Are we devoted to the Lord? I know that may seem like a silly question for readers of the nugget. I would boldly assume all of us would answer “Of course. I love the Lord. I am devoted to Him.” I would say that too, but then again, I had to stop and do some real soul-searching with the words “Am I?” and just because I am a pastor doesn’t mean I am devoted or have arrived to the point of absolute surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. My vocation is what I do; my identity as a Christian is what I am. And devotion to God is to define that identity for you and me. Today, let’s look at devotion in two ways; first from God to us, then us back to Him.
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Ministries
Luke 14:27 – Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Here you will find activities and information that promotes growth in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and our journey of discipleship.
How would we define Christian faith? What does genuine saving faith really look like? What would make us assured we had the right type of faith? In defining the faith of Christianity, we are given two specific objects which are to be the direction our faith takes; the Person of our God and the revelation of that God through His two means of revealing Himself; creation and His written Word. Faith involves a trust in the God prayed to and the action of praying to this trusted God. We will find the Lord repeatedly acknowledging that true faith in Him includes both trust in His Person and acts of obedience to His Word. In today’s scripture, we find Jesus telling us this truth. Let’s consider two applications from His words.
I often ask myself self-examination questions like this, “Jim, are you growing in grace? Are you getting closer to Christ? Is the Fruit of the Spirit blossoming more in you now than last week, month, or year? Is spiritual maturity something you recognize happening in you?” These are difficult questions because they require honest, unhurried time with the Lord to mediate and listen to His voice through His Word in order to answer them. They also are difficult because we need another input outside of ourselves because of the treachery and self-deception in our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9). So, what are some signs that we may see in our lives that we are growing in Christ and exhibiting spiritual maturity?
One could and likely should spend significant amount of time pondering the words of Jesus as He hung on the cross. There are seven things He said. The first one revealed His love for sinners. He looked out over the mocking crowd, His weeping mother, saddened disciples, and the curious bystanders and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). In today’s scripture, are the last words He would speak before dying, “It is finished.” Let’s consider two situations we must rely upon the finished work of our Lord Jesus on the cross for our daily walk with Him.
Well, we are less than two weeks till spring and in preparation from a reading standpoint, here is our seasonal book recommendation for your encouragement and growth in the Lord. This spring’s selection is titled DOES GRACE GROW BEST IN WINTER?. It is a small paperback consisting of 87 pages, authored by Ligon Duncan with J. Nicholas Reid. It is published by P & R Publishing.
Every Christian goes through those spiritual experiences called “the blues”; those down times of sadness, maybe discouragement or depression, that just don’t have a cause. We are not in sin. Nor are we totally dysfunctional. We simply are stuck in a spiritual fog that has taken the spring out of our step, the joy to be less in our hearts, and the routines of life almost like little balls and chains dragging us down. However, we can get through “the blues” and that quite quickly if we learn to do four things. