DEVOTIONS

Monday, February 7 – “So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?” (Romans 2:3) In your attempt to build a better boat, never forget that you aren’t perfect.  There are things in your life that require your attention.  Long before the attention that you have been paying to the things that require attention in other people’s lives.  Your boat will never be better if you ignore your areas that need improvement.  God wants to help you build a better boat.  Yet, how can God help you, if all you ever do is judge other people’s boats?  

Tuesday, February 8 – “Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13) In your attempt to build a better boat, never forget that what you show to others will be shown to you.  If you show judgment, you will receive judgment.  If you show mercy, you will receive mercy.  And if you are at all confused, “Mercy triumphs over judgment”.  Your boat will never be better if you spend all of your time judging others.  God wants to help you build a better boat.  And to keep you motivated, God will always remind you that what you give is what you will get. 

Wednesday, February 9 – “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’  But the tax collector stood at a distance.  He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14) The tax collector was building a better boat!

Thursday, February 10 – “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:38) Why do you want to build a better boat?  So that you can help others build a better boat.  If God simply intended for you to live in Heaven for eternity, you would have died the moment that you believed in Jesus.  Since you didn’t die, there must be something more behind this whole salvation by grace through faith in Jesus thing.  The more is building a better boat.  Not only to improve your life, but also to improve the lives of others.  Helping others build a better boat is why God created you, gifted you and saved you. 

Friday, February 11 – “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Romans 2:1) In your attempt to build a better boat, pay attention to what sins you judge, in other people.  It’s so easy to find the sins in everyone else.  It’s quite another thing to recognize, confess and repent of the sins in yourself.  You most readily see your own sins in other people.  The things that cause you to miss the mark or separate you from God (both definitions of sin) are the very things that you judge in other people. 

Saturday, February 12 – “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37) In your attempt to build a better boat, never forget that God will judge you by the standard that you set.  In other words, if you want to experience more mercy from God, be merciful to others. If you want to experience more judgment from God, be more judgmental to others.  If you want to experience more forgiveness from God, be more forgiving to others.  God wants to help you build a better boat.  And he is giving you quite the incentive to do just that!