Dying While Living, Living While Dying

ALL – Psalm 44:8-26
ALL – Proverbs 22:13
OT – Job 37:1-39:30
NT – 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:11

Interesting passage for the day: These sufferings of ours are for your benefit. And the more of you who are won to Christ, the more there are to thank him for his great kindness, and the more the Lord is glorified. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day. – 2 Corinthians 4:15-16, The Living Bible

Thought: Is ministry draining or empowering? Is it death or life? I’m not just talking about professional, paid ministry. I’m talking about how you and I relate to our neighbors, our relatives, our co-workers. When we serve them, when we hear about their struggles and temptations, when we debate with them over where our faith is worthwhile or not—what happens to us? Are we renewed? Or do we fade away?

Honestly, sometimes being there for other people is draining. Sometimes the struggle is more than sometimes. It might be normal or usual. Sometimes it feels like we’re dying so that everyone else can have life.

But what a joy to see more people joining us in thanking the great God we serve! What a thrill to see Jesus’ name lifted high!

And there is something tremendous happening—no, not just happening—GROWING, inside us. We are gaining strength, even when our bodies feel like they’re falling apart. The physical strength we sometimes like is being replaced with a deeper, permanent, eternal life that keeps us going and reminds us that any pain we might go through is only for now. It won’t last forever.

Question: Do you remember when you’re going through really tough periods that Jesus is giving you a life that is growing stronger day by day? Or do you forget? Or do you have a hard time caring? How can we learn to find strength through Jesus more frequently and joyfully?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

No Airbrushed Jesus

ALL – Psalm 44:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 22:10-12
OT – Job 34:1-36:33
NT – 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Interesting passage for the day: We do not try to trick people into believing—we are not interested in fooling anyone. We never try to get anyone to believe that the Bible teaches what it doesn’t. All such shameful methods we forego. We stand in the presence of God as we speak and so we tell the truth, as all who know us will agree. – 2 Corinthians 4:2, The Living Bible

Thought: What would be the goal of tricking people into believing? What would be the benefit of fooling people into doing what we say? I can’t think of any positive reason to deceive people into agreeing with me.

I’m not saying that I can’t see any reason why tricking people could be fun, exciting, and even fulfilling. When people agree with me, it helps me feel better about my own perspectives. When people trust me so much that they don’t even question my thoughts, there could be a bit of a rush at the realization that I have the ability to lead them just about anywhere—at least for a while. And the more people who believe me and follow my lead, the more I would be able to pat myself on the back for being such a magnetic and charismatic leader. The experience of this kind of success might be like an ongoing shot of adrenaline. So there are reasons that tricking people into believing us could be an amazing experience.

But none of those reasons is positive. Especially not when we’re talking about Jesus Christ. Getting tons of people to follow me, thinking that I had led them to Jesus even though I had really just giving them pep talks with Jesus’ name liberally sprinkled throughout my inspiring speeches (perhaps a case of using Jesus’ name in vain?), would be useless for everyone involved. The people would not have actually come to know Jesus. I would have “gained the whole world and lost my soul.” And Jesus would look at me from His throne and ask, “How did you possibly think this would end well—stealing My glory for yourself?”

No, when we talk about Jesus, we want to be as straightforward and honest as possible. Sometimes—perhaps even often—we’ll draw smaller crowds. But our goal is to draw together worshipers for our great King Jesus, men and women who worship in spirit and truth. This kind of worship only happens when people really know who Jesus is. Let’s introduce Him honestly.

Question: What do you not like to tell people about Jesus and His Word? Let’s encourage one another to lovingly and honestly introduce people to Jesus Christ as He is.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

God’s Spirit, God’s Glory

ALL – Psalm 43:1-5
ALL – Proverbs 22:8-9
OT – Job 31:1-33:33
NT – 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Interesting passage for the day: Shall we not expect far greater glory in these days when the Holy Spirit is giving life? – 2 Corinthians 3:8, The Living Bible

Thought: In this verse, Paul is drawing a contrast between the glory that came with the Law that God gave to the Israelites and the glory that lives in all believers because of God’s Holy Spirit. The Law could not give life; it could only condemn people to death. But we no longer live under the Law, so we no longer live under a fear of condemnation. We have received God’s Holy Spirit—God’s life-giving Spirit! If we have the Spirit of our Creator living within us, how can God’s glory help but be displayed in our lives?

Question: What keeps you from expecting to see God’s glory in your life?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Loving, Painful Words

ALL – Psalm 41:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 22:5-6
OT – Job 23:1-27:23
NT – 2 Cor 1:12-2:8

Interesting passage for the day: Oh, how I hated to write that letter! It almost broke my heart and I tell you honestly that I cried over it. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I had to show you how very much I loved you and cared about what was happening to you. – 2 Corinthians 2:4, The Living Bible

Thought: It takes a lot of courage to tell friends the truth sometimes. It takes courage, not because you think the relationship won’t survive the confrontation, not because you think your friend won’t survive the critique, but because it hurts to hurt friends.

