Tag Archives: Grace

All Fall Down

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I spent a lot of time in college listen to goofy, fun, Christian music. In the 1990s, Christian music, the kind of music you hear on K-LOVE or other Christian stations was really just getting starting. And back then, there was a song I used to love called “All Fall Down.” And the reason why I loved this song was because it basically said something that I believe, that I’ve preached my entire ministry.

We are all going to fall down. We are all going to make mistakes. No one is perfect. All fall down.

What happens then?

Listen to what happens today in John 13: 36-38:

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Today’s passage made me think of that old song. Listen to what Jesus tells Peter today.

You will deny. By the end of the night, you will have denied me three times. Now, this is Peter we are talking about. He’s kind of a big deal. The head of the apostles. The one that preached Pentecost. The one that walked on water, if just for a moment.

He’s Peter.

And he fell down. He made a mistake. He denied. He messed up.

All fall down.

He got back up though. He repented and He stood up through grace. And was faithful. His mistake didn’t end His walk with God. It was merely a bump in the road.

All fall down.

We will each make mistakes. That’s part of the human experience. That’s what happens. What then?

What next? We will all fall down. What will we do after fall down?

May we stand up, and may we stand on grace. We aren’t saved by what we have done, we are saved by what He has done. We are loved because we are made in Him image. We are loved because He has redeemed us.

We are loved because we are His.

Today, we will fall. May we stand. May we stand on grace. Today, when you fall, dust yourself off, get up, keep going.

All fall down. Though His grace may we get up and keep going!

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 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.

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.

It’s a New Day

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Today in the text we read, Isaiah encounters God. He is in Temple praying and God shows up. He is there, and the Lord God Almighty decides to make an appearance.

And one of the things that I love about this passage is what Isaiah says when God shows up.

Listen to what happens in Isaiah 6:4-7:

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Paraphrasing he says – “Uh oh.”

He realizes how big, how awesome, how mighty God is. God is holy. God is other. God is different than we are. He is the creator of all this, both seen and unseen. He is the author of life. He is the sustainer of everything. His the very reason and purpose of life.

He’s kind of a big deal.

And Isaiah realizes how imperfect, unholy, and unworthy he is. That’s how we can feel when we really encounter God, huh?

Unholy. Imperfect. Unworthy.

We quite often in our faith feel unworthy of God’s love. We can feel like we don’t deserve that God. In light of God’s perfection, we see our mistakes.

And so, look what God does for Isaiah. He makes him clean. He restores him. He allows him to start over. He gives him a fresh start.

Have you done everything right? No? Are you perfect? No. But you are forgiven. Through what Jesus Christ has done, you are forgiven.

Before God sent Isaiah out for the mission He had for him, he restored him. God started over. He let Isaiah begin again.

Today, God has something for you. He has a great mission for you. Something awesome. Something great. Something you may feel unworthy of.

It’s ok. Today, through Jesus, you are restored. It’s a new day. You are forgiven. Today, live in this new life given to by Jesus.

Today, no matter what has happened in the past, it’s  new day. You are restored.

Live in that grace.

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.

Keep Going

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We’ve all done some dumb things. I have. You have. We’ve all done dumb things. It’s part of the human experience. Welcome to the club.

But Paul tells us this great word today in Philippians. Forget what lies behind. Don’t worry about it.  Listen to what Philippians 3:12-14 says:

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Why? How? How can we forget about what is behind? How can we forget about the mistakes of the past? How can we keep going?

A coupe of reasons. First, there’s nothing we can do about it. Nothing. It’s done. You can’t go back and undo it. Worrying about and lingering it won’t undo it.

Second, and more important, it doesn’t even matter. Through Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. That’s right, you are forgiven. As far as the east is from the west, our sins are forgiven.

That thing that you can’t forgive yourself of? That thing in your past you can’t let go of? That thing in your past that you keep beating yourself up over?

Guess what?

You’re forgiven. Today. Right now. You’re forgiven.

You can let let. Keep moving. Keep going forward.

What God has for you in the future is better than any mistake of the past. Keep pressing on towards it. You can do it. You are forgiven. You are free. Keep going.

Forgetting what is behind, we press on to what lies ahead. Today, let’s do that.

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 is a Worthy Life?

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One of the most powerful scenes I’ve ever seen in a movie was near the end of Saving Private Ryan. Many of you have seen the movie, but for those of you that haven’t, the movie is about a unit of soliders in World War 2 that is sent to save Private Ryan, the only remaining brother of a family that has lost all the other children in war.

Ryan is saved, and in the end of the movie he is standing before the graves of the fallen men that saved him, and he stands up crying. He turns to his wife and says – tell me I’ve been a good man.

That scene always gives me a lump in my throat every time I see it. What a powerful moment, to realize all that he had been given and that desire to life a worthy life.

Listen to what Paul writes in Philippians 1:27-28:

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

We ask Christians have the same burden in lives. We are called to live a worthy life.  So much has been given for our sake. Christ was betrayed, suffered, and died for our sake. He endured the shame, the agony, and the pain of the cross for us.

For me.

For you.

So much has been given for us. Let us remember that.

So, then, what is a worthy life? What does that look like?

I’ll sum it up in one word – grace. Christ suffered to give us grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He desires to see us give that same grace, mercy, and forgiveness to each other.

A worthy life is not a perfect life. A worthy life is a life of grace. Today, and each day, with the grace given to us, may we seek to live a life worthy of the gospel!

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.

Little Things

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Life is not always about the big things. Sometimes, it’s about the little things. Now, little does not mean unimportant. It just means, little.

Little things, done well, done for Jesus, sometimes can be the greatest thing that we can do. Sometimes, yes sometimes, God calls us to amazing, big, gigantic things. Yes, that happens. And when it happens, we should celebrate. We should take courage. We should be brave, be bold, and do it with great joy.

