Christ-follower, Husband, Dad, Pastor

Devotional

September 19, 2013

Need a Promise?

God is faithful to fulfill everything He has promised. God never lies, and His Word is reliable. 

“God is the great reality. His resources are available and endless. His promises are real and glorious, beyond our wildest dreams.”  (J.B. Phillips)

When you think you have got a promise picked out, ask yourself the following:

  • To whom is the promise given (what is the context of the promise)?
  • Does the promise apply to me under the New Covenant?
  • Is the promise conditional or unconditional?
  • Is the promise (qualified) limited or modified or balanced by other parts of Scripture?

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“God’s promise is present in His Word, which speaks of the blessings He intends to give to His people…. God also continues to be the one who gives promises concerning the blessings He will bestow on His people, such as the promise of release from the power of sin and the promise of the Spirit.” (Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, p. 852)

Have you taken advantage the great promise of salvation through Jesus Christ? “Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 TLB) If so, avail yourself to the benefits of membership in God’s family. Pick a promise to meditate – ponder it, think about it over and over – and let faith arise in your heart. Say the verse aloud. Be loud enough that your ears hear it!

  • Promise of Jesus’ Presence Now and Forever: “Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT)
  • Promise of the Holy Spirit: “As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 GNT)
  • Promise that God Works for Good: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NASB)
  • Promise that Nothing can Separate us from God’s Love: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 8:35-39 NIV)
  • Promise that God will Meet Needs: “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 AMP)
  • Promise that God will Renew Strength: “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” (Isaiah 40:31 AMP)

“God is the God of promise. He keeps His word, even when that seems impossible; even when the circumstances seem to point to the opposite.”  (Colin Urquhart)

Here are a few tips for finding promises to meditate, to hold in your heart, and to buoy your spirit.

  • Read your Bible every single day.
  • Take good notes while you are listening to sermons.
  • Ask another believer what Scriptures he/she is meditating.
  • Buy a study Bible with notes and reference suggestions.
  • Do a search for a particular word at Biblegateway.com.
  • Use a concordance and look up each verse.
  • Buy a compilation book such as God’s Promise for Your Every Need  that has verses arranged topically.
  • For a deeper study of God’s promises, pick up a copy of Larry Richard’s Every Promise in the Bible.

Why not take God at His Word? You will discover yourself worshiping like the psalmist, “Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much.” (Psalm 119:140 NLT) Trust God’s Promises!

September 18, 2013

Promise? YES & AMEN!

Trust God’s promises! When the Lord pledges to fulfill a specified act, you can rest assured that He certainly will fulfill it. I want you read the following passages and let the reality of truth sink deep within your spirit. Yes and Amen!

“Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.” (2 Corinthians 1:20-22 MSG)

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV)

“God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us.” (2 Peter 1:4a CEV)

Many songs have been written lifting up this wonderful assurance and several are playing inside my head right now. I can hear those trumpets in the background of Russell Fragar’s “Yes & Amen” (1997 HillSong Music). I can imagine the harmonica that the Brownsville Revival worship team accented for “All Your Promises” (Andrew Smith, 1995 Mercy/Vineyard). Jared Anderson’s voice is ringing out, “All Your promises won’t let go of me” (“Promises,” 2006 Vertical Worship). You could probably find versions of all those songs on youtube. I bet you can think of more songs extolling God’s promises.

Can any of you remember singing the hymn “Standing on the Promises“? When I was about eleven years old, I was intrigued by the added bass melody on the chorus. One of the older men in the choir had a deep bass voice that would rumble through each time we sang it at church. I recall trying to get my voice to sing as LOW as I could go, “Standing on the promises, standing on the promises!” I tried! I really did, but I never could get my voice down to that register. However, all my private attempts to sing “bass” ended up giving me a reminder of where I can rest my faith.

