29 NOV 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 29 NOV 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who call you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

I often ponder the relationship that God has with Israel and why he is selective in choosing people to be his possession.  If you look back in the Old Testament, you find people who aren’t too smart or big, just nobodies in the world.  If there were a bunch of kids on the playground and you were choosing players for the team, they would not be on yours.  They didn’t bring anything to the table that would warrant attention from other nations or even God.

But God.  God has made plans so detailed that it will blow your mind.  Most of the world can’t deal with the fact that God created our world, the stars, the planets, the solar systems, and the universe.  He chose to put life on this planet and sustain it even putting a creature that is made in his image above all other creatures.  Humans are the only creatures on earth that can be in an eternal relationship with God.  That is being very selective and people even in the church get offended by this.

Israel was chosen by God to be his people, he will be their God, and he expanded that people group when Jesus came by adding Gentiles from every nation, tribe, and tongue.  God decided to do this before the world was created knowing that he would save some and not all.  The same way he chose Israel initially, is the same way he chooses who will be his today.  It is his secret will and no one comes to faith or is saved without him deciding who that is.  We do not bring anything to the table that will make his team better.

His mercy and grace are amazing; he would pull us out of darkness and into his marvelous light.  Peter says that knowing and understanding this will give a passion to worship him and share this good news with others.  While we do not know who his people will be, we do know his lost sheep are out there ready to be found.  We need to get busy doing search and rescue.

Have you been brought into the fold of the family of God?

Daily Reading:   Psalm 119: 145-176; Obadiah 15-21; 1 Peter 2:1-10; Matthew 19:23-30

28 NOV 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 28 NOV 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control.  But now you must be holy in everything that you do, jas as God who chose you is holy.” 1 Peter 1:13a, 15

There are so many times followers of Jesus will ask what is God’s will for their life and what should I be doing. The will of God is in two parts, revealed and secret.  Everything you need to know for your life here on earth is ‘revealed’ right in the Holy Scriptures.  Start applying the word to your life because there is more than enough there for an entire lifetime.  The secret will of God is just that, a secret.  It is not meant for you to know.

Peter tells his readers that there is a call on our lives to be holy people because God himself is holy.  This doesn’t come naturally to us because our human nature is unholy.  We sin in every part of our lives, so it will take real work on our part and the help of the Holy Spirit.  The action of holiness starts in the mind and it can be a battle.  Paul says that we have to let God transform our minds and change the way we think.

Again Paul states in his letter to the Galatians that our sinful nature wants to do evil, which is the opposite of what the Spirit wants.  These two forces are constantly fighting each other.  The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives, one of which is self-control.  It is the ability to override or overcome our own human nature and do the thing that is pleasing to God.  As it is exercised, it grows stronger and helps you to develop a holy and godly life.

Peter says the ultimate goal is to become holy in everything you do because it makes you more like God.  How are you doing with that? As you are doing life, you can put on the lenses of holiness and ask yourself how you are doing.  You must be intentional about applying the word and the standard of holiness in order to bring about real lasting change.  God the Holy Spirit is here to help you to see areas of need and the power to succeed in them.

Would people you know think you are holy?

Reading Plan: Psalm 121, 122, 123; Nahum 1:1-13; 1 Pet. 1:13-25; Matt. 19:13-22 

27 NOV 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 27 NOV 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance-an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.” 1 Pet. 1:3b-4

Typically, I look at life with low expectations so I am not disappointed.  Some people think that is a terrible way to look at life or your interaction with people.  The reason is people are not perfect, broken, and often oversell and underdeliver thereby leaving us disappointed.  I’m not saying you should have low standards, there is a difference.  Set standards high but keep expectations low and you will experience less disappointment.

Peter looks forward to Jesus and the next life with great expectation because God is perfect, holy, and never fails us.  He can be trusted to do what he promises and delivers to the uttermost.  Peter goes on to say that our inheritance is safe in heaven and it is pure, undefiled, and cannot change or even decay.  Everything on earth is impure, defiled, changes, and decays, but heaven is not the same.  His outlook on earthly temporary things is different from heavenly eternal things.

