Author Archives: jsjdevotions

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July 5, 2014

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God's Promises, Trusting God

THE LORD IS WITH YOU

Gabriel appeared to her [Mary] and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” [Luke 1:28 (NLT)]

For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” [Hebrews 13:5b (NLT)]

Many of us attend churches where the liturgy includes the minister or priest saying something like, “The Lord be with you,” and the congregation responding, “And with your spirit.” That wording almost implies that God needs to be called upon to join the service. God, however, has promised that he is always with us. In fact, he leads the way and promises to never disappoint or forsake us. Perhaps we should rewrite the liturgy to reflect what the angel said to Mary: “The Lord is with you.” The congregation’s response could be, “He is with us all, now and forever!”

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. [Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)]

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise. [Methodist liturgy]

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July 3, 2014

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God's Plan, God's Word: The Bible, Sharing Our Faith

WHAT’S YOUR MISSION?

But I don’t place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness. [Acts 20:24 (GW)]

“Mission: Impossible” was a television series that aired in the late 60s and early 70s. In the opening segment, we’d hear a recorded voice saying, “Good morning, Mr. Phelps. Your mission, Jim, should you choose to accept it is…” The assignment followed and then the voice said, “This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.” Mr. Phelps always accepted the assignment and, typical of television, the IMF team was always successful.

Jesus, John the Baptist, Paul, Timothy and the rest of the apostles all had missions: to seek God’s will and follow it. Like the IMF team, they had to travel and endure hardship and danger. For many, accepting their assignment meant suffering and death. Yet, they willing accepted it.

God didn’t stop assigning tasks to His people 2,000 years ago. In fact, God’s voice, unlike the recording heard by Mr. Phelps, hasn’t self-destructed. It remains in black and white in our Bibles. God has something great planned for us. Will we accept His assignment?

…We sent our brother Timothy to you. He serves God by spreading the Good News about Christ. His mission was to strengthen and encourage you in your faith [1 Thessalonians 3:2 (GW)]

 

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July 2, 2014

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God's Grace & Love, Salvation: A New You

WE HAVE TO OPEN HIS GIFT

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [Ephesians 2:8 (NLT)]

It’s no use just looking at a beautifully wrapped gift; it needs to be opened and used to be appreciated. The gift of salvation is His; the belief in Him is our responsibility.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans 6:23 (NLT)]

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July 1, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Love & Works, Miracles, Prayer

BLESSINGS IN ABUNDANCE

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped. [Proverbs 11:25 (MSG)]

One day, a friend of mine decided to send a prayer out to the various people who crossed her path. Her first opportunity arose when a couple leisurely walked across the street against the light. From the designer attire and fur coat, it was obvious they were tourists. Instead of honking or angrily muttering “Move it, lady!” so she could make her turn, my friend asked God to give them a pleasant vacation.

Later that evening, my friend and her husband went out for a long-awaited “date night.” Who should be sitting right by them but the couple she’d seen earlier that day! My friend’s husband was wearing a shirt with the logo of his youth ministry on it. The other gentleman turned around and asked about the logo and the church; it turned out they, too, were Christians. During their conversation, my friend mentioned seeing them earlier that day and asking God to bless their holiday. Imagine his surprise when my friend’s husband was told the dinner check had been paid and their added joy when this same couple sent money to support their mission.

My point: the one who blesses is, indeed, blessed! We probably won’t get a free dinner or a check supporting our cause every time we bless someone, but we will always get a blessing in return!

When you’re kind to others, you help yourself; when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself. [Proverbs 11:17 (MSG)]

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June 30, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Forgiveness

FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE

…Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as he did. …People insulted Christ but he did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. He let God, the one who judges rightly, take care of him. [1 Peter 2:21,23 (NCV)]

The words cut me to the quick. I was deeply hurt and then I got angry. Fortunately, the message came in an email so my mouth didn’t have a chance to blurt out something I’d soon regret. I probably would have defended my actions and then gone on the offense by listing the numerous ways this person had hurt me. Fortunately, God stopped me from responding that evening. Instead, I prayed about this person and what my response should be. As I prayed, God helped me see into this person’s heart: the message could only have been written by a very unhappy person. I realized that the angry words came from deep pain on the other person’s part: pain I had not caused and that had nothing to do with me. I just happened to be the convenient scapegoat. The words God guided me to write in return were loving and warm and, yes, a little apologetic (even though I had to swallow my pride because I truly had done nothing for which I needed to apologize). Instead of adding fuel to the fire, God helped me apply balm to a wounded heart.

Lord, be with us, and even toughen our skin a bit, so that we can let angry and mean words quickly wash over us. Show us how to keep them from soaking into our hearts. No matter how upset we may be, help us respond in a way that will heal instead of hurt.

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. … Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. [Proverbs 15:1,4 (MSG)]

 

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June 29, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, Sharing Our Faith

TRIALS OF FAITH

If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! [1 Peter 4:14-16 (MSG)]

Meriam Ibrahim is a Sudanese Christian woman who has been in the news recently. Earlier in the year, this mother of two received a sentence of 100 lashes to be followed by death because she married a Christian man in 2011 and converted to Christianity. She could have avoided the death sentence by renouncing Christ, but she wouldn’t. As she languished in jail, her second child was born. Amid massive international outcry, a Sudanese court finally acquitted her and she was recently released from prison. When she and her family tried to exit the country, however, they were detained, supposedly because of forged travel documents. They are now at the US Embassy where diplomats are trying to arrange for their departure.

Why is a nation so afraid of this one woman, her two small children, and her husband, a man who is confined to a wheelchair because of muscular dystrophy? They’re not terrorists; they’re simply Christians who bring a message of hope, love and salvation. It’s difficult to understand how this message can be so threatening to people.

I can’t help but wonder what I would do in Meriam’s place. Would I renounce my faith to save my life? Living in the safety of the US, I doubt I will ever have to make that choice. Unfortunately, as evidenced in the news, there are still Christians today who do have to make choices like that.

Lord, we remember those who suffer even today for their belief in Christ. Give them courage and strength. Please strengthen and refine our faith as well.

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. [1 Peter 4:12-13 (MSG)]