January 6 – Not Your Own (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

“You are not your own, you were bought at a price.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

IN WORD:
Life is a series of decisions. Some of them are relatively minor, others have lasting impact. We often act on the minor decisions — what to eat, what to wear, who to talk to, etc., out of our natural behavior patterns, giving them little or no thought. With the more serious choices — which job to take, where to live, and the like — we weigh pros & cons and try to determine the right course of action. In any case, we are likely to forget an important backdrop to our decision making: We are not our own. We belong to God.
Isn’t this easy to forget? We tend to approach life with a certain autonomy, as though we are independent individuals with a responsibility to acknowledge God in worship and sacrifice. But God wants a deeper worship in our lives. Rather than living independently of Him while giving Him our respect, He wants us to live dependently on Him with the awareness that every action, every thought, every impulse is to fit into His purposes. We must not act — or even breathe — without this awareness. We have been bought. We are His!
Some might consider this the equivalent of slavery. Paul always did (Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:1), regardless of whether he was free or in prison. But it is a joyful service that carries with it no sense of oppression. How could it? Our Master is the epitome of benevolence. He knows our innermost being and is zealously intent on fulfilling us. The key for us is living with the knowledge that we are owned and operated by the most loving and qualified Owner possible.

IN DEED:
The Christian who lives with this wisdom — that we are owned by Another — is a Christian profoundly changed. Our decisions are affected, our character is reformed, and our load is lightened. We lose the right to ourselves, but we also lose the burden of self-rule. It is a wonderfully freeing truth. Everything about us is the concern of Someone else. Glory to God!

“The condition for gaining God’s full blessing is absolute surrender to Him.” -Andrew Murray-

January 5 – Guided By God (Psalm 81:11-16)

“If my people would but listen to me, . . . How quickly would I say due their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!”
(Psalm 81:13-14)

IN WORD:
The hardest aspect of the Christian life is to learn to submit to God in all things. His yoke is easy, but remembering to be bound by it s difficult. We worship Him for His goodness, we thank Him for His love, we pledge to be His disciples, and we ask Him for His wisdom. All the while, the nuts & bolts of following Him are hard to grasp. When it comes to making decisions, we still like our independence.
What is it about our independence that so intrigues us? Why are we so captivated with our decision-making powers? Why, even when we know that a sense of autonomy is Satan’s specialty and the root of our sin, do we insist on maintaining little pieces of it in various corners of our lives? Why, when God tells us one thing and our internal compulsions tell us another, do we often choose the compulsions? What does that say about our trust in God?
That’s what the fall of man in the Garden of Eden was all about: mistrusting God and seeking our own interests. And that’s still what sin is all about. When we choose our own will over God’s, we’re mistrusting Him and trusting ourselves. How absurd is that?! We forget the most basic of all biblical teaching: God’s will is ALWAYS in our best interest!

IN DEED:
Are you convinced of that? The Christian life will always be a struggle until we know deep down in our hearts that His commands — even the hard ones — are ultimately for our benefit. We can be sure that the best way to seek our own self-centered interests is to be entirely God-centered. In this paradox, godliness and the self-life meet. Or, as Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33). Our happiness is deeper and richer when we listen to Him.
In that sense, it is a self-fulfilling act to forsake our own will and submit to His. Submission seems so noble, but we have a lot at stake in it. When we serve Him, we are serving ourselves. Believe that wholeheartedly, and see what happens.

“If God’s will is your will and if He always has His way with you, then you always have your way as well.”
-Hannah Whitall Smith-

January 4 – Driven By Instinct (Jude 17-21)

“In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” (Jude 18)

IN WORD:
Guidance is always a pressing issue for the Christian. Pick a moment in your life — any moment at all — and it is likely that you have needed guidance on some critical area at that particular moment. We are always in need of direction, and most of us are very much aware of that need.
The unbeliever, as this passage says, is a slave to instinct and self. Those who do not follow God must follow their own internal logic. And that logic is a mess of distorted perspectives, most often driven by self. The self-guided person will make decisions based on emotional needs, cravings for self-esteem, physical impulses, and present-life planning. There is nothing eternal about their choices, no urge to submit to their Creator, no consistent willingness to put others’ needs ahead of their own desires. Even in their highest moral behavior, they are driven from within, where the Spirit does not dwell.
We, too, often lapse into instinctual decision-making. Though we want God’s guidance and even ask for it, we often do not wait for it. We make our decisions based on what our internal logic tells us. Is that logic guided by the Spirit? Or do we serve our own emotional needs, self-esteem cravings, physical impulses, and present-life interests? We are inhabited by God’s wise, eternal Spirit. But are we driven by Him?

IN DEED:
When we are driven by our own internal impulses & reasoning, we are settling for 2nd best. Even when those instincts are shaped by years of discipleship, they are still subject to sin & deception. We can use them to God’s glory, but we can’t trust them. They must always be submitted to the guiding mind of God.
We do not need to follow the patterns of this world. We are not left to figure out things on our own. We are not ruled by our base desires, or even by our noble ones. We have not been abandoned to our own moral codes and higher philosophies. We are called to follow our Leader. We must submit our instincts to Him and follow Him diligently.

