This Week's Devotion
“DISPLAY”
(May 2008)
God’s got guts. I mean He is the ultimate risk taker especially in the way He advertises Himself in the world. I know He has done an awesome job advertising Himself in nature and an amazing job of displaying His heart in His word – but the real risky one is His most impacting display – His children. That’s risky. Let me state this personally - it's very impacting for me: “God’s heart, reputation and character is on display in my life.”
God's heart is on display not only in my life, but in the life, actions and words of everyone who claims to be a God-follower. God’s heart is literally on display in this world through His children and in His church. Think about the implications of that reality on how we should do life, and how our small group and church should do life.
In the words of Jesus it goes something like this....
READ Matthew 5:13-16.
In the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, we see a poignant treatise on how Christ’s followers individually and gathered as “church” are vivid displays of God’s heart and character. I don’t know about you, but looking at my life this way casts a new light on things. I often think through my words and actions as either being good or bad, loving or unloving, and often find myself fudging a little on the righteousness scale thinking things like, “My feelings are hurt", or “You were mean to me”, or “I’m tired”, or “I deserve better”, or “I just need to veg”, or “There is a limit to what a guy can take", as if these thoughts somehow justify less-than-Godly words and behavior.
What casts a little different light on the subject is if I were to listen to the Spirit of God saying something like this: “Delton, I live in you, in fact I give you Life. My character and heart are on display through what you are about to say and do!” Ouch!
What about if each of us personally and “we” His church were to let that voice speak uninhibited into and out from our lives everyday?
A Deeper Look
Paul seems to grasp this reality and builds a case for such living in this letter. The first couple of chapters lay the foundation by declaring the unequivocal truth that God’s grace and love in Jesus save us from our sins, give us new life and set us on course for a new way of life.
Listen to one of His summary statements.
READ Ephesians 2:8-10
In Chapters 4-6 Paul goes into detail about what this new way of life looks like. Work through the following scripture sections in this amazing letter.
· Read all three sections through once just to get a feel for what God is saying
· Next read each section again. Work through each verse slowly as a group. As you discuss them make a two-column list of those things Paul is encouraging us to do or not do categorizing them as “Great Displays of God’s Heart and Character” and “Damaging (False) Displays of God’s Heart and Character.”
The fact is, God is on display in the world through us, His children. The question is, “What kind of display will we be?”
Through this exercise hopefully we will see the picture God paints through Paul’s pen of how we can truly be individuals and a church where “God’s Heart is on Display”.
Great Displays Damaging Displays
Ephesians 4:25-32
Ephesians 5:1-12
Ephesians 5:15-20
Prayer and Encouragement
We all need encouragement to come clean with God about ways we have been very poor displays of His heart, and we need encouragement to see the vision He has for us as His “displayers”. I find it interesting and convicting how Paul often references normal day to day life issues as the way we communicate - as arenas where we can give a great display or damaging display of God’s heart.
Here are some ways you can encourage each other as you conclude,
· Go around the room and remind each other how you have witnessed “great displays of God’s heart” in each other’s lives.
· We can then each be honest with one another and ask for prayer about any area of life God may be pointing out where we haven’t been a great display and need to change. Make sure words of God’s forgiveness flow freely in the group as you share about what was convicting about from God’s word.
· Spend some time discussing and praying about how your small group is a “great display of God’s heart” and also in what ways in particular your group could change to give a better display in the church and world.
- Finally, discuss and pray for Point of Grace. How are we
as a church family a “great display” and how could we get
better, (especially in this chapter of our congregation’s
life) at being “God’s Heart on Display!”
“Finishing Touch”
(April 2008)
Dawn and I recently watched a movie that introduced us to the whole world of culinary artistry. The movie was “No Reservations” and depicted a chef rivalry and subsequent romance between two world class chefs. Although it was a great date movie it also made me aware of the attention to detail expressed by these culinary artists even to the “finishing touches” they give the plate to make it “presentation ready” to the restaurant’s patrons. Through the quality crafting of the entire dish and the adding of the “finishing touches” the dish becomes a work of art bearing the signature of the chef.
Through the pen of the apostle John, God reveals himself as something of an artist as He crafts and shapes our lives even to the adding of the “finishing touches” which make us “presentation ready” to the patrons of His world.
What do you suppose a God-finished life would look like?
Ask yourself, “What would God do with me to make me “presentation ready “ to the patrons of His world?”
What would He do with a church to make it “presentation ready” for the patrons of His world?
In 1John 4 God reveals some deep aspects of His work in “creating and crafting a child of God” and making them presentation ready marked with His artistic signature.
READ 1 John 4:7-21 three times – a little slower each time. Have everyone in the group be particularly sensitive to which word or phrase in the section catches their attention. After you have read it three times ask everyone to share what caught their attention the most and why?
God has a way of getting our attention in ways that are very relevant to our lives on any given day. Listen carefully to each other as you share, noting the way God’s word speaks uniquely into each other’s lives. Remember these comments as you pray for each other at the conclusion of your study.
The Finishing Touch
Now go through the passage one more time noting the verses that have the words, “complete” or “perfect”! (In the NIV translation!)
These English words attempt to translate a Greek word with means “to finish”, “to accomplish the goal”, “to bring to completion”. When a chef puts the finishing touches on a plate so that everything is as He wanted, it would be “complete” or “perfect”.
From verses 7-11 John is revealing the depth of what God’s love did in Jesus to recreate a person into a child of God. Just like a chef goes to painstaking lengths to get the right product and prepare it with absolute intentionality, so God worked with the raw material of His love and painstakingly created the possibility of new life for all of humanity. It’s the core of His salvation work.
In verse 12 we see the final element of presentation being added to His work of art as He presents it to the world. We are His work of art. His “finishing touch” is revealed as we “love one another”. He says that no one has ever seen God but when we “love one another” God’s love “reaches its goal” in us. This is incredible news. God’s love is not complete by just coming to us and then returning to Him. His love finds it completion when it is shared with others. Over and over again John emphasizes this point. “Love one another, Love one another, Love one another ……. over and over again, as if it were absolutely important and at the core of God’s heart for His people. When we love one another we are part of the completion of God’s love work and ready for presentation to the world bearing the signature of the artist Himself!
READ verses 17 and 18 again for an added dimension of “being made perfect in love!”.
Remember the word translated “perfect” does not mean with out flaw but “complete” or “finished” according to the artist’s goal. God has already painstakingly told us that He is the author of love and that love moved Him to earn life for the world through Jesus and now by His Spirit we can know Him and having received His love share it with others.
It is as if God’s dream is for us to be constant receivers of His love and constant givers of His love. Never hoarding always generous with love. He adds that one of love’s great enemies is dealt with decisively when we love. “Fear” is vanquished. To put it in John’s words, “completed love drives out fear”.
Discuss the relationship between fear and love.
How well do most people love when they are afraid?
What would a person look like that was committed to have God’s finishing touch of “love one another” instead of “fear whatever”?
What would a church look like that was committed to have God’s finishing touch of “love one another” instead of “fear whatever”?
Prayer
Before you pray together share some current fears you might be having knowing that they can limit your “love one another” dramatically. Pray for each other “relying on God’s love” in dealing with these fears. Pray for Point of Grace that it might be a “love one another” place not a “fear whatever place”.
RECEIVE/BELIEVE
(December 2007)
READ John 1:1-14
(Slowly and deliberately as if you are listening to the author!)
