by Charity Pence
Just a quick word that touched my heart today.
"Nevertheless He regarded their affliction when He heard their cry, and for their sake He remembered His covenant and relented according to the multitude of His mercies." - Psalm 106:44, 45
The 106th chapter of Psalms discusses the great works God had done for His people Israel and the numerous times they rebelled against Him. The few short lines of verses 44 and 45 offers a rich message. Let me break down what this passage says to me.
Nevertheless. - It didn't matter that the Israelites had strayed so many times.
He regarded their affliction. - God knew how many times they had messed up but still cared.
He Relented. - God's love was too great for his anger to continue.
Multitude of His mercies. - God's mercy does not run out.
This passage applies to me and you as much as it did the Israelites. We screw up. Often. Yet God opens His arms to us when we acknowledge our sins and return to Him. How amazing! He has no three strikes and you're out rule. Regardless of how many mistakes we make, His mercy never fails.
Praise His name! Hallelujah!
Showing posts with label God's mercy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's mercy. Show all posts
Monday, April 7, 2014
Sunday, July 22, 2012
The Church
by Charity Pence
Let's start this week's post by picturing the church. What do you see? A large brick building with glass doors? A small country church with a steeple and a bell?
Once you have a picture set in your mind, consider the following:
"You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)
Do those verses match the picture in your mind? Probably not. That's because we are the church. Read the following again: "In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temply in the Lord." I believe that verse means that when we, God's people, join together, we become God's temple. And in becoming God's temple, we become a haven that leads others to Christ. In the temple we help build, people find hope, grace, mercy, and a love like no other. How do we become the church? By recognizing our part. By showing God's love through our actions and words, and by offering forgiveness to those who have hurt us because God has forgiven us.
There's nothing wrong with the church building itself. But without us, God's children, and without His presence, it is nothing except an empty, useless building.
Dear Heavenly Father, You have called us to be so much more than what we realize. We are Your church. And by creating us to be Your church, others can come to know you not just on Sundays but every day of the week. Halelujah!
Let's start this week's post by picturing the church. What do you see? A large brick building with glass doors? A small country church with a steeple and a bell?
Once you have a picture set in your mind, consider the following:
"You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)
Do those verses match the picture in your mind? Probably not. That's because we are the church. Read the following again: "In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temply in the Lord." I believe that verse means that when we, God's people, join together, we become God's temple. And in becoming God's temple, we become a haven that leads others to Christ. In the temple we help build, people find hope, grace, mercy, and a love like no other. How do we become the church? By recognizing our part. By showing God's love through our actions and words, and by offering forgiveness to those who have hurt us because God has forgiven us.
There's nothing wrong with the church building itself. But without us, God's children, and without His presence, it is nothing except an empty, useless building.
Dear Heavenly Father, You have called us to be so much more than what we realize. We are Your church. And by creating us to be Your church, others can come to know you not just on Sundays but every day of the week. Halelujah!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Being Human
by Marsha Loftis
This Week's Verse: Hebrews 2:14, "Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death."
Devotion
I love being human! I love to revel in the marvelous things that God has done and made. I love to hear the birds sing. I love to taste the sweetness of honey. I love to feel the hug of a child. I love to see the sunsets. I love to sing His praises. I love being His creation.
Most of the time. Then there are times where being human is a very rough road to travel. Times when I feel every bump and bruise like a ripened apple! Times when somehow my size eight shoe fits snuggly in my size one mouth. Times when the pain of my broken heart is almost too much to bear. Times when I feel like God has stuck a fork in me and said, "Nope! She's not done yet."
I'm not. I'm not "there" wherever "there" is; I obviously haven't reached that point yet. None of us have and we never will until He calls us home. We are walking, talking, sometimes crawling and falling works of “undoneness”.
Even the great apostle Paul struggled with his “not quite done-ness.” He fought thinking what is right, knowing what is right, and doing what is right.
Romans 7:15-25: “What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. …But I need something more! I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. … I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.” (MSG)
Being human is HARD! Don’t you think? If Paul struggled like this then who am I to think that I’ve got it all under control?! Have you ever told God, “I got this… I can handle this one alone.”? Well the human condition is hard enough. Why on earth would we want to go it alone?
