CATEGORY ARCHIVES: Devotions

The Lord’s Prayer

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Read Matthew 6:9-13 in your Bible. Even though it’s a familiar passage, read it carefully, like you’ve never read it before.

 

Think about it
Verses 9-10 focus on God: His kingdom, His name, and His will; verses 11-13 focus on our needs: physical needs, forgiveness, and overcoming temptation. When Jesus gave His disciples an example of how to pray, He clearly made God’s will a priority over our own needs. Does your prayer life reflect that?

 

Take Action
Consider each of the phrases from Jesus’ Model Prayer below. How will you make each of them a reality in your life this week?

“Your name be honored as holy”
How will you honor God’s name in your words and actions today? (comment in your journal or below)

“Your kingdom come”
How will you make God’s kingdom evident in your world through your obedience?

“Your will be done”
How will you focus on God’s will and purpose rather than your own this week?


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Babble

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Babble—verb
• talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way
• utter something rapidly and incoherently

 

Journal
Before you read today’s Scripture passage, spend some time in prayer. But don’t just bow your head and pray; open your journal and write out your prayer. Don’t be shy! Just pray as you would normally.

 

Read Matthew 6:5-8, focusing on verse 7. Then, consider these questions:

Look back at the prayer you just wrote in your journal. Would you describe that prayer as babble? Why or why not?

Evaluate your prayer life. What do you spend the most time praying about? Do you talk continuously when you pray? Do you pray just to hear yourself talk or because it makes you look good? Are your prayers about communicating with God or simply something you do to check off your to-do list of “good” Christian duties? Explain your findings.

 

Take Action
Set aside 10 minutes today to devote solely to prayer. Go somewhere private where you won’t be interrupted or distracted by other people. Spend some time talking to God, expressing your needs, fears, and desires, but also take time to sit still in God’s presence and just be with Him. Focus your thoughts on Him, His holiness, and His goodness. Seek to align your will with His will.


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We Belong To God

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“God invites us to work in the world
to foster God’s purposes. Part of that call is
to acknowledge in our hearts and lives that
our very being and everything we have belongs to God, and we are caretakers
using ourselves for His Kingdom.”

—Dr. William O. Avery

Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, focusing on verses 4-5. Read over the passage a couple of times, underlining what the Macedonian believers did in verse 5.

 

Ask yourself:
What does it mean to give yourself to the Lord?

When the Macedonians realized that their lives and all they had belonged to God, how did it affect how they lived and how they gave to others?

Does knowing that you are God’s and all you have belongs to Him affect your generosity? Why or why not?

 

Take Action
Read over the quote from Dr. Avery on this page. All that you have—including your life—belongs to God. How will you allow Him to use you in His kingdom work this week? List a few concrete ideas in your journal or the comment section below.
•
•
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Evaluate your own generosity. Does your generosity reflect a deep understanding that your life is not your own? Why or why not? If your attitude doesn’t reflect God’s, what changes will you make today so that it does?

 

Going Deeper
If you want to gain a deeper understanding that your life is not your own, read 1 Corinthians 6:20 and Galatians 2:20. Take some time to journal about these Scriptures and your response to them.

 

Behind the Story
The Macedonians Paul referred to in this letter was probably a reference to Christian churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, cities located in the Roman province of Macedonia. The Macedonian believers were facing severe persecution, and in the midst of that, experienced a spontaneous, overwhelming desire to give to the churches in Jerusalem. Paul asserted that this joyful, willing attitude came from God and was an example of His grace at work. In Paul’s reasoning, God’s grace may not lighten our burdens or take away our poverty, but it will open our hearts and loosen our grip on belongings, money included.


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Motivation Matters

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Question: What do all three of these things have in common?

A grand slam to win the game in the bottom of the
ninth inning.
An encore from the band at a sold-out concert.
A camper who gets tapped out for Little Chief or Belle.

Answer: They’re all things that get a lot of attention. For weeks to come, people will talk about these feats. There might be news coverage, and Twitter and Facebook will be teeming with comments on the topic.

Think about the last time you did something that got a lot of public recognition or attention. What did you do? Why? Was getting all that attention a motivating factor for you to do it?

 

Read Matthew 6:1-4 in your Bible.

