9 OCT 23 MONDAY: A Closer Walk Devotional

 9 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“So whether you get or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.  And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” 1 Cor. 10: 31, 33b, 11:1

Do you have a mentor or someone who models the Christian life for you? I have been blessed to have a few in my life: Grandpa Jim, Mom and Dad, Dale, and Jon to name a few.  All of them represent different facets of the Christian life that I can draw from.  Most of what I have learned, I have obtained through observation.  The patterns and rhythms of life, engagement with others, and personal interaction developed my walk and pattern for life.

Think about this.  Whenever you see interviews of great people, they are asked, ‘Who do you aspire to be like? Who inspired you?’  Inevitably they will say, I want to be like this person and they begin to unpack all the ways that person has affected their life.  I always like to hear these stories because it helps you see where they came from, but there is also a hope that I am modeling for someone else.

Paul, in his message to the Church at Corinth, was trying to help them better interact with other people.  He wanted them to be selfless for the sake of others so that they might impact people for the Kingdom and maybe save some.  If they focused on living all of life for the glory of God and modeling the Christ-life Paul was modeling, then they would see the fruit of their labors.  There is a two-part process, first don’t just talk about it, live it.

If you are going to talk the talk, then you must walk the walk.  Second, be intentionally seeking to invest in others.  These relationships don’t just happen.  Ask God to give you someone to invest in and then start looking.  When you invest in another, you grow too because God is developing you at the same time.

Can you say like Paul, imitate me as I imitate Christ?

Reading Plan: Psalm 106:1-18; 2 Kings 21:1-18; 1 Cor. 10:14-11:1; Matt 8:28-34

8 OCT 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 8 OCT 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Peter finally came to his senses. ‘It’s really true!’ he said.  The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” Acts 12: 11

Have you ever wondered why God saves some and lets others die or perish? In all of the readings today you see an attribute of God play out that is always there in Scripture but shocks us if we are honest.   God’s sovereignty and power are on full display from the beginning of Scripture until the end.  God is the only being with complete autonomous free will and chooses to do things or not to do things to fulfill his plans and desires.

God healed a dying king and extended his life by fifteen years, blessing the man and glorifying Himself.  We don’t have a problem with that.  We give God a hearty thumbs up and a good job.  Then we see in the book of Acts, Steven is stoned to death, Paul is spared, saved, and given an extraordinary ministry.  We scratch our heads a bit and maybe start to fuss about God being fair.

God doesn’t explain himself either, nor does he have to.

James the brother of John is put to death by Herod and Peter imprisoned, but then set free from jail and possible death. Why? Jesus in Luke’s passage, passes by sick people to raise a boy who is about to be buried. Why?  The bottom line is that God is not like us.  His ways are not our ways and He does as He pleases and has plans that weave from the beginning of creation to the end of time as we know it.  

It is a wonder that he spares any of us and chooses to bring some into everlasting life.  According to His law and judgment, none of us are worthy, but He chooses to show mercy and grace to those He wishes.  For those who are being saved, the message is the power of God to deliver us into His presence when we die.  What about everyone else? We pray and share the good news and leave them in the hands of God where mercy and grace are vast.

Do you struggle with the way God does things? 

Reading Plan: Psalm 118; 2 Kings 20:1-21; Acts 12:1-17; Luke 7:11-17

7 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 7 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.  The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.  And God is faithful.  He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.  When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Cor. 1012-13

One day I was having a conversation with a friend and he began to tell me of all the problems and struggles that he was having.  He had personal health issues, lost a spouse, and job issues due to his health.  He was going through his own personal tornado of stuff.  As I listened, he said, ‘Well, like the Lord said, he won’t give you more than you can handle.”  Internally, I began to sigh and it probably showed on my face.  Normally, I keep a pretty good poker face, but not this time.

I knew this person was trying to comfort himself with God’s word, but he misquoted and misunderstood the text.  He is not the only one.  Many people say this and are disillusioned when God actually gives them more than they can handle.  God does give you more than you can handle, but he is always with you and is there to preserve you through it or deliver you into his presence.  Paul tells the Church in Corthin, that their temptations are common to all men.  God in his mercy, doesn’t allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle.

