James 5:16-18 MSG

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again. (James 5:16-18 MSG)

Confession

From today's devotional

Ours is a nation founded on the expansive and isolating frontier. Our culture springs from rugged individualism and is directly opposed to the principle of interdependence necessary for Christian community. 

Yet living in true Christian community requires vulnerability and honesty with one another. It requires honest evaluation of our own sinfulness, weakness, and character flaws. It requires that, having admitted these, we share them with the embracing community of fellow-saints who have their own weaknesses. 

We fear that confession of failure makes us weak. We fear that vulnerability exposes us to onslaught. 

While it is true that vulnerability exposes us, if it is in the context of the love Jesus commanded us to bear for one another, it is an exposure for the better. It can be like the exposure we allow to a surgeon. In actuality, confession makes us whole and strong. It takes courage and initiative, but it returns a dividend of greater strength, greater courage, clearer character, and enhanced godlikeness.

Galatians 5:23-24 MSG

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. (Galatians 5:23-24 MSG)

Daniel 3:16-18 MSG

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18 MSG)

Learning to Yield—Part 2

From today's devotions

In contrast to Nebuchadnezzar, who was clutching after what God had warned him he could not keep if he did not change, these young Hebrews demonstrated the “yieldedness” to God’s purpose for them. They were willing to give up careers, friendships, and lives to follow their Lord. In this yieldedness, we see the Lord fulfill their needs. 

In our relationships with one another, we often grab and clutch to see our own needs met. In contrast, we see these young men guide us down the pathway to fulfilling relationships—they were not only a strength to one another as they stood for what they believed, but they saw the Lord confirm His relationship with them as He moved into their situation. 

The Lord knows how much we need to be united with others; He created us that way. Rather than clutching, however, we need to let go. 

If you will seek the kingdom of God first, if you will yield all you have to His purposes, He has promised to meet all your needs, including your relational needs.

Proverbs 18:10 MSG

GOD ’s name is a place of protection— good people can run there and be safe. (Proverbs 18:10 MSG)

Galatians 6:1-3 MSG

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. (Galatians 6:1-3 MSG)

Daniel 3:4-6 MSG

A herald then proclaimed in a loud voice: “Attention, everyone! Every race, color, and creed, listen! When you hear the band strike up—all the trumpets and trombones, the tubas and baritones, the drums and cymbals—fall to your knees and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who does not kneel and worship shall be thrown immediately into a roaring furnace.” (Daniel 3:4-6 MSG)

Learning to Yield—Part 1

From today's devotional

Nebuchadnezzar felt that his kingdom was threatened. Loss of unity in the kingdom seemed to threaten all that he had conquered and acquired. In a dream the Lord had warned him of imminent loss if he did not yield to His rulership. Being resourceful however, Nebuchadnezzar devised a plan to consolidate his holdings by uniting the people around a single religion centering around a great golden image of Nebuchadnezzar himself. 

How often do we operate with the same mindset. We feel a need; we have a fear. A relationship is slipping away, and we need a friend. We are alone. What do we do? 

So often we clutch. Our fear of isolation or loss often elicits a desperate clutching response in our relationships. 

God wants fulfilling relationships for us, not gained through manipulation or clutching, but through yieldedness to His ways, His plans for our lives, and His Word. 

In our relationships are we clutching or yielding?

Proverbs 21:2 MSG

We justify our actions by appearances; GOD examines our motives. (Proverbs 21:2 MSG)

1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. (1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG)

Kind Confrontation

From today's devotional

The infant daughter was just becoming mobile. Her crawling was transitioning to walking, and her walking had taken her to the hallway furnace. She was aware that the heater was cool to the touch, but with knowledge of the coming winter, mommy and daddy patiently instructed her of the “no-touch” quality of the furnace. 

The story is an old one. The first hand swat was infinitely more painful for daddy than for daughter. Sometimes love, in its kindness, must confront. 

When we talk of the confrontational side of love, some jump on the bandwagon. “Tough love,” “drill sergeant,” “don’t spare the rod”; these words resonate in their souls. But often the “tough” is there without the kindness of love. Others shrink away from confrontational love. “Tenderness,” “tolerance,” “forbearance”; these are their words. 

Are we honest in our dealings with those God has called us to love? Honest enough to confront? Tender in doing so?

Proverbs 16:3 MSG

Put GOD in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place. (Proverbs 16:3 MSG)

Matthew 15:32 MSG

But Jesus wasn’t finished with them. He called his disciples and said, “I hurt for these people. For three days now they’ve been with me, and now they have nothing to eat. I can’t send them away without a meal—they’d probably collapse on the road.” (Matthew 15:32 MSG)

Selfless or Selfish?

From today's devotional

In a recent telethon one stand-up comic after another joined a big show for a relief project. In between each of the acts an announcer would address the television audience and ask for donations toward a worthy project. 

One line from the show stood out. “Help those in need,” the announcer said, “and feel good about yourself.” The motivating factor behind helping those facing famine was selfish. 

This pricks our conscience. Do we do good for others in order to feel holy, to feel important, to feel in control? 

Jesus loves sacrificially. He commands us to love as He does. Love requires us to do good for others. Is our motivation selfless or selfish? If it is selfish, there is a good chance that our good deeds will be shallow and, more importantly, will not last. 

Lord, make us like You. Cause our love to be lasting in its effect.

Matthew 18:18-20 MSG

“Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.” (Matthew 18:18-20 MSG)

1 John 2:9-11 MSG

Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness. (1 John 2:9-11 MSG)

Forgiveness

From todays devotional

Webster defines hatred as a hostility, aversion, or dislike usually derived from fear, anger, or injury. This is exceedingly helpful as we look toward obeying our Lord’s commandment to love. 

