Tag Archives: Faith

Worth Having

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What in your life is really worth having? I mean, really worth having?

We spend our time on lots of things. So are very important. Some, not so much. In our lives we only have so much time, so much money, so much energy, so much effort.

Today, in your life, are you spending these precious resources on what matters the most?

Are you spending it on things worth really having?

Listen to what Jesus says today in Matthew 13:44-46:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

He says that the kingdom of God is like a hidden treasure that man sells all he has to go and buy. It’s like a great pearl that a man sales everything to go and own.

The kingdom of heaven is life that is found in Jesus. It’s not just heaven, though that is part of it. It’s the life that is found in one’s daily walk with Him. That life that makes everything better. That life is that is truly worth having, over everything else in life.

And see, that’s it. This kingdom life, this life that’s found in Jesus, that’s worth having. That’s eternal, unending, and joyous. That’s the best and that’s what it’s all about.

And today, Jesus said that should come first and be first. And we should get rid of everything else and keep that.

Because when we’ve got that, we’ve got something truly worth having.

Today, may we remember in our lives what is truly worth having. Faith. Family. Friendships. And let’s focus on that.

Let’s focus on what really matters. And in that, we will find 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.

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.

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.

Grace, Faith, and Life

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I love the book of Galatians. It may be my favorite book in the Bible. It speaks to so many things about faith, about grace, about the Christian lifestyle, about who we are called to be.

Today’s ready reading deals with two of the things we deal with.

Grace and sin.

Listen to what Paul says today in Galatians 2:15-20:

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

First Paul reminds of this central, core fact. We are saved by grace through faith. We are not saved by our works. We are not saved by anything we can do. We are saved by God’s grace made full in our lives.

Our works do not save us. Nothing we
“do” saves us. Only grace, through faith, saves us.

That’s it. That’s the list.

Ok then, what does that look like? We see that in verses 17 – 20. That grace makes us a new person. We are changed. We are different. We are not the same person that we were before.

We are new. We are different. We think different. We act different. We are new.

So, today, know this one face. You are saved by God’s grace which is made known to you by faith. That is what enables and makes salvation possible. That’s it.

But that salvation will change us. It will make us different. We don’t need to be the same. We need to be different. And if we’ve experienced grace, if we’ve experienced salvation and are not changed, how is it with our souls.

Today, we are made new by grace in our lives. Today, may that grace change us and grow us closer to God in amazing and powerful ways!

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.

Enough for Today

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We see in the story of the Exodus God call the people out of slavery in Egypt at. And that’s great. Except for this. In Egypt, while tough and slaves, the people at least had enough food to eat. The people at least has shelter. The people at least knew where the next meal would come from.

They were slaves, but at least they had these things.

Now, they are free. But, they are worried. They are free, but where will their food come from. They are free, but where will their food come from? Where will their provision come from? Where will their needs come from?

Look at what happens in Exodus 16:4-5:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”

The Lord sends them food. He sends them bread from heaven. He sends them what they need. He takes care of them. He gives them what they need.

For that day.

He provides for them. But they have to learn to trust. He gives them enough for that day. He gives them what they need for that day. He takes care of their needs for that day.

He is teaching them to trust. In that day.

Just as He teaches us to trust. In today. God gives us enough for today. He will gives us what we need. We have to trust Him.

For today.

And know that He will take care of our tomorrow. He will not leave nor forsake us. He will meet our needs today.

He will give us enough for today.

And He will give us enough for tomorrow. Trust in Him. Have faith in Him. He will take care of you.

He will gives us what we need.

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.

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.

Something to Hold on To

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In life, we all need something to hold onto. We all need something to cling to. We all need something that, when the waters are rough and the times are hard.

We need something in out lives to hold on to.  Listen to what Psalm 63:5-8 says this morning:

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Did you hear what the Psalmist says about God today in this passage? My soul will be satisfied when he remembers God. God has been his help in hard times before.

So, because of that, his soul clings on to God now.

God has been our friend, our rock, our shield, our help, our defender, our protector. He will not leave or forsakes us. He loves us more than we can ever imagine.

He love us. And He will hold on to us.

We can hold on to Him. No matter what is happening in your life today, no matter what is going on, no matter what you are struggling with today, you can hold on to Him.

He is there.

He loves you.

He cares for you.

He will not leave you.

Today, and each day, you can hold on to 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.

Confidence

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In this passage, we see Stephen seized by folks that lying against him. He is preaching about Jesus and doing everything in his power to be faithful to God and God’s calling upon his life.  Listent to this story in Acts 6:13-15:

and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

And in the course of doing this, he is arrested, he is hauled into court, and it is going to eventually be put to death for his faith.

And so, we look at him here in court, and what do we see? We see that they saw his face was like an angel. Bad stuff was happening to him and fixing to happen to him. But here, at this moment, what do we see? We see his face shining like and angel.

Why?

Confidence. He knew that God had this. He knew that God had it under control. He knew that God had this one. He probably had no idea what was to come, but he knew that God was in control anda God would take care of it.

He trusted in God more than he was afraid of his situation. He had confidence in God, God’s plan, God’s will, and God’s grace. He trusted in Him.

Today, so can we. God’s got this. Even in the tough situations, even in the times of trial, even in the times of worry, even in the times of stress.

We can have confidence. God’s got this. Trust. Hope. Have peace. He’s got this. And if we trust, even in those tough times, we will find that His grace is enough.

Today, and each day. Today, we can trust. Today, we can have confidence.

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.

Do Not Be Afraid

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I’ve read the story of Jesus calling the first disciples many times in my life. I’ve preached on it a good many times in my ministry. It’s a story that I feel like I know pretty well.  It reads in Luke 5: 8-11 like this:

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

So, when I started reading today’s passage, I thought, well, I wonder what’s there. I’ve read it so many times, I just don’t know what’s there this morning to reflect on and share. And then I read verse 10 again.

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

And when I read it, I noticed something that I had never noticed before (it’s funny how God has a way of doing that!).

Peter realizes who Jesus is, and his immediate response it to say – I am sinful and not worthy of being in presence. Just like Isaiah in Isaiah 6, when Peter has an encounter with the Holy, he realizes how unworthy he is.

Jesus then calls the disciples to follow Him. But before He calls them to go and catch men, He says this – do no be afraid.

Do not be afraid. What a message we need to hear. These disciples were beginning to head out on a journey that would take them far from home. They would see things that they never thought they would have ever seen. They would experience things that many of them would have never through possible. They were literally going to do the impossible.

And I’m sure if they realized on the front end all they were going to do, they’d have been terrified.

So, Jesus says, don’t be afraid.

I don’t know what your day holds. I don’t know what your life holds. I don’t know what challenges await you. I don’t know what all callings Jesus has on your life. I don’t know what the future will be.

I know that there will be joy and pain, laughter and tears, challenges and triumphs. And I know in all things, today, tomorrow, and always this message we hear today rings true.

Do not be afraid. God is with Jesus. He never leaves us. He is with us. He calls us, He loves us, He cares for us.

Do not be afraid. You are His beloved child. He will neve leave your side. You have nothing to fear. Today, or any day.

Do no be afraid.