Devotions by Chris Hendrix

Every Christmas people all over the world make lists of things they want in hopes of receiving the items as gifts. However, there are things we all need or want that rarely make the list. One of them is love. Each person, including you, has the need for love. It’s included in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs after physiological needs like air, food, water and shelter, as well as safety needs. That’s pretty high on the list for something we need. Granted, different people need different levels of love and for it to be shown in different ways, but it is something we need and crave. When we don’t feel loved it stunts our creativity, our growth as an individual and can cause mental health issues. Love is more than intimacy too. It is being accepted, having a sense of belonging and being part of a group.

The greatest two commandments, according to Jesus, are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself. God knew He placed this need in us so He commanded us to fulfill it for them. To help us do that, He gave us the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in our lives. The first fruit that the Spirit produces is love. How well is that fruit growing in your life? God has given us these fruits in order to meet the needs and wants that we all have. You can probably name reasons why you think someone doesn’t deserve love or why you shouldn’t give it to them, Romans 5:8 tells us that God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, He sent His son to die for us. It’s not a matter of whether we think they deserve love or not. God thinks they do and puts us in their path to share His love with them.

In John 13:24-35 Jesus said, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (NLT). God’s gift of love to the world is to be carried in our lives and given to others freely. Not only is it a fruit that should be produced in our lives, it’s the way people will be able to tell and prove that we are His disciples. I’m sure you can think of people who need God’s love right now. Ask God to give you ways to demonstrate it to them and to give you opportunities to show it. Whether they have their need to be loved on their Christmas list or not, they want it, and when we give them God’s love, we’ll be giving them the greatest gift of all.

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In 1620 the Mayflower reached what would be the New England shore. It was already late fall and it was too late to plant food. They endured a harsh winter and food rations. They called this period “The Starvation Time.” In their first few months in the new world, half of them died. When spring came, they began to plant corn. The native Americans taught them how to fertilize the soil with fish. At one point that summer, drought was threatening their food supply. They called for fasting and prayer. The day after they prayed, it rained and their crops were saved. That next fall, they had a bumper crop. William Bradford and Edward Winslow recorded in their journals regarding the feast they shared with about 90 of the natives. They wrote that they, “Returned glory, honor and praise with all thankfulness to our good God who deals graciously with us.”

In Mark 6, Jesus had been preaching all day and ministering to people. It was getting late, so the disciples asked Him to send the people into the nearby villages to find food and rest. Jesus’ reply caught them off guard. He told them to feed the mass of people themselves. “With what?” they asked. Jesus asked them how much food they had. They found five loaves a bread and two fish to give the crowd. Verse 41 says, “Taking the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven and said a blessing [of praise and thanksgiving to the Father]. Then He broke the loaves and [repeatedly] gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and He divided up the two fish among them all” (AMP). Did you catch that? Jesus said a blessing of praise and thanksgiving, then God multiplied what they had.

Zechariah 4:10 says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand” (NLT). Sometimes we miss out on the blessings of God because were upset about the little we have. Like the Pilgrims and Jesus, we should instead be giving praise and thanksgiving to God for what we do have because that is what He provided. What we often despise, God rejoices at. What we reject, God wants to multiply. Our attitude will dictate the outcome. As we enter this period of Thanksgiving and Christmas, don’t spend your time complaining about how little you have or how you wish you had more. Instead, praise God for what you do have and thank Him for it. When we do, He makes it more than enough.

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I’ve read about a tree in the southern portion of Africa called the Shepherd’s Tree. It grows in areas where there is little rainfall and thrives in harsh environments. It provides valuable resources to both humans and animals in such conditions which helps maintain the ecosystem in those regions. Shepherds use its fruit like a coffee bean giving them caffeine and something to drink. Its wood can be used for making utensils, while it’s leave have medicinal properties. Some people even refer to this as the Tree of Life. One of the most important features though is that its roots go down deep into the soil. In fact they go deeper than any other tree, reaching more than 150 feet deep. This tree reminds me of who we are called to be as Christians.

Psalm 1 describes the person who lives according to God’s Word, meditates on it and delights in it. Verse 3 says we will be like trees that are planted by a riverbank. Those trees have all the water they need in order to produce in any environment and any season. We’re called to bear fruit in any season as believers. Paul described the fruit as love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, long suffering, gentleness and self control. The fruit we bear will help us and others in any situation. Verse 3 also says their leaves will not whither. Remember the leaves have medical significance bringing healing to anyone around us. All of these things happen in our lives the same way the Shepherd’s Tree does them. It comes down to our roots and how deeply they’re planted.

Colossians 2:7 says, “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness” (NLT). The deeper our roots grow in Christ, the more we will be able to produce fruit, healing and life giving resources. Our lives must be built on Him so that we can withstand any environment or conditions that come against us. Our faith will be strong and contagious because our lives are based in the Word of God rather than the shifting sands of culture. Finally, we will live a life overflowing with thankfulness. The more we give thanks to God, the more we recognize by faith that all we have comes from Him. When we live with that kind of mindfulness, He gives us more in order to provide for the people around us. We truly will be like the Shepherd’s Tree.

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Have you ever been told you’re unqualified to do something? I can tell you from experience that it’s a confidence crusher, especially when you hear it over and over. After awhile you can begin to believe it yourself. You may even tell yourself that you’re unqualified to do something. Fear likes to use that line to keep us where we are so we don’t step out in faith. So many people let that word hold them back, but there are those who defy it. There are those who know that most of what God calls you to,you’re going to be or feel unqualified to do and step out anyway. They push past their fear and feelings into a position of faith and reliance on God to show up. It’s on,y when we push past the natural that we activate the supernatural. The Bible shared stories of people like that in order to encourage us to do the same.

In 1 Samuel 17, we read the story of a teenage boy who is the youngest of his brothers. They were off at war while he stayed home. After a while, his father sent him with a care package for his brothers. When he arrived at the battlefront, he saw the enemy had a mighty warrior that everyone was afraid of. Something in him rose up beyond his lack of qualifications to say that he could beat this guy. His brothers told him he was too young and was just showing off. The king told him he was unskilled and unqualified to fight. Even as he stepped onto the battlefield to face this mighty foe, the enemy taunted him using his lack of qualifications. However, this young man didn’t let that stop him. In verse 46 he replied to the taunts, “Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!” (NLT). Then, this unqualified boy, grabbed a stone, put it in a sling, ran towards the enemy and killed him.

Jeremiah 17:7 says, “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” Where is your hope and confidence? Is it in your qualifications or what people say about you? Or is it in the Lord who called you? David trusted in God controlling the outcome regardless of his qualifications and even though he was outmatched in every area. He stepped onto the battlefield in faith trusting God to do what he could not. He still had to face the giant. He had to endure the ridicule. He also had to put the stone in the sling and send it flying. Stepping out in faith is going to require more than just standing on the battlefield. It’s going to require action from you. God used a skill David had to unconventionally defeat the enemy. Don’t let your lack of qualifications keep you on the sidelines. Put your hope and confidence in the Lord and starting taking on giants.

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