DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 3.12.22

Men & Christian Friendship: It Won't Just Happen on its Own by Shawn McEvoy A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.- Proverbs17:17, NLT I own many books, but the ones I reference often I keep above my desk at work. One of these is a 1983 edition of David W. Smith's The Friendless American Male. It's a title that, sadly, has only grown more accurate in the last three decades, its content more applicable. Men, especially us hard-working, married-with-children types, are lacking in close biblical friendships. Thereasons are varied and several, and it's not my intent in the space of a daily devotional to present or solve them all. Suffice to say that most men I talk with vouch for the lack of quality friendships in their life, even if they speak of different reasonsfor the condition. It's something I worry about, something I marvel at when I consider some of the differences between myself and my own father. For example, back when my father was climbing the ladder in the Tucson Real Estate industry and had children the ages mine are now,his weekends were all his own. Tennis in the morning on both Saturday and Sunday. Soaking up sun at the pool or doing yardwork in the afternoons. Watching sports or even working in the evenings. A quarterly fishing trip. Several of these activities involvedhis friends and acquaintances. It must be pointed out that he didn't know or serve the Lord at this time in his life, but it's also important to note that, to the best of my recollection, we kids weren't starved for his attention or affection. It still seemedlike we were close, and had plenty of time together. So, I merely use my father as the model I was shown for what men were expected (allowed?) to do and be socially in the 1970s. ------------------ Figuring Out the Fig Tree by Ryan Duncan “Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." – John 2:19 Have you ever read the story of Jesus and the fig tree? It’s a curious moment in the New Testament, and for a long time, I had no idea what to make of it. It all begins in Mark 11, when Jesus grows hungry and approaches a fig tree looking for food. “The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.” – Mark 11:12-14 Now, everyone experiences low blood-sugar from time to time, but for Jesus, this seems remarkably out of character. After all, didn’t he fast in the desert for forty days? Surely he could handle the disappointment of not finding a fig. Even then, why notjust make the tree bloom? If he could turn water into wine, why didn’t he command the tree to bear fruit? Later, I learned it was because figs had very little to do with this story. You see, after his run-in with the unfortunate shrub, Jesus made his way to the temple where the money changers were cheating worshipers (Mark11:20-25). By driving them out, Jesus incurred the anger of the chief priests, and the next morning he and his disciples leave the city again. This is where Jesus encounters the fig tree a second time, “In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!’ ‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’" – Mark 11:20-24 Like the fig tree, the Jewish faith looked good on the outside, but despite its appearance, it wasn’t producing any fruit. Because it wasn’t providing for his people, Jesus decreed that he would let it fade, and raise up something new in its place: the Church.We are the new creation God planted for those hungry to know God; let's make sure we yield a bountiful harvest. --------------------- How Can I Hear From God? by Adam Weber My wife says sometimes I talk too much. It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I know it’s true. If you have a pulse, I can and will talk with you. A lot. “You need to give others a chance to talk and just listen,” she’ll tell me. Just listen. This is good advice for having a conversation with a friend, coworker, or stranger. I mean, it’s a basic social norm and a common courtesy that one acquires by the age of 5. It’s important to listen to others. To give others a chance to speak and share.To give each other a turn to talk. But it’s also good advice when it comes to prayer and talking with God. To give Him a turn. To give God a chance to speak. To listen to Him. While many of us, especially us extroverts, are good at talking with people, we often struggle when it comes to speaking with God. Prayer can be overwhelming for many because we don’t know the words to speak. That said, when it comes to prayer, the mostimportant part isn’t speaking. It’s listening! Listening and giving God a chance to speak isn’t just good advice, it’s necessary and vital to having a true conversation with God. Now, we can hear from and listen to God at any place and at any time, but we must know what the voice of God sounds like. The best place to start knowing His voice is by opening up the B-i-b-l-e. #SundaySchool. By seeing His words come alive. As we read, we come to understand the character and heart of God. We come to know His promises and truths. His ways. We see what Godhas said in the past, which gives us a good idea of what He’ll say to us today. And what He won’t say to us. We come to know what His voice sounds like. Unlike we naturally assume, when God speaks in the Bible, it’s often not in a loud booming voice from heaven that stops traffic. Instead when God speaks, He does so using a still small voice. Instead of brashly breaking into our lives, He stands at our front door and gently knocks. Instead of shouting when we don’t listen, we’re told that He draws us to Himself with His kindness, not His anger. When it comes to hearing from God, often the main question that we need to answer is the most basic one: Do we want to hear from Him? If we do, we need to give God the space and room to speak. More practically, invite God to speak and then be quiet. Turn off the noise. Instead of checking Twitter between meetings, be still for three minutes and listen. Get into the Bible. Again, we have to be able to recognize God’s voice if we want to hear it. Declutter your life. Is every ounce of your day full (including every evening and weekend)? Good