Monthly Archives: March 2012

Something Better is Coming

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There’s something better coming. No matter where you are in your faith, in your life, in your walk with God.

Something better is coming.

That’s the witness of the Bible. That’s the witness of the Bible. That’s God’s plan for you today and each day of your life. Something better is coming.

Look at what it says in Isaiah 25:8-9 today:

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

There will come a time when God will wipe away every tear from all faces. We will behold God. And we will rejoice in His salvation.

It will happen. Something better is coming.

Today, remember, God is not done with you yet. He is not finished with you. Your story is not over. Your story is not finished. There is more to come.

No matter how bad it is today, and you know what, it may be bad. Your life may be in a bad spot. Your life may seem over. You may feel like there is no hope.

Trust me, there is. He is not finished with you. Hold on to that. Believe in that. Cling fast to that. God is not done with you.

Something better is coming.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What Does God Want From You?

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Yesterday we talked about how Jesus was what really mattered in our lives. As important as theology is, Jesus is what matters the most. He is the foundation, He is the rock, He is what counts and what everything comes down to.

Today, we look at what a life following Jesus is based upon. Look what Paul says today here in Romans 1:16-17:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

He says that he is not ashamed of the Gospel, it’s the power of God.

But here, here is the key – the righteous shall live by faith. Not by works. Not by anything you can do. No by anything you can earn. Faith.

We are people of faith. Our lives, our walk with God, everything starts with faith. Paul says later on in Romans – if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, you shall be saved.

Belief. Faith.

What does God want from you? Faith. It all starts with faith. If we have faith, if God is pleased with us.

Why? Because faith is dependence upon Him. Faith says, there is someone bigger and stronger than me, and I trust in them. Faith says that there is a rock higher than I that I trust Him. Faith says I throw myself upon. Faith says it’s all about Him.

That’s where salvation starts. That’s where our walk with Him starts. That’s where it all starts.

Faith. The bible says without faith, it’s impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). But with faith, we know the assurance of salvation.

What does God want from you today? Faith. Dependance upon Him. Trust in Him. A childlike humble belief in Him. Faith.

Today, may we really be a people of faith. May we trust in Him, in each moment of day today.

And in that faith, may we find the joy of salvation.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What Matters

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I’ve never been one for arguing about theology. I’ve never been one to really want to fuss with others about what I believe and what they believe.

Now, I’ve got a theology. I know what I believe about God. And I really like what I believe about God. I think what I believe about relates well to what scripture says. And I’m pretty happy with it.

But you know what. You may not agree with it. You and I may have some real differences about what we believe. And you know what I’ve learned?

That’s ok.

Look at what Paul writes today in 1 Corinthians 15:12-17. He writes about what matters.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Jesus. His life. His death. His resurrection. I would add to that His return as well (which Paul does later). These are what matters. That’s what it’s all about.

Paul says that if Christ didn’t rise from the dead, then we are still in our sins. And our faith is worthless.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not still in my sins. My faith has changed my life. It has made me a new person. I am new, I am changed, I am different.

And it’s all about Jesus. It’s all about what He’s done.

That’s what matters. Jesus.

You and I may not always agree on everything. I am totally fine with that. But, if Jesus is your Lord and He has changed your life, that’s what matters.

That’s what matters. His life. His death. His resurrection. His return. Today in our lives, lets love as He would have us to love, let’s serve as He would have us to serve.

And let’s keep Him the main thing.

And if He’s the main thing, everything else will fall into place. Today, let’s focus on what matters.

Jesus.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Doubt

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John the Baptist knew who Jesus was. Scripture tells the story that even while he was in his mother’s womb, he leapt for joy when Mary came to visit, for even then he knew that the Messiah was there.

John was the one appointed by God to go and to prepare the way for Jesus. He was the one that was supposed to make things ready for Jesus’ coming and ministry.

Some of his disciples even became disciples of Jesus.

John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

John knew Jesus.

So, it’s a little surprising to read what happens in today’s text, Matthew 11:2-5:

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

And yet today, in this text, he doubted. Life had taken a turn. John was now in prison for standing up to Herod and condemning him. And you condemn the king, it normally doesn’t go to good for you. So, he is doubting.

And what do Jesus say – look. Look at the lives I’ve changed. Look what I’ve done. Look what’s happening. I am who I say that I am because I have changed live.

