If you love Me, keep My commandments — John 14:15
Our Lord never insists obedience. He stresses very definitely what we ought to do, but He never forces us to do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit with Him. That is why whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an "If," meaning, "You do not need to do this unless you desire to do so." "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . . ." ( Luke 9:23 ). In other words, "To be My disciple, let him give up his right to himself to Me." Our Lord is not talking about our eternal position, but about our being of value to Him in this life here and now. That is why He sounds so stern (see Luke 14:26 ). Never try to make sense from these words by separating them from the One who spoke them.
The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself. Jesus Christ will not force me to obey Him, but I must. And as soon as I obey Him, I fulfill my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small, petty happenings, altogether insignificant. But if I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God. Then, when I stand face to face with God, I will discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When God’s redemption brings a human soul to the point of obedience, it always produces. If I obey Jesus Christ, the redemption of God will flow through me to the lives of others, because behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God.
From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest
Sunday, November 2, 2008
God Entered Time
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Instant Daily Devotion, Max Lucado, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Instant Daily Devotion, Max Lucado, Youth Devotionals
“They will sing about what the LORD has done, because the LORD’s glory is great.”
Psalm 138:5
When God entered time and became a man, he who was boundless became bound…For more than three decades, his once limitless reach would be limited to the stretch of an arm, his speed checked to the pace of human feet.
I wonder, was he ever tempted to reclaim his boundlessness?…When the rain chilled his bones, was he tempted to change the weather? When the heat parched his lips, did he give thought to popping over to the Caribbean for some refreshment?
If ever he entertained such thoughts, he never gave into them…Not once did Christ use his supernatural powers for personal comfort. With one word he could’ve transformed the hard earth into a soft bed, but he didn’t. With a wave of his hand, he could’ve boomeranged the spit of his accusers back into their faces, but he didn’t. With an arch of his brow, he could’ve paralyzed the hand of the soldier as he braided the crown of thorns. But he didn’t.
From: Max Lucado
Psalm 138:5
When God entered time and became a man, he who was boundless became bound…For more than three decades, his once limitless reach would be limited to the stretch of an arm, his speed checked to the pace of human feet.
I wonder, was he ever tempted to reclaim his boundlessness?…When the rain chilled his bones, was he tempted to change the weather? When the heat parched his lips, did he give thought to popping over to the Caribbean for some refreshment?
If ever he entertained such thoughts, he never gave into them…Not once did Christ use his supernatural powers for personal comfort. With one word he could’ve transformed the hard earth into a soft bed, but he didn’t. With a wave of his hand, he could’ve boomeranged the spit of his accusers back into their faces, but he didn’t. With an arch of his brow, he could’ve paralyzed the hand of the soldier as he braided the crown of thorns. But he didn’t.
From: Max Lucado
When In Need
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Early Light Devotional, Facing Problems, God's Sufficient Grace, Instant Daily Devotion, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Early Light Devotional, Facing Problems, God's Sufficient Grace, Instant Daily Devotion, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
READ | Hebrews 4:16
We all have needs, which range from physical and emotional to spiritual. When you require some essential—whether food, water, acceptance, or understanding—where do you turn?
When something basic is missing in your life, it’s very easy to feel alone. But remember, God knows what you need even before you tell Him. Hebrews 4:13 states, “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him…”
Some people might find this intimidating, as if a “big brother” is watching. But the Lord is a compassionate and loving heavenly Father who cares for His children. He is our shepherd, guiding us gently through life and redirecting us when we stray (Ps. 23). Furthermore, He desires to meet our needs and always does what is best for us (Rom. 8:28).
Our Father is ready and able to work in our lives. And He tells us to come confidently to His throne, bringing our requests to Him. In other words, because we, as Christians, have access to Him through Jesus, we are able to present our desires and struggles freely and without fear. And we can expect an answer. We might receive exactly what we ask, or perhaps God will tell us to wait. Sometimes the answer will be no. But we can be sure that even then, He is acting in our best interest—in His omniscience, He will withhold what He knows would ultimately harm or hinder His children.
The Lord knows where you are and what you need. Share your hurts and desires honestly with Him.
From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals
We all have needs, which range from physical and emotional to spiritual. When you require some essential—whether food, water, acceptance, or understanding—where do you turn?