luck hearing from a God who whispers and quietly knocks. If we want to hear from God, we need to give Him time. Time to share. Time listening. Time and availability to speak into our lives. We need to. Just listen. ---------------------- The God to Whom We Pray Nehemiah 1 What’s your view of the Lord? Do you see Him as the One who can handle all the challenges you bring before Him? Nehemiah knew God in this way. Upon hearing about Jerusalem’s destruction, he mourned, fasted, and prayed for intervention. His supplication (Neh.1:5-11) offers a glimpse of how he viewed the Almighty. First, the Hebrew term Yahweh refers to One who is absolute in faithfulness. Next, the title Elohim indicates infinite power and sovereignty over the universe. Finally, Adonai means “ruler over all.” Nehemiah was bringing his request before the throne with full confidence in God. And the Lord answered his prayer in a powerful, dramatic way. As cupbearer in the palace, Nehemiah tasted food and drink first to protect King Artaxerxes from possible poisoning. For a servant in this position, to look sad was very risky (Nehemiah2:1), yet the terrible news disheartened him. So the Lord worked a miracle: when the king asked what was troubling his cupbearer, Nehemiah expressed concern for the Jewish people. Instead of punishing him, Artaxerxes let him go to rebuild what had been destroyed, and even supplied the materials! Godhandled what seemed like an overwhelming, impossible burden for Nehemiah, and He can do the same for us. Having the right view of the Lord will allow us to approach Him with absolute confidence. And we know that He will hear and answer our prayers (Ps.86:7). Remember that He is absolute in faithfulness and infinite in power. Our heavenly Father is the ruler over all. ------------------ God Acts on Our Behalf Isaiah 64:1-4 The Lord is a God of action. Even when He rested on the seventh day of creation, it wasn't because He was tired and needed to recuperate. Although He deliberately made a choice to stop His creative activity, He never ceased working. While the Lord is alwayscontrolling the universe, He is, at the same time, intimately involved with individual lives. God has a plan for each one of us and wants us to know what it is. Every time we take a step of obedience, He sheds more light on our path. But sometimes He asks us to pause awhile, and we may not know why. We long for direction in a particular matter, butour prayers just aren't being answered, and we wonder, Why does He delay? When you aren't seeing any answers, it doesn't mean that God is not working. He's still actively involved in your life, but He works in ways that are not always visible He orchestrates circumstances, changes people's hearts, and protects His children frommaking hasty decisions that will have disastrous consequences. Perhaps the Lord knows you're not yet ready for the next leg of your spiritual journey. Waiting times are opportunities for growth in character, obedience, and faith. He may also need time to train you for future responsibilities and ministries. When you intentionally choose to be still, God unleashes His mighty power on your behalf. He has planned good things for those who wait, and I believe what He has in store for your life will surpass all expectations. When He knows you're ready to receiveHis blessings, they'll flow into your lap. --------------------- God's Choice Shaping Tools Romans 12:1-5 God's kindness to us is demonstrated by the fact that He doesn't leave us in the condition we were in before coming to faith. How tragic it would be if we still thought, felt, and acted the same way we did before receiving Christ as our Savior. Throughout our lives, the Lord uses His choice tools to shape us into the image of His Son. Prayer. By talking to the Lord in open dialogue, we develop a relationship with Him. He becomes not just our Savior, but our friend, andas the intimacy grows, so will our passion to be with Him. Setting aside time for prayer each day will become a delight, not a duty. God's Word. You can't grow in your Christian life if you keep the Bible closed all week long. No one lives on one meal a week, yet many Christians try to get by with just a Sunday dinner of the Word served up by their pastor. How can weexpect God's truth to do its transforming work if we never let it into our minds and hearts? The Church. Christ uses His body of believers as a place for transformation. That's where we rub against each other and have the rough edges of our character smoothed. It is a place of instruction, accountability, and encouragement. Are you letting the Lord use His character-shaping tools in your life? Our culture has no shortage of worldly voices and pressures that fill minds and influence behavior. Only when we intentionally schedule time for God, His Word, and His people can Christdo His transforming work in our lives. ----------------- Sifted “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke22:31-32) In the evening before His betrayal, capture, torture, and trial, Christ turned to Simon with these final words, encouraging him to remain strong. Of course, Peter boldly proclaimed that he would never deny Christ, but Christ knew better (vv. 33-34). Actually, our text is quite forceful. Christ claimed that Satan has “begged earnestly” (literal translation of “desired”), not just for Peter, but for all the disciples, as seen in the plural pronoun “you,” to “sift you as wheat.” Satan knew (as he still knows)that the fall of Christian leaders causes many others to fall, and if all of the disciples could be made to abandon the faith, the gospel could not be spread. Christ turned specifically to Peter as the generally recognized spokesman for the disciples, and even though He knew Peter would fall, Christ informed him that he had been prayed for, that his “faith fail not.” Indeed, Peter did turn around once he saw therisen Lord and became a leader in the fledgling church in Jerusalem, as well as a missionary. Through the witness of Peter and those he strengthened, the gospel has come to us. Satan’s desire to sift those who would spread the gospel and lead others has not abated. He knows the destruction