Question: Do you love anyone enough that it would be painful for you to confront something wrong with their lives? How do you work up the courage to confront when necessary?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

No Burden Too Heavy

ALL – Psalm 40:11-17
ALL – Proverbs 22:2-4
OT – Job 20:1-22:30
NT – 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Interesting passage for the day: We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead. – 2 Corinthians 1:9, The Living Bible

Thought: When Christy, Emma and I headed to Louisville so that I could attend the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in June of 2006, we felt ready and self-sufficient. We had saved about $15,000 as a cushion for the first few months’ expenses, Christy’s web design business was clearly capable of generating income, and we had everything planned out for me to watch Emma enough each week for Christy to be able to run her business smoothly. Survival would not be an issue in seminary. We were going to thrive!

That’s not how I felt in September or October when I was sitting in the corner of the dining room, sobbing uncontrollably because we were already less than a month away from being completely out of funds, and feeling like a total failure as a husband and father. What had I led my family into?

I felt kind of like Paul: “doomed to die and [seeing] how powerless we were to help ourselves.” Okay, maybe the dying thing is a little dramatic, but seriously, I was totally aware of my own weakness, powerlessness, inability, failure.

But God turned things around. He provided business for Christy. He gave me the strength to add a part-time job (actually two jobs, for a while) to my schedule. We weren’t wealthy, but we were living. God had saved us from going totally broke.

God is always providing for us. He does it for the entire world. But He especially delights to provide for His children. Sometimes God calls us into situations that we cannot handle, circumstances that threaten to overwhelm us—even to wipe us off the face of the planet! But our God is able to raise the dead! He owns all of creation! There is not a challenge we can face that is “too big” for Him!

Question: What has overwhelmed you—in the past, or perhaps even now? How can we support one another as we call on Jesus, our God who saves us from every trouble?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Planned Generosity

ALL – Psalm 40:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 22:1
OT – Job 16:1-19:29
NT – 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

Interesting passage for the day: On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. – 1 Corinthians 16:2, The Living Bible

Thought: Have you ever noticed that the New Testament seems to be much more interested in the heart of a giver than in the act of giving?

Don’t get me wrong. Jesus and the apostles definitely talk about giving. But they want us to give because we are givers. They want our actions to flow from our nature.

With that said, someone whose nature is generous will want to give, and someone who wants to give will want to consider making plans to give. The Corinthians had said that they would collect money to give to Christians in Jerusalem. So Paul talked with them about their plans. If they wanted to give substantially and helpfully, they would have to make plans and follow them. Paul urged them not to plan on a last-minute scramble to give. Instead, he encouraged them to give what they could each and every week until the gift was ready to be sent.

Too many of us are not generous. We want to hold on to as much of our money as possible. So we find other ways to justify ourselves as givers (when we can never justify ourselves—only Christ makes it so that we can get out of God’s courtroom safely). We spend our money quickly, so that “we just don’t have anything left to give this week.” Or we give a couple bucks each week or month, not giving generously because “the church doesn’t need my money.” Some of us claim, “I’m tithing my time instead”—which is ironic. Assuming that we’re awake 112 hours a week, you would expect to see us giving at least 11 hours each week to specifically kingdom-building activities, which rarely happens. It’s also ironic because none of the time we’re tithing ever seems to be money-earning time; that’s our time, not God’s.

Lord, may we recognize all that You’ve given us, repent of our selfishness, give ourselves entirely to You, and be transformed into generous people who scheme up ways to give even more.

Question: I’m convinced that I need to grow in generosity. Do you? What are some creative ways that we could extend our generosity?

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Apparent Believers, But Maybe Not

ALL – Psalm 39:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 21:30-31
OT – Job 12:1-15:35
NT – 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

Interesting passage for the day: Get some sense and quit your sinning. For to your shame I say it, some of you are not even Christians at all and have never really known God. – 1 Corinthians 15:34, The Living Bible

Thought: First, let’s summarize yesterday’s thoughts. Some heretics are still saved, and even as we approach them to correct their false beliefs we should look at them as brothers for as long as possible.

But there is a limit at some point. Paul may or may not have known which specific people he was talking about (he doesn’t call anyone out by name the way he does in his letters to Timothy). But he says, to translate more literally than the Living Bible, that, “some have no knowledge of God.” The Living Bible, as you can see, interprets this to mean that “some of you are not even Christians at all”.

Do you remember Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares? That’s what could be going on here. Paul could be saying that he actually believes some of the people he is addressing are not believers, even if he’s not sure yet which ones. If so, he has not yet come to the point where he’s recommending expelling any of them from the church, like he did with the immoral brother of 1 Cor. 5. Sometimes when people in the church display a lack of knowledge, we could be dealing with a wheat and tares situation—some of them are believers and some of them are not, and our goal is not to try to sort it all out, but to provide for the believers to keep growing.

If so, part of that provision includes warning people who believe false ideas that they may not know God.

Question: Have you ever urged someone you considered to be a Christian brother or sister to examine whether they actually knew God or not? What made you concerned about the reality of their relationship?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Saved Heretics?

ALL – Psalm 38:1-22
ALL – Proverbs 21:28-29
OT – Job 8:1-11:20
NT – 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Interesting passage for the day: But tell me this! Since you believe what we preach, that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying that dead people will never come back to life again? – 1 Corinthians 15:12, The Living Bible

Thought: Let’s get past the main point of this verse quickly, because there’s a related issue that I think we need to talk about a bit. The main point of this verse is that it is precisely because Christ rose from the dead that we can know that people rise from the dead—that we can have a legitimate hope of our own resurrections.

