Wholehearted, Simple Commitment
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Posted:Jul 10, 2009 10:49 am
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 10317 Views
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Wholehearted, Simple Commitment
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.? --2 Corinthians 11:3
Some years ago, a train in the United Kingdom traveling 117 miles per hour derailed. The crash left four people dead and more than 30 people injured. An investigation showed that track defects had contributed significantly to the cause of the accident. The company responsible for maintaining the tracks was found to have not met its commitments on track repairs.
Half-hearted commitments can end in disaster. I've seen it happen over the years, in areas of life ranging from sports to marriage, from friendships to business. All of us, at one time or another, have probably been hurt by others who have made half-hearted commitments.
Most Christians would say they have made a commitment to following Christ. Yet, there are those among us who have made these commitments half-heartedly. Tragically, half-hearted Christians hurts themselves the most. Sometimes they fool themselves about the nature of following Christ. For them, following Christ is an exercise in frustration. It doesn't seem to work. Sometimes they walk away from the faith. Their faith, as the apostle Paul wrote, has been "shipwrecked." (1 Timothy 1:19.)
Half-hearted commitment to Christ is nothing new. Jesus himself encountered half-hearted followers. He said to them, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, but do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46) Jesus challenged people to be wholehearted about their commitment, counting the cost of following him beforehand. (Luke 14:25-33)
Why is it important to walk in wholehearted, simple commitment to Jesus? Because the "things we do" as Christians can easily become the focus of our faith. It is all too easy to end up committed to a Christian program or church rather than being committed to Christ. Programs and churches can let people down. Jesus never does. It's all too easy to commit to following the "rules" of Christianity rather than being committed to Christ. Following "rules" can become sterile and confining. Following Jesus is about relationship not rules. Following Jesus brings freedom and life.
Jesus said that following him is a matter of choice, made on a daily basis. (Luke 9:23) Sadly, most people won't make this choice for it's not the easiest road to take. But, it is the only choice that leads to real life. It's the only choice that allows you to become all that God intends for you to be. Today, choose to be devoted to the person of Jesus Christ.
GOING DEEPER:
What "things" in life get in your way of simple and pure devotion to Christ?
Pray about those "things," asking God for his strength and grace to focus on being committed to Christ.
FURTHER READING:
Matthew 7:13-14; 13:1-24; Colossians 2:6-23
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THE SOURCE OF ALL HOPE Psalm 43:5
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Posted:Jul 9, 2009 11:43 am
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 11303 Views
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THE SOURCE OF ALL HOPE Psalm 43:5
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance, and my God
Sometimes the depression resulting from a seemingly impossible situation is related to a wrong concept of God. David wrote: "How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? . . . How long will my enemy triumph over me?" (Psalm 13:1, 2 NIV). Had God really forgotten David? Was He actually hiding from David? Of course not. David had a wrong concept of God, feeling that He had abandoned him to the enemy. David believed a lie about God, and consequently he lost his focus. His situation seemed hopeless, and hopelessness is the basis for all depression.
But the remarkable thing about David is that he didn't stay in the dumps. He evaluated his situation and realized, "Hey, I'm a of God. I'm going to focus on what I know about Him, not on my negative feelings." From the pit of his depression, he wrote: "I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation" (Psalm 13:5 NIV). Then he decided to make a positive expression of his will: "I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me" (verse 6). He willfully moved away from his wrong concept and its accompanying depression and returned to the source of his hope.
If Satan can destroy your belief in God, you will lose your source of hope. But with God, all things are possible. He is the source of all hope. You need to learn to respond to hopeless-appearing situations as David did: "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance, and my God" (Psalm 43:5).
If Satan can't destroy your concept of God, then he will seek to destroy your concept of who you are as a of God. He can't do anything about your position in Christ, but if he can get you to believe it's not true, you will live as if it's not, even though it is. The two most important beliefs you possess are who God is and who you are as His .
