Author Archives: Chris Hendrix

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About Chris Hendrix

My name is Chris Hendrix and I live in Houston. I've had some spectacular failures in my life. I've been divorced, bankrupt, lost a business and just about everything I once held dear. I've lived through them and learned from them. God has somehow found me worthy enough to use me to share my testimony, give hope, teach lessons I've learned and to bring encouragement from His Word to others. My hope is that in reading these devotionals that I post Monday through Friday, you will start your day off thinking about God and His promises to you instead of all the worries that life brings. If we learn to focus on Him first instead of our problems, we will see that He is greater than anything we'll face today. You haven't gone further than His love can reach or failed so badly that He can't use you. You can follow me on twitter at @devotionsbyme or to set up a speaking engagement, you can send an email to chris@devotionsbychris.com
April 12, 2023 · 5:41 AM

Creating Harmony

Years ago a guy came waltzing into my store demanding to speak to the manager. When I asked him how I could help him, he replied, “You’ve got to hire me! I’m the best salesman you ever saw.” He talked very highly of himself for a few minutes then asked for a job. I sent him to the online portal to apply, but told him I didn’t have any openings. Honestly, I didn’t want him on my team. He was hired by another manager a few months later. He came by to tell me I had made a mistake in letting someone else hire him. I then gave him some friendly advice. I told him there’s a fine line between confidence and conceited. One attracts people and the other repels them. He had come off as very conceited. He appreciated the frankness and learned to dial it back which resulted in lots of sales for him.

After David had been anointed king, the actual king, Saul, decided to kill him which sent David on the run. One of the places David hid was the Cave of Adullam. 1 Samuel 22 says that his father and brothers joined him there. Verse 2 says, “Everyone who was suffering hardship, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him” (AMP). David could have been conceited and been upset at the quality of people whom God sent to him. These were the outcasts of society. He could have denied them access, but he didn’t. He took them in and created an army. Thirty seven of these men became famous for their bravery and battlefield heroics. David found a way to lead these men and get along with them creating a formidable group capable of beating entire cities.

Romans 12:16 says, “Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.” That’s some good advice. When I find myself not getting along with someone, I have to evaluate myself. Am I the one who is being conceited, self important or exclusive? What can I do to find harmony with this person? I don’t have to be friends with them. But I do need to find a way to be at peace with them, especially if they’re believers. Who knows if God has brought them into my life to help me, shape me or learn from me? If I think too highly of myself, I might reject the very person God put in my life. I’m sure you can think of an outcast that’s shown up in your life too. Seek humility and harmony before kicking them out of your cave.

Photo by Etienne Boulanger on Unsplash

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April 11, 2023 · 5:38 AM

Go Home

Have you ever been in a missions service where a missionary shared the work they were doing? What about a service where they taught in the Great Commission? Chances are that you felt a strong tug on your heart to “go into all the world.” You May have even prayed, “Lord, here am I, send me…just don’t send me to that part of the world.” We feel that strong tug because the Great Commission was to all of us. We are all called to go into all the world. We usually don’t consider our job, our neighborhood or our city as being included in “all the world,” but it is. Not everyone is called to be a missionary in a foreign country. However, we are all called to make disciples wherever we go.

In John 4, we read where Jesus took a strange detour through Samaria. The disciples were probably a bit confused because Jews and Samaritans hated each other. While they went to search for food, Jesus sat by a well. When a woman came to the well, Jesus spoke to her and asked for water. During their discussion, He explained He had living eater. He also told her all about herself and that He was the Messiah. She ran back into her town and told everyone about Him. They all came out because of her testimony of her encounter with Him. He stayed for a couple of days. They then said that they no longer believed because of her word. Now they had experienced Him themselves. One woman led an entire city to the Lord. She didn’t have to go into all the world. She just had to go home.

In Luke 8, we read where Jesus delivered the demoniac from Gaderene. He was filled with so many demons, they called themselves “Legion”. They asked to be cast into the pigs and they were. The man was delivered and wanted to follow Jesus. In verse 39 Jesus said, “‘Return home and tell [about] all the great things God has done for you.’ So the man went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him” (AMP). Just like these two people, most of us are called to go home and make disciples. There are people all around you today who need you to answer that call to go and make disciples. There are people who need to hear your testimony and see your life lived for Christ. You may be the only Jesus they meet today. Help set them free by the power of Jesus and win your town to Him one person at a time.