But what intrigues me about this verse was that Paul was writing these truths to Christians—Christians who didn’t believe in their own coming resurrection! He was correcting a falsehood that they were teaching. We would call that falsehood a heresy. And as he corrected it, he did so without making the assumption that these heretics were not Christians.

These heretics believed that Jesus had died for them and had risen from the dead—an orthodox teaching, the central teaching of Christianity and the core of the gospel. And yet they mistakenly denied the coming resurrection of anyone else.

We are right to focus on teaching the truth. Paul certainly took the time to correct falsehood. But I think that we often assume that people with serious false beliefs like the one mentioned here are unbelievers destined for hell. Perhaps we should continue to view them as brothers so long as their false beliefs do not compromise the heart of the gospel. I’m not saying that we should not worry about them or that we should leave them to keep believing and promoting lies (unknowingly, perhaps, but still lies). But perhaps we should not be so quick to view them as outsiders to our faith.

It would require discernment. As some point a refusal to accept the godly and plain truth of the Scriptures becomes a reason for concern and even discipline among those in the church. But this perspective is also a reason for hope. Christ’s grace is enough not only to cover our sins, but even some of our stupidities, misunderstandings, poor thinking and misguided stubbornness. We’ll probably see more Christian heretics in heaven than we expect.

Question: If not every false belief will keep a believer out of heaven (these Christians who didn’t believe in their resurrection would still experience it, for instance), how should we deal with the false beliefs we encounter among brothers and sisters?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

I’d Rather Be Childish

ALL – Psalm 37:29-40
ALL – Proverbs 21:27
OT – Job 4:1-7:21
NT – 1 Corinthians 14:18-40

Interesting passage for the day: Dear brothers, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent babies when it comes to planning evil, but be men of intelligence in understanding matters of this kind. – 1 Corinthians 14:20, The Living Bible

Thought: Has anyone ever called you childish? It’s a stinging rebuke to receive, no matter who gives it. No adult likes to be called childish. Child-like? Maybe. Childish? Never.

Too often the world lures us into its clutches by calling us childish. The world views believers’ convictions against immorality in various art forms as childish. It insists that being anti-abortion or opposing homosexual marriages is childish, immature, and under-enlightened. The world tempts us to consider whether perhaps its view of ethics and morality is better than ours—not because its view offers any true wisdom or justice, but because the world makes us feel inferior by calling us childish.

God spoke through Paul. And God says that it is fine with Him if we are children as far as evil goes. But God wants His people to be grown-ups in understanding not only what is good and right, but what is best and most fitting for the purpose of guiding people to love Jesus Christ more fully.

Question: Would you consider yourself to be a child or an adult in knowing God’s expectations? How about in the eyes of your peers at work—in the lab, in the classroom, in court, in the factory? What will you do to seek the nourishment that God provides so that you can grow to be more like the child of God that He’s made you?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

I Can’t Understand You!

ALL – Psalm 37:12-28
ALL – Proverbs 21:25-26
OT – Job 1:1-3:26
NT – 1 Corinthians 14:1-17

Interesting passage for the day: I suppose that there are hundreds of different languages in the world, and all are excellent for those who understand them, but to me they mean nothing. A person talking to me in one of these languages will be a stranger to me and I will be a stranger to him. – 1 Corinthians 14:10-11, The Living Bible

Thought: During my recent trip to Brazil, I learned a few words in Portuguese. I learned more Portuguese words than many people expected me to learn, and it was very enjoyable. But I have to be honest: if our hosts had not been able to communicate at least a bit in English, or to share praise songs with us that have the same tunes and meanings in both English and Portuguese, it would have been impossible to develop the relationships that blossomed during our time there. Understanding binds people together; mutual meaninglessness creates strangers and, sometimes, even enemies.

The first goal of a missionary in a foreign culture is understanding the language. Without that understanding, he/she will be a stranger to the host nation forever.

The first goal of a teacher in a classroom is to explain ideas clearly and to carefully define the meaning of any technical words as they come along. Using technical language without defining its meaning for the students would leave the teacher alone in understanding his lesson.

The first goal of a pastor in his assigned church is to help people hear God’s Word clearly. Without understanding God’s Word, no one would have a reason to zealously love and serve Jesus Christ.

And the first goal of a Christian with other believers or with neighbors and co-workers is to be plain about the basis for his hope of eternal life—to be able to say, “The God who created life plans to give me life forever, even if I die first, because the crimes that separated me from Him have already been punished. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, died the death I deserved. And I know that God can raise me to life, because God raised Jesus to life again. I’ve entrusted my life into Jesus’ hands, and I’m following His teachings until God brings me home forever.”

Can we be clear? Jesus is alive, even though He died. He invites us to be His people. And I’ve accepted the invitation.

Question: Do you have the kind of hope I have? What would happen if we all expressed our hope clearly to the people in our lives? If you don’t have this hope yet, would you want it?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Loving Actions, Unmotivated Heart

ALL – Psalm 37:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 21:23-24
OT – Esther 8:1-10:3
NT – 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13

Interesting passage for the day: If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever. – 1 Corinthians 13:3, The Living Bible

Thought: Why would I give everything I have to the poor if I didn’t love them? Why would I allow myself to be burned alive for preaching the Gospel if love wasn’t motivating me?

