Tag: Devotional

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The One Who Invites – Open Arms

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It probably isn’t too hard for you to believe that God is perfect. If God really is, well, GOD, then surely He is the embodiment of perfection. 

But it’s much more difficult to see yourself in the same way He does. You may think to yourself, Well, I just messed up…again. God must be looking down at me with raised eyebrows, wondering why I don’t yet have my act together. Does God really see you this way? In a word, no. 

Once upon a time, you were an enemy of God (see Romans 5:6-11). Yet even as God’s enemy, Christ’s love for you was so fierce that He died for you. And by trusting in Him you are now completely, fully, and totally restored. You are now called a child and a friend of God.

Are there times when you may be wayward? Absolutely. But does this mean God is less likely to welcome you into His presence? Absolutely not. He is standing with arms wide open, always ready to embrace you as a friend. 

As Dane Ortlund writes in Gentle and Lowly, “The posture most natural to [Christ] isn’t a pointed finger but open arms.”

READING & JOURNALING:

     ROMANS 5:6-11, LUKE 15:11-32

When you think about Jesus, are you more likely to picture Him with a pointed finger or with open arms? 

If the latter, where do you think these thoughts come from? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, too often there are moments when I see You as looking down on me with a pointed finger. Continue to help me see You as the Father in the story of the prodigal son – a Father who runs to me with open arms. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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The One Who Invites – My Sheep Know My Voice

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The Scriptures regularly refer to the people of God as sheep. In our culture, the idea of being sheep is generally frowned upon. People are considered to be sheep if they don’t think think for themselves and simply follow the masses. But the Bible doesn’t always have this view of sheep in mind. Instead, it communicates that God and God alone can be our guide. Without Him, we will wander. Without Him, we will be lost. 

We see this theme all throughout the Old Testament: Jacob refers to God as shepherd (Genesis 48:15), and the book of Numbers warns against God’s people being like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:16-17). Psalm 23 even begins with, “The Lord is my shepherd…” 

With so many references about sheep and the Shepherd, it’s no surprise that Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Yet, it’s essential to remember that a sheep doesn’t listen to its shepherd one time and then go on living. Instead, a sheep is continually listening for the voice of its shepherd. Day by day, moment by moment, sheep listen for the voice of their Shepherd. 

READING & JOURNALING:

     JOHN 10:1-42

In what ways do you pause to hear Jesus’ voice throughout the day? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of voices I hear every day. And many times it’s difficult to tune out all of those voices so that I’m able to hear Yours more clearly. Today, help me to tune out the voices, worries and fears of the world, so that Your voice and Your voice alone can guide me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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The One Who Invites – Follow Me

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In Jesus’ day a Rabbi (teacher) would only choose the best of the best students to study under them. Students who showed great potential – usually those who had tremendous knowledge of the Old Testament – were deemed worthy of continuing education. As such, a Rabbi would approach only a select few students to say, “Follow me.” To receive such an invitation was a great honor. 

When Jesus approached men such as Peter and his brother Andrew, as well as James and John, it’s likely that other Rabbis had passed them by. As trained fisherman, it is not that they would have been uneducated. Nevertheless, they were not seen as the best and brightest of their graduating class. As such, they turned their attention to a career as fishermen.

But Jesus did not pass them by. He saw something within them nobody else could see. He was able to see the depths of their potential. He was able to see beyond their head knowledge and instead see their full purpose. So He invited them to follow Him so they could discover and fulfill that purpose. It’s the same invitation He offers you today. 

READING & JOURNALING:

     MARK 3:7-19, MATTHEW 4:19, 9:9

What kinds of people did Jesus invite to follow Him? What does this say about His nature and character? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, there are moments when I feel unworthy to receive an invitation to follow You. Yet, Jesus’ choosing of the twelve disciples shows that He wasn’t looking for what society may have deemed the best and brightest. He was able to see something within them they couldn’t see within themselves. Today, help me to see myself in the way You see me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Overcome: Judgment – Write it Out

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Take the opportunity to review this week’s questions and scripture readings. 

What is one way you’ve grown this week in your understanding of God, yourself, and others? 

Take some extra time today to write out a prayer to God. Share your heart, fears, and feelings with Him, knowing He is intently listening, and believing He is with you in all things. 

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Overcome: Judgment – True, Helpful, and Kind

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Imagine for a moment that somebody you love and care about is making some unwise or unhealthy decisions. (Maybe you don’t need to imagine it and you’re able to think of somebody rather quickly.) 

How can you approach them to share your concern for them? 

Some may try to avoid the discussion altogether. If you can avoid tension and conflict, then avoid it at all costs. 

Some may confront the situation head-on. If something is true, then it’s OK to just share it. The truth is all that really matters, right? 

But in most situations, neither of these approaches is best. By avoiding the discussion, you may find yourself judging them from a distance. By using the second approach, you may make the other person feel judged.

What’s the solution? Well, it isn’t easy. But you can never go wrong by sharing what is TRUE in a way that is both HELPFUL and KIND. Today, be intentional in being helpful and kind toward yourself and toward others. 

