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Press On (High School Devotional)

A sufficient sacrifice.... May 20, 2013

Read:  Numbers 29:7-11 & 1 Peter 3:18.

Growing up in the church, there are a number of things we often talk about, often study, and consequently, often under-appreciate.  One of those things is the sacrifice of Christ.  We hear a lot about it, we talk a lot about it, but do we really understand the significance of it?  We sometimes refer to Christ's death as His 'substitutionary death'.  We know what a substitute is...it's something that takes the place of something or someone else.  A sub at school takes the place of the teacher for the day.

So who did Christ substitute for?  You...and me!  In 1 Peter 3:18, Peter reminds us that Christ suffered for the unrighteous.  He was the righteous one, we were the unrighteous, and yet He took our place.  Now again, it's easy at this point to think 'yeah, yeah, I've been hearing that since I was a kid.'  Let me encourage you to flip back in your Bible to Numbers chapter 29.  Read even a small portion of that chapter and you will be immediately struck by what was required of the people to be reconciled to God.  It was no easy task.  It was specific, it was involved, and it was frequent.  When you look at Christ's substitutionary death against the backdrop of what was required under the OT law, you understand, and hopefully more fully appreciate, Christ's death.

Through Christ's death, we are able, every single moment of our lives, to walk closely with God.  Sin no longer separates us from God.  The requirements of the OT have been replaced by Christ.  He invites us simply to come to Him, trusting in His sufficient sacrifice, and growing in faith.  Press On today, asking God to give you a bigger picture of Christ's sufficient sacrifice on the cross.  It may be old news, but it is still the greatest news you'll ever know!

Bring back the drifter... May 14, 2013

Read:  James 5:13-20.  Focus verses: 19-20.

Nobody really likes to be corrected or told they are doing something wrong.  No matter who you are, there is a degree of pride in all of us that makes it difficult for us to be told we are in the wrong.  And because of this, we don't tend to tell others when they are wrong, because we know how it makes us feel.  So what's the result of our silence?  Sometimes it can be spiritual ruin for another.

In James 5, verses 19-20, James reminds us of our responsibility to those who are drifting or wandering from the faith.  We are to bring them back.  How do we do this?  Through loving correction.  But, as you could probably guess, where there is no relationship, loving correction cannot exist.  Someone who doesn't know us and doesn't believe that we have their best interest in mind, is not going to take kindly to our correction.

Why is this an important matter?  Namely because there are so many professing Christians today who are wandering from the faith without anyone to step in and 'bring them back'.  We would never allow a small child to wander out into the middle of the road would be?  Of course not!  Yet the danger of that oncoming car for that small child is less severe than the spiritual danger for the friend who we allow to wander or drift from God.  Who in your life do you see wandering from God?  Do you love them enough to step in and bring them back?  Press On today, asking for God's Spirit to lead you to the friend who you need to help bring back.  Ask God to give you a spirit of gentleness, and yet honesty. 

Different is good... May 9, 2013

Read:  Numbers 14:13-25.  Focus verse:  24.

Being different is widely celebrated in the world we live in today.  Everyone wants to be 'different'.  As a result of this, we often see some pretty bold attempts by individuals to try and be different.  Whether it's a lifestyle choice, a fashion statement, a hair style, a flashy (or weird) car, people go to great extremes to be different and be noticed.  Different is good, right?

Right!  Especially when it comes to our walk with God.  If being different is what gets you noticed, then let us consider this question together... when was the last time we were noticed because of our walk with God?  Do you stick out?  Do people spend time around you and recognize that there is something different about who you are?

In Numbers chapter 14, we find the story of the exodus of the Israelites.  They are in full rebellion at this point, disgruntled with their hardships, and turning their backs on God.  Moses is pleading with God to spare the people, yet God promises judgment on them.  All of them except Caleb.  Why?  Verse 24 gives us the answer, "But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it."  His obedience and heart for God was noticable, it was different than all of the others, and God took notice.

Different is good, especially with God.  It's easy to just be one of the many, indistinguishable from the crowd.  It takes courage and boldness to be different for Christ.  Are you willing to be?  Press On today with a different spirit than those around you.  Others will take notice, but more importantly, God will take notice!

Called to holiness... April 8, 2013

Read:  1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.  Focus verse: 7.

As teenagers, you sadly have a front row seat to a culture which has become very sexualized.  15 years ago, at least it seems like, 'sex' and much of what was encompassed in that term, was something that was still an 'adult' matter.  Schools, shows, music, and other things directed toward teenagers, was not completely sexualized.  There was still a small degree of belief that sex was something that was taboo for our young people.

Unfortunately, as most of you experience every day in the halls and classrooms of your schools, that has changed.  So much about our culture has become sexualized.  From clothing styles, to the movies and music we consume, to the things exchanged through social media...all of it glorifies sex, but often in a profane and cheap manner.

It shouldn't come as a great surprise to you, that this glorification of sex in a profane and cheap manner, is dishonoring to the Lord.  There are countless Scriptures that speak to this, however there is a string of verses in 1 Thessalonians 4 that hit the nail on the head.  Paul is writing a section devoted to a life pleasing to God, and his emphasis becomes sexual purity.  Verse 7 is the icing on the cake, "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness."  Sadly, so much about our culture has reversed this calling, yes even among Christians.  Take a moment and reflect on your own walk with Christ?  Are you walking in holiness (to which you were called), or are you meddling in the impurities of our world?  Press On today, giving Christ your full devotion, asking Him to keep your heart, mind, and soul on the narrow path with Him.  The narrow path is not one of impurity, but of holiness.  This is a good thing...this is what you have been called to!

God's everlasting love... April 4, 2013

Read:  Romans 8:31-39.

There are moments in life when we simply need to be reminded of God's everlasting love.  So much in our days leave us frustrated, confused, stressed, and anxious.  Romans 8 has become a 'go-to' passage for me when I'm feeling discouraged.  Paul spells out for us the nature of God's unchanging love toward us.  And he does it by raising many of the same arguments we might raise as something that could possibly separate us from God's love.

Could tribulation separate us?  Nope!  How about distress, or persecution?  Nope!  Famine?  No!  Nakedness or danger?  No!  The sword of an enemy?  No!  How about death or life?  No!  Angels or rulers?  Nope!  Things happening now?  No!  Things in the future?  No!  How about distance from God?  No!  Is there anything in all of creation that can separate us from the love of Christ?  No!  Simply nothing.

That's a staggering promise of truth that is ours through Christ's death on the cross.  No matter what today or tomorrow brings your way, you can be sure that God's love is consistent and unchanging.  A great defense against discouragement is to simply walk in this truth.  Press On today in the certainty of God's love for you.  Nothing, nothing, not one single thing, can separate you from His love. 

Heavenly-minded... April 2, 2013

Read:  Colossians 3:1-4.

Last Thursday I made the trip to a local hospital to visit a good friend who had been told by the doctors that he didn't have much longer to live.  Late Saturday night, my friend left his earthly body and entered the presence of Christ for eternity.  There were a couple of very surreal moments when I was standing at his bedside on Thursday.  I remember looking at his cell phone and thinking 'that seems so unimportant now to him', even though at one time it probably functioned as a second brain for him (like most of our cell phones do).  Another surreal moment occurred when he asked what channel the U of A game was going to be on, and I remember thinking 'he's able to watch it for sheer entertainment purposes, not because it's going to matter to him in a month from now how far the Wildcats advanced in the tournament.'  In those moments, your perspective is significantly altered.

Even before his own death, Paul had already come to understand this eternal perspective.  It was this heavenly-minded perspective that enabled Paul to write what he does in the first 4 verses of Colossians chapter 3.  Specifically in verse 2, Paul exhorts us to "set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth".  This is really difficult for most of us (myself included) to do unless we are face to face with death.  So how is it possible for us to do this?  He gives us the answer in verse 3, by reminding us that we have already in fact died.  We are not facing death...we have already died!

So at this point you are pinching yourself to make sure you are still alive right?  It's not that type of death Paul is referencing here, but rather a death to the things of this world, a death to the things that won't matter those last 5 minutes we are on this earth.  A heavenly-minded perspective is ours now even though we still are alive, as we live in the shadow of the cross, realizing that our faith in Christ has crucified the old life.  Does this describe your life?  Are you heavenly-minded now, even though you may have another 80 years on this earth?  Press on today in the shadow of the cross.  As we look to the cross, the things of this earthly life become less important!

Only if you'll go with me... March 27, 2013

Read:  Exodus 33:12-23.  Focus verse: 15

I'm sure you've had the experience of being at the fair or an amusement park, and there is the big scary ride that you feel just a little uncertain about going on right?  In those moments, most of us have had the conversation of 'I'll go on it only if you come with me', with a close friend.  In other words...'I'm not going alone, so unless you are coming with me, I'm not going.'  Something about having a friend along makes the ride less scary, even though the ride still operates in the exact same way.  That simple companionship can change the level of fear we have.

There's a similar story in the Bible, found in the story of the exodus of the Israelites from slavery.  In Exodus chapter 33 we find the account of the Lord giving Moses the instruction to leave Sinai, to journey out into the unknown with the hope of entering the Promised Land.  How does Moses respond?  Just like we do when we are standing looking up at that big rollercoaster.  Verse 15 gives us his response, "...If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here."  Moses had no interest in leaving without the Lord's guiding presence.

How much of your life do you live that way?  Call Moses a chicken, scared, whatever you want to, but he was actually incredibly wise.  He knew that if the Lord's presence was not with him and the Israelites each step of the way, they had no chance of making it.  Is that how you approach each day?  Are you aware that unless God's presence is with you each step of the way, you are going to stumble and fall?  Press On today in the face of trials and hardships with an awareness of His guiding presence.  Approach God the same way you would something big and scary...God, I'm not going unless You're coming with me!  He will...after all, God loves a wild adventure with His children!

Power through weakness... March 14, 2013

Read:  2 Corinthians 12:1-10.  Focus verse: 9

When we think of the word 'weakness', we don't often associate the word 'perfect' with it.  The two words don't seem to belong in the same sentence.  Generally speaking, when something is weak, or when we have a weakness, it suggests that we are lacking in something.  Something is not functioning up to its full potential.  Rarely is something made perfect through weakness, at least in our human world.

Good thing God exists and operates in His own divine world.  The Apostle Paul, for all of the amazing things that he accomplished for Christ, experienced great pain along the way.  This included physical, emotional, and spiritual pain.  And just like any human would do, he responded to it by asking God to remove the 'thorn' in his flesh 3 different times.  Where Paul distinguishes himself from the average Christian however, is in how he responded when God chose not to remove it.

There's no doubt that Paul didn't like the 'thorn' (whatever that was), yet how he responded to it serves as an example for all of us to follow.  He was able to recognize, as we read in verse 9, that through his own weakness Christ's power is perfected.  That's something I often struggle to do.  Perfect and weakness don't mix very well in my life.  What a blessing that they do for God.  Press On today through that 'thorn' in your flesh, trusting that as you experience weakness, God's power is being perfected in you.  That's staggering to think about, and even more staggering to live in!

Just Christ... March 11, 2013

Read:  Romans 15:14-21.  Focus verse: 18.

Whether you are a Bible scholar, or just a casual reader, you know that the Apostle Paul is sort of a 'big deal' in the Bible.  A great chunk of the New Testament came from the end of his pen.  He could be (and should be) credited with much of the growth of the early churches that we read about in the New Testament.  He was indeed a warrior for Christ!  He was bold, eager, passionate, and intent on sharing the truth of Christ with as many as he could.

One of the most attractive things about Paul though, was his humility.  He had done many amazing things for Christ and the spread of the Gospel, and yet he didn't need to boast or brag about it.  He was intent on keeping the focus on Christ, and the lost coming to faith.  That's the meaning behind his statement in verse 18 of Romans 15.  He knew his time was short, and he also knew that there were so many who were lost, and he was determined to speak about only those things that were eternal in nature.

Think over a typical week for yourself...how much time do you spend focusing on yourself?  Granted we all have personal responsibilities such as school, athletic teams, homework, jobs, etc... but we also have many other hours that could be spent focused on Christ and sharing the message of hope with the lost around us.  Do you do that?  Are you determined to let your life be centered and focused on Christ?  Press On today with a focused mind, asking God to help you speak of only those things that put Him on display in your life, that others may see your light for Christ and be drawn to know Him personally!

His way or the highway... February 27, 2013

Read:  Proverbs 16:1-3

We've all heard the saying 'my way or the highway.'  Whether it's true or not, it comforts us to believe that we call the shots, we make the plans, we get the final say.  We like to be in control don't we?  I do, and I think most other people do as well.  Even if we wouldn't consider our self to be a leader, we still like to be in control.

Stop and think about the next year of your life...what are the plans you've already made?  A trip?  A celebration?  A medical procedure?  A big test?  Think now about the plans you are hoping to make...a trip, a chance to see a family member you haven't seen in a while, a new job, a new group of friends, college?  What about the next 2 years?  5 years?  10 years?  Because we are people who like to be in control, we also often form many plans.  Plans for our lives, plans for our future.

In and of themselves, there is nothing wrong with a plan.  In fact Scripture tells us in several places to consider wisely the direction of our lives.  Planning is a good thing.  It's a human thing.  The outcome of those plans however, is never up to us.  The first 3 verses of Proverbs 16 is a great reminder of this.  God is the one who gives an answer to our plans, God is the one who weighs the spirit behind our plans, and God is the one who establishes our plans as we commit them to Him.  It can be very difficult for us to surrender our plans, but God calls us to do that.  He is trustworthy.  Press On today, seeking His counsel and His spirit as you make plans for your life, and then obediently turn them over to Him!

The mysteries of God... February 25, 2013

Read:  Deuteronomy 29:29 & 1 Corinthians 13:9-12

We are a society of people that likes to know things.  Education is what we are told is the most important thing during the early years of our lives.  The more we know, the further we will go in life.  Knowledge is power, as the saying goes.  That being true (if you believe it to be true), then it's natural that when we come up against something that we don't know or don't understand, we feel intimated by it.  Being uninformed or uneducated about something makes us uneasy.

Thinking about knowledge from a spiritual perspective, many feel the same way.  Those things about God that they don't understand tend to frustrate them, and cause them to doubt and wonder.  However, when we stop and think about how massive and infinite God is, it's no wonder that we don't know everything there is to know about Him.  He's so far beyond our scope of understanding...and that's okay!  We don't have to know everything about God to still love Him and trust Him.

The Bible is clear that there are some things that God simply has not made known about Himself.  Deut. 29:29 speaks of the secrets of God...they belong to Him.  1 Cor. 13 reminds us that we only see partially now, but someday we will see in full.  Be careful of taking an all or nothing stance with God.  Just because we don't know all there is to know about God, doesn't give us a free pass on being obedient to what we do know.  Press On today with a desire to do His will, serve Him faithfully, and love others as He has loved you!

First things first... February 19, 2013

Read:  Proverbs 3:13-18.  Focus verses:  13-14.

As a high school student, if I asked you what's something you wish you had more of in your life, it's likely that 'money' would be near the top of your list.  Okay, even as an adult that might be at the top of my list as well.  We all wish we had more money, more stuff, more 'silver' and 'gold', as Scripture often defines riches.  With money and stuff comes a false sense of comfort and security.

So what could we possibly want more than gold and silver?  A better question, and the right question, is 'what should we desire more than gold and silver'?  Scripture gives us a very clear answer to this question.  In Proverbs 3:13-14 we see that wisdom and understanding  give a gain and a profit that is far greater than the gain or profit of gold and silver.  That's hard to wrap our minds around isn't it?  Wisdom and understanding?  Really?  You can't buy new stuff with wisdom, you can't pay for a pizza with understanding, you can't take a girl out on a date because you are wise.  So what's the benefit?

If you read a little further in Proverbs 3, you see the gain.  Verse 16, "long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor."  God doesn't leave us helpless and desperate.  He just asks that we put things in their proper order.  There are some things that should come first, some things that must be primary in our lives.  Press On today, believing that God will take care of those secondary needs as you pursue those primary needs.  Believe it or not, wisdom and understanding are actually worth a lot more than silver and gold!

An audience of One... February 15, 2013

Read:  Matthew 6:5-14.  Focus verse: 6.

Living in the digital and social age that we do, so much about our lives is very public.  We use Facebook to tell the world what we are up to, we use twitter to give the world a play-by-play of our day, we use Instagram to show the world all the images of our day.  Less and less about our lives is very personal any more.

In Matthew chapter 6, right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives His disciples (and us), specific instructions on how to pray.  In verse 6 He says, "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."  After reading that, a fairly reasonable question you might ask is, 'Well what if I'm in the hospital, or in my car, or at school...can I not pray in those places?  Does it have to be at home in my room?'  When you see it phrased like that, it becomes a little more clear that that is obviously not what Jesus means.

So what does He mean?  He means that there must be a personal and private aspect to our spiritual walk with Him.  Our relationship with Him is a personal one, yet for many of us we only know and experience the public part of it.  Only at church do we worship Him, only at church do we open our Bibles, only at church do we call out to Him in prayer.  There is certainly nothing wrong with having a public aspect to our spiritual lives, but if this is the only part to it, it's dishonoring to the Lord.  He desires that we know and experience Him in a personal way, and that can only happen when we draw near to Him in private.  Press On today intent on blocking out all the distractions of live, and drawing near to Christ in the private corners of your life.  Go into your room and shut your door if you need to...He'll meet you there!

Meek like a lion... February 13, 2013

Read:  Matthew 5:5 & Psalm 37:11

We've all seen the Discovery Channel shows that capture the lions lounging around in the field, sunbathing, playing with their cubs, just being these cute, sweet animals.  Right?  I guess the test of how cute and sweet we think they really are, would be to see if we are willing to join them in their playful games.  For most people, there's where we draw the line.  While they look sweet and gentle, they are still incredibly powerful and dangerous animals.  In a sense, it's a picture of great power under control.

That also happens to be the definition of the Biblical work 'meekness'.  It's certainly not a word that finds its way into our everyday vocabulary.  Even in Scripture we don't see the word used very often.  So when Jesus says in Matthew 5:5, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth", we are left with a little confusion.  What do you mean by meekness Jesus?  He means that we are aware of the great power at work within us, power that comes to us through the Holy Spirit, but we exercise that power in a spirit of gentleness toward others.  The strong athlete is strong whether or not he tells everyone he's strong.  The lion is a dangerous animal whether or not he goes around killing things all the time.  Christians are powerful because of the Spirit at work within us.

If you want a perfect example of meekness, look at two Scriptures in Philippians.  In Philipians 3:3, Paul says that he puts no confidence in his own flesh.  He's aware of the fact that in and of himself, he is completely weak and powerless.  Now look over at Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  Paul never claimed to be weak, bur rather he claimed to be strong because of God's power at work within him.  That's a Biblical picture of meekness.  Press On today with an awareness of God's power at work within you, and walk in that power, with a spirit of gentleness.

A divine peace... February 11, 2013

Read:  John 14:25-31.  Focus verse:  27.

You often hear people speak about 'comfort foods', or things they like to do when they are stressed.  Take walks, watch a movie, clean the house...there are many different things that bring us comfort or peace.  But the comfort or peace that we experience is often superficial and fleeting.  Think even on a larger scale of things that bring us peace...things like good health, a nice home to live in, secure relationships with others, good grades in school.  In and of themselves, these are wonderful things.  There is nothing unrighteous or sinful about any of these things.  So what's the problem?  They are worldly comforts, and worldly things never substitute for divine things.

Jesus said in verse 27 of John 14, that He offers us a peace unlike what the world offers.  What does the world offer?  Circumstantial and materialistic peace.  If your health is good...you can be at peace.  If your home is nice...you can be at peace.  If you have a loving relationship with someone else...you can be at peace.  Jesus offers us a different kind of peace though.  One that is not dependent on good health, nice things, or other people.  He offers us the peace of having His presence in our lives every moment of every day.

Do you know this peace in your life today, or are you looking to other worldly things to bring you peace?  Sometimes this can be difficult to recognize because the things we most often turn to aren't necessarily sinful.  But Jesus offers something better...something more secure and more permanent.  Press On today in the power and peace that only Jesus offers.  It's not like the world's peace...which is a good thing!

Taking sin seriously... February 6, 2013

Read:  Matthew 5:4, 2 Cor. 7:10, Matt. 5:27-30.

We sin a lot!  There's no way around that.  So like most things that we do a lot, we begin to not take it quite as seriously.  The first time you practice with a new team, you're nervous, so you are super focused.  The first day at a new school, you're nervous, so you're extra focused.  The first date (someday!)... you're nervous, so you spend extra time getting ready and making sure everything is perfect.  But...after 20 games with your team, you aren't as nervous to be around them.  After a semester at your new school, you might not be quite as focused.  After 20 dates with your significant other, you might not spend quite as much time getting ready to go out.

That's how we function as humans.  Familiarity breeds content.  And sadly, this happens with our spiritual life, particularly in the area of sin.  Because we sin for frequently, we tend to not take it very seriously.  We aren't alarmed by it like we should be.

If you read Matthew 5:4, Jesus says that those who mourn are comforted.  What type of mourning is He talking about?  Mourning over our sin!  In 2 Cor. 7:10, Paul says that godly sorrow produces repentance.  What is godly sorrow?  Sorrow over our sin!  Back in Matthew 5, verses 27-30, Jesus says that if our eye causes us to stumble, to rip it out and throw it away, and if our hand causes us to stumble, cut it off.  What's His point?  Simple...take your sin seriously, and deal with it in a serious manner.  Weeping means something bad happened generally.  Cutting your hand off or tearing your eye out is kind of a big deal.  And that's the point Jesus wants us to get!

Are you grieved over your sin?  Are you prepared to take serious steps to deal with your sin?  Do you take your sin seriously?  Or are you immune to it?  Press On today, asking God to give you a spirit that takes your sin seriously.  While we may sin every day, we should never become comfortable with it.  Today is a good day to begin taking it seriously!

Hearing the right voice... February 4, 2013

Read:  1 Samuel 3.  Focus verses:  10-11.

As humans we have the amazing ability to recognize the distinct sound of someone's voice.  If your mom calls your name in a crowd, you can identify it as her.  If your best friend screams your name at a game, you can recognize their voice.  Every once in a while though, someone calls our name and we respond with 'Who was that?  Who called me?'  We know we've been called, but we are unsure who did the calling.

As we looked at briefly yesterday morning, this was the case for Samuel in 1 Samuel 3.  Samuel kept hearing his name called, and each time he assumed the source was his master Eli.  Finally, Eli realizes what's going on, and tells Samuel how to respond the next time he hears his name called.

We know how the story ends...Samuel, out of obedience to God in verse 10 declares, "Speak, for your servant hears."  There is something here for all of us to consider.  Sometimes, maybe even often, we have a desire to serve God, to be obedient to His calling on our lives, but we are listening to the wrong voice.  We are confused, which results in us being delayed.  No doubt we live in a noisy world, both literally and figuratively.  But in that, we must learn to distinguish the voice of God in our lives from every other person and thing calling us away from Him.  Press On today, asking God to tune your ear to hear His voice above every other voice, and then be ready to respond in obedience to His leading. 

Forgiveness & Love... January 30, 2013

Read:  Luke 7:36-50.  Focus verse:  47.

The words, or concepts of 'forgiveness' and 'love' are two prominent words in the Christian community.  Strangely though, we often see them as two totally separate things, things that we need to 'work' on and try to cultivate more of in our personal lives.  We can often fail to see that one typically gives way to the other.  That's exactly Jesus' point in Luke 7:47.

The exchange here between Jesus and the Pharisee comes about after Jesus has eaten with 'a woman of the city' (v.37).  Chances are she was the modern equivalent of a prostitute.  She wasn't welcome among such religious elites.  Or so at least they thought.  Jesus corrects their thinking, by telling them a parable beginning in verse 41.

As you come to verse 47, Jesus makes a very profound point, "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven - for she loved much.  But he who is forgiven little, loves little."  Catch that?  Those who are so self-righteous, those who have little awareness of how much they have been forgiven, likely aren't very loving people.  In Matthew 5:3, Jesus tells us that it is those who are 'poor in spirit' who are counted blessed.  Those who know how much they have been forgiven of.  That awareness, in turn, makes us a more loving person.

Press On today with a fresh awareness of how much you have been forgiven of in Christ, and walk in the love that overflows from that!

 

Stillness before Him... January 28, 2013

Read:  Psalm 46.  Focus verse:  10.

Try to remember when the last time was that you were just still.  I'm not talking about sleeping, I'm talking about sitting someplace and just being still.  No iPod, no computer, no TV, no texting, just a complete stillness.  Call it daydreaming if you want to, but I think being still is a more accurate description.  Can you remember when that time was?  Most of us can't.  I'm not sure that I can.

Even as a HS student, you are constantly in the race of our culture.  Everything is fast-paced, high-speed, and 24-hours a day.  Twitter alerts keep coming all night.  Facebook statuses get posted all night.  There are few chances for us to really be still in our world today.

Psalm 46 is one of my favorite Psalms.  In verse 10 there is a command for us to "Be still, and know that I am God."  Now there are 2 ways we can interpret that.  One is to take it literally...to be still means we literally stop what we are doing and let our mind dwell on God.  This is much needed, and often hard for us to do.  A second way to interpret it, is to understand it as an invitation to stop fighting against those challenges in our lives, and let God do the work for us.  It might not be an immediate stoppage of our day, or our lives, but rather an internal surrender of those heavy things that are weighing us down.

Is today a day for you to literally stop and be still in His presence?  You might say 'Yes, but I don't have time to.'  Okay, then let your stillness be internal.  Keep going, press on, but with a surrendered heart that trusts God is at work carrying your burdens!

Delighting in God... January 14, 2013

Read:  Psalm 37:1-6.  Focus verse: 4.

'Delight' is an interesting word.  If I asked you what you delight in, how would you respond?  Or if I asked you, 'what delights you?', what would your answer be?  Yesterday morning in our time together, we considered this word in the context of a new song we learned, a song focused on delighting in God.

The dictionary definition of 'delight' is to 'please someone greatly'.  So...what do you delight in?  What pleases you greatly?  Does being in God's presence delight you?  Does being in His Word delight you?  We can think of a long list of earthly things that delight us, but what about our spiritual list?  In Psalm 37, the Psalmist gives us a beautiful promise in verse 4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

How would today be any different for you if you set your heart to 'delight in the Lord'?  What things would you let go of?  What things would you pursue more diligently?  Press On today in the power and presence of our great God.  Cultivate the soil of your heart to receive His presence, His goodness, and His unchanging love for you.  Make Him your soul's delight today!

Immanuel...All the time  January 8, 2013

Read:  Matthew 1:18-25.  Focus verse:  23.

Having just come out of the Christmas season, the term 'Immanuel' is something still fresh on our brains.  We find it in the account of Jesus' birth, which of course is the reason we celebrate Christmas.  We find it in the Christmas carols that we sing in church around Christmas time.  Intentionally or not, we've come to associate Christ's name of 'Immanuel', with Christmas.  And certainly it is a Christmas word...but it also an everyday word!

Immanuel...God with us!  What a beautiful promise surrounding the birth of Christ, and yet one that we can cling to every single day.  Do you ever feel alone at school in a room full of non-believers?  Immanuel...God is with you.  Do you ever feel alone trying to stay away from weekend temptations of sin and darkness?  Immanuel...God is with you.  Do you ever feel alone when trying to stand for your faith in your family, or among your close friends?  Immanuel...God is with you.  He's with us!  Both then...and now!

In John 14, Jesus is beginning to prepare His disciples for His departure from this world.  In chapter 14, verses 16-17 we read this; "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.  You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."  Catch that?  He will be with you forever.  Not just at Christmas...forever!  Press On today in the power of the Holy Spirit which dwells in you, forever, no matter where you go or what you face.  The Christmas blessing of Immanuel, is a life-long blessing to His children.

Forever Worthy... December 7, 2012

Read:  Revelation 4.  Focus verse: 11.

Worthy is an interesting word.  It's also a 'weighty' word as we might think of it.  It carries a sense of importance with it.  If something or someone is worthy of something, it usually draws our attention.  It's used in many different contexts, for many different purposes.  In sports, 'that athlete is worthy of his award'.  In politics, 'that Governor is worthy of re-election.'  In business, 'that employee is worthy of a raise.'

Now take this word 'worthy', and move it over to the God of the universe.  Where do you even begin, when describing what God is worthy of?  In sports, the athlete that was worthy of his award this year, might not be next year.  In politics, the Governor that was worthy of re-election this time, might not be next time.  In business, the employee that was worthy of a raise, may someday down the road get fired.  Worthiness is temporary in our human world.  Not so with God however.

Revelation (a glimpse of what is to come) describes what God is worthy of.  He is, and will forever be, worthy of our praise and adoration.  In chapter 4, John describes the beautiful scene of the elders and the 'creatures', all in complete worship to God.  Why?  Verse 11 answers it...because He is worthy of it.  Always has been, always will be.  Stop and ask yourself today if you give God the praise and worship that He is worthy of?  It's not that He was worthy of it, or someday will be, rather He is worthy of it today, as He sits enthroned in your life and heart.

No fear in love... November 26, 2012

Read:  1 John 4:7-21.  Focus verse:  18.

Believe it or not, someday you find yourself right square in the middle of what we call the 'dating life'.  Now that make look differently for each person...for some that may mean courtship, others friendly dating while getting to know others.  Some of you will get married younger, some of you will wait a while. Regardless of what path your 'dating life' will take you down, you will often hear people talk about this 'fear of getting hurt', as it relates to romantic relationships.  For people that have been in a relationship that ended in heartache, you will hear them speak of this fear of being hurt again.  It makes them 'gun-shy' so-to-speak, of being in another relationship.  It's similar to touching an electrical wire.  If you get shocked once, the next time you go to touch the wire, even though you've triple checked to make sure the power was shut off, you have that embedded fear of being shocked again.

In 1 John chapter 4, John writes one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture about love.  He wants to paint for us this picture of what perfect love looks like.  Of course we know that perfect love is impossible to find in imperfect people like you and I.  One of the great characteristics of love that he sort of sneaks in there, is found in verse 18, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."  That's remarkable.  Think about all of your earthly relationships for a moment.  Are there elements of fear in them?  Fear of abandonment, fear of disappointment, fear of dishonesty?

I want to invite you today to come to the feet of Jesus, where we find perfect love.  His perfect love casts out all fear.  He invites us to share in that love, and to embrace it fully, which then frees us to love others, and to be loved by others, without fear.  When we are fully convinced of, and certain of God's perfect love for us, it enables us to experience love in a more Christ-like manner with others.  Press On  today in God's perfect love for you.  Fear not...He loves you.  Walk in that perfect love as you seek to love others, as He has first loved you.