Sometimes we act as though the answers to those questions are obvious: “I wouldn’t.” But is that really true? I can think of other motivations. What if I didn’t love, but I was trying to prove that I did love? What if I was trying to convince myself that I truly loved God and the people He created? What if I was motivated by a fear that I wasn’t actually good and loving enough to walk with God forever? What if I really wanted to impress someone else? What if it was the only way of life I knew, and I tried to excel because I was scared to go in a new direction?

All I’m saying is this: it is possible to do the godliest of activities outwardly without any godliness inwardly. Obeying Jesus matters. But obeying Jesus isn’t about fulfilling duties and regulations. Obeying Jesus is about a whole life—both inward and outward—devoted to living out His Greatest and Second Greatest Commandments: Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Outward actions are the best evidence we have of inner motivations. And supposed inner motivations without outward actions are pretense. Love calls for our whole existence to be devoted to our God—inward and outward.

Question: Given the Scriptural importance of love, why do we pray for so many other gifts and fruits first? When is the last time you asked God to make you a truly loving person—both inwardly and outwardly—toward Him and all those around you?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

The Family that ... Together

ALL – Psalm 36:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 21:21-22
OT – Esther 4:1-7:10
NT – 1 Corinthians 12:1-26

Interesting passage for the day: If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. – 1 Corinthians 12:26, The Living Bible

Thought: Have you ever tried to send just a part of your body to play a game or do a job?

“Hey, feet, go play soccer for me.”

“I don’t want to stay up late tonight. Hands, do you mind just typing out this paper for me?”

We don’t say, “My feet played soccer today,” or, “My hands were on the computer all day.” We say, “I played soccer,” and, “I was on the computer.” Why? Because if one part of our body is involved, we ourselves are involved. Our entire body shares life’s experiences, even if different limbs get used more than others. When I’m typing at the computer, it means my fingers are working wildly. But it also means that my feet are resting, my back and stomach are working to keep me sitting upright, my heart and lungs are working to keep me alive, my eyes are watching the computer screen, and my brain is directing my thoughts through the whole process.

Christ’s church is Christ’s body. We are one. We share life. One life. Jesus Christ’s life. If one of us gets a promotion at work, we are all happy. If one of us falls into sin, it shames and hurts all of us. If one of us introduces a friend to Jesus, all of us share in the celebration and all of us feel like we’ve succeeded in making progress towards fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission. You can pretend to be a loner Christian, but the truth is that you’re a part of a community—like it or not. And even your attempts to disassociate yourself from the church affect the rest of God’s people. You’re simply that connected because of Jesus Christ.

Question: Since Jesus has joined all us believers together, what could you do to make our experience as a family, community and body the best possible experience on earth?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Temporary Story-Telling

ALL – Psalm 35:17-28
ALL – Proverbs 21:19-20
OT – Esther 1:1-3:15
NT – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Interesting passage for the day: For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are re-telling the message of the Lord’s death, that he has died for you. Do this until he comes again. – 1 Corinthians 11:26, The Living Bible

Thought: We have a story to tell. Not just to outsiders, but to one another. We can tell it in words. We can tell it with a simple drama, using just bread and wine to announce its truths. The story is simple: Jesus, the ruler of all Creation, died for you all.

That seems like a lousy story to tell. I mean, it sounds a little good. Jesus didn’t just die. He died for the world. There is a benefit for us. Our sins have been forgiven. But we still have to face the consequence of death, don’t we? At least, if the story is just a story about Jesus’ death? How long do we have to tell that story?

Not long.

The story of Jesus’ death has an expiration date. We tell this story repeatedly. But only until Jesus returns. In fact, the expiration date for the story is part of the good news. The fact that Jesus is coming back makes His death for us worthwhile—REALLY good news. Jesus didn’t just die for us. He didn’t just pay the penalty for our sins and stay in the grave. He’s alive! Death couldn’t hold Jesus—which means not only that our sins are forgiven, but that we are completely free from sin’s penalty! Not only is God willing to associate with us again, but even the consequences for our sins are gone! We will proclaim Jesus’ praises forever because He died and rose and came back for us.

We proclaim the Lord’s death, because a reconciled relationship with God is what sinful people need now. But we only proclaim it until Jesus comes again, because this twisted world won’t last beyond His arrival. What a day that will be!

Question: How has the good news of Jesus’ death impacted you?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Breather/Truce

ALL – Psalm 35:1-16
ALL – Proverbs 21:17-18
OT – Nehemiah 12:27-13:31
NT – 1 Corinthians 11:3-16

Interesting passage for the day: But remember that in God’s plan men and women need each other. – 1 Corinthians 11:11, The Living Bible

Thought: I know there’s a debate over women’s roles in the church. But I’d like to focus on one area of agreement for a moment. I’m coming from the Complementarian side of things (for those who care), and I would like to affirm that men and women need one another.

Just for existence, for one thing. Women wouldn’t exist if men didn’t help out in their own way, and men wouldn’t exist if women didn’t give birth to them.

