Author: Good Life Church

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10: 13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Observation:

Paul is writing to the Corinthians who are engaging in all kinds of wrongdoing, idol worship, sacrifice, fortification and lust. How is a Christian supposed to resist in this kind of society? How are we to resist in our society today? Paul tells us all that we must stand strong. It is not a sin to be tempted, but it is a sin to give in. We all experience temptations. Paul tells us that if we just look for it, God will provide us a way out.

Application:

Sometimes when I am tempted, I do not stand firm. I do not look for the way out that God provides for me. I must spend more time praying and more time in God’s world and less thoughts and deeds in this world. Sometimes I feel that there is no way out of my temptations. I must remember that this is common to mankind throughout the ages. I am not the only one ever to have these thoughts and deeds. If only I will remember to look to God, he will provide my escape.

Prayer:

Holy Father, I want to stand strong and resist my temptations. I need your help to show me your way out. Help me to remember the price that Jesus paid for my sins. Help me to remember that the cross is because of my sins. I want to be like Christ and resist all of my temptations. I know that it can only be done with your help. Please help me when I need it most and keep me strong in your love.

– Don J

Scripture:

??1 Corinthians? ?7:32-34? ?ESV??
“I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.”

Observation:

When a man or woman is married, that relationship naturally impacts their emotions, interests, and anxieties. A husband and wife should be concerned with each other. It will impact the depth of their commitment and flexibility in following Christ and fulfilling the great commission.

Application:

Paul’s advice here is not a command from God. He makes that very clear. However it is advice to those who are single. If you are serious about pursuing the things of God and being undivided in allegiance to the mission of Jesus, stay single. However, if you are married, your marriage will and should be a strong commitment to your spouse that impacts your emotions, interests and anxieties. Marriages will impact one’s level of commitment to the mission of Christ.

I have heard so many people say God first, spouse second, kids third and so one and so on. Paul’s description here is slightly different and I believe more realistic. When you are a family man you have already committed your life to serve and please your spouse. Putting God first is not as black and white when you are already committed to a spouse. It isn’t that you are forced to obey your spouse ovet God, it’s just that you aren’t obeying Him alone. You are united with another person and the call of God is to obey together. This makes decision making more complex and many times hinders someone’s flexibility. In marriag, in order to honor your spouse, you must learn to lead and wait for them to grasp, understand and be on board before decisions are made. When one is single, this step is non-existent.

Couple action steps-
1. Paint a more realistic picture of married life pursuing Jesus. Be honest that it is many times a struggle to be a highly effective missional couple because being on the same page takes committed work.
2. Share the importance of this in premarital counseling and ensure the spiritual speeds of each other are kept in account.
3. Don’t treat single people like they are missing out. Instead treat them as the most flexible, mobile, and useful kingdom members in the body.
4. Honor marriage and singleness alike.

Prayer:
God thank you for these frank words on marriage. Being a mission minded married couple is difficult but not impossible. Help me be sensitive to my wife’s needs and desires and not run them over for the sake of “mission”. Also let me lead my wife to love Jesus and to model servanthood.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 6:19?-?20 NIV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Observation:

Bought
Price

Bought – God thinks our body is so valuable he sends his holy spirit to dwell in it. And For the creator of the universe to buy us,our bodies, is quite astonishing.

Price – whether I feel like my body is an old model,, updated, late model, luxury, or standard, God thinks it’s a Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ashton Martin. No. Better, the best. This is not a cheap body. This body has value so high, Jesus paid the ultimate price for it. Wow. We posess a very special body.

Application:

Honor. Show Jesus the respect and love he deserves. He does it for us, when we don’t deserve.

I was recently watching where Navy SEAL’S are trained to protect and die for each other. It’s not only their duty, it’s their honor. Not necessarily to die, but the willingness to die. They leave no man behind. These men truly love and trust each other. It’s the only way they are able to successfully do their mission.

In case you ever run across a group of SEALS – be sure you don’t cross one. Or you crossed all of them!

Perhaps if we treat our body with the knowledge of knowing we’re not a one man team. Through the holy spirit we share this body. This very valuable, highly priced body — with Jesus. We’re not a one man team. Honoring Him with our body ensures we reach his mission, our mission. Together with Him.

Prayer:

Father thank you for never leaving any part of your body behind. Even though it cost you the ultimate price. May we protect our body because they’re part of your body. In Jesus name, amen.

