return appears to be very tight.  We can speculate this as we see once again Israel being attacked and a greater war encompassing the rest of the world is possible.  War brings great loss of life and ultimately, everyone fears death. (Heb. 2:15) Most of the world doesn’t think anything of the second coming of Jesus or a life that is after death.

There are those who don’t believe in God, but believe they should still go to heaven.  They have done enough good to outweigh the bad they have done.  Even the most horrid sinner is self-deceived in their thinking as they too believe they have a place in heaven.  Are you evil enough for God to punish you with hell?  To be good in God’s eyes is to be morally perfect in thought, word, and deed.  Jesus says that there is none good, but God. (Mark 10:15)

Where does that leave us? We die.  Death came through Adam, but there is a solution to death.  Everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life and will be resurrected to live with Him forever.  How do you belong to Jesus? Repent of your sins and put your trust in Jesus for what he did for you on the cross.  He will make you presentable to God by taking your sins and he will give you his righteousness.  At that point, you will become one of God’s kids and have a place in heaven.

As things heat up in Israel, are you ready for Jesus to return? This could be the moment and you don’t want to be here as Jesus’ enemy when he shows up.  It will be too late then because no mercy or grace will be extended.  You have had the time to respond.

Are you ready for the return of Jesus?

Reading Plan: Psalm 20, 21:1-7; 2 Kings 25:8-12, 22-26; 1 Cor. 15:12-29; Matt. 11:7-15

20 OCT 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 20 OCT 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Jesus told them, ‘Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen 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.’”  Matthew 11:4-6

I think we all struggle with doubt and disappointment and need affirmation about what God is doing in the world.  John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by preaching and baptizing as many as would receive.  John faced opposition to his ministry from the religious elite and from those who didn’t like him calling out their sins.  This landed him in hot water and by the eleventh chapter of Matthew’s gospel, he is sitting in jail.

John had heard that Jesus’ ministry had taken off well, but John expected a liberator and a rebellion to take place freeing the Jews from Roman and religious oppression.  He is probably thinking, when am I going to be set free so I can team up with Team Jesus and take the country back? He is not alone in his expectations as the disciples too thought Jesus would restore Israel to prominence.  Was this the plan?

John sends his disciples to Jesus to get a full report of what is happening.  Jesus responds with the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the miraculous signs that would accompany the Messiah. He footnoted the statement with this caveat: God blesses those who do not fall away because of me or are offended by me. (ESV) Jesus is shattering any expectation that the Jews have added on and if it can happen to John, it can happen to any of us.  Sometimes we desire Jesus to do some great thing that he is capable of doing but isn’t part of the plan.

Instead of doubting or being disappointed, we need to go back and look at what He actually said he is going to do.  We also need to look at what we are supposed to do and are commanded to do.  When you read it, the Scriptures will comfort and affirm you, unless you are disobedient.  Then it will smack you!

Does Jesus offend you for not meeting your expectations?

Reading Plan: Psalm 16, 17; Jer. 38:14-28; 1 Cor. 15:1-11; Matt. 11:1-6

19 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 19 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.” Matthew 10: 32a, 38a

Have you ever had your commitments tested? In the last couple of years, technology has become a dominant part of our lives to the extent that it can threaten personal and national security.  An application called Tic Tok, owned by the Chinese government, posed a threat to personal information, financial security, and collective national security.  The United States government wanted to ban it nationally, but there was a kickback!

People desired social media more than their freedom or personal and national security.  What about allegiance and dedication to the neighbor or nation? This is not much of a test of commitment, but the people failed in their commitment.   In the passage in Matthew,  Jesus lays out a major and dramatic test of our commitment to him.  Are you truly going to live for Jesus come what may? If not, you are not worthy of being mine.

Jesus said he didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword. (v.34) There will be major divisions because you are a Christian.  Realize that Jesus presents all of these challenges that believers will face before they become one.  He never is guilty of bait and switch, but lets everyone know upfront.  Jesus explains that being called by my name will divide families, communities, and nations.  If you are a true believer, you will commit yourself even if it fractures all of your relationships.

Muslims who come to faith in Jesus can lose their family, community, and even their lives.  In America, you may be treated with indifference, shame, rejection, and socially ostracized.   Be sure your commitment to Jesus and the mission he has given us will be tested.  The question is, what will you do? Will you kick back against Jesus and tell him, no? Or will you say like the hymnist, thou none go with me I still will follow, no turning back I’ll follow Him.