We have been bought into a relationship with God through Christ’s death and resurrection. We don’t have to do this thing called life alone and we have been made righteous! I know it’s hard to think of ourselves as righteous. After all, we are only human, with all our baggage, our pasts, faults and flaws--a person who is still learning how to be the person that God wants, all the while being righteous and knowing without a doubt that God is not done yet. The same person who is standing on the promise that what works God has started will not cease until that work is done. That person is you! And me..... any one who believes that Jesus died for them AND now lives in them!
Father God, help me to know that I am nothing without You, your love and most of all your grace. Thank you for accepting me when I was not righteous and sending your Son so I may come to you, unashamed, washed, loved and forgiven. Help me to become the person You need me to be, the person I long to be. Help me to do what I know is right even when I feel UN-righteous. I ask all these things in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Application:
Being righteous doesn’t mean we are better than someone else. It only means that we have Saving Grace that allows us to come to God’s throne freely and present our worship, praise, and requests. Shake off that “human-ness,” that feeling of being “not quite done yet.” Let go of that guilt. Deny that shame, that feeling of being unworthy and present yourself to God as a sacrifice. Empty yourself of yourself and let God fill you up with HIM!
Power Verses:
Ephesians 2:4-10: “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (MSG)
Romans 8:5, "Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God!" (MSG)
Romans 5:18-19, “....Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” (NLT)
Romans 8:3, “In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.”
This Week's Verse: Hebrews 2:14, "Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death."
Devotion
I love being human! I love to revel in the marvelous things that God has done and made. I love to hear the birds sing. I love to taste the sweetness of honey. I love to feel the hug of a child. I love to see the sunsets. I love to sing His praises. I love being His creation.
Most of the time. Then there are times where being human is a very rough road to travel. Times when I feel every bump and bruise like a ripened apple! Times when somehow my size eight shoe fits snuggly in my size one mouth. Times when the pain of my broken heart is almost too much to bear. Times when I feel like God has stuck a fork in me and said, "Nope! She's not done yet."
I'm not. I'm not "there" wherever "there" is; I obviously haven't reached that point yet. None of us have and we never will until He calls us home. We are walking, talking, sometimes crawling and falling works of “undoneness”.
Even the great apostle Paul struggled with his “not quite done-ness.” He fought thinking what is right, knowing what is right, and doing what is right.
Romans 7:15-25: “What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. …But I need something more! I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. … I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.” (MSG)
Being human is HARD! Don’t you think? If Paul struggled like this then who am I to think that I’ve got it all under control?! Have you ever told God, “I got this… I can handle this one alone.”? Well the human condition is hard enough. Why on earth would we want to go it alone?
We have been bought into a relationship with God through Christ’s death and resurrection. We don’t have to do this thing called life alone and we have been made righteous! I know it’s hard to think of ourselves as righteous. After all, we are only human, with all our baggage, our pasts, faults and flaws--a person who is still learning how to be the person that God wants, all the while being righteous and knowing without a doubt that God is not done yet. The same person who is standing on the promise that what works God has started will not cease until that work is done. That person is you! And me..... any one who believes that Jesus died for them AND now lives in them!
Father God, help me to know that I am nothing without You, your love and most of all your grace. Thank you for accepting me when I was not righteous and sending your Son so I may come to you, unashamed, washed, loved and forgiven. Help me to become the person You need me to be, the person I long to be. Help me to do what I know is right even when I feel UN-righteous. I ask all these things in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Application:
Being righteous doesn’t mean we are better than someone else. It only means that we have Saving Grace that allows us to come to God’s throne freely and present our worship, praise, and requests. Shake off that “human-ness,” that feeling of being “not quite done yet.” Let go of that guilt. Deny that shame, that feeling of being unworthy and present yourself to God as a sacrifice. Empty yourself of yourself and let God fill you up with HIM!
Power Verses:
Ephesians 2:4-10: “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (MSG)
Romans 8:5, "Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God!" (MSG)
Romans 5:18-19, “....Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” (NLT)
Romans 8:3, “In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.”