When something basic is missing in your life, it’s very easy to feel alone. But remember, God knows what you need even before you tell Him. Hebrews 4:13 states, “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him…”
Some people might find this intimidating, as if a “big brother” is watching. But the Lord is a compassionate and loving heavenly Father who cares for His children. He is our shepherd, guiding us gently through life and redirecting us when we stray (Ps. 23). Furthermore, He desires to meet our needs and always does what is best for us (Rom. 8:28).
Our Father is ready and able to work in our lives. And He tells us to come confidently to His throne, bringing our requests to Him. In other words, because we, as Christians, have access to Him through Jesus, we are able to present our desires and struggles freely and without fear. And we can expect an answer. We might receive exactly what we ask, or perhaps God will tell us to wait. Sometimes the answer will be no. But we can be sure that even then, He is acting in our best interest—in His omniscience, He will withhold what He knows would ultimately harm or hinder His children.
The Lord knows where you are and what you need. Share your hurts and desires honestly with Him.
From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals
IS MY SERVICE FOR GOD...OR WITH GOD?
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Focus on God, Instant Daily Devotion, Literature International Ministries, Obeying God, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Focus on God, Instant Daily Devotion, Literature International Ministries, Obeying God, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
"Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe." John 4:48
There seems ingrained within our nature the attitude that we must "do" things in order to be accepted, to prove ourselves worthy, even to ourselves, that we have done something that should be commended by others. We find this same attitude in our spiritual journey. Someone has wisely said, "It is much easier to "do" something than to trust in God. We would far rather work 'for' God than 'believe in Him.'" Whatever will redound to His glory must be what "He does through us," not what we do "for" Him in our strength. The focus of service and our walk must be redirected from all that "we" are, to all that HE IS. HE must be the source for all our endeavors.
The skeptics in the days of Christ sought for signs and wonders to establish their faith. Our faith cannot, and will not, be established by what we see or do. Our faith is not founded upon creeds, traditions, and customs, but the person of Jesus Christ. When evidence is present, faith is impossible. Our faith is not only generated by what Jesus says, but also in WHO HE IS. When we get lost in the wonder of His majesty, and live in the reality of a personal relationship with Almighty God, our faith will be enlarged and activated, established and secured, as we behold all that GOD IS.
This needs to characterize our service. When I was in the business world, I always told those who were my assistants..."You do not work 'for' me, you work 'with' me. We are bonded together to be successful in the work entrusted to us. The closer our bond, loyalty, and dedication, the more successful we will be." This is so true in our spiritual journey. God said, "I have chosen you." It is a constraint we cannot get away from. We are His--supernaturally born again by God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and entrusted to walk, live, and serve in the might of His power.
We have been drawn to Him by the supernatural grace of God; we can disobey His constraining tug upon our hearts, but we cannot initiate it. As we surrender to HIS control, we will discover that we are not in service "for" the Lord, but in service "with" Him. It will be a bond of love born of God, responded to through the penetration of His Spirit in our hearts, and made effective and fruitful by the Holy Spirit working through us. The service is now not one of "striving within" ourselves, but "resting in" the might of our all-sufficient Savior. The fruit is the result of "abiding in Him" who manifests His plan and purpose through us. The emphasis has turned from "doing" to "being." We often recognize as service to God "what we do" in our spiritual realm for God. Jesus recognizes service as "what we are to Him." Eternal fruitfulness is the natural outcome of our obedience to Christ. Behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God!
When we are reconciled to Him, He creates within us a new life. We now draw from the well that never runs dry. Our "doing" is now prefaced by unreserved commitment to HIM as the Lord of our life. We serve with renewed confidence in HIS leading, HIS power, and HIS sufficiency for every encounter. Our service then becomes the result of our intimate relationship with Christ, characterized by a walk of obedience!
From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell
There seems ingrained within our nature the attitude that we must "do" things in order to be accepted, to prove ourselves worthy, even to ourselves, that we have done something that should be commended by others. We find this same attitude in our spiritual journey. Someone has wisely said, "It is much easier to "do" something than to trust in God. We would far rather work 'for' God than 'believe in Him.'" Whatever will redound to His glory must be what "He does through us," not what we do "for" Him in our strength. The focus of service and our walk must be redirected from all that "we" are, to all that HE IS. HE must be the source for all our endeavors.
