PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Do Good Not Bad

2008-05-14T14:45:00.000-06:00

"LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous . . ." (Psalm 15:1-2)

David begins to answer his own question about the kind of lives God-worshipping people lead. And the answer seems a little too obvious at first glance: Don't do bad and do good. Be "blameless" and do "what is righteous." Right.

But think about it. To be blameless has to do with your reputation with your friends and family. How do the people in your school or your hometown think of you? Sincere God-worshippers should not be known as liars or people who disrespect their parents or people who get in trouble regularly. That doesn't fit the image of someone who "lives with God."

But it's not enough to just be the guy or girl who never does anything wrong. I know lots of Christians that define "living for God" by all the nasty things they don't do. That's not living! That's just sitting around. People who live for -- and with -- God are people who do things that can be called good.

Think: None of us is perfectly blameless or righteous, yet. What are some blame-worthy things you need to start punting from your life? What are some good things you can find to do more of?

Pray: Ask God to help you want to bring Him glory by living a blameless, good-doing life.

Do: Ask someone you trust and who also trusts Jesus if there's anything obvious in your life that is "blameable." If you're still feeling bold after that, ask if he or she has noticed any of the good things you've been doing.

Who?

2008-05-13T14:02:00.000-06:00

"LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?" (Psalm 15:1)

Psalm 15 is not just about discovering the code to living unshakable lives; it's about something much deeper. It answers the questions in today's verse -- what kind of life does God want from us?

God dealt differently with His people then. God's place on earth was in the tabernacle (or sanctuary) on Zion, Jerusalem, God's "holy hill." David was asking what it takes to be worthy to come before God and worship Him, to be His guest, to spend time with Him.

Of course, those of us in Christ understand that nobody is worthy of living with God forever because of our sin. We must first be forgiven through faith in Jesus to be granted a spot in the eternal choir of worshippers in the new Zion. But David's questions still matter to us.

How do worshippers of God live? What's their code? What choices of ours does God really care about?

Think: Does it matter to God how Christian live now if we've already be forgiven for our sin through faith in Jesus?

Pray: Ask God to give you a deep passion to be a person of everyday integrity.

Do: Look up the definitions of "character" and "integrity" in an online dictionary. Copy and paste them into an e-mail and send it to yourself.

Living by the Code

2008-05-12T12:45:00.000-06:00

"He who does these things will never be shaken." (Psalm 15:5)

Old West gunfighters. Mafia and kung fu guys on TV. Marines. All these guy's guys are said to live their lives by a code. They don't always do good things -- and sometimes they do evil things -- but they're famous for honoring some kind of code for what's okay and what's not.

In Psalm 15, King David of Israel describes a code to live by. It's not the Ten Commandments; it's not the Law. In 5 short verses, he describes a life code to live by that accomplishes two things: First and most important, it's the life God wants to see in His people. The second result of following the code pops up in the last sentence, today's verse: "He who does these things will never be shaken."

The boring word I'm trying not to use here is "character." A person of character lives by a code of right and wrong, doing things that please God and skipping those that don't. Even in the worst moments of life, that code tells him or her how to live in a way that is not worthless.

John Holt put it this way: "The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don't know what to do." Stay tuned this week to learn David's code for an unshakable life.

Think: Is it necessarily noble to live by a code if it's the wrong code? How do we know a good code from a worthless one?

Pray: Ask God to help you want to be a person of character. Ask Him to help you live in a way that pleases Him.

Do: Write down one or two Do's and Don'ts you would include if you were building your own code for life.

Blessings Avalanche

2008-05-11T13:40:00.000-06:00

"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:16-17)

Tradition tells us that all of the disciples were eventually killed for preaching about Jesus, as was Paul. John may have outlived them all. Most scholars think he wrote this book somewhere around 90 A.D. and was later exiled to an island prison. (That's where he wrote the book of Revelation.) He and many other early Christians lived difficult, persecuted lives.

So how can he say that "we have all received one blessing after another" from Jesus' grace? Three quick ideas:

1) John was looking beyond life in this fallen, painful world. By Jesus' grace, every believer can expect to spend forever in God's blessing.

