Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Victim 2 Victor

VICTIM 2 VICTOR

1 John 5

The Message verse 4: “Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

“I’m going to ask my Sunday school teacher about following Jesus on Sunday.” Marshall told Miguel at recess from their 2nd and 4th grade classrooms. “Thanks for trying to answer my question about how to follow an invisible Jesus. I just want more!” (See Following Invisible Jesus devotion).

“That’s a great question, Marshall” his Sunday school teacher said. “Let’s try to answer it. Ever since you were born, you’ve been learning. Now you can dress yourselves, eat with utensils, even read—how grown-up! But the most important lesson anyone can learn is how to follow Jesus—or stay on the right path of living. Aren’t we lucky to have God living inside us? That’s how close His Spirit is, although we still can’t “see” Him.

“But through Him, God reveals exactly what we’re to do in every situation. In fact, He promises that He’ll teach us the way we should go, with His eyes upon us!” (Psalm 32:8). But how do we pick the right path when faced with different choices? Sometimes we have to wait for His answers. While waiting isn’t fun, it teaches us stuff, like patience (PA-shens). Waiting also builds character (whatever that means)....But first, we must ask God with a pure heart. That means to forgive everyone anything that made us angry, let hurtful stuff go.

“After repenting of our sin, the prayer phone line is static-free. God can hear us, and we can hear Him without the fog of sin messing things up. God’s Word is the best place—even better than asking a teacher—for finding answers to any question. So keep your Bible open, and close by—because every word in it comes from Jesus" (John 1:1).

“Jesus knows the Bible by heart?” Marshall asked.

“Yes! Jesus IS the Word, Marshall. Pretty hard to understand, but it’s true. Do you believe it? What part of Jesus being God’s Son is hard for you to believe? Don’t believe the devils lies! Just believe in Jesus! Life is hard, kids. Following Jesus changes us from being a victim (VIK-tim mans injured person) to victor (VIK-tor means champion).”

Take Home Nugget

Following Jesus is as easy as reading the Bible, confessing sin, and praying every day. Jesus is invisible right now—but we have the Bible, His Word—to guide us!

Your life is in Jesus’ hand.

But still you want more?

He’s got your every day planned

So follow Him until your journey’s o’er.

J.D. Griffith




A personal, private lesson experience with our staff







Posted by at No comments:

Friday, February 24, 2012

Following Invisible Jesus

FOLLOWING INVISIBLE JESUS

John 6:25-71

Vv. 27-29: “‘Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.’ Then they asked Him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.’”

2nd-grader Marshall asked his 4th-grade friend Miguel, who was tossing a baseball up in the air at recess, “Hey Miguel, I have a question.”

“What, Marshall?” Miguel wondered.

“Father Tim’s sermon was to follow Jesus. How can we follow Jesus when He’s invisible?”

Marshall’s great question demands an answer. Jesus’ original disciples immediately abandoned their work and followed Him (Matthew 4:18-22). But they followed someone that they could see. Today we follow Jesus by hearing, and applying His words found in the Bible, obeying His every command. AND, the indwelling Holy Spirit is even closer to us than Jesus was, physically, to His disciples.

We’re so lucky to have God living within (John 14:16-17)! The Holy Spirit does everything for us that Jesus did for His disciples. He guides our every step. He teaches us God’s truths. He enables us to serve and obey the Lord. He helps us discover God’s will for our lives. He escorts us to that path. He leads us to victory on that path. He provides us the desire and strength to follow that path all through our lives. AND, He transforms us into Christ likeness!

All we have to do is believe and follow.

We can pretend, for example, when reading Matthew 4:18-22, that we’re walking alongside Peter, Andrew, James, and John. We can “hear” every word Jesus teaches. How would we have reacted to His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapter 5)? We can learn His ways by copying how He related to people. We can “see” Jesus’ compassion when healing the sick.

“Well, Marshall, I think that the Holy Spirit will show us what to do, how to act, and what to say in every situation.” Miguel said. “Just like now He told me how to answer your question!”

Take Home Nugget

Miguel’s right. We don’t have to physically follow people to “follow” their ways. Follow also means to pursue, stick to, or go after. We don’t have to need Jesus for anything specific to follow Him, because this commitment goes beyond emotions or needs. The harder we seek after Jesus, the quicker we grow into Christ-likeness.

Our times are in the Father’s hands.

Of course we always want more.

