DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 4.15.23

The Cross: The Believer's Motivation 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Paul was single-minded in the message he preached. The cross was not only his primary subject; it was also his motivation for living. When we begin to understand all that Jesus did for us at Calvary, we, too, can receive fresh motivation to live for Him.For instance, we can... Walk humbly before God. Since the power to live the Christian life is supplied by Christ, there is no room for pride. When Jesus died, our "flesh" nature was crucified with Him so that we could live in newness of life. Any success we achieve in living righteously or walking in obedience is possible only because He is working through us. Serve the Lord faithfully. At the cross, we were placed "in Christ," and He is in us (Gal. 2:20). We are now Hisbody on earth, created for good works which God has prepared for us to do (Eph. 2:10). Jesus wasn’t crucified so we could sit in pewseach Sunday and listen to sermons. He has specific tasks for each of us to achieve during our lifetime. Share our faith. Knowing all that Jesus accomplished at the cross should motivate us to share the gospel with others. This world is filled with hurting people who know nothing about salvation. Since their eternal destiny is at stake, how can we keep our mouths closed? Too often we view the cross only as a past event that secured our eternal destiny, and we fail to see how it can motivate daily choices and activities. Stop to contemplate all that God is continually accomplishing in you though the cross. Let it be yourmotivation to live wholeheartedly for Christ. ------------------------ Walking with God By Whitney Hopler “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8 NIV A jumbled mix of thoughts swirled around my mind as I pondered a decision I faced in a complex situation. Seeking clarity, I took a prayer walk around my neighborhood. I poured my thoughts out to God and listened to the new thoughts God sent to me. God and I walked and talked in step with each other. It seemed like God was as close to me as if he was physically there beside me on thesidewalk. In Exodus 33:14 NIV, God told Moses, “My Presence will go with you,” and God promises the same to us. He is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew1:23 NIV). While I believe that’s always true, sometimes I’m unaware of God’s presence with me. The practice of taking a physical walk helped me notice and focus on God’s spiritual presence. Discovering God’s presence clarified what I should do in thatsituation because God gave me personal guidance, as a friend would on a walk together. God isn’t a distant being who keeps us guessing about what to do when we ask for his help. 1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace…” (ESV) We can hear from God when we’re walking with him. On the journey we take through our lives, God wants us to pay attention to his presence with us, step by step. He calls usto reach out to him as if we’re taking the hand of a friend who is walking right beside us. That kind of close relationship helps us walk through life in sync with God. We may run ahead or lag behind when we move away from God, but God never moves away fromus. The more we choose to walk with God, the more we can enjoy his wisdomand peacein any situation. What does it mean to walk with God? It can mean literally taking a prayer walk like I did since physical walking can rejuvenate both body and soul. But walking with God encompasses even more. Walking with God is a lifestyle of centering our lives aroundour relationship with God. When we walk with God, we see situations differently. His perspective shapes ours as we pay attention to his presence with us. Micah 6:8 is a powerful Bible verse that succinctly sums up what God wants us to focus on when we walk with him through life. The verse liststhree expectations God has of us: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with him. Each of these requirements is significant and has important implications for our lives. To act justly means to live in a way that is fair and equitable, treating othersas we would like to be treated. This requires us to standup for what is right, even when doing so is difficult or unpopular. It means speaking out against injustice and working to make the world better for everyone. To love mercy means to have compassion for others, even when they don’t deserve it. This requiresus to forgive those who have wronged us, to show kindness to those who are hurting, and to be generous with our time and resources. It means extendinggrace and mercy to others since God has done so to us. Finally, to walk humbly with God means to recognize our own limitations and need for a relationship with him. It means livinga lifestyle of worship and seekingto do God’s will. Taken together, these three requirements form a powerful call to action. They remind us our faith is not just about what we believe, but how we put it into action as we walk through our lives. When we walk with God, our faith moves forward, and we’re blessed as a result. As Psalm 89:15 NIV declares: “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.” Intersecting Faith and Life: As you reflect on walking with God, consider these questions: •How have you noticed God’s presence with you lately, and how did that help you focus on what matters most? • What is one way God is calling you to act justly right now, and how can you rely on God for the power to do so? •What is one way God is calling you to love mercy right now, and how can you seek God’s help to do so? •Have you been running ahead of God, or lagging behind him, in any situations recently? If so, how can you sync your steps more closely with God’s steps? •When can you schedule a prayer walk with God to rejuvenate your relationship with him? Further Reading: •Genesis 5:24 •Genesis 6:9 •Leviticus 26:12 •Galatians 5:16 ----------------------------- RejectFavoritism “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” (James2:1) Evidently the believers in the early church were much like us in that they tended to honor and favor wealthy individuals in their congregations. James commands them to reject such partiality and gives the reasons why. The first reason is that God’s perspective is just the opposite. He favors the one of low rank. “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom?” (v. 5). Next, we see that favoritism never impresses the rich—it always backfires. “Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?” (v. 6). Showing favoritism is not practical. Then, note that the favored ones are probably least deserving. In fact, often “they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called” (v. 7). In doing so, they dishonor the Lord, in whose name we gather. Finally, such favoritism is a violation of “the royal law,” that summary statement of God’s plan for our relationships. “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (v. 8). If the law is kept, “ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin....Forwhosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (vv. 8-10). Peter had learned this lesson, first in a vision, and then in his miraculous ministry to the Gentiles. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons” (Acts10:34). As our text reveals, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and showing favoritism on any basis (not only riches, but color, education, ethnic, or national background, etc.) are not compatible. JDM ------------------- Fearthe Right Fear “Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye theirfear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (Isaiah8:12-13) The people of Judah were terrified by the imminent prospect of invasion by the cruel Assyrian hordes who had been further strengthened by a confederacy with Judah’s own brethren in the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel. It is indeed cause for concern when compromisingChristians join ranks with ungodly pagans in opposing those who defend the true Word of God, for such a combination seems almost too strong to resist. A modern example is the current collaboration between the secular evolutionists and those Christian evolutionistsand “progressive creationists” who oppose Christians who stand for the literal truth of the biblical record of creation and Earth history. This is cause only for concern, however, not for fear! Just as in Isaiah’s day, we must fear God—not men. In the coming judgment, it will be far easier to explain to God why we had too much faith in His Word than too little! These verses are referred to by the apostle Peter in a well-known New Testament passage: “Be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reasonof the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1Peter 3:14-15). Therefore, when unbelievers and compromising believers join forces against those who fully believe the Bible, the proper response is not panic, or submission, or even belligerent opposition, but an implicit confidence in God and His Word, accompanied by a gracious “answer” (literally “apologetic”) in defense of the truth, given in a meek spirit and in fear only of God. HMM ---------------------------- HeGave Himself “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to thewill of God and our Father.” (Galatians1:4) There can never be a greater gift than this. Our Lord Jesus Christ not only has given us forgiveness and salvation and all spiritual blessings, He gave Himself! The pure, glorious Son of God gave Himself, substituting Himself in our place to suffer the righteousjudgment of God on our sins. Six times this wonderful affirmation is found in God’s Word. The first is in our text, assuring us that when He gave Himself, He paid the price to deliver us from this present evil world into the eternal world to come. Then, in the next occurrence, this promise is made intensely personal. Christ “loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians2:20). The gift Christ gave is more than the world could ever give. The supremely sacrificial nature of His gift is then emphasized. “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God” (Ephesians5:2). The sacrifice has brought us to Himself, for “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it....That he might present it to himself a glorious church” (Ephesians5:25, 27). The offering was sufficient to pay for the redemption of all sin, as He “gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1Timothy 2:6). This ransom is not merely to redeem us from the penalty of sin at the judgment, however, but also from the power of sin in our lives, and this is the testimony of the final occurrence of this great declaration. Christ “gave himself for us,that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus2:14). HMM ------------------------- TheCompanion of Faith “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew4:17) When Jesus commenced His earthly ministry, He preached the necessity of repentance. The Greek verb for repent (metanoeo) means to have a strong change of mind and is given in the imperative form, indicating a direct command. We were told earlier thatJohn the Baptist preached, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew3:2) as he was preparing the way for Christ’s ministry. The newly resurrected Christ told His disciples “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations” (Luke24:47). Following this mandate, on the day of Pentecost Peter preached, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts2:38). Paul preached on Mars Hill to a crowd of Greeks, “[God] now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts17:30). Clearly, repentance is an important part of the gospel message, combined with faith in the redemptive work of Christ. The 19th-century preacher J. C. Ryle said, “Repentance is the inseparable companion of saving faith in Christ.” Indeed, many today accept aneasy believism in Christ without considering that it will cost them the rest of their lives. Jesus Himself elaborated on this, saying, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build atower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” (Luke14:27-28). While some theologians have called repentance the “negative aspect of conversion,” the positive side is that our mighty God is able to grant “repentance unto life” (Acts11:18). JPT ------------------- AVery Real Spiritual War - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. �Romans 8:37 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-very-real-spiritual-war/- Listen The Bible often uses the examples of military battle, fighting, and warfare as a picture of the Christian life. Paul exhorted Timothy, �Endure suffering along with me, asa good soldier