Overcome and enslaved... November 21, 2012

Read:  2 Peter 2:17-22. Focus verse:  19.

Much of the New Testament speaks of the freedom we know as Christians.  We are no longer enslaved to the principles of this world, we are no longer slaves to sin, etc...  We read these Scriptures and we agree with it...at least in principle.  In the text it makes sense.  But does it always manifest itself in our lives?  Do we really live free from the sinful trappings of this world?  Or do we often allow ourselves to be enslaved by those sinful desires?

In 2 Peter chapter 2, Peter makes a very important statement in verse 19, "For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved."  'Enslaved' is a very powerful word.  Basically, you are not in control anymore, rather whatever that thing is, is now in control of you.  What does it control?  It could be your thoughts, emotions, actions, decisions, there are many possibilities.  And what is that 'thing'?  It could be video games, TV programs, Facebook, sports, a relationships, your personal appearance, money, the list of possibilities is extensive.  According to Peter, it's not that you just really like something, but rather  you have become a slave to it.

Notice the order though of what Peter is writing about.  First you are overcome with it, and then enslaved by it.  Step back for a second from your life.  Is there something that is overcoming you right now?  Is there something that consumes your waking moments?  If there is, be watchful, as it will soon enslave you.  There is freedom in Christ for those who follow Him, but we must walk in that freedom.  Press On today with a eyes that are quick to recognize those things that could enslave you.  Walk freely in Christ...and flee the sinful passions of your old life!

He will exalt you... November 19, 2012

Read:  1 Peter 5:1-11.  Focus verse:  6.

We are very proud people!  Both individually, and collectively as a society.  We love to talk about ourselves, we love to flaunt our achievements and personal successes.   We love to be put on display.  Pride and arrogance, sadly, is a driving force of our world today.  Unsuprisingly, Christians are not immune to this.  In fact, we can often be heavily trapped in this same current of pride and arrogance.

In 1 Peter chapter 5, Peter exhorts us to do something completely contrary to what our world is all about.  In verse 6 he writes, "humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God...".  That's a difficult thing for so many of us to do.  Humility usually involves sacrifice or things that are unpleasant of difficult to endure.  It's also contrary to how we've been wired to think as Americans living in a prosperous nation, with so many opportunities at hand for personal gain and achievement.

If you keep reading the rest of that verse however, it carries with it a promise, "...so that at the proper time He may exalt you".  That's pretty remarkable.  It could have finished many other ways, including  'if you don't, God will humble you Himself', or 'if you don't, God will strike you down'.  But it doesn't.  Instead, it carries with it a promise of exaltation, but on God's terms, not our own.  He will exalt you...but 2 things first have to happen, 1.  You have to humble yourself under His authority and reign, and 2.  You have to trust His timing.  There is no greater glory for a person than the glory bestowed on them by the God of the universe.  Will you be humble and patient enough to wait for it today?

The Devil's schemes... November 5, 2012

Read:  Ephesians 6:10-20.  Focus verse:  11.

Yesterday morning our friend Chris O'Neill exhorted us with the words of James in James 4:7, "resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  It was a powerful reminder that as we draw closer to Christ, we pull further from the devil.  It's pretty simple to understand...as you move closer to the light, the darkness flees.

In a parallel passage in Ephesians 6, Paul reminds us to take up the whole armor of God.  The word armor implies that we are going into battle.  And what is it that we are going to battle against?  Verse 11 gives us our answer, "the schemes of the devil."  Pay close attention to that word scheme.  Think for a moment about what a scheme really is.  Some definitions define it as an underhanded plot.  It's not supposed to be obvious.  Rather, it's supposed to completely blindside us.

That is most often how Satan works in the life of Christians.  It's subtle, it's a scheme, not a full-blown frontal assault.  It's a plot, carried out in a very crafty way over a period of time.  Have you ever found yourself swimming in the waves of the ocean only to realize a short time later that you've drifted far from where you entered the water?  It's subtle, and often times you don't even realize you are drifting.  This is how Satan uses his schemes to draw us away from Christ.  Press On today in the power of the Holy Spirit, asking Him to equip you every moment of every day to resist the subtle, crafty schemes of the devil.

We are not alone... October 29, 2012

Read:  Joshua 1:1-9.  Focus verse: 5.

On the heels of another Halloween, you are likely to see a lot of programs on TV asking questions like 'are we alone in universe?', ''is there life on other planets?', 'do aliens exist?', etc...  Our culture is fascinated by the idea that there may be 'others' out there that we don't know about.  It's almost as if we are in love with the unknown.

When it comes to God however, there is no mystery.  We aren't left to wonder if we are alone, or if He's with us.  His Word is very clear in many places.  Yesterday morning we looked closely at the story of the Israelites and their exodus from Egypt...40 years of wandering in the desert, yet God never left them.  Chapter 13 of Exodus reminds us that God gave them a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Fast forward to the time of Joshua.  In chapter 1 of Joshua, just after Moses has died, God gives Joshua a similar promise.  "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life.  Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.  I will not leave you or forsake you." (v. 5)  God takes all the mystery out of it right there...He is with us, constantly.  We are not alone.  While our world may always be fascinated by the mystery of 'other life out there', as Christians we should be fascinated by the certainty of God's promise to us.  We are not alone...He is indeed with us!  Every minute of every day!

Are you ready?... October 26, 2012

Read:  1 Peter 3:15

Wednesday night in our small groups we were challenged by Jesus' parable of the 10 Bridesmaids from Matthew 25.  The 'theme' of Jesus' parable is that someday, (when, we don't know), someday He is going to return, and we must be ready!  How sad it would be if we were like the 5 bridesmaids in the parable who didn't have enough oil to keep their lamps glowing.  Be ready is what Jesus is saying!

But what about now?  How should we live now as we wait for His return?  How are we to engage with those who don't know Christ and may have questions about His return, or eternal life?  The message is still the same...be ready!  Be ready to talk, be ready to give a 'defense' for the hope that you have in Christ.  That's Peter's challenge to us in 1 Peter 3:15.  Be ready when someone asks you about the hope that you have in Christ.

Does 'ready' describe you?  Does it describe your witness?  Your faith?  Just like the 5 bridesmaids in the parable were caught off-guard, unprepared for the return of the bridegroom, we can also be caught off-guard.  We often think it will never happen, but the next conversation you could have, could be a Jesus conversation.  Your friends are watching you, they are examining your life.  Are you ready to respond when they ask you about the hope that they see in your life?  Press On today, being bold in your witness. Live ready...both for Christ's return, and for that next conversation you may have!

Counting Sins... October 18, 2012

Read:  Psalm 130.  Focus verses: 3-4.

Last night in small groups, we took an in-depth look at the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 18 of The Unforgiving Debtor.  It's a powerful reminder that we who have been forgiven of so much, need to be able to forgive others who have 'wronged' us to a much smaller degree.

One of the keys to forgiveness, is that we can't keep a running list of how many times someone sins against us.  Biblical forgiveness means we forgive the person from the heart, wiping the slate clean.  Just the same way God forgives us.  We aren't tallying up sins on a scoreboard with God until we hit a magical number.  And thank God we aren't!  Psalm 130 reminds us that if God kept 'score', we'd be in great big trouble!  "Who could stand?"  Answer...no one!  But the good news is that He doesn't, rather with God, "there is forgiveness".

God doesn't count sins...do you?  Are you in the habit of keeping a tally of the wrong things people do toward you?  When we come to faith in Christ, having really understood the free gift of forgiveness that Christ extends to us, He calls us to practice that same type of forgiveness.  Press On, asking God to give you His heart toward those that may sin against you.  Ask Him to help you walk in a spirit of forgiveness, not counting the sins of others, but rather forgiving them, as Christ has so abundantly forgiven you!

For such a time as this... October 16, 2012

Read:  Esther 4:12-17.  Focus verse:  14.

Sunday morning we considered what it means to be a 'Christian risk-taker', and asked God to help us to identify the security blanket of our lives, the thing that might be keeping us from stepping out and taking a risk for God.  One of the examples in Scripture that helps highlight this theme, is the story of Esther.  She knows there is a huge risk in going before the king unless she is first summoned by him.  Yet, as verse 16 of chapter 4 reminds us, she was willing to take that risk, "...Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." 

We can easily recognize the risk here.  This part of the story is well-known to us.  But just earlier in verse 14, there's another key point to this story.  "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"  This is the question posed by Mordecai to Esther.  Mordecai plants a seed in Esther's mind... 'what if God has called you here at this time, for this purpose?', is really what he's asking her.

When it comes to taking risks for God, we can often forget that perhaps God has placed this opportunity right in front of us, in accordance with His plan for our lives.  We may see it as a risk, but God sees it as part of the very purpose to which He's called us, for such a time as this.  Step back from your immediate world and ask God this question...'God where are you leading me right now?'  Right now is the key part!  He will likely call you somewhere else, at some other time, but for now, you are where you are.  Ask Him to reveal His purposes for your life, for such a time as this!

Warm lips, cold hearts.  October 11, 2012.

Read:  Isaiah 29:13

If you can recall the theme of the book of Isaiah, you know that much of the book is the Prophet Isaiah's warning to a people who were quickly sliding away from God.  The same God who had so faithfully saved them from the oppression of slavery, who faithfully provided for them while in the desert, this was the God they were rejecting with their blatant sinful living.  And Isaiah, out of obedience to God, and love for the people, brings a stern warning to them to repent and turn back to God.

One of the most striking accusations, some of the strongest words conveyed by him from God, are found in Isaiah 29:13, "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their heart is far from Me...".  One of the sure signs something is alive is that the body temperature is warm.  Be it an animal or a human, if the body temperature is warm, they are alive.  They may be really sick, but they are still alive.  To check the condition of one's heart, many more complicated medical tests are necessary.

Draw a spiritual parallel here with me.  We come to church, we sing, we use 'church' words to talk to our friends and others, we participate in everything going on at church...from the outside, we have life!  Our bodies are still warm.   But what would be the condition of your heart if we were to do more tests?  You're alive, but could you actually be really, really sick on the inside?  Body temperature is not a good measure of our health.  Even really sick people appear warm to the touch.  Nor are the words that come from our lips, if they aren't rooted in a true obedient faith in Christ, a good measure of our spiritual life.  Press On today in a spirit of true obedience to Christ, asking Him to give you a heart that is just as spiritually healthy as the outside may appear to be!

A light for your path... October 9, 2012.

Read:  Psalm 119:105-112.  Focus verse: 105.

Tomorrow night we will be gathering together with other Christians in the first ever 'Fields of Faith' event here in Tucson.  The theme for the night is really very simple...The sufficiency of God's Word.  His Word is enough!  It's our instruction book for life.  The Psalmist describes it as a 'lamp' for our feet, and 'light' for our path.  Stop and consider the significance of that.  Darkness is a great obstacle to going the right way.  When it's dark, we are left confused and disoriented.

If God's Word is being compared to a light or a lamp, then it is safe to conclude that it serves to help us overcome those obstacles of confusion and being disoriented.  It gives us a clearer picture of the path we are to travel down.  It brings stability to our crazy lives.  It gives us a light on the horizon to walk toward when everything around us is dark and changing.

Do you love God's Word?  Do you trust it?  Do you find it to be sufficient for you when everything else in your life is insufficient?  In v. 111 of Psalm 119, the Psalmist writes , "Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart."  What's the source of joy in your heart today?  Press On asking God to give you joy that is found only through the sufficiency of His Word.  What more than a lamp or light could you ask for in a world full of darkness?  Embrace it and walk in it today!

Is knowledge enough?  October 4, 2012.

Read:  James 1:22-25.

Last night in our small groups we discussed the importance of honoring God in all that we do.  Two of several 'steps' in this process are: 1. Discovering God's will and 2. Acting on God's will.  I think that most of us have a good handle on the first step here.  In general, we have a good idea of what God wants for our lives.  We understand the commandments and boundaries He's put in place, boundaries that enable us to walk with Him in a meaningful and intimate manner.  The knowledge part comes fairly easy to us.

But what about the doing part?  I often know the speed limit of the street I'm driving down.  Do I always act in accordance with it?  I know that I should not be selfish with my time and money.  Do I always live this way?  Unfortunately, many of us KNOW a lot more than we DO.  James writes about this very thing in James 1:22-25.  Just hearing and knowing the Word of God does mean I will for sure live in accordance with it.  There are many 'hearers' who are not 'doers'.

Does that describe you?  Are you a really good hearer but not a doer?  If so, you are "deceiving yourself" (v. 22).  Verse 25 carries with it a promise to those who not only hear the Word of God, but act on it, "he will be blessed in his doing."  Press On, asking God to give you a heart that wants to be a doer of His perfect Word.  It's not our natural response, it requires work.  Ask God to begin making that change in your life today!

Changing Seasons... October 1, 2012.

Read:  2 Corinthians 5:16-21.  Focus verse: 17.

I just returned from a week-long fishing trip to Colorado.  Right now in Colorado, the trees are turning bright yellow, and red.  The morning temperature was in the mid-30s.  As you get closer and closer to Colorado, it becomes clear that things are changing.  A new season is approaching.  The only way you'd be able to miss that fact is if you closed your eyes and refused to go outside.  It's a new season...and it's very evident.

At some point in your life (I trust), you made a decision to follow Christ.  This decision represents change, it is a turning point in life, you are leaving behind the old, and embracing a new life in Christ.  That is what Paul means when he writes in 2 Cor. 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."  Life changes when we come to Christ.  Things look different.

Now if you could step outside of your own life for a second, and take a birds-eye view of it, what would you see?  Would it look different?  Would the post-Christ days look very similar to the pre-Christ days?  Are others able to recognize that something has changed?  When the seasons change, it's very evident.  We have to really go out of our way to miss it.  What about when God gets ahold of your heart?  Do others have to go out of their way to miss seeing it?  Press On today with a steadfast commitment to make your changed life evident to all.  God has changed you...you are indeed a new creation.  So make it a point to live that way...it will be evident to others, and they will glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:16)! 

Getting rid of distractions... September 21, 2012.

Read:  Hebrews 12:1-2.

Wednesday night in our small group discussions, we focused on the importance of recharging our spiritual 'batteries', and staying connected to Christ.  There were 4 specific actions steps we considered, however there is one in particular that I think is worth a little deeper look.  If you are like me, one of the greatest threats to staying spiritually full in Christ, are the constant distractions around you.  Distractions carries a negative tone, however many of the actual distractions we deal with, in and of themselves, are not negative (school, jobs, relationships, sports, etc...).

As we've so often experienced though, too much of a good thing, can become a bad thing.  Too many bowls of our favorite ice cream can become bad for our health.  Too many hours outside in the sun enjoying God's creation, can become harmful to our health.  And too much of the busyness of our everyday lives (which are full of good things), can become harmful to our spiritual health.

The author of Hebrews exhorts us to lay aside every distraction, and those things which so easily (catch that?) entangle us (distract us), and fix our focus on Christ.  It's easy, so so easy, to become distracted.  Press On today with an undivided focus on Christ.  Ask Him to help you identify those distractions in your life, and leave them behind as you whole-heartedly pursue Him.

Life is Tough:  So what should you think?  September 18, 2012 (By Al Johnson)

Part 5: (The last part)

How does this help us when life is tough?  It helps us because we know that there is a God who cares, who knows us and who loves us.  If we are single-minded, we will not have doubts, if we continue to practice what we have learned we become stronger.  Remember, Paul writing in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all thing, through Him who strengthens me."

When life is tough, what should you think?  When life is tough, who should you think on?  When life is tough, where should your thoughts immediately go?

Let us work together to train our minds to dwell on God and those good things of God.  We should not ignore the world, for we are part of it and must function in it to do God's work, but we cannot allow the cares of the world and fears that are thrown at us daily to separate us from the love of God.

We are to be as wise as serpents, yet as harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16).  We are to have love for others as a primary quality (Matt. 22:37-40, 1 John 4:7-8).  We are to renew our minds so that we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:15-16).

And we must continually renew our minds because of the warning of Ephesians 6:12.  Guard your mind, guard your thoughts, and continually ask God for His help.

(Read 2 Timothy 2:22-26)

Life is Tough:  So what should you think?... September 17, 2012 (By Al Johnson)

Part 4:

The battle is for your minds.  Satan wants you to think about anything other than God and God's things.  God wants you to think about Him foremost, and be grateful for His things.  If you must think about God's gifts, Satan wants you to be selfish and self-absorbed with the stuff and not with God.  God wants us to delight in Him and to love those around us.

I actually can remember, and unfortunately, besides the good things, I can also remember all of the bad things.  This is how our minds work.  We can, however do at least 2 things...start to dilute the bad by concentrating on the good, and to stop revisiting the bad.  The more we think about something, the easier it is for our mind to go there.  The less we think about something, the harder it is for our mind to go there.  Don't go visiting old unhealthy memories, and try not to make new unhealthy memories, and please, please, please remember that you cannot do this on your own, you need God's help, so ask for it!

We cannot live long in both worlds; we must at some point make a choice.  We must also not waiver in that choice.  (Read James 1:5-8 for more on this idea of trying to live in both worlds).  Here is where the discipline comes in, relentlessly examining what we think about and refusing to dwell on that which is impure or unhealthy.  We need to feed our minds with good food, not junk food.  An old saying is, "The thought is the father to the deed", and my personal experience is that, where my thoughts go, so do I.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Life is Tough:  So what should you think?... September 13, 2012 (By Al Johnson)

Part 3:

So what was the first thing Paul learned?  He learned that he had to change his mind about who God was and who he was and how they were supposed to work together.

[Old Paul (named Saul, and all about rules] saw himself as God's bouncer, smacking people around to make them do what God said (Acts 8:3).  New Paul ultimately saw himself as God's emissary to a fallen world that He (God) deeply loved, and Paul learned that he needed to have that love for others also, otherwise he probably wouldn't have written 1 Cor.13 (the chapter on love).

So how do we go about changing and renewing our mind?  Romans 12:2 calls for the renewal of the mind.  "Renewing" presupposes that something was new and has gotten old or worn out, or deteriorated in some way...it is no longer new, and needs to become like new.  As we grow and experience the world around us, we take in data, some of which is very good and some of which is very bad, and much of which is just unhelpful.  One way to counteract all of this is by 2 methods:  discipline and dilution.

We need personal discipline to carry out the process of diluting all of the garbage we have taken in over the years.  How do we dilute?  Philippians 4:8-9 tells us.  We change what we think about and we practice thinking about those things that are pure and excellent.  This does not come easily or quickly.  As Paul spoke earlier, we need to fight, not with each other, or with those who are not of the faith, but against the world's system of thinking and the things of the world (1 Tim. 6:11-12 & 2 Tim. 4:7-8).  How did Paul learn?  He learned it by doing it, by trusting God and doing God's Word.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Life is Tough:  So what should you think?... September 11, 2012 (By Al Johnson)

Part 2:

So what did Paul learn?

First of all, Paul was convinced that beyond all else, he was a child of God (Eph. 1:3-10, John 1:9-13).  He knew that he could completely trust God through all of his adventures.  If you look at Phil. 3:7-11, it is apparent to me that Paul had his identity in Christ.  Furthermore, in the following verses, 12-16, he acknowledges that he still has more to learn.  No one "arrives" in the Christian life on this earth.  No one ever learns it all.  All of us have more to learn, and in verse 17 he calls us to follow his example.  Paul saw himself as a child of God before all else.  So also should we.

Learning presupposes that there is something we do not know that needs to be learned, simple, but true.  We learn in many ways, sometimes by experience, sometimes by reading, sometimes by watching someone else's experience.

A major part of learning involves actually doing the hard work of thinking.  Not just memorizing, not just having data at your fingertips, and not just having knowledge that you don't apply, and here is where the change starts:  the taking of the data, the words, the concepts and actually spending time thinking about how it all applies to you, and after that, deciding how you are going to put it all into action.  We are put on this earth for a purpose, so we need to learn what our "job" is and how to do it well.

 TO BE CONTINUED...

Life is Tough; So what should you think?... September 7, 2012 (By Al Johnson)

Part 1:

So you're back at school, or back at work, or both.  The summer is over and all the good times seem to be gone.  As a human, you can always compare yourself to some other poor soul who is worse off (you then feel temporarily better), or you can look for someone better off and luxuriate in your own pity party.  None of this really helps long term though.  What can we do when life is tough?

The Apostle Paul, (you remember Paul, shipwrecked, snake bites, beatings, jailed numerous times, riots, kept in chains, (2 Cor. 11:23-28) THAT Paul?...sounds worse than my life, maybe yours as well) after a while, THAT Paul had a more effective perspective (read Phil. 4:10-13).

So, why the "I have learned"?  God did not instantly make Paul able to be deal with all of this.  Paul wasn't God's special pet who got all the cool gifts, in fact, God allowed some sort of "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7) to keep Paul humble.  (Maybe he had allergies and had to do all of this traveling & preaching while hacking and coughing and snotting all over, feeling generally miserable.  We don't know for sure...maybe he had bad acne...)

This leaves me with some questions:

1. What did Paul learn that gave him this perspective?  2.  How did Paul learn whatever that was?  3.  Can I learn to have this perspective as well?

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Learning the hard way... August 31, 2012

Read:  Psalm 119:65-72.  Focus verse: 71.

You've heard it said so many times, the most important things we learn in life, we often learn the 'hard way'.  The 'hard way'.  What does that even mean?  Generally speaking, it means that we go through a very unpleasant experience, and we discover a truth about life, ourselves, or others, through painful or difficult consequences.  There are many examples we could think of here.  The reality of being fallen human beings is that we often don't learn through simple reminders, we have to let a particular sin take us down a darker path before we pay attention to it's destruction.

Let's think now about the spiritual realm.  When do you find that you most often learn things about God?  If I'm honest, I recognize that for me, it's most often through hardship.  God's Word tends to come to life a little more when I'm walking through a dark storm cloud.  It's just the way most of us are wired.  Psalm 119:71 reminds us of this truth, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statues."  That seems a quite contrary to the way most of us think about hardship, doesn't it?  We don't like affliction and hardship.  We tend to flee from it.

The Psalmist is exhorting us to recognize affliction as an opportunity to learn more about the character and nature of God.  As Christians, hardship and affliction need to become opportunities for us to draw near, and press closer to God.  Are you afflicted right now?  Press On, and press in to God.  Your particular affliction is good for you, it's how you learn best! 

Doubting Martha... August 27, 2012

Read:  John 11:21-22, 38-44.

If you were in church yesterday, you'll recall the story we looke at, of Jesus going to the home of Lazarus to raise him from the dead.  We focused on Martha's uncertainty, unsure about Jesus' ability to raise her dead brother, who had been dead for 4 days by this point.  Verses 21 and 22 give us a clear picture of her uncertainty.  Sadly though, that's not the end of it.

If you skip down to the actual account of the miracle, verse 39 gives us further evidence of Martha's doubt, "Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.'  Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.'  Very similar to when Jesus first showed up at her house, Martha is finding reasons for why Jesus can't, or shouldn't, raise her brother Lazarus.

We're all familiar with the character 'Doubting Thomas' that we read about in the New Testament, but I would suggest that Martha portrays a similar characteristic.  Jesus is standing in her presence, assuring her that He is more than able to perform this miracle, and yet she grasping for reasons why He can't.  Do you ever do this with God?  I know I do.  I'm quick to think of all the reasons why this or that can't happen, and yet God is standing directly before me saying 'I can'.  Press On today, trusting that Jesus has the power of life and death.  Situations that seem completely hopeless are not to Christ.  He can do it!  Will you trust Him today?

Remain & Watch!  August 22, 2012

Read:  Mark 14:32-42.  Focus verse: 34.

Imagine being Peter, James, or John in this passage.  From their perspective, things couldn't be more peaceful.  It's late at night, and Jesus has invited you to take a stroll with Him through this lush garden called Gethsemane.  When He turns to you and says, "remain here and watch (while I go pray)", you probably think, 'sweet, what a perfect time and place for a nap.'  You can't really fault the 3 disciples though can you?  Aside from Jesus' words that His soul was 'very sorrowful, even to the death', (words they probably didn't fully understand at the time) there wasn't much going on.  It's not like they were in the middle of a fierce battle, on enemy soil.

Or were they?  You and I have the same propensity as Jesus' 3 disciples, in that we tend to focus only on what we can see.  After all, there wasn't anything going on in the garden this night, expect Jesus off praying by Himself.  That's where they missed it though.  There was so much going on!  Jesus had led these 3 men into a high-stakes battle.  He told them to stay awake and keep watch, aware of the cosmic warfare that was going on around them.  But like we tend to do, they kept falling asleep.

Great danger awaits the Christian if we only focus on the outward battles.  Be assured, the disciples didn't keep falling asleep because they didn't want to obey Jesus.  They kept falling asleep, because from their perspective, not much was going on.  What a dangerous position we put ourselves in as believers if we fall asleep and become unaware of the spiritual, cosmic battle that is raging all around us.  Press On today, allowing the words of Jesus to repeatedly echo in your ear, "remain here and watch." 

What have you done for me lately?  August 20, 2012

Read:  Psalm 103.  Focus verses: 2-5.

Whether we care to admit it or not, we live in a 'what have you done for me lately' type of culture.  We draw close to those who can do something for us, and we tend to move on from those who can't.  Sadly, sometimes as believers we can approach God with a similar attitude.  We draw near to Him when there is the promise of blessing, and tend to move on from Him when life is good and we don't need anything from Him.  If it's not 'lately', then it tends to slip through our heart and mind.

Psalm 103 is such a good caution against this 'lately' type of attitude as we approach God.  In verse 2, the Psalmist David tells us to 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.'  That's the first part...remembrance.  What are we to remember?  He lays it out for us in the following verses, "who forgives all of your iniquity, who heals all of your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

So what has God done for you lately?  A LOT!  Sit still for 5 minutes and try to recount all the things He has done for you.  And the cool part about it...He continues to do for you, day by day, moment by moment.  You reading this short devotional is proof of God's doing, as He's sustaining your very life.  Press On today in a spirit of reflective thankfulness, recounting all the things God has, and continues to do for you.  God loves you.  'Lately' is the wrong descriptive for God...constantly is a better one!

What's the purpose of God's kindness?  August 15, 2012

Read:  Romans 2:1-5.  Focus verse: 4.

There's a saying that we hear from time to time that suggests that all 'nice guys finish last.'  What is the real meaning behind that saying?  For most of us, we take it mean that if you are too nice, too kind, or too selfless, people will walk all over you and take advantage of you, leaving you 'last' in life.  It's sad, yet often true, that kindness in life is countered with selfish ambition from others.  Kindness is such a rare act in our world today (or so it would seem), that when we encounter it, we are often inclined to use it for our personal gain.

God is kind.  Over and over again in Scripture we are reminded of this.  So if this is true, how should we respond to His kindness toward us?  Or perhaps we need to ask, how do we respond to His kindness?  In Romans 2:4, Paul tells us exactly the purpose of God's kindness toward us, "...God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance."  That's the purpose of His kindness toward us, that it might expose those areas of our lives where we have fallen short of His holiness, and lead us to confess our sins.

Sadly, for many of us, we too often treat God's kindness as a free pass to keep on sinning, similar to how we treat His grace toward us.  Because there are no immediate consequences (at least not that we can see), we keep on in those destructive sins.  Let today be a day where you stop and reflect on God's kindness, thanking Him for His mercy and grace, and asking Him to forgive you for those areas of your life that dishonor Him.  Press On in His abundant kindness, believing that it is His kindness which leads us to repentance!

The soul too tough to die!  August 13, 2012

Read:  Matthew 10:12-33.  Focus verse:  28.

Yesterday we were blessed as Brett shared with us the story of Stephen from Acts chapters 6 & 7.  It's a story that inspires us to be courageous Christians, even if it means we may suffer persecution.  The ending of Stephen's life (and his story), reminds me of Jesus' words to His disciples in Matthew 10:28, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

If you go back to the story of Stephen in Acts chapter 7, we see that just moments before his death at the hands of an angry mob who was stoning him to death, he's praying for them, asking God to not hold their sin against them.  How was he able to have such peace through such a traumatic time?  Most likely because he had embraced and fully believed the words of Christ in Matthew 10:28.  He wasn't afraid of those who could only kill his physical body.  Instead, he had a reverent and holy fear of the One who can destroy both the physical body, and the soul, in hell.

What about you?  Does your fear of man exceed your fear of God?  Are you more worried about what other people think of you, than what God thinks of you?  Are you always trying to protect the physical, temporary body, and neglecting the eternal soul?  Press On, asking God to give you the courage to stand up boldly for Him, even if it means you suffer physical persecution.  For those who know Him and have surrendered their lives to His lordship, He's placed inside of you a soul that is too tough to die!  So fight on!

School-yard missionaries.  August 6, 2012 (By Nick)

Read:  1 Corinthians 2:1-5.  Focus verse: 4.

School has either started for you or is about to start very soon, and I want to simply encourage you to live this school year for Christ. Do not be ashamed of Jesus.  I know the first days and weeks can be weird and you want to find all your friends and fit in and what not, but I really want to challenge you to share your faith with one student at your school that you have never shared with before.  It is scary, I know.  I went to a public high school, and it often felt like I was the only Christian in the school.  But check out verse 3.  Paul states that he "came to them in weakness, fear, and trembling."  Paul was scared!  He was bringing a hard message to a very sinful city.  In a similar way, your school may be like the city of Corinth.  It may be filled with drugs, idolatry, sexual immorality, etc, but God has put you there for a reason and that reason is to share His message.

Take a look at verse 4 in chapter 2.  Paul says, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power."  Have you ever felt like you want to share but you do not have the right words?  Paul says, it is not that he thought up some convincing speech, but he says it was through the Spirit.  Paul was a very educated man.  He could have easily sat down and drawn up a fancy speech to try and convince the people of Corinth to repent and believe in Jesus, but like verse 5 mentions, that would have made their faith rest on what Paul said.  So instead of doing this, Paul humbled himself completely and let the Spirit flow.  As verse 2 states, he "resolved to know nothing...except Jesus Christ and Him crucificed", and this resulted in people putting their faith in God and His power.

Take some time and pray for boldness. Sure you will be nervous and a little scared, but that's okay.  Paul was scared.  God wants a ready and willing heart.  God is not worried about whether you are an eloquent speaker or not.  He will provide you with the words to speak at just the right moment.  Be bold and take a step of faith, and take a stand for Jesus.  Let the people around you know about the truth.  Maybe you are the person God has called to spread the message in your school.  You might not know everything, but you do know the Gospel, and that's enough!

Wounds or Kisses?  July 25, 2012 (By Nick)

Read Proverbs 27.  Focus verse: 6.

Verse 6 in Proverbs 27 sets the standard for true friendship.  Take a moment and think about the individual friendships you have.  Think about your involvement in them.  Think about whether or not the influence is good or bad.