This section of Scripture is one of my favorite “getting ready for Christmas” readings. It's more than a reading, though. In fact if I just read it, contemplate for a moment or two the a few things that catch my attention and then move on – well I will miss most of God’s point. This section needs unpacking. John intends for us to spend some time and energy on it. It's not story telling as much of scripture is. This is teaching – deep teaching with the miracle of Christmas at the fulcrum of this first section the book. I know it doesn’t look much like Christmas – shepherds, wise men, Mary, Joseph, a manger or Bethlehem. Most Christmas story telling is about the nitty-gritty earthiness of Jesus’ birth. John leaves that to Matthew and especially Luke. John cuts to the chase – tells the heart of the story in the fullness of its true meaning – and all that in one verse, actually in 4 words, “The Word became flesh”. The first 14 verses are filled with clues as to how we are to understand this 4-word reality and how to respond to it. Lets unpack.
Unpacking for Understanding
The word “Word” is very important.
If you would have been a first time – first century reader of this Gospel you would not know who John was referring to for the first thirteen verses. Verse 14 would have been an “ah-ha” moment for you linking the Word with Jesus of Nazareth.
List all the attributes, character traits and qualities of the “Word” you find in verses 1-13.
What overall point is John trying to make about the “Word” before he tells you that "He" has become flesh?
Why do you suppose God inspired John to us the metaphor “Word” for Jesus (when there are so many other ones available) as he introduces Him to the world people who would read this Gospel?
Responding to Reality
This reality that God indeed entered into humanity simply is the message of Christmas. The eternal has entered into the temporal, the majestic clothed in the normal, the divine encapsulated in the human, the invisible has become earthy – The Word became flesh!
This phenomenal truth is often mythologized by the non- or not yet– Christian and sometimes placed in the “already know that tell me something new and interesting” file by the already-believing Christ follower. John seems to think everyone should take notice – live in Christmas reality every day. He seems to think it makes a difference every day for everyone.
In teaching us how to “respond” to the reality of verse 14 he begins by telling us how “not” to respond.
Find and discuss all the references you can in verses 1-13 about how “not to respond” to the truth about Jesus? (If your bible has footnotes, access them as you search to discover some deeper and alternative meanings to certain words.)
Which of these unhealthy responses to Jesus' truth do you think most people have a tendency to follow?
In verse 12 John counsels us by giving a clear, healthy-hearted response to Jesus. He uses two words to describe this life-giving response.
What are they? ___________ and ____________!
“Receive”
Receive and believe are two packed words. The English word “receive” (meant here in a relationship sense) gives the same meaning as the Greek word it translates. To receive someone is to take them into your heart in the depth of relationship. It connotes a sense of vulnerability, surrender and deep connection. We refer to this concept with phrases like, “falling in love,” “stole my heart,” and “won me over.” To receive someone is to let walls down, open up doors, let down the guard - so they can come in. We understand this with people and pets - the unique thing that John is setting us up to consider is that when one “receives” the flesh and blood man Jesus, you receive God Himself. The Christmas miracle of vs.14 is that God came in the flesh so that we could have relationship with Him the way we understand relationships to work, so that we could open up and receive Him. In receiving Him we get far more than any human relationship delivers. We get a status changing, divine rebirthing kind of miracle that has known human origin yet we in all our humanity get it as a gift. When the “Word” enters in He brings gifts.
Look at verses 12-13 and describe the gift in your own words.
In the Greek language the tenses of verbs tell more than timing (like English’s past, present, future). This verb “receive” is in the “aorist” tense. This tense often denotes “point in time” rather than continuous action. John’s word choice here describes a critical point when “receiving” happens and gift giving begins. Notice people don’t get the gift described in verse 12 by “receiving” the gift – no you get the gift by receiving Him in deep and personal relationship.
Contemplate and discuss the implications of that last statement.
“Believe”
The word “believe” needs a little more unpacking because western English just doesn’t do the Greek justice. The root word for “faith” is in the original language. This is “believe” in this sense of have “faith in” Which is far more than or typical “believe” in the sense of “have knowledge of.” Having knowledge of Jesus as God in the flesh is much less than having received the God-man Jesus into my life and “having faith” in Him with my life. The tense of the verb believe is not “point in time” aorist but the “on-going, everyday, all day” present tense. In other words the relationship starts with “receive” but continues with constant renewing freshness with “believe.”