Even in a world of doubt and uncertainty, the Bible remains a steadfast foundation. The promises of God’s Word are worth celebrating! If my Grandma Martin was alive, I bet she would say, “Let’s stand and sing the first, second and fourth verses!”

Standing on the promises of Christ my King; Thro’ eternal ages let His praises ring
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing – Standing on the promises of God
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Standing on the promises that cannot fail; When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail
By the living Word of God I shall prevail – Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord; Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s Sword – Standing on the promises of God

Standing (standing on the promises) [Come on sing out! Basses, let me hear you.]
Standing (standing on the promises)
Standing on the promises of God my Savior
Standing (standing on the promises)
Standing (standing on the promises)
I’m standing on the promises of God. [Russell Kelso Carter, public domain, 1886]

I wonder if my nephew Garrison knows this hymn. Hey, Garrison, were God’s promises on your mind when this picture was taken?

September 17, 2013

God Doesn’t Lie

For their last gift on Christmas day 2008,  Rozy and Kimberlyn opened a box with a mostly-empty Disney scrapbook with Mickey’s face on the cover. When the girls first opened the package, they looked a bit bewildered, because usually give the best gift LAST. Their faces seem to ask “What’s this?”

Our reservation information was attached on the first page of the book (along with a picture of our family taped to a picture of the Cinderella’s Castle), but the girls still didn’t get it. Still puzzled, Patti and I finally announced aloud, “Spring break, we are going to Disney World!” And, the shouting started! Rozy and Kimberlyn immediately started counting days. They had asked (many, many times) to go, and they joyfully anticipated that family vacation.

One of the reasons that felt free to express such joy is the fact that Patti and I do our best to NOT lie to our children. Because we have tried to be honest with them, Rozy and Kimberlyn believed what we said. I am not perfect; yes, I have misspoken and failed to deliver on a number of occasions, but my daughters trusted that Disney was on the way. Before that Christmas morning, Patti and I had followed through with what we had promised enough times, that the girls were quite sure they would soon be seeing Minnie Mouse.

Simple pictures cannot capture how happy Rozy and Kimberlyn were to enter the Magic Kingdom and actually see Cinderella’s castle.

One reason so many of us have such difficulty in trusting God’s promises is because of the pain we have all suffered from people who did not stay true to their word. Unfaithful spouses, backstabbing friends, lying politicians, misleading infomercials, too-busy parents, broken promises – all wound us. We don’t trust for we have learned not to trust. We witness heartbreak, hear disappointing stories, and expect broken promises.
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However, God always keeps His promises.“God is not a human being, and He will not lie.”  (Numbers 23:19 NCV) God doesn’t lie, so we can certainly trust His promises. A promise is an assurance that one will do something or that something will happen, and what God has promised – He certainly will get done. We can read hundreds of promises that God has issued in the Bible. Some of the promises are specific to a particular circumstance or a particular individual, but many are available for any believer. Often promises are conditional – demanding an action or response by the individual in order to enjoy the promise. Many require nothing but a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. Some require nothing at all; God is faithful to Himself, so He will accomplish what He as spoken.

The importance of people trusting and acting God’s promise is an overarching theme of the Patriarchs of Genesis – Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and even Joseph. God’s promise kick-starts each of their stories. Their response to God’s promise is a decisive ingredient for success. The New Testament writers regularly lift up Abraham  as an example of faith, faithfulness, and trust in God’s promise. Paul writes, “Yet he [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.” (Romans 4:20-21 NIV)

“True faith is essentially reasonable because it trusts in the character and the promises of God. A believing Christian is one whose mind reflects and rests on these certitudes.”  (John R.W. Stott)

The Psalmist enlightens us as to the reasons the Israelis of Exodus were unable to enter the Promised Land. Guess what makes the list? “They did not believe His promise” (Psalm 106:24b NIV) The great reformer Martin Luther pondered, “What greater rebellion, impiety, or insult to God can there be than not to believe His promises?”

