Loving Jesus Style

Scripture: Acts 1:7-8 (ESV) He [Jesus} said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.  8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Devotion:             We live in interesting times. The unrest in Palestine between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip dominates the news. Along with this war, protests have erupted both for and against Israel all around the globe. This has many people wondering if the end of the world is upon us. While as the scripture teaches, we are always to be ready for Jesus’ return we will never know the exact day and hour because Jesus has tasked us not to be prophets but witnesses.             We, having received the gift of the Holy Spirit, are empowered, and commissioned to do the hard work of being witnesses to this world. We are to be about telling others of the love and grace

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-11 (ESV) 7  But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  8  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  9  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—  10  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  11  that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Devotion:             In this scripture Paul leads us to consider how much faith in Christ is really worth. In today’s culture we are often tempted to value the things we have as more important than our relationship to Jesus. Paul warns us against misplaced values such as these. He confronts this

          Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (ESV) 19  For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20  To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21  To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22  To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23  I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Devotion:             Today’s scripture we can read without really taking it in. We say to ourselves, that is what Paul had to do. We can just remain as we are. No real change is needed. I want to challenge us today to read and apply these words to our own lives.

  Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2  For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3  By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Devotion:             The writer of Hebrews gives us a brief introduction to faith in this short passage. The author did not intend that this should be an exhaustive definition, but rather a short introduction to the topic. He expands on this definition by giving examples of what this faith looks like in verses 4 through 40 of this chapter. Let us consider these first three verses to see what they can teach us about faith in their own right.             First of all, we read that faith is the “assurance of things hoped for.” Here the writer is directing us realize that faith is related to hope. Since no one hopes to receive what they already have in their possess

  Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (ESV) {M}ay the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,  13  so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Devotion:             Yesterday we celebrated a day set aside for giving thanks for all the good gifts the Lord has brought our way in the last year. However, for most Americans Thanksgiving is quickly forgotten in the rush toward Christmas. Most eyes will turn from plates overflowing with food to carts overflowing with merchandise. The afternoon naps following the consumption of so much food will turn into the hustle and bustle of buying presents for family and friends. Paul reminds us that our priority should be loving our neighbors.             It is easy to take God for granted in the post-Thanksgiving rush. This is ironic because without God’s gift of Jesus we would have no occasion for all the shopp

  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 (ESV) 18  Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19  For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20  and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21  So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22  whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23  and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. Devotion:             Here, in this scripture passage we find Paul urging the Corinthian church to seek wisdom from God. The church has fallen to the temptation to believe that they are wise because they follow the teaching of one of the Lord’s servants instead of Christ himself. It is easy to fall victim to this failure of understanding. In the church today there are those who become so attached to hu

  Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (ESV) 14  But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16  to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Devotion:             The picture Paul so carefully draws in this scripture is strange to modern ears. We need to travel back in time to discover what Paul is describing for us here. In ancient Rome when a Roman General won a great victory, he would parade the prisoners of war around the city. During the parade the spectators would burn incense in celebration of the occasion. The odor would be pleasing to the spectators and soldiers, but the smell would be the smell of death to the prisoners of war who would soon be executed.             It is this scene that Paul so vividly describes. A sce

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12=13 (ESV) 12  Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Devotion:             This scripture passage is meant as a warning to both its 1 st century readers and to us today that we are in a spiritual battle. As Paul will make perfectly clear in Ephesians 6, we are fighting for our spiritual lives. There is nothing so tragic as to see a child of God who has lived many years in faithful, devoted service to God, suddenly fall into the devil’s trap. They ruin not only their own souls, but they injure many who looked to them as a spiritual mentor and leader.             These words of Paul’s provide both a warning and an encouragement for us. Paul states that God is faithful not to test us be

Scripture: Psalm 66:1-4 (NIV) 1  Shout for joy to God, all the earth! 2      Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. 3  Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. 4  All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.   Devotion:               We look today at a psalm of thanksgiving. In a world that seems headed for conflict and destruction this psalm holds out hope for God’s ultimate victory over the forces of chaos and violence which fill our world. We, too often, fall prey to the voices around us that tell us that gloom and darkness are our fate. The anonymous writer of this psalm declares to us a different fate. This prayer begs us to lift our eyes and see that the Lord is doing a new thing among us.               The psalmist declares that eventually all people on the earth will bow and worship the creator God. Whether we bow freely or under compulsion that choice is o

  Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) 8  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9  not by works, so that no one can boast. 10  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. Devotion:             If you have been around the church for any length of time you have heard these verses from Ephesian quoted by someone. These verses are a simple way of stating the basic truth of the salvation which we have been given. They are a bold statement of God’s great love for us. They are in sharp contrast to all the other major religions in the world. All the other religions promote ways achieving God’s favor by doing good works. One is never sure if one has done enough to secure salvation.             Christianity on the other hand is based on the fact that God has done something remarkable for us. We do not need to be concerned about how many good works we

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)   For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Devotion:             The purpose behind Paul’s writing here in 2 nd Corinthians was to encourage the believers in Corinth to give generously to help their brothers and sisters in Macedonia. Paul does this by pointing back to Jesus’ self-giving in the incarnation, death, and resurrection. It is amazing to consider that the God who created the entire universe cared so much for His creation that He would die for us. It makes no earthly sense. However, the wisdom of God who came to us is not based on human reason.             Indeed, we must be grateful for God’s grace. While we were still stuck in our sinful ways we were made right with God through the impossible gift of His Son. We who believe in Christ take it as a matter of faith that there was never a time when Christ did not exist. Th

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) 11  So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers,  12  to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  13  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Devotion:             We continue in Chapter 4 of the Ephesians today. Here we see Paul encouraging members of that church, and by extension us, to be involved in the day-to-day life of whatever Christian fellowship we belong to. One temptation in our Christian walk is to leave everything up to paid staff members and just sit back and enjoy the show. Christian living is never just bread and circuses. Our leaders need people to wash the dishes and bake the bread. Otherwise, we run the risk of burning our leaders out.              Paul lists several job titles in addition to pastor in verse 11. There is disagree

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Devotion:             Paul writing in this scripture passage is calling the church to radical unity. In our society there are so many divisions in the body of Christ it is impossible to see how we could be united about anything. However, we know that Jesus himself prayed for the unity of believers. If Jesus thought that unity was possible and desirable then we can, as members of the church, seek to become united with our brothers and sisters in the Lord regardless of how different we may be from one another.             As our world moves farther and farther away from God and the church, we must be more united than ever. When times are good, and the worship of God has become socially acceptable. It may not matter that we divide and then divide

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 (NRSV) 12  I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. Devotion:             Today’s scripture is well known among the followers of Jesus Christ. Many people have memorized this in fact. There is a danger in that. We may become so familiar with any passage of scripture that we no longer seek meaning in its words assuming that we know all there is to know about the passage in question. Therefore, let us stop and look at this passage with fresh eyes, so that we may be transformed in our minds as the passage urges us to do and be.             One of the first things we notice is that we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. What does that mean exac

Scripture: Exodus 3:13-15 (ESV) 13  Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, “What is his name? what shall I say to them?” 14  God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you. ” 15  God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Devotion:             In this scripture passage we consider the divine name of God. Moses who had turned aside from what he was doing to see the awesome sight of a bush that was on fire yet not consumed, was being instructed to go back to Egypt to lead the Hebrew slaves out of slavery. However, Moses had several objections or excuses that he believed disqualified him from going. In this passa

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV) [Y]ou are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Devotion:             Today, we continue in Ephesians 2 by looking at Paul’s message to the Gentile believers in Ephesus. Since most of us reading this would be considered Gentiles this message is for us no matter where we live today. Paul states that Jesus by His death and resurrection has made us one with the people of God, the Jewish people. This means that all the promises made to the people of God throughout the Old Testament can now be applied to us in out lives. This is amazing news of the unbreakable word of God.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (NIV) 7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12  So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. Devotion:             Paul, in today’s scripture, is attempting to show the power of God that is at work through his own life. By refusing to take any credit for the fact that he has survived so many trials and tribulations, Paul affirms the power of God that is at work through his life. Clay jars in Paul’s day were worth very little. They were easily cracked and di