Woundedness

Devotion:  1 Peter 2:21-24

Wounds happen.  They can be physical, emotional or spiritual.  All are caused by inflicted pain.  Physical pain alerts the brain that something is wrong in our bodies.  Emotional pain disturbs our thought process and can bring disturbance to our sleep; as well as our ability to think and act rationally.  Spiritual pain can be brought about by conviction of the Holy Spirit; or by deep hurt brought on by spoken words.

It is easy to find ourselves lashing out; when we ourselves have been wounded in any fashion.  Suffering can take on either of the three forms mentioned above.  Christ suffered for us; in order to leave us an example, of how to respond when we are wounded. Because we live in this fallen world, we will find ourselves wounded outwardly, as well as inwardly.

Jesus showed us by His example, how to respond to all three types of wounds. To emotional pain: When He was reviled, He did not revile in return.  When He suffered physically; He bore our sins and by His stripes and we are healed.  When He suffered spiritually, He did not threaten but committed Himself to His Father, who judges righteously.  My dear reader, we should do the same.

In our flesh, it’s impossible to respond in these ways, but by the power of His Holy Spirit, and through the blood of Jesus, we can lean on His strength, to give a godly response to our wounds.

In Motion:

Ask God to empower you and strengthen you to give a godly response no matter how you are wounded.

 

Wake Up

Devotion:  Isaiah 51:9-16

There’s an old hymn ruminating in my heart called, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” One stanza declares, “All I have needed Thy hand has provided.  Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”  One of God’s names is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide.  The words of this song align perfectly with God’s Word.

God does not want us to be lulled into a state of despair but to wake up and acknowledge the arm of the Lord is our strength.  We can always encourage ourselves with these empowering words; by reminding our downcast souls of His everlasting joy and comfort.  Morning by morning new mercies we see.  Any time your spirit is bowed low, do not give in to the temptation to wallow in a pit of your own making. You can choose to wake up to the amazing presence and strength of the Lord.  God will pull you right out of the pit of despair, into His glorious awakening!

In Motion:

Wake up and take the arm of the LORD!  You are covered by the shadow of His hand.

Take Heed Where You Stand

Devotion:  Esther 6:10-14

Haman wanted to destroy Mordecai because of his insubordination in refusing to bow before him.  Haman’s heart was full of destructive pride. As the story unfolds, God proves that “Pride goes before the fall.”

King Ahasuerus had honored wicked Haman because of his wealth and hokey allegiance to the king’s cause. The truth of Haman’s evil intent to hang Mordecai; was exposed through queen Esther’s carefully devised plans.

Haman’s purpose for appearing before the king, was to petition him to have Mordecai hanged on the already constructed gallows. Before a word came out of Mordecai’s mouth, the king asked what was to be done for the man whom the king desired to honor? Haman; thinking himself to be the man, began to spout off his well thought out wish list.  This man should wear the king’s royal robes, ride the king’s horse, and even wear a royal crown parading him through the streets proclaiming, thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.

It never occurred to Haman that his king was speaking of Haman’s most hated foe, Mordecai.  Haughty Haman was instantly deflated and his pride instantly turned to mourning. Even his family who had supported him in all his bragging, spoke the terrible truth of Mordecai’s Jewish descent.

In Motion:

Humble yourself before your King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He will exalt you in due time.

 

 

Casting Stones

Devotion:  John 8:1-11

We’ve all been guilty of casting stones with our words, that wound the soul of an already broken person. We’ve even tried throwing boulders heavy with accusations;  hoping to crush our enemies.  The woman in this passage was caught in the very act of adultery and by the law, she was to be stoned.

The Pharisees were trying to entrap Jesus any way possible. They were trying to see if He would agree with Moses’ law, regarding the punishment of this lady.  Jesus picked up a stone and said, “Let Him who is without sin, cast the first stone.”  The stones in the hands of those who were about to take a life, fell to the ground. One by one; they all walked away.  I love how Jesus drove home His point by asking the woman, “Where are your accusers?”  She said they are all gone. Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”

I just love that about Jesus!  There is therefore now, no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. None whatsoever!  We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God so who are we to cast stones; large or small, at another person?

In Motion:

Father forgive us for all the stones we have cast, to bruise or wound another person.

 

 

Book of Remembrance

Devotion:  Malachi 3:16-18

For those of you who had a traditional wedding; you would have purchased a guest book, and the guests who attended your ceremony would have written their names upon its pages.  It is fun to peruse those treasured signatures and recall their faces; as well as the personalities behind those faces.

God knows every time you open your mouth to spread  His gospel or have conversation with another believer regarding His Word or work in your life.  The LORD pays attention and a book of remembrance is written about you.  Your name is recorded and He calls you His treasured possession.

God made a promise in Revelation 3:4-5, to those who have not soiled their garments and have walked with Jesus; He will make worthy and their names will never be blotted out of the book of life.  He will confess your name before His Father and before His angels.

God takes time to record the names of all who take His Son as their Lord and Savior, in His book.  Your name is etched in the nail scared hands and feet of the One who took your place on the cross.  You are sealed by Jesus’ blood and your name is found in God’s Book of Remembrance.

In Motion:

Praise and thank God that your name is written in His book.

