Loving Jesus Style

  Scripture: Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)   5  Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”   Devotion: In a world that constantly urges us to seek more, Hebrews 13:5 offers a counter-cultural message of contentment and divine assurance. "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" We find ourselves in a society that often measures success by the things we accumulate. Advertisements, social media, and even our peers can subtly make us feel inadequate if we don't constantly strive for more money, possessions, and accolades. However, this societal pressure often leads to a cycle of dissatisfaction. No matter how much we acquire, it's never enough. In stark contrast, Hebrews 13:5 offers a counter-cultural message of contentment and divine assurance, empowering u...

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) 6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Devotion:             These verses above are often quoted but have yet to be lived out. Why is that? One primary reason for this disconnect is that Christians more often conform to the world than we are transformed into Christ's ways. The world, through our media, tries successfully to get our eyes turned toward the stories that keep us anxious and unsettled. If Christians are not careful about what media we pay attention to, we can often fall prey to their schemes to keep us anxious and depressed.             One only has to pay attention to the statistics about anxiety an...

  Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) 5      Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6      In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.   Devotion:                The proverb we are considering today is perhaps familiar to most believers. However, we should not let familiarity prevent us from seeing the Scripture with fresh eyes. I have deliberately chosen the Old King James version, a unique perspective that offers a fresh interpretation, to aid us in examining this proverb in new and intriguing ways. This translation of the familiar passage will slow us down, inviting us to consider each word and the thoughts the writer wants us to catch.   The first line of the passage starkly contrasts our culture's demands with the Lord's command. It encourages us to depend on the Lord’s words and ways without reservation, in dire...

Scripture: Daniel 12:3 (NLT) 3  Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Devotion:             These words from the prophet Daniel should serve as a call to action for all those who seek God's wisdom and are determined to illuminate those around them. In a world where the wisdom of this world often guides leadership, the Bible warns us that this wisdom is not the true path to living. The writer of James clearly distinguishes between earthly wisdom and the heavenly wisdom we should urgently seek.             James says this about earthly wisdom in 3:14-16: “ 14. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16  For wh...

  Scripture: Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV) 1  Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will never be shaken.   Devotion:                    David, the author of Psalm 62, exemplifies unwavering faith and trust in God for salvation. His words resonate with the church community today, reminding us of our profound gift in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. David's faith, though rooted in a different time, is a beacon of inspiration for us all as we, too, await God's chosen time to reveal His salvation to the world. David never had a particularly easy life. His older brothers probably made him do all the most menial tasks around their property. As David grew up, he showed great courage and resilience as he relied on God for his rest and salvation.          ...

  Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV) 7  “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? 5  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Devotion:             In today’s culture, perhaps the one unforgivable sin is judging another person, especially concerning matters of sin. Yet, we are all human and struggle with our own imperfections. This scripture reminds us to approach others with empathy and understanding rather than judgment. Rather than instructing us to forego all judgment, it is a...

  Why? Scripture: Psalm 42:5 (NIV) 5  Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.   Devotion:                The words above are the refrain to this psalm and Psalm 43. That is only part of the evidence that these two psalms were originally one psalm. This refrain occurs twice in Psalm 42 in verses 5 and 11 and at the end of Psalm 43 in verse 5. What is the psalmist trying to convey in these two psalms?                 The writer tries to convey his and our constant need for God. In Verses 1-4 of Psalm 42, we hear of the psalmist's need and desire to seek and find God. Finding God is for the writer is just as necessary as finding water is for the deer and other animals of the forest. The fact that, for whatever reason, the psalmist is incapable at the moment of co...

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:16 (ESV) 16  And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. Devotion:             Today’s scripture verse, the pinnacle of the prophet Nathan’s oracle about King David, holds profound significance. Consider the historical context: imagine how David and his contemporaries in 1,000 B.C. would have perceived these words. Would they have assumed that David’s descendants would always occupy the throne and rule over Israel? This seems likely. Yet, the reality that the kingdom would be divided soon after David’s death, with no direct lineage of David to rule, might have led them to believe that this prophecy had failed.             Other prophets throughout the ages saw this and bemoaned that David’s offspring were not worthy to occupy the throne. They might have thought that God would...

