19 JAN 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 19 JAN 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.  Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, “Stop, you’re doing it wrong!” Psalm 45:9

From time to time, we get so focused on ourselves: me, myself, and I.  We are focused on our personal goals, desires, and future.  We get upset when things do go our way or see the inequalities around us.  We get bent out of shape about it and complain.  We forget that we are the creature and not the creator.

We are made in the image of God and have great value.  We have been gifted specifically by God and given a purpose for life.  We are created to do God’s will and to bring him glory.  The rub is that we are not here for selfish and sinful reasons, but for God.  Even those that are not chosen by God to be his children have been made for a purpose.

The potter makes from the same lump of clay one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use. (Rm 9:21)  As children of God, we have been shown mercy and grace to be vessels of honor to the Lord.  Learning to embrace and understand our role within God’s will is a lifelong adventure in the faith that builds contentment and happiness.

Are you wrestling with God over your position in life?

Reading Plan: Psalm 37:1-18; Isa. 45:5-17; Eph. 5:15-33; Mark 4:21-34

Daily Office Year 1

18 JAN 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 18 JAN 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.  So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” Ephesians 5:8-9

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because thou art with me.” Believers know well that we are in a war and there will be days that will be dark.  Our struggles become real as they say.  Pain, suffering, and being overwhelmed emotionally is the lot for the children of God too.  We are not exempt, but it is different for us.

It is a temporary event that God can use to shape and develop us like precious metals.  The heat and pressure purifies the believer and brings glory to God in the process.  At the end of our lives in this mortal body, we move on to be in the fullness of God himself in an eternal body that experiences no pain, suffering, or death.  Whereas the lost face eternal suffering.

Paul gives plain instruction in chapter five to stay in alignment with God and to live a life that burns through the darkest places of our lives.  Imitate God, embrace a life of love, and to live in the light which produces the good, right, and true things that make you strong and is a pleasing aroma to God.  We were once evil and darkness, now we are light.  We can expose self-inflicted darkness which is our sins or external foes that wish to kill and destroy us.

Are you fully living in the light or still dabbling in darkness?

Reading Plan: Psalm 38; Isa. 44:24-45:7; Eph. 5:1-14; Mark 4:1-20

Daily Office Year 1

17 JAN 23 Tuesday -A Closer Walk Devotional

17 JAN 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“How foolish are those who manufacture idols.  These prized objects are really worthless.  The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame.” Isaiah 44:9

Both the Isaiah and the Ephesians passage, God gives us insight into the mind of people that are not believers.  All of us were in a state of confusion, full of darkness, and our minds closed to God.  Funny that today our opponents and the enemies of God, tell us that we are closed or narrow minded toward their views.  They project their self-righteous virtues in order to cast themselves as good.

God explains that they are spiritually dead to God and blind to his way of life.  They don’t even realize that their prized objects of worship are worthless.  They are self deceived and ignorant to the things of God.  Today we look to education as an end to various social problems.  It is now worshiped and so are the people who dispense it.  They count themselves wise, when in fact God calls them fools.

God tells us not to buy into their ways because they are wicked and offensive to him.  We were chosen to be his people and to live to glorify him, not ourselves or others.  Renew your mind and attitudes with the Spirit.  Put on the new nature given to you so that God can make you into the person you were made to be.

 Are you living in your old nature or the new?

Reading Plan: Psalm 26, 28; Isa. 44:9-20; Eph. 4:17-32; Mark 3:19b-35

Daily Office Year 1

16 JAN 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 16 JAN 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.  Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11

It is interesting that we have made changes over the centuries to what was intended in being the church and how it is to function.  The old saying, form follows function rings true and explains the frustration of many in the church.  Pastors wonder why the people are not embracing the “doing” side of the church and the people wonder why they are not getting the entertainment value from their tithing dollars.  We are off the mark in a big way.

The form of church actually produces the very problem that everyone is complaining about.  Pastors and teachers have become pushers of information and motivational speech entertainment.  The people have become consumers and self focused.  Paul states that everyone is to grow healthy and mature, being able to live the life Christ expects.

The leaders of the church are supposed to be trainers, not orators or entertainers.  The people are to be developed into practitioners to do the work of ministry both in the church and reaching the lost for Christ.  All of us have roles and responsibilities that serve to fulfill the mission we were commissioned to complete.  If the church is not fulfilling the mission, producing mature people, and multiplying disciples, it is not a church.  It’s a country club.

Are you being developed into a practitioner or a consumer?

Reading Plan: Psalm 25; Isa. 44:6-8, 21-23; Eph. 4:1-16; Mark 3:7-19 

Daily Office Year 1

15 JAN 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 15 JAN 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because  the woman said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village.  So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear this message and believe.” John 4:39-41

The amazing thing about this story is how quickly a person can have an eternal impact on others in their sphere of influence.  The woman that encountered Jesus at the well had a brief conversation, became born again, received the gospel, and immediately went and told the people in her town.  There was no additional education, baptism, or guidance.  She just did it.

Her compelling story aided many others to saving faith.  This should compel us to go and share our story of what Jesus has done for us.  Most likely you have walked with the Lord much longer than her, so you should have no problem telling others the story of Jesus.  The only reason we don’t, is because we are disobedient and afraid.   Jesus expects you to go and tell.  

Who is in your sphere of influence that hasn’t heard what Jesus has done for you?

Reading Plan: Psalm 148, 149, 150; Isa. 43:14-44:5; Heb. 6:17-7:10; John  4:27-42

Daily Office Year 1