Praise You?

"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips." (Proverbs 27:2)

We live in a culture of self-promotion. I mean, to paint the best possible picture of ourselves for others is just human nature, but we're turning it into an art form. Your school guidance counselor will show you how to do it with a résumé and cover letter to get a job or get into a good college.

But anyone with a Facebook or Myspace account will be way ahead of her. Most of us have spent hours carefully constructing those pages to make our online self-representation as cool (or as "not stupid") as we can. We want people to know what we're good at.

The advice of this proverb is to retire from the self-promotion business. Words about how good you are will be much more powerful coming from other lips — and you'll be more respected holding on to those words than handing them out to everyone you meet. That will free you up to use your words to promote others.

Think: What do you risk by not telling others about your accomplishments? What could it cost you? What do you have to gain by keeping quiet about what you're good at?

Pray: Ask God to help you to avoid praising yourself and to trust God to promote you when He wants to through the words of others.

Do: Tune your radar this week to notice when people are self-promoting or promoting others with their words. Notice also how each impacts your opinion of those people.

Sugar Words

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24)

For all the destruction our words can bring, we've seen this week that words can also be used for healing, for encouragement, for taming out-of-control anger, and even more effectively when used in the right moment.

And sometimes the right words are just sweet. Telling a friend what he or she needs to hear can actually bring pleasure that feels like eating a favorite dessert. In that way, pleasant, soothing words can be a gift, an act of service, an expression of God's love for another person.

Do you see yourself as being available for this kind of service? Are you looking for those opportunities? Are you willing to have God use your words as a gift to the people in your life? Do you ask Him to give you pleasant words in the right moment to bring pleasure, healing, and joy to the people He puts in your path? It's a gift anyone can give.

Think: How often do you think of your ability to use good words as a gift you can give to other people? How often do other people do that for you?

Pray: Ask God to make you willing and able to give the gift of pleasant words to your family members, friends, and even those who don't always treat you well.

Do: Tune your radar this week to notice when someone is able to use words in a way that is pleasant and sweet to hear.

Wait. Wait. Now!

"A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!" (Proverbs 15:23)

Everybody knows that good comedy is all about timing. Hit the punch line too late or too early, and it's just not funny. Hit the sweet spot, and it's hilarious. You can say the same words and get an entirely different reaction.

It's not just humor. In every area of life, your words pack more or less punch depending on when you say them, as well as how you deliver them. In another proverb, the writer warns that a blessing that comes too early in the morning will be taken as a curse. (27:14) You know from personal experience that saying the right thing at the wrong moment can be a disaster.

On the flip side, wisdom tells us exactly when to drop that encouraging phrase or personal experience to relate to a friend's pain. Wisdom tells us when it is best to say, "I'm sorry," and when it's best to wait for anger to cool. And wisdom picks the perfect moment to confront someone and when to let it pass. Wisdom has great timing.

Think: How's your timing with helpful, funny, or sensitive words? What could you do to improve your timing?

Pray: Ask God for the wisdom to know when to speak, as well as what to say.

Do: Next time you see a great comedian in action, watch his or her timing. How does that help or hurt the funny?

Fight Angry Fires

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)

Have you spent much time playing with fire? Okay, it's not the best habit, but fire is fascinating. To burn, fire needs fuel and oxygen. That's why people trying to get a fire going use dry wood (or lighter fluid) and give the fire a little room to breathe. We even blow gently on a flickering fire to give it a little boost of air.

Harsh words are like lighter fluid for the fire of anger. Use an edgy tone to squirt a few hard words onto the spark of an irritation and -- fwoom! -- instant inferno.

Instead, try this: Use a few gentle words to sprinkle a little kindness, a shower of understanding on a growing flame -- and watch it die in a hiss of smoke. Gentle words are a way of removing the fuel anger needs to grow, of sucking away the air it feeds on to spread. Be a firefighter with words.