But in the daily rhythms of life, too, we need one another. Even without getting into a discussion of which people should shoulder which responsibilities, there are simply too many responsibilities in this life for one person to try carrying them all alone. That’s why even singles end up working as teams (finding roommates, for instance, to share chores and costs) or hiring people to perform various services for them; without help, life is simply overwhelming.

Thank goodness that God created both men and women, and that we are interdependent in His plan. He’s good.

Question: How long has it been since you affirmed a woman (if you’re a man)? Or a man (if you’re a woman)? What can you do to let the significant opposite-gender people in your life know they’re valued, rather than waging an ongoing battle of the sexes?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

People-Pleaser Evangelism

ALL – Psalm 34:11-22
ALL – Proverbs 21:14-16
OT – Nehemiah 11:1-12:26
NT – 1 Corinthians 10:15-11:2

Interesting passage for the day: That is the plan I follow, too. I try to please everyone in everything I do, not doing what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them, so that they may be saved. – 1 Corinthians 10:33, The Living Bible

Thought: People-pleasing is often perceived as a bad thing. And it can be. When a desire to please people rises above a desire to please Jesus, we can be tempted to do shameful and foolish things. Because sometimes what pleases people is shameful and foolish.

But sometimes what pleases people is honorable. It may be honorable and ignorant, but it’s honorable. What do I mean by honorable and ignorant? I mean that sometimes people ask us to live up to really high standards—unnecessarily high standards (U.H.S.). People may be unaware (ignorant) of the fact that such high standards are unnecessary. But still, they are devoted to their high standards, and their high standards are honorable. Unnecessarily high, but honorable. And living up to those standards when it feels (is) unnecessary for us is another form of people-pleasing.

In Paul’s day, he dealt with whether or not to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Some people’s U.H.S. said that no one should ever eat meat sacrificed to idols. In our day, we deal with things like whether to ever drink beer or wine, for instance. Some people’s U.H.S. say that we should never touch the stuff. And these are not the only U.H.S. There are many more. But when people ask us to live up to these expectations, they are not asking us to be sinful or shameful. In such cases, people-pleasing can be honorable.

So the next time you feel like saying, “Uh… you know you don’t have to worry about that, right?” perhaps it would be better to follow Paul’s rule. Do some people-pleasing. Some honorable people-pleasing. Please others not just for the sake of making them happy, but so that you help them to see that Jesus Christ is more honorable than any standard they can set. Please people so that they can be saved and please Jesus.

Question: Why do we not want to live up to other people’s expectations? What do you think of people who are zealously disciplined about their standards? Why would you not want to be associated with that?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Self-Deprivation

ALL – Psalm 34:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 21:13
OT – Nehemiah 9:22-10:39
NT – 1 Corinthians 9:20-10:14

Interesting passage for the day: Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside. – 1 Corinthians 9:27, The Living Bible

Thought: Discipline is really a simple matter of learning to say ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ One aspect of discipline is learning to say ‘Yes’ to great goals, great teachers, great pursuits. We want to fill our lives with greatness.

But sometimes in our zeal to say ‘Yes,’ we forget that we are limited, finite people. And we continue to say ‘Yes’ not only to what is great, but even to what is good…or what seems good…or what feels good…or what may not be good, but ‘I deserve a break!’. And the more we say ‘Yes’ to more options and opportunities, the less time we have for our loftiest pursuits.

That’s why we must learn to say ‘No.’ Saying ‘No’ is not only a statement of discipline, but of humility. To say it, we have to be humble enough to realize that we can’t do everything we want to do—not even every good thing we want to do! But saying ‘No’ can feel terrible! Often it feels like we’re missing out on life or depriving ourselves of good things. Paul wrote that he treated his body “roughly” to train it to do what it ought to do.

In some areas of life it matters less than in others. But when we’re talking about our relationship with Jesus Christ and our service to Him, this whole issue of discipline really counts! Too often we say ‘Yes’ to Jesus, but then we say ‘Yes’ to distractions, too. Without a willingness to discipline our lives, we end up being useless for the One who gave His life to save us.

Question: Perhaps you haven’t said ‘No’ to Jesus. Perhaps you’ve simply said ‘Yes’ to activities that use up your time so that you have very little time left for Him. What could you say ‘No’ to so that you can be more free to live a ‘Yes’ life for Jesus?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Personal Evangelism Obstacle – Pay Me!

ALL – Psalm 33:12-22
ALL – Proverbs 21:11-12
OT – Nehemiah 7:61-9:21
NT – 1 Corinthians 9:1-19

Interesting passage for the day: Under this circumstance, what is my pay? It is the special joy I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights. – 1 Corinthians 9:18, The Living Bible

Thought: What if pastors, evangelists and missionaries all went on strike? What if they all banded together and said, “No more Good News for you until you pay me what I deserve?”

Don’t get me wrong. Many of us are compensated well beyond what we need. But on the other hand, clergy frequently serve wholeheartedly at great sacrifice to themselves. In fact, it’s so common for clergy to be underpaid that sometimes congregations respond scornfully to ministers to suggest that they might need a little more compensation.