Sometimes though the things that God calls us to aren’t big. Sometimes they are little. Or at least to us, they appear to be little.

Listen to what Matthew 10:40-42 says:

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Scripture tells us this. Nothing done in His name is little. Nothing done for His glory is little. Nothing done to further the Kingdom of God is little. All things, big or small, when done in His name and for His purpose are grand and glorious things. All things, big or small, when done for Him, are huge!

Today, God may be calling you to something big. If so, then do it. God gives us great dreams sometimes.

But today, God may be calling you to give a smile. A hug. A warm word. Just to be nice. Something we might not think of as “big.” But if these small things, this little things, are done for Him and His name, they are huge.

Today, in all things, big or little. May be faithful. And today, in all things, big or little, may God be glorified.

Today, in Jesus, and through Jesus, there are no little things. Today, through Him, may all things be for His glory. Today, through Him, may everything we do show His grace, His mercy, and His love.

First Words

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Jesus was more than just a preacher. He was a friend. He was a companion. He was a teacher. He was a leader. He was a lot of things to the many people that He encountered in His ministry.

So, the Bible tells us that Jesus was more than just a preacher. But, part of what He did was preach. He would come into a town, go to the synagogue, read from the scroll, and preach to the people that were there.

Today in Matthew, we see His first words. We see His first sermon. We see the thing that He wants to start off with. And I can tell you, as a preacher, the sermon you are most nervous about and that you want to “hit” the best is that first sermon. It’s when you establish what you are about, what you want to focus on, and what’s most important.

So, today, we see Jesus’ first sermon. It was short, and sweet. It was this – repent.

Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 4:17:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Wow, didn’t really see that one coming. We would think that Jesus might not preach so strong a word. Repenting sounds and feels bad. It sounds and feels harsh. It sounds and feels mean.

And we all know that Jesus isn’t mean. So, why did He start here? And what is He saying?

To repent is to turn from. To leave behind. To stop. Jesus first sermon was to tell folks – hey, those things you are doing that are hurting you, that are causing you pain, that you think are life giving? Stop them. They are going to hurt you in the end. They aren’t giving you life.

Jesus calls us to look at our lives and find the things and the areas that are hurting us and to stop them. Because they hurt us.

Repentance is more than just feeling bad about things. Its stopping them. And turning from them. Today, Jesus really does want us to repent of the things causing of us harm. Stop them. And turn away from them.

Why? Because the kingdom of God is at hand. When we turn from the things that harm us and turn to God, we find life. When we turn to the things of God, we find so much more life than we would ever think possible. We find life abundant, life forever, life amazing.

Life.

So, Jesus first words were these – turn away from the things that cause you harm and pain, and turn towards me. And in this you will find life.

Today, may we turn towards Jesus with all that we are. And may we find His life in every moment of our lives!

Something Better

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One of the great things about the New Year and the starting over we get to do each year in this time is the chance to reaccess what is most important. What matters most. What are really living for?

There is something better than the 9-5 grind that many of experience each day. There is something more than the accumulation of more stuff. There is something more than our reputation, that our status, than the hobbies we seek after.

There is something more out there. There is something deeper out there. There is something so much better than anything this earth, our careers, our hobbies, our vices can give us.

There is something better. That’s what Peter is talking about today in this text.  Listen to 2 Peter 1:3-4:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Through the power of God, we have been invited to become “partakers in the divine nature.” That sounds big, and sounds powerful.

And it is. That means, through what God has done for us, we are able to experience God. To know God. To know His power. To know His love. To know His life. To know His purpose. To be in relation with Him, to be in communion with Him.

To know Him. Today. In this day. In this moment. The creator of all that is, both seen and unseen, desires to know, spend time with you, and transform you.

You, at this exact moment, have access to God. You, right now, no matter where you are, have access to the most powerful, amazing, loving force in the universe.

And as awesome as playing Angry Birds is (and I love Angry Birds!) this is better. This is better than anything in life. Anything you could attain. Anything you could know.

This is where life is found. In Him. In His power. In His life. In His strength.

Today, and in this new year, you were created for something better. To know God, and transformed by His power. Today, may we live with the power of something better!

The Biggest Thing about God that I don’t Understand

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God seeks us out. That’s it. That is the biggest thing about God that I can’t understand. That doesn’t make sense to me. That I can’t understand.

God seeks after us. God comes to us. God chases after us. No matter what we’ve done. No matter what has happened in our lives. God comes to us.

We don’t have to earn His approval. We don’t have to earn His love. We don’t have to earn His grace. It’s just freely given to us. No matter what.

God is a God that seeks after His children. That delights in His children. That gives love even when that love is undeserved or unwarranted.

Listen to what the Word says in Ezekiel 34:11-15:

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God.

God seeks us out. God comes to us. God looks for us.  Even thought we are lost sheep. Even though we have forsaken His ways. Even though we have turned away and failed.

God seeks us out. God comes to us.

My mind can’t fathom that. In this world we live in, we have to earn everything. Our jobs, our education, even for some of us the love of other people. We always have to perform. Do right. Act right. Hit the mark. No matter what.

And then if it doesn’t happen, we are out. We are unloved. We are unworthy.

We have to earn everything. No free lunch.

That simply is not the case with God. He loves you. He seeks you. He cares for you. No matter what. Even if you walk away. Even if you don’t return it. Even if you forsake it.

He loves you.

That blows my mind, that God loves me, no matter what. I can’t explain it. I struggle to accept it. I don’t understand it.

I just know it to be true. And that knowledge has changed my life and changed everything about me.

Today, no matter where you are in your life, in your walk with Him. He is seeking after you.

He loves you. And there’s nothing you can do about it. 🙂

Other than accept it!