Devotional Thought: Nothing Without Jesus

 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5

    What can we really accomplish without the continual presence and power of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All growing believers are reminded on a very regular basis that nothing good happens without the grace of God working in our lives. Each day we are acting and reacting to all types of people and circumstances. We are doomed to fail in our efforts to bring honor, praise, and glory to our Savior if we are not staying close to the provision of God in our lives. In Christ we have been redeemed from our lost state to have close fellowship with the triune God. This includes the abilities that are necessary for serving the Lord's purposes in this world. Relying on the Lord to help us must begin first with the acknowledgment that we can't do anything truly good on our own. This acknowledgment and realization brings us to the low state of humility that is ready and willing to accept help from the Lord. Sometimes we are too stubborn to receive help and instruction, but those who have been saved through Christ understand the sinfulness that they have been saved from. The moment of salvation serves as a continual reminder of our inabilities but also the glorious power of God. As we continually remember God's power and turn to the presence of our Savior, we are ready to bear fruit for Him in this world. Bearing fruit involves the outworking of God's character and goodness in our own life that is on display for those around us to see. When people see God's work in our lives through Jesus, we bring praise to the goodness and faithfulness of God. Praise, honor, and glory belong to the Lord so let's strive for the fruits of holiness in Christ. Let's be unified with true unity that only comes under the Lordship of Christ.

Devotional Thought: Your Changing Reflection

 

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." -Romans 12:1-2

What do you see when you look in the mirror? How has your perception of who you are changed through the course of your life? Perceptions of our personality and tendencies of thoughts and intentions do evolve naturally over time. This natural process of maturing, but also being shaped by your life experiences, occurs for everyone. For the follower of Jesus, the continued work of growing in holiness according to the Word of God is the ongoing process that changes. Our individual personalities, talents, and tendencies will always  be unique to but will grow into the boundaries of godliness as we grow in Christ. God wants to use our personalities and unique traits to further His Kingdom and work in this world. Gifts and abilities are wonderful when they are biblical and God honoring. These can become idolatrous when we serve the purposes of our selfish desires or if they produce wickedness. Sometimes we find ourselves feeling insecure about who we are or frustrated with the inability to mortify the sins of the flesh so that our personalities will proceed toward conforming to godliness. Our confidence must always be in the Lord and that all things are working to change us into who He created us to be in the first place. Our reflection changes because the image of God is being restored in all of us if we have trusted in Jesus as our one and only Savior to reconcile us to God. To be happy with our reflection we must surrender to this continued restoration of God's image even while He utilizes our individual giftedness for His glory. So no matter your quirks and tendencies, lean into the traits of God outlined in His Word. We must surrender to the Holy Spirit's directions to the way of obedience to His word. Then the changing reflection will be more and more satisfying as your are content with Christ alone. 

Devotional Thought: Living and Speaking God's Message

 

"For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me." - Galatians 1:11-23 ESV

The message of our lives is not our own, but the revelation of God revealed through God the Son, Jesus Christ. Paul outlines his history and calling as a servant and minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Recalling his former life of rebellion that hurt the kingdom of God through active persecution of the church provides evidence of a true calling. Our testimonies can bring reinforcement to the motivations behind our efforts to declare the word of God through our lives. This includes conversion and the ongoing journey through the life of faith up to this point. Being truly devoted to our calling as a Christian is being determined to live for the Lord no matter the obstacles and hardships. In fact, the hardships provide great illustrations of how faith and obedience persevere by the power of God in Christ. Since eternal life and present devotion is only by the power of God, the true message is not man made. Man made movements often fade over time or under the fires of hardship. The power of God prevails over all things. We can continue to speak and live for the glory of God knowing that we can overcome through his provision. The key is really to continue taking more steps of obedience to openly share our faith. Let's do that today!

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: EXAMINATION, RESTORATION, AND TRUTH

 

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down." -2 Corinthians 13:5-10

    

    The goal of all efforts in the life of the church is to bring restoration. We are first restored in Christ through salvation. Constant confession and repentance is needed to continue in faithfulness to this restored relationship. We secure in our salvation by the power of God through Jesus. Testing and examining ourselves is a way to ensure that we have truly had a salvation experience. The  genuine believer is able to remember the joy of salvation by reflecting on the trust he possesses in the work of Jesus to bring salvation. Paul encourages the Corinthians to examine themselves rather than question his apostleship. Paul was confident in the authority that God had given him, even if these individuals could not see it or at least questioned it. By looking to their genuineness of salvation the solution to these accusations would be found. Paul was certain that he was operating according to the truth. Truth is what holds together the people of God for the purposes of being built up. He was also eager to accept if it was his own weakness and they were in fact strong. But examination according to the truth would reveal this. If we are going to stay close to the Lord in faithfulness, we must look inward, seek the truth,  and find restoration as the solution. The great Apostle was wanting this end of edification and restoration without needing to be "severe or sharp." He assured them that even this was for the goal of restoration in truth. We all need this process in our life for growth in bringing glory to our Lord and Savior. I believe this looks like regular prayer and meditation in the word of God. Our attitude that must accompany this is to surrender to truth in order to change. We can't resist, refute, or ignore truth. We must surrender. The joy of salvation is sure to be present in the process of continual surrender that moves us along to the practical righteousness enabled by our Savior through the indwelling of Holy Spirit. Let's be open to self examination in pursuit of the truth for our restoration that builds up! All is for the glory of God! God is faithful and good!