Maybe you are that person right now, who is struggling with how to address a friend about their sin?  Are you afraid to tell them the truth because you are worried about how they will react?  This passage states "Wounds from a friend can be trusted"...if they are really your friend and they are doing things they shouldn't be...you should confront them no matter how much it hurts you or them.  Real friends say the hard things and address each other's sins.  They sharpen each other, they look out for each other's eternal well-being.

Or maybe you are that friend who thinks your friends are out to get you.  Stop for a minute and look at who your real friends are and who your enemies are.  Enemies encourage you to do wrong.  They give approval of things that will bring destruction and death.  They ignore the word of God.  This passage says "an enemy multiplies kisses."  Who are you hanging out with that constantly "multiplies kisses" and encourages you to go down the wrong path?  Chances are, they are not really your friend.  They have their focus on the things of the world.  They are just in it for the thrill of the moment, but once that moment is gone - they are gone.  Have you cut contact with anyone because they were saying things that challenged you to be a better person?  Know that the "wounds of a friend can be trusted"; they are looking out for your eternal well-being.

Romans 12:9, "Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

If it is evil, it is your enemy.  If it is good, it is your friend.  CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD!  Press On, be loving and sincere and say the hard things that need to be addressed and receive the hard things friends point out to you no matter how hard those things might be.  It's only to make you better!

Innocent and proud of it! July 23, 2012

Read:  Romans 16:17-20.  Focus verse 19.

In our culture, wisdom is something everybody desires.  To be wise is impressive to most people.  The idea of innocence however, can sometimes carry a negative stereotype.  Sure, if you were standing before a judge in a courtroom, you would love to hear the words 'you're innocent.'  But in general, the idea of innocence can sometimes carry with it the idea of being uneducated, ignorant, soft, or immature.  You're nice, and people may enjoy your company, but you don't really have much to offer.

As we read Romans 16 though, we see an exhortation from God to be innocent toward evil.  What is evil?  Evil is any form of sin, anything that dishonors God and doesn't measure up to His standard of holiness.  So going back to our culture's definition of innocence, this exhortation should be something that as Christians, we fully embrace.  Imagine being uneducated, ignorant, or immature toward sin?  Sadly though, we often know way too much about sin.  We are often quite mature in our sinful habits and patterns.  We're anything but innocent!

So how do we develop an innocence toward what is evil?  First we must pray and ask God to indwell us with His presence, moment by moment, that we may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  Secondly, we must replace a familiarity with evil, with a familiarity with what is good.  If fact, the first part of verse 19 says that we should be 'wise' toward what is good.  It's more than a familiarity, it's a concrete understanding of it.  Press On today with a steadfast heart that is intent on knowing only that which pleases God.  Innocence toward evil...make that the desire of your heart today!

 

God's grace is bigger than our Past.  July 18, 2012 (By Brett)

Read:  1 Timothy 1:12-17.

Have you ever felt as though a sin you have committed in your past is still preventing you from doing Christ's work today?  Do you feel as though because of what you have done, Christ can't use you?  If anyone should have this feeling, it should be the Apostle Paul.  He was a huge persecutor of Christians and the early church.  In Acts 8:3, it says, "But Saul (later Paul) began to destroy the church.  Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison."  What a horrible image, Paul dragging Christian men and women out of their homes.  Paul had a horribly sin-filled past.

However, Paul didn't let this sin prevent him from ministry.  Paul used his past as an example of how God's grace covers all.  Because of God's grace, we can always be used to further His Kingdom.  The belief that God cannot use you because of your past sinfulness, is a lie Satan attempts to put in our hearts.  God's grace is bigger than your sin, and that grace is free when you decide to follow Him.

Perhaps your sinful past is there for a reason.  Paul's sin allowed him to see God's grace, which allowed him to go from destroying the early church, to being the main person who helped it grow.  God can, and will, use anyone to further His Kingdom.  So embrace your past as Paul did.  Learn from it, and allow yourself to see God's grace through Jesus.  His grace is unending and fully covers us.

 

 

To live or not to live, that is the question?  June 21, 2012 (By Nick)

Read:  Isaiah 5:1-7

Let's break this parable down a bit.  First off, the vineyard is a picture of God's people, that's you and me.  The man is God.  We see here that God puts so much into our lives to help ensure we have all that we need to be fruitful.  He prepares the ground not just on any hill, but on fruitful ones.  He removes stones that lay in our way, builds a tower to watch over us, and He even prepares a wine press in expectations that we will be fruitful!

But somewhere along the way, something went wrong.  The vines produced bad fruit!  But God did all that He could.  Does that mean that God didn't do a good job and the bad fruit is His fault?  No, of course not!  In this passage we see that we have to put forth effort.  We have to want to be fruitful.  A fruitful relationship with God and a fruitful life doesn't just happen.  But what keeps us from being fruitful?  It's anything that comes before our relationship with God, anything we make into an idol.  It could be T.V., cars, your girlfriend or boyfriend, your job, money, music, sports, etc...

In Romans chapter 1 God gives the people over to their evil desires.  It's not that God changed His mind or said it's 'okay'; it that He did all that He would do, and yet His people didn't want to pursue Him.  They chose to believe the lie that they didn't need God.  They lost their focus.  We see in this parable that there is only life in God.  Apart from Him, we will die.  We need to examine ourselves today.  Have we been lazy?  Have we been putting forth effort to know God and spend time with Him?  The only way to truly stay fruitful is to stay connected to the spring of life-Jesus!  What happens if we choose not to?  Well we see at the end of this parable that it doesn't end well.  God cuts the hedge and says it will be burned.  He goes on to say that He won't prune it, dig it, or water it.  He will let it die.  Notice that He says He will not prune it anymore, hinting that He was pruning it when it was fruitful.  Why?

God will prune us throughout our life.  Sometimes it hurts and is uncomfortable, but we need to know that it is only so that we can bear more fruit in the future.  God knows what He is doing.  Sometimes we need a good storm to come into our lives, and pour out on our thirsty soil, and wash away all the debris that has gathered.  Press On through the tough times, knowing God is in control, and rest in the fact that He has set you up to be fruitful for Him.  It's time for you to pick up your cross and do your part!  Joshua 24:15, "...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..."  Life in Christ, or death apart from Him.

A blameless heart... June 19, 2012

Read:  Psalm 119:73-80.  Focus verse: 80.

Have you experienced overwhelming shame about something?  Shame is a paralyzing emotion.  Shame, I believe, is a tool used by Satan to discourage people.  When we are ashamed of something we've done, we tend to shut down and hide.  We try to hide from God, we hide from others, we hide from our responsibilities.

If shame is the tool of Satan, conviction is the tool of God.  One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin.  So how do we keep our heart blameless and avoid feelings of shame?  Psalm 119:80 gives us the answer, "Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statues, that I may not be ashamed."  Did you catch it?  A blameless heart is for those who stay near the Word of God.

Those who keep close to God's Word, following His statutes, shall never experience shame.  Their heart is blameless before our holy God.  Do you often feel the emotion of shame?  Check to see how much time you are spending meditating on God's Word.  Are you close to Him through His Word?  Or have you drifted?  Press On in the promise that those who stay near God's statutes never need be ashamed.  Their heart is blameless before Him!

Holy Words... June 13, 2012 (By Brett)

Read:  Acts 2:1-13.  If you're feeling ambitious...read all of Acts 2!

Have you ever passed on an opportunity to share Jesus with your friends because you weren't sure what to say?  Do you ever feel like the words just won't come?  No doubt the disciples were feeling some doubt after their master, Jesus Christ, left them.  However, Jesus didn't just abandon them, and He hasn't abandoned you either.  In Acts 1:8, and Luke 24:49, Jesus promises a gift that will replace Him here on the earth, the gift of the Holy Spirit.  In Acts 2:1-13, the Holy Spirit falls on the disciples, and the Holy Spirit's power is immediately demonstrated.  In Acts 2:3, the believers see tongues of fire descend on them.

I love this picture.  The power, and energy of the Holy Spirit is on our tongues!  When we speak about Christ, we need not worry, because the Holy Spirit will give us the right words to say.  Jesus talks about this in Matthew 10:19 when He says, "When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour."  If you keep reading in Acts 2, Peter shows us the power of the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:14-41 is Peter's sermon given to the gentiles.  Now Peter, who had denied Jesus three times earlier, suddenly has the boldness to stand up and deliver a beautiful, and convicting sermon to the gentiles.

That is power of the Holy Spirit, and when you have the Holy Spirit, YOU have that power!  The takeaway:  if you're afraid to share Christ with your friend because you don't have words to say, DON'T WORRY!  You have the power of the Holy Spirit in your heart and on your tongue.

God is listening... June 6, 2012

Read:  Psalm 6.  Focus verse: 9.

In our relationships with other people, it is generally very easy to tell if someone is listening to us.  Their body language, their eye contact (or lack of), their responses, etc...  Listening is not something most people do very well.  One of the reasons people like going to counselors, is that a counselor is a professional listener.  People walk out of their offices feeling like someone took the time to listen to them.

When it comes to God, it can be even more difficult for us to know whether or not God is listening to us.  After all, we can't physically observe Him.  We can't read His non-verbal cues like we can other people.  Where is He up there in those clouds?  Is He really listening?  Psalm 6:9, "The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer."  What an awesome promise.  The God who created everything, bends a listening ear to the supplications and prayers of His people.  He really does hear us!

We're human, and we tend to be pessimistic, and doubt God.  We doubt His goodness, we doubt His faithfulness, and we doubt whether or not He really hears us when we pray to Him.  He does.  His Word promises us that, and God cannot lie.  He is completely consistent with His Word.  Press On today, maybe even in the face of unanswered prayer.  It may be that a certain prayer remains unanswered, but be assured, it is not unheard.  God is listening!

Looking beyond the circumstances... June 4, 2012 (By Nick)

Read:  Jeremiah 29:4-14.

Have you ever felt like things were too difficult?  Like you just want to give up?  In Jeremiah 29:4-14, we read that the Jews had just been pushed out of their city and forced to find a new home.  Probably not the most exciting and joyful time of their lives.  I am sure the people asked where God was and why He was allowing this to happen to them, especially since they were God's chosen people.  In verses 5-7, God tells them to build, and settle down in their new city.  But God doesn't stop there.  He goes on to tell them to seek peace and prosperity in the city.  He even tells them to pray for it!  These people are already in a bad situation.  They had their home taken from them, probably forced to leave behind valuable possessions and things that they loved, and now God tells them to pray for this new place!?  I'm sure that was the last thing on their mind.  But God tells them to focus their attention and prayers on the people and things around them, rather than the hard trials that were upon them.

In verses 10-13 God goes on to tell them about the plan He has for them.  He tells them He will give them hope, a future, and prosperity.  He also tells them He is going to bring them back to their city.  But there is something else God says.  He says that after 70 years, He will bring them back.  That's a long time!  God doesn't bring them out of exile right away, but He does have a purpose in everything, and God's timing is always perfect.

Maybe you are in tough time right now and difficulties are happening around you and you don't know why.  1 Peter 4:12 tells us, "do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you."  Earlier in 1 Peter, Peter tells us, "these (trials) have come so that your faith...may be proved genuine."  It might take time and patience, but God loves you and wants to bless you.  In verses 12-13 of Jeremiah, God tells us that when we pray to Him, He will listen.  He also says we will find Him when we seek Him with all of our heart!  Look ahead and have a heavenly mindset, and pray for those around you despite your current situation.  Don't let the things of this world (anger, lust, pride, money, etc...) steal your heart from God.  Press On, there is hope.

Never too blind... May 31, 2012

Read:  Acts 9:10-19.  Focus verse: 18.

Most of us know someone who we would say, 'They are way too turned off to God.  They could never come to faith in Christ.'  We look at their lives and think that they are covered by a spiritual darkness that they will never be able to see through.  They're spiritually blind, with no hope of ever seeing the light.

If there was someone that lived during the time of the early Christians that fit this same description, it would have certainly been the Apostle Paul.  Before he was the Apostle Paul, he was the Christian persecutor, Saul.  He hated Christians.  He killed Christians.  He was completely blind to the truth of Christ, and the message of hope.  In verse 1 of chapter 8 in Acts, it says "Saul approved of his (Stephen) execution."  He was a ruthless persecutor of Christians.

Now look at the amazing work of God in Acts 9:18, "And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight.  Then he rose and was baptized."  That's amazing!  What a hope-giving Scripture this is to all of us who want to give up hope for someone we love.  If God can peel back the spiritual scales from the eyes of a Saul, He can do it for anyone.  Will He?  We never know, all we can do is pray and ask Him to.  When will He do it?  We don't know, all we can do is patiently wait and pray for Him to move.  Press On today with a diligent spirit, praying for the Saul in your life, that God would peel back the spiritual scales from their eyes, and they would embrace the truth of the cross!  No one is ever too blind to come to faith!

Celebrating Freedom... May 28, 2012

Read:  Galatians 5:1-14.  Focus verse: 1.

On this Memorial Day, we pause to remember the thousands who have sacrificed their lives so that we can live freely.  It allows me to sit on my back porch, as I am right now, and post a devotional on the web about Christ.  It allows me to walk out my front door, without the fear of being killed or hauled to jail.  It allows me to go to church and worship freely without the fear of imprisonment.  We know ultimate freedom as Americans, and today is a day that we remember those heroes who have made it possible.

We also know ultimate freedom, to an even higher degree, as Christians.  In Galatians 5:1, Paul writes this, "For freedom, Christ set us free...".  It's really such a simple message...the cross was about freedom.  Jesus' death and resurrection, was all about freedom.  Your freedom, my freedom, and the freedom of all who would put their faith in Him.  What did He free us from?  First and foremost, from the eternal penalty of sin, separation from Christ.  Beyond that, He freed us from our own self-righteousness, making salvation (acceptance by God) possible only through Christ's death, not our own good works.

This Memorial Day is certainly a day of celebration and remembrance.  But as we should not only remember the fallen one day a year, we also should not only remember the crucified one day a year (Good Friday).  Every day is a day of celebration, as an American, but more so as a Christian.  Press On in your freedom today, a freedom that was bought with man's blood in places all around the world, and a freedom that was purchased through Christ's blood on the cross.

Uneven teams... May 25, 2012

Read:  Joshua 23.  Focus verse: 10.

Growing up, I remember that one of the most common themes of playground disagreements was uneven teams when it came to playing sports.  I'm sure you've experienced something similar.  One team gets all the 'good players', while the other team is left with all the 'others'.  Someone in the group usually pipes up with , 'that's not fair', or 'the teams are uneven.'  Then the argument ensues...and the negotiations begin.

In Joshua chapter 23, we could easily see why the Israelite leaders may have felt that the teams were uneven and unfair.  One against a thousand?  Really?  Yes, if that 'one' is God!  Spurgeon said, "One man with God is a majority though there be a thousand on the other side."  There are numerous Old Testament examples of this...God founded a nation with just Abram.  God destroyed Pharaoh with just Moses and Aaron.  Saul slew thousands, but David ten thousands.  You see the pattern.

We tend to be number-minded people.  If the numbers are in our favor, we proceed.  But if they aren't, we pull back.  Numbers are rarely a good indicator of success when it comes to God.  One of Him, on your side, battling for you, is worth a million on the other side.  Press On today with the certainty that the teams don't need to always be 'even', especially when God is on your team!

Storms before blessings... May 23, 2012

Read:  Ecclesiastes 11.  Focus verse:3.

Although we don't receive a lot of rain living in Tucson, we are somewhat familiar with storm clouds, particularly during the monsoon season.  When we see the dark clouds start to form, we eagerly anticipate (or at least desperately hope for) a nice rain storm.  When the sky is perfectly clear, nobody holds out hope for rain.  And oh, how we love the rain, especially since we live in the desert.  The rain represents so many things, but most notably it represents refreshment.  When the clouds open up and drop fresh rain, it refreshes us.

With that thought in mind, let's consider this question...why are we so afraid of the storm clouds of life?  Why do we dread the clouds that can so often block the sun?  The darker the clouds grow, the more fearful we become.  Yet in nature, the darker the clouds, the more we anticipate a refreshing rain.  It's not possible to have refreshing rain without storm clouds is it?  Or course not... and neither is it possible in life.

Our trials and tribulations always give way to showers of God's blessings.  God may block out the sun temporarily, but there are showers of blessing soon to follow.  Press On today, asking God to give you faith enough to see the clouds as the gathering up of His rich blessings that He will soon pour out on you.  There is never any rain without the gathering of storm clouds. 

It must be Jesus!  May 21, 2012

Read:  John 21:1-14.  Focus verse: 12.

Have you ever received an 'anonymous' gift or letter in the mail, yet there was some identifying feature that told you exactly who it came from?  We've all been in a situation where we see something, hear something, or receive something, and think 'it could only be....'.  Our certainty comes from our relationship or understanding of that other person.

Jesus' disciples, although doubting at times, knew that certain things were only possible through Jesus Himself.  Take for example the account in John 21.  They've been fishing all night, and "caught nothing" (v. 3).  In verse 6, Jesus directs them to cast their nets to the other side of the boat, and the net becomes so full of fish that they can't haul it in.  Now jump ahead to verse 12, "Now none of the disciples dared ask Him, 'Who are you?'  They knew it was the Lord (Jesus)."  How did they know with such certainty?  Because they had witnessed His power and knew that such power could only be one person...Jesus!

Now step back a second from the grind of your daily life and look at the big picture.  There are many things constantly in motion...tests to take, chores to do, places to go, people to see.  Chances are though, there are a few things happening right now in your life that you can look to and say 'it must be Jesus!', there is simply no other explanation.  Each of us have those things...but we often look for other explanations.  The disciples knew it had to be Jesus.  Do you?  Press On today, asking God to expand your vision to see the things in life that can only be Him! 

It depends on how you got there... May 17, 2012

Read:  Psalm 91.  Focus verse: 14.

A common fear many people share is the fear of heights.  Be it on a tall building, a large rollercoaster, an airplane, etc... there are many who are afraid of heights.  We've all probably experienced something similar to the following example...you're at the bottom of a mountain, or standing below a rollercoaster, or standing at the base of a large tree, and you think 'ahhh, that's not that high, I got this!', and you proceed to climb the mountain, or the tree, or get on the rollercoaster.  Before you know it however, what seemed to be not so high up, is completely frightening.  You are overcome with fear.

Is Psalm 91, we read that the Lord sets 'him on high, because he has known My name.'  Here we go again, this whole idea of heights.  But so often with God, our fears and our understanding of something, is completely altered by Him.  When we ascend to high places on our own, it is often accompanied by a sudden fear of falling.  When God sets His children on high, there is no fear of falling.  It all depends on how you got there in the first place.

As humans, we are wired to succeed, and to succeed quickly.  No one wants to be an A+ college student that takes 15 years to graduate.  Nobody wants to be a school teacher who's students continuously fail the AIMS test.  We want success, and we want it quickly!  So we often take matters into our own hands.  We stand at the base of the tree or the mountain, and with great pride, we declare, 'I got this!'.  Before long, we have ascended to a height that is now terrifying.  Press On today, asking the Lord to give you the patience to wait for Him to set you in a high place.  Heights can be frightening, or rewarding...it all depends on how you got there!

Healing comes second... May 14, 2012

Read:  Hosea 6:1-3.  Focus verse: 1.

If you never had surgery, you would never witness the healing of your scar.  If you never had a grade drip below the passing level, you would never be able to celebrate the grade being raised.  In life, healing and victory often is made more joyous by the fact that we have first experienced suffering, or failure.

The Prophet Hosea writes in chapter 6, verse 1, "Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up."  We can draw some pretty safe conclusions from this verse.  If God's people had not first been torn, there would be no need for God's healing.  If God's people had not first been 'stricken', there would be no need for God's binding up.  Do you see the pattern here?  It is often the Lord's way...to tear before He heals.  Why?  Is it because He's a cruel God who likes to see us suffer?  No, on the contrary, He's a loving God that loves to heal!

When we experience suffering, pain, or defeat, we tend to despair.  Don't despair, but rather come to God with all your wounds, bruises, and loses, He alone can heal.  Show Him your gaping wounds, and ask Him to heal you.  Press On today with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that God is faithful to heal.  That peace of mind is our source of strength through the trial, remembering that healing comes second, only after there has been a wound.

Always pleasing Him... May 11, 2012

Read:  John 8:21-30.  Focus verse: 29

A small tip someone once shared with me regarding marriage and family-life, is to avoid words like 'always' & 'never' when you are frustrated.  'You always leave your laundry on the floor', 'You never remember to check the mail.' Those words carry strong meaning, and even stronger implications.  They are hurtful.  But what about when referring to good things?  'You always remember my birthday.'  'You never get mad at me, even though I'm always late.'  You get the idea.  Good or bad, 'always' and 'never' are powerful words.

Given that, Jesus' statement in John 8:29 is a very powerful statement, "...for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."  Always pleasing God?  Can you imagine?  We have a hard time pleasing God even most of the time, not to mention, always.  It's a pretty high standard that Jesus set.  Let's not forget though...Jesus was perfect.  He was fully God, even though He was fully man.

So what are we to take away from this?  After all, we are far from perfect, we sin daily, if not hourly.  As with so much about Jesus' life, He set an example for us to follow.  He knows we will never achieve perfection in our earthly bodies, but He has given us a standard to set our hearts toward.  How would today be different for you if you prayed 'God, help me to only do those things today that are pleasing to you'?  Chances are, you would find that you grow in your intimacy with Christ and in your relationship with God.  Press On today with a heart set on pleasing God.  This is not something we can do in our own strength and power.  Ask God to help you to walk in a manner pleasing Him!  It's ALWAYS a good thing!

All of it... May 9, 2012

Read:  2 Kings 15:1-7.  Focus verse: 4.

As Christians, we are generally aware of the 'big sins' in our lives.  Even though the Bible is crystal clear that all sin, 'big' or 'little' is a sin against our holy God, we tend to still give rankings to our sins.  As such, we generally feel convicted by those 'big' sins, and we seek to eliminate them from our lives.  We ask the Lord to forgive us, to grant us victory over that specific sin, and then we move on with life.  While this is good (God does want us to seek forgiveness for our sins), there is a danger here.  The danger is this...many sins remain, but in comparison to the 'big' sin that we just conquered, they don't seem to bother us very much.  We are aware of them, but aren't overly concerned by them.

As you read the story of the Israelites throughout the OT, you'll find that they had many, many kings.  The books of 1 & 2 Kings chronicle for us the many different kings that lead this nation.  You'll also find that some did 'evil in the sight of the Lord', and some did 'right in the sight of the Lord.'  Occasionally you'll find one that fell somewhere in between.  Such is the case of king Azariah in 1 Kings 15.  " (3) And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.  (4) Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away.  The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places."

Did you catch that?  'Nevertheless'...in other words, almost.  They were willing to get rid of most of their sins, but not quite all of them.  I wonder how often you and I are like King Azariah?  We are willing to do most of what the Lord wants, but not quite all of what He wants.  We'll give him 90% of our lives, but not the full %100.  Press On today with an obedient and surrendered heart, giving all of yourself to the glory of God!

Letting go of sin... May 7, 2012

Read:  Deuteronomy 13:16-18.  Focus verse: 17.

Think back to when you were a small child...got that image in your head?  Although I didn't know most of you as a young child, I can guess you were similar to all other kids worldwide when it came to your toys and possessions.  With a tight grip around your favorite toy, you would declare it to be 'MINE'!  It's mine!  Leave it alone!  Chances are, you were so protective of your stuff, that even a toy you hadn't played with for months became 'MINE' the second another child tried to play with it, or take it.

We tend to be possessive of our stuff.  We have a hard time opening our hand and loosening that firm grip.  Sadly, as Christians, the same can be said of our sinful habits.  We grab hold of our favorite sin, and we declare it to be 'MINE', refusing to let go of it, even though we know God has called us to. 

In Deuteronomy chapter 13, God had called the Israelites to do that same thing, clearly instructing them to let go of any of the things that had been devoted to destruction.  "None of the devoted things shall stick to your hand", was His instruction for the Israelites.  We must consider the same instruction today in our own lives.  We have tightened our grip on some destructive sins, and it's time to let go.  Press On today with a loose grip, letting go of those things that you know draw you away from Christ.  Pursue holiness and flee from sin!

Bearing other's burdens... May 4, 2012

Read:  Galatians 6:1-5.  Focus verse: 2.

Most of us know many people who are going through difficult situations.  Sitting here at my computer, at least a dozen people or families come to mind, people who are carrying very heavy loads.  These aren't things like 'my car won't start', or 'I failed that test', or 'I've lost my keys.'  Instead they tend to be a bit heavier in nature, 'my mom is dying', 'my dad lost his job', 'we have to sell our house'.  These are common things among our friends and family today.

As Christians, God has called us to bear one another's burdens.  Galatians 6:2, "carry each other's burdens...".  Stop and allow yourself to see this.  What does this actually look like?  It means that we not allow our friends and loved ones to carry all of the weight themselves.  It means we are quick to call or stop by, giving up our schedules, our desires, and our plans, so that we are readily available to help in any way that will make their burden lighter.

Being a burden bearer requires sacrifice.  It's much easier for us to say 'I'll be praying for you', then it is to say 'I'm coming by tonight, please let me know how I can help.'  Yet that's what it means to bear burdens for, and with others.  It means we transfer some of the weight to ourselves, refusing to let them carry it alone.  Press On today with an awareness of others around you.  Chances are, someone close to you is carrying a heavy burden.  Ask the Lord to give you a servant's heart and strong arms as you help carry their burden!

Acceptable things... May 2, 2012

Read:  Psalm 19.  Focus verse: 14.

Perhaps you have that one friend, or family member, that is just never quite satisfied.  When birthday time rolls around, you worry yourself sick over trying to find them the perfect gift.  They are the person that is just never quite satisfied in life.  Sadly, for many of us, this may come from one of our parents.  You got the B, but you should have got the A.  You finished 3rd, but you should have finished 2nd.  You did the dishes, but you should have also taken out the trash.  Can you relate?  I think many can.

Unfortunately, many of us can approach our relationship with God in a similar manner.  We just don't know how we could ever please Him.  What could the creator and sustainer of the entire world possibly want and accept from sinful humans?  One answer is found in Psalm 19, verse 14, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight."  Really, it's that simple?  Pure words and a pure heart?  Those things seem like things that all of us can offer.

As Christians, we can often overlook the simple things that God finds acceptable.  We tend to think big... overseas mission trips, having a solo in church, being on the youth leadership team, etc....  The danger of always thinking and pursuing the big things, is that we forget that God really wants some very simple things from us.  Clean hearts and words!  Press On today, intent on offering God the simple things, the things that are the most acceptable to Him!

Reason not to fear... April 30, 2012

Read:  John 6:16-21.  Focus verse: 20.

Everyone is afraid of something.  In fact, most people are afraid of many things.  I am afraid of snakes, airplane crashes, and scary movies (of course there are so many more that I'm too embarrassed to share).  Those things are trivial in nature, but in life we all carry with us deep-rooted fears.  Fears of disease, broken relationships, failure...the list is long for most of us.  To be fearful of something makes us human.  It exposes our full humanity.

Such was the case with Jesus' disciples.  I think we have a tendency to over-spiritualize Jesus' disciples because, after all, they were Jesus' disciples.  But as we closely examine their lives, we see that they possessed many of the same human qualities that we share, in this case fear.  In John 6, they become fearful because their boat is caught in a storm.  Seems like a legitimate and normal fear (especially if you've ever watched Deadliest Catch).  They are concerned for their physical safety, a fear we can all relate to.

So what's Jesus' response?  He simply offers Himself.  Such simple but profound words are found in verse 20, "It is I, do not be afraid."  There has never been anyone in the history of the world, nor will there ever be again, that can pull this off.  Jesus is the only person that can simply offer Himself as a substitute for our fear.  It's not that Jesus offers us a solution or a way around it, it's that He offers us Himself.  Press On today in the face of your fears knowing and believing that Jesus is your victory over them.  You can try to protect and defend yourself, of you can rest in the promise that Jesus is near...and He is enough.

Never incomplete... April 27, 2012

Read:  Psalm 138:8 & Philippians 1:6.

As a homeowner, I often find myself starting jobs around the house, only to get sidetracked or busy with other things, and leave the job incomplete.  While there aren't many incomplete jobs around the house, there are a few.  And for each incomplete job, it's a reminder to me that my work is never finished.  There is always something more to be done.

As humans, we can relate to feeling incomplete. There is always more to learn academically.  There is always a destination we haven't visited.  There is always more weight to lose and more muscle to build.  There is always more love to be shared with others.  We are never finished in our human endeavors.  Even as Christians, we know this feeling.  This is where our faithful God steps in.  Any good work in our lives is His doing.  He's the initiator of it, and He will be the one to complete it.  What is now good, the Lord will someday make perfect.

What a comfort for us.  We fail daily.  We move away from God, rather than toward Him.  But God is not one to leave any work unfinished.  Press On today in your unfinished, imperfect ways, knowing that you are loved and treasured by God who has promised to fulfill His purposes for you. 

Always Defensive.  April 25, 2012

Read:  1 Peter 3:8-22. Focus verse: 15.

Do you know anybody who is always defensive?  It doesn't matter what you say, they always have a defense (or an excuse)!  Those kinds of people can wear on our nerves.  They can be difficult people to be around and to encourage.  We don't hold out much hope that they will be teachable in any area of their lives.  Typically, this is not a label that we want.  Nobody wants to be considered a defensive person.

As Christians, the Bible actually encourages us to be defensive.  Not defensive in matters of fault, or right and wrong, but rather defensive when it comes to the hope that is within us.  Defensive when it comes to matters of the cross, and the hope that Jesus gave each of us as He died on that cross.  It's not every day that we get asked about our hope.  Most people don't walk up to us and say, 'so tell me, why are you so hopeful all the time?'  Nevertheless, the Bible tells us to be ready for when they do!

Most militaries around the world train for years, and get very little practice at carrying out the things they train for (thank goodness).  As Christians, we don't know when someone might ask us about the hope that is within us, but we must be ready.  We need to live as defensive people!  Press On today with a readiness in both your heart and your head, to testify to the great hope that is in you.  Just because people haven't asked you about it, doesn't mean they aren't aware of it.  Sooner or later you'll need to get defensive.  Live ready!

What would you give up?  April 23, 2012

Read:  Romans 9:1-5.  Focus verse:3.

Stop and think of the person in your life that you would most like to see come to faith in Christ.  Do you have that person in mind?  Now answer this question...what would you give up to see them come to faith in Christ?  So what would it be?  A few nights of sleep?  A tank of gas to drive to where they are?  Practice time with your team?  What about even your own faith in Christ?

