14 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 14 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.  You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16

When people are asked if they believe in an afterlife, many say yes.  But what do they think it will be like? Some of the responses are that there is a heaven and that place is a paradise of beauty and lots of good food.  Muslim men will often state the sensual gratification of numerous wives they can take pleasure in.  Others have ideas that I think they come up with on the fly.  While heaven itself is a beautiful place, much of what we hear is not there.

We miss the biggest reason to be in heaven! That is to be in the full presence of God, face to face.  If you are hoping to see anything else more than Him, then you probably are not going at all.  We are in a bad habit of creating a god to suit ourselves and a heaven to our liking.  That is what God calls idolatry.  We are very good at that.  Look at all the people on social media, video games, and virtual reality simulations.  They are trying to escape the reality of this life and live in one that affirms their sin and evil desires.

The psalmist (David) in chapter 16, understands that there is nothing in this life that will satisfy us apart from God.  The Lord alone is his inheritance and cup of blessing. (v.5) God’s continued presence in our daily life is a blessing to us in that he guides, instructs, and fills us with contentment and satisfaction “in” Him.  That produces joy and causes us to rejoice in God.  Some people say that heaven would be boring because people are worshiping God for eternity.  

Why do you think they say that? Because even the best stuff they do now doesn’t bring satisfaction or joy.  Everything fades, rusts, and becomes old.  They project that on what the bible says about heaven.  God tells us that the saved will have unending joy and that everything done in heaven will be satisfying.  

Do you look forward to meeting your maker (Jesus)?

Reading Plan: Psalm 18:1-20; 1 Sam. 16:14-17:11; Acts 10:17-33;  Luke. 24:36-53

13 JUL 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 13 JUL 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. Some of Saul’s servants said to him a tormenting spirit from God is troubling you.” 1 Samuel 16:14-15

Self-reflection and self-assessment are needed in the daily life of a Christian.  There is so much that we face in life that we can become confused about why things are happening to us.  The Old and New Testaments give us insight into the various roots of our problems and how to fix or at least understand our problems.  The disciples ran across a man who was blind since birth and analyzed the situation like a doctor.  Maybe the root of his blindness is attached to the sin of his parents.

Was God punishing the Son because of some sin of his mother or father? Jesus said, no.  This case was to show the manifestation of God’s glory.  What? God made that person blind for a purpose.  Jesus would ultimately heal that person demonstrating his power to heal where there was no human cure.  That should be challenging and encouraging to those with disabilities or limitations.  You can glorify God with your life and have a purpose even in brokenness or suffering.

Sometimes people are damaged and broken due to other people’s sins.  I think we see this a lot and it affects us in such a bad way.  Every day on the news there are reports of drunk drivers, murder, theft, arson, etc. These evil things that people do bring trauma that damages people physically, emotionally, and even morally.  This can shake the foundation of the faithful and further blind the lost.  This is why God has consistently commanded us to love others and turn from evil.

As we see in our passage today, there are also times when God deals the blow of judgment on a person.  The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was given to certain people to empower them in their roles.  Saul had him, but the Spirit was removed when God rejected Saul.  God gave him a tormenting spirit that ate him up mentally and caused depression and fear.  God chooses who he extends mercy to and who he does not.  Saul lost the privilege of being a leader and with it, God punished him for it.

Do you reflect on the life you are living?

Reading Plan: Psalm 18:1-20; 1 Sam. 16:14-17:11; Acts 10:17-33;  Luke. 24:36-53

12 JUL 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 12 JUL 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But the Lord said to Samuel, Don’t judge by appearance or height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

I remember as a child playing pick-up games at school or in the neighborhood.  There would be that awkward moment when all the kids are gathered together to be selected for each team.  The captains would scan the crowd and size up each kid to see if they were worthy to be on their team.  You would think they were the general manager for the NFL or something.

In their mind, they had a standard or metric that they desired to have in a player.  Tall or big or fast or friend, that would fit the bill as a player.  All of us judge a book by its cover whether in business, politics, or personal life.  We look at surface metrics to determine the leader or soulmate we would like.  There is more to a person than that.

