13 JAN 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 13 JAN 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him.  As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth.  “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.” Mark 2:13-14

One of the things that strikes me in Jesus’ ministry is his consistency in sharing the good news, looking for those that are open, and directly choosing who will be his.  You figure Jesus did good things like healing, exorcisms, and feeding thousands, but at the end of his ministry had only eleven solid guys and hundred plus beginning to get it.

You would fire Jesus if he was a salesman because his pitch to close ratio was terrible.  Jesus wasn’t selling anything, he was finding those that belonged to him, which were few, and developed them into productive disciples.  Many heard the call, but few were chosen.  Do you get that? The disciples met that same ratio when at pentecost several million people witnessed the move of the Spirit and heard the gospel and three thousand came to faith.

Gospel work is to be intentionally done by “every” disciple, seeking the open, and investing deeply in the few.  There is never zero.  There are always some, few, and in some cases many to be found.  There is still work to be done until you are called home or Jesus returns.

Are you consistently and intentionally sharing the gospel?

Reading Plan: Psalm 16, 17; Isa. 42:1-17; Eph. 3:1-13; Mark 2:13-22

Daily Office Year 1

12 JAN 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 12 JAN 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.  Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.” Ephesians 2:15-16

There are many Christians that get bent out of shape with the Sovereign Grace of God to choose people for himself, but never think about or complain that he chose the Jews out of all the other nations of the world.  No one, but the Jews had a relationship with God for much of history.  In God’s plan and good pleasure, he made and is making a people for himself from the Jews and Gentiles.

Praise be to God that he has made “a way” at all because before we were without hope and separated from the love and relationship of God.  We received common graces and mercy, but no thought or love from him.  But God established a reconciling process through his Son Jesus that allows Jews and Gentiles to be a part of his family.  It is through the gate of Jesus all must enter. 

All those that have entered through the narrow gate, rejoice! God’s amazing grace has come to you.

Have you been reconciled to God and part of his family?

Reading Plan: Psalm 18:1-20; Isa. 41:17-29; Eph. 2:11-22; Mark 2:1-12

Daily Office Year 1

11 JAN 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 JAN 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.  But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:3b-5

Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus is packed with great truth in every sentence.  Our depravity is on full display describing us spiritually dead and following the desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.  Our will and life were in alignment with Satan and had no ability within us to see God, understand, or respond to him.

God shows mercy to his chosen people by giving us spiritual birth and life everlasting. He makes it a point here to tell us that we had no part in that decision.  God solely and happily did it on our behalf.  When you really think about the unmerited favor God has shown, it will leave you speech-full.  It will make you boast in the Lord and give you a desire to tell others.

Are you in awe of God’s grace and mercy for you?

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:1-24; Isa. 41:1-16; Eph. 2:1-10; Mark 1:29-45

Daily Office Year 1

10 JAN 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 10 JAN 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? Asks the Holy One.  Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.  He never grows weak or weary.   No one can measure the depths of his understanding.” Isaiah 40:25, 28

There are times in our life that things get so overwhelming that we lose sight of reality.  We can become consumed with our pain, sorrow, suffering or even our ambitions.  Our focus is on those things and our desires to be satisfied in some capacity.  We search for answers within and come up short remaining in want.

The Christian faith understands that the answer is not inside us because we are broken sinners without the ability to choose the right way.  The answer is outside of us in the person of Jesus Christ who makes us fully satisfied and complete.  Isaiah knows that we have to look to the One that is incomparable and is capable of fixing us and saving us.  Who else can do it besides Jesus? No one.  He is the creator of heaven and earth.  He is the author and finisher of our faith.

Have you lost sight of the way because of your problems or ambition?

Lord, we get derailed in life by our suffering and even for our desire for success.  We are left dissatisfied and wanting.  You Lord are good and great.  You have loved us from before the foundation of the world and give us lasting satisfaction when you come into our lives.  There is none like you and you are capable of handling any issue or pursuit of our hearts.  Bless us with more of you and help us not to lose sight of you.  Amen.

Reading Plan: Psalm 5, 6; Isa. 40:25-31; Eph. 1:15-23; Mark 1:14-28

Daily Office Year 1

9 JAN 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 9 JAN 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.  Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” Ephesians 1:3-4

Paul gives us reason to rejoice and to be in awe of God for his sovereign love.  Before the foundation of the world he planned to choose and love a people for himself.  Those that believe in Jesus become his children or sheep and obey him.  Because we are connected to Jesus he has given us spiritual blessings to live in a way that is pleasing to him now.

When we become God’s children, he sees us with a different set of lenses and new reality.  We are positionally holy and righteous because he makes us so when we come to faith.  Jesus takes our sin and he gives us his righteousness.  God empowers us to live into this new life and develop us to live holy and be without fault.  That’s a beautiful thing.

Are you ready to know God deeper and live a fuller life?

Reading Plan: Psalm 1, 2, 3; Isa. 40:12-23; Eph. 1:1-14; Mark 1:1-13

Daily Office Year 1