You will doubt. It will happen. That’s ok. Doubt happens. Even John did. But when doubt comes, just like John, look around. Look at the lives that are changed. Look at the difference Jesus makes, in your lives and in the lives of others.

He has changed my life. He has changed the lives of so many others. And, if you let Him, He will change your life in amazing ways today!

Doubt will come. But remember. Remember what He has done for you. Remember how He has shown you grace. Remember how He has changed your life. That change. That experience. That’s God’s working in our lives.

When doubt comes, remember what He’s done. And look at what He’s doing. And hold tight to those things.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

We Need Each Other

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We are all connected to each other. Through Christ, we are connected.

He is my Father. And if you are His, you are His child as I am. That makes him your Father as well.  And if He’s your Father, that makes us family. That makes us siblings. We need each other. We are connected. That’s just the way that it is.

None of us were made to walk this path of life alone.  None of us were made to walk it without someone beside us.

No matter how unworthy you may feel.  No matter how little you may feel.  No matter how unimportant you may feel.  You matter.  You are important.  You are important to God, important to the Body of Christ, important to us all.

You matter.  You do.  No matter where you are, we need you.  Listen to what Paul says today in 1 Corinthians 12:21-26:

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Every part of the body is important. The hand. The foot. Each matters.  Each is vital.  Each is needed.

As it is with us. We matter. Each of us matters. To God. To the church. To each other. And, we need each other.

To love each other. To hold each other accountable. To help each other. To challenge each other. To grow each other. To disciple each other.

We are a body. We are family.  We need each other.

Today, is my deepest prayer that you are plugged in somewhere where you know that and you feel that.  That you know that you matter. That you know that you are needed. That you know that you belong.

Today, you matter.  Today, you belong. Today, in Christ, are you family. Today, we need each other.  May we not live along.  May we love, plug in, help, and care for each other.

We are part of a body, Christ’s body.  May we never forget that we need each other.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

No Worthless Thing

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There’s a couple of sayings that we’ve heard before – you are what you eat. The stuff you eat in many ways determines how you feel and how much energy you have. I don’t know if I buy that, buy my dietitian wife swears its true! 🙂

The second is – garbage in, garbage out. This is a computer term. Computers only process what we put in. They can’t create material, we have to input that material for them. And then they send out what we as. So, garbage in, garbage out.

Now, listen to what Psalm 101: 1-3 says:

I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music. I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

David says – I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. David knows this – what he sets before him will affect who he is.

What he sees. Reads. Thinkings about. Talks about. Associates with. These things will affect who he is, his faith, his very life.

Because David wants in his life what is good and pure and of God, he says he will set no worthless thing before him. He only wants what is good before him, so that he will be formed and created in what is good.

Today, what about us? What do we set before us? What do we watch? Stream? Talk about? Focus on?

What do we set before us? Is it good? Does it build us up? Does it strengthen out faith? Does it help us?
Or does it harm us and our faith?

Today, in all of our lives, may we chase after God. May we set no worthless thing before us. And may we reflect, live, and know that which is good, and life-giving.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Only Jesus

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Listen to a reading today from Mark 8:1-8. And listen to it like you’ve never heard it before:

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

There are two things that stuck out to me today in this reading about the feeding of the crowd. This is a story that we’ve all heard a 1000 times, and when we’ve heard a story that many times, it’s easy to really listen and hear what’s happening.

As I was reading and listening today, two things really popped out.

First, why did Jesus do this? Verse two says this – He had compassion on the people. Jesus is a compassionate Lord. He is a good shepherd. He cares for His people.

Today, Jesus cares for you. Really. Your hurts. Your fears. Your worries. Everything in your life. Everything causes you pain and worry, He cares about. He has compassion for.

You matter to Jesus. You are important to Him. He really does care for you today. Don’t forget that. Don’t feel like you are unimportant to Him today. You are not. You matter.

And the second things that jumped out to me today was verse 8 – they ate and were satisfied. Some translations say they were filled. Jesus didn’t just give them enough food to keep them from dying, He gave them enough food to fill them.

Jesus doesn’t just care for you today. He wants what is good for you today. He wants for you good things that will fill you. That will satisfy you.

And here’s the thing. You know what is the only thing that will really satisfy and fill you today?

Jesus.

Nothing else will satisfy and fill you today. Nothing else will meet your needs in such a way. Only Jesus.