“Let temporal things serve your use, but the eternal be the object of your desire.” -Thomas A’ Kempis-

January 3 – A Higher Mind
(1 Corinthians 2:6-16)

“We have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)

IN WORD:
At first glance, Paul’s claim is boastful. It would not go over well in our “politically correct” culture of today. It probably did not go over well in the Corinthian culture then, except within the church. There, it would have been a treasured truth and an amazing revelation.
So it is with us. It is almost unthinkable: the mind of the One through whom the entire universe was created, the fount of all wisdom, is available to us. We are not limited to human reasoning. We are not bound by the limitations of history’s greatest thinkers, who, while often exceeding human standards of intelligence, have all fallen drastically short of discovering eternal truth by natural means. No, we have a supernatural access to ultimate reality from an eternal perspective. We know the direction of history and where it is leading; we know how to escape this fallen world; and we know who holds all power in the palm of His right hand. This vast, incomprehensible treasure is ours — if we will accept it.
That’s our problem. We often resort to lesser means of wisdom because we’re unaware that the mind of Christ is accessible, or we’re unable to believe such an extravagant promise. But if we can’t believe it, we can’t have it. The mind of Christ is ours through the Spirit of God, who comes to us only through faith. The Spirit searches the deep things of God (v. 10) and reveals them to His people. Such things are foolish to the world, but they are true nonetheless — truth that we can know and base our lives on.

IN DEED:
You have your own mind. You also have Christ’s. Which would you rather depend on? Begin each day by disavowing your own wisdom. We must acknowledge that we do not have the understanding to make the decisions we will face each day. We do not know all the details or future implications of any decision. But God does, and He makes His wisdom available. Acknowledge your utter dependence on the mind of Christ, ask for His wisdom, and believe.

“The truly wise are those whose souls are in Christ.”
-St. Ambrose-

January 2 – Wise Worship
(Romans 12:1-2)

“I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.”(Romans 12:1)

IN WORD:
Wisdom begins with basing one’s life on reality. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Why? Because fear of the Lord is based on a true understanding of who we really are and who God really is. But there is a next step. Wisdom doesn’t begin and end with fear; it continues into worship. When we really understand who God is, the natural response is to offer Him whatever we can get our hands on — and all we have is ourselves.
All of those in the Bible who encountered the living God in His glory, fell on their face in worship. Like Isaiah, they would offer themselves (Isaiah 6:8). If we have not yet gotten to that point of laying ourselves on the altar before Him — without reservation — we have not yet encountered the living God. His glory prompts sacrifice. It is the only wise, intelligent, reasonable response to the magnitude of His goodness.

IN DEED:
We often think of worship as words and songs that come out of our mouths. But, it is so much more. It is a lifestyle, a sacrificial way of living that acknowledges every moment of every day that there is One far more worthy of our allegiance than ourselves. When His interests consistently supercede ours, and we act accordingly, we are worshiping.
Imagine yourself in the throne room of God. See the altar at His feet. Get on it. Lay yourself out before Him and say to Him: “I am Yours. Do with me as You will. I give up my right to govern myself, because You are far more worthy to do it, and You will never do me harm. I exist for Your purposes, and for Yours alone.” Do this every morning, then live out your day mindful of whose you are. In light of who He is, this is true worship. And true worship is the wisest thing we can do.

“Worship is not part of the Christian life; it IS the Christian life.”(Gerald Vann)

January 1 – Where Wisdom Begins (Proverbs 9:10-12)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
(Proverbs 9:10)

IN WORD:
We’re uncomfortable with the idea of fearing God. We defend Him as One whose love is so great He needs not be feared. As 1 John 4:18 says: “Perfect love drives out fear.” So we define fear as “awe” and “reverence.” Yet the Scriptures use the term “fear of God” frequently enough to give us the impression that something more than awe is appropriate. It is the kind of fear that terrified the disciples when they heard God’s voice at the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:6; that overwhelmed Isaiah when he cried out, “Woe to me! . . . I am ruined!” In God’s presence (Isaiah 6:5); and that drove John face down at the sight of the glorified Son (Rev. 1:17).
Why does a God of love tell us that wisdom begins when we fear Him? Because when we approach the Holy One with a casual familiarity, we are not living in reality. We do not take Him as seriously as we ought. Fear — not of punishment, but of the overwhelming greatness of God — sees Him correctly. When we stand on the edge of the vast, bottomless chasm that separates us from Him, and we behold the immeasurable expense He paid to bridge that chasm, we experience fear. Fear of what would have been if we had never known the gospel. Fear of our own unworthiness. Fear of the absolute dedication to Him that is now required of us. When this fear grips us, we begin to understand the enormity of the gospel and of our God. That understanding begins to rearrange our lives. And that is what wisdom is all about.