The "Child of God relationship" gets experienced every day as trusting Him for Who He is --- and He is “the Word made flesh Who made His dwelling among us” and by His Spirit still does. He loves me that much – and He does you, too!
Application
In the writing of this study I have been engaged by two rather significant phone calls. My college-aged daughter just called to say she had just been accepted into a special “try-out-only” school within the university she attends. We rejoiced!
She has been trying out for a limited number of spots for almost 2 years. Up to this point the letters said, “we regret to inform you” – followed by nice language meaning “you weren’t good enough to get in.” She has never faced this kind of challenge before, never been disappointed as much, never had to persevere as long as this life-lesson kind of challenge. Bigger ones will come later but this has been a big one for her. It has been a faith tester – She always knew she had received the God-Man Jesus in her heart, but believingly trusting Him in the daily times of confusion, failure, disappointment and brokenness – well that’s when trusting is tough. In hindsight we can see God building character – when you're in the middle of it one lives by sheer faith that the Christmas miracle still applies to me.
The other phone call was from my sister who shared that my mother suddenly lost most of the sight in one eye and was with a specialist. As we spoke they would be determining when detached retina surgery would be scheduled. I’ve since heard – surgery is in four days with a rather restricted-movement recovery to follow. Mom’s life has changed in a sheer instant. She has long since received Jesus as the God-Man He is, but He is calling her to “believingly trust” Him, that He is truly divine, powerful, miraculous, loving, gracious and very attentive to her in this reality of her life. She is His child – born of God – He has committed Himself to her.
Think through and share what is going on in the your life and the lives of the people in your group. How does the reality of Christmas “receiving and believing Jesus – the Word become flesh” apply in every situation? Support one another in seeing the application in each other’s lives and then pray boldly for each other in the name of Jesus believing He is who He says He and you have life in His name.
“Hurry Up!”
(February 2008)
I’ve got hurry sickness! Watch out! You might have it, too! It is an epidemic in our culture. Some people hurry so they won’t be late! Others hurry because they are late! In our home we all suffer from the sickness except our youngest son. He doesn’t hurry! His two sometimes frantic “so much to do - so little time to do it” parents subversively pressure his contemplative nature to conform to a more socially acceptable level of anxious frenzy, but his God-wired emotional infrastructure has so far successfully resisted.
It just doesn’t seem right that someone should do life slow! It’s almost un-American! That would look good on a resume’ wouldn’t it – “I do life slow – soaking in the moments!” Honestly what job does that qualify you for? We have learned to eat fast – pray fast – drive fast – parent fast – work fast! We consume massive amounts of a culinary specialty called “fast food” not because it is food but because it is fast! We go to drive-thru’s so families can eat their meals in a mini-van as God intended. My addiction is so bad that I have even attempted to perfect the highly challenging art of sleeping fast!
Honestly though, I don’t think my son is ever going to catch onto hurrying up – it’s just not in him. He will try to hurry because of the pressure around him. He will probably spend countless volts of emotional energy being disappointed in himself because the majority of our culture equates efficient hurrying with success and unhurried meandering as …………..well you get the picture!
I’ve noticed something about my son that naturally comes with his unhurried nature – he is available for people! He is often unavailable for room cleaning, or bedtime or household chores but for people he’s mostly there – fully present.
When I actually slow down and read the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman I see in Jesus a full manifestation of unhurried availability only glimpsed in my son.
READ the story in John 4:4-42
I know you’re thinking “that’s a lot of verses – and I’m in a hurr….” Gotcha! See - hurry gets in to us and we are always ready to move on! Read the whole thing – and read it slow enough to hear what God is saying.
As you read try to notice:
- when Jesus was unhurried.
- how this made Him available to people.
- what happened to the people who experienced Jesus’ unhurried availability?
Jesus leads me to engage in a little more open and more loosened approach to life so I might be more available for people. I really do want to be available to people, knowing God can actually work through me to connect with someone He loves and wants to bless.