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV) 6  “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;   7      let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;        let him return to the Lord , that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Devotion:             With these words, Isaiah seeks to help us repent of our wicked thoughts and actions and turn to the Lord to seek His compassion and pardon. Isaiah notes that the Lord is near to his original audience. How much closer is God through the Holy Spirit to us? We, as Christians, have the Holy Spirit residing within each of us. While we sometimes ignore or actively resist the promptings of the Spirit, nevertheless, God dwells within us, ready to act on our behalf.             Today's wo...

  Scripture: Micah 6:8 (ESV) 8  He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you        but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Devotion:             In this short but powerful verse, God himself speaks these words through the mouthpiece of His prophet, Micah. God has just finished telling the people that He does not need their animal and oil sacrifices, no matter how vast the quantity. The people he addressed had mistaken ideas of what God required from them in their worship. God had told and shown them all through their history of walking with Him that He cared more for the state of their souls than all the sacrifices they could offer Him.                   Don’t we make the same mistake today? It seems the church always stresses the form and c...

  Scripture: Acts 2:1-4 (ESV) 2  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Devotion:             Today, as we gather in the church, we commemorate the significant event of the Holy Spirit's outpouring on the disciples. Just as Jesus had instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit arrived, we too are reminded of the importance of patience and readiness for the Spirit's work in our lives. On the Jewish feast of Pentecost, Jesus' words were fulfilled as the Spirit descended upon them. The full extent of their newly found power woul...

  Scripture: Acts 20:35 (ESV) 35  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Devotion:             These words from the Book of Acts serve as a direct challenge to each one of us in the church community. As followers of Christ, we bear a significant responsibility in our current society, where the number of needy people can be overwhelming. We often find ourselves, like the lawyer in Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, trying to limit the number and kind of people who qualify for our “compassion.” However, this scripture reminds us that it is our duty, as followers of Christ, to help the weak and needy, regardless of their number or circumstances.             Confronted with this scriptural truth, we ...

  Scripture: John 13:34-35 (ESV) 34  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Devotion:             The words of this scripture passage flow from the apostle John as quickly and frequently as any other word he ever wrote. Love is one of the overarching themes in John’s writings. From his gospel to his letters, John consistently writes of the necessity for Christians' lives to be marked by love for one another. The words John writes here are a quote from the lips of Jesus. Jesus knows the law of the Torah and is undoubtedly aware that in Leviticus 19: 18, we are commanded to love one another. So, in what sense is this a new command?             The Leviticus command is that we love on...

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17 (NIV) 17  A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Devotion             This profound proverb holds a universal truth that resonates with all of us. It encapsulates the essence of true love and loyalty, which are not just desirable but essential for our survival and growth as human beings. As social creatures, we thrive in loving, trusting relationships. When we are deprived of these connections, whether by choice or circumstance, we often find ourselves making unwise decisions. In times of adversity, it is this love and support that can provide us with the reassurance and comfort we need.             An essential but unstated truth of this proverb is that just as we need to be loved even in personal crises and adversity, we must be available to love and accompany others in their distress. This require...

  Scripture: Galatians 6:2 (ESV) 2  Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Devotion:             Americans have always prided themselves on their independence. We claim to be a nation of self-made men and women who can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps if the occasion warrants. However, Paul, in this verse and the verses that surround it, proclaims that the Christian life is not a solitary journey but a community affair. When we see a brother stumble and fall under the load they bear, we are not just obligated, but we are called to render aid out of a genuine desire to help. In the same way, we are to accept aid graciously when difficulties befall us, not as a sign of weakness but as a testament to our humility and trust in our fellow believers, strengthening the bonds of our community.             Even our Lord Jesus allowed Simon of ...

  Scripture: Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV) 17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Devotion:             The scripture above is part of a prayer that the apostle Paul prays for the church at Ephesus. Paul asks God to provide the people to whom this was written with special knowledge and insight into the things of God—the knowledge they would need to thrive and be productive for the kingdom—not knowledge that was some secret, but the knowledge that God makes available to all who ask Him for it. Therefore, this prayer is as much for us as it was for the people of Ephesus.          ...