28 NOV 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 28 NOV 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control.  But now you must be holy in everything that you do, jas as God who chose you is holy.” 1 Peter 1:13a, 15

There are so many times followers of Jesus will ask what is God’s will for their life and what should I be doing. The will of God is in two parts, revealed and secret.  Everything you need to know for your life here on earth is ‘revealed’ right in the Holy Scriptures.  Start applying the word to your life because there is more than enough there for an entire lifetime.  The secret will of God is just that, a secret.  It is not meant for you to know.

Peter tells his readers that there is a call on our lives to be holy people because God himself is holy.  This doesn’t come naturally to us because our human nature is unholy.  We sin in every part of our lives, so it will take real work on our part and the help of the Holy Spirit.  The action of holiness starts in the mind and it can be a battle.  Paul says that we have to let God transform our minds and change the way we think.

Again Paul states in his letter to the Galatians that our sinful nature wants to do evil, which is the opposite of what the Spirit wants.  These two forces are constantly fighting each other.  The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives, one of which is self-control.  It is the ability to override or overcome our own human nature and do the thing that is pleasing to God.  As it is exercised, it grows stronger and helps you to develop a holy and godly life.

Peter says the ultimate goal is to become holy in everything you do because it makes you more like God.  How are you doing with that? As you are doing life, you can put on the lenses of holiness and ask yourself how you are doing.  You must be intentional about applying the word and the standard of holiness in order to bring about real lasting change.  God the Holy Spirit is here to help you to see areas of need and the power to succeed in them.

Would people you know think you are holy?

Reading Plan: Psalm 121, 122, 123; Nahum 1:1-13; 1 Pet. 1:13-25; Matt. 19:13-22 

27 NOV 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 27 NOV 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance-an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.” 1 Pet. 1:3b-4

Typically, I look at life with low expectations so I am not disappointed.  Some people think that is a terrible way to look at life or your interaction with people.  The reason is people are not perfect, broken, and often oversell and underdeliver thereby leaving us disappointed.  I’m not saying you should have low standards, there is a difference.  Set standards high but keep expectations low and you will experience less disappointment.

Peter looks forward to Jesus and the next life with great expectation because God is perfect, holy, and never fails us.  He can be trusted to do what he promises and delivers to the uttermost.  Peter goes on to say that our inheritance is safe in heaven and it is pure, undefiled, and cannot change or even decay.  Everything on earth is impure, defiled, changes, and decays, but heaven is not the same.  His outlook on earthly temporary things is different from heavenly eternal things.

Jesus also chimes in on this and says that our treasure cannot be destroyed by moths, rust, or stolen because it is protected and secured by God himself. (Matt. 619-29)  This is great news that we can be fully assured and never be disappointed.  This is why Peter can have ‘great expectations’ for the future and so can we.  We can live this life for Christ in radical obedience without worrying about the future and expect God to do all that he intends through us.

When we fully trust in God and surrender our lives to him, we can have this kind of confidence now and in the life to come. 

Do you have great expectations for eternity?

Reading Plan: Psalm 106:1-18; Joel 3:1-2, 9-17; 1 Pet. 1:1-12; Matt. 19:1-12

26 NOV 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 26 NOV 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king - bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.” Luke 19:27

There was a time when Israel wanted to be like everyone else and decided that they would like a king instead of following God’s leading and receiving his providence and protection.  God warned them of what they would get for accepting a mortal as their leader and how he would rule over them.  This was a great offense to God, their maker and redeemer.

An earthly king would draft their sons for the military, force them to be farmers, and manufacture weapons and war materials. He would take their daughters and force them into labor for him and would tax their wealth and the best of their property.  They would eventually beg for relief because of how they were treated, but the Lord would not respond. (1 Sam. 8)  

Jesus tells the story of a nobleman who is rejected by the Jews as their king.  He assigns the people a task and expects them to follow through by being faithful and obedient.  There are people who are faithful, and disobedient, and many who reject him whom he calls his enemies.  Jesus says that the disobedient would be stripped of what was given to them and the ones who rejected Jesus will be judged and executed.

