More Than Bread Devotional for 4/29/08

1 John 4:7-8
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Did you know that we were given a litmus test for ourselves? This is not the only place in Scripture that tells us this, but we are defined primarily by our loving attitude and behavior. The world has even been given permission by Jesus Christ to judge our Christianity by the way we show love. You know that song that goes, "they will know we are Christians by our love"? There is a lot of truth in that statement. God loved us, and that in turn enables us to love others. First our brothers and sisters in Christ and then the rest of the world.

More Than Bread Devotional 4/28/08

1 John 4:10-12
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

I have been doing a lot of thinking the past few days about God's love. I have a feeling that we really never have a very firm grasp on the love that God has for us and what it does in our life. Sometimes I think I have it, and I know I am continuing to grow in this, but then I see that there is so much more to learn and to understand. I asked my son, Jonathan, about 1 John 4:10 Sunday morning before church. It is his favorite verse and I asked him why that was. He told me that it was because this is the verse that led him to want to ask Jesus into his heart. Imagine that. As a four year old kid, he heard about the love of God and responded to it. Jesus said we have to come to Him as little children ourselves. Could it be that sometimes we just need to hear and understand the love of God and respond to it?

More Than Bread Devotional 4/22/08

John 5:19-20
19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.

Did you ever stop to consider what Jesus said here? He said that He did nothing by Himself; He did only what the Father did. The funny thing is a lot of times, I have convinced myself that I can do this small little thing that I know would please God on my own. I mean it is just a little thing. But then I remember that Jesus said He could do nothing by Himself. You know nothing as in no thing. Makes you stop in your tracks when you think about it. If you are trying to do something, even something small, for God on your own, it is destined to fall short.

More Than Bread Devotional 4/18/08

Romans 3:19-20
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Have you ever been around someone that wouldn't stop talking? You find yourself thinking that you would give almost anything just to get a break from the incessant babble. This isn't quite the same thing, but this passage says that God's Word, specifically His law, can stop the mouth. I have actually seen this in practice a few times. God's Law is able to work in a person's life to stop them from justifying themselves and helping them to understand where they truly stood before God. His Word is like that in all of our lives. It shines a beacon of light inside to help us see our true self, the way God sees us.

More Than Bread Devotional 4/17/08

Isaiah 26:3-4
3 You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

I have written before about our need for something unshakeable to place our trust in. This passage from Isaiah speaks to that as well. We can experience peace when we trust in the Lord. Jesus Christ is the Rock of Ages and He is steady when all around us may be shaking. Hebrews says He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Place your trust in Him today and forever.

More Than Bread Devotional 4/16/08

Matthew 20:9-16
9 "The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.
13 "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
16 "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Have you ever gotten a little bit jealous or upset because you felt you didn't get your fair share? When Jesus told this parable, He hit on an attitude that occurs all too often in our lives. I know that the quickest way to get me angry is to show me an unfair situation. Here the workers who came and worked all day suddenly raised their expectations based on the pay given to someone else. Jesus quickly corrects them and tells them that they are getting exactly what they agreed to work for that day. This parable is a tough one for many to understand and I can understand why. We all feel slighted when we think we deserve more. But the point of the Gospel flies against our self-deserving notions. The good news of the Gospel is that we don't get what we really deserve from God. Instead, we get a whole lot of good that we could never earn on our own.

More Than Bread Devotional 4/14/08

Ezekiel 13:1-3
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: 'Hear the word of the LORD! 3 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!

I have been thinking about how many false messages there are out there these days. There are many people, some very popular, who teach what they call a Christian message, but who contradict the Bible itself. They use a piece of a single verse from the Bible but twist it to mean something that fits their message. Be very careful who you listen to and be sure to filter every message you hear through the truth of God's Word; from your local church to that hugely popular television preacher, even to that hugely popular TV talk show host telling you how to live. If it doesn't agree with the whole of Scripture, then it is just their imagination talking. Later in chapter 13 we see one of the identifying marks of a false teacher or teaching. In verses 22-23 it says, "Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the LORD."
When someone has a hard time speaking about sin or even condemning sinfulness and sinful behavior, you can rest assured that they are not speaking a message from God. We need to always be prepared to offer the full counsel of Scripture. An important part of the good news of the Gospel is identifying what God has saved us from.

More Than Bread Devotional 4/11/08

Matthew 9:35-38
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Christianity is a call to a life of work. We don't work for our salvation as if we could earn it, but consider this. Jesus' call to his disciples wasn't to make a confession; it was to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men. I think it is important for us to remember that we can't serve Christ sitting on the sidelines. There are no bench players in the Christian life. The amazing thing about this passage is the request His disciples were told to make and consequently us as well. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for the harvest, but don't be surprised if one of the first workers He wants is you.

More Than Bread Devotional 4/9/08

Luke 16:27-31
27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
30" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

Have you ever tried arguing with someone who just doesn't agree with you? I did this for years myself over a variety of topics. I was sure that I could convince people of the truth of if I just showed them enough evidence. It took me a long time to understand human nature. I am not saying that we shouldn't point out the truth. I am certainly quick to correct or at least try to if I feel that someone can benefit from the knowledge. But if that correction falls on deaf ears, then I am not going to keep on arguing anymore. So do what you can do. Speak the truth in love and let God do the rest. After all, if they won't listen to One who rose from the dead, what makes you think they will listen to you?