What I love about Paul is that he’s not focused on rights. That’s not an excuse to God’s people, letting them off the hook from doing what’s right toward God’s servants. But Paul finds his joy and fulfillment in preaching the Good News. And because he doesn’t depend on anyone in the Corinthian church to provide him with food and clothes, he is able to share the Gospel with them whether they pay him or not. What Paul celebrates is not his right to be paid, but his privilege to carry Good News from city to city and region to region!

Question: What would it take to get you to introduce people to Jesus Christ? Would you have to be paid and compensated well first? Or are you already free to share? If so, are you sharing?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Distracted Devotion

ALL – Psalm 32:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 21:5-7
OT – Nehemiah 3:15-5:13
NT – 1 Corinthians 7:20-40

Interesting passage for the day: I am saying this to help you, not to try to keep you from marrying. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few other things as possible to distract your attention from him. – 1 Corinthians 7:35, The Living Bible

Thought: Marriage is good. God created it, designed it, gave it to man and woman as a gift. Marriage is good, and it is a good thing to get married.

But marriage can also be an obsession. Young men and women crave the deep relationship of marriage and pursue one another with the intensity of a starving man being given his first opportunity at food. They devote themselves to marriage and its pleasures. God becomes a distraction.

Even when marriage isn’t an obsession, it still consumes. It consumes time. It consumes resources. Again, marriage is good, and time and resources may be spent doing good things to build up a marriage. To be married responsibly requires a man and a woman to take on the full-time responsibility of nurturing one another—mind, heart, and body—and usually also requires them to carry the responsibility for children. Marriage consumes married people. And even in a good marriage, it is easy for God to be a distraction.

God did not create us to see Him as a distraction. He created us to know Him, to love Him, to obey Him, to worship Him, to serve Him in wholehearted devotion. In some ways, singles have an advantage over married couples. Singles can most easily make sure that their primary relationship is with God, that their fullest love is for God, that their time is devoted to God. Unfortunately, too many singles fill their lives with alternative loves, too, whether work or entertainment or just lounging around. But single or married, God is God, and He calls us to devote our lives to Him. Single or married, our devotion to Jesus Christ should spur us toward creative self-discipline that discovers and invests time, resources, energy and emotion into loving and serving Him.

Single, married, working, unemployed, sickly, strong, rich, poor – our status does not cancel out Jesus Christ’s appeal to us, “Come, follow me.”

Question: Whatever your status in life, how have you been distracted from following Jesus wholeheartedly? How could you live the very life you already have, but live that life fully for Jesus?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Joining Heaven and Hell

ALL – Psalm 31:9-18
ALL – Proverbs 21:3
OT – Ezra 10:1-44
NT – 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

Interesting passage for the day: And don’t you know that if a man joins himself to a prostitute she becomes a part of him and he becomes a part of her? For God tells us in the Scripture that in his sight the two become one person. – 1 Corinthians 6:16, The Living Bible

Thought: It’s a big deal who’s associated with us. Our alliances and unions say a lot about who we are. Why else would people boycott businesses whose practices they disagree with, if not to communicate clearly, “I am against this group!” Even without being stockholders, such people want to disassociate themselves from the possibility of seeming to have an interest in the store’s success. Our society indicates our values.

The closest physical union any human can have is the sexual bond between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24). With whom should this bond be made? With whom should a Christian make this bond? Remember, our alliances indicate our values. Should a man who has been adopted as a son of the one true God, the holy, righteous and pure King of all Creation, a member of heaven’s family (a spiritual union), form a physical union with anyone less than the most honorable, upright, kind and virtuous woman he can find? Having sex with a brazen, unchaste prostitute does not make sense for a child of the faithful, humble God.

Christians have already been accepted into an association with God through Jesus Christ. Our association with Him says something about who we are deep in our hearts—what we value. Do we dare to associate our Lord Jesus Christ with this world’s most shameful and rebellious sinners?

Question: This principle of association applies beyond sex. But at the same time, we know from 1 Corinthians 5 that we’re expected to maintain friendships with unbelievers. What are some behaviors, activities, or entertainments that you think might associate you too closely with the shameful side of life in this world?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Not Saved For Sin

ALL – Psalm 31:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 21:1-2
OT – Ezra 8:21-9:15
NT – 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Interesting passage for the day: When I wrote you before I said not to mix with evil people. But when I said that I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who live in sexual sin, or are greedy cheats and thieves and idol worshipers. For you can’t live in this world without being with people like that. – 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, The Living Bible

Thought: Paul expected believers to associate with the world’s sinners and to reject unrepentant sinners who claimed to be Christians. Often we get it flipped: we reject the world’s sinners and overlook the sins of those who claim to be Christians. We try to pretend that we’re already in heaven, and that we’re safe from sin inside the four walls of our churches.

But Paul was realistic about where we live. We live in this world. Which means that we will necessarily rub shoulders with people who live in unrepentant sin. The question in his mind was not whether believers would encounter sinful people or not, but whether believers would allow God’s holy church to become a refuge for men or women living in rebellion against God.

God’s church is intended to save sinners. But it is intended to save sinners from their sins, not for more sins. He wants His church to be pure and righteous. If we’re Christians, Jesus Christ wants us to have the guts to lovingly and gently confront sinners in our ranks.