Is God testing your loyalty and commitment to Him?

Reading Plan: Psalm 18:1-20; Jer. 38:1-13; 1 Cor. 14:26-33a, 37-49; Matt. 10:34-42 bb 

18 OCT 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 18 OCT 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul.  Fear only god, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt. 10:28

Fear is one of the most common emotions that can dominate our thoughts.  God knows us intimately and gives us the wisdom to get through life’s most difficult moments. There are 365 verses in the Bible that say “Fear not” or “Don’t be afraid”.  There is a verse for every day of the year because he knows each day brings worry and fear.  God’s people do have things that can make us afraid.

Jesus told his followers that they could be mocked, rejected, insulted, persecuted, beaten, jailed, tortured, and killed for proclaiming the name of Jesus.  Unbelievers have all the fears common to man, plus the fear of death, and fear of standing before a holy God as they give an account for their lives.  Jesus sets us free from the fear of death, judgment, and the things we will face as we live out this adventure.

Jesus says there is only One whom you should fear, God.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  God is the only one who can destroy your body and your soul in hell.  God is sovereign and knows every step you take, the hairs on your head, when you die, how you die, and if you belong to him.  When you turn from your sin (repentance) and follow Jesus, you are entrusting your life to God.  From that moment on, you are learning each day to trust in the Lord with all of your heart.

As you trust Him, especially during difficult times, he will extend to more of His Spirit to give peace beyond all understanding, to have joy and even power to press through it.  God gives us disciplines and insight that can help assist us in gaining victory over fear such as prayer, his word, meditation, fasting, community, and purpose.   You can build emotional and spiritual resilience with God’s help.

Do you struggle with fear?

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:1-24; Jer. 37:3-21; 1 Cor. 14:13-25; Matt. 10:24-33

17 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 17 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.  Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil.” Psalm 5:4-5

When you turn on the news today, there is all kinds of evil in our world.  I think people are slow to acknowledge it, especially when they do evil or the people they associate with or like do evil.  We water it down to the point that we try to make evil appear good.  One simple one is lying and we play that down regularly to the point we don’t think it that bad. We justify ourselves and say, ‘Everyone does it’.  Does it make it good to do?

God says that lying is evil and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire.  As we get used to sinning, something happens to our hearts and minds.  If you are not a follower of Jesus, your heart is already hard and sin is what you do.  Jesus states the condition of your heart is hard, wicked, evil, and darkness.  As for Christians, our hearts can become hard if we make sin a habit and dabble in evil. The Lord can bring troubles into our lives to bring about change and repentance.  

We are told to hate what is evil and to cling to that which is good.  God detests sin, wickedness, and evil, and cannot be in its presence.  The passage from Pslam 5 states that he hates the people who do evil.  We sometimes hear people say, God hates sin and not the sinner, but the Word of God says differently.  Sin is not cast into hell and the person spared, but the sinful person is.  

The only way God’s hatred and wrath are satisfied is if the evil person receives his wages which is death or through the cross of Christ. (Rm 6:23)  Thankfully, God provided his son Jesus to take your death and exchange it for life.  How do we destroy sin, wickedness, and evil? By lovingly sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, He will destroy it in the person and make them a new person.

Do you know how God destroys evil people? 

Reading Plan: Psalm 5,6; Jer. 36:27-37:2; 1 Cor. 14:1-12; Matt. 10:16-23

16 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 16 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing.  If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.” Matt. 10:13-14

Salespeople expect rejection because it comes with the territory.  Have you ever spent time shopping for an item that you wanted to buy? You look at different stores, online, and check prices, availability, etc., before making a decision.  Those that are trying to get you to purchase that item know if you are serious or not.  They don’t waste their time on certain clients because they have the experience to know if you are ready or just kicking the tires.

In our gospel reading today, Jesus gives the newly dubbed Apostles a mission in order to help them become competent and confident in the role of messengers and ministers.  They were to work on their Ph.D., preaching, healing, and deliverance.  They were sent specially to the towns and villages that Jesus was planning to go to.  They would experience firsthand what Jesus was doing.  They saw Jesus model it, they have assisted in it, and now they are doing it.

