December 9th, 2020

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20:5

“The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”

Disobedience to God is never healthy or safe. We have to repent immediately when we see sin in our lives. But don’t stop at the stuff you can see from the outside. We must go deeper in to understand more about our rebellion. I sin with my anger, but I also sin with my pride. There is more to clean out than just the surface.

Like the ice fisherman who cuts a hole, then with tremendous skill brings things up from the deep, we need to look deeper at our actions. Jesus saw murder in our anger and adultery in our hidden lust. He would often address the heart attitudes of the pharisees in the room even when they hadn’t voiced their objections. Things like judgmentalism, pride, resentment, and lust swim beneath the surface of your heart. Look more deeply and let Jesus clean you all the way down.

Prayer prompt: Lord, teach me to go deeper in my pursuit of holiness for Your glory.

Daily Reading: 1 Peter 5 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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December 8, 2020

James 1:19-20

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Thinking of the gift of anger this time of year begs for comparisons to A Christmas Story. God has given us something awesome and dangerous. If we’re not careful, we’ll shoot our eye out. Anger is given for focusing a person, mind and body, on protecting something. Threaten my child and watch me hulk up! By God’s grace, that doesn’t happen much. I’m usually angry for much stupider and much more sinful reasons.

It is a helpful exercise for the day today. Take a moment to notice each time you get angry. Then write a sentence or two in a note app or on a piece of paper about why you’re mad. Sit down at the end of the day and ask the question, “What was I protecting with that anger?” If you’re like me, you can then start repenting for all the times your anger flares over pride, selfish pursuits, or unrealistic expectations.

Prayer prompt: Lord, teach me to see my anger and repent of it.

Daily Reading: 1 Peter 4 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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December 7, 2020

James 1:22-25

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

What do you see in the mirror? It if is a true mirror, you see yourself with an unvarnished truth. You may have known people like that, who aren’t cruel but brutal in their honesty. God’s law uncovers us in exactly that way. His perfect standard shows us not only how we are to act around others but even how a truly righteous person thinks and loves. It shows us just how much we’ve twisted away from that lovely perfection into perversion and ruin.

What do you do with that truth? If you are a hearer of God’s word and not someone actively seeking to put it into practice you are like the man who has forgotten. You can pretend that the pimples and ingrown hairs and briar patches for eyebrows aren’t there, but everyone else sees them! How much worse when a blemish really describes sin which leads to death. Take God’s dire warnings to heart and pursue change today.

Prayer prompt: Lord, show me a specific sin to work on today and guide me to a brother or sister who can help.

Daily Reading: 1 Peter 3 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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December 4, 2020

Psalm 46:4-7

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

How do some Christians keep giving to everyone and maintain such patience? They seem to push out into the world and the world conforms to them while they maintain a humble look and joyful disposition. You may be blessed enough to know one in real life, but many of us see flashes or only read about them in books. These verses hold out the key to being just such a conqueror.

These people are just like this city of God. The Lord is in the midst of them. He has made His home in them providing them with that water that makes them glad and that foundation that makes them immovable. All around us may rage, but at His voice the earth melts. The only way the enemy can take you down is to hide this unbelievable truth from you. Trust in the Lord!

Prayer prompt: Lord, help me to look to Your strength so I will have confidence to fight in Your Name.

Daily Reading: James 5 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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December 3, 2020

Ephesians 1:9

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

There are certainly things about God that we don’t know. There is indeed some beautiful mystery to how God works, how he created, and how that fish and bread fed all those people.

While there is mystery to how, the Bible makes clear God’s character and his love for us. Rest in maybe the most well known verse in the Bible, “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. That is God purposefully pursuing us. Glorious!

Written by Dan Jenkins

Prayer prompt: Lord, help me to seek to understand you like a child watching his Father.

Daily Reading: James 4 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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December 2, 2020

Matthew 16:18

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

This incredibly interesting verse brings together some of the most bold and solid imagery in Scripture. Jesus has declared His followers to be rocks that will become a like a living building. His Church will be a growing, living, stronghold of God’s presence on Earth, but it won’t be a building like we often use the word church to mean. No, His believers become these living stones.

Then we can see the mighty way He will fulfill the second part of the verse. It seems like a mixed metaphor to describe a building attacking a city gate. But Jesus means us, His people like living rocks, will expand to cover this world. When the enemy’s strong hold stands in the way of our advance even the most secure point, the gate, will crumble before God’s magnificent new creation. Put your eyes on God’s victorious march and stand firm today!

Prayer prompt: Lord, when my sin or circumstances keep me from fighting for Your Kingdom, remind me of the victory Christ promised.

Daily Reading: James 3 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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December 1, 2020

James 1:18

18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James says here that God is bringing us forth as a kind of firstfruits. If that means what it seems to mean, God is creating us again. There are already creatures, we are already creatures, and yet we are being brought forth by the word of truth. Brought forth brings you back to Genesis when God commands the earth to bring forth the animals and out they come. Imagine elephants poking their heads out of the ground like groundhogs!

