A Devotion May Be Someone's Only Bible
Focusing our minds on Christ. . .studying His word, drawing tight into a relationship that is unbreakable. This is when His Spirit lives in our minds helping us keep our eyes focused only on Him.
"Benjamin," my dad shouted, "can I have your watch back?"
It remains vivid in my memory as if it happened yesterday. My dad, who had previously gifted me a beautiful watch, suddenly decided to reclaim it. I had eagerly anticipated owning that watch for quite some time, so I was bewildered when he took it back. Perplexed, I left his room, only to be summoned back later for an explanation.
My dad pointed out that I hadn't uttered a word of gratitude upon receiving the gift. He emphasized the importance of always expressing gratitude whenever someone bestows something upon me. According to him, a simple "Thank you" acknowledges the giver's generosity and encourages them to continue doing kind acts for me. This valuable lesson taught me the significance of expressing gratitude whenever I receive something.
We may sometimes fail to receive more from God because we neglect to thank Him for the blessings He has already given us. Like the story of the nine lepers who failed to express gratitude after being healed, many Christians overlook the power of giving thanks.
We may remember when we went above and beyond for someone and how we felt when they never acknowledged our efforts with a simple "Thank you." Our motivation to continue helping that person probably diminished significantly.
Lack of gratitude has a profound impact on God. It sometimes hinders His desire to do more for us simply because we fail to express gratitude. Jesus understood the secret power of thanksgiving, which enabled Him to perform the miracle of multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a crowd of five thousand plus. Although what He had seemed inadequate compared to the need, He received an abundance through the power of thanksgiving.
Consider your current needs and make a conscious decision to thank God for what you already have instead of focusing on your lack. You will witness multiplication in that specific area that exceeds your expectations.
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I watched almost every episode of the original Star Trek and the one that followed, Star Trek: The Next Generation. Captain Picard replaced Captain Kirk. With that replacement, he introduced a new one-liner command for his crew. As the USS Enterprise assumed new missions, Captain Picard gave the crew orders for that mission in one episode after another. During those episodes, the crew waited with enthusiastic anticipation for him to execute the order with, “Make it so.” Those on board rendered obedience, and off they went on a fresh adventure.
Similarly, when God declared Jerusalem holy through the prophet Joel’s prophecy, God’s authoritative word acted as the only basis. He declared His own “Make it so.” Before modern times, Jerusalem consisted of craggy rocks, large ugly boulders, and uneven terrain. For many observers, it seemed rugged and unholy. However, Joel referred to it as holy because God said so.
Holy means to set apart or sanctify. What God declares always comes true. Holiness arises from and encompasses His nature. He revealed His holiness to sinful people, showing desperate sinfulness and a fatal future for humanity. But for those He calls to Himself, He sets aside and grants grace to trust His word for salvation.
While God sanctifies through His power and Spirit, He also commands holy living. Through His grace, He also empowers believers to live holy lives. He guarantees holiness through the indwelling Spirit and also accomplishes what He guarantees. He exerts authority and power toward personal holiness and eternal life. He makes it so.
His declaration and power provide for our hope and assure our salvation. Jesus became God’s Mediator and Redeemer for setting the believer apart for God. For that reason, we owe Him complete allegiance and obedience.
God began the process of making you holy through His call. He will sanctify you as you battle against sin, Satan, the world’s allures, and doubt. He assures your eternal destiny by making it so.
How can you demonstrate daily your call to holiness?
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I had no idea I had been praying for him for almost nine years when I met him. I had prayed for his relationship with the Lord, faithfulness to his wife, and integrity. I had prayed for his ability to provide for his family, not knowing he was already a business owner. I had prayed for his relationship with his daughter, having no clue he would be Daddy to six of them.
Our families became friends and overlapped in ministry and life, so I prayed specifically for their mama as she homeschooled, their finances as they raised a large family and served their community through their business, and their relationships as the children grew, matured, and bickered as siblings do. I prayed for the salvation of their daughters.
Understanding dawned one night when my son said, “Mom, I think Becky is the one.”
God had answered my prayers for this known-only-to-God family and gave me a front-row seat to His mercy and grace. He had supplied my soon-to-be daughter-in-love with parents who loved Jesus. Her daddy led and served their family and loved them well. Her mama was gentle, kind, and thoughtful. Becky loved Jesus, and her foundation for a life with Jacob was firm.
Praying for all people is pretty specific in its generalities. We do not know all people, but some we do not know will affect our families and lives. We should pray for world leaders and those who have authority over us, but praying for all people also means those who influence my family’s future. Future in-laws, future employers, and future spiritual leaders. Asking God to raise leaders who love Him, families who follow Him, and employment opportunities is part of interceding on behalf of our children. Praying for God’s protection and blessing for those who will become family is part of loving those who already are family.
Abundant blessings await us when God reveals whom we have faithfully lifted to Him. Think of people known only to God for whom you can pray.
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As Jane scanned her carefully tended lawn and flower garden, she realized something wasn’t right.
After a few moments, she realized she couldn’t see blooms on the flowering vine she’d planted beside the fence. Masses of green leaves hung on the vine as it draped itself up and over the fence, but no flowers appeared. This frustrated Jane since she looked forward to seeing the colorful blooms.
“Hey, Jane!”
Recognizing the voice of her friendly neighbor, Joe, Jane turned and saw him standing at the nearby often-used gate between their properties.
“I thought you were over here,” he said. “Say, my wife sure has enjoyed the flowers you have on our side of the fence. She’s had to stay in bed since the surgery and can see them from her room.” Jane’s confused pause was evident. “Yeah, sure cheered her up. Come look.”
When Jane stepped through the gate to the other side, she saw them. Numerous blossoms from her vine spilled over the top of the fence and down to the ground on her neighbor’s side—flowers unseen from her side but evident on his.
Sometimes, this happens in my spiritual life. Perhaps I briefly smile while listening to a friend share a problem. Or maybe I start a new area of service. But no matter what I do, it could benefit someone else I’ll never know about.
Actually, I don’t have to know. Yet in God’s plans for me, there’s an implication. I must be aware of possible unseen effects of what I do as I serve God. As Jane learned, an unconscious action may have an unknown and eternal impact.
What service might you perform over the fence? After all, Jesus said to let our lights shine.
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The woman was torn. Commitment to Christ or to her old, unsaved friends? Everyone wondered if she would make the right choice and burn those bridges.
Bridges to the past can be dangerous to our spiritual health. Negative influences that keep us looking back and longing for the pleasures of sin—and keep our focus away from the Lord—must be destroyed.
In Ephesians, we read, In your anger, do not sin . . . do not give the devil a foothold. But this Scripture refers to more than just anger. When we refuse to get rid of those links to the past—people and things that try to pull us away from God—we leave the path unguarded and wide open for the Enemy to advance. Those links can lead back to the wrong type of friends, alcohol or drug abuse, or any number of destructive behaviors.
So, how do we burn those bridges? With the Word of God, prayer, and rejection of those bridges. To repent means to feel deep regret, change our mindset, and to do a 180. To turn around and go the opposite way. To walk away from those habits and sins that can harm us and those around us. When we become new creations in Christ, everything becomes new. The old must go.
My friend made the right choice. She cut off communication with the old crowd and walked away from all the harmful influences in her life.
Won’t you do the same? If you have bridges that need to be destroyed, pull out the powerful, life-changing Word of God and put it to work. Kaboom!
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and phoenixsierra0.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)