More Than Bread Devotional 4/7/08

1 Timothy 2:20-21
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Most of us would probably prefer to be the instruments of gold and silver in the Lord's hands. Those are the places of honor and the high profile services. But there is a need for everyone and everything. Sometimes the dirty work of ministry is overlooked as people strive to do that which is more rewarding or appealing. But did you see the end of verse 21? When we are ready to be used, we are ready for "any good work". If we submit to God and His direction, we give up the right to choose how we are used by Him. It isn't an easy thing to do, because sometimes He may choose to use us for work that we wouldn't pick on our own. And sometimes He may choose to use us in a way that is beyond our wildest dreams. But no matter what, we must be willing to be used by Him.

More Than Bread Devotional 4/2/08

Jeremiah 15:19
19 Therefore this is what the LORD says:
"If you repent, I will restore you
that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you,
but you must not turn to them.

We have a duty as believers to speak the truth and to walk worthy of our calling. Jeremiah was struggling here with the difficulty of standing for the truth when all others around him did what they pleased. I think the word here from the Lord applies to us in our day and time as well. We cannot change our message to what people want to hear. We must continue to speak worthy of the Lord and His message and allow people to turn to Him.

More Than Bread Devotional 4/1/08

Psalm 137:8-9
8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy is he who repays you
for what you have done to us-
9 he who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.

Have you ever gotten really angry over something? You know that it is wrong but you just can't seem to help yourself. I think it helps if we express that anger by telling God how we feel. I am not suggesting taking your anger out on Him. I am saying that you should share your thoughts out loud with Him in prayer. Sure He already knows what you are thinking, but it can be good to just get it out sometimes. And it is certainly better than taking it out on someone unsuspecting. Here, the Psalmist is pouring out his anger and hurt. It is best to let it go. After all, sometimes there just aren't enough rocks. : )

More Than Bread Devotional 3/31/08

Acts 20:36-38
36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

I always thought that Paul has gotten a bit of a bad rap sometimes. A lot of people, particularly those who are not Christians think of him as a harsh, judgmental kind of guy. But there are some real heartwarming and affectionate glimpses of Paul in his life. This scene as he leaves Ephesus is a good picture of that. Wherever he went, the people he served grew to love him very much. And really that should be the case for all of us. While it is impossible to please everyone or be liked by everyone, it is still our goal to live peacefully with all. We should always be developing those relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ that will bridge the gap and hold us together, no matter where we go.

More Than Bread Devotional 3/27/08

Acts 19:8-10
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Have you ever talked to someone about God or spiritual things and felt like you were talking to a brick wall? Take heart from the example of Paul. He spent three months speaking in the synagogue and there were people there that just refused to get it. They started talking badly about him and the people who believed his message as well. But Paul continued to speak and to share for two years in the area until all had the message of the Gospel. We are not responsible to make people believe the truth, but we are responsible to share the truth with any who haven't heard.

More Than Bread Devotional 3/26/08

Phillipians 3:15-16
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

I was reading these verses and it reminded me of my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Rogers. She managed to do something that amazed us even to this day. For that one year of my academic life, I made all "A's" in school. She had a way of motivating and drawing out potential in me that I never really understood at the time and never managed to duplicate at that level in school again(much to my Mom's dismay). Here Paul is encouraging us to live up to what we already have. This seems kind of strange until you realize the implications of it. Just like my teacher was able to get the most out of me by expecting and encouraging the best. Paul is looking to help us get the most we can by encouraging us to do the best we can. Look at his earlier admonition to press toward the goal. And in the next chapter he tells us we can do all things through Christ. Be encouraged. You can do it.

More Than Bread Devotional 3/21/08

Isaiah 53:5-6
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Hundreds of years before Jesus made His long walk to the cross and suffered and died there for us, the prophet Isaiah recorded this message. This entire section of Isaiah tells the story of God's Suffering Servant, whom we have the benefit of knowing as our Lord Jesus Christ. As this weekend brings us a chance to focus on the death and resurrection of Christ, it is good to remember all that He did for us. Through Him we can have peace with God and healing of the relationship that we tear apart with our own choices and actions. We have a message to tell the world. Turn from your own way and follow Jesus.

More Than Bread Devotional 3/20/08

Isaiah 52:10
10 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

This is a great verse. This whole section of Isaiah deals with the coming Messiah. And in a way, this verse actually foresees the Great Commission that Christ gave to us all with the promise that He would be with us. All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God as we spread the Good News to every nation on earth. As we get ready to celebrate His resurrection this Sunday, let us not forget to spread the news of the real reason for this season as well.

More Than Bread Devotional 3/19/08

Isaiah 38:4-6
4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

This is an interesting passage in the Bible. These verses come right after Hezekiah has prayed desperately to the Lord because Isaiah told him that God said he was going to die. It reminds us that God hears our prayers and responds to us with love. He absolutely cares about everything that you are going through. No thing is too big or too small to talk to Him about. He is always listening.

More Than Bread Devotional 3/18/08

Ezekiel 33:30-32
30 "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

As a pastor, I can relate to this passage. Of course, we all can relate to both sides of it. You can certainly recount a time when you heard a message and knew it was true, but failed to put it into practice. The important thing to note here is that we can learn from mistakes of the past. When you hear a message and God is speaking to you, put it into practice. If you don't, then you might as well have been at a concert or a movie. Let God's Word sink in and change you today.

More Than Bread Devotional 3/14/08

Acts 7:2-5
2 To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 3 'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.'
4 "So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.

We were talking about Abraham in our Bible study on Thursday night. It is amazing to think that he set out without even knowing where he was going, just based on the Word of God. It is even more amazing as we see just how much he trusted God and His promises, even though many of them never came true during his lifetime. Abraham is held out as an example of faith that we can and should emulate. Where is God asking you to go? What is He asking you to do? He will be faithful to His part. Can you show the same kind of faith in Him that Abraham did?