Community Devotions

Unlikely Choices

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life,

1 Corinthians 1:18

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

OBSERVATION

We learned in biology that our DNA has been programmed over the millennia to preserve my own life.  We learned that when I perceive a threat, I can either stand and fight or take flight, putting some distance between me and the threat.  That makes perfect common sense. 

Many times, though, what God has me do is to do the opposite of what common sense drives me to do – trust in God, do not be afraid, Jesus has died on the cross but rose again.  So when a crisis stares me in the face, my type A programming says for me to roll up my sleeves and get to work, already!  But Jesus wants me to come to Him first, on my knees to pray, seeking God’s will and waiting for God to work all things out for the good of those who worship Him.  My inside is screaming, “No, I’d better pick up a phone and call somebody to get them moving, get myself moving” just to do something.

Rather I chose life, as God told Moses to do, when nothing makes sense or things are confusing or tempting like it was for the Israelites, as they are about to step in to the promised land.  Choose God whose ultimate goal is to see us succeed in Him, not outside of Him.

APPLICATION

When things get hectic and chaotic, stop and turn to God and worship Him and pray to Him.  He will deliver me.

PRAYER

 Father God, I choose you today, because you chose me first, to give life, salvation and blessings.  Thank you for everything you’re doing in Michael’s life and Joshua’s efforts.  Bless and protect them.  Lift up Daniel as he strives to finish his senior year and prepares for college.  Protect Chris as she spends her day with Mom to celebrate her birthday.  Sustain Grandpa.  Guide my decisions and enable my ears to heed your voice.  I love you Lord.  In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Perfected by the Spirit

¹ O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. ² Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? - Galatians 3:1-3

Being called a fool or acting foolishly is a very serious thing in the bible. From the classic, “The fool says in his heart, “‘There is no God.” (Ps. 14:1) to Jesus’ stern warning in Matt. 5:22, “whoever says to his brother, “‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire”. One can even make an argument that the purpose of wisdom literature (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) is to live in wisdom so that one doesn’t become a fool. Paul a master of the Old Testament understood the biblical severity of being foolish and emphatically describes the Galatian churches as foolish. Why? Because they were deserting the good news of the gospel (1:6). They started in the spirit and were foolishly thinking that they were being perfected by the flesh.

Jesus in the beginning, Jesus in the middle and Jesus in the end. I need to rewind back to my moment of salvation and remember completely being overwhelmed by the free gift of undeserved grace to save a sinner like me—that was grace. I received the spirit by hearing with faith (3:2). Somehow along the way if I don’t default to the gospel my relationship with God can be based on my performance i.e. my obedience, doing my devotion, living for Him in my strength. Navigate to the true north of lavished grace in Christ. Rest in the Christ’s perfect work on the cross on my behalf. Walk in the Spirit and work out with fear and trembling what the Spirit is working in my life (Phil 2:12-13).

Heavenly Father,

Please forgive my foolishness. You are faithful to complete what you started. You saved me by your Spirit and you are perfecting me by your Spirit. Thank you that through your Son at the cross it is indeed finished. May I rest in your work and be obedient to your Spirit’s working. Help me to lead myself, my family and your church to stand strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. I love you. Maranatha!