Samuel, a Prophet of God, was tasked to find a new king for Israel since Saul had become an offense to God.  Samuel was directed to the family of Jesse.  There he would find the new king and anoint him for this role.  Samuel scanned the crowd of sons and began to size them up based on his own standards.  He saw one right away that met his required metrics and said “Surely this is the one!” God said, nope!

Samuel then ran through all seven sons and none of those were acceptable to God.  There was one more son, David, who was out caring for the sheep.  When he arrived, Samuel saw a young man who was handsome, but not what he expected.  He would be the last one chosen for kickball.  God told Samuel that he looks at people differently than man does.  God looks at the heart, not the physical metrics.  The truth is God forms leaders and places them in power.  Some are placed for our benefit and others for our judgment.  

What standard do you use to size up people?

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:1-24; 1 Sam. 16:1-13; Acts 10:1-16;  Luke. 24:12-35

11 JUL 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 JUL 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” 1 Samuel 15: 29

There is an interesting thing that happens when someone begins to share their faith.  You find that people will have all kinds of interesting ideas about God.  Some are rooted in religions that are false, but some are rooted in the person’s mind.  People create thoughts about what God is like and how he might treat people.  They are fashioning a god to suit themselves.

This is a violation of the second commandment given to Israel by God.  When a person doesn’t know God or doesn’t like what they have heard about Him, people tweak their idea or massage Scripture to make themselves feel better.  When you are faced with the reality that God is good, holy, and perfect, it can spark a bit of fear in you.  That is because we are not.

Fear is good, for it is the beginning of wisdom.  Isaiah experienced God in a way that shook him to the core and in the 55th chapter of his book he made the statement that “God’s thoughts and ways are not like ours”.  God does not lie, he is the truth.  There is no error, sin, or evil in God.  That is why he defines sin the way he does.  It is those sins that are counter to his nature and will.

He expects his creatures to do his will and to be like him, a reflection of him.  Saul sinned against God and it cost him his leadership over Israel.  He probably thought that God might overlook his sins by banking on the traits of mercy, love, or grace.  How many people when confronted with their sin think God will let them off the hook because he is loving? A ton! God has made a way to deal with our sins from before the world was created.  He doesn’t change his mind but does only what pleases him.

Do you know God’s nature and how he deals with your sin?

Reading Plan: Psalm 5, 6; 1 Sam. 15:24-35; Acts 9:32-43;  Luke. 23:56-24:11

8 JUL 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 8 JUL 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.  Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.  And Jesus replied I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23: 40-43

There is just so much that is beautiful about this passage even in the midst of being the most evil day of the ages.  Jesus demonstrated his love for all of us by taking our punishment and death on the cross.  He drank the full wrath of God so that we don’t have to, making the way possible for salvation.

Two criminals were also crucified on either side of Jesus and an interesting thing happened.   The religious leads came to gloat that Jesus was being crucified and soon would be dead thereby ending the problem.  They mocked him, telling him to heal himself since he was able to heal so many.  They taunted him to come down off the cross and prove himself one last time.

Jesus was able to do all of that and destroy all who resisted with a word, but he chose to lay down his life so that others might live.  Then, the two criminals begin to mock him, but one of them has a change of heart.  He confesses his own sin and owns the consequences.  He yells at the other criminal and rebukes him.  “Don’t you fear God? Don’t you realize who he is and that there is no reason for him to be on a cross?

Then he asks Jesus to remember him in his Kingdom.  Even a few hours away from death, Jesus shows mercy and grace to one.  Jesus says that he will be with him in paradise today.  All of the world religions including Judaism require good works to be done to earn favor from God or the universe.  There is no guarantee to be in a better place after death.  Not so with Christianity.  The Lord can choose someone to be with him at the last minute if he desires to.

Isn’t it a beautiful and wonderful thing when a sinner becomes a saint?

