Author: Good Life Church

Scripture:

Luke 11

Vs.1 … his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.

Vs. 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say …”

Vs. 27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 

Vs. 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Vs. 29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”

Vs. 37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! 

Observation:

Jesus has many interactions in this chapter.

The disciples, a woman, the crowd, and a Pharisee  … and He is blunt with each.

A woman compliments His mother and Jesus corrects her perception of “blessing”.

The crowd asks Him to prove His supernatural power, and Jesus calls them “evil”.

The Pharisee invites Jesus to his home for dinner … and Jesus promptly calls him a “fool”.

 Only The disciples ask something of Jesus humbly: “Teach us to pray.”

And Jesus promptly does it.

Application:

I love Jesus’ response to the disciple’s question.

It’s a question Jesus could have easily brushed aside.

“Teach you to pray?! … Ha! … You just talk to God!”

But no, Jesus takes their question seriously and gives them a sincere response we’re repeating to this day.

I love that Jesus answers honest questions gently and with loving instruction.

The crowd asks for a “sign” and they are called “an evil generation”!

 So … when I ask Jesus questions,  am I asking like the disciples, to gain a deeper communion with God?

Are my questions of God like the crowd, a test of who He is?

Are my questions of God like the Pharisee, wanting God to conform to my expectations of what He should do?

I need to remain humble and honoring and grateful for the grace of God that the Holy Spirit helps me discern God’s answers and even prays for me.

Now, if I want to be blessed, I need to “hear the word of God and keep it!”

Prayer: 

Thank you again God for your word.

Help me hear it and keep it.

But also help me know when and what questions to ask.

Keep me humble, in Jesus name.

Amen

Scripture:

Luke 8:15 – As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bear fruit with patience.

Observation:

Jesus is explaining the parable of the sower to the disciples and how people respond to God’s word (seed).  Every time the Gospel is preached there is response demanded.  In three of the four responses, the Gospel does not flourish. You can hear the word only to have the devil take it away. The word can be received but only superficially or the word can get muted by things of this world. Only when the word is truly in our heart will it take hold and grow over time.

Application:

Let me never get over the Gospel and respond to it daily!  My response should always be one of love and praise for what God has done for me. Intellectually, we have to understand the sacrifice God made for us.  Beyond that, God wants our heart to be changed through the power of the Spirit.  As a believer following Jesus, I must be in the word to keep it in my heart.  Through the Spirit, we can be changed, have strength to serve and grow in our walk.

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for your love and your Gospel.  Let me remember and never get over what you did for us.  May my response always be love from a spirit filled heart for others. 

Scripture:

Luke 5:5 And Simon answered “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Observation:

Go into the deep meant he had to go far into the water and not just throw his nets closer to shore. Sometime we are called to do hard work. Not all of the tasks God has in store for us are easy or glamorous.

 We often whine first before doing what God asks us to do. Jesus asked Peter to go back and work. He had worked all night, instead of sleeping. I am sure he was tired, smelly and hungry. But he obeyed Jesus and was rewarded.

Application:

 I am similar to Simon Peter. I will question God’s “ask”. I often whine and want to settle for a compromise. I often look for the easy way out. This passage helps to remind me that Jesus could have just asked Peter to throw his nets out right where he was and it would have been filled with fish. But he didn’t. He asked him to go back to work. Go do hard work. Go do work that wasn’t glamorous.

Some people are called to ministry that may be hard. It may even put them in harm’s way. But there is a reward for all of us if we are obedient to His word, His way, and His calling. We may not initially be successful in what we are doing but if we are obediently following Christ, we will be rewarded.

Prayer:

Father give me the strength, courage and wisdom to live a life devoted to you. A life that doesn’t waver and stays true to your word, obedient to your calling. Help me to realize when my life and actions don’t match the type of fruit that you want to me to produce. Give me the patience to stay true to you. To honor you with my works and be obedient to your call.

Scripture:

(multiple references) “…and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:18-19

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel…and the Holy Spirit was upon him…” Luke 2:25-26

“And there was a prophetess, Anna…She did not depart from the Temple worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day…” Luke 2:36-37 (all punctuation changes mine)

Observation:

Three people; confronted in various degrees of the coming of the Savior; responding in much the same way in principle. Why? How? And why is this an important example for me to deeply consider?