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Great Escape
by Kathy Lay
This Week’s Verse: Proverbs 29:6--Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy. (NLT)
Devotion:
Have you ever seen those video clips of illusionists or magicians being contorted into a painful-looking position then tied up, locked up, and submerged into a plexi-glass tub full of water? I’ve held my breath along with them as I anxiously waited for them to break free and emerge gasping but victorious.
Or who can forget poor little Jenny from Forrest Gump? Hiding in the cornfield from her abusive father, she pleaded “Dear God, make me a bird. So I could fly far. Far far away from here.” Like a magician, she too longed to break free from what bound her and petitioned God to work a miracle to set her free. If you watched the rest of the movie you know that it took lots of years and lots of mistakes before Jenny finally allowed herself to be loved and set free.
God is all about an escape plan. A much-loved quote from Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God’s plans are to prosper us, not to harm us. So it makes sense that if we are in harm’s way, the Lord has already mapped out an escape route. Look at the Israelites (repeatedly!). Look at Daniel in the lions’ den or Jonah in the fish. There’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. There’s Paul and Silas in prison, people imprisoned in deformed or diseased bodies, and people captive to demons. And then there’s Jesus who escaped death so that we can too.
See, God specializes in great escapes. He gives us access to them through righteousness, as indicated in this week's verse. In each of the above examples the escape-ees demonstrated righteous obedience in humility and submission, praising the One who wanted to set them free all along.
He wants to set you free too. While pursuing righteousness anticipate your great escape, bursting forth victorious!
Precious Father, thank you for breaking us out of captivity! Help us to seek you in passionate humility so that our escape brings You glory and our freedom bears fruit.
Application:
Captivity cripples activity. God wants you free so He can use you to further His kingdom. What’s got you bound? Pursuing God’s righteousness with your whole heart will open the door to an escape plan that’s already in the works for you.
Power Verses:
I Cor. 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”(NASB—emphasis mine)
Psalm 124:7, “We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!” (NLT)
Proverbs 12:13, “An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will escape from trouble.”(NASB)
This Week’s Verse: Proverbs 29:6--Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy. (NLT)
Devotion:
Have you ever seen those video clips of illusionists or magicians being contorted into a painful-looking position then tied up, locked up, and submerged into a plexi-glass tub full of water? I’ve held my breath along with them as I anxiously waited for them to break free and emerge gasping but victorious.
Or who can forget poor little Jenny from Forrest Gump
God is all about an escape plan. A much-loved quote from Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God’s plans are to prosper us, not to harm us. So it makes sense that if we are in harm’s way, the Lord has already mapped out an escape route. Look at the Israelites (repeatedly!). Look at Daniel in the lions’ den or Jonah in the fish. There’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. There’s Paul and Silas in prison, people imprisoned in deformed or diseased bodies, and people captive to demons. And then there’s Jesus who escaped death so that we can too.
See, God specializes in great escapes. He gives us access to them through righteousness, as indicated in this week's verse. In each of the above examples the escape-ees demonstrated righteous obedience in humility and submission, praising the One who wanted to set them free all along.
He wants to set you free too. While pursuing righteousness anticipate your great escape, bursting forth victorious!
Precious Father, thank you for breaking us out of captivity! Help us to seek you in passionate humility so that our escape brings You glory and our freedom bears fruit.
Application:
Captivity cripples activity. God wants you free so He can use you to further His kingdom. What’s got you bound? Pursuing God’s righteousness with your whole heart will open the door to an escape plan that’s already in the works for you.
Power Verses:
I Cor. 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”(NASB—emphasis mine)
Psalm 124:7, “We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!” (NLT)
Proverbs 12:13, “An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will escape from trouble.”(NASB)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Mercy Flood
by Kathy Lay
This Week's Verse: Romans 9:16, "It does not therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." (NIV)
Devotion:
This past Monday evening was ridiculously hot, humid, and still. According to my husband, it was a perfect evening for a bike ride together. I grumbled a little (maybe more than a little) but I went because that's what wives do for husbands they love. Shane is a serious cyclist so I knew this was not going to be a leisurely pleasure cruise. He even broke out his padded cycling shorts for me. (He's sweet like that.)