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April 10, 2023 · 5:51 AM

Choices

Since I can remember, I have never liked being told what to do. I like being asked to do something, but take away my choice and something rises up in me. My parents learned this about me early on. They would tell me I could eat my broccoli or I could stay at the table. I could see the TV from where I sat, so I stayed at the table a few nights until bedtime. They wised up and said I could eat my broccoli or I could go to my room and go to bed. That motivated me to do something about the broccoli. Sometimes I liked the choices given to me, and other times I didn’t. I’ve learned that in life choices have consequences. Some have good consequences and some not so good. I’ve also learned that my choices don’t exist in a vacuum. No matter what I choose, it affects people all around me.

When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden, He gave them lots of choices. In the middle of the garden He planted the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He told them not to eat from that tree. It wasn’t long until the serpent came in Genesis 3 to tempt them with choosing to eat from that tree. He asked, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Eve responded, “‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden. It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die’” (NLT). The serpent challenged her trust in God’s Word and she chose to eat it. She then offered some to Adam and he chose to eat it as well. They then chose to try to conceal it from God and faced the consequences of their choices.

In Deuteronomy 11:26 God offered Israel (and us) a choice. He said, “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse!” It seems like an easy choice, but we choose the curse over the blessing pretty often. The good news is God is there to forgive us when we make the wrong choice. Life would have been easier without the choice, but God, who is love, understands that if He were to remove our choice, it would remove our ability to love Him fully. The choice isn’t there to trick us or tempt us. It’s there so that we can choose our creator over the things He created. It’s to show if we trust Him or ourselves. To this day, He still gives each of us this choice. As you go about your day, you’re going to be given several opportunities to choose what He wants or what you want. Either one you choose has consequences. You can have a blessing or a curse. One choice may offer you an immediate result, while His results often come over time. Listen to the Holy Spirit and seek His wisdom in what you choose daily.

Photo by Einar Storsul on Unsplash

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April 7, 2023 · 5:46 AM

Resurrection

On Good Friday, we spend a lot of time thinking about the cross, as we should. It’s the day we recognize the death and burial of Jesus. Because He died, our sins were paid for, but dying wasn’t enough. The Early Church, and the New Testament, recognizes His death, but the focus is on His resurrection because that’s what gives us new life. The resurrection is what gives us hope of being resurrected ourselves one day as we rise to eternal life. Jesus took away the keys and finality of death. It’s something we all must face, but now it is not the end. We don’t have to despair as the disciples did that Friday. We get to live in the hope of knowing that Sunday is on the way! Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday.

Here are some Bible verses on resurrection.

1. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 GNT

2. But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death].

1 Corinthians 15:20 AMP

3. And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me. I will be one with him in his sufferings and become like him in his death.

Philippians 3:10 TPT

4. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die.”

John 11:25 GNT

5. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

Matthew 28:6 NLT

Photo credit: me

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April 6, 2023 · 5:30 AM

Maundy Thursday

Today is day 5 of Holy Week. It is referred to as Maundy Thursday.

John 13 – 18 tells us what all happened on Thursday during Jesus’ final week before the crucifixion. It starts at the Last Supper. I think we forget sometimes that this was the Passover Meal. Many Christians don’t understand what all this meal entails because we don’t celebrate it like a Jew would. It is a meal that is eaten in order telling a story taking you from slavery to freedom. I find that interesting since that is what Jesus was doing for us during that particular Passover. He was taking us, who were slaves to sin, to a life of freedom in Him. Because of what He was about to endure, you and I could be set free spiritually.

Jesus also washed His disciple’s feet that evening. If you’ve ever been to a foot washing service, you know how humbling this is. Peter wouldn’t let a Him do it. He pushed back, but Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Peter then popped back, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” We act like Peter a lot when Jesus tries to do something truly great for us. We resist Him. We resist the work He’s trying to do in our life. We resist when He tries to cleanse us of a sin. We resist when He tries to put us in position to do ministry. Jesus is patient with us though our resistance.

Jesus then instituted the Lord’s Supper, communion or the sacraments depending on how you refer to it. Matthew 26:26-28 tells us that He took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to His disciples. He said, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body which is given for you.” Then He took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.” Each time you and I partake in this, we are to remember what He did for us on the cross. The price He paid for our freedom was His life. You are worth more than you can imagine.