Application:

I have been taken with thinking about the idea of devotion lately. What does devotion look like and with what does it entail? There are self-examination questions to consider: Am I devoted? If so, what does devotion look like in me? If not: what do I need to change? So there are two questions obviously cascading from the main point: What is devotion generally and what is it specifically?

 Devotion probably isn’t a disciplined keeping of the Spiritual Disciplines only (if you don’t have this book by Donald Whitney, get it. It is a must have for our personal library). Continuing: Devotion probably cannot be reduced to what can be a “checklist of daily action” although such a checklist can certainly help in producing reflexive Christian actions and attitudes.

 Devotion may be described as a result of “continual improvement” through maturity; the result of the process of “pressing in”; of being fierce and vigorously pursuing Jesus and His Word. Three example of conduct to imitate are:

* Mary: She TREASURED what she heard; She PONDERED them in her heart.

* Simeon: He CULTIVATED not only his CONDUCT (righteous and devout) but also his FOCUS (looking for the consolation of Israel) and the PURSUIT OF GOD (the Holy Spirit was upon him).

* Anna: She PERSERVERED daily on certain devotional actions (fasting, prayer, worship)-and that no matter where the sun was in the sky (night and day).

How do I do these things? I am hardest on myself because I think I do badly. But as I look at the guy in the mirror I am reminded that this is part and parcel of pressing into Christian maturity. I don’t get a “one and done” pass. God says in His Word that He “is conforming me into the Image of the Son.”(Romans 8:29) With that fact firmly in the crosshairs the question now will be: Shall I be passive about devotion or active?” I don’t think “passivity” brings the Holy One pleasure…

 Prayer:

O Holy Spirit: Bluntly I ask: Keep me from passivity concerning You. Help me to treasure and cultivate You, Your presence, and the knowledge of You through Your Word. Please let that Joy exult in my heart and mind. Help me to ponder Your Gospel and all of its marvelous implications and facets all the days of my life. AMEN.

Scripture:

Proverbs 28

2 … with a man of understanding and knowledge, (the land’s) stability will long continue.

5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but a companion of gluttons shames his father

9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Observation:

Understanding can bring stability for the long term.
But the understanding must be of the ways of God.
These are understood by seeking God and hearing His word.
This will bring about a concern for others, for their well being, for justice … in other words “keeping the Law”.
Which will bring about a long term stability.

Application:

There’s a famed quote that the “long arch of the universe bends toward justice”.
Well, if it does, this is not a natural bend.
Human nature, my nature, is sinful. It will bend toward me!
The natural order of things bend toward chaos, not order.
Injustice, not justice.
I must every day, all of my life, seek an influence outside of myself.
In my day to day activity, do I consider the long term?
Do I think about the “prolonging of my days”?
If I want them to “long continue” with “stability”, then I better gain understanding.
Problem is there is every kind of “understanding” i could ever dream of right at my fingertips.
I can even take Ivy League classes online for free if I wanted to.
I can “understand” virtually anything I could imagine with a few instructional YouTube videos. There’s a video for anything I want to “understand”!
Sure, I could watch 100 documentaries on justice, but how will I “understand” justice?
There is only one way … “seek the Lord”.
I must seek the Lord’s understanding.
And how will I seek the Lord? … “hear the Law”.
And how will the reality of justice come about? … “keep the Law”.
So, seek the Lord … hear the Law … keep the Law … and stability in the land may continue.

Prayer:

Thank you again God for you Word.
Keep me thirsty for seeking You.
Help me crave your understanding.
Prompt me to keep your word.
Help me prolong stability in my family and in whatever corner of Your Kingdom you have for me.
Thank you in Jesus name.
Amen.

Scripture:

Proverbs 23:5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Observation:

Wisdom speaks again here concerning wealth and the pursuit of it. This time the writer focuses on how quickly riches fade, or in this case, how quickly they “fly away”.

Application:

It’s hard to take advice from a wealthy man who says money shouldn’t be the focus of life. My thoughts are always, let me get rich and then I will tell everyone how unimportant money is. However if we stop for a second, the best people to listen to on the subject are those that have much. Kings, rulers, the top 1%. For it is them that know if all of the “stuff” truly satisfies. You don’t have to look far in our world to see a true vacancy of joy at the top. We had another suicide from another front man of another popular band this week. You can’t help but think, if stuff truly satisfied, would rich people be so hopeless?

