Decide

DECIDE 

Third of three devotions in Sifting Self Series 

Ephesians 5:15-17 

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

 

 

            This series is designed to explain why life can be so hard at times. The necessary sifting process to shape believers into people equipped to serve God is extremely challenging.  Disciplining His kids isn’t easy for our heavenly Father, either.

            Did your parent ever admit while punishing you, “This hurts me more than it hurts you?”  Yeah, right, we wonder.

            During the sifting process, God’s kids often become angry and confused.  Rebellion can transform into repentance and praise when God’s Spirit reigns.  Remember Jeremy’s dad in Desperate devotion?  (Immediately before this devotion).

            Repentance is what God hopes everyone decides during the sifting process.  His modifying behavior is not meant to break us.  Rather, God wants to transform us into the likeness of His Son Jesus.  But understand, God’s will WILL be done!   If we don’t change our ways, He’ll exert even more pressure—pressure that will seem harsh—even coming from the Loving Father we know Him to be.

            Believers should figure out how important we are to God.  He won’t stop until His transforming work is accomplished.  Philippians 1:6 assures, “that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Sooner or later, pride, jealousy, covetousness, anger and unforgiveness need to be dealt with! 

            God’s divine love and truth flows through believers to others on the world’s stage.  Christian presence and conduct changes the world!  (And this is just one of God’s purposes).  Believers who cooperate with God’s Spirit’s transforming work discover that their character, thoughts, actions, priorities and (finally) self-will suddenly reflect those of Christ.  (See lesson linked below).

            Self-will is usually the last character trait that people intentionally yield to God.  People cling to the illusion that God’s free-will privilege justifies our insistence for demanding self-will.  Not true for Christians who are committed to serve God.  God’s gifts thrive when returned to Him.  Self-will may be the last quality to remain behind on the sifting mesh before believers’ transformation is complete. 

            Won’t you act in your free-will today and decide to give God back your self-will in exchange for His will? 

Take Home Nugget

            “Surrender” is what yielding self-will to God is usually called.  I don’t like the word surrender.  It’s defined by defeat, concede, renounce, abandon, give up, forfeit, relinquish and give in.

            God’s kids are victors, never losers. 

Sifting hurts, but if we’re honest, we thank and praise God for replacing His will for our self-will.

J.D. Griffith

 

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Desperate

DESPERATE
 

Second of three devotions in Sifting Self Series

Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-3:  “As for you, you who were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of the world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also have lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.”

 

            Apostle Paul writes hard truths. 

            People rebel.  God saw us helpless and hopelessly lost.   Desperate.  No way can people save ourselves!  His solution was to send His Son Jesus…and grace.  Those who believe in Jesus as Savior receive the indwelling Holy Spirit.  He transforms us into Christlikeness, convicts us of sin and supplies supernatural power when we’re weak.  

            But believers don’t automatically have easy lives.  Everyone faces trials.  Trials are tailored by our heavenly Father to shape us, teach us His ways, and to demonstrate His love and wisdom.

            Despite how much sifting hurts, people are better after the experience.  Proud people sift out as humble.  Arrogant people become meek.  God uses trials to sift His kids into people suitable for His purposes.  

            Trials hurt, too.  Often believers who’re plowing through them feel like the opening Scripture describes unbelievers:  Objects of wrath.  Spiritually dead.  Condemned to eternal separation from God (Revelation 20:15).  Deserving of judgment (Romans 14:10).

            But the truth for believers is the polar opposite:  Believers are save by grace.  No matter the trial, the Holy Spirit maintains our peace and joy.  We remember that we are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).  That describes the kingdom of God!  (Romans 14:17).

            (See the lesson, linked below, for contrasts). 

            But if we’re slow to get the lesson that God’s trying to teach, trials will recur until we do!

Take Home Nugget

            After months of financial hardship, ten year old Jeremy heard his dad talking to mom, “God taught me something I’ll never forget.”