Think: Have you ever experimented with ways to put out a fire? How can you use gentle words in a similar way to cool down a conversation with a friend or family member?

Pray: Ask God to help you to be a fire-killer instead of a fire-starter when it comes to anger.

Do: Watch this PBS commercial and imagine if we all used our words to fight the fires of anger.

You're Tubby!

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18)

I was in junior high at a party at a skating rink that had occasional "couples skates" where they would dim the lights and play romantic songs. You'd pair up and hold hands with a girl and skate around. Kind of like dancing for people who don't dance.

I had a crush on this one girl, but I never had the nerve to ask her to skate. After it was over, she asked me why I didn't skate with any girls. "No guts," I admitted. She glanced at my belly and said, "Looks like you've got plenty of guts to me."

Ouch.

Has anyone ever said something to you that caused what felt like physical pain? This proverbs says that words can split us open like a sword. For me, it sometimes feels like a hurtful comment is doing open heart surgery with a spork.

Finally some good news, though: Wise people can use words to heal those verbal sword wounds. Wisdom is the key for turning words from weapons to bandages.

Think: Have you seen a wise person use words to help heal someone in pain? Who do you talk to when you feel like you've been sliced open by some reckless words?

Pray: Ask God for the wisdom to use your words to leave people feeling better instead of worse.

Do: Make a quick list of the top five wise word healers you know.

Less Talk Less Sin

"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." (Proverbs 10:19)

Last week, James' warned us about the weapons of mass destruction we carry around behind our teeth. More specifically, he warned us that because we carry sinful hearts behind our ribs we can expect the words that bubble up from there to be powerfully destructive, as well.

No wonder James told us to be "slow to speak." Solomon said the same thing here: Want to sin less? Then talk less. Or text less. Or blog less. Often, the quiet girl in the back is the wisest person in the room. She knows better than to fill up the air with words just because the quiet feels awkward.

Some of the best advice I've ever heard: If you don't know what to say, don't. When you're not sure if you should say what you're thinking, don't. If you wonder if what you're about to say might be hurtful to someone, stop. We can never unsay something, but we can always say what needs saying after we take time to think about it.

Think: Is there anything you wish you could unsay from this last week? Anything you wish you would have said that you didn't? Which happens more often?

Pray: Ask God to set off a warning alarm in your head any time you're about to say something sinful.

Do: Plan a whole two-hour block sometime this week when you don't say, write, or text any words to anyone. No fair sleeping.

Say Who You Are

"Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water." (James 3:11-12)

At the end of James' crushing, angry-sounding description of our evil use of words, he offers a smidgen of hope. Yes, hell itself can use our words to cause destruction. Yes, whole lives can be undone by words out of control, And, yes, we are powerless to be perfect with our words in our own strength.

But for followers of Jesus, our words can also signal a surprisingly helpful identity crisis. When I use my words to praise God or encourage a friend or speak the truth in love, I speak as who I am in Jesus and by His power. When I use words to destroy, I speak out of my old life, the one in which I served myself first and always.

James shows that we can't be both people. Are you a source of fresh water or salt water? Are you a fig tree or a grapevine? Are you in Christ or serving self? You can't be both at the same time. Be who God is making you. Let your words reveal Christ in you.

Think: Think about the way you have used your words this last week. How would you describe the person who uses words in that way?

Pray: Ask God to help you to be more and more like Jesus on the inside so that Jesus-style words come out of your mouth.

Do: Look up a few of Jesus' words in the book of John. Pay attention to what He says and how He says it.

Praise God Curse Men

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." (James 3:9-10)

For a few days, we've listened as James has described the destructive power of words. But "the tongue," our ability to communicate with words, isn't just some kind of diabolical weapon. It's not a club that can be used only for hitting.

What makes the destructive nature of our words even more upsetting for James is that we're also capable of using words for incredibly good things. Our words are not like guns, designed only to kill or wound people and animals. You never blame a gun for shooting bullets. That's what guns do.

