Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

On a Mission for God

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I confess that I have not dedicated my entire life to God’s mission. I am trying to do better and look for opportunities to spread His Word and His love. How are you doing on the task that God has given each of us? He doesn’t want us to be condemned by our lack of success in meeting the goal. He just wants us to work on it.

The Mission of God

All of our lives are used for something. Most people spend their lives focused on growing a family, building their career, or amassing possessions.

While none of those things are necessarily wrong, they can become distractions from our ultimate goal in life.

In the book of Acts, we see Paul’s transformation in Christ. As a result of meeting Jesus and being changed by His grace, Paul spends the rest of his life preaching the good news of Jesus.

For Paul, God’s grace and salvation is so great that nothing on this earth is as important as God’s work.

Paul says that nothing in His life matters as much as telling others about God’s grace. His goal in life was to finish his own race well by faithfully accomplishing as much of the mission of God as possible:

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Acts 20:24 NIV

The mission of God is not opposed to growing families or building careers. In fact, God desires for us to use those opportunities to faithfully accomplish the mission of God. We can raise families in the way of God, and we can tell our coworkers about God’s grace. Any place we find ourselves in can be an opportunity to accomplish the mission of God.

Take a moment to consider your own life and where you spend your time. Are you using every opportunity you have to spread the good news of Jesus? Does your life, like Paul’s, point toward God?

Consider a few ways that you can begin to change your perspective and live your life on mission for God.

What Ifs and Hiding Your Feelings

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/15

This devotional really hit me right where it hurts this morning. Innumerable times, I have a situation that is less than ideal and I try to comfort myself with “what ifs”, imagining the worst that could happen and what God can do to help out. I have found that generally the situational “what ifs” don’t happen. The only place they come to fruition are in my mind, and that is not a good thing for my stress level.

The other part of the devotional that spoke clearly to me is the part about hiding my feelings. I do that a lot because I have been trained by life experiences that people either don’t want to hear it or don’t really listen. For example, I have given up on telling my husband how frustrated I am with living in a rural area, far from medical care that we are needing more often. He is determined to stay here, so I just don’t talk to him about it. I hide my feelings and again, that is not good for my stress level.

On the plus side, as I wait, I do wait expectantly for God to act in spite of the “what ifs” and I tell God honestly how I am feeling. He can work on my husband’s heart if He feels it is necessary and that’s a good thing. I can just let go and trust God. Isn’t that what we are supposed to do anyway?

Shining the Light

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I think we can all agree that this world is a very dark place, a place that needs light. The more we shine for Jesus and show the the light of His truth in the world, the less darkness there is. We have a job to do…be the light. When people are arguing over politics and the state of the world, remember to shine your light. Remind them that the only Kingdom that will stand is that of Jesus and the only power that matters is His. The Gospel is not ours to hold tightly to our chest; it is ours to shine out into a needy world, a world of sinners just like we once were. Going from darkness to light can change a neighborhood, a nation and the world!

Shining the Light of Jesus

Have you ever walked from a dark place into a very bright space? Light has incredible power over our senses, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. But light is necessary for us to live. It illuminates the world.

In Matthew 5, Jesus uses light as metaphor several times to describe the life of a disciple. He says that His disciples are like a town built on a hill that shines light into the valley (Matthew 5:14). He also says we’re like a lamp that gives light to a whole house (Matthew 5:15).

The life of a disciple of Jesus is meant to be like that of a light that shines brightly for others to see. So what is the light that we have?

It is the message of the Gospel. We’ve been given knowledge of what Jesus has done for us, and it’s that knowledge that changes everything for us. We now have a new life because of Jesus.

Jesus also says that people recognize our light through our good deeds. When we choose to love others, we are showing them the light and love of Jesus.

If you want to be a light in a dark world, remember this: the most illuminating act of all is loving people like Jesus. We are a city on a hill, a lamp shining into a whole house. The darkness around us may seem overwhelming, but the love we show because of the light within us illuminates everything.

