July 31: Leading by Example

posted by: Darius Sanders

Scripture
Romans 14:13
So let’s stop condemning each other.  Decide to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

Observation
As followers of Christ, we’re called to live our lives in such a way as to set a good example for other Christians.  Anything that we say or do could draw another Christian closer to Christ or further away from Christ…especially new believers.  The last thing I want on my resume as I enter Heaven is “lived his life in such a way that many believers around him stumbled and fell away from Christ.” 

Application
Serving in Student Ministries, Romans 14:13 is a verse that echoes and reverberates with my soul.  Adult Youth Mentors and I are called to live our lives in such a way that students can follow our example.  We don’t want to do anything in life that would cause teenagers to walk away from God.  If anything, we want to live our lives so passionately for Christ that students are challenged by our actions to go to the next level in their Spiritual journey with Christ.  Realizing that my actions are a response from my heart’s condition, I need to continue to keep my heart in tune to what God is sharing with me daily as I read His Word.  That will enable me to display actions that will keep other believers from falling away from Christ.  

Prayer
God, please help me to continue living my life passionately following You.  I pray that students would forevermore see the example that I’m setting for them and that that example would inspire them to have a more intimate relationship with You.

July 29th: Evaluating Yourself

by Paul Lewis

Scripture: Romans 12:3b

Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Observation:

Paul precedes this sentence with pleading that we would give ourselves to God as a living sacrifice. In that sacrifice, we aren’t to think too highly of ourselves. In other words, we aren’t doing God a favor by giving ourselves to him, we are doing ourselves the favor. We aren’t special because we give our lives to Christ. We are all special in his eyes, but we need to remember that we are his creation, subject to him.

Paul fine tunes his point in this passage in saying that we need to be honest in our evaluation of ourselves. We need to realize who we are in Christ, who we are because of Christ, and who we were without Christ.

Our faith is to be the measure of our value. If we are just starting to believe, then our faith is small, but growing. Our value is that we are children of the one true living God regardless of how much faith we have. Our value then is founded in our understanding of our relationship with God. Some who are more mature find greater value, not in human terms, but in terms of faith. Our level of faith is never to be a yarstick to measure ourselves against others, but to be used in measuring our maturity level in Christ.

Application:

We are all at different maturity levels. I’m not talking about how long you have been a Christian, I am talking about steps taken to grow in your faith. Someone who has been a Christian for three years could be much more mature than someone who has been a Christian for forty years because they have continually focused on growing in Christ.

We are to be transformed by Christ and growing to become more like him every day.

Prayer:

God, please help me to focus on you today. Help me to grow in my faith. Help me to become more like you today. Help me to evaluate myself according to the faith you give me and strive to grow in that faith.

July 28th: It’s still a mystery to me

Scripture

Romans 11:25

“I want you to understand this mystery,…”

Observation

The mystery Paul is referring to is that the Israelites, despite their hard hearts, will receive a second chance at accepting the Good News after all the gentiles have has a chance to receive it.  This doesn’t quite make sense and Paul acknowledges that by referring to it as a mystery. The word mystery is often used in conjunction with God’s grace and salvation plan.

Application

There are a lot of things we won’t fully understand this side of heaven…and I mean a lot.  I am comforted that Paul uses the word mystery. If he didn’t quite get it all, I am going to be o.k.  I mean that is what faith is all about, right? Not fully understanding, yet trusting God enough to believe that He is right.  When I think of God’s mystery, I am not talking about fully understanding obscure prophecies and the correct interpretation of the book of Revelation.  Think about the Resurrection of Jesus.  How did that one event in history pay the penalty for sin for all time and conquer death?  Trust me I know the basic answer, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin,…but why,….how?  It is a mystery, and I am quite content to place my trust in it.

Prayer

God, thank you for being too big to explain on the pages of a book.

July 27th: Beautiful Feet

Scripture

Romans 10:14-15

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Observation

The first part of the passage was used by Darius in week three of Jonah explaining our need to go out and share the good news.  I really like the blessing at the end of verse 15; “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”  It is an odd blessing, beautiful feet, but quite fitting.  When someone brings good news, you are so glad that they took the effort to bring it to you, because it is really a benefit for you much more than for them.  When someone shares with you God’s plan for salvation, you benefit from that conversation so much more than them.  They were obedient in their calling and will rejoice in the outcome, but you….your eternity was changed….how beautiful were those feet that walked up to you in order to deliver that message.

Application

People want to receive good news.  We are often afraid to deliver the gospel message because we are afraid people will reject it. But at its core, the gospel is good news to be shared.

Prayer

God give me the confidence in sharing. When I open my mouth may the best possible news will come out.

July 26th: Mark of Honor

Scripture

Proverbs 20:3

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

Observation

This isn’t a statement on pacifism or in any way political.  Solomon is speaking, as he usually does, about relationships.  When tension builds in a relationship, the easy path is quarrelling and fighting…that comes natural.  Being able to work through the tension to a solution is an honorable thing to do.

Application

As tension builds in a conversation or relationship I need to do what I can to bring things down to a more calm level.  Not to sweep things under the rug, because that only delays the conflict, but to avoid fighting which is destructive.