Today know that He has compassion for you, no matter where you are and what’s going on. And know that He longs to satisfy you with what is best. Himself.

Today may we find all of our life in Jesus.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

We Raise Our White Flag

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I can’t get the newest Chris Tomlin song from Passion out of my mind.  At first, I didn’t care for it.  I don’t know, it just didn’t do anything for me.  But the more I listened to it, the more I liked it.

And now I can’t get it out of my mind.  It’s the chorus – “We raise our white flag, we surrender all to you, all to you” that stays with me.  In history, the white flag equals defeat.  It is cowardice.  It is quitting.  It is giving up.  It is surrendering.  Bravery compels that you keep fighting, even to the last. The brave ones are the ones that fight to the end.  Not surrender. Not wave the white flag.  Not give up.

But I began to think about the notion of sin in my life. The areas I struggle with. The areas that I can’t gain victory and I fight and I fight and I fight.  The areas where I am totally defeated.

And I raise my white flag. I surrender.  All to you.  All to you.

This song has hit me, the only way to victory is to wave that white flag. Admit our defeat.  Admit our weakness and frailty. Wave it.  Give up to God. Surrender.

And when I wave that white flag. When I admit my defeat, I find something that I never find on my own.  Victory.

In raising our white flag to God, we find victory.  The areas of my life where I’m living in defeat are the areas where I have not surrendered and waved the white flag to God. It’s the areas where I think I can do it, where I think I’m sufficient.  Where I’m strong enough.

And in those areas, that’s where I’m defeated.

To win, I must admit defeat. I can’t do it.  I wave my white flag to God. I surrender.  I need Him.  In the areas I am weak, the only path to victory is to wave that white flag and find His grace, victory, and strength.

The only path to victory is surrender.  Total and complete surrender to Him.

We raise our white flag, we surrender all to you, all to you.

 

It All Comes Down to Jesus

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I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday at lunch and we were talking about church. Talking about leadership and connection and fellowship and growth and all the stuff that goes into church.

We talked about our excitement in church, over frustrations, over all types of things. And as we were leaving, we both just though the same thing.

It all comes down to Jesus.

Everything. Everything comes down to Jesus. Not to theology. Not to denominations. Not to preferences. Not to styles. Not to anything else in all of creation.

Jesus.

Everything comes down to Jesus.

Listen to what He says today in John 6:38-40:

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

He says today that God’s will is that everyone that looks to Jesus should have life.

Everyone that looks to Jesus. That’s it. That’s what it is all about. Everything else in life fades away. Everything else in life withers. But it all comes down to Jesus.

Everything. In Him, we have life. In Him, we have purpose. In Him, we have hope. In Him, life has meaning.

Without Him, we are hungry, tired, and weak. Rudderless and purposeless. In Him, we live.

Today, it all comes down to Him.

I had a professor that used to tell us that everything in our life comes back to our walk with Jesus. Every problem, every trouble, every worry, it all comes back to Jesus.

He is life. He is hope. He is all. Today, may we be found in Him. And today, may we find our strength, joy, and purpose in Him.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

It’s Gonna Happen

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One of the great things we see about God’s love is that it can’t help but overflow to others. When we understand that God loves us, we can’t help but let that love just run over onto others.

Listen to what Jesus says today in John 7:37-39:

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

He said that when we drink from His living waters – out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

It’s gonna happen!

When we’ve tasted the goodness of God we can’t help but to share that goodness with others! We can’t help but to let that grace of God that we’ve experienced come out.

And that’s the natural progression of how things should work. We don’t others out of duty or obligation. We don’t share the goodness of God with others because we have to. We don’t show grace to others because we will get in trouble if it doesn’t happen.

We do it cause it can’t help but happen. When we’ve felt His grace and mercy, that grace and mercy will flow out.

When we understand how much we’ve been forgiven, we can’t help but to forgive others.

It’s just gonna happen!

So, today, in all your life, in every moment of your today today love others. Show that grace, mercy, and joy. Share it with others. Let others know it, see it, and experience it.

As you’ve been loved, love others.

But in reality, I don’t even need to tell you that. As God’s grace is made known in your life, it WILL filer over into others. It’s just gonna happen.

Today, draw close to God and His grace. And in doing that, that mercy and that grace, it will overflow to others.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.