Freedom of Choice

The people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! . . . We too will serve the Lord, because He is our God.”-Joshua 24:16, 18-

Christian philosopher Peter Kreeft says, “The opposite of theism is not atheism. It’s idolatry.” Everyone is going to worship a god of some sort (yes, even atheists), because we were created to be worshipers. It’s written into our genetic code. It’s an inescapable part of our job description as human beings. Worship comes as factory-installed, standard equipment in any member of the human race who has a body, a mind, and emotions.
The question, of course, is whom or what you will choose to worship personally. There are lots of options, and most of them are not “religious.” In whom or what do you put your hope? What do you pursue? In short, to what do you give the bulk of your life’s attention?
Here are some choices that reveal the god or gods you may be worshiping:
* How you spend your day off or your free time
* Whom you choose as friends & which ones you call in a crisis
* What you do for a living
* How you manage your money
* What you watch on TV or what websites you visit
* What clothes you wear (or wish you could afford to wear)
* What food you eat
* What you think about
* How you spend your Sundays
* What type & level of education you have gotten or are getting
* Whether or not you a time with God — every day of the week

Instead of worrying about the question, “What god am I serving?” Look at your choices. You really are free to choose. But choosing well can be difficult.

Pursuing Today
Ask yourself, “What choices am I making? Have I been influenced by the choices of my friends and family? The culture around me? Consider your answers to the choices listed above. Stop for a moment and weigh your options. Then complete these sentences, using the same language the people of Israel used. “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve [ ]. We too will serve the Lord because [ ].

SUCCESS

Success is relative — The more success, the more relatives!

3 men were trying to come up with a definition of “success.” Said the first, “I would consider myself successful if I could have a private, personal conversation with the President of the United States in the White House Oval Office.” The second man said, “I would consider myself successful if, while I am having a private personal conversation with the President of the United States in the White House Oval Office, his hotline rings and he ignores it.” Said the third man, “For me to feel successful, I would be having a private, personal conversation with the President of the United States in the White House Oval Office, the hotline rings, he answers it and says, ‘It’s for you.’ ”

A survey of 100 executives asked this question: “What does success mean to you?” These were their top 10 answers:
Do you agree or disagree with them?

1.) Possessing something specific and worthwhile.
2.) Experiencing a special feeling.
3.) The process of going from point A to point B.
4.) Reaching my maximum potential at any given moment.
5.) Overcoming obstacles.
6.) Success is work.
7.) Success is power.
8.) Not looking back with regret.
9.) Success is production.
10.) Success is lasting.

John Maxwell’s Definition of Success
KNOWING God and His desires for me;
GROWING to my maximum potential;
SOWING seeds that benefit others.

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Read Genesis 1:27-28.

Verse 28 says that God expected Adam (man) to be successful.
Verse 27 says that God equipped Adam (man) to be successful.

God expected Adam to have the success image. He expected Adam to do that which was right and pleasing in His sight, and so gave him instructions. The only way failure could gain entrance to Adam’s life was for him to disobey.

As you spend time with God, remember…
Success is Obedience to God!

Waiting Time
During your waiting time, let God…

Love You.
“God, I feel Your love today, especially in the area of…”

Search You.
“God, You have permission to reveal any wrong motive in my life.”

Show You.
“God, is there anything that I need to know as I enter this day?”

Confession Time
If success is obedience to God, take a moment and confess to Him any area in which you are disobedient to Him.

Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

… Read Psalm 1 slowly a couple of times.
…Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray the Scripture & allow God to minister to you.

Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind:

Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing & thanksgiving for the people for whom you will now intercede.
Name Request

Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

How to Petition God Properly
Talk to Him about the “little things”
Be honest with God
Pray “Thy Will Be Done”
Prayer Requests

Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing that God has impressed on me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to take in my obedience to God:

Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying, through the eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

Praise & Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This Week’s Memory Verse – Joshua 1:8

This Week’s Time Alone With God:

Monday – This lesson.