But we do blame "tongues" for hurting others, because we have the option of using words to help and to encourage and to praise God. Proverbs 25:11 says that the right word delivered in the right moment is a beautiful thing. The fact that we tend to ignore that option makes the destructive nature of our thoughtless words all the sadder.

Think: Can you think of a time when you have used words to praise God and insult a person in the same day? Why does James write that "this should not be"?

Pray: Ask God to make you uncomfortable using words to put people down. Thank Him for the opportunity to use words to give Him praise.

Do: Keep track of how many times you use words today to say negative things about other people. Compare that to the kinds of things you say about the God who made those people in His likeness.

Say What?

"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." (James 3:7-8)

More happy thoughts about the tongue today. If you've spent any quality time with TV's Animal Planet, you've seen what James is talking about. Even wild animals can be trained to do amazing things. My four-year-old still talks about the seal at the zoo that would put away its toys on command.

But the tongue is the wildest beast of them all. Completely untameable. Why? Because our words always and eventually reveal our true hearts. And our hearts are sinful. Even those of us in Christ — in the process of being made brand new in His image — often prove that transformation is not complete when we speak.

Remember what James' half-brother Jesus said about our words? "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." (Mattew 12:34) So our only hope of changing the quality of the words coming our of us is to allow God to change the quality of the heart beating inside of us.

Think: Think about the words you've used in the last 24 hours. What does your communication reveal about the state of your heart and mind and soul?

Pray: Ask God to help you to love Him more and more with your mind and heart and soul and body so that your words will more often reveal His love in you.

Do: Pay attention again today to the quality of people's words and notice how what they say reveals what going on inside of them.

Burn Notice

"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." (James 3:5-6)

Anyone else feel like getting a tongue-ectomy right now? Yikes! James does not hold back when it comes to describing our power to use words for great evil. He says each of us carries the spark of hell behind our teeth, ready to burn our lives, our relationships, and our futures to the ground.

God's Word uses explosive language here to make a powerful argument. Words are like fire. Fire is a good thing — a powerful and necessary part of our survival. But fire out of control burns everyone caught in its path. And the fire of our words often burn out of control.

You've felt it. A careless insult tossed your way lands like a stick of dynamite in your soul. Your own words, meant to be funny or helpful, come out wrong and singe the emotions of your closest friends. But wait; it gets worse in tomorrow's passage.

Think: If words can be so destructive, why do you think God gives us the power to talk and write and e-mail? Wouldn't we all be better off on permanent mute?

Pray: Ask God to help you to be convinced that what you say, how you say it, to whom you say it, and when you say it really matters. Ask Him for the wisdom and self-control not to burn anyone with your words today.

Do: Look for smoke. Keep watch this week for examples of words used to hurt or destroy, even by people who like each other.

Small Things Rule

"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts." (James 3:3-5)

James just made a huge statement at the end of yesterday's verse: If you can perfectly control your words, you can control everything else in your life. In fact, you're perfect.

Doubtful? He has examples. One small bit turns an enormous horse. One small rudder turns a giant ship. If James were writing in the age of computer microprocessors, imagine all the small things he could have pointed to that control much bigger things.

Especially in the age of constant electronic communication, your words drive your whole life. Get control what you say (write, text, type, tweet, blog, etc.), and you'll have the rest of your life mastered. Lose control over your words, and . . . tune in tomorrow.

Think: How hard do you work at controlling the kinds of words you say and the meaning attached to them? How effective are you at controlling your words all of the time?

Pray: Thank God for the power of words; ask Him to help you learn to be wise about how you use that power.

Do: Make a list of all the different ways you use words to communicate. For example, talking, texting, etc.

The Perfect Man

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." (James 3:1-2)

Is it okay to have a least favorite verse in the Bible? Probably not. But James 3:1 always makes me feel uncomfortable. I do a lot of Bible teaching in writing and in person. I don't like the idea of having a stricter judgement because of that (and I'm not completely sure what it means).