Reading Plan: Psalm 137, 144; 1 Sam. 14:16-30; Acts 9:10-19;  Luke. 23:32-43

7 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 7 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the way found there.  He wanted to bring them-both men and women- back to Jerusalem in chains.” Luke 9: 2

Take a minute to think of who some of the most cruel and evil people are today.  There are certainly people that come to mind, right?  Many of these people strike fear and anger in our hearts and minds.  They are doing things that are harsh, maybe thieves or murderers.  In our day, we remember their names like Dahmer or Bin Laden.

After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the church was born and began to spread like wildfire.  So much so, that Jewish leaders began to become jealous and angry.  They tried to stop it from taking root in Jerusalem and the surrounding cities and nations.  The Jews were terrorists to the Christians of that day.  The Christians were jailed without cause, beaten, and murdered.

Where was God in all this? Remember that Jesus himself was killed on the cross to fulfill the plans of God. Jesus told his followers that they would be hated because of Him and would face persecution and some even death. (Matt. 5) Rapid multiplication comes from the blood of martyrs.  At the same time,  the enemies of God will be dealt with, in His way.  Some of them will be shown mercy and grace, and others will be shown justice.

Paul is a great example of this.  He was a Bin Laden of the day and everyone knew his name and was afraid.  But Jesus sought out Paul and made him one of his Apostles.  That encounter changed Paul and he became a fantastic instrument in the hands of God.  He went on to reach many people for the Lord and start many churches all over the Middle East.  

When we face people wicked people today in our daily lives or see dastardly people on the news, pray for them.  You never know how God may change their lives and use them for His glory to bring many to saving faith.  God may do something special in you or through you in the midst of your trials.  Take heart, God is with you.

What do you do with cruel and evil people?

Reading Plan: Psalm 140, 142; 1 Sam. 13:19-14:15; Acts 9:1-9;  Luke. 23:26-31

6 JUL 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 6 JUL 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent! Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.  So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.  As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder.” Luke 23: 14b, 15b, 24-25

In the court case, Jesus versus humanity was judged and sentenced by Pilate.  This short case has an amazing shift in outcome.  If we were watching this on television and had no understanding of who Jesus is, we would be shocked by the outcome.  We would be very angry that Jesus who was pronounced innocent by two different Judges ended up flogged and crucified.

How can this be that an innocent man dies a criminal’s death? In Pilate’s initial conversation with Jesus, he is bold to tell Jesus that he has the power to pronounce life or death. Jesus tells Pilate that he would have no power if the Father hadn’t given it to him.  God’s plan had not failed but was successfully executed.  Every piece of this story is important and worth chewing on.

One of the pieces we miss or just let slide by is Barabbas.  This is a picture of what Jesus did for the elect.  The substitutionary atonement of Jesus for Barabbas, the holy spotless perfect lamb for an evil sinner.  This past week a female professional basketball player spoke angrily that a certain segment of our population killed Jesus.  But she left out her own name, her own sin, her own guilt and shame.  We could do that too if we are not careful.

Barabbas, son of the father, was a sinner and rebel, but so are we! Reread that verse and replace Barabbas’ name with yours.  “He released “me/your name” and sentenced Jesus to death.” That is the essence of the gospel.  Jesus died for me.  Jesus died for you.  You can die for your own sins, but that is not just one death, it is two.  The payment of your sin is satisfied either on the cross or in hell.  God is satisfied and glorified in either! 

Will you turn from your sins and trust Jesus or suffer the wrath of God?

Reading Plan: Psalm 131, 132, 133; 1 Sam. 13:5-18; Acts 8:26-40;  Luke. 23:13-25

5 JUL 23 Wednesday- A Closer Walk Devotional

 5 JUL 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Don’t be afraid, Samuel reassured them.  You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn back on him.  Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you-they are totally useless! But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away.” 1 Sam. 12:20-21, 25

People are interesting creatures, to say the least.  We establish habits and fall into some that are not healthy or offensive to God.  At the same time, we are blind to our own faults and evil.  Don’t believe me? Ask anyone you meet if they are a good person? The response of the majority is yes.  The standard for goodness is always set by the person being asked and it is always on a sliding scale.  They may admit to being a liar, adultery, homosexual, and murder at heart, but still tell you they are good.