Prayer:
Above all, Father, help me focus continually on who You are and who I am in Christ, and to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
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Insensitivity, Part Two
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Posted:Jul 8, 2009 9:12 am
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 10169 Views
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Insensitivity, Part Two
by Charles R. Swindoll
1 Peter 4:8
We've been talking about the tragedy of insensitivity in relationships. Parental sensitivity rates desperately low these days. It's part of the fall-out of our rapid pace. Solomon tells us that our "make themselves known" by their deeds, their actions. He then reminds us that we have ears and eyes that ought to hear and see (Proverbs 20:11-12). But again, it takes time to do that. And again, we're "too busy."
Let's think that over. A basic task you accepted when you became a parent was the building of self-esteem and confidence into your offspring. Without coming out and saying it, they look to you to help them know how to believe in themselves, feel worthwhile, valuable, secure in a threatening world. In dozens of ways they drop hints that ask for help. The sensitive parent spots the hint, deciphers the code, and wisely brings reinforcement.
In his fine book Hide or Seek, Dr. James Dobson lists the five most common barriers that cause our to doubt their worth---even when they are deeply loved. The first barrier on the list is "parental insensitivity." Our challenge is to counteract the world's value system, which requires of our little ones either high intelligence or physical attractiveness. It's impossible to shut out this value system entirely, but we must keep things in proper perspective---especially if our kiddos are neither smart nor beauties! Failure to do so can easily result in struggles with inferiority.
The key, I repeat, is sensitivity---tuning into the thoughts and feelings of our , listening to the clues they give us, and reacting appropriately. The sensitive heart rubs its fingers along the edges, feeling for the deep cracks . . . the snags . . . taking the time to hear . . . to care . . . to give . . . to share.
It's worth clearing your schedule, I promise.
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WHOLENESS AND MEANING IN LIFE Galatians 3:26
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Posted:Jul 7, 2009 2:14 pm
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 11403 Views
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WHOLENESS AND MEANING IN LIFE Galatians 3:26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus
Several years ago a 17-year-old girl drove a great distance to talk with me. I have never met a girl who had so much going for her. She was cover-girl pretty with a wonderful figure. She was immaculately dressed. She had completed 12 years of school in 11 years, graduating with a very high grade point average. As a talented musician, she had received a music scholarship to a Christian university. And she drove a brand-new sports car her parents gave her for graduation. I was amazed that one person could have so much.
She talked with me for half an hour and I realized that what I saw on the outside wasn't matching what I was beginning to see on the inside. "Mary," I said finally, "have you ever cried yourself to sleep at night because you felt inadequate and wished you were somebody else?"
She began to cry. "How did you know?"
"Truthfully, Mary," I answered, "I've learned that people who appear to have it all together are often far from being together inside."
Often what we show on the outside is a false front designed to disguise who we really are and cover up the secret hurts we feel about our identity. Somehow we believe that if we appear attractive or perform well or enjoy a certain amount of status, then we will have it all together inside as well. But that's not necessarily true. External appearance, accomplishment and recognition don't necessarily reflect--or produce--internal peace and maturity. All the stuff and status you can acquire don't add up to personal wholeness. Millions of people climb those ladders to success, only to discover when they reach the top that they are leaning against the wrong wall!
Wholeness and meaning in life are not the products of what you have or don't have, what you've done or haven't done. You are already a whole person and possess a life of infinite meaning and purpose because of who you are--a of God. The only identity equation that works in God's kingdom is you plus Christ equals wholeness and meaning.
Prayer:
Father God, I wouldn't trade the wholeness and meaning You have brought to my life for anything the world can produce.
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The Passion - Like Jesus
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Posted:Jul 6, 2009 9:45 am
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 10227 Views
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The Passion - Like Jesus
by Ed Young
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. John 1:14
Whether they are traveling through a small farming town in Nebraska, a surfing village in California or an industrial community in Pennsylvania, politicians love to show how they can relate to the people in that area. But the sad thing is that they can't really meet those people on the same level; they can't identify with them no matter how hard they try to make it appear like they can.
Jesus, though, never gives us that illusion of identity. He doesn't throw up a façade to try and appear like he gets where we are coming from. Jesus Christ connected with the people of two thousand years ago, and he connects with you and me today on a level that we can understand and appreciate.