The Father doesn’t want us wasting our lives chasing and acquiring riches. Here are three reasons…

⁃ He knows they don’t satisfy. He knows that there will still be a vacancy and a void. He doesn’t want us wasting our lives going down the wrong road.
⁃ He knows they are temporary. The eternal God knows a thing or two about time, about what is forever and about what passes away. He doesn’t want us spending our energy on things that pass away.
⁃ He has a better alternative. Jesus taught about eternal treasure, where moth and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. Eternal treasure is stored up as we walk in obedience to His commands and choose His kingdom over the pursuit of another one.

Prayer:

Father forgive me for allowing my gaze to be fixed on lesser things and lesser goals. Forgive my foolishness. I need you and whatever you say I need. Everything else is a distraction.

Scripture:

Proverbs 21

Vs. 3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Vs. 12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;

Vs.15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

Vs. 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Vs. 26 All day long (the sluggard) craves and craves,
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Observation:

There are many many thoughts discussed in this Proverb, but the theme of “righteous” is touched on throughout, from beginning to end.
Interestingly, it’s discussed as a category of people, “the righteous”, or even more broadly, “whoever”.
But there is a specific and unique distinction given to God … “The Righteous One”!
So, while the “righteous” may be a descriptor of many, the many have a source of their “righteousness”.
Whoever is “righteous” must get their “righteousness” from “The Righteous One”.

Application:

In each of the references to a righteous person, there is an indication of how we know they’re righteous.
There is an external expression of it.
You “do” righteousness.
Justice is “done”.
Righteousness is “pursued”.
The righteous “gives and does not hold back”.

In modern Christianity, we love to hold up the grace of God, and rightfully so.
But I do so at the risk of diminishing the importance of action. Actually living it out!
You know … that word that the faithful so often fear to speak of … “works”.
But James was right. Faith without works is dead.
And as I work to “do and pursue” justice and righteousness around me, I just have to remember that this is not what makes me righteous.
I do not do these things FOR righteousness.
I do them FROM righteousness.
And the Lord finds them even “more acceptable than sacrifice”.
I often think of “good works” as sacrifice.
But what was sacrifice back then? It was religious ritual.
So is this diminishing the importance of religious ritual?
No. “Sacrifice” and ritual were vital to these people.
So, if “pursuing righteous” is “more acceptable” than religious ritual (worship gathering, corporate prayer, etc.), it is not meant to diminish the importance of “Sunday morning stuff”.
It is meant to elevate the importance of everyday stuff!
I must live out righteousness.
And as I do them, I will … “find life”!

Prayer:

Thank you, again, God for Your Word.
It reminds me always that your ways are better than my ways.
Help me pursue righteousness today.
Help me see those opportunities you place in front of me.
And give me the courage to act.
In Jesus name.
Amen.

Scripture:

Proverbs 18:21 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits

Observation:

What we say has eternal consequences, so we must be careful with our choice of words. A fool will just say something without thought that will lead to destruction. A wise person chooses his words and speaks from character. Jesus says this in Matthew 12:36-37, “I tell you, on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified or condemned.”

Application:

You can’t read Jesus words and just shrug your shoulders and say it was only words. What we say really matters and for that we will be held accountable. I must choose my words carefully and refrain from quickly blurting something that can be harsh and not deliver the intended response. Thinking before I speak, asking the Spirit to guide me in my conversation can have a positive life giving potential. When we are faced with a situation, how we communicate has the power to encourage or bring someone down.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for your words speaking life into us and your grace through the Gospel. Let your Spirit guide me to be someone who choose my words to build others up and give life. Forgive me when I have spoken carelessly and hurt others.

Scripture:

Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Observation:

Who you spend your time with and “walk with” will determine who you become and how your life turns out.

Application:

The people I hang out with influence me. They influence the way I communicate, how I act, what I think is funny, what I listen to, what I desire/value, and how I spend my time. Everybody in my life is either influencing me in a positive way or a negative way. Specifically, either they are helping me draw near to God or draw near to something or someone else.

A few things:

-Run through my friends and the people I spend the most time with. How are they influencing me?

-Consider the people I influence and how I am influencing them. Am I leading them well or foolishly?

-Find wise friends. If I look around the table and can’t find people who are making me better, I need to change tables.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for Godly friends who have developed me in wisdom. Forgive me for spending too many hours with fools. Forgive me for leading others into folly in the past. May I love today with clarity in how my life impacts many others.