In the same way, God is bringing out a new life, a new creation, through this word of truth in us. That means we were dead and by His will He has made us alive. I’m astounded by the promise of resurrection, but I’ve not paid close enough attention to the wild miracle of regeneration. Spend time today giving thanks for new life!

Prayer prompt: Lord, thank You for making me new.

Daily Reading: James 1 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 27, 2020

Ephesians 1:9

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

There are certainly things about God that we don’t know. There is indeed some beautiful mystery to how God works, how he created, and how that fish and bread fed all those people.

While there is mystery to how, the Bible makes clear God’s character and his love for us. Rest in maybe the most well known verse in the Bible, “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. That is God purposefully pursuing us. Glorious!

Written by Dan Jenkins

Prayer prompt: God, help me to seek to understand you like a kid watching dad fix something around the house.

Daily Reading: Hebrews 11 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 26, 2020

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Thankfulness is way more powerful than we think. It is not just the clearest road to actually feeling satisfaction, it is a road that leads all the way to God. G K Chesterton in Orthodoxy, his famous book on his own journey to Christ, said, “We thank people for birthday presents of cigars and slippers. Can I thank no one for the birthday present of birth?”

If I say “thank you”, there must be a You to thank. If you give me a present, compliment, or grant me forgiveness for a wrong, it’s just right to say thank you. To whom can we go when the whole of our life, our body and senses, and everything those senses have ever sensed is like a gift? Fill your life with thankfulness to God and you also fill it with worship, satisfaction, and with God Himself.

Prayer Prompt: Father, thank You. Please fill my day with thankfulness as I see all the gifts you’ve given.

Daily Reading: Hebrews 11 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 25, 2020

James 1:14

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

A salesman once told me he went into meetings with the goal of figuring out what the customer really wanted. He said it this way, “What do you want to hear? Because I’m about to say it.” The product he sold wasn’t his focus, but the desires of his customer. If he knew the desire, he could tailor his presentation to show why the customer really should buy from him.

Now we have to think about our actions and growth in godliness differently. I don’t just need to try and change my actions or become more obedient through sheer will power. I need to look at my desires. What am I looking to satisfy by this reaction or overreaction? How amazing that God will lead us around by the promise of satisfaction rather than just the threat of punishment.

Prayer prompt: Lord, help me to see the desires that lead to my sin. Please teach me how I can always and only be truly satisfied in You.

Daily Reading: Hebrews 10 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 24, 2020

James 1:5-8

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Every time I’ve read these verses, I was challenged to ask God for wisdom with more certainty. He will definitely tell me who I should marry, or where we should live, or when to have kids if I just ask without doubting. But each of those questions break the one rule of the passage. Don’t go to God to get what wisdom should never be used to find.

Wisdom, followed all the way out, will always lead to God. When I come to God to receive wisdom in order to marry the right person or find a job that I will be successful in, I’m abusing wisdom. It’s like using a Lamborghini as table in your garage. Sure, you can set stuff on it, but that’s not what it’s for. God gives you wisdom to bring about all the joy of knowing Him. Are you pursuing Him?

Prayer prompt: Lord, please forgive me for trying to abuse wisdom. Please lead my heart to most desire You.

Daily Reading: Hebrews 10 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 23, 2020

Proverbs 3:19

19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;

There is a way things work. Amazon’s warehouses overflow with books on the best way to do anything you can think of doing. Writing those books isn’t just for the money. There is an intense thrill in finding the way the universe works. Scientists know parts of that thrill. God’s people know it better.

Wisdom isn’t just how the world works. Wisdom, if followed, will always lead you up and down. She (wisdom is personified as a lady in the Proverbs) will lead you all the way down into your heart and up into Heaven. Wisdom is the answer to every question, even the most important. Get wisdom, and you will know how to have true Joy.

Prayer prompt: Lord, lead me to wisdom so that I can see You.

Daily Reading: Hebrews 9 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 20, 2020

Ephesians 1:7-8

7 In him, we have redemption through this blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.

Have you heard some people say that all religions teach the same thing? I heard a professor say one time that when someone claims that two religions teach the same thing, that person must not know much about either religion. The teachers and adherents of those religions see the differences. If neither Jesus, Muhammad nor Buddha would call all religions the same, it seems foolish to do so.

Paul knows Jesus from first-hand experience. Paul was a forgiven man. He had experienced the lavish grace that only Jesus offers. There is no other claim like that of biblical Christianity. Trust the word of God that we can be redeemed through the blood of Jesus.

Written by Dan Jenkins 

Prayer prompt: Awesome God, how kind You are to offer a way of redemption and restoration. Impress that upon my heart when I am prone to grumble. May that message of unrestricted grace go out to the farthest corners of the earth and to next door neighbors.

Daily Reading: Hebrews 6 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 19, 2020

Psalm 103:2-3

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

It doesn’t seem possible that we could forget the overwhelming number and quality of good things God has done for us. That is, until you think about why we might be motivated to forget. If I’m in awe of His goodness to me, it is more difficult to go after pleasures He has forbidden. Easier to forget. If I’m humbled by the sheer magnitude of God’s kindness to a sinner who deserves only wrath, it is difficult to feel proud of myself. Easier to hide.

