9/16/2022 0 Comments Rest for Your SoulA choice to follow Jesus is not a choice for an easy life, but one where we are not alone trying to succeed in our own strength. Instead, we are given the power of the Holy Spirit by our gentle Savior who walks with us. It probably seems counterintuitive to give up your way and follow Christ’s desires for your life, but this simple, yet profound decision not only saves you from eternity separated from God, it also provides peace, hope, and joy while on earth.
Questions for further thought: 1. Are you weary from the burdens of this world? What keeps you from accepting the rest Jesus offers? 2. “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36) Challenge: If you have never truly given your life to Christ, do so now. Jesus is waiting for you with open arms! If you are struggling in your walk with Christ, recommit to following Jesus’ way in everything, every day. Let Him teach you and you will find rest for your soul.
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9/15/2022 0 Comments A Time for EverythingThis passage has always been a difficult one for me because I readily identify with Martha. Many of us “doers” struggle not to be resentful towards those who aren’t helping, yet Christ affirms Mary’s choice to sit at His feet. There is a time and place for everything. The key is to joyfully go about doing whatever you feel called to do, without expecting others to do the same. Hospitality is very good but taking time out to be in the Lord’s presence is essential.
Questions for further thought: 1. When is the last time you made an effort to stop rushing and just be with the Lord? 2. How would your life change if you prioritized time with the Lord over all the tasks you do every day? Challenge: If you tend to be Martha-like, take the next opportunity to let someone else serve so you can focus on learning, worshiping, etc. and don’t feel guilty about it! If you’re already good at being like Mary, consider serving sometimes so others can “sit at the Lord’s feet.” 9/14/2022 0 Comments What Matters to JesusThis passage demonstrates Jesus’ miraculous ability to heal and bring the dead back to life, but it also shows how He took time to connect with people, even when He was busy with something very important. As we are doing ministry and/or caring for people’s immediate needs, let’s remember to take time out for the seemingly insignificant moments.
Questions for further thought: 1. Why did Jesus take the time to stop and talk to the woman after she was already healed? 2. How can you adjust your approach to ministry to be more like Christ’s? Challenge: The ministry of The Banquet is a great example of this concept. Most people assume the whole point is to provide food for those who are hungry, but the staff encourage volunteers to also dine with guests and have a conversation. Try it – show someone that they are more than an empty stomach – that they truly matter. 9/13/2022 0 Comments Opportunity vs. InterruptionOften divine appointments come at times when they are least convenient for us. We’re usually running late, doing something important, or feel ill-equipped to assist. What if we lived life expecting God to present us with opportunities to serve Him by helping others in need?
Questions for further thought: 1. When was the last time you set aside your busyness to help someone in need? 2. What blessings have you experienced when you chose to “be a neighbor?” Challenge: Think about the times you have passed by an opportunity to show God’s love by meeting a need. Do you feel regret? Why didn’t you help? Now prepare yourself for next time and ask God to give you another chance! 9/12/2022 0 Comments Worrisome WorkThink about the one thing that keeps most of us busy most of the time. Work often takes up about half of our waking hours and even more of our energy and focus. We all know “making a living” is essential to provide food, clothing, and shelter for our families, but Jesus clearly says not to let this pursuit cause worry. Instead, He tells us to keep our focus on God and build up spiritual “treasure.”
Questions for further thought: 1. What adjustments can you make to lessen your job’s drain on your time and energy? 2. Verse 32 states, “it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” How do you feel when you ponder this truth? Does it motivate you? Challenge: Take an honest look at your “relationship” with your work. Does your job control your life? Is work your number one priority? Is the stress of your career zapping your joy? Change whatever is within your power so you can have a better balance – even if it’s just your perspective on work. 9/9/2022 0 Comments Rest from AboveA yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen. It is attached to a piece of equipment the oxen are to pull. Similarly, we may be carrying heavy burdens of sin, excessive demands of religious leaders, oppression and persecution, or weariness in the search for God. However, Jesus frees people from all these burdens. The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God; not the end of all labor. A relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ changes meaningless, wearisome toil into spiritual productivity and purpose.
