Following Christ ... Really ... (1 Thessalonians 1:2-5)

Today’s scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5

Being a Christian is so much more than just saying that God exists. As the Bible tells us: “Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19). And it’s so much more than just going to church each Sunday or saying a prayer now and again … usually when something goes wrong. Or quoting a Bible verse every once and a while.

Being a Christian, a follower of Christ, means committing your life to God’s will. And when you commit your life to God, surrendering everything to Him, your desire is to serve Him. You want to work for Him, serving and loving others as you hope in Him.

You read God’s word—with its “scarlet thread” of salvation that is weaved throughout—and with the inspiration and illumination of the Holy Spirit, you are encouraged and convicted. You hide God’s word in your heart, knowing its words will keep you from sinning against the Lord (Psalm 119:11).

You spend time in prayer, praising God and interceding for others. You listen to God’s voice as He leads and guides you along His chosen path.

Yes, being a follower of Christ takes focus and discipline, but the rewards of knowing you are in relationship with the God of the universe make it all worthwhile!

Oh, Rubbish! (Philippians 3:7-11)

Today’s scripture: Philippians 3:7-11

How often do we put our trust in things? Or circumstances? Or people? How often do we think, if I only had this job? Or if I were married to so and so? Or if I lived there?

Then life would be perfect.

But that’s a lie. Things are temporary. Circumstances come and go. What we think is so important today means nothing tomorrow. Nothing has real meaning in this world. Nothing except our faith, that is. What the world sees as “gain” is “rubbish.” It’s trash. It belongs in a landfill.

When I speak, I often use this illustration: I hold out both hands facing up, and say, "It's all Yours, Lord." Then, I close one fist and say, "Well, except for ..." I complete the illustration by opening that fist again and saying, "We have to hold everything loosely and trust God to fulfill His purpose."

God has blessed us with so many things, but they're just things. So we can and should hold things loosely. We should gladly give up everything for Lord and Savior. We should be willing to lose what the world so highly cherishes, being assured that, if we do, we will attain what lasts: resurrection from the dead. Eternity with Christ.

Nothing else matters.

Daily Surrender (Ephesians 4:20-24)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 4:20-24

When we committed our lives to Jesus, when we accepted His gift of salvation through the shedding of His blood, His death, and His resurrection, we became new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our sins were removed from us, as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

The Father saw us—and sees us—as clean and pure (Psalm 51:7).

But we live in a daily battle against the enemy of our souls. And even though he knows he lost the war with us, as long as he can keep us distracted from serving God and impacting others for God’s kingdom, he can win a battle or two.

So we must be on alert against his wiles and lies (1 Peter 5:8-9). We must—daily—“lay aside the old self” and take up the cross of serving God. We must—daily—“put on the new self” by renewing our minds, by surrendering everything to God.

When you wake each morning, ask God to give you strength for that day. Surrender anew yourself to Him. Seek His will. And commit to live that day to glorify Him.

Broken Vessels (Galatians 1:18-24)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 1:18-24

God changes lives. He defeats addictions. He calms anger. He repairs relationships. He takes rebellious, sinful hearts and makes them white as snow.

And He sometimes takes the most defiant against Him or the most ambivalent towards Him or the weakest and makes them His spokespeople.

Moses feared he wouldn’t be able to speak to Pharaoh. Paul actively sought to destroy those who followed Christ, thereby destroying a new religious movement. Corrie Ten Boom was in her sixties, frail from interment in a Nazi death camp.

Yet each of these became a powerhouse in proclaiming God’s truth.

On a quite lesser scale, I was a rebellious, fist-in-the-hand-of-God teenager and young adult. I didn’t want to have anything to do with faith. Then I recommitted my life to the Lord, and all I wanted to do was know Him better and serve where He wanted me.

I never expected He’d use me to speak or write. I felt unworthy to do either. Yet, God, in His mercy and grace, chose to give me the privilege of telling His stories.

You may think your choices have somehow made you inadequate to be used by God in a significant way. But that’s one of the great things about our God. He’ll use the most broken vessel to do His will.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been. If you surrender your life to Him, willing to do whatever He asks, He will use you. You may be a Moses or a Paul. Or you may be the only Jesus your neighbors, friends, and coworkers see. In either case, others will be pointed to Christ through you.

A Sacrifice of Righteousness (Psalm 51:18-19)

Today's scripture: Psalm 51:18-19

Yesterday, we talked about how God was much more pleased with our broken and contrite hearts rather than sacrifices.