It makes sense, though. God takes His Word very seriously. I'd better make sure the words I use to talk about it don't distort His Word or His character or His truth in any way. His reputation is on the line — and so it my "judgement."

Here's the problem: Our words are the hardest part of ourselves to control. The odds of sinning increase dramatically every time we open our mouths to speak. Why? Because we're sinners on the inside, and our words can be web cams to the darkest parts of our hearts.

Think: How would someone presume to be a teacher in an unhealthy way? Have you ever been misled about God's truth by the words or actions of a well-meaning Bible teacher?

Pray: Ask God to help you to know when and if you should take on the job of teaching His Word — and ask Him to help all of your Bible teachers to teach it — and live by it — as right as possible.

Do: Ask someone you know who teaches the Bible how this verse makes him feel — and what he does about it.

Not Wishful Thinking

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6)

The first half of this verse would be right at home on a fortune cookie, wouldn't it? I can imagine cracking one open, reading that line, and thinking, "Well, that sounds nice."

But David wasn't writing after-dinner happy thoughts to read with dessert. Psalm 23 is not a Hallmark card. David actually believed his God, his Shepherd, would bring him goodness and love in their relationship forever.

Remember, David was being stalked by murderers and knew the road through death's valley by hard experience. But David focused on the goodness and love of God and his future in God's house and friendship. His daily troubles faded in the light of God's care for him.

Think: As a Christian, you can own David's statement in this verse with confidence. Do you feel confident that it's true? Are you convinced of God's love for you, along with His power and goodness?

Pray: Thank God that His love and goodness will follow you all the days of your life and that you will live with Him forever.

Do: Copy this verse into an e-mail and send it to five Christian friends as an act of encouragement. Ask them to do the same. Suggest that if they don't, they'll get terrible and itchy acne on the bottoms of their feet forever! (Except skip that last part.)

Dinner with the Enemy

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." (Psalm 23:5)

Suddenly in verse 5, David seems to dump the sheep metaphor so he can talk about how good God has been to him. But I wonder if anyone else noticed this: In spite of the fact that David's shepherd, God, is so good, David still goes through hard times.

He still walks through the "valley of the shadow of death." He is still stalked by enemies. If God is so good and so powerful, why can't the Lord just stop all the bad things from happening? David doesn't ask that question here, but most of us eventually do. Many people use that question as an excuse to waste their lives ignoring God.

God never promises a trouble-free life on this side of heaven, but He does promise to provide for and comfort us. David notices God doing that for him even on his roughest days: Plenty to eat; a good shower (of oil); and more than enough to drink. God is good.

Think: On your worst days, are you more likely to blame God for the hard parts or thank Him for taking care of you through the painful moments?

Pray: Thank God that He always provides for you, even when He allows hard times to come your way.

Do: Notice a few ways that God provides good things for you today.

Tough Enough

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

I don't know many shepherds — especially ones from the time of King David, who wrote this psalm. I tend to think of shepherds as gentle souls who hang out on hillsides and babysit a bunch of fluffy, dumb animals. That's wrong. Shepherds are wicked tough.

Listen to what David told Saul about his shepherding days: "When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear." (1 Samuel 17:34-35)

Yikes! David was like some kind of ninja with that rod and staff. Don't mess with shepherds! Speaking as sheep, David writes that our great shepherd — God — is strong enough to take on whatever evil might come our way. He's tough enough that we can relax and munch on our grass and not worry. Trust your Shepherd to protect you.

Think: Do you ever think of God as being ready and willing to use His might against evil to protect you? Why or why not?

Pray: Thank God for His protection in your life against evil; ask Him to help you not to live with anxiety.

Do: Read 1 Samuel 17:34-37 to see why David said he was so good at defeating lions and bears in battle.

