20 AUG 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 20 AUG 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“He said to them, The Scriptures declare, My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” Mark 11:17

At the beginning of this passage, Jesus curses a fig tree for not producing fruit even though it is not in season.  It seems strange except that the fig tree represents Israel and the life that they were living.  For all extensive purposes, the fig tree looked great on the outside, but it lacked fruit.  When people are healthy and faithful, there will always be fruit regardless of the season.

If you have no fruit in your life, the root cause is often unfaithfulness and/or worldliness.  Jesus shows this when he enters the temple and becomes angry at what was being done.   The leadership created a marketplace within the temple to make themselves wealthy.  He exposed their lack of trust and dependence on God for their lives and their dissatisfaction with the level of material status they were enjoying. They had become a fruitless and faithless people.

Their pursuit of wealth created a stumbling block for those that came to pray and worship. The temple was made for the people of God to pray and worship, not to conduct business.  The church today and individual Christians are the stones of God’s temple and our lives are made for his purposes, not our own.  God expects that we are faithful, fruitful, and making a clear path for those to connect with the Lord.

Does Jesus need to clear out the Church today?

Reading Plan: Psalm 106:1-18; 2 Sam. 17:24-18:8; Acts 22:30-23:11;  Mark 11:12-26

11 AUG 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 AUG 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“How long has this been happening? Jesus asked the boy’s father.  He replied, since he was a little boy.  The spirit often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him.  Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.  What do you mean, If I can? Jesus asked.  Anything is possible if a person believes.  The father instantly cried out, I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” Mark 9:21-24

Sometimes we face problems that are so big that no one has an answer or solution.  I’ve taken my car to several places or back to the same place repeatedly to get the thing fixed.  They cannot figure it out.  There was a time that one of my kids had a health concern, but at the time there was not any medicine or treatment for it.  It lasted for eighteen years! There was always a concern for a short life or complications that would always be there.

When we are faced with great problems, it can cloud our judgment because all we see is the big issue and nothing else.  Sometimes it causes us to doubt, which is normal.  We doubt when people have failed us or have not been truthful.  There is a sense that doubt is an inability to believe in something or someone.  It causes us to question.  Are they trustworthy? Capable?

Then there is unbelief.  That says I won’t believe it despite the evidence or testimony.  We find this with Martha after Lazurus’ death, Thomas, and the Father in Mark’s passage.  The father asks for help and questions Jesus’ ability to deal with the son’s condition.  No one else was able to fix this problem that has been going on for years.  Thankfully, Jesus condescends to those he intends on manifesting himself toward.  Jesus rebukes the man for his unbelief thereby clearing the fog of his problem to see Jesus for who he is.

Jesus gave faith to the man and healing to his son.  Both are great miracles.  You may be struggling with something in your life.  Do you have a challenge with family? Work? Health? Know that Jesus is ready, willing, and able, and will walk with you through it all.   He is worthy of your trust.

Does God need to help you with your unbelief?

Reading Plan: Psalm 88; 2 Sam. 12:1-14; Acts 19:21-41;  Mark 9:14-29

10 AUG 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 10 AUG 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“I will praise the Lord at all times.  I will constantly speak of his praises.  I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.” Psalm 34: 1-2

The Lord commanded everyone, to Love the Lord your God will all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength.  Do you with your all? All the time? With your time? The answer is probably, no. When we don’t intentionally prioritize the Lord, our nature fills that space in our lives with other things.  We begin to love other things, many of which, are not wicked in and of themselves.

They can become not just a barrier to our relationship with God, but an idol.  Take a moment this week to see how you spend your time and money.  We all operate on some kind of spending plan and looking at will reveal where our heart is.  How much time do we spend in conversation with God? When was the last time you prayed? Served others? Shared the gospel? Read the Scriptures? Worshiped by yourself, with family, or with other believers?