What do these verses teach you about your motivation to give to others? Explain.

When have you done something good or even godly because you wanted people to take notice or applaud you? What do these verses say about that kind of attitude?

What does it mean to be a hypocrite? Are there areas of your life in which you’re being a hypocrite? Explain.

hypocrite—noun

• a person who claims to to have moral standards or beliefs to which his or her own behavior does not conform; pretense.


The Point
Jesus clearly expects giving to those in need to be a vital part of His followers’ lives. But motivation matters—and when we give, it isn’t about getting attention or making a name for ourselves. Instead, we should give quietly, out of a desire to please God.

 

Take Action
What are some ways you could put Jesus’ teachings about how to give into practice right now? List three ways you’ll do so this week.


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Obedience

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Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch Christian, who, along with her father, helped provide safety for Jews during World War II. After a raid on their house, she and her family were sent to a concentration camp.

Life in the camp was dreadful—but Corrie and her sister focused their lives on extending the love of Jesus to fellow prisoners. Decades later, Corrie began a worldwide ministry to testify of God’s love and forgiveness.

After one of many speeches on grace, Corrie was approached by a man who came to shake her hand. He was a former prison guard in the camp. It was only through the power of Christ that Corrie was able to extend grace to this man.

 

Take Action
Memorize 1 John 4:19. It will help you to remember why you’re called to love others, even when it’s hard.

 

Journal
Think about Corrie Ten Boom’s story as you read Matthew 5:43-48 in your Bible. Jesus’ command is for us is to love our neighbors—and our enemies. The people who hurt us, ridicule us, gossip about us, and make fun of us. All of them. Who do you find hard to love? Be honest about it to God. Record your prayer, asking Him for His grace and strength to help you love those people. List a few ways you will commit to show that person God’s love this week.

 

Week in Review
Take some time today to think over what you’ve learned this past week.

The kind of life Jesus has called you to won’t make sense to the world. How does that challenge or convict you?

Being a Christian isn’t about keeping rules; it’s about following Christ in radical obedience. Are you keeping the rules or cultivating a relationship with Jesus?


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An Eye For An Eye

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Read Matthew 5:38-42 below. Then, dig deeper into what the words and phrases really mean.

“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

—Matthew 5:38–42

 

One of the oldest laws in the world, this principle was supposed to be used to help courts determine appropriate punishments that fit the crime.

A slap on the right cheek was usually a backhanded slap which was considered a high insult. In commanding His followers to turn the other cheek, Jesus was instructing us not to seek vengeance even when facing the worst offense possible.

In Jesus’ day, the outer garment called the coat was an essential garment since it protected people from the cold and doubled as a blanket for the poor. In Old Testament law, people could sue for others’ shirt (inner garment), but taking their coat was not permitted because it was too severe. Jesus’ instructed His followers to go beyond what the law said to reconcile with others.

Roman soldiers could legally force civilians to carry their gear for up to a mile. Jesus instructed His followers to carry it one more mile as an act of service and love.

 

The Point
If you’re a follower of Christ, you’re called to a radical way of life that won’t make sense in the world’s eyes. Are you living that way?

 

Take Action
How will you live radically different. Below, list three ways you’ll put today’s Scripture passage into practice in your life this week.


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It’s Not About Rules

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New Heights

Few people have reached the heights Sergey Bubka did. The Ukranian Olympian broke the world record for men’s pole vaulting 35 times in his career.

As a 19-year-old, Bubka was already a notable athlete after an upset victory at the World Championship of Athletics.

The Ukranian pole vaulter would go on to win six consecutive world championships from 1983-1999. He became an Olympic gold medalist in 1988. And in 1991, Bubka became the first person to clear 20 feet—a height that has not been matched since. To this day he remains the current world record holder.

His athletic career is one of unprecedented heights, earning him nicknames like “The Tsar” and being called the “Hero of Ukraine” by the Ukrainian president. He even has a stadium named after him in his home country.

Bubka reached higher levels than anyone ever expected. As a believer, Jesus calls you to the same thing.

 

Read Matthew 5:20-22. Consider these questions:

– How would you summarize this passage in your
own words?
– What higher standard did Jesus call His followers to?
– What impact do these verses have on the way you live your daily life? Explain.