That's a pretty shocking suggestion isn't?  That however, is what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 9, "For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,"  What does Paul really mean here?  Does he really not care about his salvation in Christ?  Of course he cares!  In fact, he cares so much that the realization that others around him are missing out on that faith, is overwhelming to him.  Put simply...Paul was deeply burdened for the lost.

Are you?  Does the fact that people around you, likely people you love and care for, are separated from Christ, break your heart?  Are you burdened by this?  Paul was...he was very burdened.  He would give it all up so that his 'brothers' might know that faith.  What a testimony of Paul's heart.  Be challenged today in your faith to press on with a very real and heavy burden for the lost around you.  Stop and ask yourself...'what would I give up so that my friends and family might know Christ?'  Now be ready to make that sacrifice!

No seasons for Christ.. April 19, 2012

Read:  Matthew 11:25-30.  Focus verse:  30.

One thing that I have discovered in my somewhat short life is that life tends to happen in seasons.  There are seasons when life couldn't get any better, everything is going your way, you are feeling blessed, happy, and full of joy.  There are also seasons when life seems like it couldn't get any worse.  You are stressed, fearful, uncertain, and joy seems fleeting.  Blessings all at once, or challenges all at once.  They are seasons, which suggests that things will eventually change, but maybe not for 2 or 3 months at a time (assuming we understood the concept of weather seasons living in AZ).

One of the most divine attributes that Jesus possesses, is the unchanging nature of who He is.  That is to say, Jesus doesn't experience seasons like we do.  Every day is the same... trials, pains, joys, and victories, don't change who He is.  In Matthew 11, Jesus reminds us of this very truth, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  All the time, every day, no matter what!  There is never a day when Jesus feels overwhelmed by the trials of His children.  There is never a day that Jesus doesn't want to be bothered with our fears and pains, as He celebrates the victories of one of His other children.

Christ knows no seasons.  We do however, or so we think we do.  There are times when we just can't seem to get out from under the dark cloud.  Press On with the certainty that Christ's yoke is always easy and His burden is always light.  There is never an inconvenient time for us to boldly approach the throne.  When the seasons of life threatened to overwhelm you, turn to the one who knows no seasons...He's ready and waiting to take your burdens!

 

The Promise of Heaven... April 17, 2012

Read:  John 14:1-7.  Focus verses: 2-3.

You'll notice the gap in the online devotional, due in large part to what the last week has held for all of us, as we said goodbye to our dear friend Kevin Gaub.  For much of the last week, I've found my thoughts centered around heaven, and the reality that it is a place that Kevin now fully knows and enjoys.

For the rest of us, we do a lot of imagining, trying to imagine what it will be like.  We do a lot of wondering, trying to wrap our minds around a concept that we know so little about.  For all that the Bible has to say about heaven, there is still so much that we don't know.  We know quite a bit about sin and forgiveness because we see it in action every single day.  We know quite a bit about love, patience, and mercy, as we see those qualities in ourselves and in the lives of others around us.  But heaven...well, we've never been able to sit down and talk to anyone who's been there and returned.

So what do we know?  Well we know that it's real and that Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare that place, that someday He will call us to.  Jesus' words in John 14 couldn't be more clear, "In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"  Jesus is not in the business of tricking us.  Heaven may be something that we are unclear about, but it doesn't have to be something that we are uncertain of!  It's real...Jesus said so!  Press On today with the certainty that heaven is real, our dear friend Kevin is there, and someday we will be also!  It's a glorious truth that emerges from a grey cloud of confusion!

Don't turn aside... April 10, 2012

Read:  1 Samuel 12:19-25.  Focus verse: 21.

If you have a dog or cat, perhaps you've humored yourself by using a laser light to antagonize your pet.  You know how it works...shine the laser light on the ground or on the wall, and as soon as they get close enough to 'bite it' or 'capture it', you move it quickly to a new location.  Before long your pet is running in every direction, trying to capture this fleeting light dot.

In life, we sometimes behave just like our dog or cat trying to catch this fleeting light dot.  We are easily distracted, and run here and there trying to catch up with what we are after.  Our interests vary, our desires change, and our focus becomes chaotic.  As Christians this is also true.  We often turn aside from God, chasing after anything that captures our attention.

In verse 21 of 1 Samuel chapter 12, Samuel issues a stern caution to the Israelites, to not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver.  In other words, don't lose your focus...stop chasing after the fleeting light dot.  Are you guilty of this?  I am!  Big time!  There are many days when my focus is shifted away from the Lord by something that captures my attention.  I quickly discover however that it's empty.  Have you ever actually allowed your dog or cat to 'capture' the laser light?  If so, you know that they soon become disinterested in it.  What they thought was something they wanted, turns out to be nothing.  So it is when we turn away from the Lord!  Press On today with your focus fixed solely on Christ!  There are many 'laser lights' bouncing around, trying to capture your attention.  Ask your dog or cat though...they prove to be empty!

God fights for His people!   April 4, 2012

Read:  Exodus 23:20-33.  Focus verse: 28.

"I will send hornets before you..." was God's promise to the Israelites as they prepared to conqueror the land of Canaan.  So what were these hornets?  Were they literal hornets that sting and buzz around?  We don't exactly know...they could have been, or they could have been something much different.  The point here is that 'they', whoever or whatever 'they' were, were apart of God's army.  He was sending these hornets out before His people, to do wage the battle, and to make the conquest even easier!

What a crazy thought to think that God fights for His people before we even actually get to the battle.  Exodus 14:14 says, "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."  Catch that last part?  Hold our peace?  But it's war...it's a battle field out there, how can we hold our peace?

Our job as Christians is not to strategize our war victory, just to obey our marching orders.  It is a warzone out there, no doubt about it.  But when we get to the battle, we can confidently expect to find that Jesus has already been there.  The hornets have already been released.  Press On today into the battle with confidence, knowing and believing that the Lord will fight for you.  His tactics, hornets or whatever He chooses to use, are far superior to our own!

Choosing the 'good portion'... April 2, 2012

Read:  Luke 10:38-42.  Focus verse: 42.

Recently in a Bible study that I am a part of, we were discussing the concept of the 'Sabbath' and rest.  Divine, God-honoring rest.  What does it look like?  How do we practice it?  What is the purpose and importance of it?

The account of Martha and Mary with Jesus found in Luke 10, I believe, answers a few of those questions for us.  Martha represents so many of us (and Christians in general).  If Jesus is coming to the house, you can bet we will be extremely preoccupied and busy serving Him.  We don't want to appear lazy, or to give the impression that we don't care.  In fact, so much of our Christianity is defined by how much we do, how busy we are for God.  How much we do for others, and how much we do for Jesus!

Now notice Mary's behavior, verse 39, "Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching."  Then notice what Jesus says about Mary in verse 42, "Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."  Of course serving others and Christ is a crucial part of our faith and obedience to God, however it cannot ever be a substitute for sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening, learning, and being refreshed by Him.  Who are you more like in this story, Martha or Mary?  Press On today with the freedom to stop, rest, and sit at the feet of the Master.  He's okay with you resting...He wants you to choose the good portion which He provides!

Finding God's Peace... March 30, 2012

Read:  Philippians 4:1-7.  Focus verses: 6-7.

The world we live in today is chaotic.  Peace is hard to come by.  Whether that's peace between neighboring countries, peace within a family, or even peace of mind within your own body.  Peace seems to be elusive.  In Philippians 4, Paul gives us a template for finding true peace, which is found only in God.

He instructs us not be anxious, instead to pray.  And how are we to pray?  Not doubtfully, but thankfully.  We are not to hide anything, but to present our requests to God.  We are not to go to man with our requests, but to God.  And what is the outcome of all of this?  "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Everyone desires security; physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, it doesn't matter what type it is, we all desire it.  We have the divine promise from God that true security, true peace of mind and heart, is available when we come to Him in prayer.  Press On today with a confident assurance that He is the true source of peace in a chaotic and turbulent world.  Come to Him today in prayer, confidently and thankfully, laying your requests before Him.  He is faithful!

Leading the way... March 28, 2012

Read:  Deuteronomy 28:1-13.  Focus verse: 13.

I can recall as a child always thinking of the end of the train, the caboose, as the worst part of the train.  The engine is the most important part, the caboose is the forgotten part.  To some degree, this thinking holds true now that I'm an adult.  Nobody, including me, wants to be at the tail end of anything.  We want the lead position, we want to be at the front.

In verse 13 of Deut. chapter 28, we see such a promise from God.  God's people who walk in obedience to Him (see verses 1-12), have the assurance of God's blessings and provisions.  Our adversaries fall away as they see the Lord's blessing upon us.  As His followers, we are not to be dragged to and fro by others.  As His followers we cannot accept the lost as the leaders of our world.  Jesus has determined us priests!  How then can we allow ourselves to be slaves of human opinion and human reasoning, following along as the lost lead us away from God?

Have you accepted your true position in Christ?  Too many of us are okay being the caboose, all in the name of humility.  The problem however is that the caboose gets pulled along by the engine.  If the engine is contrary to God, so becomes the caboose.  Our faith in Christ must lead the way!  It must be the ruling force not only in our individual lives, but in our world.  Press On today with a passionate desire to lead the way for Jesus.  Let your faith in Christ be the driving force that pulls others along!

Sweet sleep... March 26, 2012

Read:  Proverbs 3:13-35.  Focus verse: 24

We've been told our entire lives that there is nothing about our lives that God doesn't care about.  Yet often we try to find the 'one thing' that God is indifferent about.  Many might think that 'one thing' that God doesn't care about is our sleep.  After all, we aren't really doing anything good or bad right?  We're just asleep!

According to Proverbs 3, God even cares about our sleep.  In fact, He promises "sweet sleep".  That sounds pretty good to me!  What if tonight you were a little more intentional about your sleep.  Try this...when you go to lie down, try also laying down your cares, ambitions, fears, and doubts, and asking God to give you sweet sleep in Him.  Sweet sleep comes about as a result of sweet lives, meditations, and ambitions, all of which must be rooted in Christ.

Sleep is not something that escapes the view of God.  In fact, sleep must be considered a blessing straight from the hand of God.  The next time you utter the phrase, 'uggh, I can't wait to get to sleep', try centering your sleepy ambition on Christ.  Press On with the assurance that He gives sweet sleep to those who are willing to surrender their lives, trusting that we are sustained and refreshed only in Christ.  Sleep is good...sweet sleep is even better!

I can do all things... March 16, 2012 (By Chris)

Read:  Philippians 4:13, John 1:3, 15:5

Why is it that we often lack faith in God?  Is it because we don't believe that He is capable or trustworthy?  Or is it because we have too much faith in ourselves?

We never cease to be amazed at the power and majesty of God when our focus is away from ourselves and entirely on Him.  Have you ever stopped to think about that?  It's fascinating, really, and yet it makes so much sense.  But God essentially ceases to exist in our lives when we forget about Him (and unfortunately, we tend to have very short attention spans).  This happens every day for most of us, unintentionally.  The irony for most Christians is that while we often neglect to rely on God in the most minute and ordinary details of everyday life, it isn't because we lack trust in Him-as far as our minds are concerned; on the contrary, it is because we 'trust' in Him so much that we assume we can rely on ourselves on the little things.  And that is why it is so easy for our focus to shift, leaving us unaware that such a shift ever happened.

The next time God is on your mind, ask yourself, 'What is it that reminded me of Him just now?  'What did I do with my time between now and the last time my focus was on him?'  'What distractions took my mind off of Him in the first place?' 

Odds are you are probably doing very simple things - things that seemingly wouldn't require any 'extra help' from God.  Maybe you were playing a video game, or making eggs, or taking a test.  But the kicker is this:  we are able to do the simplest things ONLY because God has endowed us with the ability.  You cannot even lift a finger without the authority and divine providence of God that enables you (let alone using all your fingers to use that spatula, or form words with your pencil, or indiscriminately push buttons on your xbox controller).

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  The phrase "all things" doesn't necessarily, or exclusively mean extraordinary things, or supernatural things, although we tend to interpret it that way.  It means that all things that we do are only possible because of the strength we have received from the only one who is immeasurably stronger.

 

Never too young... March 14, 2012

Read:  Isaiah 1:1-10.  Focus verses: 6-7.

Of the many Old Testament prophets called by God that we read about, Jeremiah is one of the more 'well-known' so-to-speak.  He's a recognizable name, even for someone that is only a casual Bible-reader.  But what many of us don't know (or at least don't remember), is that Jeremiah was not an eager prophet.  He wasn't chomping at the bit, waiting to be sent by God.  He didn't think he could do it, after all he was "only a youth".

Now before you write Jeremiah off as uneager to be used by God, remember this...he may not have been eager, but he was obedient and willing.  It's somewhat normal that Jeremiah would feel overwhelmed by this little errand God was calling him to.  But what Jeremiah was in himself (young), was lost amidst what he was in God.  He would be empowered and enabled through the strength of God.

Consider this...if God knows everything, even the number of hairs on your head, surely He knows how old you are right?  Nevertheless, He calls you each day to be His mouthpiece, to be His witness to a lost world.  Your youthfulness is not an excuse.  God will fill in where our inexperience drops off.  Press On today with a confident assurance that God uses the young (that's you), the old, the weak, the strong...all who are willing and obedient.  Turn your gaze toward God today and tell Him you are willing, even if you aren't necessarily eager.

Choose life... March 12, 2012

Read:  Deuteronomy 30:11-20.  Focus verses: 19-20.

Life is full of choices.  Think of the number of choices you'll make just today... what to wear, what to eat, how long to sleep, how much homework you'll do, who to text, how to speak to your parents, when to shower...the list is exhaustive.  Not included in this list however, is another choice we make each day, even if we are unaware of it.  That is the decision to walk in newness of life with Christ, or to walk in disobedience toward God, engaging in a friendship with the world.

Toward the end of the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 30 to be exact, Moses is giving the Israelite nation final instructions before his own death, and before they enter the Promise Land.  In verses 19 & 20, he lays out for them a very important decision...the choice between life and death.  Seems like a pretty important decision doesn't?  Imagine you're one of the Israelites, hearing the words of Moses.  Personally, at this point, I'd be saying, 'duh, of course I choose life!'  But Moses spells it out for them very clearly in verse 20.  'Ok, you want life...here's how you experience it..."loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life..."'. 

Did you catch that last part, "for He is your life".  Let's draw a simple conclusion then from the text.. God = Life!  So what it really comes down to is a choice between God (life) and the world (death).  You'll make many important decisions today, but none that will be of more significance then the choice between life and death.  Press On with a passionate desire to know and experience the fullness of life in and through Christ.  Remember, Christ's purpose in coming was to give us life, and life abundantly! (John 10:10)

A simple equation... March 5, 2012

Read:  1 Samuel 2:27-36.  Focus  verse: 30.

When it comes to God, we often tend to complicate things.  We think God is hiding, or up to some secret business that we aren't aware of.  We can treat God like a chess match...'If I move here, God will move here.'  Such thinking on our part can cause us to grow weary.  We get tired trying to figure out how to honor God, and how to receive God's blessings in our lives.

In 1 Samuel chapter 2, this complicated thinking that we love to attach to our faith, is turned on it's head.  It's really very simple, "for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed."  Seems pretty simple doesn't it?  Honor from God is reserved for those who honor Him.  Seems fair to me.

Join me in something today...let's try and keep it simple with God.  Let's make it our own desire and passion today to honor God.  Press On with a holy ambition today, to honor the Lord in all you do, say, and think!  It's not complicated at all...it's actually very simple.  However if we attempt to do it in our own power and strength, we'll find it incredibly frustrating.  Ask God to open your heart to the work of the Holy Spirit, allowing you to honor Him today! 

Lest you forget... March 3, 2012

Read:  Deuteronomy 6:10-15.  Focus verse: 12.

Deuteronomy chapter 6 is a well known passage of Scripture.  In verses 4 and 5, we find the 'Greatest Commandment' as we have come to know it.  But if you keep reading the rest of the chapter, you'll find a really fascinating portion of Scripture.  Beginning in verse 10, Moses gives the Israelites specific instructions, instructions that could be considered a warning.

Moses reminds the Israelites of all that the Lord has done on their behalf, providing for them and giving them freedom out of the land of Egypt.  He also tells them that the Lord is going to continue to provide for them, basically assuring them that when they get to the Promised Land, life is going to be good.  So good in fact...that they will likely forget all about God.  So he cautions them to "take care lest you forget the Lord."

I think we still need Moses' caution today.  When life is easy, we tend to be like the Israelites, forgetting God and going about our business.  The caution of Moses then, is the same caution for us today... "take care lest you forget the Lord."  What a sad thing it would be to have said about us that we forgot the Lord.  How could we?  We do it all the time, when we put our lives in our own hands, trusting in our own abilities.  Press On today, purposed to not forget the Lord.  He has richly blessed you, and will continue to.  He asks of us that we simply keep our focus and our gratitude on Him!

Last is first... February 29, 2012

Read:  Mark 9:33-37.  Focus verse: 35.

In school, we often want to know what is required of us to get an A in the class.  On a sports team, we want to know what the coach expects so that we are a 'starter' and get a lot of playing time.  In a relationship, we want to know what it will take to make the other person feel loved, and make the relationship last.  We are wired to pursue the best, to pursue success.  No one steps into a classroom and thinks, 'I wonder how much work I have to do to get a C in this class.'  You don't join a sports team and think, 'I hope I sit on the sideline a bunch, and never get a chance to play.'  You don't enter into a relationship and think, 'I hope this doesn't last more than a month or two.'  We desire success.

Jesus' disciples were much the same way.  Although their conquest could be considered a little more serious in nature.  They wanted to know who was the greatest.  That's a pretty big deal!  In Mark 9, we see this account, and the pointed response of Jesus.  He knows their hearts, He knows their desire to be important, but yet He corrects their wayward thinking.  He spells out His definition of success in verse 35, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."

Jesus' definition is the opposite definition of how our culture defines success.  Greatness to Jesus is defined through humility and service.  Stop and compare Jesus' definition to yours.  Chances are you are similar to the disciples, you want to know that Jesus thinks you're great.  Well He does, but not because of what you do or don't do.  He thinks you're great because You are a child of God, whom He gave His life for.  It's that truth that should free us from the desire to get to the top through our own selfish ambitions.  Press On today with the assurance that God's definition of greatness and success is rooted in those who all willing to let humility and service mark their lives.  It's freeing to remember this.  You don't have to be first, in fact, last is a really good place to be!

Bad news is good news... February 27, 2012

Read:  Psalm 112.  Focus verse:7.

It seems as though our world is full of bad news.  Come to think of it...our lives can often feel that way.  We don't need to watch the evening news to hear bad news.  All we need to do is talk to a family member, log on to our Facebook account, visit our doctor, etc...No one likes bad news.  In fact, we dread it.  We'll take great measures to avoid it.

I love the reminder God gives us through the Psalmist in Psalm 112... "He is not afraid of bad news..."  Why not?  Keep reading, "his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord."  You catch that?  Faith and trust in God drive away our fear of bad news.  It doesn't promise us that we'll never get bad news, it simply reminds us that we can be fully confident that God will never do us harm.

God is not only in control of today, He's also in control of tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that.  You may be dreading something... a health concern, a fragile family or romantic relationship, a grade that could go either way, there is so much that we dread.  Let God's Word give you hope as you wait.  Press On in the certainty that for those whose heart trusts in God, we need not fear bad news.  Our great God has a way of taking our trust in Him, and turning 'bad news' into good news!

Because He loves you... February 22, 2012 (By Martin)

Read:  Luke 12:23-24.

I don't think I ever love my seven year old daughter more than when she comes to me with a worried expression on her face and asks for for comfort.  She doesn't come right out and say "comfort me", but she reveals it in her words all the same.  "Dad, I hurt my knee."  "Dad, I'm afraid of the dark."  "Dad, are you afraid of anything?"

In Luke 12:23-24, Jesus encourages us when we need comfort much like I do to my daughter, and with much the same love (although even greater, despite my feelings otherwise).  He says dont' worry...don't fret.  He, in essence, says: no matter what you may think is horrible in your life, no matter how scared or how alone you feel, I love you and am here for you.

As you go through your day as a student, it's easy to get side-tracked by life.  A big test is coming up.  You got a speeding ticket.  Maybe you yelled at your parents.  Or maybe you're just a little afraid of the dark.  The point is there are many different things to worry about in the world.    But your heavenly Father is so much greater and loving than any fear or worry you have.  So much so that He says not to worry at all!  So, trust Him and remember He only says it because He loves you!

Momentary Affliction... February 20, 2012

Read:  Nahum 1.  Focus verse: 12.

Nobody likes affliction.  It's uncomfortable, and often times, downright painful.  But there is a limit to it, as the Prophet Nahum proclaims in verse 12 of chapter 1.  God does send affliction...but He also removes it.  Of course as Christians, we hold to the promise that all affliction will finally cease when our earthly life is over.  But what about now?  How are we to deal with affliction?

Although it can be difficult to accept, God often uses affliction to draw us closer to Himself.  There is always a purpose to it.  Therefore, God will likely take away that affliction when it has fully served His purpose.  So how are we to handle it?  One way is to ask God what it is that He is wanting to teach you.  Another would be to ask God to give you the strength to glorify Him even through the affliction.

The wise ol' Spurgeon said this, "It is not hard for the Lord to turn night into day.  He who sends the clouds can just as easily clear the skies.  Let us be of good cheer."  Press On today with God's promise that His affliction is for always His glory, for your good, and temporary!

Jesus our Liberator... February 17, 2012

Read:  Luke 4:16-21.  Focus verse:  18.

When I think of Jesus, I often think of what we might consider to be His common characteristics.  His love, His grace, His forgiveness, His healing.  But how often do we think of Jesus as a 'freedom fighter', setting prisoners free?  Jesus states His purpose in coming, very clearly in verse 18 of Luke 4, "He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners."

So you say, 'I'm not in prison.'  Likely you're not, at least not in the technical meaning of the term 'prison'.  But it is very likely that you are still imprisoned by something in your daily life.  We know as Christians, that we have been freed from the penalty of sin, and yet we are still often enslaved and imprisoned by sin.  It's as if we allow the shackles of sin to be placed around our ankles and wrists each day.

Let's make it a point today, to focus on Christ as our liberator, our deliverer.  Is there something today that is robbing you, imprisoning you, and stealing your joy?  If there is something, remember that Jesus has already claimed victory over it, and He's inviting you to step out of the shackles of that very same thing.  What binds you today?  Press On with the assurance that it is nothing that hasn't already been unbound by Christ, our liberator!

Valentine's Day made possible... February 15, 2012

Read:  1 John 4:7-21.  Focus verse:  19.

Well Valentine's Day has come and gone.  Whether you loved it (no pun intended), or ignored it, there is one thing that is clear...it is man-centered.  We give flowers, chocolate, gifts, and other tokens of our love, to those whom we love or care for.  Now don't get me wrong, this is a good thing.  I myself participated in gift giving yesterday.  But when I pause and step back from all of the hustle and bustle that has become Valentine's Day, I can't help but remember why it's all been made possible in the first place.

John writes in 1 John 4, verse 19, "We love because He first loved us."  Translated, there is no Valentine's Day apart from God's love.  We can only experience and enjoy loving relationships on earth because of the love of our Heavenly Father, that He has poured out on us through His Son, Jesus.  So you say, 'seems to me like there are many non-Christians that are in love or love others.'  True...sorta.  I would suggest that the love that they experience and know is missing something.  It's missing an awareness of the true source of love.

As Christians, we long to be loved and to love others, because we have come to know and understand what Biblical love is all about, and we find it incredibly satisfying.  For those who haven't embraced Christ's love, the love they experience is a superficial imitation of true love.  The flowers we gave and the candy we enjoyed, will quickly become after thoughts.  Press On today in the one thing that is unchanging and never-ending, the overwhelming love of Christ.  We only love because He first loved us.  Don't mix up the order!

Are you His witness?  February 13, 2012

Read:  Acts 22:12-15.  Focus verse: 15.

You likely know the story of the Apostle Paul.  As 'Saul', he persecuted and killed Christians.  As 'Paul', he can be credited for most of the spread of Christianity in Europe.  He no doubt has a special place in heaven.  He became a champion for Christ!

Now we could easily look at Paul's conversion and suspect how much 'better' his life became once he came to Christ.  But notice what verse 15 says, 'You will be my witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.'  Paul's coming to Christ was meant to have an influence on others as well.  And boy did it ever!

As believers, we have seen and heard such good news.  In that, we are withholding a very precious gift from others if we fail to be His witness.  And notice the word 'all' in this verse.  Our witness for Christ should be to everyone we come in contact with, not just those that are easier to talk to.  So let me ask you...are you His witness or are you just a happy Christian, content with knowing that you'll go to heaven someday when you die?  Press On today with a burden for the lost.  Be His witness...you have such good news to share with others!

Receiving Blessings... February 6, 2012

Read:  John 13:12-17.  Focus verse: 17.

Receiving blessings from God for serving God seems like a tricky thing.  We know that if our only purpose in serving God is to receive blessings from Him, our motives are wrong.  That would be self-serving.  Yet in verse 17, Jesus promises blessings to those who obey and serve.  So how are we to balance the two?

Picture in your mind a lake that is dammed up.  There is no water flowing out, therefore the lake can't receive any new water that would flow in.  However when the dam is released, the lake can suddenly accommodate new water flowing in.  The same is true when it comes to serving Christ.  We were not created to be idle reservoirs of His blessings, withholding them from others.  When we serve in humility, we become a channel of God's blessings to others around us.  And what's the result?  He blesses us and fills us back up!

As the church, we must do the work that Jesus did do, and would do, if He was still on the earth.  You have an overflowing reservoir of God's grace and love and share with others around you.  Press On today with the goal of emptying yourself for His sake, trusting that in return, you will receive the rich blessings of God.  Only when we've emptied ourselves to others can we be filled back up with Jesus!

The sun is coming... February 2, 2012

Read:  Malachi 4.  Focus verse: 2.

Have you ever noticed that a scary noise in the house or outside, is not as scary at 5 in the morning?  It may still be completely dark out, but for some reason, it just doesn't seem quite as scary.  What's the reason for that?  May I suggest it is because the promise of daylight is much closer at 5am then it is at midnight.  The sun will soon be up, exposing whatever it is that threatens us.

Unfortunately as Christians, we can't always avoid the dark cloud that life can throw at us from time to time.  There are times when it seems as though we are completely surrounded by darkness.  The imagery of the Prophet Malachi in Malachi chapter 4 however, brings hope to the darkness, "the Sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings."  What if we learned to look at the dark cloud of life as the scary noise at 5am...fear not, the sun is on its way!

Are you walking in a cloud of darkness?  Fear not, the sun will soon rise.  As Spurgeon said, "When the night is darkest, dawn is nearest."  As Christians, our night is short, Jesus has risen upon us.  Press On today with the assurance that Jesus has and will forever shine forth as surely as the morning sun!

God's good hearing... January 31, 2012

Read:  Micah 7:1-17.  Focus verse: 7

At the age of 8, I had to have ear surgery to repair a hole that had developed in my right eardrum.  The surgery fixed the hole, but also resulted in some significant hearing loss.  Fast forward 22 years, and I was again forced to have surgery on a hole in my right eardrum.  The outcome of this surgery was strikingly similar to the first.  The surgery successfully repaired the hole, but I again suffered more hearing loss.  I SAID I SUFFERED MORE HEARING LOSS (just kidding about the yelling part).  So at the ripe ol' age of 32, I have significant hearing loss in my right ear.  Safe to say I'll be the 40-year old sporting the hearing aid.  But just imagine how cool they'll be by then.

Now examine your heart, and answer this question honestly...How often are you convinced that God suffers from hearing loss?  That He can't, or doesn't hear you?  We pray...nothing happens.  We plead...nothing changes.  We cry out...all remains silent.  Does God not hear?  Does He not care?

In Micah chapter 7, the prophet Micah unfolds a beautiful challenge to us, to wait on the God of our salvation.  Specifically in verse 7, Micah writes, "...my God will hear me."  Notice the confidence in Micah's words.  There's no doubt!  My hearing loss is a vivid reminder that we dwell in imperfect, mortal bodies.  God does not.  Press On today with the assurance that God does hear you.  He is always working.  I SAID, HE IS ALWAYS WORKING (and I'm not kidding this time)! :)

 

Firm footing... January 27, 2012

Read:  1 Samuel 2:1-11.  Focus verse: 9.

Two years ago a close group of friends joined me as I backpacked into the Grand Canyon for the very first time.  Since we were going during January, the possibility of snow and ice on the trail was very legitimate.  When we arrived, we were greeted at the canyon by a beautiful and fresh blanket of snow.  The trail at certain points was very icy and required very sure footing.  It goes without saying, if you slip and fall, it could make for a very bad day at the Grand Canyon.  Firm footing was crucial!

In the passage known as 'Hannah's prayer' in 1 Samuel 2, we see God's divine promise to His children of firm footing.  The way in often slippery, and our feet are often feeble and frail, but God promises to guard them.  He will keep our feet from falling.  He will keep our feet from wandering.  Most importantly though...He will allow us to walk without fear.

There were numerous points throughout our trek into the canyon that I was scared of falling.  I wasn't sure of my footing.  Such fear is conquered on God's path.  Press On today in the power and the promise of God's ability and faithfulness to "guard the feet of His saints." 

Your personal 'Song of Moses'... January 25, 2012

Read:  Exodus 15:1-18.

If you know the story of the Israelites, you know that for many years they endured the painful life of slavery at the hands of the tyrant Pharaoh.  You also know that after 10 devastating plagues against Pharaoh and the Egyptians, Pharaoh's hardened heart finally surrendered, and he allowed the Israelites to leave the land with Moses as their leader.

Immediately after being led out of the land, God again delivers the Israelites at the Red Sea, as Pharaoh's army is washed away in the current of the Red Sea, while the Israelites are safely delivered across the sea onto dry land.  What follows that display of God's faithfulness is what the Bible calls 'The Song of Moses'.  In verse 1 of Exodus chapter 15, it says "Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord...".  They had seen first-hand God's faithfulness and God's power, and they offered up praise to Him through their song.

If you keep reading into chapter 16 however, you'll see that it wasn't too long after that, that their song of praise was replaced by a grumbling spirit (16:2).  How quickly they had forgotten.

Turn the focus now to your own walk with God today.  How often are you guilty of a similar pattern?  You offer up a song of praise to God, remembering His faithfulness and power in your life, only to quickly fall back into a spirit of ingratitude, grumbling about the challenges of life.  What if you pledged to let your life be a constant 'Song of Moses', daily offering up a song of praise and gratitude for all God has done on your behalf?  Press On today with the goal of letting your life be one consistent song of praise.  The cross of Christ is reason enough, every single day, to sing our 'Song of Moses'.