Jesus also chimes in on this and says that our treasure cannot be destroyed by moths, rust, or stolen because it is protected and secured by God himself. (Matt. 619-29)  This is great news that we can be fully assured and never be disappointed.  This is why Peter can have ‘great expectations’ for the future and so can we.  We can live this life for Christ in radical obedience without worrying about the future and expect God to do all that he intends through us.

When we fully trust in God and surrender our lives to him, we can have this kind of confidence now and in the life to come. 

Do you have great expectations for eternity?

Reading Plan: Psalm 106:1-18; Joel 3:1-2, 9-17; 1 Pet. 1:1-12; Matt. 19:1-12

26 NOV 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 26 NOV 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king - bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.” Luke 19:27

There was a time when Israel wanted to be like everyone else and decided that they would like a king instead of following God’s leading and receiving his providence and protection.  God warned them of what they would get for accepting a mortal as their leader and how he would rule over them.  This was a great offense to God, their maker and redeemer.

An earthly king would draft their sons for the military, force them to be farmers, and manufacture weapons and war materials. He would take their daughters and force them into labor for him and would tax their wealth and the best of their property.  They would eventually beg for relief because of how they were treated, but the Lord would not respond. (1 Sam. 8)  

Jesus tells the story of a nobleman who is rejected by the Jews as their king.  He assigns the people a task and expects them to follow through by being faithful and obedient.  There are people who are faithful, and disobedient, and many who reject him whom he calls his enemies.  Jesus says that the disobedient would be stripped of what was given to them and the ones who rejected Jesus will be judged and executed.

People who have mistakenly portrayed Jesus as one to overlook their rejection of him in this life will have a rude awakening in the next life.  Those people will not receive mercy and grace but will receive justice and sentencing to the second death.  The blunt and direct words of Jesus are meant to bring about change in your mind and heart while there is still time.  

Have you received Jesus as Lord?

Reading Plan: Psalm 118; Isa. 19:19-25; Rom. 15:5-13; Luke 19:11-27 

25 NOV 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 25 NOV 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Then Peter came to him and asked, Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? No, not seven times, Jesus replied, but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21-22

Being in the Thanksgiving mindset, post-November 23rd, I began thinking of all the things I am thankful for.  I find it a good way to combat anxiety and depression by making an ongoing list of specific things that I am thankful for writing them on slips of paper and putting them in a box.  As I am feeling low, anxious, or worried I pull out a slip of paper and read it.  I then give praise and thanksgiving to God for what is written on the paper and before long peace and joy come.

The biggest thing I put on a piece of paper is real forgiveness.  Being forgiven is a powerful thing that has been given to us for those who believe, but it is also a sweet gift of mercy that we can give others and others to us.  God has forgiven us all of our sins, wrongdoings, and thoughts that have offended him.  For forgiveness to work there needs to be repentance, remission, restitution, reconciliation, and restoration. 

Forgiveness is conditional on repentance both to God and other people.  If there isn’t repentance then there isn’t forgiveness.  If we have been violated or sinned against, we must be ready to forgive when repentance happens.  Remember all that we have put Jesus through torture and crucifixion and then look at what people have done to us.  Our offense to God is always greater than anything that others do to us.  Jesus forgives all who repent of their sins and turn to him in faith.

When God forgives sins, he doesn’t forget your sins but doesn’t hold those sins against you in the future.  Your sins are washed away like blood-stained wool being made white as snow.  So when we forgive a person, we give that person a clean slate and will not bring those wrongs up again in the future.  Then the other R’s above can take place to get us to full restoration of relationships because of the power of forgiveness.  God has given that to us and demands that we do the same for others.

Are you forgiving those who do you wrong?

Reading Plan: Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6; Isa. 65:17-25; Rev. 22:14-21; Matt. 18:21-35