The Point

Clearly, to Jesus, living obediently isn’t just about following all the rules. It’s about the condition of your heart. If your heart is pure, then your actions will be, too. And Jesus values purity.

“[To have Faith in Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you.”

—C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity


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The Authority

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Think about the last few days. What are some laws or codes of conduct you’ve chosen to obey? List as many as you can think of in your journal, or in the comment field below.

 
When you choose to obey a law, rule, or a person, you give them authority in your life. You allow them to determine how you will live. As believers, Scripture is supposed to have authority in our lives. Did it make your list?

authority—noun
• The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience • [often with infinitive ] the right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another

Fulfill—verb
• To meet the requirements of (a business order) • bring to completion or reality; achieve or realize (something desired, promised, or predicted)

 

Read Matthew 5:17-19 in your Bible.

What do you think it means that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets?
What do these verses teach you about the authority Scripture should have in your life?
Does Scripture have authority in your life? Why or why not?

 

Behind the Story

In today’s passage, “the Law” refers to the first five books of the Old Testament and “the Prophets” is a reference to the Old Testament history books and those by the major and minor prophets. Jesus knew that His audience made the Law into a checklist of do’s and don’ts. He wanted to free them from the burden of being tied to the checklist, but He didn’t come to get rid of the Law. Jesus came to fulfill it and to make right what we couldn’t do on our own. But until it’s all said and done, the words of the Bible are ours to live by.
Take Action

Scripture is full of promises from God. But it’s also full of expectations for your Christian life. These expectations aren’t rules for the sake of rules, but rules that bring joy because of how Christ has transformed you. In your journal, list three verses from Scripture that challenge the way you live. How will you live in obedience to them this week?


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Hungry and Thirsty

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Let’s say you haven’t eaten much in the last few days. You’re extremely hungry and thirsty. What do you want the most and what extreme measures will you take to get it? Think of a few ideas.

When you’re really hungry and thirsty, that’s really all you can think about. And you’ll focus every bit of your energy on finding food or water. If you want something bad enough, you’ll do whatever it takes to get it.

Now, read Matthew 5:5-7. Ask yourself:

  • What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness?
  • Does that describe you? Why or why not?
  • Who in your life is a good example of hungering and thirsting
    for righteousness?

Just the Facts
To hunger and thirst for righteousness means you:

  • rest in the gift of grace, not the goodness of your abilities.
  • make God’s will your purpose all the time, not just on Sundays.
  • depend completely on God, because you know that apart from Him, there’s no righteousness to be found.
  • take each of His commands seriously.
  • make Him your priority because all other passions leave you empty inside.

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.”
—Saint Augustine

Going Deeper
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentioned righteousness five times. Those references help us better understand what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Check them out:
– Matthew 5:6
– Matthew 5:10
– Matthew 5:20
– Matthew 6:1
– Matthew 6:33


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Poor In Spirit

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❶ Read Matthew 5:3-4 carefully in your Bible. Then, consider the definitions some of the key words and phrases below.

BLESSED —adjective
endowed with divine favor and protection; those who live with God in heaven.

THE POOR IN SPIRIT—
people who depend only on him (CEV); who realize their spiritual poverty (NCV); those who know there is nothing good in themselves (NLV)

THOSE WHO MOURN–
those people who grieve (CEV); when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you (MSG); those who have sorrow (NLV)

❷ The Point
It’s an unavoidable truth: to be a follower of Christ, you must be “poor in spirit” (admit your need for God) and mourn over sin and its consequences. If you don’t, you can’t have a right relationship with God.

What that does and doesn’t mean:

Sin bothers you but doesn’t defeat you.

You’re happy because God is awesome, not because you are.

You are content because heaven is yours, not because your life on earth is so satisfying.

You readily admit your sin—and God’s grace, not legalism, compels you to do so.

❸ Journal
Take some time to think over what this verse really means. By the definitions, are you poor in spirit?

Are you someone who grieves over sin? What does it really mean to say you’re blessed today? Pour out your thoughts and feelings to God. Use your journal to record them or your prayer.

LEGALISM —noun
• excessive adherence to law or formula
• (theology) the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works; the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.


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