real life. real relationships. real purpose. in writing.
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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with?
In what ways have you resisted God’s word within you this week?
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If the Apostle Paul’s letters throughout the New Testament tell us anything, they tell us that the local church is extremely important. Paul’s letters went to Rome, Ephesus, and other major cities of the Greco-Roman world. But even though these were major cities, the number of Christians in each city were few. Cities with tens of thousands of people may have only had a few hundred Christians.
From a historical viewpoint, Christianity should not have survived as a major religion. But these small, local churches continued to carry on the message of the Gospel. Today, billions of people around the globe have been impacted by the Gospel. This would not have happened without God working in and through local churches.
Today, God continues to use local churches as a means to spread the hope of the Gospel. Whether it is local missions and soup kitchens, short-term international missions, or long-term international missions, God is continuing to send His people to fulfill the Great Commission – making disciples of all nations.
READING & PRAYERS:
QUESTION: What are some ways God is sending and utilizing your church to share the Gospel today?
QUESTION: In what ways may God be inviting you to join your local church’s mission on a local and/or international level?
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know that my church does much locally and internationally, but I don’t always see how I’m contributing anything toward Your mission. Continue to help me grow in recognizing that no matter where I may be, You have called me to be there. As part of Your church, You are sending me. May I continue to see that all of life is ministry. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Begin by Reading Genesis 12:1 and Matthew 28:19-20
Despite there being hundreds and hundreds of years separating these two passages, there are strong similarities between them. On the one hand, Abram (later known as Abraham) was told by God to “go.” He didn’t know exactly where he was going, nor did he know when he would get there. He was simply put in the position of needing to trust God. Abram hfs to leave his family, the religious beliefs of his family, his friends, and many other things behind. It took an immense amount of trust for him to follow through on God’s plan.
On the other hand, Jesus told his disciples to “go…and make disciples.” Just like Abram, they didn’t know exactly where to go. They, too, were required to leave everything they knew behind. They didn’t know exactly what would happen, but they trusted that God was sending them on a mission.
Today, take the opportunity to reflect on the truth that you are also being sent to make disciples. Do you trust God enough to “go?”
READING & PRAYERS:
GENESIS 12:1, MATTHEW 28:19-20
QUESTION: Do you currently trust God enough to “go” and make disciples? What may God be inviting (or requiring) you to leave behind so you will trust more completely in Him as you go?
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, when I think of Abram or Jesus’ disciples, I sometimes feel like You sent them because they had some kind of talent, gift, or ability that I don’t have. But today I’m recognizing that what they really had was an immense amount of trust in You. May I trust You as they did – in everything great and small. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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John 3:17 (NIV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
The word mission basically means “to send.” When a person or a group of people are sent, they are on a mission.
All throughout the Scriptures, as we see the story of God unfold, it becomes clear that His mission was to be with His people. As such, it was necessary that He send Himself (or in this case, His Son) to be with His people.
Because of our modern culture, we forget the significance of this and what it would’ve meant in the ancient world. Back then, every major religious belief saw humankind as servants for the gods. We were seen as lowly creatures, unworthy to experience the presence of the gods.
But the Christian storyline turned this belief on its head. God loved His people so much, and He wanted to be with His people so much, He came down to us. Not to condemn us and point out our unworthiness, but to bring us back into union with Him. God sent His Son, not just for others. God sent His Son on a mission…a mission to rescue and restore you.
READING & PRAYERS:
QUESTION: Be honest: You probably know John 3:16 by heart, but do you see yourself as worthy of God’s love? If not, why not?
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I know in my mind that You love me and see me as worthy of Your love, but sometimes this knowledge doesn’t fully penetrate my heart. Root out anything within me that may be preventing me from truly, wholeheartedly believing this truth that I am loved by You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Romans 1:20 (NIV) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
One characteristic of the heart of God is that He desires to be known. If you were to ask 100 people where they often feel connected to God, chances are high that a majority of them would say they feel connected to God when in nature.. There’s something about the silence, the stillness, and the wonder we experience in God’s creation that leads us to directly to Him. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:20, God’s eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen through His creation.
Today, take the opportunity to consider where in nature you have felt connected to God? With this being the start of a new week, take a few moments to plan exactly when you will experience the presence of God through His Creation. Don’t just assume it’ll happen. Make a plan to experience His presence. Give your heart and soul the nutrients you need – the very presence and knowledge of a loving God.
READING & PRAYERS:
ROMANS 1:20, HEBREWS 3:4, ISAIAH 40:28, ROMANS 11:36
QUESTION: When have you experienced the presence of God in nature? What do you think made that encounter so memorable?
QUESTION: When will you experience the presence of God in Creation this week? Write it down, make a plan, and experience His presence.
Take a Step: This week, continue to utilize the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily to begin practicing being with God and resting in His presence. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices. See pauseapp.com for details.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess I don’t always recognize that I need You and presence in my life. Sometimes I put off being with You, only to come to You when I’m in great need. But I’m recognizing that I do need Your presence and am always in need of it. Help me to experience Your presence this week. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with?