Tuesday – Read again the “Preparation Time.” When Adam sinned, the nature of sin became a part of the human family. Our sinful nature causes us to…
1.) Disobey God
2.) Keep a distance from Him
3.) Withhold affections from God
4.) Avoid responsibility for wrong-doing

Wednesday – Memorize John Maxwell’s definition of success.

Thursday – Which of the 3 parts of Maxwell’s definition of success do you find the most difficult?

Friday – Make a commitment to work on that difficult area.

The Least of These

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
-Matthew 25:40-

Jesus tells a story in Matthew 25 that haunts me from time to time. Though it follows a string of parables, this story is not one. It’s a straightforward depiction of what will take place when Jesus comes back again.
On that day, Jesus will separate everybody in the world into two groups — the righteous “sheep” on His right and the wicked “goats” on His left. He’ll tell them two slightly different versions of the same story. To the sheep: When I was hungry and thirsty, you fed me. When I was a stranger, you were hospitable and invited me into your house. When I needed some clothes, you gave me a couple of shirts and a nice pair of pants. That time I was sick? You nursed me back to health. That time I was put in prison? You showed up during visiting hours.
Those listening will be more than a little confused. “When did we see you like this?” they’ll ask. “We never knew you were hungry or thirsty. When did we see you a stranger or without clothes? We don’t remember you being sick or in prison and coming to visit you. When did we meet these needs? The sheep wait for an answer, scratching their heads and exchanging puzzled looks.
Finally, Jesus breaks the silence and replies: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). This crowd smiles and exhales in unison. Then Jesus rewards them with a blessing — an inheritance in His kingdom.
But to those on His left, He gives a scathing rebuke: I was hungry & thirsty, and you couldn’t even scrounge up any leftovers. I was a stranger, and you looked right past me. I didn’t have any clothes, and you couldn’t find anything to spare out of your overflowing closets. I was sick, and you turned a blind eye. I was in prison, and you just wrote me off as someone else’s problem.
The goats squirm nervously. They too respond, in an almost defensive, desperate tone: “We never saw you like that . . . did we? When did that happen ? When did we not meet your needs? If only we’d known it was You!”
And Jesus replies: “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me” (Matthew 25:45). Then the goats are sent away for eternal punishment.
It’s a simple story making an obvious point. You and I will have opportunities to see Jesus; you are probably realizing now that you already have. Maybe you saw him today as you drove to work. Maybe he keeps to himself in the cubicle just down the row from you. Maybe he lives next door to you. Maybe you read about his arrest in the paper.
So, when you see him, will you recognize him? And perhaps more important, will you respond by serving him?

Pursuing Today
The application is clear. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to serve “the least of these.” Ignore the excuses that pull at you (“He’ll probably spend my money on alcohol,” “She got herself into this mess,” “He’s just really difficult to love”). Serve. Give. Love. For Christ’s sake, don’t miss your opportunity.

Every Knee

“Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(Philippians 2:9-11)

The older I get, the more attention I pay to my knees. I used to give them no thought at all, except maybe when I skinned one as a kid or injured one playing football. But now I’m aware of the relentless wear & tear they suffer, and I don’t take them for granted. As the largest joints in the human body, they are sturdy enough to support me when I stand up, and also flexible enough to bend with every step I take. I command my knee to move with enough strength to kick a ball, yet I can’t control an involuntary reflex to the light touch of a well-place reflex hammer.
My knees also make it possible for me to kneel down to pray on the floor next to my bed each night or in my closet as I start each morning. And this outward physical posture is a reflection of an inward spiritual one: A bowed knee demonstrates a humble heart.
Carl Jung, the famous psychotherapist, used to tell a story about a rabbi. Someone asked the rabbi, “Why did God often show himself to people in ancient times, but today, no one ever sees Him?” The wise rabbi answered, “Because now no one bends low enough to see God.”
Jesus modeled this posture perfectly for us. The apostle Paul writes that even though Jesus could have used His God-nature to His own advantage, “he made Himself nothing and humbled Himself even to the point of death on a cross (see Philippians 2:6-8). He didn’t play His “God card.” He stepped down to take on human form, and then He knelt further in the posture of a servant. And when He did, God exalted Him.
We are called to this mindset as well. As God’s sons and daughters in this self-sufficient age, let’s be counter-cultural. Let’s value others above ourselves because we value Christ above all. Together and individually, let’s bend low enough so that we too can get a glimpse of God.
Standing proudly in the presence of someone who is greater will never get us very far. In fact, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). Our pursuit of God should always begin on our knees.

