Devotions – Page 9

CATEGORY ARCHIVES: Devotions

Pleasing Faith

Posted by Karah

PAUSE

Take a moment in prayer and ask God to help you clearly see His message in today’s passage.

“Then He told her, ‘Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.’” —Mark 7:29

Read Mark 7:24-30. Don’t skim this passage lightly. Look carefully at what this conversation revealed about the motives of both Jesus and the woman.

Think through these questions:

• In verse 26, highlight the word “kept.” The Gentile woman absolutely believed Jesus could do something about the demons possessing her daughter. How did that display the woman’s faith in Jesus?

• Why is it important that the woman recognized Jesus could do something about the evil spirits that possessed her daughter?

It may seem at first that Jesus was callous to this woman’s cry for help, but this exchange actually sheds light on the gospel in a historical context. Jesus came first for the Jews, but ultimately salvation would be available for all.

Jesus told the woman that it was not yet her turn for salvation (v. 27). Her response showed that she understood Jesus’ power had no boundaries (v.28). In this way, her faith surpassed many of the Jews’. Not only did this Gentile woman acknowledge Jesus as her Lord, but she was content with just a crumb of His mercy.

• How did Jesus honor her undaunted trust in Him?

RESPOND

You can’t be a Christ-follower without faith. Salvation can’t be earned and we can’t be saved from sin if we don’t have faith in the God who saves.

• This woman had faith that Jesus could heal her daughter from the demons that possessed her. Think about how you approach Jesus. Would you describe your faith as absolute? Why or why not?

• Can you think of someone who shows this kind of faith? In your journal, list some people who seem to have unshakable faith and the characteristics they have.

• For further study on absolute faith read Hebrews 11:6.

BEHIND THE STORY

One of the most dramatic ways Jesus upset the culture in His day was through interaction with Gentiles. From the beginning, the promised Messiah was believed to be deliverance for the Jews, yet on several occasions Jesus ministered to “outsiders”. In a time of great racism, it was both a religious and a cultural problem for Jesus to even speak with this woman, much less grant her request for healing.

THE POINT

Sincere and persistent faith is what pleases God.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from EC magazine. @ 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Two Commands

Posted by Karah

PAUSE

Reflect on your time with Jesus this week. Thank Him for what He has shown you and ask Him to continue to help you learn more about Him today.

“He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’” —Matthew 22:37-39

Now, read Matthew 22:34-40.

• In verse 36, underline the word “greatest.” Phrase the expert’s question in your own words and write it in your journal.

• Verses 37-40 contain Jesus’ response. List the two commands Jesus indicated.

• What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind? Why is this the most important command?

When you love God with all our heart, you are compelled to love others. By loving others like this, you show them the love of God.

In today’s Scripture, Jesus addressed the heart of the issue with the Pharisees. The attitude of your heart matters. If we do not have love for God, we become legalistic like the Pharisees—focusing on the laws instead of the God who gave them.

RESPOND

Journal your response to the following questions.

• Is your life characterized by His love?

• List some ways you can live out these commands this week.

• How does living placing importance on loving God and others affect those around you? Think especially about people who don’t know Jesus.

• List some ways you can obey these two commands:

LOVE GOD LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

BEHIND THE STORY

Leading up to this passage in Matthew 22:1-33 the Pharisees had tried to trap Jesus into answering their questions in a way that would incriminate Him.

THE POINT

Our love for God should cause us to love all others.

What Really Matters

Posted by Karah

PAUSE

Ask the Lord to help you put aside distractions and wholeheartedly focus on what He has to teach you today.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law —justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, yet gulp down a camel!” —Matthew 23:23-24

Read Matthew 23:23-24 again. Ask yourself:

• These Pharisees tediously counted out a 10 percent tithe of everything they owned—even garden herbs. List the three things they neglected.

The act of tithing was not bad, God actually commanded us to tithe in Leviticus 27:30. The Pharisee’s issue was that they focused intently on the outward aspects of this command while missing out on important things God’s law revealed.

• How do you see this in the church today? Give a specific example in your journal.

Jesus continually pointed out that the Pharisees followed rules, but did not allow God to transform their hearts. They misjudged what was important to God. You can easily place your entire focus on doing things and fail to recognize the heart behind your actions.

• What are “gnats” in your life that hog your focus? What are the “camels” in your life? Explain.