A Shepherd's Rep

"He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:3)

We're looking at this sheep's poem for a few days. He's bragging about what a great shepherd he has. If you think about it, quality of life for a sheep pretty much comes down how good (or how lousy) his shepherd is, right? Sheep just eat what's there in front of them and wander around and then eat some more. Without a really good shepherd to manage, well, everything for them — they're mutton chops.

But the shepherd isn't just working for the pure joy of being loved by the sheep. For one thing, we're not so good at saying thanks. No, he's also working because he has a reputation to protect. Everybody knows he's the best shepherd there ever was. He protects that rep by treating us right.

So after a day on the hills leading us to the good grass — gotta love really choice grass, you know? — he brings us home on the right paths, the ones he knows we can walk on, the ones that go in the right direction, the ones that lead us to the next place he'll take care of us.

Think: Do you ever think of God doing what He does for you for His own reputation? Does it change your reaction to His taking care of you if He does it to bring glory to His own name?

Pray: Thank God for leading you on righteous paths for His name's sake.

Do: If you haven't done so before, try to memorize this short psalm.

Talking Sheep

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." (Psalm 23:1-3)

Ever catch yourself singing a song that's so familiar the words have almost lost their meaning? You might as well be singing "baaa, baaaa, baa, ba." Psalm 23 is like that for a lot of people. They can say it perfectly, but they completely forget they're quoting a sheep.

David, a former shepherd, writes the poem as if he were a sheep bragging about his shepherd to the other sheep. It's a funny idea to imagine, but that sheep makes some great points about how reliable our God is.

First, when He's your shepherd, you will be provided for in every way. That's a big deal to a sheep. They're not so good at taking care of themselves. And this shepherd won't just make sure you get fed. He'll make sure you get enough sleep and rest and water; he takes care of your soul and your body.

Think: Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be a sheep? How does your Shepherd provide for your need for food, rest, water, and soul restoration? Do you count on Him for those things?

Pray: Thank God for being your shepherd and taking care of you in every way.

Do: Unless you know some sheep, find a picture of one in a book or online to keep in your head for the next few days as you think about Psalm 23.

Father Rescuer

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14)

Do you notice any difference here between the way Paul describes our relationship with God — and the bleary-eyed, bored way we often trudge through our "Christianity" on a Sunday morning?

You and I were stranded in the kingdom of darkness, lost and alone. It's where we belonged (because of our sin), but the place is a nightmare come to life and a land of endless death.

The Father would not leave us there. He planned and executed a brilliant rescue by sending His Son over the border to live our worst dreams and die our final death. Then He brought us back — redeemed, forgiven, brand new citizens of the kingdom of light.

Think: How does it change your understanding of God to think of Him as your rescuer? How does it change your understanding of you to think of yourself as rescued?

Pray: Thank your Father for rescuing you from the kingdom of darkness and bringing you back to Jesus' kingdom of light.

Do: Memorize this verse, then go sit in a totally dark room and roll it around in your head for a few minutes. Notice how bright the light is when you come out.

Don't Be Polite

". . . giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:12)

Here's the last bullet point from Paul's short list of "what God wants from a growing Christian." He wants us to say thanks. Strike that. He wants us to "give thanks."

No, the God of all creation is NOT a glorified Miss Manners. He doesn't care which fork you use for the salad. This isn't about being polite. I think a lot of us skip giving thanks because we think of it as nothing more than saying "excuse me" after a good belch. It's not really "doing" anything, is it?

Apparently, judging by how often it comes up in the Bible, giving thanks is doing something truly significant in God's eyes. To Him, thanks is a gift bestowed on the one who does something truly great for us like, say, qualifying us "to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."

Think: How often do you give thanks to God? What do you thank Him for most often? Do you think you sometimes skip it because it doesn't seem like it should matter to Him?

Pray: Take this verse and turn it into a prayer of thanksgiving to the Father.

Do: Make a quick list of 1,000 things you could thank God for today. Okay, just start with 10.

