15 MAY 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 15 MAY 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors.  He did it to teach you that people do not live on bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Deut. 8:3

There are descriptions of God that put a gloss on or over his attributes and actions.  We know that God is love, but that is not some gooey nice caricature.  There is more to God than meets the eye and his ways are not fully known.  When things don’t go our way or we suffer in this life, complaints are made.  What is going on? Why me? 

It doesn’t help that other people will make mocking comments like, if God loved you wouldn’t be suffering.  People and our problems can make us doubt God and his faithfulness to us.  Are we really faithful to him? God shapes, develops, and corrects us through suffering and trials.  All suffering is ordained by Him, but not all of it comes directly from Him.

In this passage, the suffering of hunger is coming from God as a correction and to shape Israel’s understanding of Him.  From the basics of food to the complexity of the human body or the universe, God controls everything.  We think control of life is ours, but God is in control.  We are fully dependent on Him whether we believe in Him or not.  

Trials and suffering can come on us in order for us to learn this.  We can learn the easy way or the hard way.  The majority learn the hard way because we are hard-headed just like the Israelites.  Know this, the Lord wants us to fully rely on Him and give the honor that is due His name.  He plans on developing us into the people He desires us to be.

Are you fully reliant on God?

Reading Plan: Psalm  80; Deut. 8:1-10; James 1:1-15;  Luke 9:18-27

14 MAY 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 14 MAY 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Jesus also used this illustration: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread.  Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.’” Matthew 13:33

Storytelling is one of the oldest ways of teaching and training others.  Jesus uses a variety of stories, object lessons, and parables to paint a picture of the topic he was covering.   Storytelling helps us learn, but also to remember it and can be easily retold to others.  This particular illustration stands out to me as someone who likes to bake, and I can easily grasp the idea being painted.

Unusually Jesus talks about yeast in the negative sense, beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Mt. 16:6) Paul too spoke about yeast in the negative sense saying, this false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! (Gal. 5:9)  Additionally, Paul says, to get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. (1 Cor. 5:7)  These references to yeast are directed at evil and wicked people and their teaching which is false at best and damaging at worst.

Jesus in this passage is relating how the Kingdom of Heaven’s economy works in that the seed of the good news spreads like yeast to affect the whole thing.  Jesus started the church and issued in the Kingdom of Heaven, but it spread through ordinary people, not professionals.  Regular everyday people and nobodies spread the good news of Jesus all over the world.  Eventually, the good yeast hit you.

We continue this today by helping people learn the process of disciple-making, giving them simple tools, letting them invest in others, and watching the Lord multiply new disciples wherever they go.  Like making fresh bread, the aroma of a job well done is pleasing to the nose and the taste.

What kind of yeast are you?  good or bad?

Reading Plan: Psalm  93, 96; Prov. 14; 1 Tim. 3:14-4:5;  Matt. 13:24-34a

12 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 12 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough? Yet, how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn’t wait for his counsel! Psalm 106: 2, 13

When I read the great stories of what God has done for His people, it really is amazing how God is so active in everyday life.  Israel had gone through great trials and had seen the very hand of God do things to their enemy that was staggering.  He then cared for their needs as they made their way to the promised land.

When trouble and trials come, they get amnesia.  Israel forgets God’s love for them, His abilities, and plans determined for them.  The disciples of Jesus would do the same thing.  They saw him do all these miracles and would doubt his care and capability a number of times in that three-year period, either the near drowning during the storm or the feeding of the multitudes.  They would forget and not rely on Jesus.

When trials and troubles come, this can and will happen to you too.  Mark my words, you will get this kind of amnesia.  To guard against this, start writing down your prayers, trials, and what God has done.  Highlight the ones he has done for you when you doubt or forget.  As the hymn says: “So, amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.” As you regularly remember the blessings, it will move you to worship and trust him in life's difficulties.

Do you forget what God has done for you during times of trouble?

Reading Plan: Psalm  106:1-18; Prov. 12; Rom 14:13-23;  Luke. 8:40-56

11 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.  If we live, it’s to honor the Lord.  And if we die it’s to honor the Lord.  So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  Christ died and rose again for this very purpose-to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.”        Romans 14:7-9

These verses sit in the middle of a passage that gives a warning to believers of the dangers of negative criticism.  The words judgment and condemnation are flung about as synonymous to people these days.  When people are corrected or rebuked, they feel the sting of guilt and shame.  It is an unpleasant feeling that affects the giver and receiver alike.

Paul and Jesus himself, tell us not to judge in a manner that tears people down.  We should judge in a manner that builds people up and fortifies them for this life and the next.  Paul is dealing with people that are being harsh with things that are not sins, but making them feel like they are.  That can damage a person and their walk with the Lord.

Ultimate judgment comes from the Lord and we will have to give an account to Him for everything we have said and done.  When it comes to sin, we are to judge and correct for the purpose of building the other person up.  Jesus told many after their encounter to go and sin no more.  He was never light on sin and never left it unchecked.  We do not have a license to sin.  

The verse above is the foundation of our being and doing, we live and die to honor the Lord.  How we live is important to God and we have much freedom to express our thanks and praise to Him.  Even in our death, we can bring God glory.  Tenderly correcting one another along the way, will ensure their growth and ours.  We can then stand confidently before God accounting for our actions in this life.

Are you fortifying relationships or blowing them up?

Reading Plan: Psalm  70, 71; Prov. 11; Rom 14:1-12;  Luke. 8:26-39

10 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 10 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities.  For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Romans 13:1

Politics.  Some people love to talk politics especially when the season of elections is upon us.  It is that time of year again as the presidential hopefuls cast a vision for what the United States should look like and the policies they would like to change.  Once in office, people fuss that their candidate didn’t win or their candidate did and look with anticipation of change.

We do this cycle every four years and sometimes it can’t come quickly enough and other times it went too fast.  We have become a society of grumbling and complaining because our political and personal desires are not being met.  We must be careful not to make our political ideology become an idol.  The answer to life’s problems does not come with a change in leadership or ideas, it comes at the hand of God alone.  Jesus says that things will get progressively worse before he returns.  

We are in a very different situation than Paul.  He is under the rule of Nero, who is extremely harsh to Christians.  Yet, he gives us a reality check.  No matter who is in office, God placed them there.  That doesn’t mean that he or she is a good leader or their ideas are good.  They could be straight-up evil, yet we still must submit. 

 Jesus himself told Pontius Pilate, that he would not have the power to crucify if it wasn’t given to him by the Father and submitted to his verdict and sentencing.  Since God places leaders in position, it would reflect poorly to bad mouth them or rebel against them.  This would be disobedience to God himself.  Whether you like them or not, give glory to God and live in a manner that brings him pleasure.

Are you submitting to the government or complaining?

Reading Plan: Psalm  72; Prov. 10; Rom 13:1-14;  Luke. 8:16-25