This is what is known as self-righteousness. We are all guilty of this at one time or another.  Samuel, a Prophet of God, told the Israelites that they had done wrong in asking for a King instead of yielding to God’s leadership.  They would ultimately suffer for it.  But Samuel told the people what God expected for their lives and character.  The plumbline of what is right and good is defined by the Lord, not us.  

Today, if you turn on the news or look at your feed, you will see the redefinition of terms to fit peoples’ sins.  We figure if we control and define the definitions then our lives will be acceptable in society and thereby extension to God.  We naturally create gods to suit ourselves and we worship them.  In this passage, Samuel speaks against this stating that we are to worship God alone.  All other religions are worthless and useless.  

From the time this book (1 Samuel) was written until today, the Jews have gone back and forth seeking other gods.  Jesus came to fulfill their religion and set a new covenant to be right with God.  We who are Gentile Christians must understand that we too are vulnerable to the same sins of Jews.  God has expectations of us because we have been bought with Jesus’ blood and are commanded to live holy lives, not sinful ones.

In a world that is offended by everything, is anyone asking if what they are doing offends God?

Reading Plan: Psalm 33; 1 Sam. 11:1-15; Acts 8:1-13;  Luke. 22:63-71

4 JUL 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 4 JUL 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.  Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did.” Acts 8:4, 6

When Jesus told the disciples that they would take the message of salvation and freedom from sin and death to the nations, they probably had a difficult time comprehending how.  For the most part, people get used to staying in one place and enjoying the people they have always enjoyed.  To go to a different city, state, or country means a big change.

As we read at the beginning of Acts 8, we see that moving into a new place and among new people was not their plan.  God orchestrated the move and they moved.  That happens to us today.  People are forced to move due to their job, political unrest, and persecution.  These moves are important and we shouldn’t miss what God may be doing in the midst of it.

Philip, the apostle, moved to a new city and found people whose hearts were already prepared for the Lord to receive the good news and be saved.  In every place and every land, there are people being prepared for the good news to take root and be set free from the bondage of sin.  Even if you just impact one person, it is worth the move, suffering, and change.  It brings glory to God and grows you as a disciple.

Today in the United States, we celebrate our freedom from England’s rule.  Many of those Christians came to this land for freedom of religion and to share the gospel.  If you are reading this in America, it is an extra special day to know that God weaved through the mess of history to bring you people that carried the good news to your ears.  He set you free from the wrath of God and established you as Christ’s own forever.

Are you celebrating your freedom from sin, death, and the wrath of God?

Reading Plan: Psalm 33; 1 Sam. 11:1-15; Acts 8:1-13;  Luke. 22:63-71

3 JUL 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 3 JUL 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem: and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.” Acts 8:1

At the beginning of Acts chapter one verse eight the Lord charged his followers to the task of world mission by being empowered witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The scope was the world which includes the nations of the world.  It was and is a big mission to accomplish through ordinary people.  The Lord has given us a powerful, unchanging message, and the Holy Spirit in order to change the lives of all that receive Him.

In order to reach the nations, you actually have to go to them.  We cannot just wait around and expect them to show up on our doorstep unless our focus is on Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Solar Power salesmen, and political activists.  They need the true life-saving Gospel for sure! There are more people who have never heard the good news once that are not in your city but are in a town in another country.

When we don’t move, God may create an issue that moves to where he expects us to be.  The believers in Acts didn’t yet obey Acts 1:8, so they got Acts 8:1.  They were ultimately scattered by persecution into the very places that Jesus “commanded” them to go.  Think about that.  We are often busy on our own mission pursuing the American Dream, materialism, and pleasure, and ignoring Jesus’ Mission.

How long will the church remain rebellious and disobedient to the commands of Jesus?! Will the church wait until persecution comes to start living for Him and not themselves? What are you waiting for?