Fruitier, Smarter, Stronger

". . . bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience . . ." (Colossians 1:10-11)

Today, we continue Paul's quick list of ways that we — as puny, single human beings in a world of 7 billion people — can bring pleasure to God. It's the list of ways Paul prayed that these Christians would continue growing.

Bearing fruit in every good work: Growing Christians do good works that make a difference in the lives of others.

Growing in the knowledge of God: Growing Christians keep finding our more and more about God.

Being strengthened by God's power: Growing Christians get stronger, which makes them more patient and able to trust God with less effort.

Think: Have you seen evidence of these three areas of growth in your own life? If so (or not), why do you think that is?

Pray: Ask God to help you to bear fruit for Him in every good work; to grow in your knowledge of Him; and to get stronger with His power so it's easier for you to trust Him longer.

Do: Make a list of the names of three Christians, one each that you've noticed growing in these ways during the last year or two.

What Does God Want from Me?

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10)

What does God want from you, anyway? PlanetWisdom devoted a whole nationwide tour to answering that question a few years ago. Paul gives us a quick laundry list of things God wants from us in these next few verses.

He wants us to live a life worthy of the Lord. It matters to God how we live. True, we've been forgiven for our sins through Jesus, but don't make the mistake of thinking that means God doesn't care what you do next.

He also wants you to make choices that please Him. Some people resent the idea that God would want us to perform for His pleasure. Others are thrilled with the notion that a single human being could do anything to bring positive emotion to the God of the universe.

Think: Do you really believe that your personal moral choices matter to God emotionally? How do your choices reflect your belief?

Pray: Ask God to help you care about making Him happy — and to help you to live a life worthy of Him.

Do: Write down any evidence you can think of from your life recently that shows that you're "bearing fruit" in good works. Next, bullet-point any evidence that you've been "growing in the knowledge of God."

Pray for Yourself

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." (Colossians 1:9)

How should you pray for yourself? Yes, you could pray a million different things. But how should you pray for yourself about your spiritual life? Do you ever pray for your own spiritual growth — or maybe the spiritual growth of a friend who is getting serious about following Jesus?

It's a great idea to pray for yourself and others this way. How? Notice how Paul said he prayed for the Colossians when he heard about their Jesus-following faith and love taking off. The first thing he said he asked God was to help these growing believers know God's will.

Why? Getting to the point in your Christian life where you're willing to do God's will for you is one step. The next one is to figure out what His will for you is. Paul asked God to provide "spiritual wisdom" and "understanding" so these Christians could figure out God's will. Are you looking for God's wisdom? Are you asking Him for it?

Think: On a scale from 1 to 10, how willing are you right now to do God's will for you? On that same scale, how confident are you that you know God's will for you today?

Pray: Ask God to "fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding."

Do: Read Romans 12:1-2 and notice how those two verses teach us to find God's "good, pleasing and perfect will."

Mac Evangelist?

"All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit." (Colossians 1:6-7)

Evangelists are not just people who tell other people about Jesus. We can be evangelists for anything. Years ago, when computer and business guru Guy Kawasaki worked for Apple, his job title was Mac Evangelist. He went around the country telling everyone how great Mac computers are.

I've seen students evangelize their friends about bands, movies, TV shows, and fashion trends. I've heard them use apologetics to defend their position on sports teams, actors, and Mexican restaurants. We all know how to evangelize; it's just a little scarier to evangelize about Jesus.

Paul credits Epaphras as a double evangelist. He evangelized ("brought the message to") the Colossians about God's grace through Jesus, then he went back with the gospel ("good news") of the Colossians Spirit-powered Christian love.

Think: Do you ever "convert" your friends or family to your way of thinking about music, movies, sports, or other things? Are you less likely to be as open and persuasive about your belief in Jesus? Why do you think that is?

Pray: Ask God to help you to be willing to tell the good news about Jesus to unbelievers and to tell the good news about growing Christians you know to other Christians.

