Tag Archives: Christianity

August 14, 2024 · 5:35 AM

Outsourcing Our Worship

When we think of worship, we often associate it with singing in a church service. However, in the Bible it took on many forms, and it was always an act of humility in response to the presence and power of God. That act of humility showed up in different ways. For some, they bowed down to the ground in worship. Some, like David, raised their hands and sang of the greatness of God. Abel brought the best of his flock to the Lord and sacrificed it as an act of worship. Later, in Leviticus 1, God would ask for each person to do the very same thing as they came to the Temple. They were to bring the best and unblemished animals from their own flock to give to Him. This act of worship also provided margin in their lives for God to provide for them.

In Matthew 21:12-13, we read the famous story of Jesus entering the Temple and flipping over tables. It says, “Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, ‘The Scriptures declare, “My Temple will be called a house of prayer,” but you have turned it into a den of thieves!’” (NLT). Did you catch what they were selling? It was the animals to be used as an act of worship and it made Him angry because they were outsourcing their worship. Instead of bringing their best, the just bought something from someone else and offered it. Their act of worship became a ritual part of going to the Temple rather than something that came from their heart. He was about to offer Himself as a sacrifice in an act of worship and their actions were mocking true worship.

Romans 12:1 says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Jesus was our example of physically offering His body as an acceptable way to worship. Here, Paul is asking us to give our whole life to the cause of Christ, not just on Sundays. He wants our hearts to respond to the power of His presence in our lives by committing everything to Him as an act of worship. Many times we only offer Him a portion and not everything. When we hold back or only give Him a portion of our lives, we are outsourcing our worship, and that is not acceptable. He wants every part of your life. What parts and habits have you been holding back from Him? As an act of worship today, would you commit it to Him?

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August 12, 2024 · 5:34 AM

Guard Yourself

There’s a story that the writer of Proverbs shares with his son that we all should be aware of. In verse 6, he says he was looking out his window over the city and saw a naive man walking down the street. He crossed the street near an immoral woman’s house and began to linger a bit. He knew she was immoral and chose to walk by there anyway. She came out, approached him and threw her arms around him. She said something religious to throw him off. She then said she had been looking for him and spoke seductively to him wooing him inside. He followed her like a bird into a snare not knowing it would cost him his life. The writer is warning us how temptation works and is begging us to guard our hearts so we don’t follow in the same steps as this naive man.

In Ephesians 6, Paul reminds us that we must be strong in the Lord and in His might so we can stand up to the temptations of the devil who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. He reminds us to put on God’s armor to help protect us. Verse 14 says, “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness” (NLT). This body armor, or breastplate of righteousness, was meant to guard the heart which is the seat of our emotions and representative of our spiritual life. It is meant to shield us from the attacks and temptations from the enemy that would pierce us and lead us down the road the naive man went down. It’s accompanied by the belt of truth because we must know God’s truth in order to push back against the enemy’s lies the way Jesus did. Putting these on requires us to know the Word and to make choice’s consistent with our faith.

In Romans 13, Paul tells us we must live differently than the people of the world. We must live as people of the light rather than of darkness. In verse 14 he says, “Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” We must put on the righteousness provided by Jesus and make decisions in our thinking that reflect His way for our life. Otherwise we will be caught in the enemy’s web of deceit drawing us away from God’s righteousness. He causes us to think about sin and it’s pleasures rather than the end result. Instead of playing around with it and walking near the street of the thing that tempts you, guard your heart and stay away. Don’t be like the naive man who went near the temptation. Put on truth and righteousness. Don’t entertain thoughts of temptation. Just like the woman luring the man in, our enemy is trying to lure us away from living as people of the light. Guard yourself with the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.