Equipped with our water bottles, we started off towards the east. The plan was to ride towards the river bottom and at a certain point, I'd turn off and end up doing a ten-mile ride back to the house, while he'd go on straight and loop around for a 25 mile ride. He was merciful to me and knew what I could and couldn't do in the short amount of daylight we had left.
After we'd split, I continued down my road at a pretty good clip because I wanted to surprise him by beating him home. Cornfields on both sides, a blacktop road baked out with the heat, areas of steamy fog beginning to rise in patches, the smell of farm life...AH! I took a deep breath and just inhaled the moment.
Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace: My Chains are Gone" began to run through my mind and I found myself singing the chorus (as much as singing is possible being short of breath!): "My chains are gooooooone; I've been set freeeeee; My God, my Savioooooor has ransomed meeeeeee. And like a floooooood..."
And at that moment, what to my wondering eyes should appear but a sign along the road that read, "Flood Area Ahead." A flooooood area ahead.
Sisters, what are the odds of that? That I'd read a sign with the very same word that was resonating in my brain at exactly the same time? Call it coincidence if you want, but that kind of stuff makes my heart skip a beat and my tummy do a little flip. I felt God's presence right there with me among those stalks of young corn and oily spots of road.
"...And like a flooooood, His mercy reigns. Unending love, amazing grace." A flood of mercy ahead. What a gift; what a blessing.
No matter what else I encountered along the the rest of my journey--my bike ride, my week, the rest of my life--God promised me there would be a flood of mercy ahead to see me through. He makes the same promise to you.
Father, thank you for speaking to us in that still small voice, through such random things as a sign by a road. Thank you for flooding us with your mercy and for your amazing grace.
Application:
Consider the subtle ways God speaks to your heart. I Kings 19:11-13 tells of God speaking to Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. Be vigilent for His whisper as He speaks His promises into your heart. Rejoice in His flood of mercy.
Power Verses:
Nehemiah 9:31, "But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." (NIV)
2 Samuel 24:14, "'I'm in a desperate situation!' David replied to Gad. 'But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.'"(NLT)
Lamentations 3:22, "God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great is your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left." (MSG)
This Week's Verse: Romans 9:16, "It does not therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." (NIV)
Devotion:
This past Monday evening was ridiculously hot, humid, and still. According to my husband, it was a perfect evening for a bike ride together. I grumbled a little (maybe more than a little) but I went because that's what wives do for husbands they love. Shane is a serious cyclist so I knew this was not going to be a leisurely pleasure cruise. He even broke out his padded cycling shorts for me. (He's sweet like that.)
Equipped with our water bottles, we started off towards the east. The plan was to ride towards the river bottom and at a certain point, I'd turn off and end up doing a ten-mile ride back to the house, while he'd go on straight and loop around for a 25 mile ride. He was merciful to me and knew what I could and couldn't do in the short amount of daylight we had left.
After we'd split, I continued down my road at a pretty good clip because I wanted to surprise him by beating him home. Cornfields on both sides, a blacktop road baked out with the heat, areas of steamy fog beginning to rise in patches, the smell of farm life...AH! I took a deep breath and just inhaled the moment.
Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace: My Chains are Gone" began to run through my mind and I found myself singing the chorus (as much as singing is possible being short of breath!): "My chains are gooooooone; I've been set freeeeee; My God, my Savioooooor has ransomed meeeeeee. And like a floooooood..."
And at that moment, what to my wondering eyes should appear but a sign along the road that read, "Flood Area Ahead." A flooooood area ahead.
Sisters, what are the odds of that? That I'd read a sign with the very same word that was resonating in my brain at exactly the same time? Call it coincidence if you want, but that kind of stuff makes my heart skip a beat and my tummy do a little flip. I felt God's presence right there with me among those stalks of young corn and oily spots of road.
"...And like a flooooood, His mercy reigns. Unending love, amazing grace." A flood of mercy ahead. What a gift; what a blessing.