            “What’s that, honey?”

            “I was always proud to be able to provide for my family ….But after I lost my job, I was desperate.  I never thought I’d get another job!”

            “Life was hard for a time,” mom agreed.

            “Yeah, but I finally get it.  God provided me the job in the first place!   It was NEVER me.  I learned never to be proud of being self-sufficient again.”

            Self-sufficiency was caught in the mesh of Jeremy’s dad’s sifting.  He emerged humble, and dependent on God—after learning Who really provides for his family. 

Sifting hurts, but if we’re honest, we thank and praise God for the lesson learned.

J.D. Griffith

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  DAMAGED PETER

 

First of three devotions in Sifting Self Series

Luke 22:28-34, 54-62

Luke 22:31-34:  “Simon, Simon, [Peter], Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

“Peter replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and to death.’

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know Me.’”

            Sift means to filter something through a mesh that only allows certain particles to pass through.  What’s caught in the mesh during spiritual sifting are dredges of the old sinful nature.  After sifting, people emerge damaged, but better.

            Satan asks to sift all God’s kids.  Sifting hurts.  Jesus heals people, as He did Pater.

            The devil brings trials that he hopes ruin believers’ testimony and relationship with God.  But God uses sifting for His purpose: growing believers in Christlikeness.  When Jesus gives the devil permission to sift, He prays that our faith does not fail.

            Jesus saw great potential in Peter.  He sees great potential in us, too.  If we hinder God’s plan, we must know that He’s determined to sift away what’s not His will in our lives.   

            The opening Scripture shows Peter bragging about how he’ll accompany Jesus to prison…even to death!  During his sifting, (verses 54-62), know-it-all Peter gets called out.

            In the middle of a courtyard, a servant girl announced that Peter was with Jesus.  Peter denied it saying, “Woman, I don’t know Him.” Soon after, another confirmed that Peter was one of them.  “Man, I am not!” Peter insisted.  

            Pride will not survive the sifting process.  But resulting humiliation will.  Jesus sifted Peter in Matthew 16:21-23.  “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”  Peter needed to learn that Christ did not come to free Israel from Roman oppression, but to save humans from eternal death.     

            Peter’s third denial broke his heart.  A man asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”                                                                                                                   

Take Home Nugget

            “Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’  Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times.’”  Emphasis mine.

            Peter was indeed damaged.  Peter’s will and self-assurance was broken.  Peter had been sifted.  Verse 62 says that Peter went outside and wept bitterly.  See the lesson linked below that proves Peter’s growth after being sifted.

Sifting hurts, but we’re better Christians afterwards.

J.D. Griffith

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Fear or Faith

FEAR OR FAITH

Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:31:  “Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.  ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt?’”

            Please remember this opening Scripture every time you’re frightened, lost or just plain confused. Jesus reaches out His hand and catches us whenever we cry out to Him.  We must have faith.  Why do believers doubt?  We doubt when we look around, living by sight instead of faith.

            We just learned that God’s power comes to us when we live outside ourselves.  God’s kids have secret access to His power when we live by faith.  Weakness is our strength!  Jesus said, “My power is made perfect in weakness.”  But people hate to admit weakness.  But God longs to hear believers confess need for Him. 

            The wind was howling.  Waves tossed the boat around. 

            The disciples saw Jesus walking toward them on the lake.  Peter cried out, “Lord, if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water.”   Not IN the water, but ON the water.

            Jesus said, “Come.”

            “Yah!” we can almost hear Peter’s cheer.  He dared to get out of the boat and walk toward Jesus on the water.  (Walking by faith, empowered by God). 

            Then Peter looked around. 

            Yep.  That’s us.  When we dare, God empowers.  Then we look around. 

            Peter didn’t miss this divine opportunity.  He got out of the boat and walked toward Jesus on top of water.  The other eleven stayed in the boat, watching. (See lesson linked below for their awe). Unfortunately, many believers stay in the boat (comfort zone) their whole lives, watching others dare to live by faith.