Let’s strive to obey all His commands

So at life’s end, He’ll greet us at the door.

J.D. Griffith


A personal, private lesson experience with our staff








Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Dynamic Disciple Adventure

DYNAMIC DISCIPLE ADVENTURE

Matthew 10:24-42

Vv. 32-34: “Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before the Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

“Hold the ball, Brad, that’s your only job!” Jeremy scowled at his 5th-grade classmate. Kicking a field goal as far as one can is a fun competition during school recess. Jeremy wanted to win. Five of their classmates watched from the sidelines.

There are different kinds of people. Some live as spectators (SPEK-ta-tors mean watchers), while others engage life actively in varying degrees. But what is common to all is understanding what their jobs are with assigned tasks.

Since Jesus followers (disciples, believers) are given the free gift of salvation, everyone wonders what is his or her job? Jesus already accomplished the “heavy lifting” of living a perfect life, and dying on the cross. His shed blood was necessary for forgiveness of sins and reconciliation (rek-on-SIL-i-a-shon means reunion) to the Father—that believers enjoy.

We cannot add to this solved equation. But we do have a job. Our job is to simply believe. Then, believers have to make a choice: will we actively follow Jesus, or watch from the sidelines? Some people prefer coasting through life with little fuss. They choose to sit in a pew on Sunday, listen to the sermon, and return home for “free” time. Others prefer the great adventure of discipleship.

Jesus’ disciples probably wondered what He meant about the sword. They were just given the task of preaching “the kingdom of heaven is near”, healing the sick, cleansing lepers, and driving out demons (Matthew 10:5-31). Aren’t you glad that your job is to simply believe? Hold on.

The opening Scripture does not argue Isaiah 9:6 or Luke 2:14 where Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” and “Who brings peace” to those who love Him. Jesus did come to bring peace between believers and God, and peace among men. But the expected conflict comes between Christ and the antichrist (anyone who defies Christ). Light and darkness, God’s children and the devil’s children, and even members of the same family remain in constant battle.

Take Home Nugget

Verse 38: “and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me” continues to rouse watching believers into the adventure of self-denial, sacrifice, and suffering—dynamic discipleship!

Prayer: Holy Father, forgive my selfishness. Energize me to dynamic discipleship for following Jesus as someone who believes wholeheartedly. AMEN.

J.D. Griffith




A personal, private lesson experience with our staff


Posted by at No comments:

Friday, February 17, 2012

When Do We Grow?

WHEN DO WE GROW?

Mark 9:23

“‘If You can’? said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

A crowd was arguing with Jesus’ disciples in Mark 9:14-15. When Jesus showed up, the crowd ran to greet Him.

“What are you arguing about?”

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by a demon, to You. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told Your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they couldn’t.”

Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! How many times do I have to teach you these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” When the demon saw Jesus, it caused the boy’s body to seize, and he fell writhing to the ground, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been going on?”

“Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into the fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”

That’s when Jesus exploded with the opening Scripture. He sounds fed up with disciples (students) who don’t learn what He’s been trying to teach them for three years. The boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me in my unbelief!”

Mark 9:25-27 says that Jesus healed the boy. His stunned disciples asked Jesus why they were unsuccessful. Jesus answered, “There is no way to get rid of this kind of demon except by prayer.”

Was His disciples’ faith that weak? Is ours? Are we growing in our faith? If you have a hard time believing, you have little faith, a struggling faith.

God will grow our faith. But it comes only through learning His faithfulness in delivering us out of trouble. Growing faith means some hardship...for a little while...until our faith—or belief in God—grows up.

Great faith stands firmly on God’s truth, with all our focus on Him. This belief never wavers, but is confident that God does everything He promises. Check out Matthew 8:5-10. A man asked Jesus to heal his servant, and Jesus was going to go to his house. The man insisted that he wasn’t worthy of a visit. If Jesus would simply “say the word,” his servant would be healed.

This displayed the great faith that Jesus wants to grow in all believers.



Take Home Nugget

A person’s perfect faith allows her or him to thank God before ending the prayer, certain that the unseen answer is on its way!

God’s mercy, love, and care

Come by believing that He’s really there!

J.D. Griffith




A personal, private lesson experience with our staff


Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Who's the Real Valentine?

WHO’S THE REAL VALENTINE?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”

Long ago, people believed that birds paired off in mid February. Today we exchange cards expressing love or friendship for one another on February 14th in the USA.