-James Smith

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Observation:

Paul is addressing a sin issue within the church. He is scolding the church for allowing a man who claims to be a believer to remain in fellowship with church while having a sexual relationship with his own father’s wife. The church was boasting that they were extending grace and forgiveness yet the man was not in repentance and was continuing the sinful behavior. Paul then challenges them to discipline the man by removing him from the fellowship so he would repent. Then Paul makes an interesting statement that clarifies his position on dealing with the immoral. It’s not the responsibility of the church to judge immoral lost people. Lost people will and should act lost. However, if a believer within the body is caught in sin and entangled, don’t ignore it or turn a blind eye. Instead confront it. If it is not repented of, bring judgment upon him for the sake of the health of the church and furthermore to put him on a path of repentance.

Application:

“Christians shouldn’t judge but love and accept everybody”… I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that. Yet in today’s reading the scripture actually calls believers to judge. However our judgment is not to be executed on the world but rather on ourselves as the church. God takes sin seriously among the ranks of the church. Sin renders the church disjointed and ineffective. When the behavior of believers matches the behavior of the world the question that begs answering is “what exactly does the power of the Holy Spirit accomplish in the life of the believer?” The primary role of the church is fulfilling the Great Commission. When the church allows unrepentant sin to go unaddressed we are hindering our effectiveness in accomplishing our primary role. Confronting sin sounds harsh and “un-Jesus” like, yet the truth is Jesus confronted sin. He didn’t ignore it. Judging sin in the church is necessary for church health and for that individual to experience repentance. For if the Spirit within them is being ignored, the Spirit corporately within the church needs to call it out.

Obedience to this passage in our culture is incredibly difficult. In the first century an unrepentant brother or sister was cast out of fellowship. This highly impacted every area of their life because to a first century believer, the church members were the only people they could rely on. Many of them had been totally cut off from family and their old life upon trusting Christ. Therefore the sting of being cast out by the church had a common response, Repentance! The pain felt by being out of fellowship drove them to recognize their mistakes and repent. They would reconcile with God and be received back by the church to function again as an integral part of the Body. However today when elders or leaders call believers out on their sin, people usually just get offended, leave and go to another church down the street. Our church culture is so afraid of confrontation because we don’t want to “shoot our own wounded”. So how then do we display the love of Jesus while at the same time being obedient to this New Testament teaching?

1. Watch our life and doctrine closely. As a believer our first responsibility when judging sin should be looking in the mirror. Let us be aware of the log in our eye before we look at the speck in others.

2. Teach the Bible. One of the reasons sin runs rampant in the church is the body is ignorant of sin. Jesus’ call was for us the teach believers how to obey everything Jesus commanded, not just the convenient stuff.

3. Confront believers in love. Offer prayer and any resources available to help the struggling brother.

4. Get the leadership of the church involved if the believer remains in sin. Sometimes getting leaders involved increases the validity of the charge and brings credibility to the confrontation.

5. Make the tough call for the health of the church and the fulfillment of the mission. Remember the church’s primary function is not to be a hospital for the hurting but rather a sending agency to fulfill the great commission. It is when we forget this that sin is treated casually and the health and vitality of the church is pushed aside for the sake of being tolerant and politically correct.

6. Pray. Pray for health. Pray for repentance. Pray for God’s Spirit to convict. Pray for restoration.

Prayer:

Father, may I love you and the people you have called me to lead. May I love people enough to not leave them where they are, especially when where they are is toxic and dangerous. Give me the boldness to confront sin within the church, starting with my own sin. Help me lead with grace and truth. Holy Spirit, move in me and among us as a church so that you are doing the majority of the confrontation and reconciliation. Give me wisdom to know when you are calling me to step in through your Spirit’s power. I pray for Good Life. I pray for health for the sake of mission. May we be serious about obedience and about sharing the Good News and life down the street and to the ends of the earth.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 4

Vs 1 “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ …”
Vs 3 “… it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or any human court.”
Vs 4 ” … it is the Lord who judges me.”
Vs 12 “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we answer kindly.”
Vs 16 “I urge you, then, be imitators of me.”

Observation:

Paul tells us what the life of an apostle looks like.
An apostle of Jesus will be a servant who will be judged harshly by others and treated lowly.
How lowly? Paul uses the phrase “scum of the world”!
This consists of being reviled, persecuted, and slandered as normal for him.
And he doesn’t waste time time worrying about it.
In fact, he says the worlds judgement is “a very small thing”!
Why? Because he’s a servant of Christ!