They then went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives to pray and reflect on the evening. Jesus went to pray by Himself. He asked God if it there was another way to do this. He said, “If it’s possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet, I want your will to be done not mine.” Jesus struggled with the thought of being beaten, being whipped, being hung on a cross, bearing the sins of the world and being separated from the Father. His human nature was trying to walk away from the cross, but He submitted to the Father’s will. He understood that to follow God’s will means we’ll have to give up our will. Through prayer, we can overcome the doubt and thoughts that try to stop us from fulfilling our calling.

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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April 5, 2023 · 5:48 AM

Handcrafted

Do you know what’s the difference between a Ford and a Rolls Royce? Ok, so there’s a lot of them! You can buy a Ford for around $40,000. A Rolls Royce will cost you more than $400,000. What about the difference between a Timex watch and a Patel Philippe? You can get a Timex for about $30. The most expensive watch ever sold was a Patel Philippe for just under $24,000,000, but you can get a cheap one in the six figure range. I could go on, but you want to know what the real difference is between these? One is handcrafted by master artisans. They don’t skimp on the details and each piece is carefully put together to create a masterpiece. That’s what gives each of these such great value.

In Genesis 1 -2, we read the story of creation. The earth was formless and void when God spoke, “Let there be light.” Boom, there was light! “Let there be land.” It rose up out of the seas. “Let there be planets and stars, animals, fish, trees, plants and everything else.” Boom! Boom! Boom! There they were. Then Genesis 2:7 says, “Then the Lord God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it; he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live” (GNT). He spoke almost everything into existence, and all of creation has great value, but He handcrafted people. He reached down, got some ordinary dirt and formed Adam, leaving His fingerprints all over us. Then He breathed into us.

Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (ESV). He didn’t just form Adam and Eve. He formed you as well. You are fearfully and wonderfully handcrafted. Ephesians 2:10 says we are His workmanship. All His handcrafted works are wonderful, including you. There are a lot of voices out there that will try to tell you otherwise. They’ll try to pin your value on your past instead of on the fingerprints you carry. When you look in the mirror and hear those voices, push back! Say the truth that you are a priceless work of art. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Say it until your soul knows it very well.

Photo by Caroline Veronez on Unsplash

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April 4, 2023 · 5:52 AM

Don’t Run

My son once asked me, “If you had been with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, what would you have done?” I know what he was after and what he was thinking, so I answered, “I would have ran like the rest of them.” He replied, “I would have stayed.” I then explained that it was a nice sentiment, but he would have ran too. I told him that you can’t take today’s knowledge and apply it to what you would have done yesterday. However, I also explained that he can take today’s knowledge and pre-apply it to what he will do tomorrow. There will be plenty of times in his life, and ours, where things look bad, and the opposite of what we hoped would happen will come true. There will be times where we’re tempted to blame God and deny Him, but if we decide now how we will handle it, we improve our chances of staying with Him.

Job is a tough book to read. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to lose everything in a day, including your children. It’s hard to imagine how we might respond when insult is added to injury when we then become too sick to do anything about it. I love that this book pulls back the curtains of what is often happening. Job 1:10-11 has Satan going to God against Job saying, “You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” (NLT) Satan accuses us by saying we will run from God when bad things happen, but God knows that like Job, if you will predetermine how you will respond, you can endure anything and still worship Him.

Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (ESV). We know that troubles don’t come from God, but He allows them and uses them to test us and grow us. Job had to endure a long time with no response from God as to why everything happened. God grew his endurance and his faith in the end because he didn’t run when bad things happened. He stood firm. We must remain in Him and stand firm during the most difficult times. He is our protection, our source of strength and our hope when all is else is lost. The more difficult your situation is, the more your endurance has the ability to grow. Don’t allow today’s circumstances cause you to run. God had a plan and was working things out behind the scenes for Jesus, the disciples and Job. He’s doing the same for you even though you can’t see it. Don’t run.