I don’t want to insult God. I bet you don’t either! God doesn’t lie. It’s time for us to trust His promises.

September 16, 2013

God Keeps His Promises

I may have been young, but I truly meant the promise I made on June 20, 1987. The promise I made was significant. The promise I made was genuine. The promise I made I plan on keeping to Patti for all of my years to come.

More than twenty-six years ago, I made a marital promise to the most amazing woman in the world. When I consider my daughter Rozy’s age, I realize just how YOUNG I was when I knew that Patti was the ONE for me. (Rozy and Kimberlyn, you don’t need to rush!) But, marrying Patti is a decision I have never regretted and a promise that want to fulfill.

A promise is a pledge to fulfill a specified act. The Bible contains numerous promises. Some promises are made by God to a specific person. Some promises are given by God to His children (ex. John 14:13). Some are crafted by God to Jesus (ex. John 13:3–5). Some are composed by one individual to another (ex. Neh. 5:12), and some are spoken by a believer to God (ex. Eccl. 5:4–10).

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“God is the God of promise. He keeps His word, even when that seems impossible; even when the circumstances seem to point to the opposite.”  (Colin Urquhart)

 

September 13, 2013

Healing – God’s Manifestation on Earth

Healing is a gracious manifestation of God’s power restoring a part of the human make-up. Healing may be ministered to a variety of sickness and in a variety of means. Sickness can attack the physical body but also the mind, the spirit, or any area of human life.

Healing could be seen as the realignment of disease with the kingdom of heaven. Jesus teaches His disciples to pray for His kingdom and will to be accomplished on earth as His king­dom and will are already established in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10). There is certainly NO sickness in heaven. Praying for healing is one way of praying in the manner Jesus indicates. The manifestation of healing power demonstrates that the kingdom of God is here. Healings certainly reveal God’s presence, God’s love, and God’s will, while edifying, exhorting, and encouraging (building, stirring and cheering) the body of Christ.

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Our prayers for the Lord to heal an individual are an extension of the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Believers are to follow the model and example of Jesus. Compassion and the gifts of the Spirit should flow naturally out of a personal connection with God. Jesus Christ is “God with us,” and Jesus Christ must be with a believer to achieve true, incarnational, healing ministry. The Holy Spirit enables believers for service with all the authority and power necessary to see heal­ing manifested within the body and life of a sick individual or group. Healing miracles should give glory to God, for healing is an expression of His kingdom on earth.

September 12, 2013

Healing is now and sometimes not yet

I am so thankful for my daughter Kimberlyn’s great report from the doctors at St. Jude’s (Memphis). Kimberlyn is cancer-free, and her shoulder has full range of motion. I am still a bit surprised by how emotional I am about her last visit. Talking about it today with staff and students at Valley Fellowship Christian Academy, I can feel the tears rising up in my eyes. At lunch, my wife teased me saying, “You cry after the whole thing is done.” Apparently, Patti is right. At least my tears are happy tears. Thank you, Lord, for carrying us through this struggle.

God is infinite and I am finite. My finite mind will never be able to understand Him completely. God heals, yet I have arduously toiled with the enigma of sickness and disease. The para­dox of why all are not instantly healed is beyond the ability of my finite mind. I like to know it all, understand it all, see it all, but healing does not fit into a simple package.

I trust God, but I don’t understand why one person is healed instantly, another progressively, and another not on earth. My younger brother is a great example of God’s continued help, but no instant healing. My mom and dad prayed for brother’s eyes from the time he was a baby. Barry got his first glasses at sixteen months and the doctors said he would be totally blind by the time he was in second grade. Well, Barry is in his forties and is still seeing, but our family continues to pray for his eyes.