of Christ Jesus� (2 Timothy 2:3 NLT). Paul also wrote that he had �fought the good fight� (2 Timothy 4:7). Anyone who chooses to be on the side of the Lord Jesus Christ will face severe opposition from Satan andhis followers. On the day you put your faith in Jesus Christ, a very real spiritual war begins in your life. We will either fight or suffer defeat. We will either gain ground or lose ground. But we must be involved in the spiritual battle. And if we try to be spiritual pacifists,we�ll be knocked down. Therefore, we had better suit up. We had better put on our spiritual armor and learn principles from God�s Word that teach us how to be more than conquerors in Christ. Remember, Jesus told the disciples that the gates of Hell would not prevail against them as the church (see Matthew 16:18). We may not fully understand what this means today. But in their first-century culture, they would have known that one of the primary strategies for attacking a fortress wasto knock down the gates with a battering ram, rush in, and defeat the opposing army. In the same way, we as the church are marching on, even against the fortresses of the enemy. And their gates will not prevail against us. Those gates eventually will fall,and we will triumph. We may lose a skirmish here and a battle there, but we will win the war. There�s no doubt about it. The truth of the gospel ultimately will prevail. Meanwhile, it�s up tous to fight the good fight of faith. ------------------------------ The Reality of the Unseen World - by GregLaurie � www.harvest.org For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and againstevil spirits in the heavenly places. �Ephesians 6:12 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-reality-of-the-unseen-world/- Listen Some people dismiss the idea of Satan�s existence altogether, believing it�s a fanciful myth. Sometimes they�re reacting to a caricatured version of him, a being with redskin, pointed ears, horns, and hooves. We won�t find that description of him in the Bible. But the Bible does talk about a spirit being known as Satan, or Lucifer, who opposes Christians and wants to bring themdown. In a letter to the followers of Christ in Ephesus, the apostle Paul wrote, �Put on all of God�s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of thedevil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places� (Ephesians 6:11�12 NLT). As surely as there is a God who loves us, there is a devil who hates us. And whatever God wants to do, Satan will be there to oppose it. As I look at the things that humanity is capable of, wicked and horrendously depraved things, it frightens me. Yet when I realize there�s a God who loves us and has a planfor our lives as well as a devil who is behind the wickedness and depravity in our culture today, it explains a lot. C.S. Lewis made this observation in the preface to The Screwtape Letters: �There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is todisbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an unhealthy interest in them.� We do need to understand our adversary and how to prevail against his power and temptations. However, we don�t want to go overboard in this area. We must recognize this is a spiritual battle, and we must fight it with spiritual weapons. ------------------------------- HeIs Able �Nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keepthat which I have committed unto him against that day.� (2Timothy 1:12) The apostle Paul uses a precision of synonyms. We are to �know� the One in whom we have believed and to be �persuaded� that He is able to �keep� us. The knowledge Paul cited (Greek i�do) emphasizes mental understanding as opposed to experiential knowledge or intuitive perception. I�do coupled with the word for persuasion (Greek peitho) strengthens the assurance Paul is promising. Our confidence is not based on mere emotion but on a clear grasp of God�s secure salvation. Perhaps a quick survey of other passages willencourage your heart as you read this. �Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life� (John5:24). �Being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ� (Philippians1:6). �God...hath begotten us again to...an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time� (1Peter 1:3-5). �Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen� (Jude1:24-25). What marvelous promises! Our surety is based on who God is rather than on our own individual steadfastness. HMM III ------------------------- The Christian�s Power Base - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. �Ephesians 6:10 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-christians-power-base/- Listen God is omnipotent. God is omniscient. And God is omnipresent. On the other hand, Satan is none of those things. Although he is a spirit being and has demons doing his dirty work, he is far from God�s equal. He has clear limits on hispower. God, however, can do anything that He wants to do, anywhere, and at any time. While God is omniscient, Satan doesn�t know all things. His knowledge, though vast, is stilllimited. In addition, he can only be in one place at one time. Meanwhile, God can be present everywhere at the same time. Satan is not the equal of God. And he wants to stop us from doing what God wants us to do. The apostle Paul wrote, �For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in thisdark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places� (Ephesians 6:12 NLT). We are in a spiritual battle against the devil and his demons, who seek to hinder God�s purposes and extend Satan�s power. When the enemy is attacking, it should cause us to turn to the protective care of Jesus and cling to Him all the tighter, like a small child who clings to a parent when dangeris near. We must realize that in our own strength, we are no match for the devil. He is far more powerful than we are. That�s why we need to turn to God for help and strengthen ourselvesin Him. Satan recognizes that our power base is in our relationship with God. Thus, he will do everything he can to separate us from the Lord. The only thing the devil fears is thepower of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. That�s why we must stand in God�s strength and not our own. ----------------------------- Togetherwith Christ �Even when we were dead in sins, [God] hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.