In what ways have you resisted God’s word within you this week?
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Have you ever met somebody who seems to always have something kind and encouraging to say? Would others identify you as that kind of person? There are a lot of Scripture passages about speaking words that give life and encouragement to others. But one common one is Hebrews 3:13, which in the NIV reads, But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Interestingly, the word Encourage in this passage is translated differently in other English translations. The Greek word used here has a lot of nuance to it, and there isn’t one good word in English which adequately defines it. The word may be translated as, “comfort, exhort, desire, call for, beseech with a stronger force than asking, requesting, or even begging.” So to Encourage one another daily, is to be abiding (or ROOTED) in Christ so deeply you just can’t help but to exhort, desire, even beg for others to experience what you’re experiencing. Not so they will be a better person. But simply so that they will experience the love and grace and wonder of God on a deep, deep level in their own lives.
READING & PRAYERS:
HEBREWS 3:13, EPHESIANS 4:29, PROVERBS 15:4, PROVERBS 16:24, HEBREWS 10:24-25
QUESTION: Who is somebody you know who may need to hear words of life and encouragement today? Consider writing them a card, or giving them a call. Let them know you are with them and for them.
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I recognize it may be easy for me to identity somebody who may need to hear words of life and encouragement today. But help me to remember, each and every day, that everybody I interact with needs to hear words of life and encouragement. As I continue to be ROOTED in You, I pray that You would provide me words of life to share with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Matthew 18:15-20 is a passage many will turn to to remind themselves how to confront somebody in both grace and truth. While this is a great passage on the topic, the verses preceding it are equally important.
Matthew 18:12-14 reads, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”
The fact that Matthew has this passage flow directly into another one about confronting those who have committed a sin — it isn’t a coincidence. The purpose of confronting somebody who has sinned against you isn’t to scold or criticize them, it is to healthily bring them back to the body of believers. Yes, there are truths to be spoken. But there is also tremendous grace, and a desire to invite them back into the unity of the body of Christ.
READING & PRAYERS:
QUESTION: Can you think of a time when you have seen this passage lived out well? How did it lead to a stronger relationship between the people involved?
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I am more interested in being right than I am interested in being gracious. Once again, I pray that you will continue to help me see the fullness of grace You have shown me. Change the head-knowledge I have of Your grace and make it heart-knowledge, so that others may see Your heart in and through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, there’s a scene which reveals the heart of Christ in a wonderful way. Edmund, the sibling who had set out to betray his siblings, comes to discover that the White Witch is evil and crafty. As such, he returns to his siblings and those who follow Aslan – the clear Christ-figure of the story.
Upon Edmund’s return, Aslan has a conversation with Edmund and nobody else. Here is how C.S. Lewis writes it: “There is no need to tell you (and no one ever heard) what Aslan was saying, but it was a conversation which Edmund never forgot. As the others drew nearer Aslan turned to meet them, bringing Edmund with him. “Here is your brother,” he said, “and—there is no need to talk to him about what is past.”
Lewis, an exceptional writer, captures the imagination well. The reader is left wondering and imagining exactly what Aslan said to Edmund. But whatever truths were shared, they were shared with tremendous grace. The impact upon Edmund’s life is evident in this reading; “…it was a conversation he never forgot.”
READING & PRAYERS:
QUESTION: What is a good, but difficult conversation somebody has had with you that you’ve never forgotten? What did they do or say that made it so memorable?
QUESTION: What would help you grow into somebody who can share difficult truths but do so with tremendous love and grace?
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I am very good at communicating what I think is the truth, but I neglect to share that truth with love and grace. At times, I have even used Your Word as a weapon against others instead of as a way to encourage others. Continue to help me see the fullness of the grace You have shown me, and help me reflect that grace upon others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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There are some Scriptural principles which are so important we need to be reminded of them time and time again. Some may begin to read a passage and think to themselves, Wait a second, I just read this last week. I should probably read something different today. But just because what was read before may still be in our minds, it doesn’t mean it has made a permanent place in our hearts and souls.
Today’s Scripture reading is one such passage. Those who are followers of Christ may know in our minds that it’s important to abide in Christ. But until abiding in Christ becomes a complete and total priority in our lives, we must continually remind ourselves just how important it really is.
When our roots are deeply united with Christ, it is then and only then that we are able to bear much fruit. When our roots are deeply united with Christ, it is then and only then that the distractions and interruptions of our lives amount to only a whisper. When our roots are deeply united with Christ, it is then and only then that we can live life at the speed of our souls, and not the speed in which others think we should live.
READING & PRAYERS:
QUESTION: In your own words, write out what you think it means to abide in Christ (or remain in Christ, or be united with Christ). What is one thing you can do today to make abiding in Christ your greatest priority?
Take a Step: This week, continue to utilize the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily to begin practicing being with God and resting in His presence. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices. See pauseapp.com for details.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today I simply pray that my roots will grow deep, deep down into the Gospel. May Your heart become my heart, and may others see You in me. I choose to be rooted in You – to abide in You today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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