Monthly Archives: May 2012

Today, You are Forgiven

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I read a Max Lucado quote a million years ago that I think of quite often. He said “The reason God hates sin so much is because of what it does to His children. It destroys them.” The longer I live the more I find that to be true. Sin destroy us. John 10:10 tells us that the thief (the devil) comes to rob, to kill, and to destroy.

That is what sin does in the big picture. It’s also what it does in our own lives. When we sin, when we do something stupid, when we fall, what happens, at least in my life, is this.

I run from God. I’m ashamed. I’m embarrassed. I feel like I’ve failed. And I want to hide from God.

That’s what sin does. It separates us from God.

So, today, listen to what we read in Hebrews 4:14-16:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We have a high priest, Jesus, who has been tested as are, and yet remained sinless. He became the perfect sacrifice for us. He atoned for us. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

He allows us to go home. He allows us to stop running. He allows us to have peace.

He lets us know the fullness of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and grace.

Today, you are forgiven. Today, you can come home. Today, you can start over. Today, you can draw near. Today, you are new.

Not because of anything you’ve done, or haven’t done. But totally because of what He has done for us through Jesus.

Today, you are forgiven. May we each draw close to our God today!

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.

Before You Say It. . . .

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James in his letter writes about the power of the tongue. He says that it’s a restless evil, that no one can control it. With the same mouth be bless God and curse our neighbor. He goes on to say that this should not be so.

I’ve often compared the book of James in the New Testament to the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. They are both incredibly practical books of wisdom for the living of each day.

And both books are really concerned about our mouths and what we say.

James talked about the tongue being a restless evil, listen to what Proverbs 17: 27-28 says today:

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Restrain your words, have a cool spirit. Even a fool that keep silent is considered wise.

So, today, keep this simple advice from both James and from Proverbs.

Be careful what you say. Before you say it, take a moment to think about it. Pray about it. Consider what your words will do.

Once you say them, you can’t get them back. Once they are out, they are out, and theirs nothing that can be done about it.

Be calm, cool, and discerning today. Pray about your words. Think about your words. Speak your words carefully. Use them for building up, not for tearing down. Use them for good, not for ill.

Use them to glorify God and help others.

Today, before you say it, think about it. And may we use all that we are, mouth and words included, for God’s glory!

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.

The Very Best Thing We Can Do

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What is the best thing that you can do today for yourself and your own faith?

What is the best thing that you can do today for someone else and for their faith?

What is the best thing that you can do today for the church and for its witness in the local community and in the world?

What is the best thing that you can do today for our nation and for our leaders?

The answer to all of these questions is given by Paul today in 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

First of all, then, I urgethat supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Pray.

Paul tells us today to pray for all people. To pray for kings and for leaders.

Pray for the strong and the mighty, pray for the weak and the frail. Pray for the ones that you love and admire, pray for the ones that you can’t get along with.

Pray for your friends, and as Jesus would say, pray for your enemies.

Why?

As verse 4 says – God wants all to be saved. Everyone. John 3:16 reminds that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son for the world. God wants every one to be saved. To know Him. To enter into relationship with Him.

Everyone.

And so we do our part. We love. We forgive. We share. We witness. And we do the very best thing that we can do.

We pray.

Today, pray. Pray for all. Pray specific for specific needs, and pray in general for things you don’t know about.

But pray. And in doing this, we are pleasing God. And doing the very best thing that we can do!

Today, may we pray.

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.

Come Home

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There will be a break in posts for about a week or so, my family is going to Disney World this Sunday following worship at Asbury (come join us 8:20 or 10:40!).  I’ll be back the next week and resume posting then!

The Old Testament prophets are constantly warning the people. Stop doing the things that you are doing to break the law.

Stop abusing the poor.

Stop worshiping idols.

Stop departing from God.

They tell the people, over and over again, if you do not stop, there will be judgement. There will be pain.

Sin hurts. Sin destroys. Sin looks like it will be a good thing, it will bring fun, it will bring life, but it doesn’t. It only brings destruction and pain and hurt and loss.

It was once written the reason God hates sin so much is because it destroys His children.

Today, we hear the other word of the prophets. Come home. Listen to what it says in Joel 2: 12-14:

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?

If you return, return with your heart, He will forgive your sin. He will forgive, He will restore.

He will make it, and all things new. He will give hope and peace.

He will welcome us back home.

So today, no matter where we are, when we turn back to Him, He welcomes us back home.

Today, no matter where you are, God wants you to come home.

Peace, life, love and forgiveness are found in Him. And found there. Today, may we return to Him and find what we are looking for.

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.

Faithful

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One of the things we talk about a lot in church/faith/religion is the notion that we need to be faithful to God.

We should stand up for God. Do right. Do what God wants!

And all of these notions are right and true. All of these notions are for real. We should do each of these things. But, thankful, for us, faithfulness is a two-way street.

Listen to what God says today in Genesis 9: 8-12:

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations

It isn’t just that we are supposed to be faithful to God. It is that God is always faithful to us.

God is a God of covenant and remembrance. God is a God that remembers His promise to us. He will be faithful to His word.

What is that word? Here in Genesis specifically it’s that He won’t flood the earth again. But, that’s not His only promise.

He promised to never leave nor forsake us. He promised to forgive us our sins. He promised to always be by us and by our side. He promised to be our rock and our shield.

He promised to be our salvation.

He is true to what He said He will do.

He is faithful.

Today, may we be faithful to God in all our lives. And may we know, even more so, that He will be faithful to us.

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.

