Discontent

DISCONTENT

John 12:23-27

John 12:24:  “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

            If you are just saved, God is discontent with you.

            Our heavenly Father wants sooo much more than salvation for His kids!  Believers in Jesus Christ already claim many benefits and free gifts: the indwelling Holy Spirit marks us for salvation (Ephesians 4:30), named as God’s child that makes us heirs to His kingdom, co-heirs with Christ Himself (Romans 8:17), and redemption of our sins that brings us eternal life (John 3:15).

            Why is our Father discontent with those who’re just saved? 

            We’ve already been positioned with Christ.  This means that the Father sees us as His wisdom, holy, righteous and redeemed in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30).  The Father sees believers as blameless (1 Corinthians 1:8).  BLAMELESS!  All this isn’t from human effort.  We earned nothing. 

            But that doesn’t mean that we don’t do anything after salvation.  Philippians 2:12 says that we’re responsible for “working out our salvation with fear and trembling.”  Another paradox (confusing puzzle).

            Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith….It is a gift….Not [earned] by works, so that no one can boast.” 

            Jesus continues in verse 25, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”  This “working out our salvation” isn’t a something you learn in Sunday school.  It’s just you and Jesus in a one-on-one teacher-student relationship.  It’s intense.  And it’s the only way you’ll participate in getting the Father’s best for your life.

            You’ll learn to rely only on God.  Jesus gets intimately personal.  He tears open layers of self-deception.  Soon self-contentedness, inadequacies, failures, and pride are laid bare.  You see yourselves the way God sees you.  You are humbled. You are broken. 

            But you’re ready to bear fruit!

            If you refuse to participate in this adventure, you are that grain of wheat that never dies.   It’s never planted.  It never grows.  It never bears fruit.  It just blows away. But whoever willingly dies to self will produce an astounding bounty of fruit for God’s kingdom!  This is how Christ can live through us.  This is the only way to get God’s best for our lives.

            Now God is pleased with you!     

                                                               

Take Home Nugget 

                                                                                             

            Will you accept God’s dare to “work out salvation with fear and trembling?” Would you prefer that the Father be pleased instead of discontent with you?  God’s rewards far outweigh temporary discomfort for getting His best—in this world AND forever. 

Help me to work out my salvation, Lord!

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Discontent

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First Step to Victory

FIRST STEP TO VICTORY

Romans 7:15-21

Romans 7:15:  “I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

            As Apostle Paul found, the first step to victory is often defeat.  This doesn’t seem to make sense because defeat is the opposite of victory.  But, God speak is often a paradox—a contradiction puzzle. 

            Jesus’ disciples left everything to follow Him, and Peter wondered aloud in Matthew 19:27, “What then will be there for us?”  Jesus answered him in verse 28, “you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

            The Matthew 19:30 paradox may have pleased Jesus’ disciples: “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”  

            Then Jesus was crucified on the cross. 

            The disciples must have been confused…until Jesus was resurrected back to life!  They finally understood what was expected of them in Matthew 28:18-20a:

            “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

            We, just as Jesus’ original disciples, are called into a new way of living.  The previous devotion, Made New, promises believers that we’re Spirit-filled new creations after choosing to believe in Jesus.  The old self dies—the one who was governed by self-effort and self-sufficiency—the one who failed to live a holy Christian life by human strength. 

            But believers find victory after surrendering ourselves to the Spirit’s leading.

            Now we’re Christ-dependent.  But this new perspective often feels wrong—because from earliest childhood—kids are taught to work hard and strive for excellence.  We’re taught to set goals and try our best to reach them.  While these are honorable qualities, they can deceive us that human effort earns our salvation!  That lie infects the human ego with, “You’re great!”     

            When people believe that, their focus shifts back from trusting God to relying on self.  That always leads back to failure.

            But Jesus assures Spirit-led people in Matthew 28:20b:  “And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”  Believers always have Jesus by our side and God’s Spirit living within.

Take Home Nugget   

            The Lord sometime allows failure to prove how totally dependent we are on Him.  And God will not allow our dependence on anything besides Him!  He will allow defeat in people’s best efforts to humble us.  Victory comes when Spirit-led living-by-faith people rely totally on God.

Failures are friends that humble believers, pointing them back to God.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for First Step to Victory

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Made New

MADE NEW

Part two of two

Ephesians 4:17-32

Ephesians 4:22-24:  “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off the old self, which is being corrupted with its deceitful desires, so to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

            On the path to discover our life’s purpose, we discovered Jesus’ offer that was too good to pass up.  (704dev Discovering Purpose devotion).  Since people will be around after death, believers in Christ choose eternal life—heaven—over eternal death—hell.

            We learned that God’s gifts are clues to that purpose.  Now we can grow through a couple issues God says is necessary for eternal life.

            Jesus shocked Nicodemus on John 3:3.  “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  “Kingdom of God” is code for “salvation.”  People who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord already are born again—and are currently being made new.  