Question: Have you been casual about sinning rather than begging Jesus Christ for the strength, wisdom and love to overcome sin in your life? Have you taken other Christians’ unwillingness to confront you as permission to keep sinning? Or perhaps you’ve been living righteously by Christ’s grace, but you’ve been too timid to deal with other believers’ blatant sins. What is Christ calling you to do now, and how is He calling you to do it?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

What a House! I Mean, Except For...

ALL – Psalm 29:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 20:26-27
OT – Ezra 5:1-6:22
NT – 1 Corinthians 3:5-23

Interesting passage for the day: Don’t you realize that all of you together are the house of God, and that the Spirit of God lives among you in his house? – 1 Corinthians 3:16, The Living Bible

Thought: Some people’s houses are a mess. You walk into them and your very soul compels you to help your friend redecorate—mostly by removing all the trash and untasteful decorations you possibly can! Some houses are even worse than that. As soon as you step inside, you’re ready to step outside, tear the whole place apart and rebuild!

But no matter how much you think your friend’s house needs to be emptied, purified, rearranged, or rebuilt, you don’t touch it. You don’t even try. You might offer hints and suggestions. You might make it your personal mission to convince your friend that his house needs a facelift. But beginning the project yourself, against your friend’s will? That’s off limits. That’s transgressing. That’s overstepping your boundaries. It’s not your house! What you don’t own, you don’t remove, redecorate, or rebuild. You have no right! Keep your hands off!

You are God’s house, if you live by faith in Jesus Christ, His Son. You are God’s house. And He is very particular about His house. He doesn’t want anyone to remove you. He brought you into His house, He made a place for you, and He wants you to stay. But don’t get too comfortable yet! You have to understand that God feels the same way about every single person in His house—even the people you can’t stand! That strange guy who makes you feel creepy, that uppity woman, that snotty brat of a kid. The church micro-manager, the church crybaby. That lady who thinks she’s so smart, That guy who makes the most embarrassing jokes. The town hypochondriac, the village idiot! God wants them, even if you ache to throw them out like trash! God loves them! God treasures them! Jesus Christ died on the cross after excruciating punishments, and do you know what His reward was? His reward was to build His house. He picked the materials. He picked the decorations. He included the parts of the house that look fantastic to you, and Jesus included the ugliest knick-knacks in His house, too.

When you’re in God’s house, don’t go looking to reject anyone you find there. You don’t get to redo, redecorate or rebuild. It’s God’s house, and you’d better get used to it. In fact, you’d better learn to love it.

Question: Do you have a hard time accepting some of God’s people? How can you move your heart from where it is now to loving and cherishing all the people included in God’s house?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Thinking God’s Thoughts … For Sure

ALL – Psalm 28:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 20:24-25
OT – Ezra 3:1-4:24
NT – 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4

Interesting passage for the day: But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 2:16b, The Living Bible

Thought: Have you ever wondered what’s on God’s mind? I have a hard enough time figuring out what’s on my wife’s mind, and she’s human! You’d think I could understand her thoughts easily enough … but not so. But knowing the mind of God—how incredible would that be?

Now, for the astonishing revelation: Paul says that Christians have the mind of Christ! Perhaps not the mind of Christ in ALL of its infinitude and knowledge and majestic intelligence, but we have the mind of Christ to a not-insignificant degree. In fact, part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry as He lives in us is to reveal to us the thoughts of God! We know what the Creator and Overseer of our souls thinks! We know the life and heartbeat of God’s intentions and desires for us!

If we know God’s thoughts, then we know reality. And if we know reality, we can live in it.

Question: As a follower of Jesus, is there anything you’re “supposed to believe” that you aren’t sure about? As you look at the Scriptures and listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings (which will agree with one another), are you ready to live in the reality that God teaches? What will that look like for you?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

NEW Swanton Alliance Church Facebook Page

I know, I know. I already started a facebook page for Swanton Alliance Church. But I found out that it has some limited capabilities, and I don't like limits. So I started another one with the capacities I want. We'll only lose a few wall posts--I already imported the discussions to the new page, and we hadn't uploaded pictures or anything yet.

If this code works correctly (cross your fingers!), you should be able to access it from this:



And now the test... Does it work or not?

Much Has Been Given!

ALL – Psalm 27:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 20:20-21
OT – 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23
NT – 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Interesting passage for the day: Now you have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing his will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 1:7, The Living Bible

Thought: Sometimes it feels like we just get loaded down when we come to church. You know what I’m talking about. We’re grateful that Jesus died for our sins, don’t get me wrong. But Jesus’ call to holy living sometimes seems overwhelming. Even though we’ve been saved from our sins, avoiding them isn’t always easy.

Today it’s time for some encouragement! Jesus’ goal isn’t to drain you of every last drop of life, to squeeze every last ounce of goodness out of you like orange juice from an orange, leaving you crushed and worthless. Jesus came to give you life! To fill you! He not only died to free you from sins, but He ascended to heaven to pour out His Holy Spirit into your life! God Himself is filling you! He is filling you with strength, with His thoughts and words, with holiness and righteousness, with new motives! God is infinite, so His Holy Spirit will never stop supplying your every need!