You Can Do It

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Today, no matter what task is facing you, you can do it. In Philippians 4: 11-13 today, Paul is talking about the trials that he has faced in His life and in His ministry.

He recounts them all. Listen to what he says:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

He says I’ve had everything, I’ve had nothing. I’ve had abundance, I’ve been left empty. There is nothing that I’ve not gone through in some fashion in my life.

And he concludes, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Today, you can do it. Whatever it is you are facing, you can do it.

Or put, actually better, Jesus Christ, through you, can do it. Jesus, working through you, can accomplish whatever task it is that you have in front of you today. Jesus, working through you, can do whatever it is you face today.

There is no task too high, no challenge too great. You can do it.

Through His power, strength, and might. You can do it.

Through Christ’s power working through us, may we be faithful! And may we accomplish whatever it is God has for us today!

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.

Good Dirt

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Jesus often communicated with parables. These were stories that related the point He was trying to get across to common things that the people of the day would understand.

Jesus was followed mainly by the common people of His day. So, many of His parables talk about things they (and we) would understand. Family. Land. Word. Stuff that nearly every human deals with.

Today’s reading is one that I’m sure we’ve all heard many times, from Matthew 13: 3-9. Listen to what happens.

And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

In this parable, the farmer (God) throws out the seed (His Word) and some ground is receptive to it, and the seed gives fruit. And the rest of the ground, it’s either receptive at first and then dies away, or it is not all receptive.

Every time I read this story, the question goes through my mind. What kind of dirt will I be today?

Will I be good dirt? Or will I be the kind of dirt that rejects what God wants to do in my life today?

Today, God will reach out to you. It may be through this devotional. It may be through your own reading. It may be through the words of a co-worker or a family member. It may be through a song you hear on the radio.

God will reach out to you. He will fling His word into your life in some way today.

What type of dirt will you be?

Will you be good dirt that receptive to what God is trying to do?

Or will you be dirt that goes through the motion? Or will you be dirt that out-and-out rejects what God wants to say and wants to do.

God wants to speak to you today. He wants to give you His word.

What type of word will you be?

May we each be good dirt.

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.

Be Nice

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The way most letters in the New Testament end is very practical. The letters, by the way, are the books that follow the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and Acts. The letters were written by Paul and other leaders in the early church. And were literally what they say they were – letters.

The letters are generally concerned with some issue going on in that local church, or with teaching correct belief.

But nearly every letter ends with just some plain, practical advice for the people. Today, as we draw near to the end of the letter to the Hebrews, we see more of that.

Listen to the advice we are given today in chapter 13:1-3:

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

We are told to love. Show hospitality. Remember those in prison and are forgotten about.

In short, we are told, be nice.

Today, in your life, just be nice. Be nice to people. Smile. Be kind. Don’t fuss. Be nice.

Lots of stuff can be hard. But sometimes the easiest thing to do can also be the most important thing.

Today, God may not be calling you to move to a far away country. He may not be calling you to enter the full-time ministry. He may not be calling you to teach or lead.

But, He calling each of us, you and me, to this simple, and true advice.

Be nice.

Show His love to others by being nice. In that, we show how important others are to God, and to us.

And, believe it or not, when we are nice to others, we actually feel better ourselves.

So, today, be nice.

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.

Watch Where You Walk

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Growing up out in the country, you had to watch where you walked. If you were down by the creek, you had to look out for snakes. Be careful.

Sometimes if you were just running through the woods, you had to look out for roots. I’ve had a lot of friends (me included) that would be running along a path and twist their ankles pretty bad when they get tripped up by a root they didn’t see.

You had to watch where you were going or you’d get yourself in trouble.

Listen to what Paul says today in Ephesians 5:15-17:

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.walk into places that could get you in trouble.

Watch your step today. Watch where you are going. Watch what you are thinking.

Be careful out there. For where you walk to determines where you will be. Don’t walk to trouble. Don’t walk to temptation. Don’t walk to the things that will pull you away from God.

Walk towards God. Walk towards His word. Walk towards life.

Today, be careful out there. Look where you are going. Watch where you are walking. Make sure you are walking towards that is good, life-giving and pure.

Walk towards life.

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.

At Your Worst Moment

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Today’s passage has one of the most powerful and important concepts in all of scripture. Today’s passage lays one of the most important truths about God out for us.

Paul, in Romans, is laying out for us the fact that we are saved by grace through faith, not by anything that we can do. Our salvation comes not by our works, not by our actions, but it comes from the grace of God which is freely given, not earned.

Listen to what He says today in Romans 5:6-8:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

While we were still weak, Christ died for the ungodly. Other versions translate that passage by saying that while we were still His enemies Christ died for us. And then says that God shows His love for us that while we sinners, Christ died.

Wow. Think about that truth for a second.

While you were at your worst moment. The moment you were furthest away from God. The moment that you had wandered away. At you weakest. Most sinful. Lowest moment that you have had in your life.

At that moment. That’s when Jesus died for you.

He didn’t die for you because you had earned it. He died for you because He loves you.

And He wants to redeem you. He wants to save you. He wants to give you grace.

At your worst moment. At your biggest failure. At the time when you blew it up the most.

It was at that moment Jesus died for you.

Wow. When we are at our lowest, God loves us the most. When we are at our weakest, God is the strongest. When we are most unlovable, that’s when God gives us the most grace.

Today, at your weakest moment, God loved you. Today, in our all of lives, no matter where we are, weak or strong, may we know how much He really does love us.

And may that love cause us to love, serve, and follow Him, each moment of our lives!

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.