5 FEB 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 5 FEB 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.  Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2

When you are running, you don’t want to carry additional things that might slow you down or burn you out before you finish.  It is a given that pain can happen or you have to endure stress to muscles and lungs.  You embrace it and even disregard it knowing that the prize or the goal is greater than the pain.  As a Christian, our prize is Jesus and it is he we focus on.

In the hymn, Turn your eyes upon Jesus, it says that “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace”.  The closer we are to Jesus and in alignment to his plans the more we can experience lasting joy even in the midst of pain and suffering.  Jesus himself was able to endure the cross and its shame because he looked forward to the joy awaiting him.  Our challenges, suffering, and pain can be used to perfect us in the faith.

As you live this life, begin to look at what is weighing you down.  What things of this world are keeping you for living for Jesus? Maybe you are not letting go of the sin that you like.  Maybe you are striving after the things of this world and houses, career, and possessions now have a hold on you.  Whatever it is? Get rid of it and focus on Jesus instead of yourself or your stuff.

What is keeping you from living for Jesus?

Reading Plan: Psalm 93, 96; Isa. 57:14-21; Heb. 12:1-6; John  7:37-46 

Daily Office Year 1

4 FEB 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 4 FEB 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Don’t be misled-you cannot mock the justice of God.  You will always harvest what you plant.  So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:7, 9

We can look around and see that people are looking for happiness in all the wrong places, kinda like the Jonnie Lee song.  In America, we labor hard for the American dream so that we can ultimately retire and do what we like.  We don’t think about how we get there or if the pursuit is really going to bear fruit or if it is this the dream that God wants for us.

Much of what we strive after is self-serving and doesn’t make us happy.  We are sold a false view of what  life and happiness is supposed to be.  God doesn’t hold back and neither does Paul as he addresses the church at Galatia.  Chasing after sinful and self-satisfying pleasures is a direct path to death.  Being blessed or happy comes by pleasing the Spirit and doing good.

We are created to be his masterpiece and to do good works, first among other believers and then to the rest of the world.  When we do good it pleases the Spirit and blesses others around you.  It also testifies to the presence and work of God in the lives of unbelievers. Paul commends us not to grow weary in doing good because we will.  The results of our good works are not always realized here, but our faithfulness is.

What kind of seeds are you planting? What do you expect to harvest?

Reading Plan: Psalm 75, 76; Isa. 57:3-13; Gal. 5:25-6:10; Mark  9:14-29 

Daily Office Year 1

3 FEB 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 3 FEB 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“That anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:21-22

The struggle for new Christians and even some seasoned ones are the difference between law and grace.  We see that God established a relationship with the Jews for no other reason than he wanted to.  God showed them favor (grace) then gave them the law as a part of the covenant relationship.  The law revealed the holiness of God and what characteristics his people should reflect.  God intends to have holy people that act like him.

When Jesus came, he lived among them and showed them that a holy life can be lived in the power of the Holy Spirit.  God still chooses who will be his people not by any metric that we can measure, but by his good pleasure. (grace) Jesus fulfills the law of the Jewish covenant that we couldn’t and gives his followers the Spirit and abilities to live a life pleasing to him.

If you look at the sins listed in verses 19-21, they are the desires and focus of self.  When we came to faith, we were washed clean of these and we are not to go back to them.  We move our focus from ourselves and to Jesus and to his will for our lives.  How are you doing with this? Take heart, each new day gives you an opportunity to get in alignment and live for him.

Are you living for God or yourself?

Reading Plan: Psalm 69:1-23; Isa. 56:1-8; Gal. 5:16-24; Mark  9:2-13

Daily Office Year 1

2 FEB 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 2 FEB 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

Do you believe that God’s word is effective?

Twenty some odd years ago, I began to really seek the Lord in the Scriptures and was compelled to share the Good News with others.  For someone that didn’t know how to do it or what to expect, the word not only brought comfort to me it also brought confidence.  A good friend saw that I was on fire to do whatever the Lord wanted me to do.  He knew that people in the church were ready to throw a wet blanket on me too and he pointed me to Isaiah 55:10-11.

Being hungry, I went and read the entire chapter over and over again.  It really helped me to understand my role as a messenger of the Word of God and God being the Sovereign Savior to do what he desired with whom he desired.  If I would faithfully sow the seed, God would give the increase.  It wasn’t on me to know everything, be eloquent, or be persuasive in order to seal the deal like a salesman.  

God alone would make the Word effective in the lives he desired.  I just needed to be faithful in sharing it and invest deeply in the ones that came to faith.  It takes faith in God’s sovereign will and plans because His plans and ways are not ours.  I will say that he has always shown me that there are people in my oikos (social network) that are already prepared to receive the word.  That has kept me on fire for him until this day.  May it do the same for you.

Heavenly Father, you are a masterful orchestrator of creation that weaves your will through the ages to bring about all that you desire.  You have made life an adventure that makes me cling to you and take joy in knowing you are with me.  Empower me to trust in your lead when I don’t understand what you are doing. Give me boldness to share your words and to leave the results to you.  In your great name I pray, amen.

Reading Plan: Psalm 71; Isa. 55:1-13; Gal. 5:1-15; Mark  8:27-9:1

Daily Office Year 1

1 FEB 23 Wednesday -A Closer Walk Devotional

 1 FEB 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth. May all the godly flourish during his reign.  May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.” Psalm 72:6-7

As we head into another season of political sword fighting, we all have in mind what we would like to see in a leader and the hope of better conditions and safety.  This is the same desire for everyone around the world because in our hearts and minds we know right from wrong and what right looks like.  The challenge is that only God himself can fulfill that picture.

The psalmist speaks of what it will be like when a truly godly person will rule and reign.  It is a great picture of clear justice, righteousness, and prosperity.  If you really unpack what God intends, many people around the world and especially in our own country would not want to be part of that.  Why? Because God is holy and we are not.  Our nature kicks and fights against it.

We would have to give up the sins we like so much like greed, lust, all drugs and alcohol, murder of babies, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lying, stealing, and self-focused will to name a few.  God will not have any of that in his Kingdom and he doesn’t expect that of his people now.  The wicked, evil, and rebellious will be dealt with swiftly and to the maximum sentence.  That is what a just and loving king should do.  That is what God will do.

Do you really know what a godly leader is?

Mighty King, heavenly Father, you are worthy to be praised! You look out for the poor and the broken-hearted.  You uphold and enforce the law producing a godly and holy people.  The wicked and evil run in fear, but they have nowhere to hide.  I look forward to the day of your Son’s return, knowing that true safety and prosperity will be forever more. We will be completely satisfied with you. Amen.

Reading Plan: Psalm 72; Isa. 54:1-10; Gal. 4:21-31; Mark  8:11-26

Daily Office Year 1