2) John was showing how much fuller and more joyful life is when lived according to Jesus' grace than under the burden of Moses' law.

3) John realized that every good thing -- from a simple meal to our most cherished relationships -- is a gift from God. Jesus' half-brother James said that everything in our lives that can be called "good" comes from God. (James 1:17)

Think: How often do you give God the credit for the good things in your life? Why is it a sign of God's grace when we experience anything that can be labeled "good"?

Pray: Ask God to help you to be grateful more often for all the blessings He gives you through Jesus.

Do: Make a list of 20 "blessings" you've experienced this week that you can give credit to God for. Then give Him credit for them.

What I Saw

2008-05-10T13:23:00.000-06:00

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " (John 1:14)

Jesus, the Word, the logos, became flesh. As God, Jesus had always existed, but now He had become one of us (without becoming any less of God). And He didn't come to visit for a holiday. He wasn't a curious god on vacation. He "made his dwelling" here. He lived here. He experienced every temptation humans do. He worked Himself to exhaustion. He slept, ate, and waited. He made friends and went to dinner parties. He told the truth.

He was human.

John reports that he and others saw Jesus, the Word, with their own eyes. And not just Him, but His glory. (Is John talking about the transfiguration that he and two other disciples witnessed as described in Matthew 17?) He reports that everything Jesus claimed is true. He really did come from God the Father. And He did come with grace -- free forgiveness of sin for all you believe and receive. Jesus is the truth. John saw it all.

Think: If you were describing Jesus from your own personal eyewitness point of view, what would you have to report about Him? What difference has He made in your own personal life that you can point to as evidence of His grace and truth?

Pray: Thank God for what Jesus has done for you.

Do: Write down a few bullet points of your experience with Jesus. What has He done in your life? How has knowing God through Him changed you?

Exclusive Rights

2008-05-09T09:07:00.000-06:00

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." As all 5th graders know, that's from the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Our founders believed God had granted these rights to every single human being.

But God grants another right not listed here -- and contrary to what many of us think, it's not a right He gives to everyone. He only gives this special right to people who "receive him" and "believe in his name." More specifically, it is a God-given right limited to those who believe Jesus is God and receive Him as Savior. Those who do not believe Jesus is God don't get this right. Those who do not receive Jesus as their only hope to be with God do not get this right. Believe and receive, John says.

Then and only then will Jesus give us the right to be God's children, to be included in His own family, to belong with Him in heaven forever. It is not a right we earn. And we do not make ourselves God's children by believing and receiving. We are given the right and God immediately signs the adoption papers. We are His kids now.

Think: How do you feel about the idea that the right to be God's child is not given freely to everyone no matter what they believe? Are you grateful to God for adopting you?

Pray: Thank God for helping you to believe in Jesus' name and to receive Him as the only way to be with God forever. (If you haven't done that, what are you waiting for?)

Do: Make a short list of your God-given rights, as best as you understand them.

Rejected

2008-05-08T15:56:00.000-06:00

"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." (John 1:10-11)

It's no wonder the plot of so many science fiction stories is based on the true story of Jesus. The whole thing is mind-blowing. The creator of all things manages to somehow squeeze Himself into the world of His creation, to be one of them, to experience life from the perspective of a created thing without losing an ounce of His "godness."

And the creation is not a sculpture garden or a novel or an animatronic stage play. It's a living, breathing collection of individuals, every one of whom has chosen to "go his own way" away from the creator. Still, He has come to rescue them, the rebels, His creatures, His self-declared enemies. He has come to surrender and to suffer and to save them from their defiance. And yet when He arrives, nothing.

From pure willful pride and foolish ignorance, they could not see that blinding light blazing in the darkness. Some walked past as if he were a stranger. Others joined the plot to kill Him. A very few, we'll see tomorrow, believed the creator could wear sandals and take naps and reclaim their souls.

Think: Do you sometimes wonder if the story of Jesus is too fantastical to be true? Why do you believe it?

Pray: Thank God for creating you -- and then sending the Son to rescue you for Him.