            As the opening Scripture says, we put off the old self.  (We’re not that person anymore).  God’s indwelling Holy Spirit transforms those who cooperate with Him to be “made new in the attitude of your minds…created to be like God in righteousness and holiness.” 

            That’s the new self.  Discovering life’s purpose begins with character transformation.  The lesson, linked below, shows specific character traits of being made new.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

            “But the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus said in Matthew 20:28.  Believers copy Jesus’ role as servant, properly managing talent, time and resources for service.  This “kingdom work” shows the world whose we are—believers belonging to God.

            When Jesus comes again, our bodies will also be made new!  1 Corinthians 15:53 promises, “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”  Glorified forever bodies!   

        

Take Home Nugget

            The most challenging step to discover life purpose is to surrender our will to Jesus.  For whatever our plans—nothing can surpass the plans God has for us!

            Are you in?  Praying Galatians 2:20 each morning works:  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  That’s how to live by faith and not by sight.  (2 Corinthians 5:7).

            Now you’re in step with God.  Everything that follows is God’s will for your life.  This is your purpose!  

I purposely choose God’s purpose for my life.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Made New

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Discovering Purpose

DISCOVERING PURPOSE

Part one of two

Ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:10:  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

            In the nineteen sixties and seventies, young adults travelled the country in an effort to “find themselves.”  Sometimes this happened after graduating from high school or college.  Childhood was in their rear-view mirror.  Growing up didn’t sound like fun.  I imagine God laughing out loud at the people trying to “find themselves.”  Were they lost?

            Yes! 

            Are you lost?

         Jesus calls people to find themselves by taking up their crosses and follow Him.  They are joyful, content and at peace.  They know who they are and whose they are.  Believers know that God has a purpose for them, and use the gifts God gives them—clues to their life’s purpose.

            1 Corinthians 7:7b says, “But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”  2 Corinthians 8:11-12 points out:  “the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to  what one does not have…Now finish the work, [one’s purpose], so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it.”

              Jesus followers are not jealous of other’s gifts.  1 Corinthians 12:4-6 assures us: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  (The lesson linked below lists some of these gifts).

            But, whoever has no clue what is their life’s purpose, finding Jesus is the first step.  Jesus is God’s Son who came to earth to save people from certain eternal death.

 

            Every person is born into sin (Romans 5:12)—and Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death!  But Jesus died so He could offer forgiveness of sins and eternal life to whomever believes in Him as Lord.  Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that comes from Christ Jesus.” 

            How can my sins be forgiven?  1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess with our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

            Regardless of the sin!

Take Home Nugget

            Hell is eternal death.  How can we get saved for eternal life?  “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”   (Romans 10:9). 

Jesus, I’m not lost—exactly.  But I don’t know exactly where I’m going, either. 

J.D. Griffith

                                                                                   

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Discovering Purpose

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My Body!

MY BODY!

1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20

1 Corinthians 6:19:  “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”

            “Leave me alone!  This is MY body!” Kristy shouted to a lifeguard at the swimming pool. 

            He snatched away the knife she was using to cut her arm.  “Not on MY watch.  You’re too pretty, and too smart for this!”

            “I’m not pretty,” Kristy insisted.

            Ten year old Cassie rushed over, “I hear how the guys around the pool talk about you,” admitting, “I’m a little jealous!  Why do you cut yourself?”

            Kristy began crying.  Cassie put her arm around her as Kristy began her tale.  “Dad crawled into my bed last night…it’s too awful!” 

            Family members can hurt each other.  That is not how God intended people—especially a family—to act towards one another.  Family is supposed to be safe.  Family is where kids are loved and protected.  Kristy’s dad crossed the line from love to abuse.  Every sin has consequences—he must pay the penalty for how he treated his daughter.

            People think that they can act any way they want to.  But when people don’t know God, or have a relationship with Jesus, they think they can get away with anything.   Wrong actions always cost people dearly.  Kristy’s body does not belong to her dad, or even to her!  People’s bodies belong to God! 

            Kristy cuts herself because she feels unworthy of love.  She feels dirty, like scum.  There are both government and divine laws against abuse.  Everyone is worthy of love.  God loves every person He creates; He creates people in His own image!   (Genesis 1:26-27).

               Apostle Paul tells how we’re to treat our own bodies like God intended in the lesson, linked below.  We’re to honor our bodies.  Eating right, getting exercise and plenty of sleep are how to live a full life. 

            The flip side: There is always a penalty we pay for mistreating our bodies.  God will destroy those who destroy His temple—your body!   (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

            This sin may even affect the next generation.  Drug abuse, overeating or sinful misconduct can show up in our kids’ lives!  How could we ever explain that?  

Take Home Nugget

            A social worker took Kristy home from the pool, and her dad was arrested.  Cassie promised Kristy, “I’ll always be here for you!”