Reading Plan: Psalm 106:1-18; 1 Sam. 10:17-27; Acts 7:44-8:1;  Luke. 22:52-62

Discipleship at the pool of Bethseda

23 JUN 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 23 JUN 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and fellowship, and to sharing meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” Acts 2: 42

The section of Acts 2 of our reading plan is a great place to learn about the marks of a healthy church and healthy disciples.  This is the most basic recipe of a church.  There were no buildings, professional clergy, budgets, or programs.  When most of us look for a church or those that are not believers look at a church they see these things.  

If they have up-to-date facilities with nice bathrooms, children and youth programs, professional staff to our liking, and money to pull all of that off, sign me up.  You might think I was describing the YMCA or some club if you didn’t know I was talking about a church.  That is the sad part about this today.  We have come to expect the church to serve our needs versus us submitting to God’s rule and obeying his ways.

Form follows function as some great businessmen would say.  What you produce depends on how you are designed to function.  A pastor friend scratches his head and wonders why people are not making disciples and living for Jesus even though they talk about it every Sunday.  He asks, what is wrong with them? It’s actually “how” they do church that produces observers and consumers, rather than producers and doers of the word.  Doing church and being the church are vastly different things and are not a game of semantics.

If you want someone who is a faith practitioner versus an attendee, you must change the process.  The early church didn’t have to keep people entertained and satisfied, they were a training center that prepared people to live for Jesus, be on a mission, and enjoy one another.  The end product was a people who were disciple-making practitioners that multiplied wherever they went.

Is the church producing what it was designed for?

Reading Plan: Psalm 88; 1 Sam. 3:1-21; Acts 2:37-47;  Luke. 21:5-19

22 JUN 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 22 JUN 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Utterly disgrace them until they submit to your name, O Lord.  Let them be ashamed and terrified forever.  Let them die in disgrace.   Then they will learn that you alone are called the Lord, that you alone are the Most High, supreme over all the earth.” Psalm 83: 16-18

The writer of the Psalms often uses imprecatory prayers in his conversation with God.  He identifies an enemy not just of his own, but God’s enemy.  These anti-God neighbors are truly breathing threats to end the life of the writer and the people of God.  This is a plea for defense and an ultimate end to those that come against God specifically and by extension the chosen people.

From the spiritual side, God’s sovereign election places people into two camps, the saved and the condemned.  John 3:18 says that those that do not believe are condemned already and are just awaiting sentencing.  This is no different than when the Jews were the only chosen of God.  If believers were to do nothing, their enemies and God’s enemies would remain on the road to hell.

Interestingly, the psalmist hopes that the enemy would be humbled or disgraced until they submit to the name of the Lord.  Let them be ashamed and terrified of the reality of who God really is.  When a person is born again, they see God for who he is and the fear of the Lord takes effect.  The words of the beatitudes hit that person. (Matt 5)  They become poor in spirit and realize they have been enemies with God and now they really need God.

They mourn over their own sin as shame, guilt, and disgrace set in.  They are humbled before the Lord and are moved to submit their lives to God.  Their distaste for the things of God changes into a hunger and thirst for him.  They have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. (Ps. 34) This is a beautiful thing to experience for yourself, but also for those that rebel against God.  

 

If you want them to suffer the wrath of God, don’t share the gospel with them.  But we cannot do that! We are commanded to love our enemy and to tell them the good news.  The results are up to God.  Now you can pray this psalm “for” your enemy with a bit of a different goal.

Are you praying for your enemies and the ungodly in your world?

Reading Plan: Psalm 83, 34; 1 Sam. 2:27-36; Acts 2:22-36;  Luke. 20:41-21:4

21 JUN 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 21 JUN 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.  And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” Acts 2:4, 11

In the previous chapter Jesus said, the believers would receive power for the purpose of being witnesses for him.  The goal of the great commission given in Matthew 28, is to make disciples of all nations until Jesus returns.  In order to do that, one has to speak the gospel to another so that by hearing it can surrender to Jesus.  How could these guys share with people that spoke a language they did not know?

Well today, missionaries go to language school for a couple of years so they can become proficient and then travel to the country where that language is spoken to begin sharing with others.  When the Holy Spirit was first given to the Apostles and believers, there were millions of Jews and God-fearing people in Jerusalem.  They spoke many different languages and the Lord had the intention to use them at that moment for reaching the lost.