Barry’s experience is starkly contrasted with a woman named Georgian for whom my parents prayed after a Friday night Bible study at our house. Earlier on that Friday, the doctors told Georgian that the holes in her retinas would permanently blind her in less than two weeks. Already she was wearing the thickest lenses I had ever seen. Dad and mom laid hands on her, prayed, then Dad paused and asked her how was her sight. Georgian said her limited vision was worse – everything was blurry. Dad suggested taking off the glasses, and BOOM! Georgian’s eyes had been totally healed.

God healed her instantly. My brother continues to walk out his healing day by day. The same couple (my parents) that prayed for years for my brother prayed for just a moment with Georgian. Same God, same faith, same area of the body, same people praying, but different results.

Twenty years ago, I prayed for a man dying of cancer that honestly I didn’t really expect to be healed on earth. I remember leading him to a personal relationship with Christ and praising the Lord that he would likely be seeing Jesus face-to-face pretty quickly. But, God had other plans. A few weeks later, the cancer was gone and the doctors declared him to be in full remission. He still hasn’t had that heavenly face-to-face encounter.

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I am forty-seven years old, have prayed for healing, have seen God heal many people, but there is much about the tension between healing now and sometimes not till heaven that I am still trying to grasp.

Jesus’ earthly ministry is a display of the kingdom of God. The Gospels tell of Jesus teaching with authority (Matt. 7:28-29; Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37). His words penetrate truth and His miracles testify of the power of God. His listeners have reason to believe that the king­dom is at hand. Jesus endures the daily challenges and realities of living, yet He reaches out to hurting, harassed, and hungry people.

Jesus causes an intersection between this world and the kingdom of God. Jesus publicly proclaims the establishment of the kingdom (Luke 11:20), yet tension remains. The disparity between the kingdom of God as already here and the kingdom of God not yet manifested, con­fronts my inadequate human perspective. I am limited and cannot com­prehend the mystery of an unlimited God.

However, Scripture contains a clear mandate for me pray for sick people and expect God’s miraculous manifestation. As I survey the healing accounts within the Bible, my faith is stirred to once again allow myself to be a channel for God’s healing power. Even if I never completely understand the “whys” and “how comes,” I will do my best to operate in faith and in the belief that God wants me to expect healing.

Power encounters mixed with public proclamation certainly help to communicate the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus combines the proclamation and demonstration of the kingdom of heaven (Mark 1:21-39). Matthew chronicles the extraordinary miraculous power of Jesus Christ the Messiah. After illuminating the astonishment of the crowd (Matt. 7:28-29), Matthew underscores Jesus’ exousia by recounting the cleansing of the man with leprosy, the releasing of the centurion’s servant, the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, and the calming of the Galilean storm (Matthew 8). The teaching ministry of Jesus naturally flows into His healing ministry. Jesus’ example stirs me to step out in faith. I need to preach and minister like Him. Hopefully, my sermons will not only exegete the Scriptures but will also provide opportunities to flow into healing ministry.

September 11, 2013

Kimberlyn’s Last Evaluation at St Jude’s

Patti and I traveled with Kimberlyn to St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, TN. The doctor evaluated her, told us the good news from the x-rays, and announced, “I will see you again . . . . . . . never.” The picture below is just after he said she was released.

Praise the Lord! I am so thankful for God’s grace and for the excellent care my daughter received from the incredible staff at St. Jude’s. While Kimberlyn and Patti picked a last second gift from the gift shop, I found myself crying as I tried to thank one of ladies. I certainly will never forget that special place.
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I think I have fresh insight into Paul’s thankfulness and his words to Philemon: “I always thank my God when I remember you in my prayers”  (Philemon 1:4 NIRV). I do thank the Lord for the knowledge, discernment, and wisdom that He has given to the doctors and staff at St. Jude’s. Thank you, Lord.

