22 FEB 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 22 FEB 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.  Finally, I confessed 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 32:3, 5

Today is the start of Lent, which is the 40 days prior to Easter, when the church takes time for self-examination and repentance.  Setting new rhythms such as prayer, self-denial, fasting and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word gives us the opportunity to seek Him like no other time.  It exposes our mortality, our human nature, and our standing with God.

The psalm shows how we naturally handle being in sin.  Like Adam and Eve we hide at first and try to avoid dealing with it.  Sin deals emotional and spiritual damage and we begin to feel it physically.  Guilt actually serves a purpose.  God put his law on all of our hearts and when we sin it triggers an internal response that doesn’t feel good.  We know we have done wrong and guilt is supposed to move us to repentance in order to be set free.

The psalmist can’t stand the guilt anymore and wants relief and to be right with God.  When you confess your sins and rebellion against God, then he will forgive you because Jesus has taken the penalty of your sins on the cross.  He is faithful to restore that relationship and take your guilt away.  This is something to rejoice about! You can be free from the guilt and the penalty of your sins.   Lent is a great time to get right with God.

Is the guilt of your sins weighing you down? Why not settle your accounts with God now?

Reading Plan: Psalm 32, 95, 143; Jonah 3:1-4:11; Hebrews 12:1-14; Luke 18:9-14

Daily Office Year 1

21 FEB 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 21 FEB 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory.  And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.” Hebrews 2:10

For the last few months, I have just been in awe of God as I read the Scriptures and other books that describe his attributes and magnitude.  Many of the questions that I wrestle with or have wrestled with are either answered or have been given peace about.  The things I once fretted about, were often selfish desires that didn’t get met.

The world and everything in it was made by God for his own pleasure and enjoyment.  He is the center of the universe and all things.  That little nugget of wisdom can clear the fog of  our troubles and bring alignment with the reality of God’s authority in the world.  We are not the center.  The world doesn’t revolved around us. (repeat that) God is also looking for people to become part of his family.

The text says, that he “chose to bring many children into glory”.  Many.  Many is not all.  That too is a nugget of wisdom that should bring fear and joy at the same time.  Fear that God hold the keys to salvation, death, and hell.  The objects of his love are not worthy of it, but he gives it because he wants to and to whomever he wants.  That should bring us joy if you are his.  

Lastly, the way of life is the way of suffering.  Jesus suffered to bring us salvation and we will suffer because we belong to him. Even in that there is joy and blessing because we grow in the knowledge and love of God. Our lives have meaning and purpose in him.  He promises to be with us and walk with us through it all until the end of the age.

Do you know that God can bring perspective to all of life’s challenges?

Reading Plan: Psalm 26, 28; Deut. 6:16-25; Hebrews 2:1-10; John 1:19-28

Daily Office Year 1

11 FEB 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 FEB 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 “Preach the word of God.  Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching.  They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.  They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” 2 Tim. 4 2-4

I find Paul’s letters to Timothy very encouraging and relatable to our current day.  Sometimes we think that maybe these guys didn’t have such issues that we face and how nice it would be to live back then.  How wrong are we? They faced the same types of problems within the church and outside of it.  Both brought mental and physical suffering.  How did they handle such problems?

First, they were real about it and didn’t hide the fact that there is always opposition to the truth and the gospel.  The pain from inside the church is much worse than from outside.  Every denomination in the world has faced challenges of false teachers, thieves, sexual predators, and homosexual marriage to name a few.  These evil things will come against the church and get worse until Christ returns.

Second, sin and hostility doesn’t change the mission and purpose of the individual christian or the church as a whole.  We fight the good fight and share the gospel with anyone and everyone.  We can’t wait for the right time because there isn’t one.  Just share it.  We correct those that are in error and let God sift them from our midst if need be.   Always remain faithful to God even if you are alone.

Do you understand the times and the reality?

Reading Plan: Psalm 87, 90; Isa. 61:10-62:5; 2 Tim. 4:1-8; Mark 10:46-52

Daily Office Year 1

10 FEB 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 10 FEB 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Tim. 3:16-17

I used to say, I don’t have time to read the Bible.  I had time to go to work, gym, beach, movies, or play video games.  Priority of the things of God and his word fell to 20th place in my life and it showed in how I lived.  I didn’t understand myself, the world, and really didn’t have any direction or purpose in life.  It wasn’t until I got together with a bunch of guys and really read the Bible, did it impact my life.

The Bible helps us to understand the nature of man and our brokenness.  It shows us all of the different things that affect our lives in a negative way and points us to the way we were created to live.  Best of all, it gives us insight into who God is and how he has revealed himself to the world.  He himself is seeking after some of the people to be in a relationship eternally.  That is awesome.

We are not waiting around watching tv and playing video games until Jesus returns, but being involved in the work that he has given us to do.  Our identity and purpose are found in Jesus and our lives can be used to please God and affect the world around us.  There is no small print in the Bible, like an oh by the way, to apologize for issues.  Jesus teaches plainly, clearly, and sets expectations from the start.  Searching the word helps you develop a relationship with God and develop a true worldview.  Doing the word lets you experience him in your daily life.

Why don’t you read the Bible on a daily basis?

Reading Plan: Psalm 88; Isa. 61:1-9; 2 Tim. 3:1-17; Mark 10:32-45

Daily Office Year 1

9 FEB 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 9 FEB 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.  Gently instruct those who oppose the truth.  Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.” 2 Tim. 2:24-25

In our flesh or nature, we like to argue, fuss, and fight.  Just look at the state of the Union address this past week.  It makes the flesh feel good to scrap and mix it up a bit if we are honest.  Paul states that the flesh and the Spirit war within us because our old nature doesn’t like the new person we have become.

The Spirit of the Lord changes the believer immediately and will on one hand start removing the taste for sin in our lives and convict us when we entertain it.  We experience love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  These are gifts to the believer that are supernaturally strengthened by routine opportunities to practice orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.

Paul lets Timothy know that he will run into difficult people in the church and outside of it.  The Holy Spirit will give you plenty of practice. Can I get a witness? Right? We can learn to rest in God’s sovereignty that He can and will change some of these people through the means of the truth of His word.  Learn to be patient and gentle with others and the revelation of God’s plan for them takes time.  Continue to pray, care, and share for those difficult ones.

Do you have difficult people in your life?

Reading Plan: Psalm 83; Isa. 60:1-17; 2 Tim. 2:14-26; Mark  10:17-31

Daily Office Year 1