RESPOND

Evaluate your own life and answer these questions in your journal.

• How can you remain focused on what is truly important to God?

• How can you be a person of justice, mercy and faithfulness to those around you?

For further study on what’s important to God read Micah 6:8.

BEHIND THE STORY

Some Pharisees would strain their drinks through cloth to make sure they didn’t swallow a gnat, the smallest unclean animal. The camel is the largest unclean animal.

THE POINT

We must never lose site of the things that matter most to God.

From the Inside Out

Posted by Karah

PAUSE

Ask God to reveal to you any unconfessed sin in your life. Then, repent and ask Him to help you pursue a life of holiness.

“In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” —Matthew 23:28

Read Matthew 23:25-28 and answer the following questions:

• Underline the word hypocrites each time it appears, and look at the definition below. Define the term in your own words.

• Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees were living a life of hypocrisy—they didn’t live for the God they proclaimed to love. Why is this so damaging to the name of God even today?

• When have you heard someone claim to love Jesus, but act in ways that failed to match up with those words? What did you learn from that experience? The Pharisees were overly concerned with their outward appearance and gave little attention to their inner purity. Scripture however tells us that righteousness flows from the inside out and results in Christ-likeness.

• How does knowing Jesus encourage you to pay attention to your inner purity?

• Look at verse 26. How does a person walk in righteousness? Describe this process in your own words.

Hypocrite (n) = a person who claims to obey God, but outwardly shows signs of disobedience

RESPOND

• Evaluate your own life and ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart. Are you guilty of acting one way at church or camp and another way around your friends at school?

• What changes do you need to make in your life today to get rid of sin and truly live in a way that honors Jesus? In your journal, list the steps you will take to make these changes.

• For further study on purity of heart, read Psalm 51:10; Psalm 119:9; Matthew 5:8; Philippians 4:6-8; and Titus 2:11-14.

BEHIND THE STORY

The reference to cleaning only the outside of the cup and being like whitewashed tombs emphasized the Pharisees’ obsession with ritual cleanliness. However, they disregarded cleanliness of the heart. The Pharisees outward practices masked the internal state of their hearts.

THE POINT

Hypocrisy has no place in the lives of true followers of Christ. We must pursuing inner purity.

False Security

Posted by Karah

PAUSE

Think about the moment you realized you needed to trust Jesus as your Savior. Journal about your experience.

“They do everything to be observed by others . . . They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.”

—Matthew 23:5a,6-7

Read Matthew 23:1-15. Answer these questions:

Jesus identified the Pharisees as hypocrites who burdened people with strict rules and regulations; they claimed that abiding by these rules would help people find favor with God. They loved the structure of religion, but they didn’t know God.

• Ponder verse 12. What does it mean to be humble? Why is this important? Explain.

The Pharisees had a false understanding of salvation and were setting others up for hardship and heartache by teaching that salvation came from following rules.

• When you talk about your faith with someone, should you focus more on the rules you follow or what Jesus did for you? Why?

• Why is it important to recognize that your relationship with Jesus is not a checklist or long list of rules?

RESPOND

Without a relationship with Jesus, you can’t experience salvation or true reconciliation with God. You can know about God and even talk about God without knowing Him personally.

• Explore your own thoughts about your relationship with Jesus. Do you believe your salvation is based on how well you follow the rules or solely on the work of Jesus? Why? Journal your answer.

• For further study on assurance of salvation read JD Greear’s book Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart (LifeWay Christian Resources, 2013).

BEHIND THE STORY

To “sit in Moses’ seat” was to have the highest authority to instruct people in the law. Phylacteries were leather boxes containing small scrolls and were worn on the arm or the forehead. Religious leaders often increased the size of the Phylacteries to appear more righteous.

THE POINT

Our standing before God is not based on outward actions, but on our relationship with Jesus.

The Sign of Jonah

Posted by Karah

PAUSE

Grab your Bible, journal, and a pen and go to your favorite quiet place. Take a deep breath. Ask God to open your eyes to what He wants you to see today.

Have you ever asked God to send you a sign to prove that He was there? To prove He loved you or that you were on the right path? Journal your experience.

Read Matthew 16:1-12.

“The Pharisees and Sadducees approached, and as a test, asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.” —Matthew 16:1

The Pharisees witnessed Jesus’ miraculous feeding of the 4,000 yet they wanted something more—another sign. The question asked in verse 1 is more a question of Jesus’ authority than a request.