Photo by Nicholas Barbaros on Unsplash

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April 3, 2023 · 5:46 AM

Energizing Your Gifts

A few weeks ago my wife said, “If Pricilla Shirer ever comes to Houston m I want to see her.” I got out my phone and found out she was going to be in Houston within the month. We bought tickets to the event and then went. It wasn’t just her though. It was her dad, Dr. Tony Evans and her siblings too. There was a lot of great content throughout the event, but one of the incredible things to me was seeing the different members of this family operating in their gifts. Anthony Evans led us all in worship. Dr. Tony Evans preached. Chrystal Evans Hurst, who has a podcast, shared like it was just the two of you in the room. The youngest, John, shared the story of when they found out their mom had been diagnosed with cancer. Then Pricilla taught from 1 John. Every one of them used their giftings effectively and communicated the Gospel.

When you look at the disciples that Jesus chose, it wasn’t a group that anyone would choose for students. However, Jesus didn’t choose them for their family name or their grades in school. He choose normal, every day people with different gifts to be able to turn the world upside down with the Gospel. Peter had the gift of leading and preaching. John had the gift of being a friend and teaching. Matthew was very logical and accurate which shaped the way he recorded the works of Jesus and wrote his gospel. I could go through the list one by one, but just know that they all had their strength and used them effectively to spread the Gospel. Those that heard them were amazed because they didn’t expect much from them based on who they were. However, when we operate in our God given gifts, everything changes.

1 Corinthians 12:6 says, “The same God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish different results through each believer’s gift and ministry as he energizes and activates them” (TPT). God has given you gifts from His Holy Spirit that need to be activated, energized and developed for His purposes. The disciples were people like you and me. They spent time with Jesus who stirred up those gifts in them. We stir ours up the same way. We energize them by using them when given the opportunity. However, they must be developed and honed. God’s gifts to us are usually raw and it’s up to us to mold them, shape them and make them better. Don’t wait on someone else to take charge of your gifts. Seek out your pastor, ministry leader or someone else to help you develop and use what God has given you. The world needs your gifts and the Holy Spirit is ready to empower you to accomplish what God created you to do.

Photo by Brad Barmore on Unsplash

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March 31, 2023 · 5:34 AM

Serve One Another

In our world, the more you have, the more you’re served. I’ve been to people’s houses where they have a group who serves them and their guests. You can be sitting in the living room and they will bring you drinks and snacks. It feels pretty good to be honest. You can sit there and think, “This is the life!” However, that attitude is opposite of what we are to have. We are called to humble ourselves before God and others. We’re to have the attitude Jesus had which is to serve rather than to be served. The greatest in God’s Kingdom are the ones who make it a priority to serve their fellow man.

Here are some Bible verses on serving others.

1. Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3 TPT

2. Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!”

Galatians 6:10 TPT

3. For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

4. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

1 Peter 4:10 NLT

5. But this is not your calling. You will lead by a different model. The greatest one among you will live as one called to serve others without honor. The greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one who has a servant heart.

Luke 22:26 TPT

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March 30, 2023 · 5:30 AM

The Monopoly Mindset

One of my favorite games as a kid was Monopoly. We could sit up for hours playing it. The goal was to buy as much property as you could, and if possible, to buy Boardwalk and Park Place. One of the underlying things that game teaches you is if you buy enough things, you’ll win. That reminds me of a guy who lived in my town. He had a customized truck that I thought was awesome. It had a sticker on the back windshield that read, “He who has the most toys wins!” It’s that same attitude of owning things equals winning.

When our identity and self image is tied to things we own, it’s a pretty hard fall when we lose them. It’s not bad to own things; it’s bad to be owned by things. To discover which type of person we are, we have to ask ourselves about the motivating factor in having them. Is it a want or a deep seated need in us to own them? When we feel we need them in order to feel a certain way or to project a certain image, owning things can be a problem.

In Luke 12:15, Jesus said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” (NLT). That’s the opposite of our Monopoly mindset. We associate winning with owning things and God associates winning with having a relationship with Him. Can you have both? Of course. I know plenty of people who are blessed beyond measure because they give tithes, offerings, and more to meet the needs of others. They’ve recognized that their identity is in God, and all they have is His, so it’s not hard to give away what they have.

We can’t afford to sacrifice our relationship with God in order to own things or to build our wealth. As Jesus said in Luke 12:21, “A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Are you spending your quality time building your portfolio or your relationship with God? You can win at life, but lose at eternity. Invest in building a relationship with God. You will find that once you seek Him first, all these other things will be added to you. It’s a matter of priorities and God wants to be first in your life.

Photo by Robert Linder on Unsplash

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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