September 10, 2013

Nothing is Beyond God’s Healing Strength

My daughter Kimberlyn is about to have a follow-up appointment at St Jude’s in Memphis, TN, and I am praying for a good report. Oral Roberts regularly reminded his listeners that God’s healings can always stand up to a doctor’s review, so we are going into this one in faith. It has been a little over a year since her surgery and so this appointment is the big one that could bring Kimberlyn’s full release from the doctors. Check out what I wrote back in February at “Distressed?“. I am so thankful for God’s healing power. Praise the Lord! Jesus Christ hasn’t changed; He still heals today.

Finite humankind is unable to fully understand the awesome variety with which God operates. In the end the method is not important, but the healer Jesus Christ is!

Consider the variety of ways used by Jesus to administer healing to blind individuals. In Luke 18:35-43, Jesus speaks to the blind man for his sight to be restored. In Matthew 9:27-31, Jesus touches the eyes of two blind men. In John 9:1-7, Jesus makes mud from His own spit and places the mud on a blind man’s eyes. Then, Jesus commands the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam. After washing, the man goes home seeing. In most cases there is instant healing, but in Mark 8:22-25, a blind man from Bethsaida is healed gradually. Jesus initially spits on the blind man’s eyes, and then questions him to determine the extent of healing that has occurred. Because the sight is not complete, Jesus once more places His hands on the man’s eyes and the man’s sight is restored.

Often healing follows a “word” or a command. When asking Jesus to heal a servant, the Centurion of Luke 7:1-10 reveals insight into this method of healing and simply asks for Jesus to say the word. Peter speaks to the crippled Aeneas and Aeneas gets up (Acts 9:32-35). To another crippled beggar, Peter and John deliver the word for healing in the Name of Jesus (Acts 3:6-7). Similar miracles occur during Paul’s ministry at Lystra (Acts 14:8-10).

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James 5:14 combines physically touching an individual with the anointing of oil. Oil is often a type or symbol of the Holy Spirit. The oil itself does not heal, but provides an excellent point of contact for an individual to release faith for healing. The anointing with the prayer of faith brings restoration.

Another means of administering healing is through contact with cloth or even a shadow. Touching the edge of Jesus’ garment is enough to bring healing to many formerly sick (Mark 6:56). One woman forces her way through a crowd in order to touch Jesus’ cloak. Following her healing, Jesus gives confidence, “Daughter, your faith has healed you (Mark 5: 28-34 NIV).” Faith is regularly tied to healing accounts in the New Testament. “God did extraordinary mira­cles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them (Acts 19:11-12 NIV).” Evi­dently, the healing strength of God can be imparted through various physical items but God’s miraculous power is not limited by physical connection. The Bible dramatically shares that as Peter’s shadow crosses over some ill individuals, they are healed (Acts 5:15-16).

Death is conceivably the greatest form of sickness known to man, but even death is no match for God’s healing power. The Gospel writers provide the most memorable example of God’s authority over death when attesting to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus demonstrates healing over death by restoring life to a young girl (Mark 5:35-42) and ordering Lazarus’ free­dom from death (John 11:38-44). The book of Acts points out three people who are raised in spite of death’s grip. Paul is healed (9:40); Tabitha comes to life (14:20); Eutychus lives once more (20:9-12).  Nothing is beyond the healing strength of the Lord.

September 8, 2013

Together

Amazing things happen when Christ-followers pull together to accomplish God’s purposes in the world. “Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 1978, p. 30)

Coming together is beginning.

Together we receive a sense that God is also with us (2 or 3 gathered Matthew 18:20). Coming together affirms us and fills us with hope. God is good! “God richly gives us everything to enjoy.” (1 Tim 6:17b) The best way to enjoy a good thing is to share it with others.

We must open our hearts and lives to come together beyond social-economic backgrounds, racial stereotypes, political opinions, even favorite teams. Hey, I live in Alabama and understand a little of the grace needed for an Alabama Roll-Tide-r to reach across in love to an Auburn War-Eagle-r.