At one point we've all said, "No one understands my situation." But that statement could not be farther from the truth. Jesus understands; he's been there; he knows what we go through day in and day out. He had a job - for most of his life he was a carpenter. He had the same relationships that you and I have today - mother, father, brothers, sister, friends, and enemies. He even faced the same temptations that you and I face. Jesus knows what daily living is like. He knows because he's been there himself.
So this week, when you feel like there is no one that can grasp what you are going through; when you feel like throwing up your hands and giving up; when you have that gut reaction of, "No one understands my situation..." remember that our Savior has been there and then add two words to your statement: "Like Jesus."
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Placing Our Trust in the Unseen
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Posted:Jul 2, 2009 3:18 pm
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 10246 Views
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Placing Our Trust in the Unseen
Cliff Young
Journey back to 1935, discover ominous ruins deep in the dense jungles of India's Lost Delta, board a rugged troop transport, and enter the legendary Temple of the Forbidden Eye in search of unimaginable rewards.
This is the prologue to the Indiana Jones attraction at Disneyland in Southern California. The ride touts, "the adventure is almost never exactly the same twice, including three potential rewards: earthly riches, eternal youth and future knowledge." (Isn't this what we are all told to strive for in life?)
The trip takes you on an unknown path through caverns, tenuous crossings, explosions, deadly creatures, and into the path of menacing obstacles. The experience is never quite the same as a result of computer generated options that provide and control the different possible outcomes.
At times, my life feels like that ride--making my way through the ups and downs, trying to avoid pitfalls and obstructions, lacking control in search of a final reward. Instead of my adventure being controlled by a computer or, in some cases, my own efforts, I recognize it is held in the hand of my Creator.
"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).
However, in this day and age where we have unbridled access to endless information instantaneously, it becomes easier to place more emphasis on what we see, what we know, and what we can understand, than on having faith and trusting the Lord.
Seeing Is Deceiving
Oftentimes, what we see can be deceiving. After feeding thousands, Jesus sends his followers ahead in a boat. He later walks out on the water to join them.
Jesus quickly spoke to them, "Have courage! It is I. Do you not be afraid." Peter said, "Lord, if it is really you, then command me to come to you on the water." Jesus said, "Come" (Matthew 14:27-29).
Peter did as Jesus commanded, yet when he saw the winds and the waves, he became afraid and began to sink.
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter. Jesus said, "Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31).
My "faith-meter" is sometimes dependent upon how I see my situation. When things look like they are going along as I plan and as I want, my faith is strong. However, when things look adverse my faith occasionally waivers. The Bible makes it clear what true faith is.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).
Every day we face many unknowns. We try to minimize the obstacles and pitfalls in our life, but in the end we don't have full, if any, control. Our faith should not be dependent upon how we see our situation, rather trusting in the one who is in control. That is why Jesus tells us to have courage, not be afraid, and to come to Him.
Knowing Takes Patience
Even if we have clearly heard and know the plan God has for our lives, sometimes our own lack of patience gets in the way. This was the case with Abram and Sarai.
"You will have a of your own who will inherit what you have." Abram believed the Lord. And the Lord accepted Abram's faith, and that faith made him right with God (Genesis 15:4, 6).
As Sarai neared 90 years old, and Abram 100, she told Abram the Lord has not allowed her to have so go ahead and have sexual relations with her slave girl, Hagar. Abram agreed and Hagar got pregnant with Ishmael.
Abram's faith made him right with God, yet he chose to listen to his wife over waiting on Him, and they walked outside of God's plan. Even so, God did not abandon His people nor go back on His Word.
Sarah your wife will have a , and you will name him Isaac...As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will bless him and give him many descendants (Genesis 17:19-20).
We live a world where patience is no longer a virtue. We rarely have a desire to wait for anything and usually want everything immediately. Yet oftentimes, what God has for us, which is His very best, requires waiting for.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14).
Who Could Have Envisioned?
Some of us discern what God has for us and many believe we know. However, most of us can't foresee how He will accomplish it, appreciate the amount of time He will take, nor understand His methods or rationale.
A man survived a near-death experience as a and became inseparable from his parents. Even after his mother's death, he remained at home caring for his elderly father. His father eventually sought a woman suitable for his , who he later married at the age of forty.