The skeptics in the days of Christ sought for signs and wonders to establish their faith. Our faith cannot, and will not, be established by what we see or do. Our faith is not founded upon creeds, traditions, and customs, but the person of Jesus Christ. When evidence is present, faith is impossible. Our faith is not only generated by what Jesus says, but also in WHO HE IS. When we get lost in the wonder of His majesty, and live in the reality of a personal relationship with Almighty God, our faith will be enlarged and activated, established and secured, as we behold all that GOD IS.
This needs to characterize our service. When I was in the business world, I always told those who were my assistants..."You do not work 'for' me, you work 'with' me. We are bonded together to be successful in the work entrusted to us. The closer our bond, loyalty, and dedication, the more successful we will be." This is so true in our spiritual journey. God said, "I have chosen you." It is a constraint we cannot get away from. We are His--supernaturally born again by God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and entrusted to walk, live, and serve in the might of His power.
We have been drawn to Him by the supernatural grace of God; we can disobey His constraining tug upon our hearts, but we cannot initiate it. As we surrender to HIS control, we will discover that we are not in service "for" the Lord, but in service "with" Him. It will be a bond of love born of God, responded to through the penetration of His Spirit in our hearts, and made effective and fruitful by the Holy Spirit working through us. The service is now not one of "striving within" ourselves, but "resting in" the might of our all-sufficient Savior. The fruit is the result of "abiding in Him" who manifests His plan and purpose through us. The emphasis has turned from "doing" to "being." We often recognize as service to God "what we do" in our spiritual realm for God. Jesus recognizes service as "what we are to Him." Eternal fruitfulness is the natural outcome of our obedience to Christ. Behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God!
When we are reconciled to Him, He creates within us a new life. We now draw from the well that never runs dry. Our "doing" is now prefaced by unreserved commitment to HIM as the Lord of our life. We serve with renewed confidence in HIS leading, HIS power, and HIS sufficiency for every encounter. Our service then becomes the result of our intimate relationship with Christ, characterized by a walk of obedience!
From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell
Celebrating the Saints
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Instant Daily Devotion, UpperRoom Devotionals, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Instant Daily Devotion, UpperRoom Devotionals, Youth Devotionals
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
-Hebrews 13:7 (NRSV)
I was raised in a denomination that didn't celebrate All Saints' Day. Later, I was introduced to what has become a celebration I look forward to each year.
The pastor at our church said he loved All Saints' Day because it is a good time to reflect on all the saints who have gone before us and those who have made an everlasting impact on our lives. Instead of preaching, he held one of the most memorable services I have ever experienced. He put unlit candles on the altar and invited the congregation to come forward and light a candle in honor of the "saints" in their lives.
I loved hearing my friends one by one gratefully share the names of their saints with the rest of us. Even though I might not know the people they name, I appreciate them and love them for being a part of my friends' lives. And I realize that no matter what beliefs we have, we can each point to specific people in our lives who have nurtured us in our faith, stood by us, and helped us navigate through life. In the same way that my own saints helped to guide me, I hope that I have been and will be a guide to someone else.
Prayer
God, thank you for those who teach us well and help us learn to follow you. Help us to support, encourage, and guide others in this same way. Amen.
From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Joanne Hirase-Stacey
-Hebrews 13:7 (NRSV)
I was raised in a denomination that didn't celebrate All Saints' Day. Later, I was introduced to what has become a celebration I look forward to each year.
The pastor at our church said he loved All Saints' Day because it is a good time to reflect on all the saints who have gone before us and those who have made an everlasting impact on our lives. Instead of preaching, he held one of the most memorable services I have ever experienced. He put unlit candles on the altar and invited the congregation to come forward and light a candle in honor of the "saints" in their lives.
I loved hearing my friends one by one gratefully share the names of their saints with the rest of us. Even though I might not know the people they name, I appreciate them and love them for being a part of my friends' lives. And I realize that no matter what beliefs we have, we can each point to specific people in our lives who have nurtured us in our faith, stood by us, and helped us navigate through life. In the same way that my own saints helped to guide me, I hope that I have been and will be a guide to someone else.
Prayer
God, thank you for those who teach us well and help us learn to follow you. Help us to support, encourage, and guide others in this same way. Amen.
From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Joanne Hirase-Stacey
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