  • “I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.”  (2 Corinthians 6:13 CEV)
  • “Make room for us in your hearts.” (2 Corinthians 7:2a NIV)
  •  “May the Lord make your love grow. May it be like a rising flood. May your love for one another increase. May it also increase for everyone else. May it be just like our love for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NIRV)

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Staying together is growth.

Small group settings are a great place for growth. Within the context of a group, we get to know each other on a deeper level and do life together. “We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 3:8 HCSB) Authentic, healthy relationships not only provide connection into church life, they are a source of strength, encouragement, and joy throughout life’s seasons.

Paul praised the household of Onesiphorus for showing “kindness and ministered to my needs, comforting and reviving and bracing me like fresh air”. (2 Timothy 1:16 AMP) We need to cultivate a life in common with other believers. “I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.”  (1 Corinthians 1:10 MSG)

Together we allow spiritual gifts to be released. “Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.” (1 Corinthians 14:26 NLT)

“Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.” (Hebrews 13:1 NLT)

Laboring together is advancement.

Service and community small groups provide a place to serve, a place to shoulder Kingdom responsibilities, a place to see lives changed. Great things happen when people have “a heart and mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6 AMP).

  •  “I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.” (Philippians 4:14 MSG)
  • You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it’s a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it’s only right that we give thanks. We’re so proud of you; you’re so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 MSG)

Worshipping together is success.

Several times, Scripture calls us to worship. The Psalmist cried out, “Praise the Lord’s greatness with me. Let us highly honor his name together.” (Psalm 34:3 GW) I would say that getting to heaven is the ultimate mark of success. Have you consider what the Book of Revelation reveals about the activity going on in heaven? Worship is a huge part of heaven. When we live such good lives before men and women, that they are inspired to glorify our Father in heaven – we are sharing in a measure of success. We release heaven’s worship on earth.

“We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ. What does this mean? It means, first, that a Christians needs others because of Jesus Christ. It means second, that a Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ. It means, third, that in Jesus Christ we have been chosen from eternity, accepted in time, and united for eternity.” (Bonhoeffer, Life Together, p. 21)

September 6, 2013

God-Followers Follow His Example

Lift up your foot and look at the bottom of your shoe. Is there a visible pattern? A Nike swoosh?  A checkered-design?  As you walk in those shoes, the pattern of your sole leaves a mark. You don’t have to be be walking down a sandy beach to leave an impression. I hope you aren’t “walking on” the people in your life, but your walk of life does impact those around you. What impression are you making upon the people in your life?

Scripture calls us to follow God’s example, to be imitators of the Lord. In two verses in Ephesians, Paul mentions three aspects of genuine God-followers.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV)

#1  Followers of God’s example are dearly loved children.

God loves me – what-a-concept! “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” God-followers find security in relationship with Him. God changes lives. Even if you are from dysfunctional families or have experienced horrible abuse, God’s love within you can transform the way you view yourself and the way you live your life.

#2  Followers of God’s example are loving people.

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The only way we will ever be able to follow the Lord’s example is by allowing God’s love to fill our hearts. God does flood the hearts of His children. Paul stated, “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5b NASB).  D.L. Moody (19th-century evangelist and pastor) commented on this verse: “If we have got the true love of God shed abroad in our hearts, we will show it in our lives. We will not have to go up and down the earth proclaiming it. We will show it in everything we say or do.”

#3  Followers of God’s example are generous givers.

Christ gave Himself as a fragrant offering – a scent pleasing to the Father’s nostrils. God is a giver, a generous giver, and we are to imitate His character. As Jesus willingly gave His life for this world, we must be willing to surrender our own self-interests and give. Are you prepared to sacrifice your comfort, your time, your agenda, and your expectations? Only by giving our time, talent, and treasure will we really be followers of God’s example.

What imprint are you making on the life of someone else? What do the footsteps of your life communicate? What impression is left as you walk away from a person? Are you following God’s example – living as a dearly loved child, walking in love, and practicing generosity?

“In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 2:5 NCV)

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