The Holy Spirit gave them at that moment the ability to speak languages that were not known to them.  While the languages were different, the message was the same.  They were glorifying God in what he has accomplished and the gospel was delivered.  Those that didn’t understand Arabic or Farsi thought the people were drunk, but the people who did hear the message loud and clear.

This is a great picture of the reversal of Babel in Genesis 11 where God scattered the people and confused their language.  Now God is bringing them back together through the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Turning from your sin and putting your trust in Jesus for what he has done for you will bring salvation.  The Holy Spirit is still in it from start to finish.  He changes hearts, opens minds to the Word, directs witnesses, empowers an effectual call, and seals believers as Christ’s own forever.

Are you using the power given to you the way God intended?

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:97-120; 1 Sam. 2:12-26; Acts 2:1-21;  Luke. 20:27-40

20 JUN 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 20 JUN 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. The Lord gives both death and life; he brings some down to the grave but raises others up.  The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up.” 1 Sam. 2:2,6-7

In the second chapter of Samuel, we have a beautifully rich theological prayer of Hannah.  She has received an answer to prayer and dedicates her only son to God, releasing him into permanent service to God.  Her guilt and shame are taken away by this gift of a child.  She pauses in reflection and praises what God has done for her.  This is very much like the song of Mary when she has been given the honor and privilege of being the mother of Jesus.

Worship is the response of someone who has been shown grace by the Lord.  The more you understand what God has done for you, the more your life becomes worship.  Hannah really has great things to say about God and the significance of his sovereignty and grace.  Understanding that God is holy, is a great place to start.  He is something completely different.  He is perfect in every way and without sin.  There is no evil in Him, nor does he do evil.

Sometimes we look at what God does or allows and can get bent and accuse him of injustice.  No one has ever experienced injustice from God.  You either experience justice or mercy.  There is no other God, just the God of the Bible.  All others then are either products of man or Satan.  One of the things that Hannah gets is God places us into the time, location, socio-economic slot, and situations.  If you grow up poor or rich, the Lord allows that for his own reasons.  Like Hannah, she took what she was given and took it to the Lord and He satisfied her.

All the things we think will bring us satisfaction will fail and leave us wanting.  Surrendering it all and throwing yourself onto God will bring satisfaction and joy that is lasting through every challenge this life can bring.  God will raise you up those who are his when this life is over.  Now that is something that will cause our hearts to praise God like Hannah.

Is there a song of praise in your heart to God?

Reading Plan: Psalm 78:1-39; 1 Sam. 1:21-2:11; Acts 1:15-26;  Luke. 20:19-26

19 JUN 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 19 JUN 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.  And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

After three years of walking with the Lord Jesus, seeing him crucified, dead, and risen from the grave, the disciples are given a final mission that continues until Jesus’ return.  The disciples were trained and equipped to carry on the work that Jesus did and were given the power and authority to effectively do it.  We can miss something that is important in this passage that can plague our life as believers.  We have a primary purpose and the ability to fulfill it.

In the Westminster Confession of Faith, the catechism asks what the chief end is for man. In other words, why do you exist? The answer is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.  Everything we do in this life can glorify God when we live according to our purpose.  We glorify God and demonstrate our love by obeying his commands.  Jesus commands his followers to be His witness and make disciples. (Matt. 28:19) That is the primary task of “every” follower of Jesus.

The disciples could not say to Jesus, wait we do not know enough.  Wait, many people do not want to hear this or receive it.  Wait, I do not want to be a witness that must be for a special Christian.  Someone has to have the “gift” of sharing.  Jesus simply and directly commands, “You will be”.  From the moment you become a follower of Jesus, you will be my witness and you will be until you die or He returns.

The reason the Holy Spirit is given is to help you to do this work.  The Holy Spirit makes effective the call on people’s lives when the gospel is shared.  Your role is to faithfully share the good news and leave the results to God.  Those that come to faith, need your investment in becoming a disciple who makes disciples.  You do this with whomever the Lord puts in your path in life. (Family, friends, co-workers, sports, leisure, shopping stores, etc.)