A simple message... January 23, 2012

Read:  Mark 5:1-20.  Focus verse:  19.

If you look at the story of how Jesus' life and ministry unfolds, you'll notice something very interesting...the very first person Jesus calls and commissions to be a witness of His mercy is a man who was formerly a crazed demoniac.  It was the man who was feared by the entire village, the man who lived among the tombs and couldn't even be restrained by chains.

Notice though the response of this man after Jesus heals him...He "begged" Jesus if he could be with Him.  He wanted to go with him.  What's Jesus' response?  Verse 19, "And He did not permit him but said to him, 'Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you."  Did you catch that?  Simple message and a simple mission.

So often we think we need years of preparation and experience before God can use us.  We think we need to have the Bible completely memorized and be able to recite it to anyone.  The truth of the matter is that we don't.  All that's required is an encounter with Jesus that sends us away changed.  The message is simple and the mission is simple.  Go back and tell the people you are with all the time what the Lord has done for you!  Press On today in the assurance that Christ has given you all you need to be able to tell the simple message of His saving grace.  There is a mission field right in front of you...go tell them what the Lord has done for you!

God's good purposes... January 19, 2012

Read:  Genesis 50:15-21.  Focus verse: 20.

Recall with me the story of Joseph and his brothers.  In Genesis chapter 37, Joseph is sold my his brothers into slavery in Egypt.  Over the course of some years, Joseph is entrusted with the leadership of Pharaoh's kingdom and rises in power (chps. 38-50).  In chapter 41, Joseph prophesied that a severe famine would overtake the land in the coming days.  Long story short, Joseph's brothers who sold him into slavery and fabricated a lie to their father claiming he was eaten by a wild animal, are now forced to come back to Joseph for food that will spare their lives.

Now pause here...how would you have responded?  Joseph has 100% of the power at this point!  If he gives them food, they live.  If he denies them food, they die.  Put yourself in Joseph's shoes.  No matter how loving and compassionate Joseph may have been, he can't help but remember the horrible deeds his brothers had done against him.  Somewhere deep in his heart there must have been feelings of anger or bitterness.  Verse 20 of chapter 50 sheds light on what was truly in Joseph's heart, "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."

It's all about perspective.  Joseph's perspective was rooted in God good purposes.  It would have been so easy to let his brothers starve... payback!  Instead he chose to look at the bigger picture and focus on God's good purposes.  Are you facing a challenge right now?  Are you up against something you may want to label as 'evil'?  Press On today with the assurance that God's good purposes never finish second to the evil plans of man!  Ask God to give you a perspective of the situation that is rooted in His relentless love for you!

 

Frantic Searching... January 17, 2012

Read:  Luke 2:41-50.  Focus verse: 49.

I realize most of you reading this are not parents (at least I hope you're not), but you can imagine the absolute fear of parents whose child had been missing for 3 days.  Even if your son was the very Son of God, you would be overcome with worry and fear, franticly searching high and low to find your lost son.  Pause though...this wouldn't be the last time Jesus went 'missing' for 3 days, would it?  No.  In fact, the very foundation of our faith rests in the historical account of Jesus being crucified, buried for 3 days, and rising from the ead to defeat death and give eternal life to all who would trust in Him.

In each situation, those closest to Jesus respond the same...franticly.  His parents were panicked assuming He was lost, His followers were devastated assuming His body had been stolen.  At the same time, in both situations, Jesus responds in a very similar manner.  What was Jesus' response?  A gentle rebuke that seemed to say, 'Why do you not trust Me?  You are searching in all the wrong places.'  In both situations, God remained on His throne and was in complete control.  Likely the issue lies in our frantic searching in all the wrong places.

There is a close parallel we can draw here to our individual lives.  How do we so often respond in crisis?  We often run around in a panic.  How does Jesus respond in a crisis?  With a calm reassurance that He is sovereign and in complete control.  We think Jesus is 'missing' or absent from our lives, meanwhile He's calmly asking, 'why were you searching for Me?' (v. 49)  He's never left, He hasn't gone missing...we've just been looking in the wrong places.  Press On today with the assurance that whatever your crisis is, it's way bigger to you than it is to our Lord.

Seeing the rainbow... January 11, 2012.

Read:  Genesis 9:1-17.  Focus verse: 14.

We all know the story of Noah, the flood, and the rainbow from our early child Sunday-school days.  And frankly, none of us really live in fear of a great flood again wiping out the earth.  When the rain clouds roll in, we don't think 'man I hope this isn't a huge flood that wipes us out.'  We see the occasional rainbow and we admire it's beauty, but we tend to think of all of it as very past-tense.  What relevance does it have on us today?

Quite a bit actually!  The covenant that God made with Noah in verse 14 stands fast today!  We face storm clouds today.  We face things each day that darken our sky.  Let me remind us all though, that God's covenant with Noah extends to us today.  The clouds will not result in our destruction!  It's God's promise to us!

Faith always see the rainbow of the covenant promise wherever the clouds of difficulty are found.  God cannot lie, He cannot fail, therefore His promise of our protection is firm!  Press On today in God's faithful promise that even though there may be darkening clouds, a rainbow can be found right in the middle of them.  Look for the rainbow today...God is a promise keeper!

'I can't see God!' ... January 9, 2012.

Read:  Matthew 5:1-12.  Focus verse: 8.

One of the reasons most often stated for why people don't believe in God is that they can't physically 'see' Him.  Sadly though, that reason or excuse isn't confined to just non-believers.  As believers we often say a similar thing.  While it may be true that we can't lay eyes on the very person of God (after all He's spirit), the Bible is clear that we can see God in many other ways.

So what's the reason for our supposed inability to see God?  Matthew 5:8 sheds a little light on the potential reason, reminding us that it is the 'pure in heart' that shall see God.  It's not a hard conclusion to draw then is it?  If you can't 'see God', the issue lies in the impurity of your own heart, not in God's manifestation of His presence.  How can a person who loves unholy things see a holy God?  They can't...and neither can we.

What a blessing we possess in our ability to see God!  He is not hiding, He is ready and able to make Himself known to those who are pure in heart.  Pause today and ask God to show you those places in your heart that have been darkened by sin and have disrupted your ability to truly see Him!  Press On today in purity of heart!

A promise of strength... January 5, 2012.

Read:  Isaiah 41:1-20.  Focus verse: 10.

It is so often during times of physical or emotional pain and suffering that we take inventory of our own strength.  For example, we may think we are in pretty good shape, until the coach asks us to run 5 miles.  Our weakness becomes exposed.  Or we may think that our heart is strong until that loved one passes away un-expectantly.  Our weakness becomes exposed.  So what are we to do?

There are two real options...I think.  The first would be to deny it, pretending we are stronger than what we really are, and trying to push through it on our own strength and power, albeit very limited and lacking.  Or we can simply fall back on the promises of God.  God promises us through the Prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 41:10, that He will "strengthen" us, and He will "help" us.  Human weakness, our own weaknesses, are hindrances when there is no divine strength.  However, when divine strength, God's strength, is released in our lives, our weaknesses quickly disappear.

The overwhelming truth of God's Word is that He gives unexpected strength when we are weak.  Press On today in the security and assurance of God's strength.  Remember, God does not grow weary or faint, He gives power to us, the faint.  And He gives strength to those who have none! (Isaiah 40:28-29).  What a powerful God!

'Continue in prayer'... January 2, 2012.

Read:  Colossians 4:2-6.  Focus verse: 2.

It is a good rule of thumb that if there is something mentioned frequently in Scripture, it must be pretty important!  When you read your Bible, have you ever taken notice of how many references there are to prayer?  There are countless examples of men and women who cried out to God...Jacob, who wrestled with God, Daniel who prayed 3 times a day, David who called upon God with all of his heart, Elias on the mountain, Paul and Silas in the jail cell...the list is endless.

These, in addition to countless other examples, teach us something very important about prayer... it's close to God's heart.  What God has made central in His Word, He wants us to make central in our lives!  Why has God instructed us with so much concerning prayer?  Could it be because He knows how desperately we need it?

Spurgeon said, "A prayerless soul is a Christless soul."  That's a pretty scary thought isn't it?  As we start out this new year, make it a spiritual priority to draw closer to God in continual prayer.  To be a Christian is to be like Christ.  Christ modeled for us the importance of prayer.   God has plastered it all over His Word for us to see.  Press On today with the commitment to continue in prayer...it's the road to the Father's heart!

Nevertheless... December 31, 2011.

Read:  Psalm 73.  Focus verse: 23.

Well another year is just but a few hours from being in the history books.  The New Year is often symbolic of, well, new beginnings.  That sort of makes sense.  However, for many of us, there will be ongoing burdens that we carry across the threshold of the new year.  The reality of life is that God often calls us to carry a particular cross for a while.  The new year may bring about a new perspective, and a new commitment to go stronger, but the burden remains.

So you say, 'wow, what an encouraging thought for the new year.'  That is where we are comforted through the truth of God's Word.  Psalm 73:23, "Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand."  What an amazing thought.  It's made even more amazing when you consider the first part of this Psalm written by Asaph.  Asaph has unfolded the incredible difficulties he's encountered at the hands of his enemies, and then he says "nevertheless".

What is the burden you carry into the new year?  A health burden?  A family burden?  Friendship burdens?  School burdens?  A self-esteem burden?  Whatever it is, the rest of the sentence must include the word 'nevertheless'.  No matter the burden, or how long you have been carrying it (or will carry it), God is with you, holding your hand.  As we turn to another year of life, let us remember that no matter what the burden is that we are carrying, God is right there beside us!  Life is hard at times...thank God for His 'nevertheless' nature!

God our refuge... December 29, 2011.

Read:  Psalm 46.  Focus verses: 1-3.

If you ever take the time to watch the news, you'll notice that probably 60-75% of the news reported is negative news.  Stories of tragic deaths, criminal activity, nations at war, a new health concern, etc, etc...  Try to imagine what a 30-minute newscast would look like without a single negative story.  It's hard to do isn't it?  We've grown accustomed to seeing and hearing bad news.  It's not shocking or overly saddening anymore.

Because of our media's bent toward negative news, as Christians, it can be easy for us to forgot one fundamental truth...God is right in the middle of it all!  Psalm 46 describes God as our "refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Did you catch that last part, "an ever-present help in trouble"?  Are we surrounded by trouble?  Absolutely!  Where is God in all of it?  Ever-present, right here with us!

We aren't much different than a newscast however, in that we can become so consumed with the trouble around us, that we forget that the God of the universe is right here in our midst, working powerfully, performing miracles daily!  He has not left us to fend for ourselves.  He is ever-present, a refuge and strength to those who will look to Him and find comfort in Him.  What are you scared of today?  What are you fearful of?  Press On in the promise that God is in the middle of whatever that thing is!  He is our refuge.  He is our strength.  And He is our ever-present help in times of trouble!

Jesus...Our last Adam.  December 26, 2011

Read:  1 Corinthians 15:35-49.  Focus verse:  45.

There are a few statements in Scripture that can sometimes bring confusion to us as we read them.  The description of Jesus as the 'last Adam', is quite possibly one of those statements.  What does it mean that Jesus is the "last Adam"?  Well we've likely all heard of the 'first Adam', in the form of the human created by God, who walked in perfect fellowship with God in the garden...that is until the moment when chose to sin against the holy God who had created him.  Adam's righteousness was ours so long as he maintained it.  At the same time, his sin became ours, as Adam was the human representative before God.

If that's the case, all those represented by Adam, that is you and me, our family and friends, ceased to be righteous before God.  Our representative had blown it!  This is the crucial point in the story where Jesus enters the scene...and thank God He does!  In declaring Jesus to be the 'last Adam', it means that whatever Jesus is or does, is shared in part by us.  Jesus has replaced Adam as our representative.

Have you ever been assigned a group project at school, picked a representative for your group, and then stressed over their lack of preparation or their poor performance?  In a similar manner, Adam was the group representative that dropped the ball for all of humanity.  But before you quickly point the finger of blame, stop and realize that our nature is no different than Adam's.  We are depraved and sinful.  Instead of pointing the finger of blame, let's point the finger of thankfulness and gratitude...point it straight toward Jesus, who is our new representative, who is our 'last Adam'!

Is world peace possible?  December 23, 2011

Read:  Matthew 10:34-39.  Focus verse:  34.

With the recent announcement of the ending of the Iraq War, after more than a decade of war, some people are left to wonder if we are finally on our way to world peace.  In conjunction with that, it is always at Christmas time that we pause to remember the words of the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 9:6, when he promised that the "Prince of Peace" would come.  Everywhere we turn, there is the hope of peace.

So what are we to make of Isaiah's promise? After all, when we read Jesus' words here in Matthew 10, it seems as though He was declaring a very different message.  Has Jesus' message held true in our culture?  Absolutely.  There is no more controversial figure in the history of the world than Jesus.  He has divided nations, cultures, and even families.  At the same time though, He has changed millions of lives for those who would boldly put their faith in Him!

The kind of peace Jesus promised, and the kind of peace we remember at Christmas time, is not world peace.  Jesus made it clear, His peace is of a different nature.  At Christmas we remember that Jesus was the Father's gift to us.  It was a peace offering that would reconcile a Holy God with His depraved children.  It was a peace offering that would someday put a new Spirit within your heart and mine, allowing us to no longer be slaves to sin, but alive to Christ Jesus.  Press On today with the assurance that there is one kind of peace that is possible, and that is peace between us and our mighty God.  Jesus may not be the type of peace the world is longing for, but He is our Prince of Peace! 

What's your motive?  December 21, 2011

Read:  Matthew 6:4, 6, 18

It has been rightly stated that man sees our actions, but God sees our hearts.  In Matthew 6, on three separate occasions, Jesus says that God will reward giving, praying, and fasting that is done in secret.  So does this Biblical truth only apply to these 3 areas, or does it carry over into other parts of our lives?  It does indeed carry over!  Simply put...God doesn't honor someone who is a 'Christian show-off'.  When we showoff, it cheapens the gifts and calls into question the motive behind it.

Why is it so hard for us to not fall prey to this trend?  As humans, we are full of fears and insecurities.  We have issues of pride and ego.  We want others to look at our actions and say 'wow, what an amazing person they are!'

So how do we guard against this?  One way is to pray and ask God to protect us from allowing our public devotion to Him to exceed our private devotion to Him.  Love and service toward Christ starts in the heart.  Any outward gestures should simply be an overflow of what's in the heart.  Do you ever wonder about your real motives for serving God?  Is your private relationship with Christ suffering because you are too busy worrying about maintaining your public relationship with Him?  Press On today with the assurance that man looks at the outward, but God looks at the heart.  Remember, it is those simple acts done in private obedience that God will reward!

What kind of student are you?  December 14, 2011 (By Martin)

Read:  James 2:17-18, 3:8-9.

When I was a nineteen year old sophomore at the local university, I remember enrolling in several creative writing composition classes.  As I was walking from one breezeway to the next with a small group of acquaintances from my writing 209 poetry class, one young man said to us: 'Man, I can't believe it.  We're writers!'  I remember thinking then, and ever so more now, 'The fact that we had to say it probably spoke more to our not being writers than anything.'  Saying it out loud was kind of embarrassing, because it was like we HAD to say it to make sure it was true.  It was an awkward lack of confidence that echoed.

In the Bible, in James 2:17-18, and 3:8-9, James warns against using the tongue and encourages us to instead show our fait through our actions.  He even goes so far as to say "talking about your faith" without works is the same has having a dead faith!  In other words, he encourages us to do the opposite of just talking.  Instead we need to live it out every day.

What kind of student are you?  Do you talk a good game or use big words about your faith, only to in turn not live it out every day?  Do friends question your bold words because your actions don't match up?  As you consider your behavior, remember God doesn't desire more "words" about your faith.  Rather, He wants you to reveal your faith through your actions!

Grief than joy... December 12, 2011

Read:  Luke 16:16-24.  Focus verse:  20.

As Christians, we often struggle to find the balance between grief and joy.  We can either be overcome by grief, forgetting the joy that is ours in knowing and serving Christ, or we can be extremists in our joy, forgetting and neglecting the needs of a hurting world around us.

In Luke 16, the disciples had come with Jesus to Jerusalem, however they had no idea that they would be grieving the death of their Lord, while the rest of the world rejoiced over it.  Much is the same today.  We live in a broken world that rejoices over the wrong things.  As Christians, the cross is often painful for us to carry, and the rejection we experience by the world, stings.  But in verse 22, Jesus promises that someday those roles would be reversed.

Where are you at today?  Are you so focused on the struggles of being a Christ follower, that you have forgotten the joy that is ours in Christ?  Does it seem like the whole world is having a party, while you are sacrificing and denying yourself so that you live in a manner worthy of Christ?  Press On today in the promise that someday we will see Him and our grief will be replaced with great joy!

Filled up... December 7, 2011

Read:  Matthew 5:3-10.  Focus verse:  6.

As teenagers you can probably identify with constantly being hungry.  As we get older, our hunger appetites may slow down a little, but our hunger for the things of the world really does not.  Everyone hungers and thirsts for something.  Accomplishment, recognition, material or physical possessions, a relationship, we all know what it's like to hunger and thirst for something.

And for those who long for such things, Jesus makes no promise of fulfillment.  But for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, there is a promise...they will be filled.  So much of our heartache in life is a result of unfilled desires.  Unfilled desires, so often, are the result of misplaced desires.  Substitutes always fall way short when it comes to eternal desires that God has designed for Himself.  God has created us to enjoy the pleasures of life, but not to be filled by them!  There is a big difference.

Where are your hunger and thirst directed right now?  Are there days you feel hungry and thirsty for something more than what life has to offer?  Press On today knowing that Jesus never fails on a promise...those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (for Him) will be filled!

Which way do you toss the grass?  (By Martin)

Read:  Matthew 7:24-29.  Focus verse: 24.

You see golfers do it all the time.  They toss a few blades of grass into the air to see which direction the wind is blowing.  Then, seemingly, they know what to adjust for as they swing the club and try to land the tiny white ball on the green or fairway.  But could you imagine if people lived their lives that way?  Imagine people who simply checked to see which way the wind was blowing before changing on a moment's notice to go that direction.  And yet, people often make important decisions based upon frail ideas and thoughts that are as ultimately unreliable and changing as the breeze.  Rather than have a solid, firm foundation, people choose much of what they do on a whim - on a moment's notice - or on the faulty idea that worldly passion is the best indicator of what they should do.  They choose friends, or how they'll spend their money, or what to do with their time, all based on a few unsound ideas or thoughts.

The Bible, though, shows there is an alternative to the shifting, moving ground - something you truly can depend on.

Matthew 7:24-29 reminds us to not rely on unfounded, shifting or fragile things to help us make our decisions.  Instead, we are to trust in the Lord and what He has planned for us.  Live life glorifying Him and He will in turn exalt you as you live your life...not on the ever-changing direction of the wind, but on God's solid Word.

Follow the leader... November 30, 2011

Read:  John 10:1-6.  Focus verse: 4.

Remember the game you used to play as a child, follow the leader?  It seemed like such a big deal at the time, but as we are now all older, we look back on it and wonder at its simplicity.  Following the leader is really such a simple thing to do.  Or is it?  When it comes to our spiritual lives, and our choice to follow after Jesus, our lives would often suggest that it's actually a very difficult thing to do.

In John 10, verse 4, Jesus says that those who know Him, follow His voice.  This verse should cause all of us to squirm a little bit.  There are many of us, myself included, that claim we know Jesus.  But Jesus makes it clear that if we don't follow Him, we don't really know Him.  One is dependent upon the other.  When was the last time you obediently followed the voice of Jesus?  What does it look like to follow Jesus?  Open your Bible to just about any place in the New Testament, and you'll discover what it means to follow Jesus.

Press On today, listening for that constant and comforting voice of our Shepherd, Jesus!  It's really very simple...just follow the leader.

Humble children... November 27, 2011

Read:  Matthew 18:1-4.  Focus verse:  4.

Most cultures and societies around the world love their children, however few pay them much respect or honor.  Most adults don't aspire to have the status of a child or the same list of accomplishments as that of a child.  As a child, we spend most of our childhood longing to grow up, we want to accomplish more, and be more important.  While this may be socially acceptable and consistent with how our society works, it's the opposite of how God's Kingdom often works.

In Matthew 18, Jesus makes a bold statement, suggesting that spiritual maturity often takes us back toward childhood.  True spiritual maturity and respect, as Jesus states, are issues of humility, and humility is often found in society's least impressive contributors...children.

As an adult, I can tell you, we want to accomplish great things.  We like the prestige and honor that accomplishments bring us.  But that same prestige and honor, when we transfer it to our spiritual life, can be deadly.  As a young person (a teenager), you likely feel somewhere in between being a child and being a full-grown adult.  This is the time to be reminded of Jesus' words, that those who wish to be great must be humble like a child.  Press On today, aspiring to greatness in the Kingdom of God.

Feeling thankful... November 23, 2011

Read:  Psalm 100

Here we are, the day before Thanksgiving.  If I make it to tomorrow, I will have celebrated 32 of these holidays!  However as I type that last sentence, I am forced to pause and consider if I have really 'celebrated' these days.  Am I personally guilty of just pausing long enough to fill my plate with food, watch a football game or two, and enjoy the long weekend?  Or have I truly celebrated God's faithfulness in my life?

The 100th Psalm is a great template for us to follow as we give thanks to God tomorrow, and every day for that matter.  Verse 3 reminds us that the Lord is the one who has made us and sustains us as the "sheep of His pasture".  What a cause for celebration.  Verse 5 reminds us of His steadfast love and His faithfulness to us His people.  What's the result of these things?  Thankful people (v. 4)!

As you prepare to 'celebrate' another Thanksgiving tomorrow, what's the condition of your spiritual heart?  Where has your focus been lately...on the things you don't have (and wish you did), or on the countless blessings the Lord has faithfully given you?  Tomorrow is not about the food or the football...tomorrow is about God's faithfulness.  Every day is about God's faithfulness.  Press On today with a thankful spirit..."enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!"  Happy Thanksgiving!

The basis of love... November 21, 2011

Read:  John 16:25-33.  Focus verse: 27

Notice the basis of love Jesus speaks of here in verse 27, "The Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God."  Did you catch the because part?  Love is about God!  He doesn't love us because we're lovable.  In fact, very often we are not lovable.  He loves us because He is love, it's His very nature.

On the other hand, we don't love Him because we are such loving people.  In fact, very often we are quite unloving toward others and toward God.  We love Him because He is lovable...that is also His nature.  So whether God is on the giving or receiving end of love, the source of that love is always Him.

Are you confused or suspicious of the love of God?  Do you find it hard to believe that God's love for you is unconditional?  Do you find it hard to love Him in return?  Press On today in the freedom that the basis of love has nothing to do with you.  The burden to love and to be loved is not on your shoulders.  It's all about Him.  It's His nature to love us and to be loved by us!

Undivided Love... November 16, 2011

Read:  Luke 10:25-28.  Focus verse:  27

The words of Jesus here in Luke 10:27 have become so familiar to us that I fear we brush right over the most important word of the passage, the word "all".  Really Jesus, all?  How about most?  Isn't all asking for a lot?  Yes it is!  And one thing we can be certain of about Jesus is that He never said what He did not mean.  When He asks for all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, He really wants it all!

Most of us walk a blurred line between devotion to God and devotion to other things.  Of course in our hearts we believe that we should be wholly devoted to God, but there is a constant war being waged inside of us.  Things like sin, temptations, pleasures, recognitions, etc... all compete for our full devotion to Christ.  The great deception of Satan is that total devotion to God would rob us of some really good things in life.  Sadly, we often believe this deception, and our lives begin to reflect that.

Jesus said this was the "greatest commandment".  Let's make today the day we begin to live like it is.  Be obsessed with loving Christ.  Press On today with an undivided devotion to Christ.  Give Him all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength!

Never finished learning... November 14, 2011

Read:  John 16:4-15.  Focus verse:  12.

You've likely heard the old saying , 'you're never finished learning, you'll continue learning until the day you die.'  While this is true in many ways, it is certainly true in a spiritual sense.  Here in John 16, Jesus tells His disciples, whom He's taught and instructed for the better part of three years, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now."

Now don't misunderstand or misconstrue Jesus' words here, as many are prone to do.  He's not giving us a license to close up the book and be done learning.  He's not giving us a license to come up with our own new teachings.  He's simply telling us, as He was His disciples, that the format will change slightly.  Jesus is still speaking.  Jesus is still teaching.  It's happening constantly through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Do you ever find yourself reading the Bible as a historical document, rather than a living message from God to us, His children?  God is still teaching us, He is still drawing us, and He has even more to say.  Press On today with an open heart and open ears to hear what God is teaching you.  The words of the Bible are not merely historical words of a great man, they are the words of a risen Savior!  You really are never finished learning...just ask Jesus!

Slow is not 'no'.  November 9, 2011

Read:  Luke 11:1-13.  Focus verse: 9.

The parable Jesus tells here in Luke 11 gives us an image of a man persistently banging on his neighbor's door for some bread to feed his unexpected visitors.  He won't go away until he gets some bread.  He won't take 'no' for an answer.  The message conveyed here by Jesus through this parable is that true prayer persists no matter the circumstances.

Jesus is calling His disciples, and us for that matter, to boldness and persistence in our prayers.  For most of us, we pray about something for a while, and then when we feel we haven't heard anything from God, so we give up.  If you look at the Scriptures though, no where will you find that God's silence means 'no'.  My guess is that if God wants to show us that our prayers are dishonoring to Him or out of line with His will, He will show us.  If He wants to say 'no', He can and likely will.  Silence is not 'no'.

Have you been praying about something for a long time?  Are your prayers characterized by doubt and tentativeness?  Of course we should always be open to God redirecting our prayers, or even for Him to say 'no', but we should never assume that a slow answer is a 'no' answer.  Press On today in persistent prayer.  Keep knocking on the door, keeping asking Jesus for the desires of your heart!

Feeling forgotten?  November 7, 2011

Read:  Isaiah 49:8-16.  Focus verse: 16.

Recently I was with a friend who has been going through a difficult time.  They made the statement to me that the hardest part of the entire thing is that they so often just feel "forgotten".  Can you relate?  Likely you can.  We've all been through trials that leave us feeling forgotten by others, and sometimes, even by God.  However, as we come to know God and His nature, we know that feeling forgotten by God is either a lie from Satan or us listening to our own misguided thoughts.  God has not forgotten you!

In Isaiah chapter 49, verse 15, Zion had just said that God had forgotten him.  In verse 16 though, God's confidently rebukes that lie.  He says He has "engraved you on the palms of My hands."  Our own doubt and unbelief is astounding at times.  The great Charles Spurgeon said, "We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of His people."  Look closer at the text...it says God has engraved "you" on the palm of His hands.  Not your name, but you.  The fullness of who you are.  Your trials, your pains, your fears, your victories, your insecurities, your sins, your desires, your temptations.  Everything about you, He has engraved on the palm of His hand.  You are not forgotten fellow believer!

Press On today with the assurance that no matter what you are going through, you are not forgotten.  In fact, the very Creator of the universe, the one who tells each star where to go, the one who tells each rain drop when it's time to fall, has engraved YOU on the palm of His hand!

"You don't know what you are asking."  November 4, 2011

Read:  Mark 10:35-45.  Focus verse: 38.

In Mark 10 we read that James and John asked Jesus for a huge favor.  They wanted to sit next to His throne in the kingdom.  However their request was severely out of line.  They were ready and eager for all of the benefits of the kingdom without having first considered the cost involved.

In typical Jesus fashion, He is quick to correct their thinking.  Jesus makes it clear to them that the way up the 'kingdom ladder' is through humility of service.  Jesus had repeatedly been telling them of His coming execution, and yet somehow they had missed the truth that those who would be near Him in His kingdom but bear their cross.

How much are we like James and John sometimes?  We simply ask Jesus for the wrong thing sometimes don't we?  We prefer to focus of the glory of the kingdom, while looking past the process that brings it about.  I imagine that often when we pray, Jesus must sometimes say, 'You don't know what you are asking.'  Press On today in the promise of His glorious kingdom, but consider the costs involved.  Ask God to give you an awareness of the cost involved with sitting close at His side.

Significance in Christ.  October 31, 2011

Read:  John 14:15-24.  Focus verse:  18.

Everyone craves significance.  We want to be noticed.  We want to be accepted.  We want to matter in life.  Far too many people have taken their own lives when significance seems out of reach.  Far too much money has been spent by people going to counselors, seeking significance.  Everyone wants to know that they matter!

Sadly, all of things we think will bring significance, eventually fade away.  All except one.  There is one source of significance that is eternal:  the fact that we are children of God!  In John 14, Jesus reminded His disciples that He was not leaving them as orphans.  The message to the disciples is the same message to us today.  We have a Heavenly Father that says we matter because we are His children!

It's almost funny to think that we would try to find significance in anything else, when we have the noble title of 'child of God'.  Are you feeling unimportant today?  Lonely?  Rejected?  Press On in the amazing truth that you are a child of God.  You are not an orphan, abandoned to the loneliness of this world.  You matter...just ask Jesus!

Is His mission our mission?... October 28, 2011

Read:  Luke 19:1-10.  Focus verse:  10.

When you study the life of Christ, you'll quickly notice that He was drawn to a very odd assortment of people.  Prostitutes, the demonically oppressed, adulteress women, beggars, lepers, and dishonest tax collects, like Luke 19 recounts.  All of these people had one thing in common; they had no legitimate case to make for their own self-worth and self-righteousness.  In fact, Jesus' strongest words and emotions were often directed toward the self-righteous.

So if Jesus was drawn to these social outcasts, why are we not?  Can you really say that you live to 'seek and save what is lost'?  Most of the time, myself included, we live to support and promote the faithful.  Jesus' search and quest to find the lost and broken was zealous and relentless.  Is yours?  Is mine?

One of the blessings of having the Holy Spirit at work in our lives is that we begin to see the lost as Jesus did.  Jesus was brokenhearted for the lost, for the diseased, for the mistreated.  Is His mission to seek and save the lost, your mission?  Or are you most comfortable around the righteous and faithful?  Press On today in Christ, burdened by the things that burden His heart.  Make His mission your mission!

In search of water... October 26, 2011

Read:  John 7:37-39.  Focus verse: 37.

I've recently been reading a book called "Conquering the Desert of Death: Across the Taklamakan"  (unashamed plug for it:  http://www.amazon.com/Conquering-Desert-Death-Across-Taklamakan/dp/1845115821 ).  The book is about one man who ventured to cross the vast Taklamakan desert of China, a nearly 1000 mile journey, on foot.  No one had ever even come close to accomplishing this.  Many had tried, and many had died.  In the event you read the book, I don't want to spoil the outcome for you, however there is a theme consistent throughout their journey that has resonated with me at a spiritual level.

