18 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 18 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:18-20

Do you realize that a survey was done across the United States asking, what is the great commission? There was a shock in the results.  I would have thought 98% would know this, but wait for it…51% didn’t know what it was.  51%!  I honestly felt sick to my stomach.  The great commission is the sole mission of the church, period.

Everything we do directly supports that mission or sends people to do that mission.  What we have to do is periodically look at ourselves and ask, are we on a mission? Are we doing it? Are we supporting it? Form follows function, they say.  If your churches are not designed to make disciples that make disciples and they are not being made and multiplied, then we should shut the doors.  We have become a country club.

You can ask pastors, where is all of your effort, time, and money being spent as a church? They will tell you that 90% of their resources are spent on a Sunday morning event.  Less than 1% of church leaders in the United States say they do discipleship well.  Think about that.  If our military didn’t know the mission, didn’t train their service members to fight, and spent all their time and money on one day of work, we would be speaking Chinese right now.

This is a gross dereliction of duty for churches in the United States, not just leaders.  We strive after things that Jesus didn’t tell us to do like high-tech worship, personality and feel-good inspirational messages, programs to entertain, extra-biblical signs and wonders, revival, and big crowds.  Jesus didn’t tell us to be focused on any of that.  Jesus would not be pleased that we have abandoned his leadership and are insubordinate to his commands.  We all need to repent!

Do you know what the great commission is?

Reading Plan: Psalm 8, 47; Ezek. 1:1-14, 24-28b; Heb. 2:5-18;  Matt. 28:16-20

17 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 17 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And if God cares so wonderfully for the flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.  Why do you have so little faith? Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” Luke 12:28, 31

We spend an exorbitant amount of time looking at what we don’t have and remain focused on that missing thing.  We think that the missing item will make our lives complete, but it won’t.  People worry about everyday needs and wants that consume their lives.  They are searching for food that satisfies them, a relationship, affirmation, fame, and fortune, but they are not looking for what really matters in life.

Jesus, speaking to Christians specifically, points out that all of creation is taken care of and they do not have to worry.  We, who are made in the image of God, can learn from creation that God is sovereign and provident.  If we understand who the King is, we will have true peace.  Those that are not Christian, do not seek after God, no not one.  Jesus does the seeking and initiates the relationship.  

Jesus tells us what to do, ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else”.  Our focus is not on what is missing from our lives, but on what is important to God.  The great thing is that God doesn’t leave that to a guess, it’s right there in the word.  Matthew 6:33 add righteousness to the mix of what is important.  Learning to do things that have eternal value and live all parts of life (work, play, gov., relationship) the way that would be pleasing to the King.  If we do that all the things we ‘need’ will be added to us.

Are you focused on what is missing in your life or the Kingdom of God?

Reading Plan: Psalm  119:97-120; Prov. 17; James 5:13-18;  Luke 12:22-31

16 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 16 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.  But don’t just listen to God’s word.  You must do want it says.” James 1:20-22

When I have time, I watch a guy on Youtube that shares his faith regularly in the community to see how people receive his message.  You get all kinds of responses, kind of like a traffic light.  Some people give him the red light by either not wanting to hear it or becoming combative right from the start.  As people hear the word of God spoken, some get angry because the word convicts them.

Isn’t interesting that our response to God’s word can be anger? We read it and immediately look to society’s ills and proclaim judgment and condemnation, yet we do not deal with the sin in our own lives. The anger at the word that hits us or society does not go far enough to make real change.  Everyone knows in their heart what is right and wrong, but is not always in alignment with it. When we are convicted, we play down the gravity of our sin and join the rest of society as equally guilty.  

We say things like, ‘Everybody does it’.  James gives us the solution, but not by dilution.  Let the word do its work in your heart and pull up the weeds of filth and evil in your life and get rid of it.  Do what it says to do.  Hearing it alone does not make you wise or strong, only obeying it.  It is like going to the gym.  If you only look at the weights and not lift them, then you won’t experience the benefits and become fit.

Are you spiritually fit and healthy?

Reading Plan: Psalm  78:1-39; Deut. 8:11-20; James 1:16-27;  Luke 11:1-13

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