27 SEP 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 27 SEP 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.  God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’” 1 Cor. 5: 12-13

When I read the news, watch TV, or movies, I can see the brokenness in our world.  There are people engaging in abuse, greed, drunkard and drug use, cheaters, and sexual sin.  Our world is a hot mess.  Every attempt to break free from their brokenness lands them deeper into the same one or they exchange it for another.  Jesus states that the people of the world ‘are’ darkness.

For Christians, we are called to reach this world by being the light exposing their sin and brokenness, and leading them to Jesus.  Paul repeats this in the fifth chapter of First Corinthians.  We are to engage the least, the last, and the lost.  As the church, we must set the plumbline of what right looks like and what is pleasing to God.  We are not to look like the world.  We have been set free from the slave bonds of sin and are now bound to Jesus.  We do not belong to ourselves anymore.

This is where it becomes difficult for many.  They say, why are you judging me? Others? We are God’s holy people and he expects us to be holy.  That is why.  That means we set the plumbline and we hold one another accountable and sometimes there is punishment that comes with that, especially if they are unrepentant.  If a person doesn’t know they cannot grow.  There is no autonomy in life.  You are either bound to sin or bound to God.  When you are called out of death and into life, you have to learn how to live.  None of this comes naturally.  

When I put on the uniform and was commissioned into the military, to some level I belong to the Navy.  I am no longer free to do as I please and I have to learn what it means to be a sailor.  Likewise, as a Christian, I must learn to conform to the image of Jesus and live as He does.  That is the responsibility of other believers to build the new person up in the faith and help them to become all that God wants of them.

Are you growing into the person God desires you to be or are you regressing?

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:97-120; 2 Kings. 6:1-23; 1 Cor. 5:9-6:8; Matt. 5:38-48

25 SEP Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 25 SEP 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder.  If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!”. Matthew 5: 21-22a

I was driving along to work one day and everything was moving smoothly.  Traffic was bad, but at least it was moving.  I had plenty of gas so I wasn’t afraid I would run out.  If you are like me, I sometimes wait until it is a quarter of a tank to fill up again.  Some of you wait until the warning light comes on because you know you have a few more miles until empty.  This drive to work had a different warning light come on, the dreaded engine light.

Warning lights on the dash are there for a reason.  The sensors indicate there is a problem that needs to be looked at soon.  Today’s cars have all kinds of sensors for a myriad of potential issues.  We have those too, really.  Anger is one of those.  Anger can be righteous or sinful, both put off similar indicators.  James says that temptation starts in the mind from our own desires.

Those desires can entice us which in turn become actions.  If the desires are allowed to grow, it travels to the heart and it burns inside us.  Jesus speaks of sinful anger that if stewed on will lead to hate which will lead to actions up to the point of murder.  Our thought life must be captured and controlled for Christ’s sake and ours.  Our thought life is important to God and we will answer for it.  The Holy Spirit will also throw up a warning light and a way to tame or escape it.

You may delay filling up with gas or taking the car to the shop when it needs repair, but eventually, it will lead to greater damage and more cost.  Save yourself some pain and deal with your anger quickly before it turns into something that causes damage and costs you dearly.  Confess it God and ask for help and forgiveness.  Then, make it right with the one you are angry with.

Are you struggling with anger and hatred?

Reading Plan: Psalm 80; 2 Kings. 5:1-19; 1 Cor. 4: 8-21; Matt. 5:21-26

24 SEP 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 24 SEP 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.  O nations of the world recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.  Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Tell all the nations, The Lord reigns!” Psalm 96: 4, 7-8, 10

In the military, we have a phrase known as ‘stolen valor’.  It means that someone is wearing awards that they didn’t earn to make them look better than they are or to receive glory and adoration from others.  It is the sin of Satan himself.  He desired the glory that belonged to God alone.  He desired to be worshipped.  Social media is proof positive of that, people are searching for their fifteen seconds of fame whether good or bad.

When I hear people say that they are not religious, I smile and yet cringe inside.  The truth of the matter is, that we are all religious.  We worship someone, something, an ideology or philosophy, or self.  We give glory and honor to them or we take it.  There is only one that is worthy of our praise and only one that is due glory to his name.

God is very clear, he will not share his glory.  He is the only one worthy of it.  God tells us like he told Job.  “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.  Who kept the sea inside its boundaries? Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?” There are two chapters of questions that he gives Job.  It is worth reading, especially if you are worshipping something other than God.  Whether you like it or not, The Lord reigns! One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord of all.

Are you stealing the praise and glory that belongs to God?

Reading Plan: Psalm 93, 96; 2 Kings. 4:8-37; Acts 9: 10-31; Luke 3:7-18

23 SEP 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 23 SEP 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up.  Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River.  He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.” 2 Kings 2:13-14

Has there been a person in your life who was a role model for you? Did you want to be like that person? As children and teenagers, we often find those figures who become our heroes or someone who captures our attention.  Passions and purpose can spark from that moment and can last a lifetime.  I find it is not the person himself, but what is inside them that draws us.

Elijah and Elisha were prophets of God in the Hebrew Bible.  Elisha was Elijah’s apprentice and was seeing the work of God through Elijah.  Elijah was speaking direct messages from God, pronouncing judgment, and performing miracles.  He was a vessel of honor unto the Lord and Elisha desperately wanted to have what Elijah had.  One thing is clear, it is up to God to choose the vessels of honor and dishonor.  Before Elijah was caught up to heaven, he told Elisha that if he saw him go up to heaven then he would know that God had chosen him to carry out the work he had been trained to do. 

 Elisha saw him and trusted God to follow through with the promise.  He grabbed Elijah’s cloak slapped the water of the Jordan and cried out, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ He wanted God to show up and show out.  He knew that he couldn’t do this life in his own power, he needed God to do it through him.  As Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) God worked through Elisha in power to part the Jordan River and many other things in his life.  If you are in Christ, he will work through you too.

Do you know that God wants to work powerfully through you?

Reading Plan: Psalm 75, 76; 2 Kings. 2:1-18; 1 Cor 4: 1-7; Matt. 5:17-20

22 SEP 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 22 SEP 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:13a, 14

My life in the United States Navy has a set purpose for our role in the world.  Part of it is to protect and promote freedom and democracy worldwide.  We do that while we defend and support our own constitution.  It is the basis for all that we do.  We step out from under the shadow of our great flag into adventure and danger to deter and sometimes called to destroy evil.

As a follower of Christ, I am told that I am the salt of the earth.  In the Navy to be called ‘salty’ has a different connotation.  To be ‘salty’ as a Christian means to be a speaker of truth to preserve, protect, and flavor those around us with the Word of God.  That is a great task that touches all of life and all the people you meet.  Salt in a wound makes for pain and healing.  People don’t often like the sting that is required to bring change.

I am also told that I am the light of the world.  Light reveals what is in the dark.  It exposes wickedness but also illuminates the path to safety and salvation.  Light reveals the plumbline of righteousness and gives people a standard to set lives to.   A life lived as ‘the light’ is one of being a comforter, developer of people, and promoter of accountability.  When people see this done well, they praise the God who chose us.

How are you being salt and light to those around you?

Reading Plan: Psalm 69:1-23; 2 Kings. 1:2-17; 1 Cor 3: 16-23; Matt. 5:11-16