As you can imagine, Charles Blackmore (the journeyman) and his team, are constantly in need of more water.  They are desperate to find 'wells' in the desert floor that will spring up life-saving water.  As they journey through the desert, they experience days of drought.  Fear and anxiety set in.  They are in constant wonder about where their next source of water will be found.  'Maybe over that next sand dune we'll find some water...', is the prevailing belief throughout their journey.  And sometimes they do, other times they don't.

Do you ever feel you're wandering through the desert of life?  Maybe just around this corner I'll find something that really makes me happy.  If I can just make the team, then I'll be satisfied.  If that guy/girl will just say 'yes' then I'll be content.  If I could just lose 10 pounds, then I'll feel better about life.  Just like the team of desert travelers though, that source of water fades away as we enter the next barren valley.  Jesus invites us in John 7 to come to Him.  He is an eternal source of life-giving water!  He never dries up, He never grows weary.  Press On today in the promise of the eternal spring of Jesus.  Are you searching for water?  Go to Jesus and drink!

Faith in Faith?... October 24, 2011

Read:  Matthew 17:14-21.  Focus verse:  20.

Many times we put our faith in faith.  In other words, we sometimes believe that faith is the object we are to desire the most.  But faith is not the end of the matter.  The matter is not faith in our own ability to have faith, it is faith in Christ!

Confused?  Take for example the story of the woman in Matthew 9 who had a bleeding hemorrhage.  She did not say 'If I can only build up enough faith I will be healed.'  What did she say?  Matthew 9:21, "If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed."  Jesus was the object of her faith.  Her focus was on the source of her faith, not the degree or quantity of her faith.

Have you struggled to have more faith?  Have you been condemned by others for not having 'enough faith'?  Take your eyes off of your faith, and put them on the source of that faith, Christ.  When Jesus' disciples come to Him here in Matthew 17, confused by their inability to heal the demonic boy, Jesus is addressing the object of their faith.  They likely trusted too much in their own ability, neglecting the very source of their power.  Press On today, keeping your eyes fixed on the author and perfector of our faith, Jesus Christ!

 

Different Priorities... October 19, 2011

Read:  Mark 16:12-15.  Focus verse:  15.

Think of the things you most often desire from the Holy Spirit.  Direction?  Power?  Guidance?  We want to know which relationship is right for us, what job path to choose, what school to go to, etc...  And of course these are all good things to desire, and well within the ability of the Holy Spirit to provide for us.

But is it possible that perhaps the Holy Spirit has even high priorities than those things?  I think Scripture is clear that first and foremost, the Holy Spirit desires to guide us and empower us to live holy lives.  Sure guidance and power to navigate through school is important, but that's not the highest priority of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit desires that we live holy lives, that we would be sanctified, that God's kingdom would become the desire of our hearts first.

While jobs, relationships, school, and sports are often primary in our minds, they are secondly in His.  We want works and tangible things first, character and holiness second.  God has a reverse order.  Press On today with a desire for holiness.  Make that your first priority.  The Holy Spirit is willing and able to meet your list of priorities, but perhaps He has a higher priority for you first...your sanctification!

Substance over form... October 17, 2011

Read:  Mark 3:1-6.  Focus verse:  4.

The Sabbath was a critical issue to the Pharisees.  It really was (is) a big deal, after all, it was one of the 10 commandments originally handed down by God to Moses (see Ex. 20:8).  But Jesus is careful here to warn the Pharisees from defiling the commandment.  God's commandments are crucial to our faith, but our interpretation and understanding of them must never contradict His character.

A previous devotion talked about this same idea, that we often 'major on the minor'.  Whatever is done in legalism at the expense of true worship, angers Jesus.  We know this from verse 5, "And He looked around at them with anger...".  Stop and consider this question...would Jesus look at your spiritual habits/practices, and be deeply distressed, possibly even angry toward them?

God is holy and therefore has given us commandments to follow that to some degree, restrict our behaviors and our choices.  But when these restrictions become the essence of our faith, we are far from God's heart.  Faith in Christ is first and foremost about following His heart and His character.  Press On today with a focus on obedience from the heart, not just from the head.  Our Savior values substance over form!

A proper meditation... October 13, 2011

Read:  Psalm 119:9-16.  Focus verse:  15.

Never before has the practice of meditation been so desired within our society.  Meditation today takes on many different forms.  Many different things are meditated about.  Verse 15 of Psalm 119 however, reminds us of the importance of meditating on God's Word.

There are times when solitude is better than fellowship.  There are times when silence is a better teacher than a great sermon.  It is probable that we would all benefit from more time alone with the Lord, meditating on His word, listening to His voice, and seeking His heart.  Just like our physical bodies are not nourished by simply taking in food, neither is our soul.  It's the digestion process both in our bodies, and in our souls, that leads to growth.

When was the last time you paused long enough in the presence of the Lord, to seek His will?  Meditation on God's truth is our armor as we daily battle against the darkness of our world.  Press On today in the strength that is ours through His revelation to us.  God is not hiding...it is just that so often we are too busy to notice that He's right there in front of us, inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him.  Take time this week to pause and meditate on the Word of God!

A God of Seasons... October 11, 2011 (By Brett Gudeman)

Read:  1 Peter 4:1-11

The other day I prayed and asked God to show me something new about Him.  And He did, immediately after I prayed that.  I thought of the leaves falling off of the trees.  See, in Iowa there are these things called seasons, which are something I never really experienced in Tucson.

Seasons are such a good analogy of our walk with Christ.  We begin in fall, when we're full of insecurities, and sin.  We search for fulfillment in the things of this world, which leave us empty.  All our leaves fall off, and we hit dead bottom.  Winter comes, and we see no beauty or life in ourselves.  We are barren, empty, dead-looking trees.  In this low point of desperation we cry out to God, and He listens.  He sees beauty, and life in us still.  He is with us through the cold winter.  He doesn't make the harsh winter disappear, but He is with us, protecting us through the winter.  Then, after we survive the hardships, we're finally ready to grow God's fruits, and not our own.  We had to be broken down of our own fruits, so God could plant His.  Finally summer comes, and we're full of God's love, forgiveness, and power.  Now we're ready to show the world God's colors, and His fruits, through the beauty He has blessed us with.  Die to yourself today so that you can be filled with the Holy Spirit and display His fruit today.

Majoring on the minors... October 7, 2011

Read:  Matthew 12:1-8.  Focus verse:  6.

In this story in Matthew 12, the Pharisees are more concerned with the Sabbath and the Temple than they are with the Lord of the Sabbath and the One who inhabits the temple.  It's safe to say they are majoring on the minors.  They are majoring on the details while missing the bigger picture.  Are you guilty of ever doing this?  No doubt I am!

As Christians, we often obsess about the details...the music, the building, the right lighting, the right service project, the right mission trip experience, etc...It's easy to let our relationship with Jesus become a religion that makes Him the object rather than the source of our faith.  But as Jesus said in Matthew 12:6, "something greater than the temple is here.'  Jesus is greater!

Has Jesus become someone for you to talk about rather than someone to talk to?  Have you gone from knowing Christ personally to simply practicing Christianity?  Press On today with a focus on the greatest part of our faith, Jesus.  Don't get caught up in the minors and miss the major!

Jesus loves haters... October 5, 2011

Read:  John 12:20-26.  Focus verse: 25.

So we'll all seen the 'I love haters' bracelets and stickers.  If I didn't know better, I'd be tempted to think they stole the idea from Jesus' words in John 12, "the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."  Jesus' words here are often misunderstood.  Let's break it down briefly...

In our human nature we want it all.  We want heaven on earth and heaven in heaven (someday).  But if you look again at this passage, Jesus is not offering an 'all of the above' option.  (That was always my favorite answer on a multiple-choice test BTW).  It's either one or the other with Jesus!  This contradicts our human nature...we want it all!  It's particularly hard on us, as we've been conditioned to believe in only what we see.

As with so much in Christianity, Jesus again serves as a shining example of this sacrificial call.  He made the choice for the cross, forsaking this passing world.  There is no middle ground, we have been called to pick sides.  Can you honestly say that you hate your life in this world?  No I don't mean that you are suicidal.  I mean that your hope for eternal life shines much brighter than your here-and-now plans and dreams.  Press On today with the assurance that Jesus' calling is worth it all.  It's worth the sacrifice of the temporal for the gain of the eternal!

Future Hope... October 3, 2011

Read:  Colossians 1:1-8.  Focus verse: 5.

Have you ever had one of those days when you questioned why you even kept going?  What's the point?  Each text message is more bad news, around each corner lies more heartache and pain.  What's the point?  Colossians 1:5 answers that very question...our hope, which is bedded in Christ, is the point!  Here, in this life, we are weary and tired.  We are frustrated and scared.  We are discouraged and depressed.  But as Paul writes, our hope is 'laid up for you (us) in heaven.'  Guess what...if you're reading this devotional, you're not in heaven just yet.  That hope is still futuristic. 

As Christians, our future hope of eternity in the presence of God, should be the reason for our tireless work here on earth.  It should be the reason we fight diligently against the temptations of this temporary world.  It should be the reason we risk looking 'foolish', as we share of this hope with our lost friends.  It should be the reason we swim against the societal current, risking it all for the sake of Christ.

I love the way Spurgeon said it, "(hope)...it is a fountain of joyous effort, it is the cornerstone of cheerful holiness."  How often do you think of this future hope?  How often do you think of heaven?  Press On today in the promise of this future hope.  When we will do finally lay hold of it, we will then experience complete freedom from the pains and trials of this world.  Until then, let's take our burdens to Christ, after all, His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

More than we ask or think... September 28, 2011

Read:  Ephesians 3:14-21.  Focus verse: 20.

Excuse me for a slight deviation from the traditional devotional this morning.  I'm in a reflective and thankful mood, as I recall the phone call Kendrah and I received on this day one year ago.  The nature of the phone call was 'How soon can we bring this young man to your house?'  Our answer of course was 'not soon enough!'  On September 28, 2010, Kendrah and I became parents to a special young man with about a one hour notice.

But the story begins long before that.  And while I don't have the time or the space to tell you the whole story, I can tell you that for months we had been claiming and praying the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:20, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us...".  We had cried those words, we had memorized those words, we had left Bibles open to that page.  It was the deepest cry of our heart.  But somewhere along the way we began to question those words.  Could God really do far more than we could ask, because we were asking for something big.  The phone had been silent, the email was empty, nothing was happening.

And then the phone call.  And then the feelings of shame, at least for me, as I was face-to-face with my own disbelief.  I had stopped believing the promise of Ephesians 3:20.  I wanted to believe it, but the waiting had worn me down.  What is it in your life today that you are asking for or believing in?  Do you still believe God is can do it?  Press On today in the promise of His faithfulness.  He is at work, even if you don't see it now, keep seeking, He's not done working!  Your phone call will come.  His power is great, and His promises are sure!

What is it that holds us back?  September 26, 2011 (By Chris)

Read:  Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3.

There is an inherent part in all of us that hates the truth.  And that is because we are all born with a sinful nature, and anything that is sinful is the antithesis of truth.  The only similarity between the two is that neither stands for anything, for each alone is the very standard by which a very specific morality is defined.  The truth has no agenda, for it is what it is, especially in the face of scrutiny.  Satan stops at nothing to masquerade as truth, in order to appeal to man's sinful nature and deceive the part of him that may otherwise be subject to accepting the truth.  The only thing that is true of sin is that it is a lie.

Christians often believe that our trouble with fully embracing God's truth has to do with the presence of sin in our lives and how it is always distracting us.  But what we seldom realize is that our dilemma stems from our inborn sinful nature.  We cannot deny, because of what the Bible says, that all men detest the truth, for man at his very core is evil, and would prefer to serve himself.  But there is another part of us that is free to choose, and in spite of the hold that sin has on us, we are inherently conscious of that which is greater, and apart from ourselves.  Therefore, we must understand that our desire to serve God is not inhibited by sin; on the contrary, our desire to serve sin is inhibited by the truth.  Everyone is infected with sin from the moment of conception.  But thankfully, no one is immune to truth.  We cannot escape sin, for it is always in us; nor can we escape truth, for it is always around us.

Do not try to hide from sin.  If you desire the truth, do not think that you can defeat sin, let alone evade it.  The best way to know if you are in the truth is to assess the extent to which you fear sin.  There more you are in sin, the less you are aware of it, but the more you are in the truth, the less you fear sin- and the more confident you stand, with the assurance that God's truth is immeasurably stronger. 

Placing value... September 23, 2011

Read:  Luke 16:14-17.  Focus verse:  15

What are the things that are valued by man?  Money, fame, pleasure, material possessions.  This is just a short list of the many things we value as humans.  In the context of this passage, the Pharisees valued money.  There are times as well, that we highly value good things.  Things such as love, faithfulness, honesty, etc...  So does Jesus really mean that these things are "an abomination" (detestable) in God's eyes?

Jesus consistently taught the same message when it comes to where we place our value.  The message is simple...anything that motivates us other than a love for God is an abomination to God (yes even the good things).  Anything we treasure more than Him can become an idol, therefore God, being a jealous God, considers it an abomination.

Our values can never become an end in themselves.  Our love must be within the context of His love.  Our honesty must be within the context of the One source of all truth.  Our passion must be within the context of the passion we have for Christ and His glory.  It is true that God detests things we highly value if we value them apart from Him.  Press On in Christ today.  Ask yourself if there is anything you value apart from Christ, and may Christ become our highest value!

Childish behavior... September 21, 2011

Read:  Matthew 21:28-32.  Focus verse:  31

In this short parable told by Jesus, we see two sons who each say one thing, but do the exact opposite.  How does Jesus respond to His own question in verse 31?  By paying absolutely no attention to their words, instead focusing solely on what they did or didn't do (their actions).  To Jesus what they did is what matters to Him.  It's the surest evidence of their true beliefs.

The context of this parable sheds further light on the true meaning.  Jesus is a making a bold statement to the religious Pharisees that it is possible for us to identify ourselves so much by our stated allegiances (our words) that we completely miss obedience to God.  Simplifying...true children of God ACT like children of God; their claim to be a child of God is supported by their 'labor in the vineyard'.  It's an accurate indication of where our hearts lie.

Are you content to be God's child in title and name only?  The second son in this parable was outwardly willing, but inwardly unwilling.  How often does that describe your relationship with God?  Press On today in Christ, remembering that God measures our hearts by the fruit that we actually bear, not merely the fruit we talk about or hope for!

Making straight paths... September 19, 2011

Read:  Luke 9:57-62.  Focus verse: 62.

After reading the account of the would-be followers of Jesus in Luke 9, you can almost begin to question Jesus' compassion toward these willing souls.  They weren't asking for anything unreasonable after all, just to be able to "bury my father", and to "say farewell to those at my home."  These are reasonable requests!

So what's up with Jesus' response?  It wasn't the goodbye or the burying of the dead that Jesus was looking at, it was where the heart was focused.  Jesus' call is always immediate and thorough, His timing is never an accident.  Jesus' example of the plow would have resonated quite well with His listeners.  Those who look behind while plowing do not make straight paths.  In today's culture it would be like trying to drive your car in a straight line while looking in your rear-view mirror.  It can't be safely done!

Jesus calls us yet today, and the calling is the same...straight and unhindered.  What is hindering your response to Him today?  What is hindering your service to God's kingdom?  God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14), and intent on having our entire heart.  Press On today in Christ, asking Him to show you those things that are causing you to look back.  Let your eyes fall on Jesus alone, and make a straight path toward Him!

Reasoning like Peter... September 16, 2011

Read:  Mark 8:31-38.  Focus verses:32-33.

In Mark 8 as Jesus begins to tell His disciples about His coming death and resurrection, Peter makes a very bold move.  The Scripture tells us that he pulled aside Jesus and began to "rebuke Him."  Seriously Peter?  Didn't you just moments before confess Jesus as the Messiah, and now you are questioning and rebuking Him?  What nerve!

While we may be shocked by Peter's ignorance and lack of logic, I wonder how often we repeat it in our own lives?  We often claim Jesus as the Messiah.  Yet so often we mentally take Jesus aside and try to persuade Him that He isn't realistic.  His demands on our lives are not the best way for us to live.  We become the teacher, instructing Jesus.

Do we really understand the difference between the things of God and the things of men?  Peter didn't seem to.  He was convinced his plan and his ways were best for Jesus.  Pressing On in Christ means not only believing in Jesus as our Messiah, but living like it as well.  It's not Jesus who needs the reminder...it's us.  We need daily and maybe even moment by moment reminders, to consider the things of God!  Make it your goal today!

Close....but no God  September 14, 2011

Read:  Mark 12:28-34.  Focus verse:  34.

As you read the account of Jesus and the scribe in Mark 12, it is likely that you see the scribe as 'right with God', as he correctly answers Jesus' question (vs. 32).  But as you get down to verse 34, Jesus makes a very bold statement, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."  What is Jesus really saying to this scribe?  Well I don't think Jesus is being secretive.  When He says "you are not far", essentially what He's saying is 'you've got the right idea, but you aren't there yet.'  He's saying, 'you're still outside of the Kingdom.'

This is a fairly alarming statement by Jesus (or at least it should be).  Don't we know many people who claim to love God and love others?  Why isn't this enough for Jesus?  What's the problem?

Two things jump out at us from this passage:  1)  Knowing about God (doctrine) is not the same as knowing God.  Knowing God at a personal and relational level means we have been born of God's Spirit, which assures us of eternal life.  2)  Knowing God is not possible without knowing Him through Jesus.  Many people try to, but it's just not possible.  Look around you today and notice how many people believe in a generic form of God and do good works.  Jesus' message to them would be the same as it was to this scribe, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

Do you trust Him?... September 12, 2011

Read:  Matthew 6:10 & 26:36-39

In Matthew 6:10, Jesus taught us to pray by surrendering our will to that of the Father.  Then in  Matthew 26, in the moments leading up to His own death, He modeled it for us.  It is safe to say that most often when we pray, there is a large discrepancy between our will and the Father's will.  There is a constant tension between our human impulses and His direction for our lives.

So how we do overcome this tension?  The first step is completely setting aside our own agenda.  George Muller who is best known for the many orphanages he has run around the world, said that every time he prayed, he sought to begin with no will of his own.  This is remarkable, considering he never asked anyone for a single penny to help run his many orphanages.  He simply trusted in God's provisions.

When it comes down to it, praying for God's will and setting aside our own is a matter of trust.  It's a hard thing to do however.  It almost feels as if we are jumping off a cliff and hoping for the best.  We must remember that there is never a conflict between what is best for His kingdom and what is best for us.  Those two things always agree!  Pressing On in Christ means learning to pray 'not as I will' and trusting that God will do what is best for us...always!  With His character, He could do no less!

Don't Forget... September 8, 2011 (By Kendrah)

Read:  Psalm 42:5-6

It's easy to feel discouraged by the cares of the day... homework, sports, health, relationships.  It's easy to focus on a pain that we are feeling.  It's easy to become caught up in the here and now, what we can see and feel.  However, scripture teaches us that the heart is deceptive above all things; our feelings are not a true guide for our souls.  When we feel discouraged or troubled, it's important to take a step back...and remember.

Remember who God is.  Remember the faithfulness that He has shown.  Remember the valleys that He has carried us through.  Remember the burdens He has lifted.  Remember the joy that He has given.  Remember the promises He has made.

When we remember who God is, His infinite knowledge and power, we find hope - the kind of hope that inspires us to praise Him.  Pressing On means fighting discouragement by remembering God in all things, centering our lives and our hope on the Savior.

Overcoming temptation... September 2, 2011

Read:  Luke 11:1-13.  Focus verse: 4.

The last line of the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11 says, "and lead us not into temptation".  For anyone who has ever tried to live a godly life, we know that temptation is a constant struggle.  Holiness does not come natural to us as sinful beings, yet temptations entice around every corner.  In fact, it often seems that the more intentional we become about living for Christ, the most noticeable and enticing the temptations become.  For most of us, we'll go through stretches of holy obedience to Christ, but usually those times pass and we end up back in the old pattern or habits that we previously set aside.

A lot of self-help stuff out there today encourages and reminds us to 'starve' the sinful nature, not giving into it.  While this can be helpful and effective, it should not be our starting point.  We might say that we want to flee temptation, but do we really?  When it comes down to it, we love the things that tempt us.  So starving out the sinful desires must be joined together with something more.  The model of Jesus' prayer in Luke 11 should be our starting point.  We need divine assistance.  We can only overcome our temptations for so long before our sinful nature takes over and we fall prey.  Pressing On in Christ means being willing to confess your temptations to Christ (after all, He already knows about them), and call out for divine assistance to overcome them.  Stop trusting in your own abilities, and start leaning on the One who has overcome everything, including death!  He is faithful!  He will give us victory over temptation as we look to Him! 

Waiting on the Lord... August 31, 2011

Read:  Psalm 27.  Focus verse: 14.

'Waiting on God' has become a buzz phrase in the Christian church.  Everyone talks about it, and promotes the idea...but few like to practice it.  A military soldier learns to 'wait' only after years of training, as marching and quick action are what come most natural to a soldier.  The same is often true of Christians.  When trouble or despair strike, we look for a way out.  Do we retreat?  Do we go left?  Do we go right?  Do we attack head-on?  Sometimes God asks us to simply wait.

There is however an important distinction that must be made.  Our waiting is not simply for the sake of waiting.  We should wait prayerfully.  God wants us to call upon Him.  He wants us to lay out our situation before Him.  We are also to wait faithfully, expressing our complete confidence in God and His will for our life.  No, He may not do what we want Him to do, but He will be faithful to His own will and nature.

If you remember the Old Testament story of Moses and the Israelites, the children of Israel began to complain after Moses had successfully lead them out of slavery in Egypt.  In fact, they were so unhappy, that they wished they could go back to slavery in Egypt.  How often we are the same.  God is leading us somewhere better, but we are not there yet, and so we turn back to the world we had to escape from.  Press On in Christ today, trusting that your waiting on the Lord is not in vain.  But in that waiting, wait prayerfully and faithfully!

An exclusive Prayer... August 29, 2011

Read:  John 17:6-12.  Focus verse: 9.

As we read Jesus' 'High Priestly Prayer' as we've come to know it, there are many things that jump out.  One of them is found in verse 9, where it appears that Jesus' prayer is very exclusive.  Does Jesus not care about the rest of the world?  Does He only care about His disciples (believers today)?  John 3:16 and verse 21 of John 17 indicate that He of course cares about the entire world. However here in this particular prayer, Jesus is being intentionally exclusive.  Why?

Jesus, in His sovereignty, has designated simple human beings as a means for reaching the lost of the world.  If they (we) fail, the message He has entrusted to us could be lost.  If we falter, the spread of the Gospel is limited.  The gospel mission of the Son of God is still dependent on the disciples He has called.  That's us!  Just as Jesus prayed specifically for the eleven who were with Him that final night, His prayers are still exclusive and targeted on us.  He has not left us alone in this world with a message to tell and no support for telling it.

Press On today in the power and promise that the Son of God is not just a heavenly observer but an active participant in the work that He has called us to do.  Oh the joy of knowing that the Son of God is praying for us even now as we move out to spread His Word!

Hollow hallows... August 26, 2011

Read:  Luke 11:1-4.  Focus verse: 2.

If you are like me, you've probably read and recited the Lord's Prayer so many times that you tend to skip over some very profound parts.  In Luke 11, Jesus is instructing His disciples how to pray and He begins with a very meaningful statement in verse 2, "Father, hallowed by Your name."  Jesus' words seem so formal, so ritualistic.  We often treat the  "hallowed" as the pre-prayer.  It acknowledges who He is before we acknowledge what we need, which is often why we pray in the first place.

But Jesus started with this...there must be something more to this statement.  There is!  There is a lot more as a matter of fact.  I think (my opinion) that perhaps Jesus is wanting the glory of God to be the central emphasis of our prayer.  When we pray, we are to begin by clearly stating that above everything else that we seek, we want God's honor and His kingdom most!  We're not in this prayer conversation simply for ourselves, we're in it primarily for Him!

Is this where your prayers begin?  Mine often don't.  It might not be those exact words that you need to seek, so much as the attitude behind those words.  An attitude of surrender, an attitude that seeks God's glory and honor above any request we might have.  Pressing On in Christ today means setting aside yourself in prayer and seeking the glory and honor of Christ, after all, all of creation seeks His glory and honor.  Take 5 minutes today to try this new prayer format...see if you don't go away a little closer to the heart of the Father.

It's a real thing...not a concept!  August 24, 2011

Read:  Ephesians 6:12, 1 John 5:19

Do you ever stop and think that while we are alive on this earth, we live where Satan has his throne?  According to 1 John 5:19, the whole world is under the control of the evil one.  In other words, Satan runs rampant on this earth.  And yet as Christians, we often think of evil as a concept or a 'problem' to be debated and discussed.  Evil actually exists in the form of the Devil himself.  Philosophers and theologians have for years debated the 'problem of evil'.  Yet Ephesians 6 makes it clear that our struggle is not against a 'concept'.  Our struggle is not against a philosophy of evil, our struggle is in fact against evil personalities and spirits.

There is great danger is depersonalizing evil, thinking of it simply as a concept.  We must recognize that there is a relentless and malicious spirit at work in this temporary world.  God has allowed Satan to rule...for now.  When Jesus cast out a demon, He wasn't casting out a 'problem' or a 'concept', He cast out evil spirits.  He had conversations with these spirits, calling some of them by name.  You can't do that with an abstract concept.

When the Bible tells us to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21), it's not speaking about abstracts.  It means we are to overcome the evil one with the Good One!  Pressing On with Christ means trusting in our victorious Warrior, who has defeated sin and death, and empowers us to battle against the evil one!

Keep praying... August 22, 2011

Read:  Matthew 7:7-11.  Focus verse: 8.

As much as we are ashamed to admit it, we never feel more connected to God then we do in times of desperate need.  We are quick to confess sin, diligent to study His Word, persistent in finding His promises in Scripture, and daily offering up prayers.  It's safe to say, we grow more during these times than any other.

If this is true, why do you think God would want to rush us through this growth process?  Why would He give an immediate answer to a fleeting prayer, and shorten His purpose of the trial?  God knows how we work, 'God if You'll please just answer this one prayer, I'll do anything for you.'  'God if You'll please just answer this one prayer, I promise I'll never do that again.'  He knows our hearts however far better than we do.  He knows we can learn from Him and be conformed to His image in no other way sometimes.

Today you may be facing a situation that you see as a desperate situation.  God however, sees it as an opportunity to know Him more intimately.  We aren't suffering...in fact, we are being rewarded.  He is drawing us closer to Him.  So keep praying...keep seeking the heart of God.  You are growing, though painful it may be.  Pressing On with Christ means trusting that the persistence of your prayers if a far greater blessing than an immediate answer.

The fruits of the Spirit... August 19, 2011 (By Chris)

Read:  Galatians 5:22-25, John 15:5-8, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

There are many references in the New Testament to fruit, as a metaphor for the virtues and tenets of spiritual purity.  This is no secret to most Christians.  But how many of us understand what it truly means to bear fruit?  Galatians 5:22-25 provides a list of what the Fruit of the Spirit is - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control - but until we can attribute a proper function to each of these, then they are nothing but meaningless terms.  A true definition for anything is rooted, so to speak, in how it works in order to fulfill a specific purpose.

Perhaps the key element to consider is that none of the fruits can serve its purpose apart from the rest.  As an example, take a look at how love (the first of the fruits) is defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.  You'll notice how each characterization matches up with the fruits of the Spirit that are mentioned in Galatians 5:  "Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking (self control), it is not easily angered (gentleness), it keeps no record of wrongs (peace).  Love does not delight in evil (goodness) but rejoices (joy) with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts (faithfulness), always hopes, always perseveres."

Each fruit by itself serves a very distinct purpose, but only because each is dependent upon the collective purposes of all the rest.  So where does that leave us?  If our desire is to bear fruit, then we must carefully evaluate our hearts.  For only when we allow the Spirit to bear fruit in us can we then bear fruit ourselves.  We won't have to focus on practicing each fruit individually, because as long as we remain in the Spirit, then all will evidence themselves.

The motive is what matters... August 17, 2011

Read:  Matthew 5:16, Matthew 6:1

If you quickly read each of the two Matthew passages, you would probably catch what appears to be a contradiction between the two.  On the one hand, Jesus tells us to let others see our good works, shinning a bright light for others to see, yet on the other hand, He tells us not to do our good works for others to see.  So how do we reconcile these two passages?  Was Jesus confused?  Did He quickly change His mind?  Hardly....

Motive is the key!  So many people in our world practice righteousness to be seen by others, to bring praise to themselves.  Jesus cautions us against doing that.  True righteousness, good deeds that are done to bring glory to God, should never be hidden because God's glory should never be hidden.  See the difference?

This is a fine balance that we must find as Christians.  We must constantly be examining our motives, our heart, to make sure that we are not seeking our own glory and the praise of man, rather God's glory, which is something that should never be hidden, rather shined brightly as a light on a hill.  Pressing On means magnify others' view of God without drawing attention to ourselves.  What can you do today to begin doing that?

Who are you when I'm not looking?  August 15, 2011 (By Scott)

Read:  1 Corinthians 15:33-34

What is integrity?  Integrity is doing what is right when no one else is looking.  We often find ourselves surrounded by tons of different friend groups.  You have your school friends, your church friends, and friends and family that you have grown up with.  All these groups may have similarities, but as we all know, people are different, and friend groups vary.  The question you should ask yourself in regards to these friend groups is whether or not you act the same around all of them.  It may seem at times to be an overused statement from the Bible, but like verse 33 in today's reading says, your friends determine the kind of person you are.  Take a few moments to think and pray about the friends you have.  Are they friends who influence you in a good way?  Do they strengthen your character?  Do they build up integrity within you?  It is important to have friends that do all of these things, because when push comes to shove they make it a lot easier to get through the hard times and PRESS ON.

Tick Tock... August 12, 2011 (By Levi)

Read: Psalm 46.  Focus verses: 8-11

As school starts, chaos erupts in life.  You wake up 15 minutes late, traffic takes you an extra 10 minutes, you forgot to do your homework so detention makes you late to practice, practice goes long and you miss dinner.  We live in a perpetually busy world that says you have to keep going and you have to keep busy.  The cool thing is, that's not what God expects of us.

Certainly we are called by God to do everything we do with excellence, there's no dispute about that.  But what's cool is that we are also called to "be still".  We're not only allowed to, but we're also supposed to take time to be quiet and calm.  Now don't confuse this with extra time taken for naps.  Challenge yourself to be in His presence.  This is an excellent time to crack open your Bible and spend time in prayer at His feet.  As your school year begins, challenge yourself to carve time out of your very busy schedule to be still in His presence so that you can grow in your relationship with Him 

Purified by the Word... August 10, 2011 (By Martin)

Read:  Psalm 119:9-16.  Focus verses: 9, 11

Often I think teens and young adults struggle to understand why they sin, or why they don't feel as 'connected' with Jesus as they could...or should.