IN DEED:
It is vital that we know God’s love and rest comfortably in it. But a true understanding of God’s love begins with an overwhelming awareness of His greatness, holiness, and power as they contrast our own sinful nature. There is nothing more fear-inducing than that. But this is where we must begin. This will shape our self-awareness, our relationships, our work, our prayers — everything we think and do. It will make us wise.

“True wisdom is gazing at God.” – (Isaac the Syrian)

Over several weeks this fall, we, as a congregation went through a spiritual campaign called, “Transformed.” We used Romans 12:2 as our main Scripture verse which says to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” What does it mean to have a transformed mind?
Learning to think God’s way is a process. We did not come into this world with a clear perception about God and His Kingdom — or about our own selves, for that matter. We began with distorted views to accurately reflect His character and His Kingdom. In other words, we need wisdom — God’s wisdom — found in His Word.
That’s what these daily devotionals in 2018 are all about. They will be aimed at redirecting our thinking so that we understand ourselves, our world, and our God accurately. They are designed to move us further along the path of having our minds renewed and our lives transformed.
Although the focus in these devotionals is biblical wisdom, the Scripture readings will not be limited to what we normally consider the Bible’s “wisdom literature” — Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. Those books are the core of biblical wisdom, but God’s mind is found everywhere throughout the Scriptures. In every case, however, the daily Scripture reading is meant to help you reflect on hw your mind works.
So, as you read these wisdom devotionals throughout 2018, remember that the Word of God expresses the mind of God. His thoughts are available to us. So, let these devotionals help you dig deeper into His revelation. Let God’s Spirit shine the light of wisdom into your life and mind and change your thinking. But, most of all, let your mind be renewed and your life be transformed.
May you have a blessed New Years and may God bless you in 2018! The daily devotionals will begin tomorrow.

Pastor Ben

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Perhaps you are among the many people for whom Christmas is not a season of joy, but a trial and a challenge. For you, Christmas cheer and the reason for celebration have long since been lost in the fog of confusion, disappointment, or loneliness. It isn’t a season to be enjoyed — it has become a season to be endured. May be that’s why one’s perspective is so important. The perspectives of Mary and Joseph can help us to rediscover the marvelous reality that Christmas is not a season after all. It’s a gift — a gift expressing the extent to which our loving God was willing to go to make us His own.
For Mary & Joseph, there was wonder in those events. The wonder of who Christ is and the wonder of why He came are only the beginning. The wonder of what that can mean in our lives is beyond imagination.
In John 1:12 we read an important promise to us from the God of heaven:
“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
Imagine, the Maker of heaven and earth is the One who makes it possible for us to know Him, to find forgiveness for all our wrongdoing, and to receive more than eternal life — to receive the privilege and wonder of becoming part of His family!
God did all that by sending His Son on that first Christmas. If you will talk to Him, admit your failings, express your needs, acknowledge His authority over your life, and accept the gift of forgiveness His Son has made possible, you can know the greatest of all wonders — the wonder of new life in Christ!
What better way to celebrate Christmas!
Have a wonderful & blessed Christmas Day!

We love you!
Pastor Ben & Torrie

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Miracle At Bethesda

After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted. A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately, the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.”
(John 5:1-9a)

This miracle perfectly illustrates God’s sovereign grace in action. Out of all the sick people at the pool, Jesus chose to heal this one man. There was nothing about him that made him more deserving than the others, nor did he seek out Jesus; Jesus approached him. The Lord did not choose him because He foresaw that he had the faith to believe; he never did express belief that Jesus could heal him.
It is the same way in salvation. Out of the spiritually dead multitude of Adam’s fallen race, God chose and redeemed His elect — not because of anything they did to deserve it, or because of their foreseen faith, but because of His sovereign choice.

Ask Yourself:
Be on the lookout for people in need — those you meet in very random encounters, as well as those you know well, people you see on a fairly routine basis. Wherever possible, be part of bringing hope and compassion to those who think no one really cares about them. Understand that you represent Jesus’ love and mercy everywhere you go.
Pastor Ben

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Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
(John 4:50-54)

The royal official did not dispute Jesus’ assessment of him and his fellow Galileans. Instead, he pored out his heart, exclaiming, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Despite Christ’s rebuke of the Galileans’ faithless demand for miracles, the Lord graciously performed the miracle and drew the official’s faith to a higher level.
Rather than agreeing to go back to Capernaum with him as the official had begged Him to do, Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” At that very instant (vs. 52-53), the boy was healed. Though he had no confirmation of it, “the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him” and started off for home.
On the way, his slaves met him and he received the good news he was hoping to get: “his son was living.” When he discovered that the time of his son’s recovery was at the very hour that Jesus spoke the proclamation of healing, not only did the royal official himself believe, but also his whole household.

Ask Yourself:
It is hard to be one faithful person among many others who are unfaithful. How are you being called to exercise the lonely, upstream walk of faith in your work or church or family environment? Pray that you would keep believing, even when all those around you discount your unflagging trust.

Pastor Ben

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