Our fear makes us hate. Sometimes without true data-based confirmation, we feel someone does not like us. Our fear and anticipated rejection elicits aversion. 

Our anger makes us hate. We have been wronged, legitimately wronged! “She injured me! I hate her!” 

This is why faith and forgiveness are so important in God’s value system. If we have faith, we do not give place to our unsubstantiated fears. If we have forgiveness, we don’t entertain our anger or our hatred. 

“But,” you say, “those are easy platitudes; if only you understood the degree of injury,…” 

If God calls us to love, there must be some provision for the really difficult-to-love cases. This provision is called forgiveness. 

Do you hate somebody? Dislike? How about a slight aversion? 

Lord, give us the capacity to forgive.

Philippians 4:10-14 MSG

I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me (Paul). Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. (Philippians 4:10-14 MSG)

Matthew 5:43-47 MSG

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. (Matthew 5:43-47 MSG)

Loving Through Hurt

From todays devotional

A friend related that when she was growing up she had a black cat. She always named her cats by their color, but since she already had a black cat, when this one came along and had kittens, she called her “Mother-cat.” Most cats are aloof and independent. But not Mother-cat. She would even jump into her lap when called. Mother-cat had the gentlest, kindest, and most endearing personality she had ever seen in a pet. 

One morning my friend went out onto the patio to pet her. At a touch Mother-cat hissed, reached out, and scratched my friend. She got mad and yelled at the pet until Mother-cat limped away. She had been hit by a car the night before, and her hip was dislocated. 

My friend told me the Lord impressed her that morning. It was as though He spoke and said, “You watch, young lady. You’ll see people who snarl and scratch. But understand; they’ve been hurt. Look past the snarl and love the hurt.” 

She took Mother-cat to the vet. His loving touch healed her.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 MSG

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 MSG)

2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG

So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. (2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG)

Choosing to Love

From today's devotional

In 2 Peter 1:3 Peter tells us how the power comes for us to live the life of “brotherly kindness.” It comes as a gift, given to us by God Himself. 

In verse 5, he exhorts us to operate with diligence as we add love to our faith. Here, it would seem that we should work toward Christ-like love. 

Well, which is it? Is the capacity to love one another a gift, or is it a level we work toward? I think the answer is “yes.” 

Were it not for the grace-filled gift of character transformation and the sure and steady hand of our Lord upon our lives, we would be lost in sin, lost in self-absorption, and completely unable to love the selfless life to which Jesus calls us. 

Yet, our Lord calls us to step out, to exercise our wills, and to begin to love. Then He comes in power to enable us to be like Him. Whom will God enable us to love today?

John 10:25-30 MSG

Jesus answered, “I told you, but you don’t believe. Everything I have done has been authorized by my Father, actions that speak louder than words. You don’t believe because you’re not my sheep. My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind.” (John 10:25-30 MSG)

John 15:11-15 MSG

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. (John 15:11-15 MSG)

Dying to Self

From today's devotional

Again, how can I love as Jesus loved me? Even with the example Jesus sets before me, I find myself weak and unable to care for others as He does. 

When the Scripture calls us to hold an attitude or behavior that seems impossible, our problem is that we feel that our willpower or discipline is required to make it happen. Perhaps it is the legacy of rugged individualism inherited from our ancestors who tamed a new continent, but it seems that the last place we go when we cannot love sacrificially is for help. 

The whole walk of faith is one of going for help. If you cannot love as Jesus did, you must ask Him to reshape your being. 

David asked the Lord to create a new and clean heart within him. This is the pathway to loving like Jesus. He creates the loving heart in us. Then perhaps we can love more like Him.

Ephesians 1:7-10 MSG

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10 MSG)

Luke 6:31-34 MSG

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that. (Luke 6:31-34 MSG)

Love the Unlovely

From today's devotional

What do you suppose your emotional response would be to someone who spoke a well-positioned lie that caused you to lose your career? What if this same person degraded you in front of all the people important to you? You know what your response would be; however, Jesus demonstrated what it should be. 

What if it were not quite so dramatic? What if this offending person was deeply insecure and had some personality flaws that really got on your nerves? You know what your response would be; yet Jesus demonstrated what it should be. 

What if this person had a lack of social graces that put him outside the “in-crowd”? You know what your response would be. Jesus demonstrated what it should be. 

Do we love the “un-lovely”? Do we serve those ignored by the rest of the world? Do the disenfranchised have a franchise in our hearts? 

May we become like Jesus who would have us lose our current response pattern and develop one like His.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 MSG

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 MSG)

Luke 12:29-32 MSG

“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. (Luke 12:29-32 MSG)

Psalm 15:1-4 MSG

GOD, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? “Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. “Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbor; despise the despicable. (Psalm 15:1-4 MSG)

Love Your Neighbor

From today's devotional

The Lord’s command that we love one another was not new with Jesus. For as long as the Lord has been revealing the pathway to walk with Him, love for our neighbor has been central. 

While David was musing on God’s qualifications for one to walk in communion with Him, the Lord spoke to him the same thing John would later reveal as central to the gospel: “for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20). 

Walking closely with God is synonymous with walking in harmony with those around us. Can we speak poorly of our brothers and sisters and walk closely with God? Can we criticize and condemn those we’re commanded to love, and yet walk closely with God? It appears not. 

Walking with God seems such a mystical concept; however, He’s made it very easy for us to understand. If we want to walk close to Him, we must walk agreeably with one another.

Philippians 4:6-7 MSG

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG)