Tag Archives: devotional

Hazardous Work!! by Pastor Chris Horsley

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Hazardous Work!!

Matthew 10:16–“Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.”  The Message

What a promise, what a guarantee that Jesus gives us in this verse alone!!  He is sending us out like sheep among wolves.  The heading in my Bible for this passage is “Persecution will come.”  It’s hazardous work following Jesus.

Think about the picture Jesus paints: Sheep among wolves.  One wolf among a flock of sheep would cause considerable harm, and this is what Jesus says it will be like as He send out the 12, with a definite eye towards all who would choose to follow Christ.

If you are looking for a safe, controlled life, the conclusion is clear: Stay away from Jesus!  He is a lightning rod for “trouble”.

Keep in mind that sheep are one of the most helpless domesticated animals there are.  And they are not the smartest, either!

We sometimes have this misguided notion that following Jesus is always easy.  The above verse alone and those  that follow below that notion out of the water.

Go!!

He is sending  the disciples out to reach and save the lost!  He is sending us, too.  There is a harvest field for us to reach out to, and Jesus lets us know that it won’t always be easy.  The world can be a mean, unfriendly place.

Author, David Platt in his book Radical says it this way:

Jesus told them, “Go to great danger, and let it be said of you what people would say of sheep wandering into the middle of wolves.  ‘They’re crazy!  They’re clueless!  They have no idea what kind of danger they are getting into!

This is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

The great news if you read on in this passage is that He will never leave you or forsake you!!

Yes, you may be facing hardships because of your belief in Christ, but you and I can take comfort in the fact that Jesus is with us…and will give us the words to speak.

This reminds me of one of my favorite stories, the story of Stephen.

Acts 6:8– Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.

Keep reading, and you will see that he was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin.

And there, he preaches! He makes such an impression that they rush him out of town and stone him to death.

Wow.  That’s not quite what you would expect. He was only doing what God would want, right?

Stephen was sent out like sheep among wolves.  Some may say he failed.

But look at the results.

Acts 8:4–But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.  

People had the Gospel preached to them.  Why?  Because Stephen “loved not his life even unto death.” Stephen had an eternal perspective.  He didn’t go looking for trouble; it found him.

In reading the story of Stephen, I am reminded of these verses in John 12.

John 12:23-25– I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

So, as we go on today, think about it.  Are you “dead” to yourself?  Are you and I ready to be sent into the harvest field…no matter the cost?

Let’s grab ahold of an eternal perspective and truly be like “sheep among wolves”.

Full of Gladness and Glad Some More by Pastor Andy

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Matthew 5:11-16

11“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Teaching about Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

JOY!

So I blog.

I’ve been blogging for a while – close to 10 years. It started as a way to promote my business. Eventually blogging turned into actual writing. Writing became a passion which turned into a hobby which I’ve pivoted back into a business a couple of times and ways.

Through this journey, my writing has shifted from business related to general life principles and now to faith.

To promote my blog, I occasionally send emails to a list I’ve collected over the years. Many of the people on the list aren’t followers of Jesus, so occasionally I get pushback on my more pointedly Christian material.

Every time I receive an email or an online comment or a Facebook message, my heart tightens. I think, “Someone doesn’t like what I have to say! How should I respond?” Interestingly, Not once have I ever thought, “JOY! I’m so glad! Someone is questioning my faith [smiley face]”

I just haven’t thought to do that.

Rejoice & be Glad!

Jesus commands me otherwise.

He says “Rejoice and be glad…” (literally, be full of gladness and be glad). That’s a lot of happy in a rough position – mocking, persecution, lies, various sorts of evil – all beyond a little push back, yet we are to be glad and then glad some more.

Let’s talk about the why. Why are we glad and glad a little more?

Let’s look at verses 13 through 16. If you’re bible is like mine, there is a section break between 12 and 13. All of Matthew 5 is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He didn’t preach this with a section break. Persecution and Joy flow right into Salt and Light.

We are glad in the midst of pushback because we are salt and light. Questions, persecution, pushback means we’re still salty; we’re still bright.

When people say things that make my heart tighten up, it means I’m still salty, my light still shines bright.

When was the last time someone questioned your faith? Think about it. These moments are a litmus test of your salt and light. We live in a culture where persecution is light and mile, but it’s happening more and more.

When you are questioned or even truly persecuted, rejoice! You are salt. You are light.

Better yet, rewards await you (vs 12).

Today, be blessed. God is for you, even when people aren’t!

Song of God | Cory Asbury

Fear, Memory & the Future by Pastor Matt

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Song: Even So Come

Artist: Kristian Stanfill

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

John 14:27-29

Don’t fear

The command from Jesus today is don’t be troubled or afraid. But if we stop there, we’ll come up short every time. Fear’s a funny thing. It’s hard to control. Slippery. Feeds on uncertainties.

That’s what it was doing to the disciples in the passage, feeding on their uncertainty about the future. The disciples were afraid because they didn’t understand. What was all this chat from Jesus about leaving? Going away? Things were just starting to look up! We’re finally getting some traction. Now you’re leaving?! They couldn’t see how this was going to play out. They were afraid.

And so Jesus says, “Don’t be troubled or afraid.” Ok. Got it. Would that fear were so easily conquered in my life! Don’t be afraid. Power pose. Don’t be afraid. Power pose. Don’t be afraid. Power pose. Fear vanquished. Next.

Remember

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. It’s what he says next that carries the real weight in this passage:

“Don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you...”

And what did he tell them? I’m coming back.

It’s interesting how this passage brings together fear, memory, and the future. Our memory of Christ’s words has a direct affect on our fear of the future. Jesus makes a connection between what we do with His words and how we handle fear. Into the disciples’ uncertainty about the future, Jesus speaks a very certain word: I am coming back to you again. And, apparently, that knowledge – remembering those words – has the power to stave off fear. And open the door for peace of mind and heart!

I am coming back to you again, he says. You are not alone. Or rather, you are not left alone. The Father’s designs for this world – including your life and all of its details – will be accomplished. I will come back to you again.

Take a moment today to identify areas of fear in your life. Where might uncertainty over the unfolding of God’s plans be generating fear in you? Then, take that fear and place it alongside what Christ has said: I am coming back to you again – and pray that certainty into your fears.

How does this certainty about the future – this specific truth that Jesus is coming back – change the reality you face? What are the implications of Christ’s return for the situation you are facing today?

For the situation – personal, global, and everything in between – that might be sparking fear in you, remember (and pray!) these words of Jesus: I am coming back to you!

 

A New Commandment by Pastor Don

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John 13:34-35

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

Text, Context, Pretext

It has been said that a text without a context is a pretext. What does that mean? Let’s take a look!

This passage in and of itself is challenging enough! To love fellow Christians the same way and to the same degree that Jesus loves us. But consider that this concept was introduced as a command just hours before he himself would be arrested, dragged through an illegal trial, beaten beyond recognition, and brutally murdered at the hands of law enforcement. But if that isn’t enough, let’s go back to the dinner table!

Verse 4 of John 13 says that Jesus got up from the table and proceeded to act like a slave: washing his disciples’ feet. And after navigating through some resistance regarding this behavior, he announces that this is how all of us should act, like slaves towards one another. (Philippians 2:5-8)

Then he proceeds to address the fact that he was going to be betrayed by one of the “brothers” at the table; one of the brothers whose feet he had just washed.

After addressing the betrayal and the betrayer, he proceeds to deal with another “main man” who’s going to deny him.

All of this madness reminds me of a term that’s used on the streets: “I’ve got your back!” Really?

So, if there’s a question about what does it mean to love like Jesus loves, we just need to look at the context.

  • Don’t give up on one another; even when they fail.
  • Hope for the best in one another; even when it’s painful.
  • Shoot straight with one another (speak the truth in love); even when it’s awkward.
  • Be forgiving of one another; even when it feels stupid.

The bottom line is that we need to walk so closely to the Lord through prayer, his word, fellowship and the other disciplines of the faith that we’ll have enough gas in our tanks to love one another as Jesus loves us. And that will get the attention of the lost!

Prince of Peace | Hillsong United

Love One Another by Pastor Mark

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I Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

 

Every day as I leave home, I give my wife a hug and tell her I love her.  Then, I am off to drop the kids at school, and much to the chagrin of my 14 and 17-year-olds, I yell out I love them as they are walking into the school.  Somedays it is easy to love those closest to us, but as we all know sometimes it is not so easy!

There are those times when we do not value one another and we hurt one another. In those moments of hurt and betrayal, our love is harder to give.  

Paul’s gives us  a strong statement on loving one another as he says “Above all”, or as another version says, “Most important of all.”  The Bible is full of verses and entire chapters on loving one another.  Luke 6:27 goes so far to say,

 

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”  Wow, how many of us can say we truly walk out love to our enemies?

 

I was challenged yesterday by Pastor Andy’s story about road rage.  I may from time to time get a little frustrated at other drivers. Ok, maybe a little more than frustrated. I don’t even know these people, but am I acting in love towards them or more worried about my rights on the road?

Love covers a multitude of sins!

Why is love such a strong command from Jesus?  Peter makes is clear that love covers a multitude of sins.  

In our home, we never say we are sorry to one another.  We challenge each other to say “please forgive me.”  Asking forgiveness requires action and humility on our parts, but it also requires the same for the other person. Forgiveness heals relationships.

Jesus loved the world so much that He was willing to die for our sins!


Today I want to challenge you to show love to those you encounter throughout your day!