Jesus told them they some would receive them and their message and others will not.  This is important in order to sure up their expectations and to give them an understanding of what to do when things don’t go their way.  I like to look at it like a street light in which there are red, yellow, and green lights.  Each light represents a response that you might get.  Red is a rejection or ‘talk to the hand’ type response.  They don’t want anything to do with you or the message.

Yellow and Green lights are those that receive you and want to know more.  The Scriptures show there are always some, few, or many that respond.  Jesus tells them basically, if you get a green or yellow light bless them and stay with that family.  If you get a red light, don’t waste your time with them, just move on.  Sounds harsh, doesn't it? No.  God prepares the hearts of mankind to be ready to receive the good news.  If they are not prepared, there is nothing you can do.

Are you wasting your time on certain people?

Reading Plan: Psalm 1, 2, 3; Jer. 36:11-26; 1 Cor. 13:1-13; Matt. 10:1-15

15 OCT 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 15 OCT 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“I tell you, her sins- and they are many- have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love.  But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.  Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven’.”  Acts 7:47-48

People get bent out of shape when a very evil person is shown kindness or mercy.  We like to distance ourselves from the truly wicked and hope they receive the maximum justice.  We don’t want someone to get away with the evil they committed.  Internally, we recognize there is good, evil, and hope for justice.  In many cases what we are looking for is revenge.

In the story above, an extremely sinful woman crashes a house party of a very righteous person.  There was no way this woman would have ever been invited to this man’s house.  If anything, he would want her in jail.  When she entered the home, she cried in the presence of Jesus and began washing his feet with her tears and pouring very expensive perfume on them as well.  This was a picture of remorse for her sins, repentance, and worship.

You notice what happens, the religious man gets angry and even insults Jesus in his mind for allowing this nasty woman to touch him.  Jesus receives the repentance and the worship from the woman and then explains to the religious man that she has sinned very much, but has loved very much.  While the one who thought he was righteous sinned and did not love Jesus in response.  Jesus, who has the authority to forgive sins, forgave hers and not the religious man.

Jesus came seeking sinners who cannot save themselves, not those who think they are righteous.  We have to look in the mirror and ask ourselves a couple of questions.  Are we rejecting those who need Jesus? How much do we love Jesus?

Is our self-righteous attitude keeping others from receiving forgiveness? 

Reading Plan: Psalm 146, 147; Jer. 36:1-10; Acts 14:8-18; Luke 7:36-50

14 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 14 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  He said to his disciples, ‘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 his fields.’” Matthew 9:36-37

Whenever we see someone do something good or for that matter bad, we ask ourselves, ‘What is his motivation for doing this?’ Then we begin to speculate those motivations and usually start with some negative ones.  Many times people do things out of kindness and mercy, and that really gets us because we assume for ill-gotten gain or glory.  Our inspection of another person’s heart will reflect ours too.

Jesus in the passage above sees a great crowd who are lost, ill, and broken spiritually.  They are also broken and ill physically.  He has not waited for the people to come to him, but he has gone out looking for them.  The doctor is making preemptive house calls.  As a matter of fact, Jesus spent a great deal of time traveling on foot to see people, visiting hundreds of towns and villages in three years.  

Why? We find out about Jesus’ heart for his people in the gospels.  He loved his own deeply and desired for the people to know him.  He described them as sheep, which are animals that need the care and protection of a shepherd.  They are defenseless creatures who need help against predators and parasites but also need help finding food and basic care.  Jesus called himself the good shepherd in comparison to the bad shepherds (leaders) in Israel.

Jesus forecasted the mission that the Apostles would assume when Jesus ascended to heaven.  The Apostles would be charged for reaching the lost sheep and caring for them.  Knowing this job was larger than the Apostles could handle, they would need additional shepherds or laborers.  Jesus told them to pray and ask God to raise up new ones from the harvest (world).  Today, we must do the same, reach the lost, train the saved, and send them to reach the rest of Jesus’ lost sheep.

Are you praying for more laborers to reach the lost?

Reading Plan: Psalm 140, 142; Jer. 35:1-9; 1 Cor. 12:27-13:3; Matt 9:35-10:4

12 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 12 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.  There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.  God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.  A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” 1 Cor. 12: 4-7

In the chapter leading up to twelve, Paul describes the church as the body of Christ.  In the book of Ephesians, he further states, that Christ fits the body together perfectly.  As each part does its special work, it helps the whole body grow, so that it is healthy and maturing and full of love.  The gifts of the Spirit are given to the church to build up and help each other.

Jesus wants his church to be healthy and functioning the way he wants.  There is an expectation that every member will operate in a  role within the body which results in people becoming healthy and functional.  The Holy Spirit sees what gifts are needed in the Church and distributes them by his will, choice, and pleasure.  We don’t have to decide which gift we want, he knows and gives us each one when we come to faith.  

If we don’t neglect it but use the gift we are given, then the body will benefit. We become a channel in which the Holy Spirit works to affect change within the church.  As the hymn says, “Have you urged upon those who are straying? If our lives are not free from all sin, we will be barriers and a hindrance.  Is the love of God flowing through you? Make me a channel of blessing today.” If you don’t know what that gift is, pray that God will reveal it to you.  Then put that gift to use.

Are you using your Spiritual Gift to strengthen the Church?

Reading Plan: Psalm 131, 132; 2 Kings 23:4-25; 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Matt 9:18-26

11 OCT 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 OCT 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.  Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” 1 Cor. 11:31-32

Every year around July or early August, we would have to take our children to the doctor for their annual checkups before starting back to school. You could feel the tension in the car, so thick you could cut it with a knife.  Why? The kids knew from experience that the likelihood a shot was involved was pretty good.  They would ask, so why does the Doc need to see us? Will there be a shot? Until you graduate from high school, there is going to be some kind of shot.

The Doctor also looks at how you are growing, developing mentally and physically, and preparing your body to fight against the viruses that are coming.  He does this to gauge overall health and to reveal to us the truth of our current condition and areas to improve.  This is a good thing even though we don’t like the potential pain of it.  Such is the way of a spiritual examination.

How often do you take time for introspection or self-examination? What is the condition of your mind and soul? God calls us all to know ourselves, our nature, our mindset, and our motivations.  How are we applying the word and disciplines of the faith to our lives in order to be strong and to prepare ourselves against the fight that comes from the world, the flesh, and the devil? This is an important task that can be painful if God has to discipline us.

Paul told a group of believers that they were actually doing something spiritually that was wrong and it was actually affecting their relationships and body to the point of death.  He told them to examine their lives and make the changes necessary to honor God, their neighbor, and their own body.  Believers will not be condemned like the world (non-believers) for they are condemned already.  Believers will be corrected and directed back on the path that leads to life.

Have you examined yourself spiritually lately?

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:145-176; 2 Kings 22:14-23:3; 1 Cor. 11:23-34; Matt 9:9-17

10 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 10 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.  Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” Matthew 9:2b, 6

Hope is an interesting thing.  Just a little bit can cause faith to explode and move ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  This is one of the reasons why Jesus used the mustard seed as a metaphor for our faith.  Something so small can have a tremendous impact not only on us but on everyone around us.  

The passage today is one of the many stories of hope that Jesus reveals to us in the gospels.  Can you imagine the guy in this story, who was paralyzed? To this day, even with all our technology, there is no cure for this.  People are reading this who can relate to this situation.  Maybe you have arthritis, cancer, or heart issues, or are confined to a wheelchair.  Some feelings are unique to your suffering, but there is a search for even a small seed of hope.

Jesus is our hope.  He is our hope for wholeness and restoration physically, mentally, and spiritually.  As you read this short passage in Matthew, you find that Jesus doesn’t address what we think is the most pressing need, paralysis.  Jesus starts with the one that we don’t see or don’t want to admit is our biggest issue, sin.  In this life, we might live to 100, but then we die.  Afterward comes the judgment, where God puts in the video of our life and goes through it with us.  

How will measure up as we stand before a holy and perfect God? It is too late for confession and forgiveness because we are in the sentencing phase.  How do we become clean of our sins? We can’t do enough good deeds to outweigh our bad. (All the world’s religions) We can only achieve this as a gift given freely by God through his Son.  This is the beauty of this story, only Jesus has the authority to forgive sins.  He is ready, are you?

Have you put your hope in Jesus and received forgiveness? 

Reading Plan: Psalm 121, 122, 123; 2 Kings 22:1-13; 1 Cor. 11:2,-17-22; Matt 9:1-8