Mission Minded: Clear on Your Calling…Called to Follow Part 2
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 17, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Clear in Their Calling!
Life can get hard.
Life as a Christian can get hard.
Fortunately, in America, the burden we bear as followers of Jesus has been fairly minimal compared to faithful Christians who have been willing to give up their life instead of giving up Jesus.
Yet, we can fall under the weight of even light persecution.
Threatened with losing our job, we hide our Christianity. Challenged to accept a lifestyle not God-pleasing, we look the other way. Told our child has the opportunity to get a full college sports scholarship, we neglect worship and gathering with other Christians.
God forgive us.
God empower us and enable us to be your faithful followers and be willing to “take up our cross and follow you!”
Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
I remember a devotional series from the now sainted Professor Daniel Deutschlander given while I was at Northwestern College (now part of Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN) entitled, “The life of the Christian is the life of the cross, not of the couch.”
The analogy for college students was appropriate as enjoying late nights and as many hours as possible sleeping or watching TV on the couch was a daily temptation. He knew and was ready to point out the sinful nature has a propensity to take the easy way…not the hard way.
The same with our faith life. Our tendency will be to endure the least persecution possible while convincing ourselves our faith is still strong and Jesus is still our number one commitment.
Satan is lying to us.
God forgive us.
God empower us to live the difficult, but yet joyful reality of being a follower of Jesus…willing to truly forsake all else to live the calling you have given to us…a follower of Jesus. Jesus was upfront with the 12 disciples and with us. Following him is what is most important in life, but also most difficult in life. Yet, Jesus is faithful. For what he calls us to do…follow him, he also equips us to do.
Enjoy taking up your cross and following Jesus…no matter how hard or heavy it may feel!
Apply: Identify the situations in life where you are tempted to lower the importance of your faith in order to avoid standing strong as a follower of Jesus. Ask the Spirit of God to give you boldness and courage to always take up you cross and follow him.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I lay aside the cross you invited me to carry. Empower me to carry the cross you give and faithfully follow you! AMEN.
Passage and Prayer for the Ministry of Cross & Crown
- Thursday – Luke 10:2 “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
PRAYER: Lord, guide us as we pray for the ministry of this church. We ask that you would raise up and send out workers into the harvest field. Help us to equip them to be prepared and empowered to serve and to bless. May we not miss the harvest you have placed right in front of us.
A Prayer on Inauguration Day
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 17, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Clear in Their Calling!
Lord God, through the Apostle Paul, you urge us that
“requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
So today we come to you first to thank you for President Trump and Vice-President Pence and their families and the years of their administration. For some it may be hard to give thanks…for others it may be easier. However, Lord, whether we agree with the policies or not or were pleased with his style or not, we recognize that you allowed another four years where we could worship you freely, proclaim the Gospel without threat of imprisonment, and live relative peaceful and quiet lives. No President has been or is perfect. But we thank you for a country and constitution that allows us the freedom to worship and share you freely and an administration that saw that freedom as something to be protected. We do ask for you to protect and watch over President Trump and Vice-President Pence and their families. Stop any evil that may be plotted against them. Allow them to transition from the rigors of government life to settings where they also may live peaceful and quiet lives. We thank you for their service to our country.
Today we also thank you for President-elect Biden and Vice President Harris. Again, for some it may be hard to give thanks…for others it may be easier. Lord, as they take office today, we ask that they would lead in such a way that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. We ask you to protect them from harm, use them to be a catalyst for peace in our divided country, and to lead them to respect and understand their authority comes ultimately from you. Lead them to honor our constitution, follow our laws, lead with a selfless heart, and seek wisdom to guide our country. We thank you for their willingness to serve our country.
We also pray for all those who have been entrusted with authority, those who govern locally, in our state government and in our national government. Let all seek ears to listen, hearts to seek good, and hands to serve those whom they govern.
We pray for ourselves and all the citizens of this country. Lead us to seek peace and not violence. Help us to listen to understand. Let us unite for good and discourage violence and evil. Where we disagree, lead us to seek understanding. Where we agree, use it for good. But Lord most of all as your people, help us to realize once again that the power to change a country is not in Presidents or legislatures, but through the power of the Gospel. Renew your people in this country in the vision and purpose for which you have us here: Preach the Gospel and reach people for Jesus. This is the work of your Church, not our government. Lead us to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Father it is your desire that we offer these prayers so we might have a climate and culture where we can be part of doing your will, seeking your heart, that desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Let the years ahead be one where the power of the Gospel changes hearts and the influence of your church for the eternal salvation of souls is recharged and reawakened.
So Father we ask that you would empower us as your people to speak the truth boldly and lovingly, not fearing those that desire to cancel your truth but having confidence in the calling you have given us to make disciples of all nations, starting right here in our country and our community.
All this we ask in the name of your Son who is the King of kings and Lord of Lords, AMEN.
Passage and Prayer for the Ministry of Cross & Crown:
Wednesday – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for all You have done for us and for the opportunities before us. Help us develop a deep sense of gratitude for your mercy, for your presence, for your love and for your plan.
Mission Minded: Clear in Your Calling…Called to Follow Part 1
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 17, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Clear in Their Calling!
The game of “Follow the Leader” was a grade school favorite…if you got to be the leader!
Being the leader was fun. You could go where you wanted, how fast you wanted, and perhaps subconsciously your 8-year old competitive mind was trying to do something not all your followers could do. (I’m sure that wasn’t me!)
Being a follower had mixed reviews. Sometimes the leader lacked creativity and challenge…boring! However sometimes the leader chose to lead to a place that was challenging for you to follow. The result? “I don’t want to play anymore.”