            Kristy’s dad went to jail and would never be alone with Kristy again.  Kristy and Cassie became good friends—even going to church together.  Kristy learned that Jesus loves her more than any person can.  Kristy began healing that summer.

How I treat my body will either cost or reward me.

             J.D. Griffith

                                                       

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for MyBody!

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Blessings During Trouble

BLESSINGS DURING TROUBLE

Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:3:  “Praise be to God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

            Ten year old Brad tossed a football to his best friend Jeremy at the swimming pool’s recreation area.  “Who were you throwing that to?” Jeremy yelled.   The football landed across the fence in the tennis court.

            Brad shrugged his shoulders, and yelled back, “You couldn’t catch it?”

            “Are you kidding?” Jeremy challenged.  “If I were six feet tall, I couldn’t have caught that!  What’s bugging you today?”

            Brad watched Jeremy retrieve the football, then caught it as Jeremy tossed it back.  He decided to admit what was wrong: “I’m upset because I have no idea where I’ll be living when school starts”

            “What?” Jeremy asked, alarmed.  He walked over, tossing the football in the air to himself, and stood in front of Brad.  “What’s going on, Brad?” he demanded.

            “Dad’s at the work force today.  He’s talking with a recruiter about getting a new job.”

            “What happened to his old job?”

            Brad sighed.  “This is getting old!” he said.  “Dad lost his job last week.  We sit around at night talking about what could happen…I just don’t know.”

            “I know when something like this happens, everything looks awful.” Jeremy said.  “But not everything is awful, Brad.  Why don’t you concentrate on the good things?”

            “Like what?”

            “Remember whose you are, Brad!” Jeremy suggested.

            Brad needs to remember what’s promised in Ephesians 1:4:  God chose Brad to be His before the creation of the world—to be holy and blameless in His sight.  But Jeremy offered a different truth from Ephesians 1:5:  “Well, I like to think about how God adopts us as His kids.  Because we believe in Jesus, we belong in God’s family.”  Jeremy said, confident that he’d get a smile out of his friend.

            Brad did smile.  He said, “You’re right, of course.”  Then he sighed.  “I’ll let mom and dad figure this out—then go where they say, if we must move away,” he decided.

            “Brad, no matter what, I’ll always be your friend!”

Take Home Nugget

            God blesses us always—even during trouble.  We just forget that, because trouble demands our attention.  That’s the devil’s trick.  He wants you to forget whose you are.  Wouldn’t it be cool if the next time trouble comes, you remember whose you are—and thank God?  God’s kids never have to worry, because He won’t let us fail.  Check out the lesson linked below to see five more blessings you can’t lose just because of a little trouble.

            Trouble may come today, but God’s blessings are here to stay.  

      

Trouble demands attention, but God’s attention on you is more demanding.

J.D. Griffith

                

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Blessings During Trouble

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Personal Potter

PERSONL POTTER

Isaiah 64:8

“Yet, O Lord, You are our Father.  We are the clay, You are the potter.”

            “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you My message.” God directed Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 18:1.  God called Jeremiah to be a prophet for the people of Judah and Jerusalem.  Times were going to be tough.  It was about five hundred years before Jesus was born.

            At the potter’s house, Jeremiah watched him working at the wheel.  “That looks weird,” Jeremiah commented.

            The potter smiled, reworking the creation he was forming.  “It got lopsided.” the potter admitted as he reshaped the pot.  Jeremiah watched a new pot emerge in front of his eyes.  (Jeremiah 18:3-4).

            God whispered to Jeremiah, “O House of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?”  Jeremiah nodded his head at the invisible voice, saying nothing to the potter.  “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah heard.

            “If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I planned.”  (Jeremiah 18:7-8).  Jeremiah heard this and breathed out a whew!  The potter began a new pot after collapsing the old one.

            “And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in My sight and does not obey Me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended for it.”  (Jeremiah 18:9-10).  Jeremiah nodded his head at the invisible voice.  He understood God’s message.

            Judah was in big trouble!  (See lesson linked below to see why).

            Jeremiah understood that God was planning a disaster for Judah and Jerusalem.  (Jeremiah 18:11).  Would you have liked to have had Jeremiah’s job?  It was his job to give tell the people—and try to get them to repent and turn from their evil ways.  Jeremiah 19:10 says, “I will smash the nation and this city just as the potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired.” 

            “Yikes!” Jeremiah gasped as the potter’s pot splat to the floor.                   

            The potter said, “That’s okay, I’ll make another.”   

Take Home Nugget 

            People are to God as clay is in the potter’s hands.  God has all power over every life, just like the potter has all power over his creation.  He tirelessly and patiently refashions us into people that resemble Christ.  Then He pours puts His Spirit inside vessels who accept Jesus as Lord.   Perfect!  Saints wholly committed to Him.  True works of beauty!

This is what it means to be “putty in another’s hands.”

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Personal Potter

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