              Believers can be scardy cats, afraid to live by faith.  We imagine that we can succeed by ourselves.  God created people to function best when we allow His power to overcome our weakness. Peter looked around.  Proudly he thought, I’m walking on water!  Doubting he thought, The wind is fierce! He began sinking.  That’s when he cried out to Jesus for help. 

            Jesus’ power was sufficient for Peter to walk on water.  Jesus’ power is sufficient for you, too. Can you trust that His grace is sufficient so that you dare to accept divine opportunities? 

            It’s time for believers to get out of their boat.  It’s time to stop looking around for excuses to fail.  It’s time to stop doubting.  Living outside ourselves by faith allows God to overpower weakness.

            Jesus reaches out and catches us every time we cry out.

Take Home Nugget

            Are you a scardy cat?  Or can you live by faith, (how you get out of your boat)?  Can you trust God and believe that His grace is sufficient to overpower your weakness? 

Have no fear; Jesus is near!

J.D. Griffith

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Outside Ourselves

OUTSIDE OURSELVES

2 Corinthians 12:5-10

2 Corinthians 12:7:  “To keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me.” 

 

            Overcomers devotion challenges believers to accept as true Jesus’ statement, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”  This was His answer to Paul when asked to remove the “thorn” in Paul’s flesh.

            Paul shows us proper response when we have something painful or bothersome that God won’t remove from our lives.  “To keep me from becoming conceited” isn’t only a danger for Paul.  People tend to brag about the slightest achievement—as though we’re the only one who’s that cool!

            Paul embraced Jesus’ “for My power is made perfect in weakness” phrase.  So Paul bragged about his weaknesses.  People NEVER brag about weaknesses!   Why does Paul do that?  Paul shows off weaknesses specifically so that every victory was accomplished with God’s power.

            Before great strength comes, great weakness is confessed.

            While Paul was still tormented by whatever was that “thorn,” he adopted a different attitude.  He couldn’t very well brag about himself anymore.  But he could brag about Jesus.

            Paul established many churches.  He travelled the known world preaching the gospel of Christ.  He wrote letters to the churches teaching, strengthening and empowering the people during his absence. 

            These letters are still read in church services today throughout the world.  “First and second lessons,” called epistles, are read aloud from a New Testament book in the Bible.

            Paul lived outside himself.  Outside his pain, beyond torment, Paul continued serving God.  Paul glorified Master Jesus despite his pain.  When we think we can’t go on, let’s think about how Paul didn’t stop until his race was won. (See lesson linked below).  Won’t you try experiencing God’s great strength living outside yourself after admitting great weakness?

 

Take Home Nugget

            Our weakest moments—when we feel the most desperate—are when God is free to do His most empowering work in us.  “Abba, I can’t go on!” we cry out wanting courage and strength to overcome life’s challenges.

            Jesus’ grace is sufficient. 

            His power is made perfect in our weaknesses.  Those who never admit weakness never receive and understand God’s supernatural empowerment that carries believers outside ourselves straight to victory.  Life experiences of witnessing God’s power from our own weakness convinces us that it’s safe to live outside ourselves. 

            Paul brags in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

This race I will run

Until I’ve won.

For can’t you see

That God’s power is with me?

J.D. Griffith

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Long Leg of Grace

LONG LEG OF GRACE

Colossians 1:3-6

Colossians 1:3-4:  “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—”

            Apostle Paul established churches in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica and Colossi.  Thank you, Paul.  Your letters to the churches you started are our epistles that teach us godly wisdom today.  Thank you, Paul, for showing us many benefits resulting from God’s long leg of grace.

            We’ve been learning about God’s grace in previous devotions, Equipped to Serve, Listening to God, Smooth Jagged Edges and Overcomers.

            What really is grace?

