23 JUL 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 23 JUL 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least it could have gotten some interest on it.’  Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25: 26-27, 30

One of the more shocking stories in the New Testament is the Parable of the three servants.  Jesus uses these parables, hard sayings, and sonship teachings to filter out those who are not His and a wake-up call.  God had given the Jews a task they were responsible for, but they did not do it.  The expectation that God has is that we are faithful to what he has given us and obey all that he has commanded.

Sometimes we believe we think that we are responsible for the fruit and the quantity.  We see two of the servants double their investment and see the numbers.  We also read that Jesus commands us to be fruitful and bear much fruit.  We think we need to keep track of those numbers so we can show Jesus his return on investment.  The actual numbers and fruitfulness are not within our control.  That is not what Jesus looks at.

Jesus looks at our faithfulness and our heart.  If we are faithful, we will be fruitful.  The problem in the passage is with the person that decides to bury the gift that was entrusted to him rather than use it for what it was intended.  This person did not bear fruit. He was unfaithful and useless to the Master.  This is an issue with people in the church today.  We are disobedient and refuse to use the gift of life purchased for us to live for God.  We still live for ourselves and our desires.  In reality, we have wasted our life! Let this passage make you reflect on your life.  

When Jesus returns, will he find you faithful and fruitful or useless?

Reading Plan: Psalm 63:1-8, 98; 1 Sam. 23:7-18; Rom. 11:33-12:2;  Matt. 25:14-30

21 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 

21 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.” Acts 13:15

The format of a synagogue service is very similar to traditional services in the church today.  An interesting part didn’t make it through except for house churches, such as impromptu speakers, and questioning.  We do have planned guest speakers to come to our churches to teach specifically on topics in which there is expertise or when the pastor needs a break.  

Rarely does the person who leads the service glance or scans the audience and asks someone to bring a word of encouragement. Why? Well, it is scary.  You never know what is going to fly out of someone’s mouth.  The structure and size of our service do not yield to that kind of flexibility nor do we discern the Spirit at that level.  In the synagogue, there is a period of question and answer on what the Rabi has taught.

Asking questions is a part of the learning process and helps us to better understand information, concepts, application, and the development of relationships.  We do rebuttals like “amen or preach it brother”, in order to affirm the pastor in the good thing he is saying.  In a lecture format, people are not accustomed to asking questions and discussing the effects on their lives.  This is the way to fortify discipleship within the context of worship, but it takes an adjustment to the way we do things.

Paul always looked for opportunities to either share the gospel or develop the saints’ maturity and for the mission.  When called upon he would bring a word.  We have to be ready to do so as well whether in a large gathering, house church, or individually with a person over coffee.

Are you prepared to bring a word of encouragement?

Reading Plan: Psalm 31; 1 Sam. 21:1-15; Acts 13:13-25;  Mark 3:7-19a

20 JUL 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 20 JUL 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.  They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.  There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God.” Acts 13:4-5

When you enter into a relationship with God Almighty and surrender your life to “his” will, things can get interesting and exciting.  You never know what adventure the good Lord will take you on.  Saul, also known as Paul, came to saving faith during an encounter with Jesus that left him literally blind for a few days.  Another believer, Ananias, also was put on an adventure to minister to a known terrorist!

Both men were obedient to the Lord’s orders even though initially they were scared of the unknown.  Paul had to learn to just “do” what the Lord commanded and he got to see the hand of God work through his life.  This was no fuzzy unicorn life of tooting rainbows and butterflies.  Walking with God takes you to places you may not want to go, you may suffer, and have to deal with all kinds of evil people.

Barnabas and Paul were sent from a great church to a place where the gospel had not been heard.  God put them in difficult situations to be salt and light.  Sometimes God takes you to a place and you see no fruit.  That doesn’t mean that he is not working and doing things in the midst of your turmoil.  Your presence in that very situation brings the maker of heaven and earth to bear on the people.

God always gives some or a few that are prepared to receive him for the first time and others that need investing.  We can trust that God will clear away the obstacles for people to hear the good news about Jesus.  Paul had to clear away a demonic sorcerer in this passage that tried to keep a man from hearing the gospel.  God removed that obstacle and he will do the same for us.

Are you on an adventure with the Lord?

Reading Plan: Psalm 37:1-18; 1 Sam. 20:24-42; Acts 13:1-12;  Mark 2:23-3:6

16 JUL 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 16 JUL 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.  As a result, all who believe in this are made right with God.” Romans 10: 4

There are so many in this world who labor to gain the attention and favor of God.  They religiously attend meetings, worship, and prayer times, and try to do good works.  They are under the impression that there is a scale that determines the fate of their life if they can only “do” enough to outweigh the bad deeds they have done.  When Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and Muslims connect with me in conversation they are quick to say what they “do”.

They must feel worn out checking the boxes on their self-righteousness menu, always hoping, yet never securing eternal life for themselves.  At the end of the day, they hope in the mercy of God to save them.  Have they “done” enough to get them over the bar? The answer is, no! No one is made right with God through good works, no one.  The scale is crushed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ work on the cross accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.

Any good works we do are considered dirty rags. (Isaiah 64:6).  No one is good or does good, not one. (Lk 18:19, Rm 3:12) All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rm. 3:23) If we say that we are good when God says that we are not, then we are self-righteous and call God a liar.  This should strike us with fear and humility which points us to our need for Jesus.

Jesus is good, holy, and righteous.  He lived a life among his creation and did not sin, thus fulfilling the law.  Only he was able to do this.  The wonderful news is, we can be made right with God by believing in Jesus for what he did on the cross for us.  He exchanges our sins and gives us his righteousness so that we can be presented to the Father holy and blameless.  Our task is to hear, believe, and obey his word, plus pass it on to everyone we know. (HBO-Plus)

Do you have HBO-Plus?

Reading Plan: Psalm 148, 149, 150; 1 Sam. 17:50-18:4; Rom. 10:4-17;  Matt. 23:29-39

14 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 14 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.  You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16

When people are asked if they believe in an afterlife, many say yes.  But what do they think it will be like? Some of the responses are that there is a heaven and that place is a paradise of beauty and lots of good food.  Muslim men will often state the sensual gratification of numerous wives they can take pleasure in.  Others have ideas that I think they come up with on the fly.  While heaven itself is a beautiful place, much of what we hear is not there.

We miss the biggest reason to be in heaven! That is to be in the full presence of God, face to face.  If you are hoping to see anything else more than Him, then you probably are not going at all.  We are in a bad habit of creating a god to suit ourselves and a heaven to our liking.  That is what God calls idolatry.  We are very good at that.  Look at all the people on social media, video games, and virtual reality simulations.  They are trying to escape the reality of this life and live in one that affirms their sin and evil desires.

The psalmist (David) in chapter 16, understands that there is nothing in this life that will satisfy us apart from God.  The Lord alone is his inheritance and cup of blessing. (v.5) God’s continued presence in our daily life is a blessing to us in that he guides, instructs, and fills us with contentment and satisfaction “in” Him.  That produces joy and causes us to rejoice in God.  Some people say that heaven would be boring because people are worshiping God for eternity.  

Why do you think they say that? Because even the best stuff they do now doesn’t bring satisfaction or joy.  Everything fades, rusts, and becomes old.  They project that on what the bible says about heaven.  God tells us that the saved will have unending joy and that everything done in heaven will be satisfying.  

Do you look forward to meeting your maker (Jesus)?

Reading Plan: Psalm 18:1-20; 1 Sam. 16:14-17:11; Acts 10:17-33;  Luke. 24:36-53