Recently Psalm 119, verses 9 and 11 crossed by path again and I was struck by the clarity that God gives us regarding our perspectives on intimacy with Jesus.  Not only as a youth, but as you age in your walk with Christ.  In particular, David asks in verse 9, "How does a young man remain pure?"  In other words, 'how does a young man or woman feel more connected with Christ so that they don't desire sin?'

The answer that verse 11 gives is, "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin again You."  That is so powerful!  The Bible is saying that when we take God's Word, not only intellectually, or emotionally, but completely and wholly...into the entirety of our hearts, it is then that we can remain pure.  By allowing Jesus to consume us and see things through His eyes, only then are we able to remain pure, or to gain purity.

As you walk through your days, whether it is high school or the early years of college (which is soon for some of you), what do you focus on?  Do you take God's Word and hide it, nestle it in your heart, mind, and soul...all the time?  Or do you casually approach God, only allowing Him in when convenient for you?  I'd encourage you to focus on God and how much He desires to be in a relationship with you all the time, not just 'when needed' or as life dictates.  Take His Word, study it and understand His love for you.  And remain pure...

A hard verse to believe... August 8, 2011

Read:  Romans 8:18-30.  Focus verse: 28

There are many things in life that we see or hear about and respond with the 'yeah, easier said than done' mentality.  Occasionally even, there are Scriptures in the Bible we read and respond the same way to.  Perhaps one of those Scriptures is Romans 8:28, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God..."  Really, all things?  Your grandma's cancer diagnosis?  Your family pet dying?  Your failed test?  Your second place finish for the state championship?  Really, all things?

Yes really, all things!  If....we believe and trust in God's nature.  What is God's nature?  Well to start with, He is always wise, meaning there are no mistakes or accidents with God.  He is always ruling, meaning every single event has already been divinely determined by God, who brings good out of evil.  God is sitting in the stern of the boat when it's being rocked the hardest.  God's hand is always firmly on the world, guiding and directing every single affair of mankind.  Sure it's difficult to see and believe that from time to time.  Pressing on in Christ means trusting in His unchanging nature.  He is wise, He is sovereign, He is always on duty, and yes, He always brings forth good from evil, ALWAYS! 

Take nothing with you... August 5, 2011

Read:  Luke 9:1-6.  Focus verse:  3

Imagine getting ready for a long journey and being told you can take nothing with you.  In Luke 9, as Jesus is preparing to send out His disciples, He tells them to take nothing with them other than what He has given them.  Did you catch that?  Only what He has given them!  In other words, they can go only in His strength and provision, not their own.

In a very similar manner, this is how Jesus sends us out in to the world.  He gives us incredible blessings from His hand, as well as the opportunity to serve Him, yet He promises us no earthly status.  He alone is our provision (or should be).  We will not succeed on our mission until we are stripped clean of everything that might distract us from that mission.  When we are unhindered by false props, we are most effective for God's Kingdom.  So how are you living out your mission?  Are you carrying around sacks of temporary provisions or are you trusting only in what Christ has entrusted to you?  Pressing On in Christ means letting Christ be our provision.  What encumbers you today?  Throw it aside and let the riches of Christ be your greatest treasure.

We are not strong enough!  August 3, 2011 (By Leondra)

Read:  Isaiah 40:28-31

 

 

 

 

 

I was reading a book yesterday that reminded me of some startling facts.  The U.S. population represents only 5% of the world's population, yet 95% of U.S. Christians stay in the U.S. to share Christ with that 5%.  Some quick math suggests then that only 5% of U.S. Christians are going out to share Christ with the 95% of the world's population, a population that largely does not know Christ.

You will often hear around churches statements like 'Is God calling you to go on a mission trip?', or 'Is God calling you to go share Christ with another culture somewhere in the world?'.  These numbers suggest that perhaps the better question is 'Is God calling you to stay home?'  In Matthew 28 we find the 'Great Commission' as it's been appropriately called now for hundreds of years.  Sadly, we've become so familiar with it that we can read it and quickly move on to our next devotional.  But camp on the very first word of verse 19, 'Go'.  Jesus does not invite us to stay...He commands us to go!  The late (and great) Charles Spurgeon said, "We ought not to ask, 'Can I prove that I ought to go?' but, 'Can I prove that I ought not to go?'"  Our hearts are frequently moved when we hear of thousands of children who will starve to death in another country.  The horrible reality however is that there are millions who will be eternally starved apart from the good news of Christ.  Does that move your heart to action?

Yes, this is an unashamed plug for overseas missions.  Ask yourself this question... What's the reason I don't go?  Pressing On means fulfilling the Great Commission, and going out to the world with the saving message of Christ! 

2 + 2 = 5? ... July 25, 2011 (By Levi)

Read:  Proverbs 10  Focus verse:  17

  I hate to be wrong, but then again, who doesn’t?  It’s a tough thing because we all want to be right, but sometimes, we just are flat wrong.  Even worse than being wrong, I hate being corrected, especially if it’s in front of other people.  When it comes down to it, it’s a pride thing.  I don’t want to appear that I am not good at something or that someone is better than I am, especially if it’s something I love to do.  This is definitely not a godly way to live.  It’s like when you’re in a math group and one person is positive they have the right answer to the problem so you go with it, not because you know their right, but because you don’t know how to do it yourself.  Then you do the entire rest of the group homework the same way as that first problem and then you get your grade back and you bombed it.  Essentially, that member of the group lead the rest of the group astray.  Think of correction like this; if one person had spoken up, the rest of the homework might not have been incorrect.  If we heed correction, we won’t keep making the same mistakes over and over again.  Press on today by not getting agitated when someone corrects you, instead, be thankful that you’re not going astray!

 

A spiritual relaxation... July 22, 2011

 

Read:  Mark 6:30-44.  Focus verse:  31

When was the last time you truly got alone with Jesus?  No cell phone, no computer, no iPod, nothing but you, your Bible, and Jesus.  In Mark 6, Jesus invites His disciples to "come away" with Him and rest for a while.  Burnout is a very common occurrence in our world.  People burnout all the time.  And yet the world's advice on how to avoid that is to get away and 'relax' for a while.  But the world's definition of relaxing is much different than what Jesus has in mind here in Mark 6.  Jesus knows one key thing...our relaxing must be done in His presence if it is to be satisfying.  He did not tell His disciples to go away and relax for a while.  He invited them to go away and be in His presence.  Huge difference!!! 

When was the last time you got away with Jesus?  In the quiet places, Jesus gives us rest, but He also speaks to us and teaches us more about what it means to fully trust Him.  The quiet places can be places of great growth if we will allow them to be.  The things we can learn in the calm of the quiet place will help us in the storm of tomorrow.  Pressing On means knowing when it's time to go away with Jesus for a while.  His presence will be the difference between a temporary rest and a lasting refreshment.

Selfless Living... July 20, 2011 (By Leondra)

Read:  Philippians 2:1-11.  Focus verse:  3

If you are anything like me, you like to be challenged; to be pushed to your limit, to be taken out of your comfort zone. Throughout life God uses others to challenge us, whether it is in our spiritual walk or the person we are. Last week I had to opportunity to go on a South Tucson Mission trip with the Middle School youth group here at CCC. Physically and emotionally we were all pushed to our limits by the manual labor that we did for a local church in the area. The verse that we asked the students to memorize was Philippians 2:3; “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility consider others above yourselves.”  This is such a simple verse, yet so challenging for all of the students, the staff, and the volunteers. There are two parts to this verse, the first is “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,” everything we do is to bring glory to God’s kingdom. The talents, gifts, and blessing that He has given us are not for our own good but the good of our father. Paul uses the word 'selfish', which in my mind is always a negative thing.  In various other Scriptures we are called to be selfless, whether that be with the gifts, talents, and blessings we have been given or simply selfless with our time; just like our Middle school students did at the work site and VBS during their mission trip. The next part of the verse says “Rather, in humility consider other above yourselves,” the perfect definition of selflessness. I believe that we are being challenged to not want, want, want, BUT to give, give, give. We need to humble ourselves, and be ready to go out or get down on our knees to serve others. One of the students on the trip said, "I love how we are serving each other and serving others.”  At that moment she got it, she had felt God challenging her to serve others, and she saw God working in through her, and the other students.

So my challenge for you is to memorize Philippians 2:3, and store it away in your heart. My challenge for you is to be selfless with all that you have and have been given, and truly serve others!

 

 

 

Pray without ceasing... July 18, 2011 (By Ben Hale)

Read:  1 Thessalonians 5:17

1 Thessalonians 5:17 calls us to pray without ceasing. That seems impossible at first, but a person can develop an attitude and habit of constant prayer. No matter what else is going on, we should be aware of God’s presence with us, and turn to Him with every thought and action. Don’t fall into the habit of praying only when something goes wrong. Bring everything before God, both the little things and the “big” things. As Christians we have the awesome privilege of being able to come before the Creator of the universe whenever and wherever we want. Don’t take that for granted.

Jesus in the boat... July 15, 2011

Read:  Matthew 8:23-27.  Focus verse:  26

Jesus asks His disciples a very interesting question.  After all, He already knows why they are afraid.   They are weak, timid human beings, no match for the fierceness of the storm.  Of course they would be afraid, what human being wouldn't be?  Jesus asks this question though because He knows they've missed the key element in this situation.  It isn't the storm or the waves or the structure of the boat that matters.  It's the company they are in.  The One in whom are things were created and hold together (Col. 1:15-16) is in their boat.

This same question is one that we need to hear from Jesus more often.  Storms and waves will come, and fear is usually our first reaction.  It usually isn't that we overestimate the storm, after all we've seen many others brought to ruin by various storms.  Rather, it's that we have an inaccurate view of Jesus.  Jesus asks us to have faith in Him though.  Yes the storms will be fierce and possibly even life-threatening, but Jesus asks us to focus on Him.  Pressing On means fixing our eyes on Him...after all the storms have to obey Him!  What do we have to fear?

Guarding against your senses... July 13, 2011

Read:  John 20:24-29.  Focus verse:  29

As Christians, we are constantly asked to believe in a physically invisible God and a risen Savior who we never got to personally meet.  As humans, we construct reality through the use of our five senses.  If we can taste, hear, see, touch, or smell something, then it's real.  If we can't, we are cautious of it.  We have a hard time believing in it.  Unfortunately, we often use this same standard for our spiritual walk.  We tend to be like 'Doubting Thomas' of John 20.  We need to see Jesus for ourselves, we need to see His scars.  In verse 29 though, Jesus makes a very profound and important statement, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  The implications of Jesus' words are huge.  When we let our senses rule, we, according to Jesus, will find the life of faith difficult.  Sure there will be moments, maybe even days, when we can't help but let our senses rule, but Jesus is promising blessing to those who are simply willing to believe in Him.  How much of your walk with God is based on your five senses?  Do you trust and believe in Him only when He is demonstrating His favor and love toward you?  What about the difficult times?  Do you still trust and believe in Him and His unchanging love for you?  Pressing On in Christ means trusting in Him and His promises (through His Word), and guarding against letting our five senses have the final say.  Stand ready to watch God work...He stands ready to work on behalf of those who know (not just hope or think) that He will.  Believe, and be blessed!

 

I'm a Christian!!!...July 11, 2011 (By Scott)

 

 I, like many Christians was raised going to church.  I grew up reading the bible, I memorized all the scripture that was placed in front of me and to the best of my abilities I followed the Ten Commandments.  I was Godly by association.  I never had to make the hard choices because my parents, youth pastor or relatives told me what to do.  My relationship with the Lord was just as much my parents as it was my own.  I prayed, I read the bible and I went to every possible church event you can imagine, but at the end of the day none of that meant anything in regards to my own relationship with God.  I was living in a protective bubble that was ready to pop the first chance Satan got.  Once it did I realized the world, the church, and the people in it were not even close to perfect.  This realization is what first drew me away from church.  I was never mad at God for the circumstances in my life, I was mad at Christians.  I was mad at the people who told me to live a certain way and then did something totally different.  I was mad at the leader of my church and close family friend who cheated on his wife.  I was mad at my pastor for firing my long time friend and youth pastor and changing his teachings from the Bible being absolute truth to being just some story book of life lessons.  I was mad that something I thought for so long to be so easy was no longer so.

But as a Christian, life isn’t easy.  If it were, it really would not have made what Jesus did for us so special.  We live in a world that has been taken over by sin.  A world that will one day be destroyed because of that evil.  Satan is constantly looking for ways to distract us from God, and let’s be honest, he is good at it, and we are great at letting him.  My challenge to you is to be distracted.  Be distracted from the things that keep you from pursuing Christ to the fullest.  If you struggle with pornography, chances are when it is a struggle you are probably by yourself and have nothing better to do.  Distract yourself!!!!  Don’t put yourself into a place of temptation.  If you know your parents aren’t going to be home, don’t turn on the TV with questionable programming, don’t go online knowing that you are a click away from giving in to temptation.  Open the bible!  Go on a run!  Argue with God over the temptation that you are resisting.  Distract yourself! 

If you struggle with a bad mouth, distract yourself.  Chances are you didn’t pick up that language out of the blue.  You heard it over and over again from something or someone in your life, and it became the norm.  Don’t let it be.  Find replacement words, surround yourself with people whose first word out of their mouth isn’t profanity.  Distract yourself!!!

Maybe it’s your relationship with a boy friend or girl friend that is hindering your walk with God.  Ask yourself this, 'Is this person distracting me from God, or are they distracting me from the things God hates?'  Depending on your answer you may need to take a step back and re-evaluate why you are with that person.

Ultimately it is up to us to make the final decision.  We are only under our parent’s microscope for so long.  Pastor Rob can only teach you for so long.  At some point your relationship with God becomes just that.  YOUR relationship!  No one else’s!  It is how your react when that time comes that will either make you or break you.  The sad part is many of you will chose to be broken, and once that happens it is so much harder to be fixed.  I was one of those people who chose to be broken, and the pain that came from that brokenness is unlike anything else in this world.  People always talk about the void you feel apart from God, and growing up I thought that was such a joke.  But it’s not!  The emptiness, the heart ache, and the things you pursue trying to fix it will only make it worse.  So please, take this time to evaluate YOUR relationship with the Lord.  Does it even exist?  You may not be sure, and that’s ok.  The awesome thing is there are so many people at church who truly care about you and can help you along the way.  And when the temptations and distractions come will you be able to distract yourself from them and Press On!

A burning secret... July 8, 2011 (By Levi)

 

Read:  Psalm 5:3

Isn’t it easy to love God at church?  I know it’s easy to settle into a smooth coast while riding the Sunday/Wednesday road.  But what about the other 5 days?  What are you choosing to fill your time with, do you feel like you can set up your offerings on Sundays and Wednesdays and then go about your ‘business’ the rest of the days?  Like ourverse says, “I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch”.  That’s what we’re supposed to be doing, anticipating a response, watching, looking for Him in our every day happenings.  It’s great to offer yourself for Sundays and Wednesdays, but challenge yourself to wait expectantly for His response.  It’s easy to begin to feel defeated when you pray and pray but you don’t hear God or see flashing lights or a burning bush.  Sometimes, while we’re waiting for a grand gesture, we miss His whisperings.  He always answers, but the waiting time is also apart of how we learn and grow closer to Him, it trains us to hear His voice.  Press on, go All In, be committed every day to search for God in the small things.  You WILL find Him there in the small things and then when He does send flashing lights or burning bushes, imagine how amazing that will be! 

An impossible test... July 6, 2011

 Read:  John 6:1-5.  Focus verse: 5

Have you ever been confronted with an impossible situation?  Jesus' disciples must have grown used to them.  In John 6, specifically verse 5, Jesus asks Philip a question.  The question seems innocent enough, but behind Jesus' question is a test.  From Philip's perspective, the situation is an impossibility.  Of course there is no way they can feed all of the people gathered.  Philip's response is very similar to how I often respond to impossible situations.  I look at the situation, think about how to solve it in human terms, and then grow weary over my own lack of resources.

But as we look closer at this miracle of Jesus, we realize that He was never bound by man's lack of resources.  In fact, if they had had enough resources, we probably wouldn't classify this story as a miracle of Christ.  His power can never be demonstrated among self-sufficient people.  Jesus is waiting for the Andrews of the world to come to Him (verse 9) and acknowledge our insufficient resources.  Pressing On means coming to Jesus with the impossibilities of our own lives.  He make ask the impossible question...but He also already knows the answer!  Do you trust Him enough today to bring your impossibilities to Him?

A daily holiday... July 4, 2011

Read:  John 8:31-38.  Focus verses:  32 & 36

Another 4th of July is upon us.  For many this will be cause for BBQs, time with friends and family, and maybe a firework show somewhere in the middle of the dry desert.  A quick log on to facebook and you'll see the countless status updates concerning the freedom we all remember and celebrate today.  This holiday is unique to me.  We pause for a mere 24 hours to recall the great price paid by many to give us a free country to live in.  The irony of it though is that we were free yesterday, and will also be free again tomorrow (pending no major surprises).  It's almost as if we stop and pay our dues out of obligation to those who gained us our freedom, and then tomorrow return to our normal routine.  I'm certainly guilty of this as well.

There is a eerily parallel here to our Christianity.  However, when it comes to our Christianity, we typically pause twice a year to celebrate our freedom in Christ, Easter and Christmas.  And, similar to the 4th of July, once the holiday is over, we go back to our 'normal' lives.  In John 8, Jesus is talking to a group of Jews and He makes two amazing statements.  Verse 32, 'and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'  Verse 36, 'So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'  His Word and Himself!  That's where freedom for the believer is found.  And yet we so often live in bondage, pausing only occasionally to remember the freedom that Christ offers us daily in Him.  Pressing on means daily living in the freedom of Christ, found in His Word and in Himself.  While we may not be able to add a second or third 4th of July to the calendar, we can choose to celebrate our freedom in Christ daily!  Start today...make each day a reason for celebration.  You are free in Christ!

Crank up the heat...June 24, 2011 (By Levi)

Read:  Revelation 3:15-21

What a hot summer!  It feels like every time I walk outside, I become increasingly aware of the power of the sun.  Isn't it crazy that even though we are so far away from the sun, it still has the power to affect us so much?  It is no coincidence that Jesus the Son shares a name with the beaming and burning heavenly body we call the sun.  No matter how far away from Him we are, we are forever affected by the power of His beams.  When He carried the beam of the cross to Golgotha, He paid for all of our sin and afforded us the opportunity to communicate freely with Him and spend eternal life with Him.

Is it too much for Him to ask that we just pick a side already?  He picked, and He chose to save us when He could have chosen to save Himself instead.  All He is asking now is that we make a choice and pick Him.

Do you remember when you were in elementary school and you had a friend who was chosen to be a captain who was in charge of picking his kick-ball team?  Maybe it's because I'm not super athletic, but I remember making deals and truces with my friends that if they chose me when they were captains, I would pick them when I was chosen to be captain.  That is the very essence of what Christ is calling us to do.  He picked us, now all we have to do is pick Him!  Don't live a lukewarm life, Pressing On means sometimes picking Him even when there is a more popular kid (worldly things) that you would rather pick.  Let the summer heat serve as a reminder.  Instead of letting the heat make you cranky and tired, let the heat prompt you to make a choice to live a scalding hot life for Christ!

Summer, a time of growth... June 20, 2011 (By Leondra)

Read:  Isaiah 43:10

Throughout the summer we have so much free time, and for a lot of the summer we spend reflecting and analyzing our lives, trying to figure out who we are, and what our purpose is.  It is so easy to get wrapped up in the summer bliss and neglect going to youth group.  It is so easy to make God our personal genie, instead of spending real, intimate, quality time with Him.  We get a picture perfect idea of what our summer is going to look like, and for a majority of people, that summer often forgets about our Heavenly Father.

God calls us to follow Him.  He proclaims in Isaiah 43:10 that He has chosen us, 'You are my witnesses,' declares the Lord, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.  Before Me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me.'  God has chosen us, so that we may know Him in any season of our lives and any season of the year.  Not only does God want us to grow closer to Him, be He wants us to help others know, believe, and understand Him.  It is our job as His followers to help others in that.

Summer is a great time to hangout more with your friends, invite them to a youth event (maybe a carwash :)  ), invite them to Sunday morning.  Summer is a time to help your friends that don't have a relationship with Christ get to know Him.  Summer is a time to help your Christian friends draw closer to our Heavenly Father.  Summer is an opportunity for you to spend intimate, quality time with Christ so that you can know, believe, and understand Him better.  We have been blessed with this awesome season of the year.  Not only is it a great time for vacations, but it also a great time to plant seeds for Christ and grow in Christ!

Bird of a feather flock together... June 17, 2011 (By Levi)

Read:  Psalm 103:1-5, Matthew 6:26, Luke 12:7

Does it ever feel like there isn't anything else in the world that could go wrong?  People say 'life has just dealt me a bad hand, or 'life really threw you a curve ball'.  Personally, those comments don't provide me any solace; in fact, they tend to create a feeling of resentment and cause me to focus on myself.  When I focus on myself, I begin to compare my life to the lives of other people, which makes me question God and His goodness.  Then, when a group of people with this outlook get together, it seems to become a one-upping pow-wow to see whose life is worse.

As Psalm 103:5 says, the Lord fills our lives with good things.  So wait a minute, either the Psalmist is confused or we may have the wrong definition of "good things".  Since the Bible is God-breathed and without error, we need to reconsider our definition.  This Psalm is one of many Psalms of praise.  From verse 1 to verse 22, the psalmist testifies to the wonder, greatness, and goodness of God.  Perhaps when it feels like the big things in life are going wrong, God wants us to look at the smaller things in life.  The verses in Matthew and Luke work in tandem, they point out that our Heavenly Father cares so greatly for the birds, yet we, who have so much more value than birds, worry that He has forgotten us.  Press On today in making the decisions to stop focusing on the challenges, and look for God's hand in everything.  When a group of people get together and discuss what God is doing in their lives, the good news of Christ will really be able to take flight!  

Need Directions?... June 15, 2011 (By Chris)

Read:  Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:57-62, John 8:12, 10:1-4, 27

Have you ever gotten lost while driving?  Perhaps you took a wrong turn somewhere.  You may not have even been aware of it at the time.  Of course, you can only go so far before you realize that you're in unfamiliar territory.  At this point your priority isn't so much finding your way to your original destination as it is trying to find your way back to the place where you were prior to getting lost.  After all, how difficult is it to get to where you're going without having any awareness of where you are?

Of course, in today's era of advanced technology, we have devices that practically do the work for us, like a GPS.  If you have one, then odds are you'll never get lost in the first place.  As long as you have that voice telling you exactly which road to take, or which way to turn at exactly the right moment, then you'll always be on easy street.  If only life were that simple.

Sometimes we treat God like a GPS when life gets difficult and we need direction.  But God will never simply tell us which direction to take.  Instead, He'll go before us, because He knows exactly the way that leads to the greatest destination of all.  Don't ask God which way to go; ask Him to lead, so that you may follow.

Free Water... June 13, 2011

Read:  Revelation 22:6-21.  Focus verse: 17

In Revelation 22, verse 17, Jesus extends a profound invitation to us.  He invites us to come to the source of living water, Jesus Himself, and to drink freely.  Did you catch that last word?  Free!  What's free anymore in our world?  Virtually nothing.  And yet the most important thing we could ever need or want is free.  Jesus expects no payment, no preparation, no recommendation from someone else, no good works, nothing!  There is only one requirement...to be willing.  Jesus is here quoting the Prophet Isaiah from Isaiah 55:1.  Are you thirsty?  Of course you are...life has a way of leaving us dry and desperate.  Are you poor?  Of course you are...life has a way of sucking up our resources on things that don't last.

Pressing On with Christ means accepting the invitation to come to the fountain of living water and drink freely!  Jesus is looking only for a willing heart and spirit.  Every day, thousands of men and women perish apart from the saving grace of Jesus Christ, all because of the pride of their hearts which kept them from coming to the fountain of living water and drinking freely.  Only pride could cause someone to reject a free gift.  Let today be the day that you realize your depravity and let it drive you to the source of living water.  Drink deeply, drink freely!  Christ's blood has paid the price.

Living on for Christ... June 10, 2011

Read:  Romans 14:5-9.  Focus verse: 8

When you first trusted in Christ for salvation, why did God not immediately take you to heaven?  Why did He leave you here to endure the hardships of life when a single word from His mouth could have taken you to eternal paradise?  Why did He leave you in this imperfect state when you could have immediately experienced perfection in His presence?  I think verse 8 of Romans 14 is key to answering this question..., "For if we live, we live to the Lord...".  Get that?  Since we are still here, alive, the call is to live for the Lord, and in that process, bring others to know and experience His love.

God has left us here, for now, to scatter good seeds, to break up the hard ground, to proclaim His excellencies, to be the salt and light of the earth.  He has left us here, for now, to live for Him, glorifying Him, and fulfilling our calling as workers together with Christ.  Rest assured, with a single sounding of the trumpet, He can and will call us all to our eternal home.  But in the meantime, pressing on means staying in the battle, choosing daily to walk in holiness as we await our call home!

A reminder of Jesus' love... June 8, 2011

Read:  Revelation 3:14-22.  Focus verse: 19

When we think of the numerous way Jesus reminds us of His love for us, there is one that is often over looked.  Revelation 3:19 reminds us that Jesus rebukes and disciplines us as a reminder of His love for us.  Really?  That seems kind of harsh doesn't it?  Rarely do we see our difficult circumstances as a reminder of Jesus' love for us.

As Christians, we must remember that God's hand is in even our most difficult circumstances.  This is His chosen path for us, not a disruption of it.  He is either letting hardship strengthen our faith, or disciplining us for some sin, but either way, He is still God.  A great reminder is that He does not train and strengthen those whom He does not intend to use in some powerful way.  No one who has been used mightily by God has avoided the difficulties and trials.  Pressing On today means trusting that even the most difficult circumstances are a reminder of our Savior's love for us.  After all, it is only those He loves whom He rebukes and disciplines. 

Sinking Mansions... June 6, 2011

Read:  Matthew 7:24-27.  Focus verse:  24

As our family prepares to move into a brand new home here in a few short weeks, it's easy for me to get caught up in all the 'extras' of the house.  The high ceilings, the granite counters, the tile and carpet...all of the stuff that goes into beautifying a home.  But perhaps the most important part of the house now goes unseen to everyone...the foundation of the house.  It's invisible at this point and no one is impressed by it.  But it will no doubt be the most crucial part of our family enjoying our home for years to come.

In a similar manner, all people, both Christians and non-Christians, built a life for themselves.  Some build mansions and others build shacks.  But if you read the words of Jesus carefully in Matthew 7, He never makes mention of the type of house or the outward appeal.  What He does comment on is the foundation upon which that house is built.  It's the most important part of the house, yet it's paid the least amount of attention to.  What's the foundation of your life?  Is it Christ or something of the world?  If the 'storm' came today, would your house withstand it?  Pressing On means building your life upon the rock of Christ.  He's firm when the storms winds come!

Leaving something behind... June 2, 2011

Read:  Luke 5:27-32.  Focus verse: 28

Just about every time we see Jesus call someone to follow Him in Scripture, it involves leaving something behind.  Peter and Andrew left their nets and their profession in Matthew 4.  In that same chapter James and John left their boat and their father to follow Jesus.  The woman at the well in John 4 left her water jar.  The man who found the treasure hidden in the field sold all he had.  Following Jesus, as we see it in Scripture, always meant leaving something behind.

The call is the same today.  It's important we recognize that leaving something behind to follow Christ means that the personal value of following Him far surpasses the value of whatever we are leaving behind.  The people in the examples above were so preoccupied with following Christ that what they left behind is just an afterthought in the Scripture.  They didn't agonize over their decision because they knew the value of following after Jesus.  The most satisfying relationship we could ever experience with Jesus is one that is free from the trappings of our old lives.  Pressing On with Jesus means fixing our eyes on Him, trusting in His love and promises for us, and leaving everything behind to follow Him.  Are you willing today to truly follow Him?  If so, ask Him what you need to leave behind to go forward with Him.

Our own 'brook Kidron'... May 31, 2011

Read:  2 Samuel 15:13-23.  Focus verse: 23

Consider the context of 2 Samuel 15.  David was fleeing Israel from fear of a traitor who just so happened to be his own son Absalom.  Can you imagine the heartache of David as he left Israel?  The man after God's own heart was not exempt from trouble and heartache.  Of the hundreds of characters Scripture brings to live, David knew pain and sorrow as well as anyone in the Bible.  But more than David, our King of Kings, our Savior Jesus Christ, knew sorrow and pain.  He Himself passed over that dark and gloomy 'brook Kidron'.  There is great comfort for us as followers of Jesus to know that He has passed over the 'brook Kidron'.

What is your 'Kidron' this morning?  A physical illness?  A broken friendship or family?  Fear of the future?  Over each of these 'Kidrons', our Savior has gone before us.  Our trials are no stranger to Jesus.  But the good news of the cross is that the darkness of the 'brook Kidron' could not hold Jesus.  He rose from the grave, and in so doing has made it possible for us to be of good courage.  Pressing On means courageously going forward, though you may pass through many 'brook Kidrons'.  Take courage fellow believer...our King has triumphed and so shall you!

The idol of money... May 27, 2011

Read:  Mark 10:17-27.  Focus verse:  23

Jesus' teaching on wealth found in Mark chapter 10 is probably one of the most misunderstood Scriptures in the Bible.   Truth be told, if you live in the US, you are rich.  More than rich, you are extremely wealthy.  But Jesus' words carry a much deeper meaning.  Whether you have $10 in the bank or $10 million, most of the idols we maintain are maintained through the idol of money.  Think about it...if you idolize your self- image, you are constantly shopping for the latest fashions.  If you idolize education, you'll go to great lengths to pay for it.  If you idolize food, you're spending money to maintain this idol.  Jesus taught so frequently on money (see also Luke 6:24, Luke 12:15) because He knew that it really was the root of all evil.  'Root' implies the starting point.  As a high school student, you may think that this doesn't apply to you because you have no 'wealth'.  Think again.  If you only have $10 and $9 of it is used to maintain a idol, the kingdom of God has become like the eye of a needle to you. 

What idols are you maintaining in your life?  Chances are they are being maintained through money.  If we are to live as kingdom citizens, we must turn our hearts, our money, our time, and our talents toward kingdom purposes.  If your treasure is in the kingdom of God, so too will be your resources.  Pressing On means making sure the kingdom of God has not become like the eye of a needle.  Ask yourself this question today....has an idol made you too big for the kingdom of God?  If so, practice Biblical confession and let God have your heart!

