Passage: John 12
Notes: Worshipping Jesus is not the time to be scrappy, but an opportunity to go all
out. While we are called to be stewards, offerings to God, and love for another
(even another human?) can be extravagant (God won't run out of resources because
we loved too much).
My life is to be an offering to God, to the point that I
'lose out' on life, or even give my life altogether. However, I must be careful
to notice where God is working and join in His work. Sensitivity to the Holy
Spirit is needed more than strategic planning. Note also, though, that in this
same chapter Jesus condoned expressing extravagant love. Losing my life for Him
must then not equal a rejection of my family, and failure to care for them, or
perpetual unwillingness to spend any resources on them. Our God is not a pauper
who will starve but for our resources. Yet, that I would be sure not to love my
life too much to lose it.
Do I love the approval of men more than the
approval of God?
Friday, September 21, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: John 9
Notes: Have I developed schemas of how I expect God to work, or am I ready to look at His work and receive whatever He chooses to do, and worship Him for it?
What began in unbelief turned to accusing God of sin, reviling the one He healed, and generally turning spiritual leadership into a human endeavor to enforce their belief system about God, or be ostracized and excluded from the community. How deceived and evil we can be once we believe we know it all!
We would be wise to retain the humility of the one still searching for further enlightening, rather than believe we've "got it."
Lord, please help me to always humbly look to you and not build schemas of how you operate and first fail to recognize you, and then possibly fall into all kinds of sin defending my schema.
Notes: Have I developed schemas of how I expect God to work, or am I ready to look at His work and receive whatever He chooses to do, and worship Him for it?
What began in unbelief turned to accusing God of sin, reviling the one He healed, and generally turning spiritual leadership into a human endeavor to enforce their belief system about God, or be ostracized and excluded from the community. How deceived and evil we can be once we believe we know it all!
We would be wise to retain the humility of the one still searching for further enlightening, rather than believe we've "got it."
Lord, please help me to always humbly look to you and not build schemas of how you operate and first fail to recognize you, and then possibly fall into all kinds of sin defending my schema.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: John 6
Notes: God draws us to Himself, it's not our ability that brings us to Him (44 and 65).
As I am nourished by Jesus and His teaching, I am able to live as a child of God. Lord, please fill me with you several times a day and year round. I commit to taking the steps that will have me listening deliberately and intently. Help me not to race through those times, buy to drink deeply rather than conquer.
Notes: God draws us to Himself, it's not our ability that brings us to Him (44 and 65).
As I am nourished by Jesus and His teaching, I am able to live as a child of God. Lord, please fill me with you several times a day and year round. I commit to taking the steps that will have me listening deliberately and intently. Help me not to race through those times, buy to drink deeply rather than conquer.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: John 5
Notes: Paul writes to obey the authorities. Yet, Jesus does not appear to extend that obedience to the 1000 steps per Sabbath rule the Jews had come up with. Jesus healed the lame man and sent him off - no hard sell evangelism. When he returns, Jesus tells him, "sin no more." Is here further detail for Peter's "made proclamation to the spirits [below]?" "Jesus didn't judge people" - not according to this passage. Jesus sought to carry out what God told Him to do -> is that what I am doing?
Notes: Paul writes to obey the authorities. Yet, Jesus does not appear to extend that obedience to the 1000 steps per Sabbath rule the Jews had come up with. Jesus healed the lame man and sent him off - no hard sell evangelism. When he returns, Jesus tells him, "sin no more." Is here further detail for Peter's "made proclamation to the spirits [below]?" "Jesus didn't judge people" - not according to this passage. Jesus sought to carry out what God told Him to do -> is that what I am doing?
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: John 4
Notes: Someone else planted. The Lord knows how to steer a conversation, even when another tries to derail it by throwing in bait for meaningless argument to avoid talking about where it hurts. The harvest fields are ready now.
Lord, I often feel like I am in a drought-ravaged land, where no one wants to talks about you. Please give me opportunities for witness. You have said that the fields are ready for harvest. Also, please guide my conversations, and give me your wisdom and your words, as well as your love.
Notes: Someone else planted. The Lord knows how to steer a conversation, even when another tries to derail it by throwing in bait for meaningless argument to avoid talking about where it hurts. The harvest fields are ready now.
Lord, I often feel like I am in a drought-ravaged land, where no one wants to talks about you. Please give me opportunities for witness. You have said that the fields are ready for harvest. Also, please guide my conversations, and give me your wisdom and your words, as well as your love.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: John 3
Notes: We are told that most people become Christians when they are children. Nicodemus ask, "...when he is old?" and Jesus answers, "it is possible...when one is born of the Spirit." And when it is God who is doing the work, what do we care about statistics?
Notes: We are told that most people become Christians when they are children. Nicodemus ask, "...when he is old?" and Jesus answers, "it is possible...when one is born of the Spirit." And when it is God who is doing the work, what do we care about statistics?
Monday, September 10, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: John 2
Notes: Mary had faith in Jesus to help in ways she had never seen before. God has compassion for us on all of our needs. God is not a pauper. He blesses extravagantly. Access to God in prayer was a serious matter to Jesus that warranted decisive action. -> I will ask God for help for the things I need, and trust Him for extravagant blessings, because He has compassion on His own.