Do: List any movies or books you can think of about a long awaited chosen One sent to save the world. Or at least notice how that story meshes with the gospel next time you see it in another story.

Coming Soon: Light!

2008-05-07T14:41:00.000-06:00

"There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." (John 1:6-9)

We usually think of John the Baptist from our Sunday School lessons as that rugged guy who lived in the wilderness dressed in itchy clothes eating locusts and honey. And he was that guy, the one who baptized Jesus. But what an amazing place he is given in John's epic telling of Jesus, the Word. He is The Witness.

John is the first human mentioned by name in Jesus' story. Like the prophets of the Old Testament, he was given a specific mission to tell God's people God's message for a specific place and time. The people, hungry to hear God's voice after 400 years of silence (no true prophets), flocked to hear this radical man's teaching.

The message: "You people live in darkness, and you've been waiting for the light. Change your ways now, because the light is here. Repent, be baptized, and get ready to really see for the first time in your lives."

Think: What would it be like to live your whole life in total darkness (underground or something) and then one day suddenly see light for the first time? How would that change your life?

Pray: Thank God for sending John the Baptist to prepare the way for the light.

Do: Find a dark room in your house and sit in the darkness for five minutes. Think about the difference between living in darkness and living in light on a spiritual level.

Life Light

2008-05-06T14:58:00.000-06:00

"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:3-5)

John 1 reads like poetry in that you almost have to read every simple line two or three times to really get what it's saying. John continues to make these giant claims about Jesus in very straightforward statements. From this passage, here's what we know about Him.

1) He is the Creator of all created things in the universe. (That includes us.)

2) Life is in Him. He took part in igniting the spark of Life -- and He is the only path to eternal Life.

3) His life is our light. Without Him, we are in blind spiritual darkness.

4) His light is not hidden. It shines out for all to see.

5) The darkness cannot extinguish His Light; it will never go out.

Think: Do you usually think of Jesus as the Creator? If not, how does that change your perception of Him?

Pray: Thank God for sending the Light into your darkness to give you real and eternal life with Him.

Do: Make a list of 20 things that Jesus was involved in creating -- things "made" by Him at the beginning of time.

First Word

2008-05-05T17:44:00.000-06:00

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." (John 1:1-2)

In the first chapter of his book about Jesus, John packs some huge ideas about Jesus into just a few simple sentences. That's good writing. Even those of us who take God's Word as just that don't often give it credit for being well written. God took great care to make sure the words used to communicate His Word were not just meaningful, but also delivered with excellence.

It's no accident, then, that John's first big idea is to call Jesus "the Word." You've probably heard that the original greek word for "word" is logos. That word was known both to Greek philosophy and Jewish theology. It was a perfect word to introduce the idea of Jesus to everyone in John's audience -- on the way to introducing us to the reality of Jesus as the Son of God.

The first thing we learn about this logos is that it's more than just a connection between God and the material world; it is a He. The logos is a person -- a person who has been around since the beginning, a person who has been with God, a person who is God.

Thinking: Have you ever wondered why John called Jesus "the Word" and not "the Picture"? Why do you think God puts such value on words? Why not reveal His truth in video instead of text?

Pray: Ask God to help you get to know Him better by better understanding His Word and all the words in it.

Do: Think about memorizing John 1:1-14 this week.

Nothing Left

2008-05-04T15:26:00.000-06:00

"But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." (Philippians 2:17-18)

A drink offering was one of several types of offerings used by the Jews for worshipping God. It usually accompanied a "meal offering," and most of Paul's Jewish readers probably could picture the priest pouring out the wine as a sacrifice to God. Paul saw his own life being poured out; he was in prison and knew he might be killed soon for teaching about Jesus.

Did you notice what the drink offering, Paul's life, is being poured over? The Philippian's "sacrifice and service" to and for God. Paul had introduced them to Jesus. They had responded by trusting in Christ. That faith resulted in living such good lives that they stood out as shining stars in their generation. Paul said it was worth his whole life to help make that happen.

If you play sports, some coach has probably yelled at you at some point to "leave it all on the field" or the "court" or in the "cage" (depending on your sport). Paul's life was poured out. He used it all up to hand his faith off to the next generation. The result? Gladness and joy for him -- and for his readers.