� (Ephesians2:5-6) In these two marvelous verses, the word �together� appears three times, referring in each case to our spiritual union with Jesus Christ. Three different words are used, each being compounded with the Greek sun, meaning �together with.� The first combination means �made alive with�; the second, �resurrected with�; the third, �seated with.� All of these verbs are given in the past tense, stressing that, as far as God�s own Word is concerned, we have been already seated eternally in the heavens with Christ, having been born again with His own life spiritually and raised from the dead physically.All of these blessings were given to us �even when we were dead in sins,� not because of our good works or by our good intentions, but only �by grace ye are saved.� The remarkable truth is that this doctrine of our eternal union with Christ, given and maintained only by His grace, does not lead to carelessness or sinfulness as some allege, but to a desire for a holy, God-honoring life. �God forbid. How shall we, that aredead to sin, live any longer therein?...like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life� (Romans6:2, 4). The regenerate nature implanted by the Holy Spirit, a heart of gratitude for Christ�s sacrificial love for us, and the wonderful promises in God�s Word all combine to transform our lives, making us new creatures in Christ, knowing that henceforth we shall �everbe with the Lord� (1Thessalonians 4:17). HMM ------------------------------ The Battle Isn�t Yours - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org O our God, won�t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help. �2 Chronicles20:12 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-battle-isnt-yours/- Listen King Jehoshaphat had the right idea when he was leading the army of Judah into battle against an enemy that greatly outnumbered them. He prayed, �O our God, won�t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you forhelp� (2 Chronicles 20:12 NLT). In other words, �Lord, we�re depending on You. We�re standing in You. We�re looking to You.� Then the Bible tells us that �the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah. . . . He said, �Listen, all you peopleof Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don�t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God�s� � (verses 14�15 NLT). That is the best place to be�in complete dependence on God. Sometimes it seems as though you can�t overcome the sin you�ve been struggling with for so long. It seems as though you can�t break free from the addiction that has had ahold on your life for many years. And it seems as though you can�t get out of that lifestyle you are trapped in. God is saying that you can�but not in your strength. You can do it in His strength. So, admit your weaknesses and inadequacies. Then ask God to help you utilize the principlesfor spiritual battle from His Word. Realize that in Jesus Christ, you belong to the family of God. Don�t let the devil cheat you out of that truth. The Bible says, �So humble yourselves before God. Resist thedevil, and he will flee from you� (James 4:7 NLT). Live as a child of the King and walk in close fellowship with Him. ----------------------------- Snares �Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snareof the devil.� (1 Timothy 3:7) A snare is a trap normally used to catch an unwary wild animal, but each of the five times the word (Greek pagis) is used in the New Testament, it refers to devices used by the great deceiver, Satan, to trap unwary human beings. There is, first of all, the snare of worldly involvement. �And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it comeon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth� (Luke 21:34-35). There is the snare of rejecting God�s Word, both the written Word and the living Word. When Israel repudiated Christ, God said: �Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them� (Romans11:9, quoting Psalm 69:22). The desire for riches can be a snare. �They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition� (1Timothy 6:9). Satan has many other �devices� (2 Corinthians 2:11) by which he seeks �an advantage of us.� Not even �bishops� or other full-time Christian ministers areimmune, for our text is a warning to prospective bishops against �the snare of the devil.� It is the responsibility of every true �servant of the Lord� to be �gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves...thatthey may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will� (2 Timothy 2:24-26). We must both avoid Satan�s snaresourselves and seek to deliver those who have been thus ensnared. HMM -------------------------- Steadfast - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. �1 Corinthians 16:13 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/steadfast/- Listen Why is it so hard sometimes to read the Bible? Why is it so difficult to pray? And why is it so tough to make it to church? Because Satan will stop us. He doesn�t always do this with obvious, demonic things. He uses little distractions in our lives�even things that seem to make sense at the time. For instance, when you�re getting ready for church, he says, �It�s a beautiful day. Are you sure you want to go and sit in some building? Enjoy the splendors of God�s creation!You can always go next week.� Then next week comes, and there�s a little drizzle outside. But you just washed your car, and you don�t want to get it wet. So, you sit it out again. The following week youhave a little sniffle and think, �I�d better not go to church.� Or, let�s say you reach for your Bible. The devil says, �You don�t need to read that again, do you? Didn�t you just read it in church four weeks ago? Why do you need to readit again?� When it comes to prayer, he says, �You don�t need to pray. You prayed before breakfast. That�s good.� He will do everything he can to keep you away from going to church, reading the Bible, and praying. Why? Because at church you get recharged with God�s people. And when youread the Bible and pray, you strengthen yourself in the Lord. The devil knows that if he can separate you from God, you will become weak and vulnerable. That way he can pick you off, like a lion going after the weakest and most vulnerableanimal in the herd. We need steely determination that says, �No, I�m going to church. I�m reading the Word of God. I�m spending time in prayer.� Let�s be strong in the Lord.