Application:

So, I consider myself a servant of Christ.
But do I care if I’m judged by others? Probably more than I’d like to admit.
Maybe a better question is, does my “serving Christ” even warrant judgement by others? Is it noteworthy? Does it standout in an ocean of “humanitarians” that all consider themselves serving “the greater good”?
Any serving I do, am I seeking to raise my status or Christ’s?
Jesus said “let you light shine” so others would “glorify the Father”.
Who is glorified by my service? Me or God?
I can’t ever recall being “reviled”.
We American Christians throw around being “persecuted” a lot, but usually because we got an “eye roll” from the co-worker who doesn’t want to be told they’re going to hell.
I don’t think we know the persecution Paul’s talking about.
And if I’ve ever been “slandered”, I’m sure it was a consequence of my own actions.
Why was Paul reviled, persecuted, and slandered?
Because of the offense of the Gospel.
Why am I? Because of the offense of me.
I need to imitate Paul.
If Paul offended someone because of serving the Gospel, their judgement was “a very small thing”.
I need to serve Christ.
Serve in a way that His light will shine.
And stay aware of any circumstance which I can “bless”, and “answer kindly”.

Prayer:

God, thank you for your Word.
And thank you for Paul and his example.
Give me boldness and courage to serve in a way that provokes a response of glorifying You.
And if the response is not to glorify You,
Give me the fruit of the spirit to love the people You out around me.
Amen.

-Dan Shontere

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 3: 18-19 “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.”

Observation:

Paul is writing to a church in Corinth that is very much caught up in things of this world. Immoral behavior, instability, divisions, jealousy and envy, lawsuits and marital difficulties are all present in Corinth. Sounds like our world today. Not much changes. We can use these wise words to apply to our lives today.

Application:

Often, I must be reminded that it does not help me to be “wise by the standards of this age” The successes and wisdom of this world will not help me at all in God’s kingdom. The things that we strive for in this age are not the things that we should be striving for in God’s kingdom. Money, talent, power and fame are what is valued today as well as valued back in Paul’s day. However, God blessed the poor and humbled the powerful. My talents are useless unless that talent is used to further God’s kingdom. The world may think of me as a fool but in God’s eyes I am wise.

Prayer:

Father, I need to be reminded to keep my eyes on your prize. Things of this world should not attract me. I want to be focused on your kingdom and being a disciple and making disciples to your kingdom. Thank you for leading me to what really counts. Keep reminding me to value your kingdom above all else. With my eyes and heart on your kingdom, I will be truly wise.

– Don J

Scripture:

Psalm 71:1?-?3 NIV

In you, Lord , I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Observation:

Plea
Protection
Praise

Plea – clearly the Author (I think David, but I’ve heard possibly Jeremiah) is in a rough place, seeking rescue. When I’m in a rough place I, too, plea. The challenge is, if I’m not careful, my plea will be to deaf ears or shallow things.

Protection – in a world that appears to socially and politically be getting worse and worse, it’s comforting to know we can plea and be protected through God. He is our refuge.

Praise – at the end of this chapter, the Author shifts from plea to praise. What’s cool is the praise comes before the protection is proven. The Author had faith!

When I’m struggling I have a plethora of sources to run to – I bet you do, too. Friends, family, or many worldly escapes – money, power, sex, drugs, booze, food, gossip, Facebook, religion, etc. These are all sources that may temporarily seem to help. But they will one day require a backup plan. However, I know my Lord is the only source who never requires backup. He’s the end all! He’s THE rescuer.

Application:

Faith. As Helen Keller said, when the outlook seems dim, try the uplook, He’s always bright! Faith in the Lord, during our plea and need for protection will allow immediate praise! How cool! Darkness can immediately become light, even with no apparent results. What other source offers this!?

Prayer:

Lord thank you for being our rock, our refuge. Thank you for giving a peace which surpasses all understanding. When there seems no reason for peace – there you are. This in itself increases my faith. I praise you Jesus. Amen

-James Smith

Scripture:

Psalm 68:5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

Observation:

This Psalm sing the praises of God based on God’s deliverance and triumphs over his enemies. The author of this psalm sings praises to God for the triumph over physical and spiritual suffering and pain. It is filled with examples of how God provides little things, like send rain, and provide more complex examples of his protection like parting the Red Sea.
This verse specifically mentions some of the weakest members of a community. Fatherless and widows. People with no one to look out for them other than themselves. A group of people that often rely on others for basic necessity. These people often get overlooked yet, He is the Father and Protector.