How wise is the Psalmist though. We bless Him and remember first that He does forgive our iniquity. We remember Him who heals even the diseases of pride and a haughty spirit. God is so good, He even heals us up enough to receive His goodness! Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Prayer prompt: Lord, I bless You with everything that is within me.

Daily Reading: Hebrews 5 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 18, 2020

Ephesians 1:6

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Sometimes we hear the word ‘blessed’ and think of finances, or a sweet little old lady giving a “bless your heart”. We hear it when someone sneezes, or just hear the wish from someone that your life goes well. God has much more power than little old ladies. If He calls you blessed, you are blessed indeed. 

This verse refers back to verse 5 about God adopting us as his children. As a follower of Jesus, you were adopted by God before the foundation of the world. No matter how difficult family dynamics are for you now, you can have eternity with a perfect Father and a family from every tribe, tongue, and nation that never cease to worship the God who saves.

Written by: Dan Jenkins 

Prayer prompt: Awesome God, you alone are good. You are unchanging and your perfect love never ceases. Impress that upon my heart and may my love for you overflow to love others with Christlike love.

Daily Reading: Hebrews 4 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 17, 2020

James 1:1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

What would it be like to be the brother of Jesus? It is easy to think of some negatives. How do you compete with Jesus? You’re not going to get better grades or be more attentive at Synagogue. James, the writer of the book of James, was Jesus’ brother. Once Jesus was resurrected and proven to be who He said He was, I’m sure their sibling dynamic changed. Suddenly James had an inside track with God Himself.

Yet when we find James in the New Testament, he doesn’t call himself Jesus’ brother. Here, he calls himself Jesus’ servant. He had come to know Jesus as He truly is. Instead of competing or trying to curry favor, James fell at the feet of his Lord Jesus Christ. If you’ve grown up with the name of Jesus, have you ever really seen Him for who He is? Have you fallen at His feet?

Prayer prompt: Lord, teach me to approach You with the reverence You deserve.

Daily Reading: Hebrews 3 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 13, 2020

Acts 20:35

35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Have you heard those words before as a kid? I’m not sure if there is an example of any prominent wisdom saying that I believed less. I gave my parents little Christmas gifts we glued together in kids ministry, but the joy in handing off those cotton ball snowmen was nothing like the pleasure in tearing into Christmas gifts. How can it be true?

I hope as you age, you find it to be true. Certainly, watching my loved ones enjoy something is infinitely greater than the pleasure of a new tie or headphones. Love is greater than things. If we can really learn that lesson today and begin to prioritize love over small pleasures then we will begin to really activate as God’s people.

Prayer prompt: Lord, teach me that Love is a greater blessing than anything else!

Daily Reading: Titus 3 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 12, 2020

Galatians 4:7

7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

I went to college with a guy who drove a nice Audi. I asked a friend how he could drive a car like that in college and was told the guy was heir to a big chicken salad empire. Must be nice. My family never even attempted to build a chicken salad empire. But we are happy never the less.

Money and the luxury that comes along with it aren’t the main point of a family. In family we get identity, love, security, friendship, guidance, and a million other things available to the poorest families in the world. Being heirs with Christ, you can look to the heavenly equivalent of an Audi, but it would be far wiser to begin enjoying now all these other benefits. You are God’s child and He is your Father.

Prayer prompt: Lord, teach me to look to the true value of being Your son and heir with Jesus.

Daily Reading: Titus 2 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 11, 2020

Matthew 7:12

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Okay, but how do you want to be treated? In any given situation, this Golden Rule works perfectly because you have an answer to that question. But if you zoom out a bit and ask about your whole life, how would you like to be treated? I don’t think in a million years we would have come up with how God treats us in Christ.

He invades our rebellion and dazzles us with His perfect life of love and holiness before dying with the words, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do,” on His lips. As eternity-altering as that is, it also sets the Golden Rule in a whole new light. If that love is possible, we will certainly choose to be treated in exactly that way. So that is how we must treat others. We show them lives of increasing obedience to God, covered, smothered and chuck full of love for God and them, then we sacrifice boldly to bring them back to God.

Prayer prompt: Lord, teach me to remember the way You saved me so I will work to save others.

Daily Reading: Titus 1 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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November 10, 2020

Ephesians 1:5

5 In love, He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

 Love and family, those words may bring in varying emotions. That may especially be true as the holidays approach. No matter your response to those words, this verse promises infinite enjoyment in the love and family of God. How does that make you feel?

Biblical Christianity is so unique. No other religion has a claim that the God of all power loves you. As a result of that love, God died to make a way for us to be reconciled back to him. Those that trust this loving God can be adopted into the global, historical, and future family of God. What a joy to know and be in the family of a loving heavenly father for the next 10 billion years.

Written by Dan Jenkins

Prayer prompt: Awesome God, your love is unending and available to all. Help me believe that, rest in that, and share that comfort with others.

Daily Reading: 2 Timothy 4 (Click or tap the Verses to read them on your device)  

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