Pursuing Today
Read Philippians 2:1-4, highlighting or underlining phrases that describe a humble posture toward others. Pray about some practical ways you can “look to the interests of others” today. Write them down, and commit to doing them. An additional thought: For some of you, getting on your knees to pray will feel more than just physically uncomfortable. There is something humbling about it, and that’s the point. Find a quiet place, get on your knees, and ask God for help. Begin your prayer with these 3 simple words: “I need You . . .”

Leave Your Bible Open

“Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” -Deuteronomy 8:3-

Daily Bible reading is a habit worth developing. The Word feeds us spiritually and satisfies our thirst for peace. It convicts us of sin and reminds us of God’s grace. Still, the Bible will not jump into your hands or demand your attention. Chances are, nobody will be checking up on whether you spent time in the Scriptures today. Yet few things could possibly be more important.
According to the American Bible Society, more than half of the population would like to read the Bible more often, but only 15% of Americans do it daily. Southerners and the elderly do it the best. (So, if you are an elderly Southerner, you get a free pass to skip to the next devotional tomorrow.)
Most of us would cite the same reason for not spending daily time in our Bibles: “I’m just too busy.” But are we? I don’t mean to get too nosy, but how much time did you spend on Facebook or Pinterest today? How often did you check your Twitter feed or scan the latest Groupon deals? How long did you park yourself in front of your TV or gaming console? We find plenty of time to scan today’s news headlines or devour our newest novel. Yet we ignore the very words — the only words — that have the power of life.
What you feed yourself is what you start to develop an appetite for. God’s Word will appeal to you more and more as you learn to turn away from competing interests. In other words, you may have to subtract something in order to add Bible reading to your day. But you’ll find the trade to be well worth it.

Pursuing Today
To help develop a new habit, plan to read your Bible (even for a few minutes) at the same time and in the same location every day. Leave your Bible open or set an alarm to remind you. Try it for the remainder of this 25-day section. If you have some extra time, read Psalm 119, an entire psalm devoted to the power of God’s Word. Notice all the different names for God’s Word — laws, statutes, etc. Then make note of all the benefits of spending time in it.

God-Breathed

“The Holy Scriptures . . . Are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:15-17)

Have you ever walked down the hall of a college music school in the late afternoon, past the closed practice room doors? If you have, you may have wanted to cover your ears. Each musician is practicing a different song on a different instrument. The result is a discordant cacophony. Piano scales clash against trombone solos; cellos duel with tubas. The music doesn’t seem to belong together.
Sometimes, the Bible can seem like that. As you turn the pages, you encounter a little bit of everything. Blood-splattered war chronicles. Polite correspondence. Twisting tales of intrigue & betrayal. Lyrical poetry. Thundering prophesies. Tedious legal records. Desperate cries for help. Sensual love songs. If you’re looking for one unified presentation, you might become disenchanted in a hurry. Sometimes it feels as if all you can hear is clashing notes.
Yet, Timothy wrote, every word of the Bible is God-breathed. Every chapter is helpful; every refrain useful. Whether you’re moved by the honest lyrics of the Psalms or stunned by the merciless admonishments of Obadiah. Whether captivated by the adventurous missions of Paul or depressed by the laments of Job. Whether embarrassed by the explicit Song of Songs or inspired by the very words of Jesus. The goal of it all is to train you to live like Jesus, walk with Him, and join Him on His mission.
So, pause to listen, one book, chapter or verse at a time. But don’t stop with listening; respond in obedience to what you have heard. You’ll find that the more you respond to what you hear, the more you will hear. And as you respond, you’ll discover that you are “thoroughly equipped for every good work” that God has already planned for you to accomplish.