Application:

We just had Mother’s Day last week and at one point during the day my wife read a tribute to a young mother that we know who had lost her only child this past year. The baby was born but only lived 3 days. Last Sunday, all of her sisters were posting pictures on Facebook of activities they were doing with their kids. This young mother was not able to do that. She was obviously having a very rough day. There was really nothing we or her family could do for her to ease the pain she was feeling. But this verse reminds me that God is always there to provide the fatherly love that we need. He is Our Father and Protector. We can always turn to him for all of our needs.
No matter what situation I find myself in, I can always trust in God to be my father and my protector. Once we are a child of God, that relationship does not change. I will always be his child. He will always be my father. We can rest on that for a long time.
This verse demonstrates His compassion for me and for you. He loves us and He cares for us. God loves all of us. Everyone is important enough to love and to save. I need to look at others with the same perspective and not judge based on appearance, social status or situation.

Prayer:

My Father. Our Father. You are a great and powerful God. You provide me with simple things and great things. You love me, protect me and provide fatherly wisdom and guidance. Thank you for your compassion and mercy.

-Paul Palmer

Scripture:

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Observation:

Paul progressed from discussing life in the body of Christ to how a believer should live their life and how they should respond to people that try to persecute them. It is easy to think how hard life would have been for early Christians. As Americans we do not feel the same sense of danger as some Christians but we can still feel the sting of persecution. Paul provides a Christian viewpoint and an example of how we are to respond when these situations occur.

Application:

Bless is an action verb. It means I am instructed to act in a certain way. To consciously make a decision to behave in a certain manner. Curse is also an action verb. When dealing with someone that is persecuting me, I can choose to act on one of two ways. I can behave in a hostile manner and with the same level of respect they show me or I can react in a way that is opposite of their behavior by showing them love. Paul’s example of a reaction is counter cultural to the way most people think. Rather than getting even or having hatred toward our enemy we are to love. We are not even instructed to just let it go or turn the other cheek but we are to bless those that persecute us and not curse them. Bless means to bestow God’s favor and kindness. Curse is basically the opposite. That just doesn’t make sense. Why should I have to bless someone that is hostile to me, that treats me or my family unfairly or poorly simply because of my religious beliefs? Persecution can come in many forms. Of course it can occur through non-Christians but it can be through believers as well. It doesn’t matter where or by whom, we are instructed to bless those that persecute us. Not out of obligation but out of love. If I curse someone that persecutes me, how am I any better that the one doing the persecution? I have stooped to that level and there is no difference in my behavior than theirs. I must remember that they persecute out of ignorance and that by providing them with an example of how to live a Christian life according to your word, they have a better chance of coming to know you, to understand you and to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. God provided me with the example of how I am to live my life. Jesus lived a perfect life in God’s eyes yet while he was on earth he was persecuted. He was mocked, pursued, jailed, and beaten. They tried to stone him multiple times. Yet he never did anything but show love, mercy and kindness. I am called to be a reflection of the light and by blessing those that persecute me, I am continuing to live by Jesus’ example.

Prayer:

It is hard to bless those that treat us poorly. Even more so when we are persecuted by those that call themselves Christians. Help me to be slow to anger and quick to think of you during times that I think I am being persecuted. Help me to remember that they persecute out of ignorance and that by providing

-Paul Palmer

Scripture:

Romans 10:20 “And Isaiah boldly says, I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”

Observation:

Paul continues his discussion on righteousness. In Chapter 10 he talks about his desire for the Israelites to be saved. He outlines that works does not accomplish this. Jesus and his grace alone saves. Either someone is bringing the message (v 14 & 15), or God is revealed to those who are not even seeking Him.

Application:

What struck me in verse 20 is that the power of God reaches even those who are not seeking him. “Seek and find” is the rule for man, not for God. Those not even seeking Him often find God. The Gentiles were not even seeking Jesus, yet Jesus manifested himself to them. How many people are utterly lost, and somehow Christ finds them? Paul himself was hit upside the head with blindness on the Damascus Road. Was there ever a less likely candidate to be saved than Paul? Was there ever a more powerful tool to show us a path to God than Paul? No one is too far lost to be found by God’s love and grace. In verse 14 & 15 it says that I am tasked with bringing the good news to those who do not know it. However, it is the power of God that closes the deal. I must always remember that with God all things are possible. It is not my limited skills and talents that saves people, it is the awesome grace of God.

