4/29/21 4/29/21

Devotion How Shallow Am I? Spiritual Discernment?

Read:Matthew 15:5-12

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. --Colossians 2:8-9

Jesus sometimes appeared amazed at the obtuseness of his disciples. By then, they’d been with Him for quite some time. They’d witnessed miracle after miracle, including the provision of multiplying bread--twice!

They’d heard His teachings. Surely, they could have figured out Jesus didn’t need to chide them for not bringing enough bread.

They had seen His demonstration of power in healing the sick, casting out demons and stilling the storm. They knew Jesus explained present circumstances through parables and Old Testament prophecies. Nevertheless, when Jesus asked a question, they immediately assumed He spoke of physical needs.

The disciples showed little spiritual discernment and even less faith. It was for this reason Jesus chided them. Many of us have grown up with the Bible and the availability of Sunday School, church, and other Christian activities.

Yet, how much spiritual discernment do we have? Are we more shallow than the disciples? Have we allowed tradition and a bit of teaching here and there to substitute for spending time communicating with Jesus and getting into His Word?

Are we easily manipulated and misled, rationalizing our entertainment choices, as well as substituting our own desires for God’s? Do we shrug our shoulders at abortion, alternate lifestyles, pornography, debt, and divorce? By our choices, do we deny our Lord?

What we believe reveals the state of our hearts. When we separate ourselves from communicating with and listening to Jesus and His Word, we are no longer following His will, His way or His Word. We’ve become shallow, weak imitations easily led away in sin.

Help me, Lord, seep myself in You and Your Word that I might have spiritual discernment and not be misled or manipulated by my rebellious heart or to allow Satan to turn me away from You. Amen.

Meditations:
Monday: Philippians 4:6-9T
Tuesday: Galatians 1:6-9
Wednesday: Colossians 2:6-10
Thursday: II Timothy 2:15; 3:1-5
Friday: Psalm 119:1-11
Saturday: Psalm 42

2/2/21 2/2/21

Devotion The People of God Shall be Strong

...but the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.--Daniel 11:32b (KJV)

In today’s society, surrounded by material possessions, untold entertainment, and the pressure to keep our faith to ourselves, many of us are all too willing to do just that. Sharing Christ can be embarrassing, even detrimental, to our work or school environment and even to friendships.

We often go about our daily lives, leaving Jesus for Sunday and church and not much else. We’re very good at hiding our light. But God is not the God of apathy, fear, or inaction.

He calls us to be strong and do exploits in His name. He clearly calls on us to fight the evil forces around us and to speak and stand up for what is true and good and right for ourselves, our families, and our culture.

Jesus calls on us, not to hide away, but to show forth His word and His light and to make a difference in the world for Him. This is the time to stand. This is the time to hide God’s Word in our hearts and let Jesus direct us into taking action as God’s people.

This is the time to work against the forces of darkness and evil that seek to destroy our nation, our culture, and our families.

It is time to stand against the forces that seek to destroy the most vulnerable among us from the pre-born baby to the helpless, elderly, and the disabled. We need to stand against forces that teach that life does not have intrinsic value.

This is the time to stand before another holocaust sends evil agents to your door because this time it is your life that is forfeit. Such a future doesn’t need to happen today or tomorrow if God’s people will fill their hearts and minds with His Word and power and stand strong in faith and trust against evil--evil often parading as tolerance or an alternate lifestyle or some other politically correct view.

Such action must start with a right relationship with Jesus Christ, move to earnest prayer for our families and nation, and then wait for God’s guidance and direction. We will only be successful if we fight in His will, His time, and in His way.

Help me, Lord, be informed and sensitive to the issues of the day. Help me to view them from your perspective, not mine by meditating on Your Word. Also, give me the courage to speak up and stand firm for righteousness and truth, no matter what, but do so in truth--and love. Amen.

Meditations: Read Psalm 28
Monday: Mark 11:15—19; Proverbs 1:7
Tuesday: Proverbs 8:13, 12:1; 16:2-3
Proverbs 17:15, 18:5; 25:5,11
Wednesday: Psalm 18:1-6, 17-24, 32
Thursday: Jonah 1-2
Friday: Jonah 3-4
Saturday: Psalm 40

10/7/20 10/7/20

Devotion Walk By Faith NOT Fear

It is so much easier to follow that which we can see or hear or read. But as Christ followers, though there can be many Christian mentors, we need to remember they are all but pale, fallible copies of the real thing.

Feeling alone can be scary. That's when we need to center our focus not on ME, but on He who died for you and me. Our focus first, last, and always needs to be on our Savior, on testing all by His Word and prayer. If we're afraid to stand up for our faith, we deny our Savior.

With Him we do not need to be afraid for he doesn't let us go.

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God goes with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you. ...And the LORD goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you, neither forsake you: fear not, neither be dismayed.

We do not need to live in fear when we make Jesus the center of our lives. He is our comfort and refuge as we follow Him.

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