The sign of Jonah, referenced in verse 4, is a reference to Jesus’ resurrection. Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days, and even compared the experience to death (John 2:2,6-7). This parallels with Jesus being in the tomb for three days before His resurrection.

Consider these questions:
• The Pharisees directed their focus and faith to the wrong places. They questioned Jesus, ignored His authority, and denied Him as the Messiah. They refused to accept His authority in their lives. When have you been like that?

• How can this kind of thinking lead others astray? What is a modern day example of that?

RESPOND

• Some things appear to be good on the outside but actually go against what Scripture teaches. Are there influences in your life that are dangerous to your relationship with Christ? What can you do to minimize or eliminate those influences? Journal your response.

• To better understand the sign of Jonah read Jonah 1:17 and Matthew 12:40.

BEHIND THE STORY

It is important to understand what happened before this encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus was on a mountain, teaching and healing all who were brought to Him. The people who were staying on the mountain with Jesus had nothing to eat for three days. At the end of those three days, Jesus said, “I have compassion on the crowd” (v. 32). The disciples only had 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish. Jesus miraculously fed about 4,000 people that day just from that small amount of food.

THE POINT

Jesus is the Messiah. We must not overlook His authority or try to be saved through any other means.

Rule Follower

Posted by Karah

PAUSE

Ponder this quote by Samuel Bolton,

“The law sends us to the Gospel that we may be justified; and the Gospel sends us to the law again to inquire what is our duty as those who are justified.”

Read Matthew 15:1-20

“These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men.” —Matthew 15:8-9

Answer these questions:

• Jesus railed against the Pharisees for two reasons: Their love of tradition was greater than their love for God and they believed corruption came from breaking the law instead of a sinful heart. Highlight where you see evidence of the these two issues throughout the passage. Write in your journal, explain them in your own words.

• The Pharisees were so caught up living in line with the law that they failed to recognize their own sinfulness. This can also happen for believers today. List a few ways you can guard against this in your own life.

• Why is it important to recognize that we are sinful people and cannot save ourselves?

RESPOND

When has following rules been more important to you than following Jesus? Evaluate the things you say and do. Be honest with God. Pray and ask Him to help you see following Jesus as the most important thing.

People have sin in their hearts, and Jesus came to replace that sin with His righteousness. If you haven’t trusted Jesus as Savior, talk to a Christian that you trust, maybe your camp counselor or a youth director, to learn more.

BEHIND THE STORY

The Pharisees were legalists. Legalism is the act of putting law above gospel by establishing requirements for salvation beyond repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. At the time, believers were to follow the Mosaic Law. The Pharisees added to this law strict rules, passed down orally, to help others understand the Mosaic law better.

THE POINT

Our faith must be in God and not in following rules. We can’t save ourselves; we need Jesus.

Christ Alone

Posted by Karah

Pause

Listen to Matt Maher’s song “Lord, I Need You” (All The People Said Amen, 2013). Thank God for the fulfilling love and grace He gives.

Read through Matthew 3:1-12.

“Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.” —Matthew 3:8-9

Ask yourself:

• What is John’s message in verse 2? Explain in your own words what it means to repent.

• In verses 8–9, John cautioned the religious leaders of two things. List them in your journal.

No background and no amount of rule following can make you right with God—only true repentance and Jesus have that power.

• The leaders trusted in their own good works and the their lineage links with Abraham to bring them into God’s covenant. Why would John’s teaching fly in the face of their beliefs?

The Pharisees knew they needed to repent, but they only partially repented. Outwardly, they did what they needed to do to show others that they were repentant; however, they continued to sin while denying their guilt.

Respond

Many people still believe they only have to be good or follow rules to get to heaven. What about you? Journal a prayer asking the Lord to show you ways you might be trusting something or someone other than Jesus for salvation.

For further study on producing fruit consistent with repentance study John 15:1-17.

Behind the Story

The Pharisees and Sadducees were both part of the ruling class of Israel. Pharisees were middle class Jews who controlled the synagogues as well as oral and written law. The Sadducees were wealthy upper class religious leaders who did not believe in the resurrection. Both groups’ leaders were threatened by Jesus because He opposed their traditionally held beliefs. They refused to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and ignored His authority.