Think: If you were in prison for preaching Jesus with a real chance of being killed, do you think you would see that as a "victory" worth being glad about?

Pray: Ask God to help you use your whole life up in serving Him.

Do: If you watch a lot of sports, give yourself one point for every time you hear the worlds "leave it all on the court" this next month.

Run for Nothing?

2008-05-03T19:01:00.000-06:00

". . . in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." (Philippians 2:15-16)

Some people don't like the book of Ecclesiastes. It's a book of great wisdom, but it asks a lot of hard questions -- and it doesn't answer all of them completely. The author's most famous line is the first one: "Meaningless, Meaningless, says the Preacher, all is meaningless." Solomon concludes more than once that you won't find the answer to life's meaning "under the sun."

In his writings -- also inspired by God but after the mystery of Jesus is revealed -- Paul answers a lot of Solomon's Ecclesiastes questions more fully by showing all the meaning that flows into our lives from "beyond the sun" through knowing Jesus. Today's passage is one of those answers. Here he says that his life -- his mission -- will be meaningful when the Philippians (and other believers of his day) live in such a way as to "hold out the word of life" to the next generation of Christians.

A life that matters involves passing the torch of faith in Jesus to others who are looking for meaning in their lives. As Paul describes it, those living in the darkness of a crooked generation will notice people in the light. Are you ready to talk about the source of your light with anyone who asks?

Think: Do you think Paul's life would really have been less meaningful if the Philippians had not pointed others to Jesus? Do you think he was confident that they would?

Pray: Ask God to help you live in a way that would attract unbelievers to come to you looking for the light.

Do: Whatever you do, do NOT start singing the camp song "Pass It On" in your head today; you'll never get it out. ("It only takes a spark to get a fire going . . .")

Shiny Much?

2008-05-02T12:49:00.000-06:00

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." (Philippians 2:14-15)

I heard somebody say recently, "What other people think of me is none of my business." That's a sticky idea that is both true and false, I think. The true part of it is that I cannot hope to make people judge me fairly. I can't expect that everyone will like me for who I am. I shouldn't make it my job in relationships to be universally accepted. Some people will like me; others won't. That's okay.

But in the verses we'll notice today and tomorrow, Paul says that statement is also false. What others think of us as Christians is exactly our business. Why? Because people will base their opinion of Jesus on how much of Him they see in us. Our reputation can attract seekers to life in Christ -- or make them want to gag at the thought of being "one of us."

How to be attractive? Paul says, "Don't complain." "Don't argue." That will lead toward our being "blameless" (no obvious big failings in our lives) and "pure" (belonging only to God). We will become known as God's children -- good kids who stick out in a generation that loves to do wrong.

Think: Be honest with yourself. What does the reputation of you and your Christian friends together say about Jesus?

Pray: Ask God for the self control to obey Him so you can shine for Him in your generation.

Do: Listen to yourself today. Write down on a list every time you complain or argue. If it's a lot, track it every day this week and see if you do it less by thinking about it more.

Fear and Tremblin'

2008-05-01T16:02:00.000-06:00

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Philippians 2:12-13)

What this passage is NOT saying: In order to keep your salvation -- your place in heaven with God forever -- you'd better do everything right. You'd better earn it with lots of good works. Be very afraid, because if you don't keep working out your salvation God won't let you in.

Why it is NOT saying that: Paul had written this to these same people one chapter ago: "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) Paul was confident every person in Christ would be made perfect. No need to worry that you won't make it.

What I think this passage IS saying: You are saved people! Saved people obey God! Don't stop obeying Him. Be afraid. Be awestruck. Why? Because the all-powerful God of universe is going to use your obedient life to accomplish His plan for the universe. It might be hard, but what an amazing and meaningful (and thrilling and sometimes terrifying) way to live!

Think: Does the idea of the God of all using your little life to accomplish His forever plan scare you a little? Does the idea of disobeying Him scare you? Why or why not?

Pray: Ask God to help you to be afraid of all the right things and fearless of everything else.