No matter what else I encountered along the the rest of my journey--my bike ride, my week, the rest of my life--God promised me there would be a flood of mercy ahead to see me through. He makes the same promise to you.
Father, thank you for speaking to us in that still small voice, through such random things as a sign by a road. Thank you for flooding us with your mercy and for your amazing grace.
Application:
Consider the subtle ways God speaks to your heart. I Kings 19:11-13 tells of God speaking to Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. Be vigilent for His whisper as He speaks His promises into your heart. Rejoice in His flood of mercy.
Power Verses:
Nehemiah 9:31, "But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." (NIV)
2 Samuel 24:14, "'I'm in a desperate situation!' David replied to Gad. 'But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.'"(NLT)
Lamentations 3:22, "God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great is your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left." (MSG)
Friday, December 5, 2008
So Grateful
by Missy Milbourn
This Week’s Verse: Romans 5:6-8, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”(NLT)
Devotion:
A couple of weeks ago we had a guest speaker at our church, and something that he said has stayed with me. He asked if our church was a “safe place”. He posed these questions…
“If a homosexual couple came to your church, would you welcome them?”
“If a woman who had just gotten a divorce from her husband because she was having an affair with another man (and you knew it because she was the talk of the town) came to church, would you welcome her?”
He went on to say that studies indicate that these people aren’t coming to church because the church is too judgmental. (I think I already knew that.) But it’s what he said next that really got me, and has stayed with me. He said that we (the church) expect people to act like Jesus before they even know Jesus.
He’s right. I’m sorry.
How opposite that is to how Jesus loved people. How opposite that is to the very nature of God. For God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)
While we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. (Romans 5:6)
I’m so grateful that He didn’t wait for me to get my act together before he reached out to me, or quite frankly…He’d still be waiting.
Father, I’m so thankful that you reach out to us while we are still sinners. I’m thankful that in the middle of the messed up lives that we lead that you love us, and you reach out to save us. Help us to love like you love. Help us to reach out like you reach out. Help us to be a safe place where anyone can come and learn about you, fall in love with you, and experience a new life with you.
Application:
Make a mental assessment of how you would receive (welcome) the above described people coming to church, or someone else experiencing other possibly controversial issues. Let’s make a conscious choice to meet people where they’re at and do our best to love them into the Kingdom of God.
Power Verses:
Luke 5:31-32, “Jesus heard about it and spoke up, ‘Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I'm here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.’”(MSG)
Mark 2:17, “When Jesus heard this, he told them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’” (NLT)
This Week’s Verse: Romans 5:6-8, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”(NLT)
Devotion:
A couple of weeks ago we had a guest speaker at our church, and something that he said has stayed with me. He asked if our church was a “safe place”. He posed these questions…
“If a homosexual couple came to your church, would you welcome them?”
“If a woman who had just gotten a divorce from her husband because she was having an affair with another man (and you knew it because she was the talk of the town) came to church, would you welcome her?”
He went on to say that studies indicate that these people aren’t coming to church because the church is too judgmental. (I think I already knew that.) But it’s what he said next that really got me, and has stayed with me. He said that we (the church) expect people to act like Jesus before they even know Jesus.
He’s right. I’m sorry.
How opposite that is to how Jesus loved people. How opposite that is to the very nature of God. For God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)
While we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. (Romans 5:6)
I’m so grateful that He didn’t wait for me to get my act together before he reached out to me, or quite frankly…He’d still be waiting.
Father, I’m so thankful that you reach out to us while we are still sinners. I’m thankful that in the middle of the messed up lives that we lead that you love us, and you reach out to save us. Help us to love like you love. Help us to reach out like you reach out. Help us to be a safe place where anyone can come and learn about you, fall in love with you, and experience a new life with you.
Application:
Make a mental assessment of how you would receive (welcome) the above described people coming to church, or someone else experiencing other possibly controversial issues. Let’s make a conscious choice to meet people where they’re at and do our best to love them into the Kingdom of God.
Power Verses:
Luke 5:31-32, “Jesus heard about it and spoke up, ‘Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I'm here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.’”(MSG)
Mark 2:17, “When Jesus heard this, he told them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’” (NLT)
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