A single woman lived her entire life with faith in God and a love for her family. She gave into sexual promiscuity, yet her heart remained open to God. When faced with a decision, she chose what was right even in the midst of great personal risk. She ultimately met a man and had .
A young girl grew up and married a foreigner of a different faith. When she lost her husband, the girl decided to go to her mother-in-law's home country to support her, sacrificing her own personal desires. There she met an honorable man, remarried and had a .
A young boy inherited everything from his father yet never followed in his father footsteps. He chose wicked ways and encouraged others to do the same. The boy lost everything he had and was imprisoned. While behind bars, he rediscovered God, discarded his wickedness and led others to Him.
Maybe you can relate to one of these stories. Each was faced with feelings of doubt, despair and the unknown. Every one sacrificed something along their journey of faith while trusting in God, yet all of them (in His time) received desires of their heart.
Isaac-- of Abraham and Sarah, married Rebekkah and was the father of Jacob.
Rahab (the )--harbored Joshua's men in Jericho in exchange for safety, married Salmon and had several , including Boaz.
Ruth--married Boaz while caring for Naomi and was the mother of Obed.
Manasseh--became king, lost his throne, returned to the throne where he redeemed his ways and followed a life in the Lord, married and fathered Amon.
Unbeknownst to them, they were also being used for a purpose greater than any of them could have imagined--in the lineage of God's only .
At times, we may be so consumed by our own problems and our own desires, or be fixated on wanting to follow someone else's path (not realizing they are facing obstacles too), that we can't step back long enough to look at the bigger picture, or to let go of the situation and have faith that God will and is handling it.
The Indiana Jones ride offers potential rewards of earthly riches, eternal youth, and future knowledge (during its five minutes of excitement). Jesus offers actual rewards of riches in heaven, a glorious body in eternity, and knowledge and wisdom (and more), if we put our faith and trust in Him.
Jump in, take your hands off of the wheel, and let Him take control. He has plans for you, "plans to prosper not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
What an amazing ride it will be.
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The Day of the Lord
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Posted:Jul 1, 2009 9:25 am
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 10285 Views
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The Day of the Lord
2 Peter 3:3-18
Today's passage is about what Peter calls "the day of the Lord." He's not referring to a 24-hour interval but rather a season of time. Certain events within that period lead up to Jesus Christ establishing a new heaven and earth. For instance, living saints are raptured into heaven while the bodies of dead believers are resurrected. Those days will also be when the Antichrist rises to power and tribulation fills the earth. But at the end, Jesus returns victorious to judge the world.
Some people claim that we are already in the tribulation period, but that is not the case. It will be a time of God's judgment upon the earth, and the church need not endure that. We are destined for salvation rather than for wrath (1 Thess. 5:9). The trials and hardship spreading around the earth today are "merely the beginning of birth pangs" (Matt. 24: --a prelude to the great ordeal yet to come.
The pains of a laboring woman gradually accelerate and intensify. Doesn't that sound like the increasing frequency and potency of heartaches in our world? Jesus warned believers to expect wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famine, persecution, and death even before the end times (Luke 21:9-12). These disturbances are among the signs that our redemption is drawing near, though no one knows the exact time (Matt. 24:36).
The day of the Lord will creep up on most of the world's inhabitants like a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2). They can't see that events are unfolding according to God's plan. But the church should pay attention and work diligently to reach suffering people with the hope of the gospel (Luke 21:13).
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OPEN DIALOGUE WITH YOUR Proverbs 25:11
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Posted:Jun 30, 2009 1:23 pm
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 10202 Views
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OPEN DIALOGUE WITH YOUR Proverbs 25:11
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances
All discipline must be based on prior instruction. Make a clear statement of your expectations for a given situation and the consequences for disobedience. Ask your to repeat what you say to make sure he understands. Then invite his questions and comments.
Honest and open dialogue after disobedience is a powerful means of discipline. Many would rather face a paddle than verbal confrontation. Even parental silence communicates volumes. For many , sitting emotionally exposed before an authority figure is much more threatening and shameful than a simple spanking.