First, God doesn’t tempt you, either Satan brings it or your own desires. (see James 1) All sin is premeditated.  We know it, entertain it, and then execute it without help from anyone. Temptation leads to sin and sin leads to death.  God may test your faith to make it stronger, but he never puts you in a position to sin within the testing.  In his mercy, he shows you how to escape temptation so you do not sin.  The key is to learn to pay attention to the exit signs.  

The Holy Spirit will give you insight as he gives you notice when temptation is creeping in.  It’s like he gives you pause to see it and to choose to escape or engage it.  These moments create a hatred for sin and a softening of your heart to choose smartly.  How are you doing with this? If you are struggling, ask God to help you see the exit and to use it when it is offered.

Are you seeing and using the exits from temptation?

Reading Plan: Psalm 107:33-43, 108: 1-6; 2 Kings 19:21-36; 1 Cor. 10:1-13; Matt. 8:18-27

6 OCT 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 6 OCT 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Yet preaching the Good News is not something can boast about.  I am compelled by God to do it.  How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.  Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.” 1 Cor. 9:16, 19b, 22b-23

Do you have a passion? I have met people passionate about football, fishing, crafting, their work, and many other things.  When they are not doing their regular daily routines, they are trying to make time for what they are passionate about.  It is good to have drive and passion.  I think we all have something that motivates us to chase after that prize.

The passage in Corinthians talks about Paul’s passion.  He had been touched by Jesus’ choosing him to be an instrumental piece of His mission.  It gave birth to the passion that lasted his entire life and even was expressed in his death.  It compelled him to live his life in a particular way and to seek out all kinds of people as he journeyed from place to place.  He was willing to be offended, to suffer, to cross cultures, and to cross religious barriers so that people could hear about Jesus.

If Paul wasn’t connecting and sharing the hope that he had in Christ, he felt terrible.  When you are not living according to your purpose and passion, it is the natural response to feel bad about it.  If the Lord has given you a passion for something, what are you doing with it? Are you learning? Developing? Are you using it to the level that it should be? If God hasn’t given you a passion yet, ask him.  He is ready to supply one.  God desires for you to live into the person that he has created you to be.  So get to living!

What is the passion that God has given you?

Reading Plan: Psalm 102; 2 Kings 19:1-20; 1 Cor.  9:16-27; Matt. 8:1-17

5 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 5 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on the bedrock.” Matthew 7:24-25

You can learn the easy way or the hard way.  Either way, hopefully, you learn it and don’t repeat the same mistake.  Have you ever heard that? Parents always hope their children will listen and receive the wise advice and apply it to their own lives.  One day the child will grow up to adulthood and have to make decisions that will affect themselves and those around them.  It is better to apply wisdom now and save yourself some pain.

You might not be the early adopter, but one of those who run into a wall a few times before you make a change.  If you are smiling right now, it might be you or you know that special someone who is.  Jesus spoke to large crowds of people and taught with real authority.  He knew who was his and who was not.  He knew who liked to hear teachings, but would not apply them.  To those who would not obey his teaching, he said they were foolish.

He describes their lives as someone who built their home on a sand foundation.  When the storm came, it would level the house.  Life will bring difficulties, stress, and suffering, but will you have the resilience to make it through or not.  As believers, we will have additional difficulties because we are the torchbearers of His name.  Jesus has a word for us too.

Like the hymn says, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”   If you build your life on Jesus and his words, and obey then you be preserved until the end.  The storms of life will beat you, break you, and make you suffer, but the Lord will bring you through it all.  Jesus gives us an opportunity to seek him daily and apply His wisdom to our lives so that we can experience a resilient life.

Are the storms of life beating you down?

Reading Plan: Psalm 105:1-22; 2 Kings 18:28-37; 1 Cor.  9:1-15; Matt. 7:22-29