Do: Read Philippians 2:5-11 again and notice how the Father used Jesus' obedient life to accomplish His plan.

Knees and Tongues

2008-04-30T07:18:00.000-06:00

"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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)

This passage is one of the earliest known Christian "creeds." A creed is a statement of belief that defines what it means to be part of a group. True or false: Jesus Christ is Lord, meaning that He is Yahweh, the maker of heaven and earth, the Holy One of God. Christians says, "True." Unbelievers say, "False" or "Yes, but . . ."

One day, every soul who has every existed will finally answer "True" to this question. Some will bow in gratitude; others in shame. Some will be in heaven, others on earth, others in hell -- all will finally and fully admit that the once-despised and mocked and spit-on Jesus is, after all, Lord of all.

For anyone who waits until that day to bow before Jesus, it will be too late to be saved by trusting in Him for the forgiveness of their sins. They will suffer in hell forever knowing they were wrong to reject Him. What a day of triumph and despair that will be.

Think: How many people do you know right now who could not honestly bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord?

Pray: Ask God to help your unbelieving friends and family members to come to know Him as Father through faith in Jesus.

Do: Make a plan to confess to an unbelieving friend or family member your faith that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We Humble God Lifts

2008-04-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name." (Philippians 2:9)

In coming to earth, in becoming a human servant, Jesus made Himself nothing. He humbled Himself to the lowest point. He made the choice to treat others as better than Himself (they weren't), to serve, to die.

Then God the Father made a choice to un-humble Jesus. He lifted Him up to the highest place and gave Him the most powerful, most respected, and most feared name in past and future history. He took Jesus' shameful and obedient and loving and selfless death on the cross and turned Jesus into the greatest champion of all time.

God calls us to follow that same pattern. We humble ourselves and wait. We serve. We treat others better. We kill off every "me first" impulse. Then, at just the right moment, He will lift us up. See 1 Peter 5:5-6 to see for yourself.

Think: How are you doing at thinking like Jesus and humbling yourself under God's mighty hand? Is your ego losing any weight?

Pray: Ask God to help you both to know how and to want to humble yourself in service to others.

Do: Memorize 1 Peter 5:5-6 and roll it around in your head every day this week. (You can skip the first sentence unless you're a "young man.")

Obeying Death

2008-04-28T15:20:00.000-06:00

"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8)

Humility doesn't come any more shocking than this. First, the Creator of the universe refuses to demand His right to be treated as God. Instead, He humbles himself by becoming stuck in time, first as a baby human, fully human, a servant down to His own human DNA. He grew, obedient to time, waiting for the hours and days and years to pass like every other human must. Finally, this passage tells us God bowed so low as to obey even death.

Death -- the consequence for Adam's sin -- "for when you eat of it you will surely die." Now perfect and humble Jesus Himself obeys the consequence for sin to spare all of Adam's believing children. And not an easy death, either. Not a noble, kingly death. Not death "with his boots on" in the heat of battle or "passing in his sleep" to avoid the pain.

This was death at it's wickedest -- a death so cruel the Romans would not allow the worst Roman citizens to suffer through it. A death of shame. A death that invited mocking and spittle. How: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

Think: Why would God allow His only Son to suffer by obeying such an ugly death?

Pray: Thank God for Jesus' enormous humility to lower Himself to the point where He could pay the penalty for your sin.

Do: Look up the definition of humility in a dictionary and write it out word-for-word while thinking about this verse.

Movie Stars with Dish Rags

2008-04-27T14:36:00.000-06:00

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:5-7)

It's the President bussing tables at McDonald's for the summer. It's Queen of England working in the nursery by herself on Sunday mornings. It's Miley Cyrus cleaning the toilets at your school every afternoon.

Rich people. Powerful people. Popular people. They don't have to do those things. If they're kind of cool, we think, maybe they'll pitch in on some mundane task once in a while. But honestly, if any of those people did any of those things for real -- for more than a month or two -- we'd probably respect them less. Why do it if you don't have to?

Jesus didn't come to demand our respect for His power or riches or authority. He came to be a servant. A real "let me get that for you" servant even though He was God. I admire Him for that, but I don't really want to be like Him that way. Not really. Not in serving you. I need a heart transplant.