Prayer

God give me wisdom to handle conflict.

July 24: God’s Still Here

Posted by: Jeremiah Hann

Scripture:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them… And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below–indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28, 38-39

Observation:

When we love God, he is going to take care of us. God is always at work behind the scenes in our lives, even when we don’t think he is. He loves us so much that once we come into a relationship with him, absolutely nothing can change that. God will love us the same each day, and demonstrated his love for us through Jesus.

Application:

My application for today is to live like I believe these verses, to live my life knowing that God loves me, and that he is working in my life to help me become more like him. Even through hurt, pain, fears, worries, God loves me and wants me to be more like him each day.

Prayer:

Hey God, thanks so much for sending Jesus down here to demonstrate how much you love me. Thanks for loving me the same each and every day. Thanks for working in my life to make me more like you. Help me to live out these verses and to help remind others of how much you love them. In Jesus name, Amen.

July 23rd: A badge of honor…

By: Brent Hodges

Scripture

“But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”  Romans 8:17b

Observation

Paul continues his message to the church in Rome and lets them know that tough times are ahead. 

Application

Many times we may feel that as Christians we should have it easy because, after all, we’re on God’s team, right?  However, quite the opposite is true.  The Bible clearly states that we will endure our fair share of tough times as we live here on this earth as a follower of Jesus Christ.  I can be thankful that we live in a country where we can freely worship our Creator…I can be humbled that any persecution that may come my way is for the sake of what Christ did for me on the cross…and I can lean on him through it all knowing that he has promised me an eternal reward.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for the time you have given me here on this earth to be a bold witness for you.  May I see persecution as a badge of honor for you and may I press forward to finish the race you have called me to run.

July 22nd: Everythng I Hate

By: Ryan Nunez

Scripture

Romans 7:15

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

Observation

Paul shares his own struggle with sin in this verse that we all share.  We don’t want to sin, we want to do right.  We even hate sin and its toll on our lives, but as humans we do it anyway.

Application

Sin is attractive.  It is usually pretty fun and entertaining.  It’s addictive.  Sin fills the moment with pleasure. In the end, however, Sin separates us from God.  It is for this reason we should hate it. Sin separates us from the one thing that will truly fulfil all those desires we have. We get into sin for the temporary fix, but the long term solution is Christ.

Prayer

God, keep me close to you.  Do not let me wonder from you for  temporary, short term fixes to the needs I have.

July 21st: A Clear Image of Our Need

By Dennis Johnston

Scripture:

So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point:  You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ.  And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead.  As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.

                                                                                                                               Romans 7:4

Observation:

Paul was great at painting pictures so that others could catch the truth of the gospel.  In chapters 6 and 7 he uses vivid images of water baptism, dead bodies, and slavery to explain God’s message.  He sums up his point in Romans 6:23 and moves on to a marriage analogy in chapter 7.  The first six verses remind us that the dead are no longer bound to sin.  Although none of us started well, we can all finish well, thanks to God.  He remains committed to our welfare.

Application:

These are the final chapters dedicated to helping us see humankind’s need.  Because of our fallen human state, everybody has three fundamental needs:

1.   To believe: All human hearts need to have faith in something or someone.

2.   To belong: All human hearts need to experience community and family.

3.   To become: All human hearts need to grow, stretch, and reach their potential.

Today I need to be intentional in “belonging” as I experience community and focused on “becoming” all that Christ intended as I reach my full potential.  I need to have a “spiritual growth” plan so that I can meet the needs of those around me.

Prayer:

Father, help me to have a better image of the need in my community.  To see the need of others to be connected in a home team and pray together.  Also, for me to grow in my relationship with You and reach my full potential.  Ultimately, so that others may see my good deeds and You would be glorified.  In Jesus’ name.

July 20th: Freedom!

by Paul Lewis

Scripture: Romans 6:20-23

20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation:

Notice the focus on the word “Free”. In this chapter, Paul has been talking about the fact that in Christ, we are free from the bondage of sin. In this passage, Paul points out that without that while we were slaves to sin, we were at the same time free to do whatever we wanted, yet those things would ultimately lead to eternal doom.

For those who have accepted the gift that God has offered, we have become free from the power of sin and have become slaves to Christ. Paul makes a very clear contrast in verse 23 between our relationship with sin versus our relationship with God and the end result of both relationships.

Application:

Paul makes it clear that in choosing to become a slave to Christ is really choosing freedom. You can only be the slave of one master, so if you are a slave to Christ, you are free from the bondage of sin.  The ultimate result is that a live as a slave to sin leads to death, and eternal separation from God. Choosing to be a slave to God leads to eternal life with Christ. Paul points out then that the choice is pretty simple. We are all slaves to something, but as a slave, we actually choose our master. Choose wisely!

Prayer:

Lord and Master Jesus Christ, thank you for freeing me from the bondage of sin! Thank you for paying the price for my freedom and for giving me the wisdom to choose you. Help me to continually seek ways to make this choice clear to those who are still slaves to sin so that they will see that they can choose you as their master.