Scripture: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Prov 12:1

Observation: I don’t have any particular insight about this scripture other than what it baldly says.

Application: “I wonder what God means by that?”

This question is persistently the beginning of trying to interpret a particular scripture or passage.
“I wonder what that means?” Or: “I wonder who He is talking to?” However the question is phrased it is getting to the same core value: “Now that I read this, how should I respond?”

 I have shifted my reading and study emphasis from “interpretation” to “analysis.” “Analysis” sounds way cooler and more objective than “interpretation.” In interpreting a passage of scripture there is that personal, experiential, subjective aspect we cannot help but injecting. “It has to mean [so and so] because it is unreasonable to expect anything else…” Maybe not in all applications but has been to me.

But in “analysis”: Whoo boy-are we stuck or what? “What does it say?” “It says [so and so].” “What does it mean?” “It means what it says…” From there we can go and unpack a verse/passage and dig deeper BUT we start at a foundational premise “It means what it says…”

 In Proverbs 12:1: Loving discipline is DIRECTLY equated to loving knowledge. Pretty direct I would say. But, diving deeper, we can see that Knowledge directly doesn’t follow Discipline nor vice versa: Discipline is not the precursor to Knowledge. I can love knowledge for all the wrong reasons. I can do discipline for all the wrong reasons. Somehow I have to do both-step out and intentionally and determinedly LOVE discipline; LOVE knowledge—make intentional time to do these things.

 What about reproof? Reproof; correction; and any other synonym that means “Somebody is going to talk to me about changing my ways.” If I get this and hate it (dislike, resist, etc.”) the Scripture tells me in oh so spiritual language: “You are stupid.” I hate comments directed to me? “Stooopid!” Again: the analysis rather than the interpretation-it means what it says.

Doesn’t mean the speaker is right. Doesn’t mean the speaker has the “word of the Lord” in this. What it primarily reveals is the attitude of our heart in receiving correction/reproof. If we cannot receive it from a brother, are we training ourselves out of receiving it from our Lord? Yeah, kind of…

Here is where the tools of our growth come into effective play: “In the multitude of counselors there is safety”; “Confess your faults to one another…”; Exhort (encourage) one another day by day…less they fall in the deceitfulness of sin…”; “Be thankful for ALL things, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus…”; etc. (paraphrases all mine) Also: Plan my growth (discipline) in particular ways toward objectives (knowledge). Confess sin and invite correction. Avoid being stupid. I do not want to be an old Christian but a MATURE Christian-pursuing You with all my life and time on this earth.

 Prayer:

O’ God: Mature Christian? Stupid Christian? What do I want to be? Please do not let dumbness reside in my heart. I want to pursue you with all I am and all that I have and even more past that as You provide. Hear my prayer, O’ Lord, hear my prayer. AME

Scripture:

Proverbs 6:12-15 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

Observation:

With strong language, Solomon calls out the passive and sluggish person as both worthless and in danger.

Application:

When I read this I get a little uneasy. I mean, I like to chill. I’m ok with a little binge watching on Netflix, a day lounging at the pool, and a day without a long checklist completed. However there is something deeper here. Its not so much a warning against taking a day off as much as it’s a warning against passiveness and Self-serving lethargy. Of all times, we live in a culture in which we don’t even have to get off the couch. We can order a movie, a meal, and even catch up with friends from the same device I am writing this devotional on. It’s scary. If I am not mindful, I can get passive and expect things to be done for me as I point and motion with my facial expressions from afar. This is in fact the motions and actions of a lazy earthly king. However the writer of this is actually a king. Yet he warns his son to not grow up to be lazy. To be an active participant in the ruling and expansion of His kingdom. And now it comes to me…

A few things-

-I have been called to be a co-heir in the Kingdom of God. Not a lazy ruler, sitting on my couch and wasting my life watching Netflix.

-Though I have been given the title of a child of God and royal blood runs through my veins, I must look to the King of Kings’ example on how to reign. Through, sacrifice and service. That is my call.

-I must do less pointing and motioning and more doing, leading, sweating and bleeding in order to step into my calling as a co-heir. I could never earn this title, but I might as well follow the example of the king.

Prayer:

Father I confess a spirit of laziness. I only have to look to my King to know what I am supposed to be doing and the level at which I should be doing it.