Understanding Mercy... May 25, 2011

Read:  Matthew 18:22-35.  Focus passage: Matthew 5:7

Mercy is very much a 'church word'.  We use it all the time in our sermons, our worship songs, and our conversations with other people.  But who really understands it?  Jesus gives us an easy test to see if we understand mercy...if you show mercy, you have experienced and understand mercy.  If we have really tasted the mercy and forgiveness of Christ, we will extend that toward others.  The parable of the unforgiving servant is a vivid example of someone who didn't understand the true nature of mercy, as they were unwilling to extend it to another.

Jesus' parable is a summary of how we often live as believers.  When we wrong someone, it was a mistake.  When someone wrongs us, it's an evil offense.  When we talk about others, we are simply sharing the facts.  When others talk about us, they are malicious gossipers.  Our human nature is hypocritical.  We consider others' offenses much more severe than our own.  Yet think for a moment about our offenses toward God.  They are infinitely greater than others offenses toward us.  Pressing On means going back to the cross and reflecting on the forgiveness and mercy that God has extended to us.  As we reflect on His mercy toward us, our hearts will be inclined to extend that same mercy toward others.

The master of white lies...May 23, 2011

Read:  John 8:31-47.  Focus verse: 44

Anyone can pick out an obvious lie.  For example, if I said the sky is filled with chocolate cupcakes, it wouldn't take much for the average person to know that I'm distorting the truth.  But what about some of the more subtle lies... 'Its' OK to be physical with your boyfriend/girlfriend, just don't go all the way.'  'It's OK to copy a paragraph of their paper, just don't copy the whole thing.'  'It's OK to tell your parents where you were, just don't tell them what you were doing.'  Satan, as the Scriptures describe him, is the father of lies.  It's his nature.  Distorting the truth...it's what he does best.  There is a reason he's known as the father of lies.  It's because he's really good at it.  A Christian with no sense of discernment is Satan's target.  The more we discern, the more subtle his attempts will become to distort the truth of God.  He will take advantage of the smallest distortion if we allow him to.  Our culture is one that is prone to believe the lies of Satan.  A quick glance around and it's obvious that God's truth has been severely distorted.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:16 to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.  The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armor of God so that we can resist the schemes of the Devil.  Be assured students, he is the master of the little white lie that we think won't hurt us.  Pressing On means claiming the truth of the Gospel and the nature of our Heavenly Father.  Commit today to take a stand against the white lies of Satan...after all, it was a little 'innocent' lie what separated Adam and Eve from God in the garden.  Put on the full armor of God students, take a stand against the father of lies!

Can God be trusted?... May 18, 2011 (By Chris)

Read:  Proverbs 3:5, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

How often do you find yourself struggling to trust in God?  If you're like most people, the answer is probably quite often.  If someone were to ask you, 'Do you trust me?', how would you respond?  Most likely, you'd want a little more information first.  'Trust you with what?'  Between human beings, trust is something quite different than what it is (or should be) with God, and that is why it is so easy to be disappointed when we feel God isn't coming through for us.  Our trust in other people is usually dependent upon the extent to which we feel they can meet our expectations, particularly in certain situations or with certain favors we ask of them.  Of course you may trust a person in general as well as under very specific conditions, but not even the most trustworthy human being can be relied upon in every situation, simply by virtue of his own humanness.

The fundamental difference between trust in other people and trust in God has to do with who is calling the shots.  So regularly we ask God for various things (like good grades, or a starting position on the team, or to be liked by others, etc.), expecting that we will receive them, so long as we trust God.  But God does not make deals to suit our desires (especially when such desires threaten to take His place in our lives altogether).  If we are completely honest with ourselves, we will realize that trusting in God has nothing to do with what He can do for us; rather it has everything to do with how certain we are in the knowledge of His promises, regardless of the outcome.  Do you trust that what God says in His word is true?

Just do it?... May 16, 2011 (By Martin)

Read:  James 1:2-8.  Focus verse:  8

You've heard the ad campaign before for the common shoe brand.  It's a strong call to action that entices us with the allure of success if we just get moving and do something.  It has more merit.  However, have you considered what might be the true motivation behind those simple words?  Why do it?  And why just now?  As a youth in the world, you'll be presented with many options...you'll have plenty of opportunities to encounter many "Just do it!" situations in your life.  But the real question isn't whether you will or will not do something.  Instead, it's 'why are you there in the first place?'

Recently, I was speaking to a parent who said that his teen has the same tendencies as other teens, saved or not - the difference is she doesn't put herself in the types of situations that would cause her to stumble in the first place...or have to make a significant, possibly life-altering decision on the happenstance of just doing something right now.  Instead, she's kept her focus on the Lord in spite of things around her.  She's built up her motivation on doing right in the eyes of God not just herself.  James 1:8 says, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways, " and should expect nothing from the Lord.

Consider where your mind and thoughts lay?  Are you focused on the Lord or the world?  Do you do right in His eyes...or are you simply focused on just doing it?  To press on means to move forward in a manner that would honor Jesus in everything you do.

 

Walking on Water... May 13, 2011

Read:  Matthew 14:22-32.  Focus verse: 31

In verse 31, Jesus rebukes Peter's lack of faith.  Truth be told, if our ears were open to hearing Jesus' voice, we'd probably hear that same rebuke often, maybe daily.  But it's a gentle rebuke, coming from the One who understands our frailties better than we do.  It's also a reminder to live life differently than a dependence on our human senses and reasoning.  In this short account in Matthew 14, Peter puts Jesus to the test.  Jesus responds by inviting Peter to "come" toward Him.  As Peter begins to walk toward Jesus, he begins to notice the waves and wind around him.  His human senses and reasoning kick in, reminding him of everything that could go wrong.  The simple and confident command of Jesus to "come" has been swept away by Peter's own voice of fear and doubt.

Peter's story is a lot like ours.  We often want to measure the wind and waves around us, trusting in our own human understanding.  But Jesus urges us to ignore them, fixing our eyes and ears on Him.  He alone is the true measure of our situation.  The circumstances of our lives batter our senses into believing lies.  Pressing On means learning to hear His voice only, trusting in His simple command to "come", and trusting that even the waves and winds of life obey His voice!

How do YOU love?...May 11, 2011 (By Martin)

Read:  Luke 8:41-48

As you make your way through the day, reflect upon one of the ways Jesus models for us how to love others.  Luke 8:41-48 tells us about Jesus as He went to heal a dying girl, "As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him.  And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.  She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.  'Who touched Me?' Jesus asked.  When they all denied it, Peter said, 'Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.'  But Jesus said, 'Someone touched Me; I know that power has gone out from Me.'  Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet.  In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed.  Then He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace.'"

Jesus showed His love not only by healing the woman, but by stopping to talk to her even though He was on His way to help another.  Jesus loved by taking the time and making the effort to recognize those who might be outside a specific purpose or thought at the time.  Do you stop to respond to people or do you keep on moving, oblivious to the people and situations around you?  Be encouraged and love through your response to others even if you don't feel like it or are already busy with something else.

 

Wrong Hand...May 9, 2011

Read: Luke 6:6-11.  Focus verse: 10

This particular miracle of Jesus that Luke records for us here in Luke 6 is very unique.  It is one of only a few miracles that Jesus didn't wait for a demonstration of faith, or for the needy individual to approach Him.  Instead, Jesus offers a single command, "stretch out your hand" (v. 10).  Jesus was setting the stage for Himself in front of the crowd of unbelieving Pharisees.  This is often how God chooses to deal with us.  We have very little to offer Him.  We show no great demonstration of faith, no clear awareness of His power, we are just there.  He sees us and tells us what to do.  Even though we have so little to offer, Jesus still requires one thing...a withered hand.  Fallenness is all we have to offer sometimes, however we often try to extend our good hand to Jesus.  He won't accept it, He can't perform miracles with the good hand.  Instead what He wants is our withered hand.  Pressing On means not overestimating our offerings to Him.  When we do, we underestimate His power in our life.  Recognize today your withered hand, and extend it out to Christ!  He wants to show an unbelieving world the power of God.

Idol worship?  Today?  Not possible... May 5, 2011

Read:  Jeremiah 16:14-20.  Focus verse: 20

If you know even a small fraction of the story of the Old Testament, you know that Israel was plagued by idol worship.  It was as common as taking a bath or working in the field.  It was a detestable, yet wide-spread practice!  Fast forward to today.  As believers, it's rare that we see someone along the side of the road bowing down to a false idol.  When we visit the home of a friend, we don't suspect we'll be seated at the dinner table alongside the family's false god.  So in our ignorance, we often conclude that idol worship is something of previous generations, a practice of those who lived during the Bible times.  We conclude that idol worship is just not something that is still practiced today.

Guess again!  The idols of today have simply been altered in form.  We have plenty of our own idols...money, health, pride, materialism, academics, security.  The list is endless.  We frown upon the old gods of wood that the Israelites would erect, yet we have our own god of flesh.  As the great Spurgeon said, "the flesh sets up its altars wherever it can find space for them."  As verse 20 of Jeremiah 16 reminds us, the very things we worship, are really nothing more than false gods.  What's the idol in your life or heart today?  Pressing On means being willing to take the necessary steps to do away with those idols.  Ask God today to give you a desire to worship Him.

To rejoice or not rejoice, that is the question... May 2, 2011

Read:  Proverbs 24:17, Proverbs 11:10

In the wake of the historical capture and killing of Islamic leader Bin Laden, Christians can be left confused...do we let forth a "shout of gladness...that the wicked have perished" (Prov. 11:10), or do we keep our heart from "rejoicing...that the enemy has fallen" (Prov. 24:17)?  On a day such as today, there are going to be people, even Christians, that will line up with one thought or the other.  Some will celebrate, others will mourn.  So what is the proper response?  I think the answer is BOTH!  Let us celebrate that God is in control of every action and deed of mankind.  Matthew reminds us that not a single sparrow falls to the ground apart from our heavenly Father's knowing (Matt. 10:29), surely the death of a world leader does not catch God by surprise.  So if we are looking to celebrate, let us celebrate God's sovereignty, that even on a day like today, when the world is in an upheaval, God in His sovereignty, is directing the affairs of humanity.  In our mourning, let us mourn the death of a fellow human that never came to faith in Christ, therefore spending eternity apart from God.  Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 3:9 that God desires all, yes even an Islamic terrorist leader, to come to repentance.  It is a day of mourning when a fellow human perishes apart from a pardoning of their sin through repentance and faith in Christ.

More than our rejoicing or mourning, let us be prayerful followers of Christ.  The death of Bin Laden, perhaps more than any other effect, has left many fearful and uncertain of what the future holds.  Let us use this historic occasion as an opportunity to pray for God's sovereignty in our world.  He is on His throne today!  Let's draw near to Him in prayer. 

Inadequacy that leads to Intimacy... April 29, 2011 (By Kendrah)

Read:  Hosea 2:14-15, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Do you feel like you are stranded in the desert?  Like you are lacking something in life?  Maybe your home life isn't all you would like it to be.  Perhaps your "friends" aren't who you thought they were.  Maybe you didn't make the team or your grades aren't quite what you would like.  It's possible that you or someone you love is struggling with health.  Take a moment and listen to the voice of Jesus whisper to you, "My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness"  ( 2 Corinthians 12:9).  In the middle of the chaos, be still and listen to that declaration from an all-sufficient God.  His grace is all we need.  His power is at work in our weakness.

I'm not sure what your area of need is today, but I do know that there are two possible ways of viewing our circumstances:  1) Focus on your weakness and need, wondering how you will get through, or 2) Focus on God's grace and power, allowing Him to draw you close to His heart.  Let's take a step of faith today and view our inadequacies as an opportunity for great blessing and intimacy with God.

You and I were made for Worship... April 27, 2011 (By Martin)

Read: 2 Chronicles 20, Psalm 28:7, 1 Peter 2:9

I was reminded recently that many Christian people are afraid of worship.  They're embarrassed to move their lips to a song.  Perhaps, they feel others may look at them in judgment for doing so.  Maybe, they even feel as though they don't understand it...so they won't do it.  But did you know that God designed us for that very thing?  We're even commanded to do so throughout the entire Bible.  In 2 Chronicles 20, the Bible says, "Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying 'Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever.'"  And David, one of the greatest Biblical kings, says in Psalm 28, "The LORD is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him."  And 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."

As we mature and embrace our love for the Lord, every other concern starts to fall to the side.  But you have to look and be willing.  As we understand God's greatness and everything He does for us, the idea that worship doesn't make sense is the thing that becomes silly.  Instead, we know and feel a desire to sing up to the Lord and to share our praises.  So...the question is: what are you afraid of?

A life giving Spirit... April 25, 2011

Read:  John 6:53-66.  Focus verse: 63

Jesus had a way with words didn't He?  Over and over again in the Gospels we find bold statements by Christ that His disciples and others around Him simply don't know how to take.  Take for example Jesus' words here in verse 63, "...your flesh counts for nothing."  What do you mean my flesh counts for nothing?  It's all I know.  It's what I'll spend my entire earthly existence focused on.  And that is Jesus' exact concern, as He rebukes His disciples for trusting in their own flesh.  True disciples of Christ must "eat and drink" of the eternal, absorbring everything about Christ.  We must be spiritually-minded and not physically-minded.  This is a hard statement for us to accept.  We are physically oriented.  But Jesus tells us to partake of Him.  He is the life that we must take as our own, His words are the Spirit that gives us life.  Pressing On means daily reorienting ourselves from a life of the flesh to the life of the Spirit.  Today is the day to begin doing this, after all, life can be found nowhere else!

More than we ask or think... April 23, 2011

Read: Ephesians 3:14-21.  Focus verse: 20

As human beings, God has given us minds that are far more developed and advanced than any other created thing.  There's an old saying that says, 'if you think it, you can do it.'  If this is true, we can reasonably conclude there is nothing that we can't do, after all our minds can think of just about anything.  But according to the Apostle Paul here in Ephesians chapter 3, God is capable of more than we can even ask for or think of.  Can you comprehend that?  God is capable of more than we can even think of!  How is that possible?  The rest of the verse answers that question, "the power that is at work within us."  Do you find yourself in a place of doubt or uncertainty?  Do you wonder if God is capable of doing the impossible?  Be assured that He is.  In fact, He's capable of more than you can ask or think of!  What a wonderful promise to us His children.  Press On today, even in the face of doubt and uncertainty, that God is capable of so much more than we could ever ask or think of!

Microscopic Me... April 20, 2011 (By Levi)

Read: John 3:22-30. Focus Verse: 30

As we find ourselves in the middle of Passion Week, it is important to consider how we view God.  It is easy to become distracted by the bright and shiny things in this world which tell us that 'it's my life', or 'it's my body', or 'it's my choice'.  This world is wrong and the bright and shiny quickly fades and then what are we left with?  As John 3:30 says, we can only have a bigger and more appropriate view of God when we deflate our view of ourselves!

 

Our God who runs... April 18, 2011

Read: Luke 15:11-32.  Focus Verse: 20

There are few, if any, other world religions that picture their deity as a god who pursues his own people.  That's the picture of our God here in Luke's account of the Prodigal Son.  Other deities are distant and elusive.  Not ours.  Our God ran to us, that's what the cross and the incarnation of Christ are all about, the Father coming to us.  In spite of our unworthiness, our reckless living, our complete rejection of the Father, He still welcomes us.  Not only does He welcome us, He pursues us.  Yet we are often like Adam and Eve in the garden, hiding from God, fearful of His anger that rightfully should burn against us.  We don't think He'll be glad to see us.  And yet He is!  There is nothing appealing about us that compels Him to do so, it's just His nature.  May we Press On in the knowledge and assurance that we are irrevocably His!  He is glad to welcome us home!  May we be glad to come home!

STOP YELLING AT ME!... April 15, 2011 (By Bob)

Read: Proverbs 12.  Focus Verse: 18

Have you ever been guilty of speaking harshly to someone and hurting that person?  I have.  It starts with me not listening and then speaking my mind.  I think I'm speaking the truth in that situation but I'm not because I haven't listened to the other person and I'm focused on MY truth.

Wise speech brings healing.  It's full of kindness.  It starts with listening to the OTHER person.  Let's listen before we speak (understanding), and when we speak let's focus on healing (forgiveness).  Then when truth comes out - it'll be wise (sensible).

The Measure of a Man... April 13, 2011 (By Chris)

Read: Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 3:19-20

We cannot measure something that we cannot comprehend; nor can we comprehend something that cannot be measured...yet still we try.  It is a natural human tendency to acknowledge something, or assess it, by some form of measurement, or comparison.  We wouldn't consider anyone to be short or tall if we were all the same size.  Still, all of our comparisons are relative until we can specify.  Just how short, or how tall?   You may consider a pine tree to be tall by itself, but once you compare it to a redwood...well, you get the idea.  The point is that in order for us to understand the extent, or depth, or magnitude of something (or the lack thereof), we must rely on some form of measurement.  Furthermore, the only reason we measure in the first place, is because we intrinsically assume that what we are measuring has a limit.  There is no "infinity" marker on a measuring tape.

Why is it that we cannot comprehend God?  Because He cannot be measured.  He alone is limitless.  There is nothing in all the universe that can compare to Him, no matter how hard (and how often) we try.  And it is not just God Himself, but every aspect about Him - His power, His wisdom, His patience, His love.  Paul refers to God in Ephesians as one whose love "surpasses all knowledge," or comprehension, and who "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask of imagine". 

We often look down upon ourselves when we realize that we do not measure up to someone else, in one way or another.  But the truth is that we will never be satisfied with who we are until we stop comparing ourselves to others altogether.  Paradoxically, we will never understand our true measure until we come to understand that God is immeasurable.

Loving before serving... April 11, 2011

Read: John 12:1-8.  Focus verse: 8

After reading this short account of Jesus' interaction with Mary and the disciples, I can't help but imagine what Judas must have been thinking.  Likely he thought, 'I'll appeal to the needs of the poor, surely this will persuade Jesus to correct Mary's behavior.'  Jesus' response however is quite surprising.  Surprising not only to Judas, but likely to us today.  Was He really telling Judas not to worry about the poor?  Did Jesus not care about taking care of the poor?  Being the ultimate example of sacrifice, why was Jesus not willing to make a sacrifice here for the sake of the needy?  Jesus' response here gives us a clear picture of His values.  The cross was more important to Him then were the needy at that moment.  His supreme sacrifice is the turning point of history, upon which everything else (including taking care of the needy) depends.  It's the highest of all values.  Are you guilty of ever raising your work for Christ above your love for Him?  If so, our works become empty and are done in vain.  Worship is first.  He is ultimately more valuable than any other concern, yes even the poor.  Pressing on means letting your service for Him flow out of a heart of love that is enamored with Him.

Against the current...April 9, 2011

Read: Matthew 5:3-10.  Focus verse:10

As Christians we have been called to be in the world but not of the world (John 17:15).  We have been called to be salt and light to a lost world (Matthew 5:13-16).  And yet it sometimes feels impossible to live different from our world.  As believers we can often feel like a fish constantly swimming upstream against the current.  Our message is often not one that unbelieves welcome.  The constant persecution we can endure as Christians can tempt us to compromise our beliefs and our pursuit of holiness.  Yet it is in those times that Christ reminds us to press on, trusting that as we are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, we shall be blessed.  We have not been called to swim against a gentle flowing brook of water.  We have been called to swim against a raging rapid.  That is the nature of the unbelieving world.  Do you find yourself discouraged today as you go against the current?  If so, let Christ's promise here in verse 10 be your source of encouragement.  We may not fit in with society now, but we fit perfectly with the coming Kingdom!  Press on! 

Our Humble Master... April 6, 2011

Read: John 13:1-17.  Focus verse: 8

Try to imagine the amazement of the disciples as they watched their Master washing their feet.  For 3 years He had defined greatness, and now He was turning their definition on its head.  A reigning Messiah shouldn't be doing something so undignified should He?  Washing the dirty feet of His men, some of which would later deny Him and even completely turn away from Him.  In this simple act of washing the disciples feet, Jesus washes away any personal indignation we might have.  How can we maintain any sense of pride when our exalted Savior refused to?  How can we look on others with contempt when Jesus was willing to wash the feet of His own betrayer?  We serve a humble God!  Pressing on means looking to the humble example of Christ, and pursuing a life of humble service in our daily lives.  Do you struggle with pride?  Are you above washing the dirty feet of those who are unsure of you?  Look to the example of Christ and be reminded that not only does He desire intimacy with you, He'll even wash your feet!

 More than serving ... April 4, 2011

Read: Matthew 5:43-48.   Focus verses: 44-45

 As Christians we often find it fairly easy to serve others.  Everyone likes to serve, particularly the needy.  It’s socially acceptable and noble.  But what about the call to love others?  Particularly those that we might not like?  These are the people Jesus refers to as our ‘enemies’ here in Matthew 5.  This tends to be the hang-up for many believers.  Serving is easy.  We serve, say our goodbyes, and go on with our lives.  Loving requires more, particularly toward those who might fall into that ‘enemy’ category.  Once again though, we see Jesus calling us to do only what’s He already done.  He loved us when we were still yet ‘enemies’ of God by giving His life for us (Romans 5).  But here in this passage, Jesus not only gives us the command, but the reason behind the command. Verse 45, “so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”  No our loving others doesn’t save us, but it does make us like our Father.  God loves His enemies.  Pressing on means loving the unlovable, even those we might consider our ‘enemies’. 

Truly satisfied in Christ? ... April 2, 2011

 

 

In Matthew 5:6 Jesus tells us that those who hunger and thrist for righteousness will be satisfied.  In John 6, He tells us how to do that, by coming to Him and believing in Him as the the source of life-giving bread.  Many Christians today are still hungry and thirsty.  Jesus is shamefully absent from their lives, even though they claim to have a relationship with Him.  Could it be that we are hungry for the wrong kind of 'bread'?  Could it be that Jesus has become a means to satisfy our own end?  If so, then we will continue on in our hunger and thirst.  However, if we are willing to come to Him with the right type of hunger, Jesus promises that we will find true satisfaction.  A really old and wise dude named St. Augustine said, "The heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee (Christ)."  Is your heart restless today?  Are you hungry and thristy even as a believer?  Pressing on means coming to Christ, the source of life-giving bread, and finding unending satisfaction in Him.  Ask God today to give you a heart that desires Christ, the Bread of Life, who is the one that can truly satisfy our wrestless hearts.

Healing Stripes... March 31 2011

Read: Isaiah 53:1-8.  Focus verse:5

The Prophet Isaiah gives us a vivid picture of the physical agony that Christ endured on our behalf.  Yet as followers of Christ our lives often suggest that it was no big deal.  We are thankful for the cross and the sacrifice of Christ, but quick to look away from the agony that characterized Christ's sacrifice.  The stripes of Jesus' back are a picture of the Father's love for us His children.  Have you spent time really considering the cross?  Have you asked God to imprint the image of Christ on the cross upon your heart?  Regular and deep reflection on the severe nature of Christ's sacrifice produces within us a godly sorrow toward our own sin.  A sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10).  Pressing on means never moving too far away from a clear picture of Christ's great sacrifice for us.  Take time to thank God for Christ's sacrifical death, and the stripes that brought us healing as followers of Christ.

Suffering like Christ... March 29, 2011

Read: Hebrews 5:1-10.  Focus verse: 8

Hebrews 5:8 reminds us that it was through suffering that Christ was 'made perfect'.  If this is so, why is that as followers of Christ we so often think that we must not suffer?  We avoid suffering at all cost.  Christ's experience teaches us that suffering is necessary.  The previous chapter of Hebrews, chapter 4, gives us the promise of a sustaining hope through our times of suffering.  "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses...".  What a comforting thought this is.  Jesus sympathizes with our weakness, and yet strengthens us in our times of weakness.  To suffer is an honorable thing, to suffer for Christ is a glorious thing.  As followers of Christ let us embrace seasons of suffering, trusting in Christ's promises to us.  Do you find yourself in a season of suffering right now?  Is there someone in your family who is suffering?  How about a peer at school?  Pressing on means trusting Christ through seasons of suffering, recalling the promise of the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2:12, "if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him."

 

I, like many Christians was raised going to church.  I grew up reading the bible, I memorized all the scripture that was placed in front of me and to the best of my abilities I followed the Ten Commandments.  I was Godly by association.  I never had to make the hard choices because my parents, youth pastor or relatives told me what to do.  My relationship with the Lord was just as much my parents as it was my own.  I prayed, I read the bible and I went to every possible church event you can imagine, but at the end of the day none of that meant anything in regards to my own relationship with God.  I was living in a protective bubble that was ready to pop the first chance Satan got.  Once it did I realized the world, the church, and the people in it were not even close to perfect.  This realization is what first drew me away from church.  I was never mad at God for the circumstances in my life, I was mad at Christians.  I was mad at the people who told me to live a certain way and then did something totally different.  I was mad at the leader of my church and close family friend who cheated on his wife.  I was mad at my pastor for firing my long time friend and youth pastor and changing his teachings from the Bible being absolute truth to being just some story book of life lessons.  I was mad that something I thought for so long to be so easy was no longer so.

But as a Christian, life isn’t easy.  If it were, it really would not have made what Jesus did for us so special.  We live in a world that has been taken over by sin.  A world that will one day be destroyed because of that evil.  Satan is constantly looking for ways to distract us from God, and let’s be honest, he is good at it, and we are great at letting him.  My challenge to you is to be distracted.  Be distracted from the things that keep you from pursuing Christ to the fullest.  If you struggle with pornography, chances are when it is a struggle you are probably by yourself and have nothing better to do.  Distract yourself!!!!  Don’t put yourself into a place of temptation.  If you know your parents aren’t going to be home, don’t turn on the TV with questionable programming, don’t go online knowing that you are a click away from giving in to temptation.  Open the bible!  Go on a run!  Argue with God over the temptation that you are resisting.  Distract yourself! 

If you struggle with a bad mouth, distract yourself.  Chances are you didn’t pick up that language out of the blue.  You heard it over and over again from something or someone in your life, and it became the norm.  Don’t let it be.  Find replacement words, surround yourself with people whose first word out of their mouth isn’t profanity.  Distract yourself!!!

Maybe it’s your relationship with a boy friend or girl friend that is hindering your walk with God.  Ask yourself this, 'Is this person distracting me from God, or are they distracting me from the things God hates?'  Depending on your answer you may need to take a step back and re-evaluate why you are with that person.

Ultimately it is up to us to make the final decision.  We are only under our parent’s microscope for so long.  Pastor Rob can only teach you for so long.  At some point your relationship with God becomes just that.  YOUR relationship!  No one else’s!  It is how your react when that time comes that will either make you or break you.  The sad part is many of you will chose to be broken, and once that happens it is so much harder to be fixed.  I was one of those people who chose to be broken, and the pain that came from that brokenness is unlike anything else in this world.  People always talk about the void you feel apart from God, and growing up I thought that was such a joke.  But it’s not!  The emptiness, the heart ache, and the things you pursue trying to fix it will only make it worse.  So please, take this time to evaluate YOUR relationship with the Lord.  Does it even exist?  You may not be sure, and that’s ok.  The awesome thing is there are so many people at church who truly care about you and can help you along the way.  And when the temptations and distractions come will you be able to distract yourself from them and Press On!

 

 

 

 

I hate to be wrong, but then again, who doesn’t?  It’s a tough thing because we all want to be right, but sometimes, we just are flat wrong.  Even worse than being wrong, I hate being corrected, especially if it’s in front of other people.  When it comes down to it, it’s a pride thing.  I don’t want to appear that I am not good at something or that someone is better than I am, especially if it’s something I love to do.  This is definitely not a godly way to live.  It’s like when you're in a math group and one person is positive they have the right answer to the problem so you go with it, not because you know their right, but because you don’t know how to do it yourself.  Then you do the entire rest of the group homework the same way as that first problem and then you get your grade back and you bombed it.  Essentially, that member of the group lead the rest of the group astray.  Think of correction like this; if one person had spoken up, the rest of the homework might not have been incorrect.  If we heed correction, we won’t keep making the same mistakes over and over again.  Press on today by not getting agitated when someone corrects you, instead, be thankful that you’re not going astray!

 

 

 

 Waiting is one of the hardest things to do.  Consider just a few examples... it doesn’t seem humanly possible to wait patiently in heavy traffic, we get fast-passes when we go to Disneyland to avoid waiting, in the lunch line we send friends ahead to save us a spot.  I know that this is something that I have a difficult time with.  It’s so easy to come up with a plan for your life, a fast-track to success or to try a get-rich-quick scheme.  The thing is, the fast way generally doesn’t turn out to be the best way.  When I make brownies, there is no way I can wait for them to finish baking properly, then I take them out prematurely and burn myself or make a mess… life is just not designed for the easy way out.

 

Before I got sick, I had my whole life planned out, what degree I would earn, what car I would drive, what my wife and kids would be like, what kind of work I would be doing, etc.  God has a crazy way of taking our plans and shattering them.  It’s devastating at first, trust me, but then you start to see where He fills in the cracks, where He starts to substitute His plans for yours, and pretty soon, He covers the whole broken mess with a new design.  I’ll tell you what, I have no clue what God is doing in my life, but there is something to be said about the peace of knowing I’m not in control, something I never thought I’d hear myself say.  As the focus verse says, “I remain confident that I will see the goodness of the Lord”.  God is good and even if it’s hard to see or understand, it doesn’t change the fact that He is good!  Today, make a conscious effort to look, look specifically for areas (even really small ones) where God is showing you His goodness. 

 

Called to stay home? ... July 27, 2011

Read:  Matthew 28:16-20.  Focus verse:  19

 

 

 

 

This time a year ago, I was coming to my last couple of weeks at Eagle Lake and I was exhausted.  My energy, my patience, and my drive all dropped drastically from my first couple of weeks. And this year, I am once again in the same boat.  This is my last week of my internship and I am tired, both physically and mentally. It is so easy to allow that tiredness or the exhaustion to catch up and get the best of us, but that is because we are relying on our own strength; which is not always strong or up to par.

 

God’s strength never fails, just like the verse in Isaiah reminds us, “He does not faint or grow weary.” I can honestly say that He is bigger, better, and more powerful than we are. Then why don't we rely completely on Him for strength? He is more than willing to give it to us, there is no catch, all He asks is that we ask and wait for Him to renew our strength. He wants to see us soar like eagles, He wants to see us run, and do the work He has called us to do!

 

So, instead of having the end-of-summer blues, and allowing your exhaustion to completely consume you, I challenge you to not rely on your strength, but to dwell in the strength of our Father. There will be a huge difference, and I know that the benefits will be great, but like He says, we just need to wait on Him to renew our strength. 

 Called to stay home?  July 27, 2011

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