10 SEP 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 10 SEP 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.  Stretch out your hand with healing power, may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:29

There is something about this chapter that makes my heart warm with excitement and the feeling of being able to go out and do the work that God has given me to do.  Peter and John preached the gospel and healed the sick, and thousands of people came to faith in Jesus.  When we are faithful, we will be fruitful because the Holy Spirit will make it so.  We will see answers to prayers and lives changed.

We will also see people come against you doing the will of God.  If you are not getting pushback, then you are probably not sharing the Gospel.   Peter and John are brought before the religious leaders and questioned about who gave them the authority to do these things.  They were told not to do these things in Jesus’ name.  The Lord gave them boldness, confidence, and strength to resist the enemies of the cross.  They refused to stop preaching and healing.

When the church got together, Peter and John testified to all that the Lord had done through them and they rejoiced.  They also went to prayer.  They did not complain, gossip, or hate those who came against them.  They prayed that God would grant them ‘great boldness’ in preaching the word.  Think about that.  They didn’t shrink back from their calling.  They didn’t ask for the destruction of their enemies.  They desired to strike while the iron was hot and ask God to let the multiplication of the church continue.

 Are you praying for great boldness? Why not?

Reading Plan: Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Kings. 12:21-33; Acts 4:18-31; John 10:31-42

7 SEP 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 7 SEP 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“You want what you do not have, so you scheme and kill to get it.  You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.  Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.  And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are wrong-you want only what will give you pleasure.” James 4:2-3

One of our temptations to sin is to go after our desires at the expense of our relationship with Jesus.  The world focuses on pleasure and getting what you want.  It sparks lust of the eyes and flesh and pride of our accomplishments. (1 Jn. 2:16) James warns the church not to align itself with the world because our Master, Jesus, has expectations on our lives.

To be a friend of the world: its ways, ideologies, philosophies, and worldviews, is to become an enemy of God.  Sin dominated us prior to being called out to be the people of God.  We are no longer in bondage as a slave to sin but are Christ’s own forever.  We also are citizens of the Kingdom of God.  No Christian holds dual citizenship.

How we live is a reflection on our Lord and also affects our witness to non-believers and to fellow believers.  When we are so self-focused we become blind to what is really important and what ultimately matters.  Jesus commands our allegiance and knows that we cannot be a slave to two different masters.  You will hate the one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.  Every believer struggles with this at some point.

Are you struggling with being in the world and not of it?

Reading Plan: Psalm 37:1-18; 1 Kings. 11:26-43; James 3:13-4:12; Mark 15:12-21

6 SEP 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 6 SEP 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth.  Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” James 3:9-10

One thing that is evident in our culture today is our lack of control over our tongues.  From children to Presidents, people freely use bad language to express frustration, anger, and even happiness.  I even saw a shirt that said, “I’m a chaplain, but I cuss a little.”  Being a Navy Sailor, there are things within the culture that reinforce bad language, like the stereotype “cursing like a sailor”.   Ultimately, it  dishonors the Lord when you use bad language.

Paul speaks of what will “not” be in the life of a follower of Jesus.  “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” (Col. 3:8) The standard you set is the standard you get.  If you let it slide, then it will be the norm.  The Holy Spirit works on every believer in the areas of sin in your life.  He will turn up the heat to remove the dross and purify you.  He intends to have a holy people to himself, not an unholy one.

As you read the third chapter of James, he lays out different pictures to describe the tongue.  It has the power to heal and praise but also to damage and curse.  So how are you doing?

Do you have a praising mouth or a potty mouth?

Reading Plan: Psalm 28; 1 Kings. 9:24-10:13; James 3:1-12; Mark 15:1-11

5 SEPT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 5 SEP 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” James 2:14

My dad used to use the phrase, ‘The proof is in the pudding’. As a kid, I would scratch my head when I heard it.  People can say they are a believer, but the proof is in how they live out their lives.  People say a prayer, raise their hands, and walk the aisle, but their lives never reflect that they belong to Jesus.  There is a difference between profession and possession.  The proof is in the pudding. 

When a person goes to trial, the prosecutor has to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt their guilt.  He presents evidence and brings witnesses to the stand to enforce his case against the defendant.  Here is the question, Is there enough evidence to prove the person guilty? James is not saying that the person is not reconciled to God, as in  ultimate justification.  Is there enough evidence in your life to prove the claim that you are a follower of Jesus? 

James is contending against people who seek to embrace Jesus as Savior without embracing Him as Lord.  Lord means master and authority which is Jesus’ place in our lives.  We on the other hand are slaves.  We have been purchased and are no longer belong to ourselves nor in bondage to sin.  We do what Jesus says to do.  If we do not, then we are not His.  Jesus himself says, ‘Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and don’t do what I say?’

Is there enough evidence in your life to prove you are a Christian?

Reading Plan: Psalm 26, 28; 1 Kings  8:65-9:9; James 2:14-9:9; Mark 14:66-72

4 SEP 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 4 SEP 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” James 2:9-10

James warns the church of being prejudiced and showing favoritism, especially between the rich and poor believers.  It is a poor reflection on our Lord and Savior to treat others differently because of what they bring to the table or not.  It becomes a sin to do this.  Here lies the rub.

In the life of a believer, we will have all kinds of fellow Christians that we will be in relationship with.  God is drawing the nations to himself including those from every tribe, tongue, and socio-economic status.  We are commanded to love one another, in particular fellow family members of the faith.  This is a real test at times.  Many churches today are separated by these differences, but it will not be so in heaven.  We will all be together.

Learning to connect with fellow believers is a must.  Paul tells us that we are many parts, but one body.  Each believer is a valued member and will have complementary gifts that serve the church.  If one is missing, so is the connection to the others and the blessing they are to the whole.  The rich and the poor are alike in that God made them both.  You are where you are because God put you there.  Will you always be poor? Maybe or maybe not.  Will you always be rich? Maybe or maybe not. 

You will always be connected to Jesus if you belong to Him.  No one can separate you from Him and you will always have brothers and sisters in Christ.  God chose his kids, so get to know them and grow that relationship.

How are you doing with fellow believers?

Reading Plan: Psalm 25; 2 Chorn. 6:32-7:7; James 2:1-13; Mark 14:53-65