Following is easy when the leader leads somewhere familiar and comfortable. Following is challenging when the leader takes us into uncharted and difficult areas. It’s then that our commitment to the leader is broken or proven.
Jesus doesn’t always lead where it is comfortable and familiar.
Yet he calls us to follow.
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
What did Philip (and the other 11) understand about following Jesus when they first left what they were doing and following him? Perhaps they weren’t sure. However, by the end of the three years together, they had learned following Jesus took commitment, because following Jesus was not always familiar or easy.
In fact on a few occasions Jesus laid out some tough teach to reinforce commitment to him was primary over commitment to other very important relationships. Here’s what he challenged:
Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.
Jesus wasn’t telling us to turn hateful toward these people, he was stating in strong way, “If you are to follow me, it is a high calling and commitment.”
So why would we make that commitment to follow?
Many followed Jesus when things were easy and familiar. However, eventually when things got tough, many deserted him. He turned to these twelve and asked if they would like to leave too.
John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
There is no one else following because there is no one else who is the “Holy One of God” and who has the “words of eternal life.” To stop following Jesus is to give up on eternal life. That’s why following with first and full commitment is worth it…even when it is tough and unfamiliar.
Apply: Where are the tough places Jesus is leading in your life? Is he leading you to be bold in your faith in an environment that is hostile to Christianity? Is he leading you to love a person who seems unlovable? Is he leading you to speak up where the easy thing would be to remain silent?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me to follow. I know you will not call me to do something for which you will also equip me to do. So when it is tough to follow where you are leading, help me to not give up, but to rely on you all the more. Amen.
READING & PRAYER for the ministry of Cross & Crown:
Tuesday: – Colossians 3:12-14 “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. PRAYER: Lord, clothe our leadership team in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. Give us deep love for each other, your Church and the ministry you’ve put before us. Throughout this process, teach us to make allowance for each other’s faults. Refine us into the image of Christ.
Mission Minded: Clear Calling…Called to Faith
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 17, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Clear in Their Calling!
To be chosen is an affirming reality…whether it is being chosen to play on your middle school basketball team, given your first job or elected to a political position.
Being chosen says to our psyche that we matter, we are wanted, and someone trusts us enough to add value to them or to their team.
Perhaps there are time we expect to be chosen because we are qualified, have a needed experience or know the person who is selecting the team. However, when we aren’t qualified, don’t have the needed experience or don’t have a personal relationship with the one choosing…yet we are chosen anyway, leaves us flattered yet humbled.
This is the reality of God’s choice of us to be part of his family and part of his kingdom work.
We aren’t qualified…we fall short of the standard of perfection God demands.
We don’t have the needed experience…we had none.
We didn’t have a personal relationship with the one choosing…we were enemies of God and hostile to him.
Yet…
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This call to faith is an amazing statement of God’s goodness and grace. From the beginning God chose you to believe as he connected you to the message of the Gospel and the converting work of his Spirit. The result? You believed the truth of Jesus. The benefit? We might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When we think about why are we here on this earth, a key truth to understand is we are here to connect with the saving power of the Gospel. We are here to connect to God’s plan for us to hear the message of Jesus and have his Spirit change our unqualified, no experience, no relationship status to one that is qualified…because we have been given Jesus’ perfect record…to one that has experience as one who has been connected God’s eternal plan and one who has a relationship with the Lord.
Our call to faith is a gift of grace.
Our call to believe is foundational for life.
Our call to trust is what sets the stage for the call to follow.
Tomorrow we’ll delve into that, but today enjoy the gift of grace that God has called you to faith!
Apply: Who did God use in your life to connect you to his saving Gospel message? Send them a note of thanks for God using them in calling you to faith. Thank God for them too!
Prayer: Lord thank you for orchestrating a plan in eternity to include me in your plan of salvation! AMEN.
Mission Minded: Your Identity: Pleasing to God!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 10, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Secure in Their Identity!
Many of us are people-pleasers.
We want people to like us and so we do things that we think will lead to that result.
The problem is, people don’t always like us.
Eventually we are going to do something that someone doesn’t like because not everybody likes the same thing. For a people pleaser…this can be crushing.
When people are not pleased with us, it leads us to question our value, worth and significance.
It doesn’t have to.
When we find our identity in pleasing other imperfect people, we will often be questioning our identity.
Psychologists encourage us to have “self-worth and self-appreciation.” However, I believe that is hard to always drum up internally when externally I am being dumped on.
So where do we turn?
You guessed it. Back to our baptism and what God has to say about us.
At Jesus’ baptism, the Father said of his Son, “This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well-pleased.”
Our heavenly Father, says the same of you, “with you I am well-pleased.” Why can he say this? Because in our baptism we have been connected to the pleasing work of his Son Jesus!
Our baptism covers us in forgiveness…so we are always pleasing to God.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Our baptism gives us a new life that enables us to please God.
Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Our baptism begins the transformational work of God’s Spirit to understand what pleases God.
Romans 12: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Our baptism changes our focus from pleasing people to pleasing God.
Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Sure, we all need affirmation from people once in a while. It is also healthy to evaluate how our actions and words are affecting others. However, if you are looking for a foundational, identity reality, go back to how God thinks of you…with you he is well-pleased.
Apply: Take the three phrases from this week and put them on your mirror. Use them as a daily reminder and affirmation of who you are:
- I am a child of God!
- I am loved by God!
- I am pleasing to God!
Prayer: Thank you for the new identity I have because of my baptism. Grant me your Spirit every day to live this identity as a loved, pleasing, child of God! Amen.
Thank you for praying the following with us at Cross & Crown:
Day 5 – Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
God, open our minds and hearts to Your vision for Your Church that endures for all generations. Help us to not be limited by our own fears or doubts. Unify us in Your love and allow us to dream Your dreams for our community.