Questions for further thought: 1. In what ways has the “yoke” of everyday life worn you down? 2. How do you suppose you can recharge your joy meter? In what ways could you cultivate your relationship with the Lord to regain your spiritual purpose? Challenge: God loves us and wants us to be with Him forever. However, there is only person by which that will be possible. We must repent and put our faith wholly in Jesus Christ alone as our only way for our sin to be eradicated. He is our rest and our salvation. If you have not done this, what is preventing you from doing it right now? 9/8/2022 0 Comments Way of DeathThe “way that appears to be right” may offer many options and require few sacrifices. Easy choices, however, should make us take a second look. Is the solution attractive because it allows me to be lazy? Because it doesn’t require me to change my lifestyle. Because it requires no moral restraints? The right choice often requires hard work and self-sacrifice. Don’t be enticed by apparent shortcuts that seem right but end in death.
Questions for further thought: 1. In what ways have the easy options in life seem to be so unsatisfying? 2. In the hard things that you have experienced, how have you seen God’s hand guiding those events? Challenge: Don’t be tempted to take the easy path; Read Matthew 7:13-14 and meditate on God’s Word on this subject. 9/7/2022 0 Comments A New CreationPaul writes that in the light of Christ’s death, he is insistent that Christians have no right to live selfishly. This biblical idea directly attacks the fabric of today’s culture. As you look at magazine titles with names such as People, Us, and Self, how can we not get caught up in this ego-centric school of thought? This is where the scripture comes in complete opposition of this concept as God proclaims a whole new creation in Christ. Selflessness is prized through a new covenant, a new perspective, a new body, and a new church. All of creation is being renewed.
Questions for further thought: 1. In what ways could you encourage fellow Christians to counter society’s values? Do you think you would encounter any opposition? 2. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes that if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation: everything old has passed away, everything has become new. In what ways does your life reflect this new perspective? Challenge: In your prayer time, ask God to reveal things in your life that are pursuing the world’s values rather than His. Ask for His strength and conviction to put God’s desires first and foremost in your life. Believers are followers of Christ’s teachings. Followers do what their teacher / leader modeled for them to do. One of Jesus’ famous teachings is the “Sermon on the Mount” in which he taught us the “Beatitudes”. There he talked about many things we may suffer on earth and how these situations will be corrected or made right. So many things may seem wrong during this life, but we know how the story ends. The good guys win. Jesus’ followers will be united with him in heaven. So while we are on earth we are to live out the teachings of Jesus, bring heaven to earth by doing things right according to God’s rules, not those of the world. Followers do what their teacher has taught even when the teacher is no longer physically present. To continue Jesus’ teaching we must know what they are. We find those in the bible. We must put those teachings into action. James 2:17 says faith without action is dead. There must be actions to our faith is to be evident to others.
Questions for further thought: 1. Does your faith have enough evidence that you would be “convicted of being a Christian” in a court of law? 2. If your answer above was no, decide today one thing that you could do to put your faith into action. Challenge: If you struggled to come up with something for question 2, here are some suggestions. Pray fervently to discover what God might be up to in your heart and life. Read the Scripture and listen for the Holy Spirit’s leading on how to proceed. Ask for council from a trusted Christian brother or mentor in order to get some clarity. 9/5/2022 0 Comments Walking in the TruthJohn tells us in 2 John 4, that we he has joy knowing that people are walking in the truth as the Father commanded them. Jesus tells us that He is the way and the truth and the life, and that none of us come to the Father except through Him. Jesus also tells us if we really knew Him, we would know his Father as well. Jesus is the truth, the way and the life, through Him we know his Father. We can’t know truth without knowing Jesus, because Jesus is truth. We will know God when we know Jesus. Anyone or any teaching that does not point us to Jesus who points us to the Father, should cause us reason for concern. Any message that turns us away from Jesus, consequently turns us away from God should be a red flag of warning to us. Do others see you as someone who is walking in the truth?
Questions for further thought: 1. Have you had someone try to convince you there is another way to God, than through Jesus? 2. Do you ever struggle with the idea that Jesus is the only way to God? Challenge: How would you respond to someone who tells you there are many ways to God? Practice having that conversation. Are you able to respond in a loving way without getting angry or insulting? Do you believe you are able to hear the other person’s thoughts and perspective? Do you have scriptures you can use to back up your perspective? Ask God to prepare you for this very important conversation. |
AuthorThis devotional is written every week by Hillcrest members. Archives
March 2024
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