Think: Do you want to be like Jesus in serving others? Why is it so hard for us to want to be like Him in that way?

Pray: Ask God to help you to want to be a servant in the same way that Jesus was.

Do: Make a short list of some ways you could serve your friends this week.

Legalism is Easier

2008-04-26T13:04:00.000-06:00

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5)

A lot of people hate legalism for the wrong reasons. They get mad when someone suggests we should say "no" to some things when the Bible has not really made those thing off-limits. They don't like hearing "no." Paul hated legalism, too, but mostly for a bigger, harder reason.

I grew up around legalism, and it was a good fit for me. I was a pleaser and a child. It wasn't too hard to keep the list of do's and don'ts. So mostly I felt pretty good about my relationship with God. If the unofficial ranking of "good Christian kids" was actually published, I would have been near the top. The problem with legalism is that it's too easy.

In today's verse (and the 6 after it), Paul smashes legalistic satisfaction by showing what God really wants from us. He doesn't want us to grow holy from the outside in -- by doing/avoiding all the listed items and waiting for our hearts to catch up. He wants to transform us from the inside by dismantling the machine and rebuilding it without the selfish button. He wants us to think like Jesus.

That's way too hard. Let's just not smoke or swear and then feel really good about ourselves.

Think: What's harder, to follow a list of rules or to learn to think as selflessly as Jesus did? Is it even possible to have the same kind of humility He had?

Pray: Ask God to change your heart to begin to think and feel like Jesus did.

Do: A good way to begin thinking like Jesus would be to memorize Philippians 2:5-11.

Mission Not Mine

2008-04-25T10:28:00.000-06:00

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)

Yesterday, we talked about Paul's upside-down command to think of others as better than ourselves. In other words, part of our mission in life is to make other people successful. This verse takes that a step further -- "look to" others' interests.

We're not necessarily talking about appreciating each others' hobbies or music playlists here. We're talking about getting practical about what it means to love another person as we love ourselves.

It's a two-step process. One: Take the time to really think through, ask about, and understand what another person wants and needs out of life right now. Two: Make a plan to do something about it. (Read the "Do" line below to get even more specific.)

Think: Who in your life has made it their business to help you with your "interests," to be available to help you accomplish what you need to do with your time and energy? Why do they do that for you?

Pray: Ask God to help you want to help other people with their interests, as well as taking care of your own stuff.

Do: Make three lists. On the first, list you "interests;" not what you like, but what you need to do and figure out and accomplish this week. Now pick two other people (parents, friends, etc.), and make the same list for them. Finally, take those lists to them and ask what else is on their plates.

Let the Dream Die

2008-04-24T16:32:00.000-06:00

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3)

Selfish ambition and vain conceit are such ugly words. We don't usually use them to describe our own motives. Instead, we say, "Don't give up on your dreams" (for success and nice things and being respected and winning it al). We say, "You've got to make some sacrifices if you want to get ahead" (and get the glory and get the girl/guy and get famous).

In fact, you've probably heard motivational speakers break it down like this: "Think about what you want for yourself out of life. Make a goal. And figure out the steps to get what you want. Along the way, don't let anyone treat you like you're less valuable."

James called that "worldly wisdom," and it works sometimes to make people rich or famous. But Paul says, "Identify what other people want out of life, and help them get it. Along the way, don't let anyone treat you like you're better than they are. If your dreams don't include making others successful, let the dreams die."

Think: Why does this verse -- treat others better than yourself -- sound so backwards to us? How often do we really do this?

Pray: Ask God to help you want to treat others better than yourself.

Do: Write a one-line motivational poster that would fit the philosophy of this verse.

Relationship Fallout

2008-04-23T15:10:00.000-06:00

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." (Philippians 2:1-2)

I'm told that in the original language, Paul's sentence in these two verses assumes that the answer to all these "if" statements is a "yes." He is saying, "Look at everything you have in Christ: encouragement from being "with" Him; comfort from being loved by Him; a sense of togetherness with the Holy Spirit; and a new tenderness and compassion!"

