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Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Fan or Follower – Seek Truth”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 

Whenever a hurricane strikes a coastal city like Ian did in the Ft. Myers, FL area, we see the effects of winds, waves, and flooding.  A storm of the strength of Ian wreaked havoc on the barrier islands and many homes that enjoyed ocean front views are no longer.

This reflection is in no way to make light of or minimize the loss many families have experienced at the brunt of a powerful storm.  The strength of one’s home and the security of a solid foundation are critical to withstand storms of hurricane strength.

The next hurricane is not a matter of “if,” it is a matter of “when.”  So, if one is going to build or rebuild in this area, strength of the structure and its foundation matters.

It’s not a matter of “if” a hurricane will come in our lives, it’s a matter of “when.”

What storms are you in, facing or anticipating?  Not physical storms, but spiritual ones.  Satan loves to bring storms in life that beat against our faith and seek to destroy it.  Some are gentle breezes…some “Cat 5” hurricane strength.

What do those storms look like?

• Maybe an unexpected death of a spouse or parent leaving us at a loss for the future.
• Walking into work and being fired and now without a job and regular income.
• World affairs that threaten lives or livelihood.
• A child that is following a path of poor choices, bad friendships, and destructive behavior.
• Addiction to cope with the challenges of life.

What is yours?

Jesus is not naive to think that storms will not come.  In fact he KNOWS they will come and want us to survive these storms and come through them stronger in faith, not weaker.  So he gives us his loving direction: Hear my Word AND put it into practice.

Both men in Jesus’ short parable hear the Words of God.  One puts them into practice and another blows them off.

So what might that look like? Here are a few examples of hearing and doing the Word of God.

Jesus encourages, 

Psalm 50:15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”  So when trouble comes, we call on the Lord…as a first resort, not last.

When we put wisdom from the Lord on managing our wealth into practice, we are are able to navigate a time without income.

Proverbs 13:7 One person pretends to be rich but has nothing; another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth. – Proverbs 13:7

God’s truth guides our relationships and enables us to enjoy blessing out of conflict.

Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] says the Lord.

When we are navigating earthly challenges or facing our own mortality, the Word encourages us.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

These are just a small sample of encouragement for our souls as we navigate the winds and waves of life.  

Truth of God put into practice is the foundation that cannot be shaken!

Apply: What challenges in life are shaking your spiritual foundation?  What truth of God’s Word will serve to provide a solid foundation as you navigate the challenge?

Prayer: Lord thank you for your word of truth.  Help me not to just hear it, but to put it into practice!  AMEN.

 

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Fan or Follower – Seek Truth”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 

What?

Are we understanding Jesus correctly that people who hail the name of the Lord and act in the name of the Lord will be sent to hell?

Religious? Spiritual people? Sent away from the Lord forever?

It catches the many off guard when Jesus says to them, “I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers.”

As with all of Jesus’ words he tells us this because he loves us.  He is warning us so we don’t fall into the same trap.

So what is the deception?  What is the tactic Satan is using?

Satan loves to get us to believe that being outwardly spiritual and pious is what the Lord desires.  He wants us to think that a good spiritual performance before God will earn a spot in heaven, or at least recognition by the Father in heaven.

I cringe when people at funerals say something like, “I know he’s in a better place because he was such a good man.”

Outward actions…Outward spiritual actions don’t save.

Jesus condemns superficial religious activity.

Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.  

Outward activity without inner conviction is religious deception.  The inner conviction the Lord is looking for is faith in him as Savior.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

The heart, transformed by the Spirit of God, produces the will of God.  Jesus says he will recognize those that do the will of God.  What is the will of God?

John 6:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

The will of God is produced from a heart that trusts firmly in the work of God.

As shocking as it may sound, the truth must be spoken.  Only faith that has its substance in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will be welcomed into heaven.

Here’s the substance of saving faith:

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” 

Going through the motions of following Jesus will end in a harsh departure from the one you feigned to follow.  However a heart of faith in the Lord Jesus will produce a life of good fruit and receive a welcome by grace to an eternity in heaven.

Apply: Did these words of Jesus shock you?  For what do you need to repent?  What happens when the Spirit of God works in your heart a trust and love for the Lord Jesus as your Savior?

Prayer: Lord, thank you again for your warnings.  May all of my life be driven by a faith-filled heart which loves and trusts in God above all things.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Fan or Follower – Seek Truth”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad (diseased) tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 

Watch out!

Do you remember when your parents said this as you crossed the road to catch the school bus?  “Watch out for cars!”

Maybe as you went swimming in your favorite lake, “Watch out for snakes!”

Maybe as you caught wind of a Facebook or telephone scam, “Watch out for scammers!”

When we see danger, we warn people we love so they are not negatively affected.  When we are warned, we know what to notice and avoid to prevent harm and danger coming to us or those we love.

The motivation behind Jesus’ words is his love for us.

Just prior to verse 15, Jesus said this in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Jesus desires that all of us enter eternal life with him, not apart from him.  As he claimed in John 14:6,  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

So, watch out for any one, any thing, any teaching that would teach or lead contrary to Jesus being the way to heaven.

The world around us promotes the opposite of Jesus’ statement. Many would like to believe and teach that wide is the path to heaven and narrow (if there is any) is the path to hell.  Individuals claim, “All paths lead to God.”  Other’s claim, “We all worship the same god, just call him by different names.”  To claim otherwise is attacked as close minded, arrogant, or judgmental.  A wide path to heaven sounds loving, accepting, non-judgmental.  It looks like an innocent sheep. 

But this teaching is dangerous deception.

Any teaching that distorts the truth that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven is Satan’s ferocious lies that he tells to lead us down the wide path to destruction.