it causes in the lives of those influenced by the one who falls. The “ripple effect” may last for years, and many weaker brothers and sisters maynever recover. But take heart! The One who prayed for Peter “ever liveth to make intercession for [us]” (Hebrews7:25; see also John 17:6-26). Just as God answered Christ’s intercessory prayer for Peter, so He will answer Christ’s intercessory prayer for us. JDM ---------------- TheMeasure of Better “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinnerof herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” (Proverbs 15:16-17) There are many such comparisons as those in our text that have been incorporated in the book of Proverbs. We tend to think in financial terms, but the true measure of “worth” has nothing to do with money. In fact, one could almost develop an inverse law tothe effect that the more money one has, the less happiness and contentment he enjoys. Note the frequency of such “equations” in Proverbs. “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right” (16:8). “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife” (17:1). “Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to dividethe spoil with the proud” (16:19). “Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich” (28:6). That which is better, therefore, is to be found “with the fear of the LORD,” “where love is,” “with righteousness,” and “quietness therewith.” It is better when one is “of an humble spirit,” who “walketh in his uprightness.” This is a lesson that the many affluent Christian men and women of our prosperous nation urgently need to learn today. Note Paul’s counsel to young Timothy. Speaking of men who are “destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness,” he warns, “Fromsuch withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:5-6). Then comes a very sobering commentary: “But they that will be richfall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,...and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:9-10). HMM ------------------- HeShall Never See Death “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” (John8:51) This passage has been difficult for commentators. Most would interpret it to mean that a Christian will not experience spiritual death. While it is true that a Christian, one who has been born twice (the second birth being a spiritual birth), will not experiencespiritual death, in this passage Jesus seems to be talking about physical death. This is evidenced by the fact that the Jewish skeptics around Christ called Him a heretic for saying it, since it was obvious that Abraham and the other prophets had died physically.Christ did not correct them by clarifying His words to mean spiritual death. Despite the fact that the grave is full of those who physically died while believing in Christ, He teaches that His followers will “never see death.” Actually, the Greek is very emphatic here. The combination of words could be literally translated “He shall absolutely not see [physical] death, never.” Perhaps Christ is teaching that a believer will never see real death, since, to such a one, death is inreality only “sleep.” But perhaps the key to understanding this teaching might be in the word “see.” What does this mean? Several Greek words are translated by the English word “see,” but this one merits special study. It implies a look that is more than indifferent, but one ofpondering, intensely interested, preoccupied, and fully acquainted with its object. A Christian, therefore, will not “see” death with such interest, for his attention will not be on death’s terrors but upon the One who Himself bore all that death had to offer yet conquered it forever. A Christian can look even at his own approaching deathcalmly, with passive interest, for it holds little influence over him. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).JDM ------------------------- TheUnmuzzled Ox “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” (Deuteronomy25:4) This Mosaic regulation would seem rather insignificant except that it is quoted twice in the New Testament. “For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?” (1Corinthians 9:9-10). Yes, but that is not the main purpose behind this law. “Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partakerof his hope.” This application is drawn in verse 14: “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” That is, supporting financially those who devote full time to God’s work is not “charitable giving” but compensationfor services, with the pay to be provided by those who receive the benefit of their labors. This is even more clear in the second reference: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, Thelabourer is worthy of his reward” (1 Timothy 5:17-18), the latter part quoting words of Christ (Luke10:7). Incidentally, note that both New Testament and Old Testament Scriptures are considered divinely inspired and authoritative on any subject with which they deal. The subject here is just compensation for those who devote their time, training, and abilities to the work of the Word, under the call and leading of God, as recognized by the people of God. This seemingly insignificant principle, if faithfully obeyed, wouldgreatly enlarge the effectiveness and outreach of the Christian witness in the world. HMM ------------------------- HisGood Plan - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Don�t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God�s will foryou, which is good and pleasing and perfect. �Romans 12:2 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/his-good-plan/- Listen I believe that God has a plan for your life. That�s why every believer should ask God to reveal His will for them. James tells us, �If you need wisdom, ask our generousGod, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking� (verse 5 NLT). We read in Exodus that Moses asked the Lord for divine direction. He said, �Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I mayknow You and that I may find grace in Your sight� (33:13 NKJV). When you don�t know what to do, pray about it. Romans 12 offers a very important insight into how to know the Will of God. The apostle Paul wrote, �And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodiesto God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice�the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him� (verse 1 NLT). Paul went on to say, �Don�t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn toknow God�s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect� (verse 2 NLT). So if you want to know the good and pleasing and perfect Will of God, then first present yourself to Him. It�s something we should do again and again, not just once. Thenthe Lord promises that He will reveal His Will. Let�s also notice that God�s Will is �good and pleasing and perfect.