WEEKLYDEVOTIONAL March 2 - March 6, 2 0 1 5

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WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL March 2 - March 6, 2 0 1 5

P RAYE R S Monday:

Ask God to ignite your heart for His word and truth. Pray for a hunger for His word, not just so that you can be a learner but also better to love others and do His will.

Tuesday:

Pray for God to nurture the heart of a servant in you. Ask Him to guide you as to where you should serve.

Wednesday: Reflect upon anyone whom you’ve not forgiven, call them to mind and name them before God. Ask God to help you to forgive that person, to help you gain release from the power of unforgiveness and its bitter consequences. Thursday:

Pray for Glenkirk’s pastors in their service of God, the Glenkirk congregation, and those benefitting from Glenkirk’s ministries. Ask God to strengthen them and their families vs. spiritual warfare.

Friday:

Ask God for a better understanding of how He loves us, wanting only what’s best for us. Ask Him to increase your capacity for this type of love, even toward “enemies.”

Sources Used for This Devo: *A number of the quotes in this week’s devos came from www.goodreads.com: Mother Theresa, Toni Sorenson, Thaddeus of Vitovnica, William Blake, Stormie Omartian, Lewis Smedes, D.R. Silva, Jim Sterling, A.W. Tozer, John Piper and Philip Yancey. *Mark Snyder’s quote is via US News & World Report, April 4, 2013. *Jon Courson’s quotes are from Jon Courson’s APPLICATION COMMENTARY (Thomas Nelson Publishers, © Jon Courson 2003). *Adrian Rodgers’ quote is via his sermons as aired on his radio program, “Love Worth Finding” (K-Brite AM 740, 7:30 AM in the LA area). *Chuck Smith’s quote and David Guzik’s quotes are via www.blueletterbible org/commentaries.

MO NDAY Romans 12:9-21 How are humans triune, just as the true and living God is a Trinity? What are some examples of Christian living being “upside down” vs. worldly views? What caused these Christian values to turn “upside down”?

Just as God is triune—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—so is each human: soul (personality, intellect, emotions), body and spirit. Some believe this is why Genesis 1:26 states, “God said, let us make man in our image.” When Adam and Eve fell, they were turned upside-down from how God created them: formerly spirit-led, they became fleshly, their subordinated spirit withering in separation from God. In our natural, fallen, pre-Christian state, each of us is like Adam and Eve. Biblical teaching about following Christ flies in the face of worldly views—because we are to be God-honoring, Spirit-led and service-oriented vs. fleshly and selfish. Today’s Scripture features several verses opposing worldly norms: be patient in tribulation (v. 12); bless those who persecute you (v. 14); associate with the lowly (v. 16); repay no evil for evil (v. 17); if your enemy is hungry, feed him (v. 20). Related Christian tenets, “upside down” to the natural/ unsaved, as taught by Jesus and the Bible: WORLDLY VIEW CHRISTIAN VIEW God is in all things; nature, the God is Creator, apart from while intiuniverse and I are “god.” mate with His creation; worship the Creator, not the creation. If I am “good enough,” I’ll be in “heaven” after death.

Works and “merit” fall short of God’s perfect standard; salvation comes only via Jesus’ worthiness and sacrifice.

I must fully understand before I I need to start believing before I can can believe. begin understanding. Wealth means security; the more I have, the “happier” I become.

Security is only in Christ; peace and joy come only by following Jesus.

I can love those who are kind and loving to me.

Love everyone, even “enemies”; God is love and He alone enables agápe.

I can forgive only if my “ofWhen you forgive, you free a captive: fender” apologizes and/or I’ve yourself; forgive because you’ve been been repaid. forgiven in Christ. I need to “look out for #1.”

Abundant life comes by dying to self and serving; the last shall be first.

Do you know anyone perplexed by Christianity? How can you help them understand God’s truth?

TUESDAY Philippians 2:1-11 What is the meaning of life? Why is it good for us to live as servants? How’s your servant’s heart?

As Paul teaches about Christian life, note verse 7 characterizing how our Lord stepped into humanity to rescue those who would receive: “taking the very nature of a servant, being born in human likeness.” During His 1st century life on earth, including washing His disciples’ feet (Thursday’s devo), Jesus Christ lived as a Servant. Were His related lessons “helpful tips,” simply “good ideas,” or something more? When someone jokingly asks, “What’s the meaning of life?” we should answer, “To glorify God.” In response to the pursuant, “What does that mean?” question, “Know God and make Him known.” And one practical way to do this is by selflessly serving others for Jesus. You were created to serve, “a servant . . . born in human likeness.” Being a servant is more than just “nice”—when we serve in God’s name, we fulfill His purpose for us, glorifying Him and producing joy. Joy isn’t planned or manufactured; it stems from seeing God work and being available to Him. Mother Theresa understood this, once stating, “The problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family too small.” Even psychologists, despite their self-absorbed humanism, have begun to understand the link between service and joy. Mark Snyder, psychologist and head of the Center for the Study of the Individual and Society at the U. of Minnesota, summarizing continuing studies: “People who volunteer tend to have higher . . . psychological well-being, and happiness . . . (selfless service) also improves their health and even their longevity.” (US News & World Report, April 4, 2012). Jon Courson: “The 12-step program for dealing with depression: Step 1—do something for someone else; Steps 2 thru 12—repeat Step 1.” Other relevant quotes: “Humility is not thinking poorly of yourself; it is not thinking of yourself (at all).”—Adrian Rodgers. “A true Christian does not judge whether a person is worthy of help, but only judges a need and how to best meet that need.”– Toni Sorenson. “Righteousness acts never in its own interest, but in the interest of fellow men.”–Thaddeus of Vitovnica

WEDNESDAY Colossians 3:12-17 Why does the Bible teach us to forgive others? What are the consequences of not forgiving another? What are some common misunderstandings about forgiveness?

Forgiving others—from the smallest “offense” to the greatest—is a tremendous stumbling block. Today’s teaching reminds us that if we have the peace of Christ in our hearts (v. 15) and its accompanying fruit (compassion, kindness, humility, love, etc.), we are equipped to forgive. For after all, if we are in Christ, we have been forgiven (v. 13). William Blake said, “The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness.” Forgiving is not only right, it’s also healthy, as confirmed by continuing studies. “Harboring . . . negative (unforgiveness) emotions creates a state of chronic anxiety . . . Chronic anxiety very predictably produces excess adrenaline and cortisol, which deplete the production of natural killer cells (that are) your body’s foot soldier in the fight against cancer . . . Research on cancer patients revealed about 61 percent had trouble forgiving. More than half had a severe problem.” (www.cbn.com, January 1, 2012) However, misunderstanding what forgiving is and is not keeps some from experiencing its peace. Forgiving is not condoning, but simply releasing any claim you have on “getting even.” You can forgive without forgetting; though when God forgives us, He chooses to forget all of our sins (Psalm 103:12). According to Stormie Omartian, “When we forgive someone, it doesn’t justify what they’ve done. It releases them into God’s hands so He can deal with them.” (Romans 12:19) Lewis Smedes asserts, “You can forgive someone almost anything. But you cannot tolerate everything . . . We don’t have to tolerate what people do just because we forgive them for doing it.” I’ve learned not to wrestle with forgiving, finding it much more healthy to take almost nothing personally. When I drive now, I no longer “compete” with other drivers for an open lane, nor do I get upset when someone cuts me off. I wish I could say I’ve grown like this in other areas, but I’m now much more pleasant to be with while driving than I used to be. This principle of forgiveness really works! Where have you struggled with forgiveness? Whom do you need to forgive? Ask God to help you.

T HU RSDAY John 13:1-17 Why did Jesus wash His disciples’ feet? Why hadn’t any of the disciples handled this need earlier that evening?

Jon Courson relates: “Within a span of five days, the two most important foot washings in the history of the world took place. On the Saturday before Palm Sunday . . . (Jesus) went into the house of Mary, who washed His feet with costly perfume (John 12:3). Five days later . . . (Jesus) washes the dirt off of the feet of the disciples.” Tuesday’s Scripture showed Jesus as the model Servant. Today He demonstrates this in a most amazing way. Chuck Smith: “A man girded with a towel was a bond slave. This was the sign of a slave, a slave of the lowest order.” David Guzik: “According to the Jewish laws and traditions . . . (even) a teacher had no right to demand or expect that his disciples would wash his feet. How much more unthinkable was it that the Master would wash His disciples’ feet?” Luke 22:24 tells us that, just prior to this act, the disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest. David Guzik states, “Any of the disciples would have gladly washed Jesus’ feet. But they could not wash His without having to be available to wash the others’ feet, and that would have been an intolerable admission of inferiority among their fellow competitors for the top positions in the disciples’ hierarchy. So no one’s feet got washed (until Jesus did it)! . . . At this critical moment, during this evening before the torture of the cross, Jesus doesn’t think of Himself. He thinks about His disciples. Truly, this is loving them to the end.” God the Son came to earth to serve, to demonstrate to us that abundant life is a servant’s life. Jon Courson says, “Just as Jesus laid aside His earthly garments . . . He laid aside His garments of glory to come and dwell among us . . . Jesus wrapped Himself in a towel, (just as) He wrapped His divinity in human flesh . . . Just as the branch that bears the most fruit bows the lowest, the one who’s really fruitful in the things of Jesus Christ will bow the lowest to serve others.” Why not re-read Tuesday’s devo and reflect upon its ending question?

FRI DAY 1 Corinthians 13 What are some common misapplications of God’s loving nature? What does “Love is costly” mean?

Today’s Scripture is very familiar—it’s featured in many weddings, even those of non-Christians. As D.R. Silva said, “You don’t need a Master’s in Theology to love people.” But don’t allow familiarity of 1 Corinthians 13 to dull you to its truth and depth. Awareness of Paul’s “treatise on love” can reinforce misperceptions about God. For example, many dismiss the Bible’s extensive teaching about hell with sentimental notions, such as “A loving God could not send people to hell; that’s just a scare-tactic used by desperate pastors.” Those favoring promiscuous lifestyles might take the well-known quote from 1 John 4:8, “God is love,” and flip it around to “Love is god.” Of course, love and lust are different things and those making such “love” their god set themselves up for self-destructive lives and eternal separation from the true and living God. The most convicting perspective I’ve found on love, however, comes via Jim Sterling and aims squarely at Christ followers: “I know two kinds of Christians: those that love and those that love to be right.” Ouch! If “being right” is your god, it stands in the way of a right relationship with the true and living God. A.W. Tozer nicely summarizes today’s Scripture: “Love wills the good of all and never wills harm or evil to any. Love considers nothing its own but gives freely to the object of its affection.” John Piper applies this to Tuesday’s theme of sacrificial service: “Love is costly. It always involves some kind of self-denial. It often demands suffering.” Philip Yancey takes this even further, emphasizing God’s sacrifice to satisfy His holiness while providing redemption for humankind: “Power, no matter how well-intentioned, tends to cause suffering. Love, being vulnerable, absorbs it. In a point of convergence on a hill called Calvary, God renounced the one for the sake of the other.” Are you able to love the “unlovable,” as God did when He came as Jesus of Nazareth to rescue us? Do your “loves” ever get in the way of fully loving God and, resultantly, others?

1700 East Palopinto Ave. Glendora, CA 91741 (626) 914-4833 www.GlenkirkChurch.org