Prayer:

Father, Make me your vessel to share your good news. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Let me always remember that it is thru Your grace and power that we are saved.

– Don J

Scripture:

Rom. 11:1 “I ask then, had God rejected His people? By no means!

Rom. 11:5 “… at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.”

Rom. 11:6 “But if it is chosen by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”

Rom. 11:11 “… Through their (Israel’s) trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles. So as to make Israel jealous.”

Rom. 11:13 “Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.”

Rom. 11:30-33″For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and how inscrutable His ways!”

Observation:
Paul want to explain to the Romans (and all non-Jews) how they can be brought into the family of God.
In the same way that the Jews did not earn their way into God’s family (vs 6 “chosen by grace”), the Gentiles, us, also are saved into God’s family by actions not our own.
God is now wanting to graft all people into one family tree.
This can be exceptionally confusing when we all live such different lives in such different manners and in such disobedient ways.
But through the mystery and grace of God, after trespass there can be salvation, after jealousy there can be mercy.

Application:

Paul receives the grace of God and then lives his whole life as ministry. He says his ministry, which is his life, will make his fellow Jews jealous. But they will be jealous of his relationship with God! I think there is something strange in our culture that likes to provoke or create jealousy in others. (Jealous of our stuff, jealous of our family, jealous of our kids, jealous of our status, jealous of our social life.) But jealous of our relationship with God?! Do I live in such a way that people around me would think, “I want what he has, but not his stuff or family. … He has something I can’t see … but I know I don’t have it … And I want it.” Are people jealous of my relationship with God? Am I living in such gratitude for God’s mercy, such joy in the Lord, such love of others that it couldn’t be of my own power? Am I condemning others or showing mercy to others? Am I living in such a way that people even ask what makes me different?

Prayer:
God, thank you for your salvation.
Thank you that even disobedience is not the end of the story.
Thank you that you honor your covenant.
That you show grace and mercy.
Forgive me when I don’t.
Give me the courage to live life as ministry for you’d
Amen.

-Dan Shontere

Scripture:

“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.” (Romans 9:1-2 ESV) “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. “ (Romans 9:6a ESV) “…For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.” (Romans 9:15-18 ESV) “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?” (Romans 9:22-24 ESV)

Observation:

This chapter is titled God’s Sovereign Choice in my bible. It broadly talks about choice: God’s Choice and man’s choice. From my perspective these are not in conflict although it takes a bit of work to understand the Grace of God in the Gospel concerning Chapter 9—although a full understanding is sort of impossible because of my feeble mortal mind. For me it represents another beautiful facet of the Jewel that is the Gospel.

Application:

Once per year on my personal calendar is to review the Attributes of God. On a monthly basis I try to thoroughly recite the Plan of the Gospel. Good times in the car—I can get to the Cross but run out of time thinking of the Gospel and the local Church (not often getting to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit). Weaving the study of the Attributes into the Gospel is certainly needed because I either want to; 1) Short cut and minimize the enormity of the Gospel or; 2) Define the Gospel into a term that is all about me and only partially about God. In Romans 9 I see the heavy, wet, cloth of truth: God is Sovereign. No matter how I want to look at it God is Sovereign—all of Creation is under His rule and Active influence and control. I do not submit to that lightly. Even as I write the above and know that there are “better” answers candidly my heart doesn’t like this. I want to have some measure of control, of independence. I want to think God gives me latitude (like a doting father might). I tend toward self-importance, self-absorption. If I wanted to humanize my attitude it would be “Look what I did, Daddy. Aren’t you proud of me?”… but in some kind of score keeping way—however I thought about it, it wouldn’t be godly and glorifying to God. I know in my heart it would be “I don’t need You…I can do it myself.” This is ardently exemplified when I think that I have failed doing “God’s work” of some kind. What a crooked thought that is: like I am in charge of results. But that attitude is not the Heart of the Gospel. The Heart is that God loved his Creation; and that so thoroughly He created and executed the Plan to redeem the world by offering His Son as the Propitiation of His Wrath—Jesus died to pay the penalty for my Sin from the Wrath of God that I deserve. The humbling part of Romans 9 is that, according to the Scriptures, from a personal perspective—God chose me. Why? Why wasn’t I counted like Pharaoh? Why wasn’t I counted like Esau? “God so loved the World that He gave His only Son…” I get that objectively—what I am wrestling with and am in awe with more and more as I grow older is “why did He die for me specifically?” Don’t misunderstand this—my faith has not been stronger; I am not wavering. I don’t use the word “awe” lightly. What I am certainly coming to grips with is that I will not EVER understand the depths of His mercy towards me…and I am understanding that on That Day I will be among countless who will throw their crowns at the Feet crying “Only you are Worthy to receive Glory and Honor and Power—Worthy is the Lamb!”

