FAITHFULNESS REQUIRES COMMITMENT

Luke 9:57-62

[A] – ACCEPT / RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:

I will direct my heart and mind to meditate on today’s Word of God. But first I will pray that today’s Word is able to change my life.
Luke 9:57-62 >>

The Cost of Following Jesus

57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”

The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON:

I will meditate on the verses above and answer the questions below honestly before the Lord.

1.       From the verses above, what was the reaction of the people in responding to Jesus’ calling in their lives?
2.       What sort of attitude is needed in order to faithfully follow Christ?

[T] – TAKE ACTION / APPLY:

I will not delay what I need to do for God today.

DECLARATION OF GOD’S WORD:

Luke 9:62 “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

[S] – SHARE / STRENGTHEN:

I will share what I receive from today’s devotions to a friend in faith and we will pray for one another.

LESSON:

In Luke 9, people made the decision to follow Jesus, but they delayed until their family problems were resolved. If they are the eldest child, they would have to take care of their father’s inheritance first. There could be a possibility that they would first have to continue the family business. Or they would have to first ask for their family’s approval before following Jesus. Whatever the excuse may be, they are not prepared to make a serious commitment. “It is fine to follow Jesus, but I’ll be serious about it later.”

Jesus demands commitment from all of His followers. Commitment is part of faithfulness. Without commitment it is impossible for a person to stay faithful in what they say and/or do. Without commitment, you start to make many excuses that cause you to avoid taking responsibility when faced with an unpleasant situation. If a husband is not committed to his wife, he will easily fall into the sin of infidelity. A student who is not committed to school will not be serious in his/her studies and suffer failure. A Christian who is committed to Christ and their calling, no matter what their condition is sickness, health, joy, hard times, they will always be faithful.

How serious are you in following Jesus? If God has called and chosen you to do something, how is your commitment to that? What challenges you from making a commitment towards family, work, studies, and ministry? We are all servants who are expected to be faithful and obedient. Ask for wisdom and courage from Him, so that you are able to be a committed person.

LOVE: PRAYING AND BLESSING AN ENEMY

Matthew 5:43-48 >>

Teaching about Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

—

1. Some tips Jesus gave us on how to treat our ‘enemy/enemies,’ which may be people who do not like us and/or people we do not like are

to love them, pray for them, and be kind to them. This, then, is imitating the character of our Father in Heaven, for He gives His “sunlight to both the (good) and the (evil)(v.45).”

2. Self reflection: There are people that I don’t like and/or people that don’t like me. The reason for that dislike is I believe a clash in personalities. When I meet this person or these people, I feel uncomfortable and like they are standoffish to me. And what I’m thinking about when I meet them is how unpleasant it is, lol. I know it’s terrible, and I want to act as God wants me to. I want to practice praying for them and sincerely being kind to them and doing good towards them, not just putting on a kindness mask when inside I don’t like them at all.

Love = Forgiveness

2 John 1:6-10 >>

6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.r give any kind of encouragement.

—

1. According to the verses above, what stands out the most from Jesus’ teachings is doing what God commanded us, including to forgive others, as well as everything else He commands us.

2. An antichrist is able to deceive someone, denying Jesus Chrst came in a real body, when believers are not on guard and encourages someone who is not teaching the truth about Christ, so that people can get confused.

3. I can continually live in Christ’s teaching of love by not always focusing on being “nice.” There are times where tough love IS love, and being “nice” is not loving for the general good.

DON’T BE DECEIVED: LET GOD’S WORD BE YOUR LIFE’S GUIDE

2 Timothy 3:12-17 >>

112In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

—

1. Paying attention to what is said in verse 13, to guard my faith every day, I must continue in what I have learned and become convinced of, because I know from whom I learned it, and it’s made me wiser for salvation through faith in Christ [verse 14].
2. The function of God’s Word in my life is that it teaches, rebukes, corrects and trains me and others in righteousness [verses 15-16].

DON’T BE DECEIVED: DAILY INTIMACY WITH GOD

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 >> 3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

Ephesians 5:1-7 >>

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.

—

1. A person can be deceived when someone preaches a different Jesus or if we receive a different spirit or gospel and we just put up with it and take it lightly. What is meant by “different gospel” is a message that is not in accordance with God’s Word, aka what is written in the Holy Bibie.
2. God’s Word asks so that we do not be friends/associate with people whose words are dirty, empty or in vain. It is because such talk is out of place, and what comes out of your mouth comes out of your heart. Empty words are also deceiving, and words such as these are  symptoms of disobedience. Ex. if one engages in so much dirty/raunchy/vulgar talk, there is a chance their talk is accompanied by such behavior that is not pleasing to God. That’s just an example, lol.

PUT TO DEATH ALL THINGS THAT DECEIVE

Matthew 18:4-10 >>

4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5″And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7″Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.
9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10″See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

—

1.   In verses 4-6 it shows how truly precious children are in God’s eyes. Children can be deceived because they are so malleable and open and receptive to new things. They are not yet set in their ways and are usually smaller so they can be easily influenced.

2.   Meditating on verses 8-9, my eyes, hands, and feet can cause me to sin because they can cause me to watch bad things, do bad things and go to bad places. Certain things people watch and/or read can bring people to sin because it can contain content that is going against the truth of God’s Word and can influence us to stumble and fall by confusing us or tempting us to indulge in earthly yet sinful pleasures that we need to keep away from.

WATCH OUT THAT YOU ARE NOT DECEIVED

Monday, June 22, 2009

Mark 13:20-23 >>

20If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.

21At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.

22For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.

23So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

Luke 21:8-15 >>
8He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.

9When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

12″But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.
13This will result in your being witnesses to them.
14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.
15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

—

1.   According to verse 8, we must watch out for false Christs and false prophets and wars and revolutions.

2.   The verses that I have read today are on par with the current condition of the world. I can be Christ’s witness in the midst of suffering experienced by my family and friends by continuing to follow Christ and not being ashamed despite anything that happens.

HONORING GOD’S CALLING AND CHOICE

Matthew 22:2-14 >>

2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.

3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’

5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.

8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. 9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’

10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.

12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.

13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

—

1. The people who were invited to partake in the banquet [blessings] did not realize the significance and honor that was brought upon them, and they rejected the king’s invitation and went about doing their own business. Some of their reasons to turn down the invitation was to go tend to their own farm, business or just go their own way.

2. The kind of attitude we should have in receiving God’s calling is one that is happy and prepared [verses 11-12].

3. Self reflection: My attitude these days in responding to the tasks and responsibilities that God has given to me is that I need to be more taking it as an honor and responding to His calling wholeheartedly and excitedly, doing what I can to make myself ready for the wedding party.

CHARACTER OF THE CHOSEN: SERVE THE LORD

Thursday, June 18,  2009

Matthew 25:31-40 >>
The Sheep and the Goats

31″When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

—

1. Jesus’ family that is most dejected, are those who are are in need and are in less fortunate situations [verses 35-39]. This refers to people who are sick, in prison, are hungry and thirsty.

2. I have seen these people living in unfortunate circumstances around me, and I want to serve them more so I can help to meet their needs.

CHARACTER OF THE CHOSEN: GOOD QUALITY

Matthew 13:47-52

The Parable of the Net

47 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.

52He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

—

1. From the parable above, what happens during the filtering process is that the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and the wicked will be throwin into the fiery furnace “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (v.50).”

2. Some characteristics of people who have the quality of their life in living righteously are that they are loving and forgiving and live in integrity. I think I try hard to live out these characteristics. Although sometimes it is difficult, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13).”