An Opportunity to Love Again

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/12

We have all been hurt at sometime by someone in our lives. It may be an unexpected, come-on-you-suddenly kind of wound. Or it may be a sneaking around for a long time and then striking kind of wound. Whatever wound you have, during your time of waiting, you can give it to the Lord to heal. Forgiveness isn’t a suggestion in God’s word; rather, it’s a command. God knows that we cannot move on in life without forgiving, even if we don’t really realize that there is someone we need to forgive. I know God brought someone to my mind this morning that I didn’t even think about forgiving because I thought the wounds that were inflicted were already forgiven. Not so much if I still feel pain each time I think of what was done, so I am going to spend some time today taking my wounded self to the cross and asking God to forgive me for holding on to the wounds instead of letting Him heal them. I want to open myself fully up to God’s love and forgiveness, don’t you?

God Doesn’t Waste the Wait

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/11

While we are waiting for God to act and tell us the next steps we should take, God is continuing to work in our lives. He uses the time in the waiting room to train us and get us ready for the new things we will be facing. We can use that waiting time wisely or we can moan and complain about our lot in life and the fact that God seems far away. I confess that I have often been in the latter group, but as I age (and hopefully mature more in Christ), I am more likely to ask God to use the season of waiting to get me ready for the next challenge. As the devotional points out, once the waiting is over, we have a tendency to totally forget the hardships of waiting and to bask in the current blessings. Instead, we need to continue to reflect on what we learned in the waiting room and use the resources and training that God provided there to carry us successfully and righteously through the task He has set before us.

Jesus Showed Selfless Love

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In today’s world, everyone seems to be “out for themselves.” If people don’t think that they will benefit, they don’t want to undertake anything, especially if the benefactors are others. But Jesus showed us a different way, a way to selfless love, a sacrificial love that expected nothing in return, knowing that the real reward was eternal. As we go about our day today, let’s prefer others above ourselves. Let’s not be in a hurry in the “me first” movement. There are no prizes in God’s kingdom for the “me first, last and always” crowd. The eternal rewards and crown of life go to those who practice humility and selfless love just as Jesus modeled for us.

An Example Worth Following

Jesus stood there in silence as he was stripped, spit on, beaten, and mocked. He stood there as they twisted thorns into a crown and shoved it onto His head. He watched as they gambled for His clothes. He was rejected, accused, and crucified—and He endured all of this willingly, because of love. 

Imagine having unlimited power and authority, and giving it all up. Imagine voluntarily sacrificing your life so that others could also experience God’s deep, unconditional love. This is what Jesus modeled for us.  

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges… When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” 
Philippians 2:5-8 NLT

Jesus knew He belonged to God, and He knew what He was called to do. He knew that selfless service mattered more than selfishness. He knew that humility was greater than pride. And He knew that obeying God would lead to our freedom and His glory. 

Jesus modeled humility by laying down His life so that we could know the love of God personally. And if we say that we follow Jesus, then we need to have the same attitude and outlook on life that Jesus did. But we can only do this by staying united in Jesus as we follow His example together.  

So, how do we stay united? We show love to each other. And how do we show love to each other? By thinking about other people first, and choosing not to hold onto bitterness. True love requires a willingness to let go of pride, and to serve without expecting anything in return. 

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” 
John 15:12-13 ESV

So who can you show love to today? Spend a few moments allowing God to reveal how you can practically embrace humility, stay united in love, and serve others selflessly today.

Be Ready

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/9

Like Joseph, when we are in a period of waiting, it seems to be long and tedious. But in an instant, God can change things and we have to be ready for the change. That change may not be exactly what we were expecting, but it is always exactly what God planned for us, so we have to be ready to accept and move. Joseph didn’t continue to languish in prison after the Pharoah sent for him. He cleaned himself up and went before Pharoah. I can’t imagine he want in with an attitude of “What took you so long?” Rather, he, as we should be, was grateful to be out of the period of waiting and expectantly hopeful of what God was going to do next.

God Isn’t On Our Timetable

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/8

We all have schedules and some of us still have deadlines to meet and responsibilities at work that have to be done on a certain time. So when are told that God doesn’t work on our timetable, it may boggle our mind. We say to ourselves (and to God, if we are being completely honest), “Look, I know you are busy and I am tryin to wait patiently here, but I need this today, or tomorrow at the latest.” Those words may work with co-workers and might even work with our spouses or other family members. But they don’t work with God because all of time is on HIS schedule, not ours. If we are waiting, then God has a reason for us to wait and something He is doing while we wait. God sees the whole picture while we see a tiny little corner of it and think we know what is going on and what needs to happen within our time limits. God knows exactly what we need and exactly when we need it, so He works on His own timetable, not ours. Disappointing to those of us who are A-type personalities and just want things done right and quickly. God always does things right, but He may not do them as quickly as we tend to demand or the exact way we think it should all be done. Step back in your time of waiting and let God be God…He will do things in His time and in His way and in such a way that you will marvel (or may even forget) your original request.