Scripture:

Proverbs 4:18 – 19 But the path of the righteous is like the light of the dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Observation:

Here we are confronted with a fork in the road and a choice between following the path of the righteous or that of the wicked. The way of righteousness is represented by light which is obtained by gaining wisdom from God. As we travel along the path of the righteous we are like a dim or first light in the early part of day which shines brighter as we get farther down the path till full day/destination. In contrast, the path of the wicked leads away from the Father into deep darkness and separation. The wicked have turned from God, adopted evil ways and walk in such complete darkness that they can’t even recognize why they stumble.

Application:

Proverbs 4:7 says, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” Proverbs 1:7 tells us, “The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” This tell me that it is imperative that I revere and respect the Lord. We must begin with an awe of the Lord that we never loose. I have a choice(s) to make daily: to follow the Lord or turn away from Him down a path of darkness and destruction. All true wisdom comes from God as he created everything through His wisdom. I must seek His wisdom through being in His word, prayer and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we choose to follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our journey starts like the beginning of a new day when it is sometimes hard to see at dawn. As we travel along with Jesus our hope is to have increasing light until one day His full Glory will be revealed.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for your love and the wisdom you give us when we follow you. Let your Spirit guide me to stay on your path ever increasing my light and love for you to share with others to bring you the glory.

Scripture:

Proverbs 3

Observation:

In verses 13-20, the focus is on the value and benefits of wisdom and understanding. This gift of wisdom is described as more precious than anything that can be gained on earth. Wisdom is being personified into a woman who brings both “long life and riches.” This is just a further example of the blessings of wisdom. Wisdom is used as the means by which the Lord worked in creation. The “tree of life” mentioned at the end of this selection of passage are ways by which the righteous continue on and are blessed in the end. This is also mentioned again in Proverbs 11:30.

Application:

How often do we mistake earthly wisdom and eternal wisdom? I believe it would be easy to misinterpret this verse and think it is explaining the importance of earthly wisdom, but it is really talking about the wisdom we obtain from spending time in the Word and a relationship with God. If you keep that framework in mind, then it is easy to see that this wisdom we have in Christ is one of the biggest blessings offered to us. These scriptures even entail that wisdom is the tool that God used for creation, and that tool is offered to us!

Prayer:

Lord, help me to find wisdom in you. Help me to not focus on the things of this earth, but on the eternal things and my relationship with you. Thank you for offering us this gift of wisdom. Thank you for allowing us to have an intimate relationship with you where we can seek you in the small things and in every area of our life. We love you. Amen.

Scripture:

 Proverbs 1: 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Observation:

The purpose of Proverbs is to impart wisdom and Godly guidance to the readers. Reading, hearing or being shown wisdom and instruction is not enough. It requires action on the part of the readers.

This proverb sets up the rest of the book of Proverbs. The wisdom, instruction and guidance is available to all. Biblical wisdom and guidance is shouted in the streets, it is shown and discussed daily. It is available to everyone. But many don’t listen. Many don’t believe and most don’t’ want to follow it.

Application:

I have a choice. Biblical guidance is available to me. I can read it. I can hear it and I am shown examples of it regularly. But following it is more than just knowing it and hearing it. It is a choice I must make on a daily basis. There are three things I must do regularly in order to stay true to God’s word and have a chance at growing in His wisdom.

I must listen to the advice
I must know it.
I must apply it.

I can’t apply knowledge unless I know it. I can’t know it unless it is shared with me. But, I am simple. Every time I read Proverbs I recall many of the same words of advice that I have read before. Yet I still need reminded of the simple truths. I still find myself in places I don’t want to be or should not be not by God’s choices but by mine. I am reminded of the areas of my life that I know God doesn’t want for me. It hurts to be reminded of areas of your life that are out of sync with God’s will and would have been avoided had I listened to God, known what His word said and applied it to my life.

I must continually surround myself with other Godly people. They help remind me of what and who I am to be.

I must continually stay in the word. I must study the word and know the word. One day out of the word is one day in the world. The world doesn’t care about me. The Word does. The word serves as a daily reminder.

Prayer:

 Help me to hear. Help me to listen and help me to apply the Godly wisdom found in your word. Let your word serve as a reminder of who I am to be and how I am to do your will. Bring Godly men into my life to serve as mentors and examples of how I can serve in similar situations.