Jesus warns us because he loves us.  Jesus’ disciples warn us because they love us.  Here are Paul’s words to the leaders of the church in Ephesus, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:29)”

The greatest threat to the Gospel of grace found in Jesus is any teaching that shifts the focus from the perfect performance of Jesus to the personal performance of the individual.  Whether it is a teaching that makes salvation 100% dependent on your effort or 1%, each is equally as dangerous and damning.

Like a child ready to cross the street who doesn’t see the oncoming car coming at a high rate of speed, our Savior yells in love, “WATCH OUT!”

Apply: What teachings have you heard (or believed) that sounded really good, but when measured against the truth of the Bible they were destructive deceptions?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the warning.  Give us wisdom and discernment to recognize and avoid any dangerous teaching that would lead us to turn to ourselves and away from Jesus.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Fan or Follower – Seek Truth”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Most of the country is observing Halloween today.  October 31st at it’s worst is the night of celebrating all that is ghoulish and at its best, a night to dress up and have fun collecting candy from neighbors.

The day has much more significance for Christians.

Halloween is the old English form for All Hallows Eve.  All Hallows Eve was followed on November 1 by All Hallows Day, more commonly known as All Saints Day.  In the 1500s, this was a big worship day where people would come to the Catholic church to honor the saints.  Relics of the saints would be on display, so more than usual would gather for worship.

Martin Luther knew this.

He took advantage of All Hallows Eve in 1517 to post 95 statements he desired to debate with the church officials of his time.

The issue? Indulgences.

Indulgences were pieces of paper sanctioned by the pope that when purchased were to give individuals assurance that their sins were forgiven.  The validity of the paper was based on what was called the “treasury of the saints.”  This treasure was said to be the extra good works the saints had done over and above what they for their own salvation.  Because the saint didn’t need them, they were available to be assigned to others.

Thus the sale of indulgences.

The proceeds? Gathered to build St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The problem?

Forgiveness is not based on the merits of the saints or our merits for that matter.

People were being guilted into buy indulgences at the fear of their own salvation or that of someone they loved.

Consciences were not being soothed, they were being taken advantage of.

This deception deserved debate and discussion.

So Luther wanted to have that debate.

And we live in the legacy of what this these statements sparked.

Was our certainty of salvation based on our own merits or that of the saints or would our salvation be based on the merits of Jesus Christ and trust in him?

The clear truth of Scripture had been clouded over by the traditions of the Church and the decrees of the pope.

But the Lord led Luther to see clearly the truth the Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write in Romans 1:16-17

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Rightness before God comes by faith in the good news about Jesus. 

Perhaps this truth seems trite and ordinary, but it is profound and unique. 

Many, including the Catholic Church, still believe and teach that in some way my performance before God merits eternal life.  The teaching seems to make sense, but it is eternally destructive.  If we can be honest with ourselves, the only thing our performance deserves is separation from God, not life with him.

So we need grace.  We need forgiveness.  We need Jesus.

The 95 statements sparked a debate, many discussions, and finally a divide from the Catholic Church.  The followers were called “Lutherans” but more importantly, the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone found in Scripture alone resurfaced from the pages of Scripture and brought true peace, joy and forgiveness to every soul who by faith, believed it!

So happy Reformation Day!  Know YOU are a “holy one” who has been covered by the blood of Jesus.

Apply: Ever read the 95 Theses?  Here’s a link.  Which statements would you like to discuss or debate if you had the chance?  Which do you agree with?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the work of Martin Luther who you used to bring the truth of grace back to the forefront amidst the deception of indulgences. As we thank you for the work of Martin Luther, may our confidence always rest in the gift of grace you have given in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Fan or Follower – Worry Less”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Stop worrying!

Ok, that’s easy to say and hard to do.  I pray this week’s message and devotions have helped a little bit.  

A technique called “visualization” helps to catch a glimpse of a future reality while we are engaged in the present.  When you set a goal, you visualize yourself accomplishing that goal.  When you practice a sport, you visualize yourself succeeding at that shot, kick, or swing.  

Visualize your life with less worry…or no worry…not because you just choose to give up and not care, but because, with the Lord’s help, you’ve replaced worry with trust.  

Picture three things.

1. When I worry less, by body is healthier and more rested.

Jesus invites us come to him with our worries, concerns and anxieties.  As he carries them, our soul and our body can rest more fully.  Rest supports physical health, improves mood and memory, and restores your energy.

Matthew 11:28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

2. When I worry less, my mind is at peace.

Worry keeps our mind active with concern and anxiety.  Worry leads our minds to imagine worst case scenarios.  Worry wakes us up at night as our mind tries to figure out the future or engages in concern of the present.  Jesus desires our minds to be at peace.  So he invites us to take whatever we are worried about and give it to him.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Philippians 4:6-7″Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

3. When I worry less, I can better carry out my purpose.

When we worry about things of this world, we lose sight of our purpose and Jesus’ promise.  Our purpose is to live for Jesus.  His promise is that when we put him first, all the earthly things we worry about will be taken care of as well.  To worry less is to love God more.  Perhaps more than that is that when we worry less we trust God more.  And when we worry less we find our purpose in Him more.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

So, ask the Lord to forgive your worry and replace it with trust.  Find the rest, peace and purpose found in Jesus as we let him take care of the things of this life and simply put him first and follow him.

Apply: What blessing of worrying less can you visualize increasing in your life?  What does it look like?  

A way to process worry is through journaling.  Here’s a resource of questions that perhaps can be helpful to spark your thoughts and allow you to process worry and replace it with trust.  https://www.thescribesportion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marchjournal.pdf

Prayer: Father, forgive my worry.  Replace it with trust.  Grant me the blessing of physical and spiritual rest, peace in my heart, and purpose in my life as I worry less and trust you more.  AMEN.