One February 14th in year 269, a young man named Valentine was executed in Rome for his faith. What does our exchange of gushy love cards have to do with a third-century martyr (MAR-tyr means a victim who suffers for a belief).

Around the same time, there were other men with the name Valentine who were also suffering for living their beliefs. Several ancient Christians mentioned the name of a Roman Valentine. Some say that he had a tender heart as a young man, and came to the aid of people who were being martyred.

His work got him arrested and thrown in prison—where he converted to Christianity. He refused to reject his newly-found faith in Jesus Christ, and was sentenced to die for it. He wrote letters to everybody he knew before he was tortured, beaten with clubs, and finally beheaded. He had signed the letters, “Remember your Valentine.” A city gate on the Flaminian Way, and a chapel were named after him.

Another legend was about a Valentine who was a Roman priest. Rebelling against the Emperor Claudius, he secretly married couples so that the man wouldn’t have to go to war. Yet a different Valentine was another Roman priest who refused sacrificing to pagan (PA-gan means false) gods. While in prison for this, he is said to have given testimony about God, and prayed for a jailor’s daughter to be healed. On the day of his execution, he left a note signed, “Your Valentine.”

Whoever is the person responsible for this love holiday in the deepest part of winter, Jesus is Who really teaches us how to love and be a true friend. He offers His followers complete love, regardless of who they are, what they’ve done, or where they’ve been. He does not qualify His love on conditions. He doesn’t reject people because of their values. He takes the lead by reaching out to us in love first—just the way we are.  

Take Home Nugget

We are not worthy of Jesus’ love. Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was not worthy of Jesus’ love, either. And yet, even as Judas brought armed guards to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, Jesus called him, “Friend.” (Matthew 26:47-50).

Jesus, my perfect Valentine!

Blessed sweet communion, what love divine!

Jesus, a true friend of mine!

J.D. Griffith


 
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Posted by at No comments:

Friday, February 10, 2012

Recognizing Our Weakness

RECOGNIZING OUR WEAKNESS

Judges 16:28-31

V. 28: “Then Sampson prayed to the Lord, ‘O Sovereign Lord, remember me, O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’”

Sampson—once a tower of strength—forgot Whose he was, and became comfortable in his sin. The book of Judges in the Bible is where we learn about Sampson, beginning in chapter 13. Once more, the Israelites had done evil in the eyes of the Lord. Their punishment was to be ruled by the Philistines for 40 years. Then Sampson was born.

The angel of the Lord came to the wife of Manoah, who was from the tribe of Dan. The angel said to her in verses 3-5: “You are sterile, and childless, but you will conceive and have a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”


This pledge for Sampson was not voluntary, and applied for his whole life. Sampson grew up as a loner, whose deeds involved single-handed victories over powerful enemies. He typified the nation of Israel: Just like Isaac, he was born of special divine provision. He was set apart for the Lord from birth, as was Samuel. Samson was specially gifted by God’s Spirit with distinctive powers to overcome Israel’s enemies.

His weakness? Sampson couldn’t stay away from Philistine women—which led to his destruction.

The opening Scripture is Sampson’s cry for help. After he became a feared warrior, he wooed a beautiful Philistine woman (Delilah). He told her the secret for his strength. When he was asleep, she had his head shaved (Judges 16:19). In his weakness, he was overcome by his enemies, who gouged out his eyes. In prison, he worked a grinding mill. He was only called out to entertain a crowd of people.

How humiliating!

When we’re challenged by sinful temptations, our best defense is to cry out to God for help. The Holy Spirit protects, strengthens, and guides us—but only when we cooperate with Him.

Take Home Nugget

Three simple steps will enable people to overcome trouble: Ask God to keep you alert to danger. Confess your sins to God. Ask God for help. God is only a prayer away! Won’t you allow Him to keep you safe, and lead you to victory?

When your world is crumbling, the rock of God is where you can stand.

J.D. Griffith




A personal, private lesson experience with our staff


Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Recognizing Our Need

RECOGNIZING OUR NEED

Matthew 9:11-13

Vv. 10-11: “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ came and ate with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they asked His disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”



“Hey Shak, I hear that you won the award for turning in a silver dollar.” 5th-grader Cassie beamed as she threw her arms around her 3rd-grade cousin on the school playground. “I am so proud of you!” (See No Secret Sins devotion).

