DEVOTIONS

Monday, June 20 – “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) Have you ever seen videos of people who are greeted by full-sized lions or tigers, in captivity?  They are swallowed up by the mere size of these big cats, not to be eaten, but to be loved.  This can only happen through a strong relationship.  Don’t try this with just any big cat.  The same is true for your relationship with God.  Through Jesus, you have access to God.  You can enter the presence of God and he will greet you with love.  Trying to enter into the presence of God, without faith in Jesus, is like randomly entering a big cat habitat.

Tuesday, June 21 – “He said to them, ‘This is what I told while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’” (Luke 24:44) God doesn’t shoot from the hip.  There is no need for God to improvise.  For God has been up to everything from the very beginning.  You see life unfolding right out in front of you, as it happens.  God doesn’t.  God sees it as His-story.  And history has never changed from the very beginning up to now.  How we live into history has changed, but His-story has never changed.

Wednesday, June 22 – “Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed by you.’” (Galatians 3:8) Why did the disciples speak all those different languages on Pentecost?  Because “all nations will be blessed” by Abraham.  Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, is the savior for the whole world, aka all nations.  Jesus came to save the world, all nations.  To give every person, regardless of where they are born or what language they speak, the possibility of being justified.  In other words, because of Jesus, every person has the possibility of getting right with God.

Thursday, June 23 – “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” (Psalm 110:1) Notice that King David is making a reference to a conversation that he is overhearing.  This isn’t a conversation between King David and God.  This is a conversation between God and David’s lord, aka, the Messiah.  This is important to realize, for David was a great man of God, but he isn’t, wasn’t and will never be, the Messiah.  He was just a man.  A man after God’s own heart, but a man none-the-less.  Don’t put your trust in people.  Love them for who they are.  Put your trust in Jesus.  

Friday, June 24 – “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) Good news.  All you need to do is believe in Jesus and the Holy Spirit will handle everything else.  You don’t need to study God’s word.  You don’t need to learn the teachings of Jesus.  You don’t need to do anything.  For the Holy Spirit will take care of everything.  Re-read our verse for today.  The Holy Spirit will “teach” and “remind”.  That means that you have to invest some sweat equity.  You need to learn from the Holy Spirit.  For how can the Holy Spirit remind you of something that you have never minded in the first place.

Saturday, June 25 – “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:22-23) That’s intimidating.  We, the church, are the body of Christ here on earth.  And our purpose, as the body of Christ here on earth, is to be the “fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”  How could we ever dream of accomplishing this goal?  I don’t know.  All I do know is accomplishing this goal has to be the work of the Holy Spirit.  For if this goal was merely left up to us, we would mess it up.