What is the motivating deterrent behind a verbal confrontation? The fear of being called into accountability. We find that in our relationship with the Lord. We fear Him because we are going to stand before Him someday and give an account of our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10, 11)--not to be punished but to be rewarded. Knowing that we are going to be personally accountable before the Lord is a great driving force in our lives. We want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Your feels the same way about having to answer to you. He doesn't want to look bad in your eyes. That's why it's often difficult for him to confess his misdeeds in a confrontation. When you sit down with him it will be easy for him to say, "I'm sorry," a little harder for him to say, "Will you forgive me?" and hardest for him to say, "I did it."
Helping your learn to speak the truth in love will take a lot of love and skill on your part, especially if your is prone to lying. If you allow him to establish a pattern of deception as a means of avoiding confrontation, you are in for a lot of pain during his adolescence. You must work toward honest confession or any method of discipline will be ineffective.
Prayer:
Lord, help me develop honesty and openness with You so I can model and teach these qualities to my
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Desert Training
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Posted:Jun 29, 2009 9:21 am
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 10293 Views
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Desert Training
By Os Hillman
June 29
"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Ps. 63:1).
The desert holds a special place in God's Word. The Scriptures portray the desert as a place of inspiration and exaltation - a place where people met God in a powerful new way. King David wrote the 63rd Psalm while in exile in the Desert of Judah. He was hiding from his Absalom, who wanted to replace him as king of Israel.
For Joseph, a deep pit in the desert was the first stop on a 13-year journey through desolation and despair. That 13-year desert experience served to break Joseph's self-will and self-confidence. It taught him that he could not control anything and that he needed to rely on God to manage the events in his life. Joseph's desert trial prepared him by scorching the youthful pride and arrogance out of his young life so that when he was 30 years old he could rule Egypt at Pharaoh's side in a spirit of humility and servant-hood.
Before becoming king of Israel, David was a shepherd. Part of his training for leadership involved hand-to-claw combat with the beasts of the wilderness, including the lion and the bear. Elijah learned the principles of spiritual leadership while in the wilderness of Gilead. And Jesus was tempted and tested for 40 days in the desert before He began to preach.
Perhaps God has given you a dream, but now it seems that your dream has withered and died under the scorching desert sun. It seems that God has gone away and is not listening to your prayers. But I want you to know that that your dream still lives. God is with you, even if you can't see Him, hear Him or sense His presence. He is preparing you in the desert.
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The Ultimate Comforter
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Posted:Jun 24, 2009 10:21 am
Last Updated:Jan 24, 2026 6:44 am 10474 Views
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The Ultimate Comforter
This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God --2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Some years ago, I received an email that my uncle was taken to the hospital while vacationing in Rome. As soon as I heard, I knew I needed to get there, since at that time I lived closer than any other of our relatives. Within 24 hours of receiving the news, I was in Rome to be a support for my aunt and uncle. I had no idea what I would do or say. I simply knew I needed to be there and at least I could pray.
I felt God used my prayers to teach me a lesson about words. Words are powerful. The Proverbs warn us to use our tongue wisely. During the week I spent in the Italian hospital, words were sometimes a comfort. However, I quickly realized they were best when rarely spoken. While words are important, they don't substitute for a hug. No word can share a tear. No word can hold a loved one's hand. It's hard to find the right words in the midst of another's sorrow and pain. In moments like these, presence is often more important than words.
The lesson that the Lord taught me is that He is the ultimate Comforter. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to give us peace. When we are lost, confused, hurt, sad, scared, tired or misunderstood, He brings comfort. The ultimate Comforter will not offer meaningless words or clichéd responses. His presence in our lives holds us through life's ups and downs.
Further, I realize own ability to comfort rests solely on God. As Paul tells the Corinthians, we can comfort others because God first comforted us. We see God's comfort at work as He provides us with others to walk beside us and to act as His hands and feet. The support I was able to give my family originated with God, who gave me not only the opportunity to be present, but the strength to share His comfort.
Are you hurting, lost and in need of comfort? Cry out to the Lord! He is already with you. Is someone you know hurting? God calls you to be a comforter, even as He is a comforter to you.
GOING DEEPER:
Reread the passage above. Why do you think Paul mentioned sharing in suffering as he speaks of being comforted?
Think of ways you can be the hands and feet of Christ to those around you who suffer.
FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 54:10; Matthew 5:3-5; Philippians 2:1-3
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