12 APR Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 12 APR Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.  This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15: 2, 8

The passage in John paints a picture of a vineyard in which Jesus is the vine, we are the branches and the Father is the vinedresser or gardener.  He intentionally works in the vineyard to produce a regular crop of fruit.  We can miss some really good information about what our lives should look like and our part in that.  We can also get what he is saying wrong and begin to feel like we are not doing enough.  God wants you to be filled with joy, not sorrow.

If you focus on the fruit, then you will miss out on all the heavenly glory. (paraphrasing Bruce Lee) The fruit is a byproduct of being connected to Jesus and receiving the life-giving spirit from abiding in him. We are to be focused on being faithful, not fruitful.  He tells us in this passage that we cannot produce fruit apart from him.  If we are not remaining in Him, we will wither and die.  Those branches are broken off because they are useless.

The fruit itself is both internal and external.  The internal fruit is that of the Spirit and is about your maturity and development as the person that God wants you to be.  The external fruit has to do with people coming to faith through your testimony, gospel sharing, and investment of time.  In both cases, it is the Lord that is working through you moving that life-giving power like a branch connected to the vine.  If you are connected, you will see fruit and prove that you are His.  

Are you remaining faithful to Jesus?

Reading Plan: Psalm 97, 99; Micah. 7:7-15; Acts 3:1-10;  John 15:1-11

11 APR 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 APR 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

There are many troubles, frustrations, and fears in this life that cloud our minds.  We try to find answers through all kinds of measures such as diet, exercise, psychology, medicine, and religious practices.  While they can be helpful to our general health, we are still left wanting when it comes to soul issues.  Those issues bring fear into our life.  How do we deal with this?

Jesus in the gospel accounts tells us that we need both peace “with” God and the peace “of” God.  If you have this you are given a spirit of power, of love, and self-control.  These fears troubles, frustrations, and fears can be overcome or endured.  Jesus says that this peace cannot be given to you by the world.  It is not theirs to give.  This is not a principle to develop strategies or glean or rewrap or sold as a new prescription.   

It is a gift that is freely given by God's grace, which was paid for by Jesus on the cross.  The gift of peace “with” God comes first.  When you surrender to Jesus, you are no longer enemies but are now friends.  You are right with God and do not face his wrath.  The peace “of” God is also given throughout life as we face trials, fears, temptations, and even the horrors of life.  It gives us resilience that pours out when we need it to protect us.

Jesus promises to give us His peace when we believe in our hearts in what He did on the cross, repent of our sins, and put our trust in Him.   If we don’t do that we will never experience true peace.  This gift is offered to all, but few receive it.  Have you?

Are you dealing with a troubled mind and need peace?

Reading Plan: Psalm 103; Isa. 30:18-21; Acys 2:26-41;  John 14:15-31

7 APR 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 7 APR 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.  But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief.  Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants.” Isaiah 53:5, 10

Today is Good Friday which is an understatement.  It was a fantastic day for those that are being saved.  People outside of the faith look at this and scratch their heads, why is it good? Didn’t your god die? Yep! He sure did, but that is only part of the story.  Good Friday is not something to Passover, no pun intended.  

Since the Passion of the Christ came out some years ago, we have watched it on this day.  It is extremely raw and graphic, but it also reminds us that Jesus’ death is the most important one in all of history past, present, and future.  Isaiah writes hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ death and the significance of it.  Jesus did not die for his sins because he did not commit any.

He died for sinners, the ungodly, and enemies of God.  God’s plan was created before the earth was created or even Adam existed.  The Trinity met and laid this out from start to finish.  It pleased God to crush him because it fulfilled the plan to make himself known and bring him glory.  God planned to save some people from all the history of the world through the work of his Son on the cross.  It would demonstrate his love, mercy, grace, and justice.

God is still seeking people to give to Jesus as his family.  You might be one of them.

Have you responded to the call of the gospel on your life?

Reading Plan: Psalm 22, 10-17; Isa. 52:13-53:12; Heb. 10:16-25; John 18:1-19:1-42

3 Circles (Gospel Presentation, Ray Vaughn)

6 APR 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 6 APR 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” 1 Cor. 11:26

The early disciples set forth marks of a healthy church that should be practiced regularly.  If we see these marks happening, we can tell whether it is healthy or not.  The metrics they measured were not the number of people on a Sunday, the amount of money in the offering plate, or if they had a building.  One of these marks was the practice of the Lord’s Supper, Communion, Eucharist, or Mass.  All of these terms describe the same idea.

Jesus implemented this sacrament the night before he was crucified and commanded that it continue to be practiced until he returns at the second coming.  The Lord’s supper causes us to remember what it took to give us forgiveness of sins, our adoption, eternal life, and peace with God.  Remembrance leads us to worship God with praise and thanksgiving for what he did for his people.  Understanding the high cost brings humility.

The Lord’s Supper is an expression and visible sign of God’s love for us and the love we are to have for God and others.  Paul shows the church that he started in Corinth the pattern of doing this.  Every church practices the Lord’s Supper to some extent, but not all in the exact same manner or frequency.  They do bring the focus of Jesus’ death into focus so the church can remember this great sacrifice made on our behalf.  

Are you taking the time to remember Jesus’ death with other believers?

Reading Plan: Psalm 116:1, 10-17; Ex. 12:1-4,11-14; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; John 13:1-7, 31-35