Sharing the Burden of Life

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Let’s be honest. Life is not always easy; it just isn’t. We are going along on what we think is a smooth road and suddenly there are rocks there or raging water to cross over and the bridge is out. What do we do? As part of a community, we call for help. We may pick up our phone and call for prayer. Or we may tell someone about our dilemma and ask for their help with the problem. We were not meant to walk through life alone. Jesus had His twelve disciples and we have family and friends. The first thing I do when I encounter a problem is pray and then enlist others in my circle to pray with me and for me. I am sad that there are those who don’t know Jesus and who don’t have a circle of friends on whom they can call for help.

I went to visit my sister in NC a couple of weeks ago and I am sad that she has no friends there and is basically isolated. Her daughter and granddaughter visit occasionally but mostly she is alone all day, with the TV on constantly to keep her company. Please join me in prayer for her to find a friend. I know that it seems a difficult thing since she doesn’t go anywhere except to doctors and doesn’t socialize at all. But God is the God of the impossible, and I am believing for a friend for her, someone that she can talk to, relate with and feel a part of a community with. I would like to hope that she would step out of her comfort zone and go to church or a meeting with other elderly women, but she is adamant that she is not doing that. So I know that God will have to work a miracle and either help her change her choices or send someone to her that will befriend her.

I have decided that I will call her more often myself, knowing that the conversation will be long because she is so lonely, but also knowing she needs that human contact, even if it’s only over the phone lines. We all need someone with whom we can share the burden of life. Jesus promised to help us carry our burdens and I think one of the ways He does that is to provide friendships and fellowship with others. I am thankful for my husband, my children and my friends, all of whom check on me and make sure that I am safe and well. I want my sister to have that peace of mind that comes when you know that you are not totally forgotten. Thank you for your prayers for Ann today.

Made For Community

Have you ever worked in a group with other people who only slowed down your progress? A lot of people actually prefer working alone so that they can manage priorities the way they want. While this may be a good method in some cases, it’s not usually the best way to live.

From the very beginning of creation, God created us to be in relationship with other people. We are created for community and friendship, and God intended for us to work together and help each other through life.

And yet— a lot of people live their life in isolation from others. They believe that as long as they have Jesus, they don’t need anybody else. But you and Jesus can’t make it through life alone. You were created to share life with others.

The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that there are many things that one person cannot do alone. We need others to help us when we fall. We need others to encourage us when we’re down. We need people to accomplish tasks in life that are greater than us.

Most people who have gone through difficult seasons of life wish there had been someone to walk alongside them. We long for connection and community.

This is how God designed us—we were created to share the burdens of life together. 

God created the Church to be a community of people who all love God and love others. When we find community within the people of God, we will also find people who can walk through life together with us. You don’t have to walk through life alone—God has provided other people to help you along. And you are also called to help those in your life. 

Take some time today to thank God for the friends and community He has given you. Thank God for each of them by name. As they come to mind, be sure to let them know that you appreciate their friendship in your life. Seek out ways that you can continue to build a healthy community of friends.

The Prison of Waiting

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/6

I never thought of waiting as a kind of prison, but I think the authors of this devotional have a point. We are all waiting for something…a special letter in the mail, a payment that we are anticipating, a visit from loved ones, or even an election to be over. We are all waiting, sometimes with excitement and other times with a sense of dread. Whatever we are waiting for, we can know with certainty that God is with us in the waiting. I want to be like Joseph and receive God’s favor as I wait. I must admit that doesn’t always happen, and I think that is mostly due to my impatient and demanding attitude. I need to learn how to wait with expectation for what God will do in every situation regardless of how hard or impossible it seems.

Prayer request: a man named Jeff in his mid-50’s has had a series of strokes and has extensive brain damage. The doctors are recommending surgery to help him live, but with surgery, his brain will be so damaged that he will have to live in a nursing home for the rest of his life. Thank you in advance for praying for wisdom for the doctors, peace and comfort for Jeff’s family and friends and a touch from the healing hand of the Lord. Jeff is in a waiting room that none of us wants to face, so let’s unite in prayer for him.

S