Today’s verses seem to contradict that. Not really. Sometimes, we need to meditate on verses remembering the context and the time in which they were written. When David wrote these words, the Christ hadn’t come to earth yet. And the only way to demonstrate contrition was through burnt offerings.

For reasons beyond our understanding, God requires the spilling of blood for atonement. And before the Son came to earth and became our once-for-all sacrifice, that blood was offered on the altar of the tabernacle.

But there’s a key word in these verses. A mere sacrifice wasn’t sufficient. It needed to be a sacrifice of righteousness. Just as we need to come to God with broken and contrite hearts seeking His forgiveness, God was pleased with sacrifices from sincere hearts seeking redemption.

And as we saw yesterday, God desires completely surrendered hearts. He did then. And He does now.

Delight in the Lord (Psalm 40:6-8)

Today's scripture: Psalm 40:6-8

Sometimes, we Christ-followers focus on all the things we do. We go to church. We tithe. We read our Bibles. We pray. We serve the community. We're doing, doing, doing. Then we pat ourselves on the back and say, "Look at everything we're doing for you, God."

You know something? I'm not certain He's all that impressed. In fact, according to today's verses (and others like it), God doesn't "desire" our sacrifices and offerings.

What does He want instead? He wants us to surrender to Him. He wants us to "delight to do [His] will." He wants us to keep His "law within [our] heart[s]." Hosea 6:6 tells us that we should "delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." God wants us to love Him and others: "love Him with all the heart and understanding and strength, and to love one's neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices" (Mark12:33).

Sometimes, we get so caught in doing that we neglect to just be. Just being in His presence, listening to His voice, desiring His will.

Delighting in Him.

I don't know about you, but I want to delight Him ... and so, I'm going to spend some time with Him. Delighting in His presence.

I invite you to do the same.

All I Want (Psalm 16:5-6)

Today's scripture: Psalm 16:5-6

I've written this many times, but I have to say again: I don't know how those who don't know God live ... seriously. Without the confidence that He is in loving, gracious, merciful control of my every day, I'd just want to crawl into a hole and die.

Seriously.

Because I know He loves me and has a plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11), I can surrender everything ... everything.

The Contemporary English Version paraphrase of today's verses especially touches my heart:

You, Lord, are all I want!
    You are my choice,
    and you keep me safe.
You make my life pleasant,
    and my future is bright.

Not only is God "all I want" in this life, knowing Him assures me that I have eternity with Him to look forward to. He protects me now and gives me strength each day, and one day, my "bright future" will be in the new heaven and new earth ... in His presence, forever and ever.

Lord God Almighty, be my all in all. Be my only choice. Use me as You will. And one day, usher me into your kingdom. Amen.

A Generation Seeking God ... (Psalm 24:5-6)

Today's scripture: Psalm 24:5-6

Oh, that we would be “the generation of those who seek Him …”

Yet it seems our society is seeking anything other than Him. Entertainment. Drugs. Sex. Meaningless relationships. Money. Work.

And where has it landed us? Out of one recession into another. Sky-rocketing divorce rates. Families whose members don’t even know each other.

Our nation, which was founded on biblical principles, is anything but a “nation under God.” And I wonder how long it will be before God completely removes His hand of blessing on us. Perhaps He already has.

But we could experience a “blessing from God and righteousness from the God of [our] salvation.” How? By turning back to Him.

God’s chosen people turned away from Him again and again (see the book of Judges), yet when they turned back to Him, He welcomed them with open arms. I believe He’ll do the same for us.

God spoke these words to the people of Israel … and I believe He speaks the same words to us today: … if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles. 7:14).

We are people called by His name. We just need to seek Him and surrender everything we are to Him. Then He’ll bless us.

Daily Renewal (Ephesians 4:20-24)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 4:20-24

When we committed our lives to Jesus, when we accepted His gift of salvation through the shedding of His blood, His death, and His resurrection, we became new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our sins were removed from us, as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

The Father saw us—and sees us—as clean and pure (Psalm 51:7).

However, we live in a daily battle against the enemy of our souls. Even though he knows he lost the war with us, as long as he can keep us distracted from serving God and impacting others for God’s kingdom, he can win a battle or two.

So we must be on alert against his wiles and lies (1 Peter 5:8-9). We must—daily—“lay aside the old self” and take up the cross of serving God. We must—daily—“put on the new self” by renewing our minds, by surrendering everything to God.

When you wake each morning, ask God to give you strength for that day. Surrender anew yourself to Him. Seek His will. Commit to live that day to glorify Him.