Some of you may hear this the wrong way. You may think, “Oh, Matt’s just telling me I have no excuse for feeling exhausted, discouraged, worn out and fed up. He wants me to get up and work harder.” That’s not what I’m saying. If you’re exhausted, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-burdened, and I will give you rest.” If you’re overwhelmed, spend some significant time with Jesus. See if you can lay other expectations aside for a few hours, or a day, and go to the King who wants to fill you with His riches. I’m saying to take a break. But I’m not advocating the kind of break many people are tempted to take. They step back from serving Jesus and His church because they’re exhausted, but they seek to be refreshed only via the world’s ways: sleep, food, entertainment, lounging. These things can be gifts from Jesus, so go ahead and receive them during your break. But make sure that you spend significant time with Jesus, too. One on one. Praying. Reading or listening to His Word. Being refreshed by godly songs. Unless you spend time being refreshed by Jesus, you’ll never find the motivation you need to stop taking your break. Only when you are receiving Jesus’ blessings can you be ready to share them. If you’re empty, stop trying to share what you don’t have. Go to Jesus and be filled up with His life. Then, once you and Jesus agree that you’re ready, come back to the harvest field singing and refreshed.

Question: Have you been working to the point of exhaustion? What would it take to get some time to spend alone with Jesus? Or perhaps you’re taking a break. Have you been taking that break with Jesus, or without Him? How can you re-work your time to receive the rejuvenation that Jesus gives us by His Spirit?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Command: Share Good News

ALL – Psalm 26:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 20:19
OT – 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33
NT – Romans 16:8-27

Interesting passage for the day: This is God’s plan of salvation for you Gentles, kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as God commands, this message is being preached everywhere, so that people all around the world will have faith in Christ and obey him. – Romans 16:25b-26, The Living Bible

Thought: Salvation is God’s idea. When a natural disaster strikes and tons of lives perish, and thousands of people are left homeless and without access to clean water or food, those people can’t really save themselves. It takes someone who is already safe and who has the resources to save others – this person has to initiate a Search and Rescue Mission.

That’s what God has done. All of us have been struck by the natural disaster of our own sins and their consequences. But God had the idea to save us. He’s implemented His plan, called the gospel—the Good News. And it is God’s command that those who have the Good News make sure it keeps spreading to others, so that they can be saved, too.

Question: Some people are really gifted at spreading the good news. But while some will spread the Good News more successfully than others, we all have some way to obey God’s command. Even if it seems small, what can you do to spread God’s Good News?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

First-Time Faith

ALL – Psalm 25:12-22
ALL – Proverbs 20:16-18
OT – 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13
NT – Romans 15:23-16:7

Interesting passage for the day: Greet my good friend Epaenetus. He was the very first person to become a Christian in Asia. – Romans 15:5b, The Living Bible

Thought: Isn’t it amazing that we know who the very first Christian was in Asia (Roman Asia, mind you, not the continent of Asia, necessarily)? What exciting times those must have been for the early believers, going to new places with good news that no one had ever heard!

As each generation passes away, opportunities like this keep being renewed. Missionaries around the world continue to encounter remote people who have never heard the gospel—the good news that Jesus died to save them from their sins, and that He rose again to offer them an eternal, untarnished life. Even here in Swanton, OH, there are people who do not know Jesus Christ, people who would be the first Christians in their families if they would put their hope in Him (at VBS last night, we had some children who did not know what the Bible is, and some who were very confused because they didn’t know what was expected of them during our prayer time).

Christianity is always one generation from extinction. Fortunately, we have Jesus’ promise, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Many people are still waiting to hear the good news for the first time—and when they receive it, it will be just as transforming as it was for Epaenetus, the first believer in Asia. Sharing the gospel is still a history-making enterprise—it makes history for each new person to receive Jesus Christ as Lord.

Question: Who was the first person you led to the Lord? How many people do you know for whom turning to Jesus would be a first-time experience in their lives?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Free to Show Restraint

ALL – Psalm 25:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 20:13-15
OT – 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21
NT – Romans 15:1-22

Interesting passage for the day: Let’s please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good and thus build him up in the Lord. – Romans 15:2, The Living Bible

Thought: Have you ever been asked not to do a good thing? I mean, you’re having a great time and following Jesus with all your heart at the same time. And then someone gets offended for what seems to be no good reason, and they want you to stop whatever it is you’re doing.

Our tendency is to want to justify ourselves and keep going. Am I right? It’s irritating that anyone would want us to stop. Why stop having a good time when I’m not really hurting anyone? Sure, some moron’s offended, but he shouldn’t be—he’s just a moron!

When we adopt this attitude—when we justify ourselves, reject the “moron” and keep on doing whatever we were doing (because it’s a good thing to do, after all… there’s nothing wrong with it)—we forget and neglect the second greatest command of God: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We show that we are more concerned with our own pleasures than with pleasing others. It’s not as though the people who get offended are asking us to do something sinful—usually they’re trying to avoid sin, right? So it really comes down to a question of love. Do I love this person enough to stop offending them (even if they’re wrong and a bit stupid)? Or do I love myself and my own way of enjoying life more than I love my neighbor? Our attitudes and behaviors reveal a lot. Love sets us free to accept restrictions—even when they’re pointless.

Question: What are some of the most irritating restrictions other people want for you? Could you respond more lovingly? How?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.