11 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 MAY 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.  If we live, it’s to honor the Lord.  And if we die it’s to honor the Lord.  So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  Christ died and rose again for this very purpose-to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.”        Romans 14:7-9

These verses sit in the middle of a passage that gives a warning to believers of the dangers of negative criticism.  The words judgment and condemnation are flung about as synonymous to people these days.  When people are corrected or rebuked, they feel the sting of guilt and shame.  It is an unpleasant feeling that affects the giver and receiver alike.

Paul and Jesus himself, tell us not to judge in a manner that tears people down.  We should judge in a manner that builds people up and fortifies them for this life and the next.  Paul is dealing with people that are being harsh with things that are not sins, but making them feel like they are.  That can damage a person and their walk with the Lord.

Ultimate judgment comes from the Lord and we will have to give an account to Him for everything we have said and done.  When it comes to sin, we are to judge and correct for the purpose of building the other person up.  Jesus told many after their encounter to go and sin no more.  He was never light on sin and never left it unchecked.  We do not have a license to sin.  

The verse above is the foundation of our being and doing, we live and die to honor the Lord.  How we live is important to God and we have much freedom to express our thanks and praise to Him.  Even in our death, we can bring God glory.  Tenderly correcting one another along the way, will ensure their growth and ours.  We can then stand confidently before God accounting for our actions in this life.

Are you fortifying relationships or blowing them up?

Reading Plan: Psalm  70, 71; Prov. 11; Rom 14:1-12;  Luke. 8:26-39

10 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 10 MAY 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities.  For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Romans 13:1

Politics.  Some people love to talk politics especially when the season of elections is upon us.  It is that time of year again as the presidential hopefuls cast a vision for what the United States should look like and the policies they would like to change.  Once in office, people fuss that their candidate didn’t win or their candidate did and look with anticipation of change.

We do this cycle every four years and sometimes it can’t come quickly enough and other times it went too fast.  We have become a society of grumbling and complaining because our political and personal desires are not being met.  We must be careful not to make our political ideology become an idol.  The answer to life’s problems does not come with a change in leadership or ideas, it comes at the hand of God alone.  Jesus says that things will get progressively worse before he returns.  

We are in a very different situation than Paul.  He is under the rule of Nero, who is extremely harsh to Christians.  Yet, he gives us a reality check.  No matter who is in office, God placed them there.  That doesn’t mean that he or she is a good leader or their ideas are good.  They could be straight-up evil, yet we still must submit. 

 Jesus himself told Pontius Pilate, that he would not have the power to crucify if it wasn’t given to him by the Father and submitted to his verdict and sentencing.  Since God places leaders in position, it would reflect poorly to bad mouth them or rebel against them.  This would be disobedience to God himself.  Whether you like them or not, give glory to God and live in a manner that brings him pleasure.

Are you submitting to the government or complaining?

Reading Plan: Psalm  72; Prov. 10; Rom 13:1-14;  Luke. 8:16-25

9 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 9 MAY 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed.  A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.  For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and be made known to all.” Luke 8:16-17

As a child, I learned songs that remain in the back of my mind.  When a phrase is read or a tune played, it brings it back to mind.  “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine..” Some of you are now humming a few bars or outright singing it now.  That will be stuck in your head all day, you are welcome.  It is a nice little diddy that encourages us to live out our faith in everyday life.  

Jesus likes to use metaphors, parables, sonship directives, and hard sayings in his teachings.  He does this to sift out people who will not believe or are there for the wrong reasons, but also as an object lesson to stick in their memory.  In doing this, it is quickly passed on to others orally.  Our faith is not a private matter only to be expressed on Sunday or in our home.  It is to be the foundation for all of life.

The light of faith has been given so others can experience God and come to saving faith.  It is also there for fellow believers to gain wisdom, insight, and direction when we are going through dark times.  The world wants you to put your faith in a box, but Jesus says to let it shine, to affect every part of your life, and to shape a biblical worldview.  This is not a suggestion from Jesus, it is expected.

Are you letting your light shine?

Reading Plan: Psalm  61, 62; Prov. 9; Rom 12:1-21;  Luke. 8:1-15

6 MAY 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 6 MAY 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Then he told John’s disciples, ‘God back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard-the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.’ and he added, ‘God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.’” Luke 7’23

We deal with daily expectations ranging from the service we should receive at a restaurant to relationships.  There is an inlaid hope that things will work out in our favor and we will be happy at the end of the day.  It does not always work like that.  Expectations are not always met for various reasons.  

John the Baptist is sitting in Jail for speaking truth to power and he is beginning to wonder if Jesus is truly the Messiah or if he got it wrong.  Expectations are not being met, so he sends his followers to investigate.  Maybe his expectations were not in alignment with reality.  Has that ever happened to you? Jesus gives them a testimony of word and deed that will answer the real question, the Messiah is on the scene.

John’s situation doesn’t change, but it does give him peace in the midst of it.  His expectations are reset against the plumb line of the Good News.  Jesus makes a statement at the end saying, ‘God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.’ People hear things about Jesus and form expectations that are out of alignment with the truth, then get angry and close their ears to his message.   God has given us the testimony of word and deed, but only a few will receive it.  Those that do receive the blessing of God.

Are your expectations of God out of alignment?

Reading Plan: Psalm  55; Prov. 6; Col. 3:12-18;  Luke 7:18-35

5 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 5 MAY 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

There is a saying, ‘Don’t be so heavenly-minded that you are of no earthly good’.  This passage has a different take.  When Jesus comes into your life, you will be transformed from glory to glory.  Your heart will change.  Your hunger and passion will shift from the things and ideas of this world to God.  You will find ultimate satisfaction and peace in God himself.

Your mindset will change.  Like the hymn says, ‘the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace’.   Your focus naturally goes where your heart is located.  Jesus says, ‘Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. When you are saved, Jesus turns your goals and drive toward things that really matter.   We focus on him and his desires for us.  We are shaped into his image by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Our human nature is cut out and a new nature is put into us and we are given new clothes to wear.  It is like putting on a uniform in the military, in that your identity and purpose are different.  Paul has to tell us what God expects when we put on this holy and righteous uniform.  We are acknowledging that the old is dead and the new has come, and we embrace all the things that are important to God.  As we follow his lead, we are transformed into his likeness thereby bringing glory to God.  In turn, we have the peace of God and joy forever.

When you become heavenly-minded, you really become an earthly good.  Your life brings more of heaven to earth.

Are you focused on the realities of heaven or earth?

Reading Plan: Psalm 40, 54; Prov. 5; Col. 3:1-11;  Luke 7:1-17