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August 2, 2024 · 5:29 AM

God’s Delight

In the Bible, the word “Delight” comes from either a word that means “to bend down towards” or a word that means “to take pleasure in.” On the first one, I picture a parent bending down , listening to a child so they know they’re seen and heard. On the second one, I picture a parent beaming with pride over their kid. Did you know God delights in you both of these ways? I don’t know how you picture God in your relationship with Him, but this is what it should look like. He’s not holding a grudge against you or withholding good things from you because of your past. He’s also not up there waiting for you to mess up so He can punish you. He’s a good Father who loves you, bends down toward you when you’re talking to Him and delights in you because you’re His child. Smile. God loves you.

Here are some Bible verses showing God delights in you:

1. For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Psalms 149:4 NLT

2. The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].

Psalms 37:23 AMP

3. He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Psalms 147:10-11 NLT

4. He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me because He was pleased with me and delighted in me.

Psalms 18:19 AMP

5. For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT

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August 1, 2024 · 5:30 AM

A Forward Looking Perspective

Unfortunately, one of the promises Jesus gave us was written in John 16:33. He said that we would have trouble in this world. Yet somehow we always seemed surprised when we encounter troubles and set backs. I’m one of the biggest offenders. I like things to happen on schedule, the way I planned them, with no disruptions or issues. When things happen that mess up my plans, or I run into a period when nothing seems to go right, I lose my calm demeanor. I complain, and I let people and God know I’m not happy. My focus switches from long term to immediate, and in doing that, I lose my eternal perspective as well. In those times, I allow my troubles to block my view of God.

Consider Abraham. Hebrews 11:8 reminds us that God called him to leave his home where he had grown up and where his family was. God didn’t even tell him where he was going. He just said that He would show it to him. He and his wife Sarah lived in the land God promised him as a foreigner all his life. There was even a famine in the land that God took him to which forced him to leave for a period. Verse 10 says, “Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God” (NLT). Even when things didn’t happen the way he thought they should or in his timing, he kept looking past his troubles to God’s promises.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul starts out by saying they were pressed on every side by troubles, but they were not crushed. He continues talking about how constant his troubles are and that he keeps going and pushing forward. Then in the final verse of the chapter he writes, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” He is teaching us to keep an eternal perspective by looking past our current situation. We must rely on God’s promises when things are going wrong. Our faith in what God says should give us the strength to persist even in times of trouble. Don’t allow today’s issues cause you to lose sight of tomorrow’s fulfilled promises.

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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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July 29, 2024 · 5:48 AM

Covering Sin Up

It’s amazing to me how human nature will allow us to do something wrong, then make us think we can cover it up. In the early 2000’s, just down the road from me, Enron was supposedly the seventh largest and wealthiest company in the U.S. it turns out they had built a house of cards with deceptive business practices. They were doing things illegally and then covering it up trying to make it look like everything was on the up and up. Once all the covering up was exposed, the house of cards came tumbling down. In one final attempt to cover things up, shredder trucks arrived as the news broke. They began trying to shred all the evidence to cover up as much as possible. The business laws changed that day.

In Genesis 3, we read the story of Adam and Eve who were placed in the Garden of Eden. They were given the most beautiful place on earth to live in the most perfect environment. Each evening they even walked with God, yet even in there they had the temptation to do something wrong. The devil took their eyes off of all God had given them and had them focus on what they couldn’t have. Eve took from the tree and ate the forbidden fruit. She then gave some to her husband Adam. Immediately their eyes were opened to see that they were naked. They tried to cover themselves and their sin with fig leaves. Instead of confessing their sin, they tried to cover it up and were banished from the garden.

Proverbs 28:13 says, “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy” (NLT). Sin always tries to hide in the life of a believer. It wants to be done in secret and covered up. However, we can’t prosper by covering our sins ourselves. Only the blood of Jesus can cover our sins and make us whole. We must confess them to God, turn from them too, and then we will receive God’s mercy and grace. Where are the fig leaves in your life? What are you trying to conceal instead of being willing to confess? God is extending mercy toward you today if you will quit trying to cover it yourself and allow Him to forgive you. It’s time to put the fig leaves down and to quit covering up sin.