Here's my question: Would those things describe your life in Christ? Have you experienced that encouragement, comfort, fellowship, and compassion? If not, we should ask ourselves, "What's the deal?" Are we really walking with Christ -- or are we just satisfied with being in the Christian club without being radically engulfed in relationship with Him?

Paul's friends were genuine Jesus-followers, and they experienced all of these things as a result. They still had sad times. They still had frustrating days. They still suffered. But being in Christ brought meaning in all of the ways Paul described.

Think: How has being in relationship with Jesus changed your life? Has it brought you comfort, compassion, encouragement, and fellowship with God?

Pray: Ask God to help you walk in close relationship with Him? Thank Him that He loves you and provides for you in every possible way.

Do: Read the rest of today's passage to discover what Paul wanted his encouraged, comforted, compassionate friends to do to make him fully joyful.

No Fear

2008-04-22T16:41:00.000-06:00

". . . without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him . . ." (Philippians 1:28)

Back in the 90s, a brand of clothing called No Fear got hugely popular. Part of the attraction was the idea behind the logo — live to the extreme in sports, in life. Don't be afraid of pain or breaking out of tradition. Don't conform. Live on the edge.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul described how Christians can live without fear. We saw the first two steps in yesterday's devo: live like the gospel matters (with integrity) and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other believers (as one person). That makes sense.

The next step is harder: expect to suffer. People who see pain as normal are not afraid of it. Athletes push through the pain of working out knowing they'll have pain from it the next day, too. Boxers expect to take punches. Christians should expect to suffer for Jesus, Paul wrote.

Think: Does expecting pain make pain less scary? Do you know of any Christians who have suffered real persecution for their faith?

Pray: Ask God to help you live without fear in the way Paul describes here.

Do: Go out and buy a "No Fear" energy drink. Wait, I'm not supposed to say that unless they send us money. Drink something else. But don't be scared.

Together and Fearless

2008-04-21T16:10:00.000-06:00

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then . . . I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you." (Philippians 1:27-28)

Paul is writing to some great friends of his, Christians in the town of Philippi. They were going through some rough times, being treated badly because they believed in Jesus. Paul could relate; he was writing this letter from prison for the same reason.

The letter is full of encouragement for believers, but Paul also urged his friends to do better. It matters how we live, he said, because people are watching. They're looking to see if faith in Jesus makes any difference in the lives of those who trust Him.

What's your salvation worth to you? he asks. Show its worth in how you live. And don't make it a "personal thing." Stand for what you believe together. Firmly. Fight for it together, so close that you seem like parts of the same person. Be fearless.

Think: Does standing and fighting and sharing real life with other Christians make us stronger? How can it makes us fearless?

Pray: Ask God to help unbelievers see Jesus in you and the people in your church.

Do: Write down a few of the ways you do/could "stand firm in one spirit" and "contend as one man" with other believers in your life.

God Goes First

2008-04-20T20:20:00.000-06:00

'If you will not,' said Naaman, 'please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD.' " (2 Kings 5:17)

Notice two amazing things from today's passage. First, Naaman asks for some Israeli dirt on which to set up an altar back home for making sacrifices to the God of Israel. He vows never again to sacrifice to another god. Seems like a rational response to his miracle healing, but it had the potential to be risky for Naaman. His boss the king worshipped another god.

The bigger deal to me, though, is what this story says about God. He did not require Naaman to vow to worship Him before He healed him. His only demand was that Naaman trust Him enough to follow the instructions to wash in the humble river. God healed Naaman with few strings attached -- and Naaman's worship followed.

God did the same for us, but in a much bigger way. In Romans 5, we're told that "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God gave the gift first -- the gift of His only Son's life for our sin. Our conversion and worship of Him followed once we understood His sacrifice and power and love.

Think: Is it risky for God to give away such amazing gifts without asking us to sign on the dotted line first?

Pray: Thank God for sacrificing Jesus before you knew to want to be saved. Ask Him to help you to worship Him in the best possible way.

Do: Read the last 10 verses of chapter 5 to catch the surprising ending to the story of Naaman and Elisha.