READING & JOURNALING:

     1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-7

Have you ever experienced somebody sharing a hard truth with you in a way that was both helpful and kind? What was that experience like? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I recognize that it’s easy to think of what’s true, but it isn’t always easy to share what’s true in ways that are both helpful and kind. Continue to help me grow in being helpful and kind toward myself and toward others. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Overcome: Judgment – People are People

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In his book Everybody Always, Bob Goff writes, “God makes people, and people make issues, but people aren’t issues. They’re not projects either. People are people.”

Let’s be honest, there are times when…

…we see another person as the issue. 

…we see another person as a project.

…we see another person as an object that needs to be ‘fixed’. 

…we see people in ways that God does not see them.

But the Scriptures provide a very different way of seeing people. The Scriptures teach that all people are created by God (Genesis 1:26), in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) for the glory of God (Colossians 1:16). As such, God is inviting us each and every day to…

…see people as part of His grand creation.

…see people as something created in the image of God.

…see people as something created to reflect the glory of God.

Which of the above lists best represents how you see others?

READING & JOURNALING:

    MATTHEW 7:1-5

What steps can you take today to see yourself as God sees you?

Similarly, what steps can you take today to help others see themselves in the same ways God sees them? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, today’s reading helps me to see that I don’t always see myself as somebody created by You, in Your image, and for Your glory. Similarly, I don’t always practice seeing others in these ways. Help me to see myself and others as You do. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Overcome: Judgment – Bless and Encourage

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Imagine for a moment that you have a friend or family member for whom you’ve been praying for a long time. One day you feel led to share the Gospel with them and you enter the conversation prayerful that they’ll be receptive. But after you meet with them they respond by saying something like, “I really do appreciate your concern for me, but I admit it’s hard for me to want to be a Christian. All in all, I’ve found Christians to be some of the most judgmental people I’ve ever met.”

Unfortunately, the above scenario has the potential to become reality. There are those outside the faith who have observed or personally experienced a lot of judgment and condemnation from those who claim to be followers of Christ. Even worse, there are many within the faith who have experienced the same!

There may be many reasons for this, one being that we don’t take intentional time to really reflect and identify our own judgmental thoughts. Today, take some time to identify any judgmental thoughts you may have. Then, bless and encourage someone you’ve had judgmental thoughts toward.

READING & JOURNALING:

     JAMES 4:11-12

How regularly do you find yourself seeing others and/or their behaviors through a lens of judgment or criticism?

Today, take the opportunity to bless and encourage someone you’ve had judgmental thoughts toward.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, throughout my life I’ve discovered that there are consequences of seeing everything through a lens of judgment and criticism. Change my heart so that I live in love and not in judgment toward others. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Overcome: Judgment – It’s Easy to ____________

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Fill in the blank with the first thing that comes to your mind: It’s easy to _______ but it’s difficult to _________. What words came to your mind? 

You may say that it’s easy to eat junk food but it’s difficult to exercise. It’s easy to watch tv but it’s difficult to read a lengthy novel. It’s easy to drive during the day but it’s difficult to drive after nightfall. There are thousands, even tens of thousands of possibilities. But it’s unlikely that anybody will say It’s easy to love others but it’s difficult to judge others. If anything, the exact opposite is much more likely. 

We find it easy to judge anybody who may look, think, or behave differently than we do. We may criticize others (even in our minds) for clothes they wear, the food they eat, or even the way they drive. But the life and ministry of Jesus showed that He wasn’t critical or judgmental toward others. Instead, He reached out to offer real compassion and love to those who were used to hearing criticism from others. 

Today, pay close attention to your thoughts. What steps can you take to ensure you see others through a lens of love? 

READING & JOURNALING:

     1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-7

There’s no denying Jesus saw people through a lens of love. Who is someone in your life you need to see through the lens of love today? How will you do so? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I recognize that I often see others and/or their behaviors through a lens of judgment instead of through a lens of love. This week, help me to grow in seeing others as You see them. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Overcome: Inexperience – Write it Out

(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)

Take the opportunity to review this week’s questions and scripture readings. 

What is one way you’ve grown this week in your understanding of God, yourself, and others? 

Take some extra time today to write out a prayer to God. Share your heart, fears, and feelings with Him, knowing He is intently listening, and believing He is with you in all things. 

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Overcome: Inexperience – I Will Invest in Others

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Making disciples is something that can be done in a number of ways. But for the vast majority of people in our culture, making disciples is something that occurs relationally over time. As you get to know others and allow yourself to be known by others, you’re on the pathway of making disciples.

While there’s no simple checklist of what it looks like to make disciples, somebody recently shared with me (Pastor Justin) a daily checklist of their MIT’s, or “Most Important Tasks.” This list provides an excellent overview of what it looks like to regularly connect with God and to invest in the lives of others.

Daily MIT’s – Most Important Tasks

1) Connect with Jesus

2) Connect with People

3) Connect People to Jesus

4) Connect People to People

5) Connect People with their Purpose

What do you think? Is this a good model for how you can grow in making disciples? 

READING & JOURNALING:

     MATTHEW 5:14-16

Do you think the daily MIT’s is a good model for how you can grow in your understanding of God and follow through on Jesus’ command to make disciples? Explain your answer.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, today I simply pray that You will continue to shape me into somebody who regularly connects with you, connects with people, connects people to You, connects people to people, and connects people with their purpose. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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