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July 25, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Moving God’s Boundaries

I read a news article recently about a farmer in Belgium. He was out plowing his field one day when he came across a stone that was where he was trying to work. He stopped plowing, moved the stone about 7 feet and went back to work. A little while later, a person was hiking in the woods near his home and saw the stone had been moved. He called the authorities and alerted them. It turns out that it wasn’t just any stone he moved. It was a stone that marked the border between Belgium and France. He inadvertently made Belgium about 7 feet wider. When he told them what happened, they all laughed, but told him to put it back, which he promptly did.

Saul, who was the first king of Israel, tried to move the boundaries that God had set too. When God told him to kill all the animals in a military campaign, he spared the best ones and the king. When he was confronted by the prophet, he said he only spared them in order to sacrifice them to God. In another instance, the prophet had told him to wait before going to battle until he arrived to make a sacrifice. When the prophet didn’t show up exactly on time, Saul began to panic. He saw his men deserting him before the battle. He offer the sacrifice himself which was against the direct order given to him and the Law of Moses. When Saul moved the boundaries because of his impatience and self reliance, God took the kingdom from him.

Proverbs 22:28 says, “The previous generation has set boundaries in place. Don’t you dare move them just to benefit yourself” (TPT). What boundaries that God has set have you moved because it was convenient for you? We all test boundaries and move them trying to enlarge our own territory. The problem is that when we do, we’re shrinking God’s territory in our lives. Our flesh is constantly at war with our spirit fighting over that boundary. It’s time that we moved the boundaries back to where God established them. If we truly want to thrive and to live the life God created us to live, we need to obey what God has said and to become dependent on Him rather than ourselves. God established our boundaries for a reason. We must respect them and obey them even when we don’t understand.

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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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July 23, 2024 · 5:32 AM

The Pruning Process

One of my favorite summer snacks is grapes. I always look for bags with the biggest, crunchiest grapes in them. It turns out that the size and amount of grapes per cluster has a lot to do with how their caretaker pruned the vine. Pruning the vine Allows the plant to receive more sun light which is necessary for their growth and production. If they don’t prune them, the chutes will grow wild, take up necessary energy and prevent the sunlight from getting to where it’s needed. Unless they cut these back, their growth will be inhibited .It turns out that the secret to getting the most plentiful harvest is pruning. It’s the same with us.

Peter was a follower of Jesus and one of His most prominent disciples. He was the on,y one to volunteer to get out of the boat in the middle of the storm. He was also the one to speak up and declare that Jesus was the Messiah. There was still room for growth though and there were times when he needed to be pruned. He openly rebuked Jesus for saying He was going to die. He denied knowingly Jesus and even went back to his old life of fishing. Each time Jesus patiently pruned him and brought him back into the fold. Jesus even prayed that Peter would return and strengthen his brothers. He understood Peter had to go through the pruning process to build the strength in him to be the head of the early church. He had to cut back the things that were holding Peter back, and He’ll do the same for us.

John 15:1-2 says, “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit” (GNT). It’s important to know that pruning is not punishment. It’s a necessary part of the growing process. It’s a way that God let’s more light into our life so we can produce a greater harvest of the Fruits of the Spirit. It is painful for us to go through, but He know which branches in our lives need to stay and which to cut. Everything He does is for your good and for your benefit. Don’t reject the pruning process. It means He sees great potential in you and is working in your life to propel you forward.

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July 22, 2024 · 5:37 AM

Acts Of Bravery

On May 5, 1945, Desmond Doss acted with courage and bravery atop Hacksaw Ridge. He was a US medic at the Battle of Okinawa. The US military were trying to take the top of Hacksaw Ridge from the Japanese. After some fierce fighting, the Japanese laid in wait until all of the American climbed a high cliff before they ambushed them. Many soldiers were wounded and killed in the onslaught. The US military leaders called retreat, but Desmond couldn’t leave the wounded up there alone. In an act of bravery and heroism, he stayed atop the ridge and rescued men, one by one. He treated them and then lowered them down the cliff all night long while under the threat of being attacked and killed. He saved 75 men that day because through an incredible act of bravery and determination to not leave them in the hands of the enemy.