Prayer:

I remember this refrain “Were the whole realm of nature mine; that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine; Demands my soul, my life, my all.” (Isaac Watts) My offering, Lord, of my life is meager, not anywhere close to being enough. But it is all I have. Daily I lay it down at the foot of the Cross, that blazing center of your Mercy and Grace. Please help me get my head on straight and teach me Your Ways. (Ps 119).

-Rick Sutton

Scripture:

Romans 6:15-17

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Observation:

Grace
Slavery
Obedience

Grace – I often find myself taking advantage of God’s grace. After all, we can’t outsin the grace of God, right?

Slavery – nope, can’t outsin God’s grace. But we also can’t unsin the consequences. God’s grace doesn’t stop the butt whoopings that come from sin. Slavery.

Obedience – Bob Dylan wrote the song, “you’re gonna serve somebody.” He said, “it might be the devil, it might be the Lord, but you’re gonna serve somebody.

Application:

If I’m going to practice obedience anyway. If I’m going to be a slave anyway.

Be obedient and a slave to Jesus. It’s the best deal going!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for allowing us to be your slave instead of sin’s. Thank you for giving us the power to obey you. In Jesus name, amen.

-James Smith

Scripture:

Rom. 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Observation:

Paul, the greatest church planting missionary of all time expresses a frustration that everyone of us have. We are a new person in Christ, yet we continue to do the very things we hate and struggle to do the things we know we should. Paul actually says he “wants” to do the right thing yet ends up doing the thing he “hates”.

Application:

The use of want and hate is interesting. The question I would pose to Paul is, “If you really hate it why are you doing it? And if you really want to do the right thing, why don’t you do it.” It seems very simple until I apply it to my own life. I find myself where Paul is many times. Too often. Thoughts, words, actions, emotions, fears… none of which I really want to have as part of my life start to come creeping back. Yet in my right mind, when surrounded by support and living in a clear reality that God is with me and within me, none of these thoughts, emotions, fears are appealing whatsoever. Yet here I sit. This passage reminds us that I am not alone in this, and either are you. As long as we live on earth and in our flesh we will battle with this. Today I am drawing a line down a piece of paper and writing the things I hate and the things I actually want to do. My life is not defined by my ability to master my weaknesses and accentuate my strengths. The truth is I am defined by the victory Christ claimed 2,000 years ago when He delivered me from this body of death through the crucifixion and resurrection! No temptation has seized me today except what is common to man today. (1 Cor. 10:13). May I seek to find the way out and stand up under the resurrecting power of Christ.

Prayer:

Father, I know I am not alone in this life. I know I am here for a purpose. I know it isn’t to do the things I despise, but rather do the things you have called me to do for your glory. Lead me today and may I realize that the battle is already won.

Scripture:

Romans 8:14-15 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him “Abba, Father.”

Observation:

When we place our faith in Jesus, we have God’s Spirit living in us. Those who follow the Spirit are chosen to be children of God. God gives us his Spirit and adopts us as his own children where we can have an intimate relationship with him and call him “Abba/Daddy.” The Spirit does not make us slaves to God, rather it gives us power to overcome our sinful nature.

Application:

The same Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside me. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and resurrection gives me life so I am right with God. It is amazing how God loves us so much that when we believe in Jesus, he literally adopts us as his own children! If this is the way God views us in the spirit of adoption, so too should the Church and its’ body view adoption. While everyone may not become adoptive parents, we have many ways to support adoption with our time and resources.

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for loving us so much to send your son Jesus so we can believe in Him and become your children. May your Spirit of adoption guide us for opportunities to support and serve that ministry.

-Todd Dawson