 

The First and the Last

Devotion:  Luke 13: 29-30

What a privilege it is to have personally known a few missionaries through out my life time.  These are people who totally dedicate their lives for the purpose of sharing Christ; at home or abroad. They sell all their possessions and go gladly out into the world; to obey God’s call on their life.  In other words, they give up the comfortable for the not so comfortable.  They exchange the familiar for the not so familiar.  They give up the treasure of having family and friends all around them, to seek and save the lost people in this world.

In the world’s view, they have become the “least of these”.  They purposefully placed themselves last on the “totem pole”.  Their friends and family go on with their lives in a “normal” fashion, but into their life comes a new normal; new faces, new culture, new food and new ways of doing life.

Jesus tells us those who were last, will be first and those who are first will be last.  He is referring to the time and place of His Kingdom.  These precious men and women who have been last, according to this world, will then be first.  That’s a promise from the One who sacrificed His own life and is now at the right hand of the Father.

In Motion:

Please pray for my dear friends, Chandler and Jamie Sharpe; as they prepare to go to West Africa.

Healing on the Sabbath

Devotion:  Luke 13:10-17

I am amazed by the number of people in Jesus day; bound by disabilities.  Infirmities have existed since the fall of man in the garden of Eden. In this passage; we find a bent woman unable to straighten herself.  When Jesus saw her; he called her over and she was made straight immediately.  How did she respond? She glorified God!

For all the people who were healed in Jesus name, there were always the “nay-sayers”, who verbally refuted the miracles Jesus performed.  Once again, Jesus had healed on the Sabbath and this did not set well with the enforcers of the law.  They told the people; “There are six days you can be healed but do not come for healing on the Sabbath day.”  Jesus called them hypocrites!  Every Sabbath each one of them had to untie his ox or donkey to lead it to water. The Pharisees were always harsh in their judgement of others.

The Sabbath Day should definitely be a day of healing for the mind and sometimes even the body gets restored.  We all need to be loosed from the chains of sin that may have held us captive for many years. The Sabbath Day would be a perfect day to find healing.  All kinds of healing takes place in our Father’s house. Relationships are restored, hearts are revived, salvation is found and captives are set free on the Lord’s day.  It is to be treated as holy and set apart unto the Lord who heals.

In Motion:

Thank God for healing on the Sabbath Day!

 

 

 

Spiritual Temperature

Devotion:  Revelation 3:14-16

My pastor has been taking our congregation through a study in Revelation.  Currently, we have been studying the seven churches. On Sunday, he talked about the church in Laodicea. God declares that it is neither hot nor cold; but lukewarm, and that He will spit them out of His mouth.  A lukewarm church makes God sick to His stomach and brings harm to the gospel of Christ.

Pastor Brian asked these three questions, “What does it take for you as a Christian, to respond to Jesus?   What are you struggling with and what is bothering you?  If there were a thermometer to register your spiritual temperature; would you be too hot, too cold or lukewarm?”

The issue becomes what is happening inside of each believer; because even though we are individual Christians; collectively, we make up the body of Christ.  Brian said, “The church that makes God sick, does not oppose the gospel, they just do not defend it.”  What a convicting statement!  Ultimately, that means we are not heeding Christ’s last commandment, “to go unto all the world and give the gospel.”

In Motion:

Dear Reader; let us ask ourselves the three questions above on a regular basis, to check our spiritual temperature. I pray, God will not find us to be lukewarm.

Radical Steps With God

Devotion:  Hebrews 11:6

Faith involves taking “next steps” with God.  What is the one thing you want to attempt but fear holds you back?  You can attempt anything with God’s power.  God will go with you because He promises to never leave us nor forsake us.  What would you be willing to attempt; if you knew God was right there with you?

Determine to have a God sized goal and then focus your energy in accomplishing that goal.  God sized goals may not happen quickly but as you strive to attain these goals; the Lord tests your character. He is training you in righteousness and ultimately molding you into His image.  As you go for your goal, He wants you to display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control, to all the people in your sphere of influence.

God will reward you as you take radical steps of faith toward Him.. He loves to see His children trusting in Him fully!  He will accomplish what concerns you.

In Motion:

Whatever has been holding you back; let it go and take radical steps toward God.  Trust Him to accomplish great and mighty things; beyond what you could ask or think or imagine.

 

Good Grief

Devotion:  Esther 4:1-4

We have all experienced grief to one degree or another. Webster’s definition of grief is described as: keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret.  Jesus said in Matt. 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Have you ever sought for comfort, but it seems as if there is none to be found?  Your spirit feels as if it is broken and bleeding profusely.  Even our Lord felt this kind of grief on the cross; when He cried out, “Father, Father, Why have You forsaken me?”  Those words echo into our very soul today, and one can know, only Jesus can understand and provide true comfort.

Grief is a human emotion given to us by God.  It is natural to grieve when your heart is sad.  God speaks of grief in the Old and New Testament.  John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.”  He was crying over the death of his friend Lazarus.  God cried.  Even though HE knew He would resurrect Lazarus, He cried.  Why?  Because Jesus is fully God and fully man and He felt pain and sorrow.

God created you in His image.  He created tear ducts to release some of the grief and pain in your heart.  There is a precious scripture found in Psalm 56:8.  “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle… ” Psalm 126:5 reads, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.”  God sees and knows your every sorrow and grief as you wait to have your prayers answered.  One day God shall wipe every tear from our eyes and there will be no more sorrow or grief or pain.

In Motion: 

Seek comfort from the One and Only great comforter.  Pour into the Psalms.  He waits and longs to comfort you.