Here are four words that remind me to be open, unhurried and available!
Opportunity to discover Jesus-created people connections that abound in my regular day.
Perforation of my schedule is good. I need a more “holy” schedule!
Expect God designed encounters to happen! Anticipation breathes freshness into daily routine!
Notice the lives that whirl around you as you go, and see with your heart the people who live them!
How do these four words challenge and call you?
Especially at this time of the year - with the holidays quickly approaching,
let's slow down enough to have an open life - available for God to use us to
connect with people who just may be looking for the true reason for this
hurried season!
“The End of Your Rope”
(June 2007)
READ: Mark 12:41-44
A widow! Why a widow? Why?
We know at least three things about this person. She was a woman. She was poor and she was a widow. That combination was dire for someone in 1st century Palestine. I believe it is still that way for many today. God seems to have a huge heart for widows, along with orphans, the sick, the hopeless, the demon possessed, etc. Why? And why do we often find people in dire straits as the subject of Jesus’ teaching and illustrations concerning “faith” – “real faith?”
This widow – and those so often lifted up by Jesus as living exemplary lives of faith - are people who are “at the end of their rope!”
The widow in our story is at the end of her rope. She has nothing left except for the grace of God. She went to the temple that day holding two copper strands at the end of her rope – she walked out of the temple having let go of “the end of her rope.” It is as if the closer we get to the end of our ropes, the greater clarity we get about what “trusting dependence” on God looks like. Jesus would say we’re getting “close to the kingdom of God” or approaching fullness of life.
Think about this! We spend a tremendous amount of our life energy putting distance between ourselves and the end of our rope. But, yet it’s the “end of the roper’s” that catch Jesus’ attention. Not because of their dire straits but because the “faith relationship He values” seems to flourish in the fertile soil found at the “end of our rope.”
This lady was "done for" financially. Among all the other potential points of anxiety and worry in her life this one we know about -she was broke! Plus she used her last two coins to “worship God” – and she didn’t even know God was watching. Oh she probably realized God was watching from heaven but I doubt she realized He was sitting on the other side of the room – in the flesh – receiving her faith, trust, prayers, praise and worship. Jesus loved this lady. In fact it seems He was rather excited for her. She crossed a new threshold of faith experience - absolute dependence on God – even for daily sustenance. Perhaps she was experiencing what Jesus calls fullness of life. He said, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” John 10:10
There are many other stories of God’s interacting in people’s lives leading them to deeper faith – many times when they were at the end of their rope – financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually etc.
GOING DEEPER
As you read two very interesting stories about faith flourishing at “the end of your rope” let the reality of these stories sink deeply into your life. What is God saying to you about trusting Him?
After you read each story below, use these questions to process and apply.
· Describe what “the end of the rope” looked like for the characters in the story?
· What were the specific “trust points” or “faith steps” for the different characters?
· How did they ever show lack of faith?
· How did their limited faith ever limit God’s blessing in their lives?
· How do you suppose their faith-stretching experience changed their view of God, worship of God, and their future relationship with God?
READ: 1Kings 17:7-24 and 2 Kings 4:1-7
APPLICATION and PRAYER
As you finish working through these stories, which characters and situations do you resonate with at this point in your life?
Each person should try to share at least one point of application in their lives from these three stories.
How has this study of these stories affected your attitude concerning;
· Being at the “end of my rope.’
· What faith looks like or should look like at “the end of my rope,”
· God’s feelings toward me when I’m “at the end of my rope."
Share with each other about one area of life where God is stretching your faith to “let go” of the end of the rope to trust Him completely. Sometimes these issues of life are very confusing and we simply can’t see what is going on or what God is trying to do to increase our faith. A grace-filled and loving small group can be the perfect place to help each other see more clearly what God is doing and how He is stretching our faith.
Spend ample time praying for each other over all that has been shared in the group during this study, being open vessels of the ministry of the Holy Spirit for each other.