Are you faithfully being a witness for Jesus?

Reading Plan: Psalm 80; 1 Sam. 1:1-20; Acts 1:1-14;  Luke. 20:9-19

9 JUN 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 9 JUN 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way are handling this generous gift.  We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.” 2 Cor. 8:20-21

Integrity is a trait that is needed by every believer and leader within the church.  We see in our society, business leaders, politicians, the military, and everyone else, struggle with living and working in a manner that is honorable.  Pride, greed, and power are temptations that become sins and damage our trust horizontally with other people, but also vertically with the Lord.

Paul makes the point and puts in the effort and protective factors in place to protect himself and their ministry.  Once trust is lost, it is very difficult to build that back.  In this case, Paul is traveling back to Jerusalem to take the money collected from the regional churches for the needy believers.  Whenever you are dealing with money, people are naturally suspicious.

Paul doesn’t want to give the appearance of wrongdoing nor put himself in a position to do wrong with what was entrusted to him.  Even in his day, there were spiritual charlatans that took advantage of people for financial gain which does long-term damage.  He wanted to bring honor to the Lord and to the churches so that the focus is on the mission and not on them.  These protective factors are necessary so that we are built up as a whole and positive accountability is established so that integrity becomes the standard.

Are you establishing accountability for personal integrity?

Reading Plan: Psalm 40, 54; Deut. 26:1-11; 2 Cor. 8:16-24;  Luke. 18:9-14

8 JUN 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 8 JUN 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor.  But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.  For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.  And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.” 2 Cor. 8:2-4

Jesus said it is better to give than receive.  There is something to be said about that, especially in the light of the verses above.  We can easily determine how giving or generous we are by looking at our bank statements.  How are we doing? We can also look at our attitude when we give.  Is it drudgery, stress, or anger, or are we happy about it?

The churches in Macedonia faced many trials and troubles that caused them to suffer greatly.  They were also very poor.  You would probably think that they would be looking to be the recipient of the money and seeking support, but they didn’t.  They were joyful and excited to give to others that were in need.  They even ‘begged’ Paul that they too could get in on the giving! Have you ever begged to give?

One of the marks of a healthy church and disciple is generosity which comes from love.  You look for an opportunity to give and support other Christians in need and their ministry.  In turn, you feel the joy of being able to invest in others financially as a demonstration of your love for them.  It becomes an exciting thing and you want to do it even if you have very little to give.  You are willing to sacrifice so that other followers of Jesus can meet their needs.

Would others describe you as a generous person? 

Reading Plan: Psalm 50; Deut. 16:18-20, 17:14-20; 2 Cor. 8:1-16;  Luke. 18:1-8

7 JUN 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

7 JUN 23 Wednesday : A Closer Walk Devotional

“The false prophets and visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the Lord your God, who redeemed you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Deut. 13: 5

When the Lord calls a people to himself, those people are separated from the world. They live and worship differently, and act in a manner that reflects God’s character and values.   As the Good Shepherd, he not only guides us in daily life, but also protects us.  We need to hear what he says in his Word in regards to those that would lead us astray from the worship we give and the life we live.

From the time he established a relationship with the Jews and the church, he warned of false teachers and prophets that will come into the community of faith.  Today is no different.  Every generation has the same problems and the same formation and testing.  We are told to handle these false teachers and prophets intentionally and harshly because they ultimately harm the individual and community.

Some think they are prophets with a capital P, that they are hearing from God and deliver a gospel or word that doesn’t line up with the Word.  If their predictions don’t come true, even one, they should be dismissed as false teachers.  There are many on tv, in pulpits, and congregations saying, “God told me..”.  Beware! This is the phrase of the day that leads us astray.   

We are not called to put them to death, but to call them to repentance. If they don’t, then put them out of the church until they do. 

Are you aware of the false prophets and teachers around you and what to do?

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:49-72; Deut. 13:1-11; 2 Cor. 7:2-16;  Luke. 17:20-37

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