            Grace is God’s goodness freely given to the undeserving.  That’s me.  That’s you.  Salvation through belief in God’s Son Jesus is grace big-time!  The long leg of grace extends way beyond anything we expect. 

            Believers in Jesus can come to the Father and may even call Him, “Dad.”  We’re invited—and expected—to build a relationship with the Creator of the universe!  Climb onto His lap.  Dad sees you as…

            1). Son.  Or Daughter.  Spiritual adoption is as real as physical adoption.  (Romans 8:23).  Abba is the best parent—ever!  Yes, He disciplines—but only those He loves (Revelation 3:19).  He watches over us every second of every day (Psalm 121:3).   He supplies every need (Matthew 6:8).  God showers us with good things, being involved in the smallest details of our lives.  (Psalm 84:11).

           

            2). Righteous.  Big brother Jesus dumps our trash of sin.  Jesus covers us when we forget to do our chores.  Jesus stands proud as your big brother—regardless of how you acted before you understood who was in your family.  (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

            3). New.  Believers are “born again” with God’s Spirit living within (1 Peter 1:23).   He transforms old hearts into new.  His fruit is righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17).  We’re given a fresh start. This do-over life reflects understanding of whose we are, and how we’re to act.  (2 Corinthians 5:17).

            4). Free.  The power of sin, self and Satan have no power over God’s kids.  Jesus wiped away all sin.  One’s self assumes low priority.  “Born again” people serve others.  James 4:7 advises, “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”   

            These blessings only reach the knee of the long leg of grace.   What about life ever after?

Take Home Nugget

            5). Rich.  As co-heirs with brother Jesus, our riches are guaranteed and kept in heaven (1 Peter 1:4).  Check out the lesson linked below for more on grace benefits. 

Can you see the smile on God’s face as he bounces you on His knees of grace? 

J.D. Griffith

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OVERCOMERS

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

2 Corinthians 12:10:  “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
 

            When Jesus told Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness,” Paul recognized that his own problem was pride.  God doesn’t want His kids to be proud of their own sufficiency—being able to take care of ourselves. 

            We actually think that we can do this without God! 

            Self-sufficiency never pleases God…especially after Jesus tells us that His grace is sufficient for you.

            Paul would rather please God and have God’s power rest on him.  We learned from Smooth Jagged Edges devotion that God also offers His grace to smooth and sooth people’s pain.  Jagged edges hurt!  Life is hard for those who seek to obey and please God.  Sometimes, people have enough of life and just want to give up.  Life sometimes seems too hard to persevere (keep on keeping on) and overcome.

            Master Jesus told us in John 16:33b:  “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” 

            Jesus is clear, in this world we will have trouble.  His believers are called to overcome the world. We’re not to give up!  Check out the lesson linked below to see how you are included as an overcomer. 

Take Home Nugget

            God’s grace is sufficient to provide:

            1).  Strength to persevere.  Jesus promises us power from His Spirit in Acts 1:8.  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”

            2).  Confidence of good coming to us.  Romans 8:28 promises: “And we know that in all thingsGod works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” 

            3).  Consciousness of His presence.  God’s Spirit energizes, leads and supports us.

            4).  Shifting our focus from trials to Him.  God reminds us whose we are.  We can, like Paul, let God’s power rest on us!

            5).  Trust that God walks us through trials.  We just won’t make it through, we’ll emerge through trials with greater faith and deeper intimacy with God.

            6).  Assurance of God’s sovereignty.  God is aware of our limits.  He strengthens us to not be tempted beyond what we can bear, and provides an escape so we can stand up under it.  (1 Corinthians 10:13).

            Apostle Paul overcame shipwrecks, imprisonment, even beatings that surely exceed any trouble we might face (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).  God’s grace was sufficient for him.  God’s grace is sufficient for you, too.

Apostle Paul dares me to trust that God’s grace is sufficient for me.  Will you join Paul and me to overcome the world? 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER OVERCOMER, MARVA!

J.D. Griffith

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