Do: Make a quick list of 5-6 good things you've told others about, recently — or good things others have evangelized you about.

Olympic Connection

"All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth." (Colossians 1:6)

Did you catch any of the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympics today in Beijing, China? Yes, it's an amazing show, but there's something about the idea of people from all over the globe gathering together in one place, nation by nation, that makes the world feel more connected than ever.

Another mind-blowing thing to wonder about is, "How many of the people in that stadium are Jesus-followers who once heard the good news about salvation from sin and 'understood God's grace in all its truth'?" How many of the people from China and Zimbabwe and Russia and Bolivia and Canada are fruit-bearing believers walking the same path you and I are.

Paul writes about our connection to all of them, a connection far deeper and longer lasting than just being "fellow citizens of the global community." We are brothers and sisters of a million different mothers and just one Almighty Father. I can't wait for the opening ceremony of eternity in heaven.

Think: Do you ever think about all you have in common with believers in Jesus "all over the world."

Pray: Pray for all the believers in China who, just like you, came to God through Jesus. Ask God to help the Gospel to bear as much fruit as possible during the Olympic Games there this next month.

Do: Try to catch a few minutes of the opening ceremonies on TV or online.

What's the Point?

". . . the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you." (Colossians 1:5-6)

Why did you become a Christian? You could get the idea from listening to some of us "defend our faith" that we weighed all the various options and chose Christianity based on our careful study of the reliability of the Bible.

Not me. I became a Christian because I wanted to go to heaven. As a kid, that was the part that mattered to me. It was the whole point! In this passage, Paul writes "going to heaven is the whole point!"

No more sickness, sadness, or selfishness! No more emptiness or "inner groaning," as Paul described life on this fallen rock. The hope of heaven turns Christians into people full of faith in Jesus and love for each other. That hope changes everything — including you and me.

Think: When you became a Christian, were you excited about going to heaven? Are you now? How have you been changed by knowing that you'll spend forever in heaven with God?

Pray: Ask God to help you to never be so satisfied with this life that you stop hoping for heaven.

Do: Read Romans 8:18-25.

A New Rep

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints." (Colossians 1:3-4)

If you're a Christian — someone who has trusted in Jesus as the only way to be forgiven of your sins and spend forever in heaven with God — how has that changed you? I mean, how are you different inside and out than before you believed in Jesus?

This week, we'll read someone else's mail to find out. Paul will describe a few of the ways the Christians in a town called Colosse have changed — and how they can expect to continue to be transformed. If we don't recognize some of these changes in ourselves, we should wonder why not.

The first thing Paul writes is that these Christians have a new rep. They're known as people who trust Jesus and love other Christians. Those two qualities are obvious in their lives.

Think: Is it obvious to anyone in your life that you trust Jesus and love other Christians? Do you think your youth group or your church has that reputation?

Pray: Ask God to help you to have a reputation as someone who trusts in Jesus and loves other believers.

Do: Write a quick list of 5 or so people you know who have a reputation for trusting Jesus and loving other Christians.

God in Prison

"But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there . . . because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." (Genesis 39:20-23)

Some of us do carry around that unspoken contract with God in our back pockets, the one mentioned in yesterday's devo: "If I follow God, God is obligated to make sure nothing rotten happens to me."

The problem with that contract is that God never made any promises about keeping hard things from coming our way. What did He promise? To be with us. To never leave or forsake us. And to use up our willing lives accomplishing His good plan for the universe.

God's best use of Joseph's life involved allowing him to be stuck for years in an Egyptian prison. But did you notice that God went there with him? That God was kind to Joseph in prison? That He gave Joseph success there?

Sometimes God wants a loyal servant in a hard place for a very specific purpose. Joseph was willing to be that person (though he wanted out). Are we willing?

Think: When hard things come into your life, do you resent God or do you thank Him for sticking with you and being kind to you even in the roughest moments?