People who have mistakenly portrayed Jesus as one to overlook their rejection of him in this life will have a rude awakening in the next life.  Those people will not receive mercy and grace but will receive justice and sentencing to the second death.  The blunt and direct words of Jesus are meant to bring about change in your mind and heart while there is still time.  

Have you received Jesus as Lord?

Reading Plan: Psalm 118; Isa. 19:19-25; Rom. 15:5-13; Luke 19:11-27 

25 NOV 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 25 NOV 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Then Peter came to him and asked, Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? No, not seven times, Jesus replied, but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21-22

Being in the Thanksgiving mindset, post-November 23rd, I began thinking of all the things I am thankful for.  I find it a good way to combat anxiety and depression by making an ongoing list of specific things that I am thankful for writing them on slips of paper and putting them in a box.  As I am feeling low, anxious, or worried I pull out a slip of paper and read it.  I then give praise and thanksgiving to God for what is written on the paper and before long peace and joy come.

The biggest thing I put on a piece of paper is real forgiveness.  Being forgiven is a powerful thing that has been given to us for those who believe, but it is also a sweet gift of mercy that we can give others and others to us.  God has forgiven us all of our sins, wrongdoings, and thoughts that have offended him.  For forgiveness to work there needs to be repentance, remission, restitution, reconciliation, and restoration. 

Forgiveness is conditional on repentance both to God and other people.  If there isn’t repentance then there isn’t forgiveness.  If we have been violated or sinned against, we must be ready to forgive when repentance happens.  Remember all that we have put Jesus through torture and crucifixion and then look at what people have done to us.  Our offense to God is always greater than anything that others do to us.  Jesus forgives all who repent of their sins and turn to him in faith.

When God forgives sins, he doesn’t forget your sins but doesn’t hold those sins against you in the future.  Your sins are washed away like blood-stained wool being made white as snow.  So when we forgive a person, we give that person a clean slate and will not bring those wrongs up again in the future.  Then the other R’s above can take place to get us to full restoration of relationships because of the power of forgiveness.  God has given that to us and demands that we do the same for others.

Are you forgiving those who do you wrong?

Reading Plan: Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6; Isa. 65:17-25; Rev. 22:14-21; Matt. 18:21-35 

24 NOV 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 24 NOV 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing.  You will change them like a garment and discard them.  But you are always the same; you will live forever.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Psalm 102:26-27; Rev. 22:13

We are getting to that time within the Christian Calendar from the Ordinary Time to the season of Advent.  In doing so, it makes me think of the greatness and goodness of God.  Frankly, all of the Scriptures point to the Trinity and shine the light on the Son from beginning to end revealing his majesty and glory.  The quotes above from Psalm and Revelation, declare the deity of Christ, one of which is veiled and one directly.

It is important for us to see all the places and tie in or cross-reference within the Scriptures, so we can better know God in the fullest.  The quote from Psalm 102 talks about the unchanging nature of God that he is eternal and that he can bring nature and mankind into existence and dispose of it.  The psalmist shows that God is unchanging for eternity.  In Hebrews 1, the writer quotes these very verses about Jesus.

No one in the Scriptures is ever spoken about in this manner, but Jesus.  He is God eternal, yet distinct from the Father.  Jesus is given credit for the creation of the world by Paul, John, Psalmist, and Moses.  In Revelation 22, Jesus speaks about himself confirming that Jesus is God.  Revelation 1:18 and Isaiah 44:6 speak of God as the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega, and pointing directly to Jesus.  Jesus speaks this in a veiled manner in Isaiah, but clearly in Revelation that he is God.

We will be asked or told by those who won’t believe that Jesus never said that He is God.  Briefly, we have shown this not to be true because He has said it here.  He has also said this throughout the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  He has spoken through the prophets, apostles, and through himself directly.  So as you prepare for Advent, may God bless you richly by grasping the depths and breadth of God in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Do you know that all of the Scriptures proclaim Jesus’ deity?

Reading Plan: Psalm 102; Proverbs 24; Rev. 22:6-13; Matt. 18:10-20