3 SEP 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 3 SEP 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Instead, train yourself to be godly.  Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Tim. 4:7b, 12b

New believers and even long-time believers need a focal point in what to do as a follower of Christ.  Paul started with the character of a believer and his development.  We are to be conformed to the image of Jesus and live like he did.  Think about it.  That is a tall order, no? Training for godliness is a lot like training in the weight room, but the benefits and outcomes are greater and eternal.

When you start with character, it works on a person’s heart, virtues, and holiness.  From the inner man pours out his love for his fellow man, his lifestyle, his faith, and his purity.   Our life becomes an example or model for others to follow, but it also has an impact on those who don’t know Jesus.  People will see us and have a taste of what God is like. 

Like weightlifting, you find that improvement is needed in some areas and an overhaul in others.  We are a work in process when it comes to godliness.  Unlike weightlifting, the work you put into becoming the person that God desires you to be is eternal.  A life lived in pursuit of godliness, is a full life, not a wasted one.  The charge given to Timothy is also given to you, your name train yourself to be godly…

Are you training for godliness? Are you an example for others?

Reading Plan: Psalm 148, 149, 150; 1 Kings. 8:22-30; 1 Tim. 4:7b-16; John 8:47-59

2 SEP23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 2 SEP 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 

“He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” Acts 28: 30-31

When opportunity knocks to share your faith and invest in others, praise the Lord and engage it.  Paul found an opportunity in the midst of literal trials and suffering.  Everywhere he went there was always an audience for him to address.  He didn’t waste the time given him to proclaim and explain the faith.

These opportunities were orchestrated by God so that Paul could deliver the message and train whosoever received him.  He always was able to find a few people that he could invest in even if the location was less than desirable.  He was in jail a lot, on a prisoner transport ship, marooned on an island, or in a courtroom.  When we are going through life, there are always opportunities to be salt and light to those around us.

Currently, my job puts me in a different location every couple of years.  I have to remind myself that no matter where I go there will be people to share the gospel with and to invest in for that season.  Sometimes you have a lot of opportunities and other times you have a handful.  Either way, I try to boldly connect with others and see what the Lord does.  That is what the Lord expects of all of us.  Look around you, pray, and ask God to show you where the gospel is not.  Ask him for opportunities to impact your world and he will do it.

Are you seeking opportunities to share your faith and invest in others?

Reading Plan: Psalm 20, 21:1-7; 1 Kings. 7:51-8:21; Acts 28:17-31;  Mark 14:43-52

1 SEP 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 1 SEP 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 

“He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by.  Abba, Father, he cried out, everything is possible for you.  Please take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Mark 14:35-36

When you read the gospel account of Christ's passion, you are shocked at what our Lord went through to free us from the penalty of our sin and evil.  This was not a plan “B”, but was the plan before the foundation of the world.  The only solution acceptable to God was the brutal suffering and death of his only Son, Jesus.  He had to go through great suffering to fulfill the plan, to rise again, and give us new life.

Jesus prayed fervently to the Father that he would not have to go through this, but he yielded to the Father’s will.  “I want your will to be done, not mine.” We need to put that one sentence in all of our prayers to God.  We need to recite that sentence morning, noon, and night.  At some point, we will go through things we don’t want to go through.  We will face disappointment, pain, suffering, or death.  That may be part of the plan for your life.

In our hearts, we naturally say, not your will, but mine be done.  Mankind desires autonomy, but that will never happen.  We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to God.  We have been purchased by God through the cross of Jesus.  We can’t say, ‘just do you’ to our neighbor.  You can only ‘do Jesus’.  John the Baptist got this when he told his disciples that he must decrease so that Jesus could increase.  John learned that he must suffer to fulfill God’s will for his life,  In his suffering, God was glorified.

Do you pray, thy will be done, not mine?

Reading Plan: Psalm 16, 17; 1 Kings. 5:1-6:1, 7; Acts 28:1-16;  Mark 14:27-42

25 AUG 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 25 AUG 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 

“O Lord, rescue me from evil people.  Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.  Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips.” Psalm 140: 1-3

We officially enter the season of the presidential election this week in the United States.  Candidates fill the airways with their vision for the next four years and how they will lead.  They discuss current problems and bring to bear their strategies for fixing a problem or creating a better tomorrow.  In the process, they expose to some level their own character.

It is good for us to look at a leader’s heart, character, and background to see what kind of person they are and not just the results they plan to deliver.  Most promise more than they can actually do.  It doesn’t take long in today’s political atmosphere for it to turn into a storm of verbal fighting.  It can pour over into the rest of society as people find the leader they like and begin to imitate the leader they want to follow and sling the same mud.

 As a follower of Christ, it is par for the course to be on the receiving end of confrontation.  David experiences this as he looks to please the Lord as he leads a nation.  People talk bad about him and curse him.  People lie about what he has done or what he has said.  He knows the pain that causes and how it can destroy another person with their words.  David describes his enemies as snakes and their tongues are full of deadly venom.  If you have ever had someone talk ill of you, you can understand.

David handles these attacks first and foremost in conversation with God.  He doesn’t complain and gripe to other people, but he goes to God.  We need to learn to go to the thrown before we go to the phone or social media.  It is the Lord that gives us perspective on the realities of our time.  He is the one who allows bad things to happen for his purposes.  He is also the one who can deliver us or walk with us through the fire.

How do you deal with damaging words from others?

Reading Plan: Psalm 140, 142; 2 Sam. 19:24-43; Acts 24:24-25:12;  Mark 12:35-44

24 AUG 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 24 AUG 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 

“Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus.  As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened.  Go away for now, he replied.” Acts 24: 24b-25

You never know who you will speak to about Jesus.  The Lord can and does orchestrate divine appointments with various people up and down the socio-economic ladder.  The route to people can be much different than you might expect.  Sometimes amid great suffering and persecution, God presents a beautiful opportunity to represent him.

Paul is a great example of this excellent work of God connecting him with people so that he can share the good news of Jesus.  He made the most of his opportunities even when he was not doing well.  His eyes and ears were always open seeking the lost whether poor or rich, farmer or king.  No matter who they are, reactions to the message are still the same.

People either reject the message, hostile to the message, desire to hear more or receive it.  In the passage above, Paul has been arrested and is in a courtroom defending himself in front of the Governor and judge.  This was not a quick case, which was fine by Paul.  It gave him time to reason through the Scriptures with the Governor.  Flex was not dismissive but desired to hear more even though it scared him at times.

Paul shared regularly for two years while he was in jail.  We don’t know if Felix or others came to faith or not.  We do know that Paul remained faithful and shared the good news with everyone he came into contact with.  For a man that could make excuses, he never did.  He just shared his faith.

Are you sharing the faith where you are or making excuses?

Reading Plan: Psalm 131, 132; 2 Sam. 19:1-23; Acts 24:1-23;  Mark 12:28-34