Pursuing Today
Open up your Bible and begin reading it. Not sure where to start? Download a Bible app on your smartphone or tablet and choose one of hundreds of good reading plans. But start today. As you read, consider keeping a journal handy so you can record what you hear God saying to you. At the risk of sounding cheesy, your obedience will be music to Jesus’ ears.

Pots, Pans, and the Presence of God

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

If the name Brother Lawrence sounds familiar, it’s not because he’s Joey’s brother. He was a medieval monk who served in the monastery kitchen, and he learned to “practice the presence of God” as he scrubbed the pots & pans.
As much as I admire Brother Lawrence’s commitment, doing the dishes has never been much of a devotional time for me. The reality is that I have to be intentional to schedule time to be still in the presence of God. For me, it means setting aside time every morning to surrender my thoughts, my desires and my plans to God. I can’t coast on yesterday’s successes or live paralyzed by yesterday’s failures. I make a daily choice to pursue God, knowing that “if I seek Him, I will find Him” (see Matthew 7:7-8).
But here’s the key: When my scheduled time with God comes to an end, I don’t say to God, “Goodbye,” “See you later,” or “Talk to You tomorrow”; instead, I accept His invitation to walk with Him throughout the day. I tell Him I want to keep the conversation going, I try to intentionally keep talking and listening as I drive to work, attend meetings, and, on occasion, clean the kitchen. I practice His presence and anticipate His faithful attentiveness to my prayers.
I can’t treat my daily time with God like I treat a physical workout, where once it’s complete I check it off until the next day. Instead, I try to think of my daily time alone with with God as a sort of “spiritual workout” in order to run the day’s race effectively, with more peace and joy than I could ever find running alone. Think of it this way: Start your prayer in the morning, and don’t say “amen” until you’re falling asleep at night.

Pursuing Today
If you haven’t already done so, schedule a daily “workout” time, even if you can dedicate only 5 or 10 minutes at first. For the next several days, consider starting your day by reading Psalm 63:1-8. Read it aloud, making it your prayer. Then see if you can find ways to exercise the muscles of your spirit throughout the day.

LIFE PURPOSE

“The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.”-Thomas Carlyle- (1795-1881)

Tchaikovsky put a sign on his gate: Visiting hours Monday & Tuesday between 3 & 5 P.M. Other times, please do not ring. He was saying, “I’m a composer. This is how I’m going to bless the world — not by idle conversation.” Tchaikovsky knew his purpose and lived his life to the fullest according to that purpose.
The life you have been given is a gift from God. You are a steward of every minute contained in that gift.
In Ephesians 3, we see that Paul clearly knows his purpose and the power behind it. Of course, Paul’s ultimate purpose is to know, love, and obey God – the same ultimate purpose we all share. But his specific purpose is to preach the gospel. (Read Ephesians 3:1-8)

3 Biblical Insights Concerning Your Life Purpose:
1.) Your purpose is designed by God, to glorify God.
2.) Your purpose will fit perfectly with the gifts and graces God has given you.
3.) Your purpose will be realized through God’s power, not your own.

My Time With God
Note: The discovery of your life purpose is more than a one-hour process. But by investing one hour, you can be well on your way to one of the most important discoveries you will ever make.

Preparation Time
List the following areas to begin to “frame up” your purpose:

1.) What are your spiritual gifts?

2.) What is your passion?

3.) What are you good at?

4.) What ministry has God used you in?

5.) If you could do one thing with your life, where you couldn’t fail and money didn’t matter…what would it be?

Waiting Time
(Again, the waiting time could be weeks or months to fully know God’s mind and heart on this, but start here!)

During your waiting time, let God…

Love You.
“God, I know You have created me on purpose, with a purpose.”

Search You.
“God, I give You permission to reveal anything that I may be doing or not doing that might block your purpose for me.”

Show You.
“God, show me Your plan for my life.”

Confession Time
“God, I confess that I have wasted my time & talent in the following ways”:

Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

…Read Acts 20:24; John 17:1-4; Psalm 139:1-6.
…Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray the Scripture and allow God to minister to you.

Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind…

Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing & thanksgiving for the people for whom you will now intercede. Pray today specifically for people you know who don’t know their purpose, and for God to bring you people who can help you discover yours.
Name Request

Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

How To Petition God Properly
Talk to Him about the “little things”
Be Honest with God
Pray “Thy Will Be Done”
Prayer Requests

Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing God has impressed on me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to Take in My Obedience to God this Week:

My Goal: To Implement the Above Steps in the Next 7 Days.

Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying through your eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

Praise & Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This Week’s Memory Verse – Philippians 1:6

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – Meditate on Psalm 139:1-6

Wednesday – Write the first draft of your life purpose statement.
Share it with a close friend.

Thursday – Meditate on John 17:1-4

Friday – Review your memory verse.

The Heart of the Issue

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”-Proverbs 4:23-

What is your “heart”? In science, we know that it’s the blood-pumping organ that makes the rest of the body run. It doesn’t think; it doesn’t feel. But in Hebrew culture, the heart was seen differently. It was a metaphor for the center or the core of a person’s personality. It was the spiritual hub, and one’s life flowed from its orientation. Everything flowed from the heart — not only blood, but personality, motives, emotions, and will.
In Hebrew, the word for “heart” means “the kernel of the nut.” Your heart reflects your true identity. Understanding this concept helps us realize why “guarding the heart” is so important. We recognize it as the source from which our thoughts, feelings, and actions flow.
Imagine the futility and frustration of trying to clean a downstream section of a creek, when all the while a garbage dump up at the creek’s source is continually polluting it with load after load of filth. Sure, you could go and clean every day, but it would be like pushing a boulder up a hill only to watch it roll back down again.
How much of your life do you spend dealing with the visible garbage downstream, rather than what produces it? It’s easy to focus on “behavior modification,” just picking up bits of trash here & there as we see them. But that only addresses the symptoms. It’s a quick-fix methodology for a long-term issue. It’s like a bandage for your elbow when the issue is your heart. It’s not that addressing behaviors can’t yield positive results; it’s simply that the heart of the issue is an issue of the heart.
We need to learn to hike upstream, with the Holy Spirit as our guide, to remedy the issue at the source. It’s a staggering commitment, but it will be worth the extra effort.

Pursuing Today
Do some serious reflecting on these questions as a kind of “spiritual heart test”: What disappoints you? What do you complain about the most? Where do you make financial sacrifices? What worries you? Where do you go when you’re hurting? What infuriates you? What are your dreams? Memorize God’s promise: “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

It’s Not Too Late

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
-1 Corinthians 15:58-

We all want to be difference makers — not space takers or time wasters. But if we’re honest, most of us say, “It’s too late now; I’m too far down my career path; I’ve made too many bad choices; I’m too old; I burned those bridges a long time ago; I’m carrying too much baggage; I can’t break these habits; There’s no way to hit rewind or click delete; It’s too late now.”
You may never have felt called to the mission field, but you may feel that you had some kind of opportunity and you missed it. When you sensed that God wanted you to make a difference in your neighborhood, you failed to reach out. You once made a genuine effort to meet your neighbors and learn their names, but now, many of them have moved away, and it would be awkward to start over with the ones who haven’t. You believed that God wanted you to be a spiritual leader in your home, but you felt inadequate. Now, you see your children making bad decisions, walking away from their faith, but they’re out of your home and it’s too late to go back and fix your mistakes.
You don’t know how to push the restart button. And like most people, not knowing what to do means you default to doing nothing. You find yourself just sitting at home.
But, it’s still not too late with Jesus. It’s not too late to have a fresh start. Look at the apostle Paul, who used to be Saul, the Chritian-killer. If it wasn’t too late for Paul, it can’t be too late for you and me to surrender to Jesus and then make a difference. It’s not too late to quit living accidentally and start living on purpose.
“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, un-believing heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today’ ” (Hebrews 3:12-13).

Pursuing Today
Name 1 or 2 things you wish you would have done differently in your life. What career would you have chosen? What opportunity would you have taken advantage of? Can you think of a time when you sensed God calling you to do something and you ignored it? Write out a prayer asking Him what to do and how. And “if you hear God’s voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). Write down what you will do today. Take that first step. DO SOMETHING!