Pray: Ask God to help you have accurate expectations of Him and to be enormously grateful that He is with you even when the worst happens.

Do: Make a quick list of five bad things that happened in your life this year. Put a check mark next to each one God walked through with you.

Is God Good on Bad Days?

"When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, 'This is how your slave treated me,' he burned with anger. Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined." (Genesis 39:19-20)

Do you have an unspoken contract with God? "God, I'll serve you the best I possibly can. In exchange, you'll bless me with good relationships, general success, and freedom from very much icky stuff. You'll make sure nobody does anything really bad to me. And I'll keep telling people how great you are. Deal?"

Joseph did a hard thing. He chose to serve God even after being betrayed by his family, sold to slave traders, and abandoned in a foreign country. He could have rejected God at that moment for letting him suffer like that, but he didn't. Instead, Joseph obeyed, and God blessed him for a while. Joseph told people all about the God of the Hebrews.

But what is Joseph's big reward for refusing to do evil with Potiphar's wife? Does God strike her dead? Vindicate Joseph's rep? Send in the calvary to get him out of town? Nope. Joseph goes to jail. The king's prison. The dungeon. For years. Would a good God let that happen to a good person like Joseph?

Think: Are you ever guilty of judging God's character based on today's circumstances? Do hard days mean that God is less "with you" than on good days? Does God ever promise only good days for Jesus-followers on this side of heaven? Why not?

Pray: Ask God for the wisdom and faith not to judge His goodness based on the amount of pain in your life.

Do: Come back for tomorrow's devo.

Scorned Sex Lies

"She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. Then she told him this story: 'That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.' " (Genesis 39:16-18)

Rejection always hurts, but there's a special sting involved with being rejected by someone who refuses to go along with an invitation to do wrong. Not only does the seducer feel unwanted, he or she ends up feeling judged by the do-gooder's integrity.

Mrs. Potiphar felt that way. She was furious this slave in her husband's house would reject her personally and morally. How could he possibly think he is better than her? He's a slave! She's the wife of a rich and powerful man! With one lie, she proved she still had the upper hand.

Two lessons for those who stubbornly refuse to do wrong. 1) Sometimes it will make you vicious enemies. 2) Sometimes it will cost you everything. Think about it ahead of time: What is your integrity worth?

Think: Are you strong enough to risk making people mad at you because you refuse to participate in sin? How important is it to you NOT to make people mad at you?

Pray: Ask God for the courage to care more about obeying and honoring Him than having other people like you or treat you well.

Do: Think of a situation in which someone has lied about you or you've lied about someone else. Either way, ask God to help that person know how much He loves them.

Relentless Seduction

"And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house." (Genesis 39:10-12)

Joseph faced one of the first documented cases of sexual harassment in the workplace. His boss' wife would not let go of her lust for this "well-built and handsome" foreigner -- and he had to be around her every day! He was running Potiphar's estate, after all, and she lived there.

We still don't really know if Joseph was fighting any real temptation or if he was repulsed by the woman. We do know he absolutely refused to violate Potiphar's trust or God's blessing by doing such a "wicked thing."

Notice his strategy for avoiding sin (and Mrs. Potiphar): 1) Don't linger; Joseph never spent any more time than was absolutely necessary around the opportunity to sin. 2) Don't be alone with the temptation/opportunity. 3) Be willing to sacrifice something you care about to avoid doing wrong. (Joseph sacrificed his coat.) 4) Run! Don't protect your dignity when your integrity is on the line.

Think: How could you use Joseph's strategy to deal with some temptation/seduction in your own life?

Pray: Ask God to help you take opportunities to sin as seriously as Joseph did here.

Do: Write out the 4 steps listed above for dealing with temptation (and hide the list somewhere you'll find it again): 1) Don't linger. 2) Don't be alone with it. 3) Be ready to sacrifice something good to do what's best. 4) Run!