In 1 Samuel 17, we read that the Philistines had encamped on Israel’s land. Their champion was a giant who came out and defied the armies of Israel, challenging them to fight him. Each man, including the king, was afraid of him. For forty days this giant terrorized the army causing them to panic and run away from the battle. That’s when young David arrived at the battlefield. He saw the same giant and heard the same threats, but instead of being afraid, something rose within him. In an act of bravery, he went out to face the giant alone without a sword or armor. His faith was his courage, his trust in God gave him bravery to stand up to the threats and taunts of the enemy. On that day, the enemy was defeated by a boy who had trusted in God and was brave enough to stand up to the giant of an enemy.

Philippians 1:28 says, “Don’t be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose and that you will win, because it is God who gives you the victory” (GNT). I don’t know what enemy you’re facing today or where it’s standing in your way, but God has called you to possess the land and advance. There are souls to be won. Just like God told Joshua, He’s telling you to be brave and courageous. God gives us the victory when we stand up to the enemy who roams around like a roaring lion. It’s not an easy thing to do, and often it feels like you’re alone, but God is with you. It’s time to quit being afraid of the enemy’s taunts and lies. It’s time to challenge him the way David did Goliath. Be brave and courageous. Let today be the end of the giant standing on your territory.

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July 19, 2024 · 5:32 AM

Learning To Submit

We’ve relegated the word “submit” to a seldom used word and have lost its true meaning over time. It actually means to yield in surrender to something. We don’t really like to yield or surrender our position. Just watch the next time a lane closes on a road. In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah follows what God told him to do and finds Elisha. He puts his cloak around him asking him to be his student. Elisha then takes the yoke from his oxen, burns it and butchers the oxen to cook on the fire. He then followed Elijah and served him. By burning the yoke and eating the oxen, he was submitting to God’s plan and burning the bridge to his old life. By accepting the cloak, he was submitting to Elijah. Submitting is hard, but a necessary discipline in Christianity. It’s something God requires of each of us as we become disciples.

Here are some Bible verses on submitting.

1. In the same way you younger people must submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 GNT

2. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

3. And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21 NLT

4. You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Hebrews 12:7 AMP

5. So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.

James 4:7 GNT

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July 11, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Seeking God’s Face

One of the things I enjoy doing is going to sports shows to get autographs. There are tables set up all over the place with autographs from just about any athlete on just about anything. It’s cool to look at those and remember those players, but I rarely buy anything on that side of the building. On the other side is a series of tables with athletes sitting at them signing autographs. You have to get tickets months in advance if you’re going to meet the person and get their autograph. For me, that’s the way to go. I love being able to say, “I met Clyde Drexler,” or “I met Craig Biggio and got him to sign this right after he got into the Hall of Fame.” I want to be present and meet the people who’s autographs I have.

The same thing goes when it comes to God’s presence. I love hearing stories of revivals in the past and the miraculous things that happened. I love conversing with people about what God showed them in prayer, but to me, it’s like window shopping at the sports show. I don’t just want to hear about someone else’s experience, I want to meet with God and be in His presence too. There’s a fear many people have of being in God’s presence I think. It’s like the Israelites when they left Egypt. God invited them into His presence, but they sent Moses instead. You and I can’t live or fully grow off of someone else’s experiences. We must learn to get into God’s presence ourselves.

Psalm 27:8 says, “When You said, ‘Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O LORD, I will seek [on the authority of Your word]’” (AMP). God is asking us to seek His presence individually. There’s a cost associated with that. It’s going to cost you time that you could be doing something else. God wants to be first in our lives and to be our greatest need. Until each of us are willing to make Him our greatest need and are willing to pay the price, we’ll be window shopping off of other people’s experiences. Find time today to seek God. Put on some worship music, read your Bible, pray and listen. He’ll meet you there because if you seek, you will find.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko.

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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