REPENT (v.) = to confess and turn away from sin.

The Point

We cannot inherit or earn our salvation. Jesus is our only hope for salvation.

The Way, the Truth, the Life

Posted by Karah

PAUSE

Quickly list of all the thoughts or things cluttering your mind right now. Review and set aside your list. Ask God to help you clear your mind to focus on His Word.

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” —John 14:6

Read John 14:1-11. Ask yourself:
• What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (v. 6)? It is only through Jesus that you can be reconciled to God, know the truth about how to live, and experience new life.

• According to the last part of verse 6, what is the way to be reconciled to God? How did Jesus make this possible? Explain.

• Many people believe that there is more than one way to get to heaven. Circle the words “except through me.” How do Jesus’ words go against that view?

• Reflect on verse 7. Jesus said if the disciples knew Him, they would know the Father. In verse 9, Jesus repeated Himself, once again declaring that He and God are one. How does knowing this affect your view of Jesus’ authority? His promises to you?

RESPOND

Journal a prayer, thanking God for providing a way for you to be reconciled with Him through Jesus. Do you struggle to believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life? Confess your struggle
to God. If you have questions, ask your camp counselor or a pastor at your church.

Ask God to help you to stand firm in your beliefs. Pray that He will give you wisdom as you talk to people who have different beliefs. Look at the definition of the word reconciled below. Examine your heart. Are you reconciled to the Father?

reconciled (v.) = the restore harmony to a relationship

BEHIND THE STORY

In John 14:1-6, Jesus told His disciples that He would soon depart from them to go to the Father. He said He would go away to prepare a place for them, and then return to take them with Him. In
verse five, Thomas asked how they would know the way to the place Jesus prepared for them. Today’s Scripture gives the answer.

THE POINT

Jesus is the only way to be saved. We must share this news with others.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from EC magazine. @ 2015 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

The Good Shepherd

Posted by Karah

Pause

Read Psalm 23 in your Bible. Allow these verses to prepare your heart for today’s devotion about Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Reread John 10:1-5 from last week’s devotion.

The shepherd in this passage knew his sheep, called them, and lead them. Notice that the shepherd didn’t just call his sheep with a command to follow, but he called them by name—pointing to the intimacy of the relationship between shepherd and sheep. Biblical scholars suggest this metaphor demonstrates the relationship between Jesus and His people.

“I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep.”

—John 10:14-15

Now, read John 10:11-21 and ask yourself these questions:

Read verses 11-15 again. List some characteristics of a good shepherd in your journal.

Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd and believers are referred to as His sheep. Look at the characteristics you listed above. How would you describe Jesus’ relationship with us? Explain.

Read verse 11 again. Underline the words “I lay down my life for the sheep.” How does this show Jesus’ love for you? How does it point to Jesus’ death on the cross?

Respond

Jesus wants a personal relationship with you—He wants to know you. You are so important to Jesus that He died for you to have the chance to know Him. He invites you to an intimate relationship built on love and trust.

Relationships provide you with many good things, but usually require things of you as well. In your journal, draw a line down the middle of a clean page. At the top of the page, write the headings Given and Required. Under the appropriate heading, jot down some things God provides for us and some things He requires of us.

Jesus loves us enough to die for us. He takes care of us. Is there someone in your life today who needs to hear this? Pray that the Holy Spirit would help you discern how to share the truth with them.

For further study on Jesus’ sacrifice, read Hebrews 9:12; 1 John 2:2; and 1 John 3:16.

Behind the Story

The Jewish belief system rests on the Mosaic law, given by God through Moses in the Old Testament. The Jews already knew God as the “Shepherd of Israel” (Ezek. 34; Isa. 40:11). When Jesus claimed the title, He was identifying Himself as one with God in a way they would specifically understand.

The Point

Jesus laid down His life for us because He loves us. By trusting Him as Savior, we can know God personally.

Newer posts

Older posts

OUR PADDLES

I know you miss camp. Since you can't be with us, we want to bring a little Camp Ridgecrest to you each week. Here you will find weekly devotions to remind you of what you learned about God; news, pictures, and videos of camp as we make improvements or just do something ridiculous; and even some posts from the road as we travel to see you and your friends! We will update you a few times a week, so check back often!
CATEGORIES
RECENT POSTS

OUR PADDLES

CATEGORIES

RECENT POSTS