Shakira patted her classmate Jennifer’s shoulder. “It was Jenn’s idea to put it in the Lost and Found. It was so pretty, and I was going to keep it.”

“A good friend keeps us out of trouble when we’re tempted to do the wrong thing, Shak” Cassie said.

Cassie’s right. What does a “good Christian” look like? Perfect Christians don’t exist—but so many pretend that they are perfect, and live perfect lives. How many of us admit to flaws or weaknesses? Do we really think we’re perfect? We need to recognize that our guaranteed salvation does not guarantee that we’ll never sin (Ephesians 4:30).

In fact, aspiring to perfection is actually a trap of pride that pulls us away from righteous living. Self sufficiency (suf-FISH-en-see means total ability) is pride that argues for never needing another’s help. Those who fully rely on their own abilities forget Whose they are. Believers belong to God, and learn to admit needing Jesus. Jesus doesn’t care about how cool or able His kids are. He came to heal the spiritually sick, so that they recognize their weakness and become aware of their human lack.

See how that works? Those who think they’re “all that” is who Jesus came to show that they need Him to be “all that.” The world views success as power. But Jesus wants all to understand their brokenness, and realize how much we need His power to achieve every goal.

While those who have trusted in Jesus have confidence that God forgives all repented sin—and are headed for heaven one day—the battle with sin follows people until they arrive in heaven. This supports believers’ need for surrendering lives to Jesus daily. When we recognize our neediness, we hunger after Jesus. He is faithful to fill every need. Smart believers depend on and trust in Him in every situation.

Take Home Nugget

“So when are you going to cash in your award for free ice cream?” Cassie asked.

“You mean for our free ice cream?” Jennifer countered, nudging Shakira, who laughed out loud.

J.D. Griffith

God knows all you’ve thought or done—

From Him you cannot hide;

Confess to Him and He’ll forgive

Through Christ the crucified.

Hess



A personal, private lesson experience with our staff








Posted by at No comments:

Friday, February 3, 2012

No Secret Sins

NO SECRET SINS

John 14:15-24

V. 20: “On that day [after Jesus ascends to heaven] you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.”

3rd-grader Shakira stashed the silver dollar inside her pocket. Patting the outside of the pocket, she said to her classmate, Jennifer, “Can you believe it?”

Jennifer’s eyes became slits, her forehead wrinkling in alarm. “It needs to go in the “Lost and Found!”

“It’s a whole dollar! I found it, why should I put in the Lost and Found? It’s not lost!”

“Because someone could have dropped it, that’s why!”

Apparently, Jennifer is Shakira’s conscience today. The previous devotions, Identity in Christ, and Progressive Intimacy aren’t jokes. One day on the playground Shakira forgot Jesus, and the devil got a hold of her. That quick! This happens every day. Shakira’s unconcerned about surrendering her life to Jesus. She loves life just the way it is, thank you very much.

When Jesus said in John 14:6 that He’s “the way, the truth, and the life,” He wasn’t kidding. He is the only way to the Father, and salvation. Our belief in Jesus comes with a commitment: obedience to His commands. This is the only way to an eternal home in heaven.

Believers think that their hearts are open to Jesus, but often they secretly keep the safety chain on their hearts securely in place. Many believers hesitate turning their lives over to their best friend, their Lord and Savior. But where is the first place they turn when disaster strikes?

Just like your best friend, who’s always ready to listen, Jesus is available. But unlike your earthly friend—who is easily angered—Jesus will instantly forgive you when you apologize to Him, regardless of the offence. Unlike with your earthly friends, you do not have hidden corners of life, or secrets of which Jesus doesn’t already know. He’s the safest One anyone could surrender to!

Jesus knows your secrets anyway, so why not make Him responsible to keep your path straight? No life is more secure than the one surrendered to God. Besides, don’t you want to experience the joy of obedient discipleship? You’d be in exceptional company!

Take Home Nugget

“All right, all right!” Shakira whined to Jennifer. Dropping the silver dollar in the school’s Lost and Found, she waved it, “Good-bye.”

Mr. Parks noticed the girls, and picked up the silver dollar. “Did you put this in the box, Shakira?”

“Yes.”

“This was a test of students’ honesty. There is an award of free ice cream for whomever returns it to the Lost and Found!”

Each new day I want to see

Less of me, and more of Thee—

The One Who ransomed me!

J.D. Griffith

A personal, private lesson experience with our staff






Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)