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: GOD'S PLAN IS ON TIME

 

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." -2 Peter 3:8-9

    We need hope. Discouragement during the perilous times of this world threaten to dominate our thoughts. Dwelling on the evil times has the effect of bringing discouragement and down right sadness. This negative emotions can grow to become heavy burdens such as anxiety. If our lives are anchored in the promises of God, we are able to turn away from this and find hope that does not disappoint. A large theme of all of scripture is that God has a plan. We are to constantly look to the Lord for the fulfillment of this plan that brings complete redemption for Christians and judgment to all that is in opposition to the one true God and His Kingdom. As we wait for the fulfillment of the plan to completion. we must meditate and find comfort in the promises of God. In Christ our promise from God is the completion of salvation with deliverance into His eternal Kingdom in Heaven. Patience is the important factor in this passage above. God is not slow or behind schedule. With every piece of bad news and tragic occurrence of evil, we are faced with the inevitable presence of darkness leading to discouragement. God's patience is for the purpose of more coming to repentance. This for more individuals that will be a part of His Kingdom to come to salvation through saving faith in the one and only Savior Jesus Christ. His patience is also for more time for the church (God's people) to work His goodness through the spread of Gospel and ongoing discipleship. His patience is His gracious giving of opportunity to run from sin and embrace Him. We must make the best use of this time with hope. (Ephesians 5:15-16) Since nothing is out of His control and He is not behind on His plan, we must continue to try to live out His purpose until He comes with perseverance. His promises are certain so our hope in Him is certain and not in vain. Let's resist the ensnarement of discouragement by decisively turning to the Lord in faithfulness trusting in the hope of His promises.   

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: SERVING WITH FEAR AND AWE

 

"It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth." -Deuteronomy 6:13-15

    Every true believer knows the mission of life is to submit to the triune God with complete loyalty, as He is Lord. The life of submission becomes challenging because we get too passive, relax, and distracted. False loyalties to idolatrous pursuits can creep into our lives very subtly. People who really love God and walk with Christ would never intentionally turn their loyalties elsewhere.  The slow fade of compromise begins with seeking fulfillment through someone or something else. Only service to the Lord and dwelling in Him can truly satisfy our souls. Throughout the Old Testament the nation of Israel struggled to keep their attention and loyalties on the one true God. Even though they had previously experienced His goodness and blessing, they became complacent or even arrogant. Compromise and rebellion soon followed as they were distracted. We must seek only to please God with everything in our lives. God desires our whole life. The affection of God upon our life should fill us with thankful diligence to please the Lord in full submission to Him. Let's intentional turn to Him today and find our everything in serving the purposes of His Kingdom. God is sovereign and we trust in Him! 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:GOD'S GOODNESS AND PERFECT BALANCE

 

"The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” -Exodus 34:6-7

    We are all prone to extremes. Our opinions and beliefs are vulnerable to the corruption of sin. The environment of sin as well as the remnant of our sin nature often carries us away from balanced truth. God is perfect in every way. His nature keeps in perfect balance the characteristics that we find it almost difficult to comprehend. Love is the most attractive aspect of God that we promote and is the lasting trait of a believer that is walking faithfully with God. However, God is also wrathful and just in executing judgment for the sake of preserving His holiness.  Even with perfect patience, God is moved to righteous anger at the appropriate time to carry out righteous judgment. This is beyond human ability and understanding. We just can't grasp a loving God executing righteous judgment with righteous anger. But this is true. God has revealed this through His Word. Even the works of God that are seemingly harsh are initiated by love seeking to lead humanity to salvation, repentance, and growth. This passage clearly states that the Lord is full of grace and mercy but will not ignore the guilty. He is ready to forgive but also to discipline the rebellious. 

    In response to God nature, the faithful believer is convicted to show close communion with the Lord of his life by being an example of God's working. Walking with God leads us to constant repentance and growth in perfect balance. To not drift into the extremes is a daily struggle. If we are extreme in ruthlessness; we are drifting into sinfulness. If we are extreme in passive earthly love; we easily compromise on truth and tolerate sin in ourselves and others. This is contrary to godliness. We must uphold all standards of godliness through allowing the work of the One True God in our minds and hearts. Finding true balance that is perfect righteousness can only happen through the power of God and submission to Him. Let's engage in the struggle with surrender to God work. Looking to our great example and resting in Him with all thankfulness; we can surrender to grow. We must continue on progressing with all prayerfulness and carefulness.