Notes: Mary had faith in Jesus to help in ways she had never seen before. God has compassion for us on all of our needs. God is not a pauper. He blesses extravagantly. Access to God in prayer was a serious matter to Jesus that warranted decisive action. -> I will ask God for help for the things I need, and trust Him for extravagant blessings, because He has compassion on His own.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: Ephesians 5
Notes: Are my beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions loving? Am I free of immorality, impurity, and greed, filthiness, silly talk, and coarse jesting in what I contribute to interactions, and which interactions I seek out? Am I light in the Lord, filled with goodness, righteousness, and truth? Do I know what pleases the Lord and do it? Do I expose darkness, or just ignore it? Am I deliberate about the use of my time? Do I praise the Lord before others? Am I humbly submissive to others, not just those in evident authority over me?
-> I will schedule to read Ephesians 5 weekly for a while to remind myself of these things and test my life against them.
Notes: Are my beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions loving? Am I free of immorality, impurity, and greed, filthiness, silly talk, and coarse jesting in what I contribute to interactions, and which interactions I seek out? Am I light in the Lord, filled with goodness, righteousness, and truth? Do I know what pleases the Lord and do it? Do I expose darkness, or just ignore it? Am I deliberate about the use of my time? Do I praise the Lord before others? Am I humbly submissive to others, not just those in evident authority over me?
-> I will schedule to read Ephesians 5 weekly for a while to remind myself of these things and test my life against them.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: Ephesians 4
Notes: Walking worthy of God's calling - can there be a higher standard?
Humble, gentle, patient, lovingly tolerant, preserving unity diligently, we are to be gifts of Christ to the church, equipping the Body for service (which makes us servants first), goals: unity, knowledge of God, maturity; speak the truth lovingly, dependence on other Body members, replace former behaviors with holiness and righteousness, industriousness to be able to give gifts, speak to edify and bless (give grace), kind, tender-hearted, forgiving.
Notes: Walking worthy of God's calling - can there be a higher standard?
Humble, gentle, patient, lovingly tolerant, preserving unity diligently, we are to be gifts of Christ to the church, equipping the Body for service (which makes us servants first), goals: unity, knowledge of God, maturity; speak the truth lovingly, dependence on other Body members, replace former behaviors with holiness and righteousness, industriousness to be able to give gifts, speak to edify and bless (give grace), kind, tender-hearted, forgiving.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: Ephesians 3
Notes: Knowing Christ is a gift we receive through His Spirit whom He has given to us according to the riches of His grace. There is no ability or supply shortage - He provides both. Let's ask Him with faith to let us know Him in his fullness.
Notes: Knowing Christ is a gift we receive through His Spirit whom He has given to us according to the riches of His grace. There is no ability or supply shortage - He provides both. Let's ask Him with faith to let us know Him in his fullness.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: Ephesians 2
Notes: We sometimes struggle to associate with those far away from God. Yet, they are the ones the holy, pure, and perfect god LOVES, and they are the object of His grace.
Good works are not a nice-to. He has already prepared things for us to do - let's make sure we know what they are and actually do them!
We are one temple with the worst of sinners. Lord, please help us to love our fellow Christians and those who until now are still far off with your love.
Lord, please fill me with your love and help me keep my eyes peeled for the good works you have prepared for me to do today.
Notes: We sometimes struggle to associate with those far away from God. Yet, they are the ones the holy, pure, and perfect god LOVES, and they are the object of His grace.
Good works are not a nice-to. He has already prepared things for us to do - let's make sure we know what they are and actually do them!
We are one temple with the worst of sinners. Lord, please help us to love our fellow Christians and those who until now are still far off with your love.
Lord, please fill me with your love and help me keep my eyes peeled for the good works you have prepared for me to do today.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: Ephesians 1
Notes: Truth - we are the recipients of EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING! (3)
Command - we were chosen to be HOLY and BLAMELESS before God. (4)
Truth - we exist (live) for the praise of the glory of his grace. (6) -> how then shall we live to fulfill this charge? That's why He gave us the Holy Spirit! (13-14)
Truth - Wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of God come in response to prayer - even intercession from others (Paul). (17) -> what an important charge to us!
Lord, please help me to faithfully fulfill my mission of living in such a manner that you will receive praise, and interceding for others (and myself) that they may increase in the knowledge of you - and give praise for their love for you!
Notes: Truth - we are the recipients of EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING! (3)
Command - we were chosen to be HOLY and BLAMELESS before God. (4)
Truth - we exist (live) for the praise of the glory of his grace. (6) -> how then shall we live to fulfill this charge? That's why He gave us the Holy Spirit! (13-14)
Truth - Wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of God come in response to prayer - even intercession from others (Paul). (17) -> what an important charge to us!
Lord, please help me to faithfully fulfill my mission of living in such a manner that you will receive praise, and interceding for others (and myself) that they may increase in the knowledge of you - and give praise for their love for you!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Today's Devotional Thought
Passage: Jeremiah 52
Notes: One has to wonder whether Zedekiah ever repented once he sat in a prison cell in Babylon, looking at his utter failure, never again able to see, haunted by the memories of the last days and hours he did see. Thank you, Lord, that we can come to you for forgiveness. Please help me seek your face regularly so I may not stray from your direction. May I also tell the story of your forgiveness to those who can't imagine it is available to them.
Notes: One has to wonder whether Zedekiah ever repented once he sat in a prison cell in Babylon, looking at his utter failure, never again able to see, haunted by the memories of the last days and hours he did see. Thank you, Lord, that we can come to you for forgiveness. Please help me seek your face regularly so I may not stray from your direction. May I also tell the story of your forgiveness to those who can't imagine it is available to them.
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