All in Daily Devotional
How do we pray when we're broken? What do we pray for when we have nothing left, and our life is a shambles? How do we lift our spirits high enough that we can face God with our desires? We are often embarrassed when we have totally failed in life; we cover ourselves in leaves and hide as Adam and Eve did. Is that really what we should do? Is our faith that shallow? Do we believe that God has given us up to our despair?
Do you wake up in the morning believing you are a free man or woman, or have you given control to something or someone else? Are you independent, or have you given yourself over to a grand idea, your family, job, perhaps drugs, or some other thing, how about God? Where does He fit into your idea of freedom? Is being free really a choice you can make, or are you owned, and just being rebellious when believing otherwise? Let's explore our concept of freedom as it relates to God, Jesus, and our faith.
What does the church do with the fruit of great sacrifices that have been made for it? Does it horde them like provisions in its larder? Does it consume them itself like a fine wine? Or, perhaps it distributes them among the needy and deserving? This greater question that I have asked about the church begs each of us to answer similar questions of ourselves... what do I do with the fruit I receive from the sacrifice of the martyrs, and of Jesus? What do I do with the blood offering of Christ, and the suffering of so many others? There are certain things that people give you, or blessings that God lavishes upon you that are just too great to accept unto yourself. Let's look in scripture at a bible story that serves as an example...
09/02/2023 - Living Water and the Simple Vessels of Clay
Are we satisfied with all that God has done in us? When we look in the mirror in the morning are we pleased, and at ease, with the fact that Jesus has filled us with His teaching, and that the Holy Spirit has expanded our understanding to overflowing? All of this is beyond wonderful, but what is really asked of us isn't to simply reach a degree of self-fulfillment, or to impress others with our command of scripture, but rather that we deliver the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost souls around us. Our measure is in obediently doing God’s will by sharing the living water He has sent to us in Christ with the lost and thirsty of the world. Let’s look inward today and ask ourselves if we are a vessel from which many drink this living water.
Have you set yourself apart for the use of God? In other words, are you holy? If you think you are then let's go a step further and ask ourselves another question: "am I perfect!" These are hard questions and we often deflect them by saying that only Jesus is perfect, so how could I possibly be holy.
Has Jesus given you a joy like His, or do you anticipate that you will one day have a heavenly joy like the one that He speaks of? Well, I am going to burst your bubble and then give you a new hope regarding this scriptural joy. Our desire should never be to have a joy like Jesus' because we won't have one like His, but don’t let this news disappoint you… read on, because there is much more to this story.
How strong is our belief in Christ? Have we grown in faith to the place where those things that are not seen cast shadows before us? Is heaven as real as the home we return to each night? When Jesus holds our hand can we feel the warmth of His blood coursing through it?
How is your life in Christ? Before you answer this question answer another... "How often do you pray?" We think that our life with Jesus is robust because of the works, and the other things we do, and yet we have not humbled ourselves before our Heavenly Father in prayer as He taught us to do. We think that we are like Him as we go through the motions of religion, and yet our relationship with God is starving.
In Nashville we had a total eclipse of the sun in 2017, and although it took a while to reach its totality, or the period of time in which the moon totally covers the sun, the totality itself lasted for only two minutes or less. Quite often the period of time God shines His light of opportunity in our lives is short as well. If we miss the chance to see or to act upon the calling which God presents us, we may never experience that particular opportunity again.
Do you know the peace of Jesus Christ? When your life is being torn apart by calamity do you find rest and peace in Him? In Christ we are meant to find a peace unlike any other; not the carefree blue sky feeling of being trouble free, but the deep and abiding peace given in the midst of death and chaos. A peace that defies all understanding.
Are we prepared to pray? By that I mean, are we prepared to pray and receive the blessing that we are speaking with God about? So often we come to the Lord unprepared; living one life and praying as if we lived another. I was reading Oswald Chambers and he spoke a truth that cuts us deep; it answers in part the question of "why is my prayer not answered?" Let’s listen to what he has to say…
Do you have a secret garden? You know, a secret place that you retreat to when you need to do some serious thinking? How about a quiet place where you go to be alone with God? Is it a place you can get to quickly and often? Is it away from all distractions? Do you begin your day there?
When it comes to God’s grace, do you believe that you have the tiniest amount of worthiness? Do you feel that you are owed forgiveness or that in some way you deserve to receive Jesus? If so then you are not prepared for His coming or the arrival of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist knew what it felt like to be unworthy… do we?
The strongest people I know are those who are “poor in spirit”. This is a life that was not chosen for them, but one which they chose for themselves. Do you know such people? Are you one of them? Perhaps you are wondering what I mean by being poor in spirit. Well, the very first blessing that Jesus teaches us in the Beatitudes is that of being "poor in spirit" and He does this for a reason. These are the people that yield their individual spirits to the Spirit of God. They have laid down their own personal strength for the strength of God Himself.
We say we are Christians but continue to live our lives of faith like suits of clothes; we treat our belief in Christ lightly and only let it brush up against our skin, when we should actually be taking Jesus into our very being, our hearts, and making our faith like the communion meal reveals... a part of us.