How much of your finances are dedicated to the spread of the Kingdom? Do you give to missionaries? Local church? Are you generous in giving to meet the needs of fellow Christians or family members? Do you seek out opportunities to give? How you spend your time and resources reflects or demonstrates your love for the Lord.  That is worship in your everyday life.  The psalmist goes on to state that he verbally testifies to the goodness and greatness of God.

Do you tell God how thankful you are? Do you tell others what God is doing and has done for you? Do you boast about God? He expects us to ascribe to him the glory that is due.  God is not a genie to serve our needs and fulfill our wishes.  He is the Lord and the authority of the universe and our lives.  There are people who are helpless and broken that need to hear that He is there for them like he is for you.

Does the Lord receive praise from your lips and daily life?

Reading Plan: Psalm 34; 2 Sam. 11:1-27; Acts 19:11-20;  Mark 9:2-13

9 AUG 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 9 AUG 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Then calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” Mark 8:34-35

One of the great things that Jesus does in his ministry is being forthright and blunt.  He does not sugarcoat his call on your life and does not hide the difficulties you will face.  There are things that will be true about your life if you desire to belong to Jesus.  There are no rose-colored glasses or promises of health, wealth, and prosperity on this adventure.  If you are being told that by a pastor or friend, they are promoting a lie.

If you want to follow Jesus, you must give up your life and the way you desire to live it.  That is a hard thing to do for most people.  They have plans, dreams, and goals that they want to achieve.  Jesus says, what will it mean to you if you gain the world and lose your soul? The rich young ruler walked away because he loved his life, his possessions, and the future he was building.  Jesus did not die for you in order for you to do what you please.

You were already living for yourself and God was paying your wages in death. When you understand that Jesus purchased your life with ‘his’ death, you will live for him and not yourself.  Jesus gives you life in exchange for the death you were supposed to die.  If you think you are his follower and don’t do what he says, you will face a horrible reality.  Jesus will say he “never” knew you.  

We are also to take up our own cross.  We must understand that we will suffer for being a Christian.  We will be mocked and dismissed because of him.  We will be insulted and labeled with many names and lies.  We will lose jobs, be beaten, jailed and some killed because we belong to him.  If we are not receiving any of this, we may not be living for him.  If you are obedient to Jesus you will see fruit and will suffer.

Are you living your best life now or living for Jesus?

Reading Plan: Psalm 119:97-120; 2 Sam. 9:1-13; Acts 19:1-10;  Mark 8:34-9:1

8 AUG 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 8 AUG 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.  Then they will not be like their ancestors-stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.” Psalm 78:7-8

As a father of seven children, my heart desires that my children will surrender their hearts to God and live a life that is pleasing to Him.  There are two sides to the same coin of salvation.  There is man’s point of view and God’s.  We look to our point of view and become frustrated with our children and other people when they are not surrendering or following the Lord.

As spiritual fathers or mothers, we pour into the people that God has given us.  We teach them the things of God and explain the Gospel to them so they can understand.  It can feel like you are teaching algebra to a two-year-old.  My dad can relate to the frustration of teaching me algebra when I was about fifteen.  I swear that I took a few years off of his life.  

The point is, we desire the people we love to have what we have. When they don’t, it is disappointing and frustrating.  We can often blame ourselves, thinking we didn’t explain it correctly or live it out in front of them. If that is you, take a deep breath and exhale.  It is not up to you.  Salvation is up to the Lord alone.  Man cannot change the condition of his own heart, nor can he gain spiritual understanding apart from God.

The Lord alone must open our minds and enable our hearts to receive the message.  The Scriptures are clear, the Lord will not save everyone.  Many will remain stubborn, rebellious, and refusing to give their hearts to God.  God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility are still there.  In this, we find peace as we invest in others because it is about God and not us.

Is your hope anew on God or your ability?

Reading Plan: Psalm 78:1-39; 2 Sam. 7:18-29; Acts 18:12-28;  Mark 8:22-33