� So don�t be afraid to ask God to reveal His Will to you. Never be afraid to commit an unknown futureto known God. God loves you. And His plan for you is good. ---------------------------------- Accepted and Loved - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And He said, �My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.� �Exodus 33:13 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/accepted-and-loved/- Listen When I�m hanging out with my grandkids, they always want me to watch them do whatever it is they�re doing. They might be riding a skateboard or doing a cartwheel or someother thing, and they say, �Papa, watch me!� So I�ll watch them, and afterward, I�ll give my approval. �You did that beautifully! That was great!� They want to me to affirm them. They want to know that I love and appreciate them. But really, are we any different in our relationship with God? In a sense, we all say, �Lord, watch me!� When Moses asked God for direction, God gave him this promise: �My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest� (NKJV). In the original Hebrew, the language is vivid.We could translate it this way: �My face will go with you.� God was saying, �Don�t worry, Moses. I�ll go with you. You have My full attention.� Aren�t you glad, by the way, that God doesn�t have a cell phone? We all know what it�s like to have a conversation with someone who�s busy scrolling through things on theirphone. God isn�t that way with us, thankfully. We have His full attention. He�s watching us, but He�s watching with great love and affection. Psalm 84:11 tells us, �For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no goodthing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly� (NKJV). God is for us, and God approves of us. Now, if we�re living apart from Him in sin, that isn�t true. But if we have asked Him to forgive us of our sin, then the Bible says that �He made us accepted in the Beloved� (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV). God accepts us and loves us. We don�t have to earn that. It already has been done for us, bought by Jesus Christ on the cross. ----------------------- Friendship with God - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. �Matthew 5:8 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/friendship-with-god/- Listen Moses was taking things to the next level. He was going for the gold. He prayed for the very glory of God to be revealed to him. As he talked with God one day, he said, �Please, show me Your glory� (Exodus 33:18 NKJV). In other words, �Lord, I love our conversations together, but I actually would like to see You.� By the way, that is a good thing. As the nineteenth-century commentator A. B. Simpson wrote, �Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord. Once it was the feeling, nowit is His Word. Once His gift I wanted, now, the Giver own. Once I sought for healing, now Himself alone.� In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, �Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God� (Matthew 5:8 NKJV). Moses wanted to see the Lord, but if he had, he would have died on the spot (see Exodus 33:20). Therefore, God worked out a sweet deal for Moses. He told him, �Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of therock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen� (verses 21�23 NLT). I can�t even imagine what Moses saw. We�re in awe of such a relationship. But if you�re a Christian, your friendship with God is even closer than the very special friendshipMoses had with God. That�s because Moses was under the Old Covenant. When Jesus died on the cross, a New Covenant was established. He fulfilled all the Old Testament sacrifices and types in Himself. He was the Lamb of God who took away thesin of the world. As a result, we can have friendship with God. ---------------------------------- Friend or Enemy? - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. �Romans 5:10 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/friend-or-enemy/- Listen No one had invited me to the meeting on the front lawn of my high school campus that day. In fact, I was eavesdropping on the Christians� time of worship. But the preacherthere made one statement that hit my heart like a lightning bolt from Heaven: �Jesus said, �You�re either for Me or against Me.�� In other words, you�re either God�s friend or God�s enemy. I looked around at the Christians and thought, �They�re the friends of God. They have a relationship with Him, and they are for Him. I�m not one of them. Does that meanI�m against God?� The last thing I wanted was to be against God. So that was the day I became a Christian. If you�re not a friend of God, then by default you�re an enemy of God. Romans 5:10 says, �For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while wewere still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son� (NLT). The Bible also says that �whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God� (James 4:4 NKJV). Are you a friend of God? If not, then you can come into a relationship with Him. You can have your sin forgiven and can go to Heaven when you die. Maybe you�re thinking, �No, that�s too good to be true.� It is true, and it can be true for you right now. Jesus died on the cross for your sin. He stood in the gap for you and died in your place. And if you�ll turn from yoursin and believe in Him, you can be forgiven and know, without any doubt, that you go to Heaven when you die. You can have friendship with God today.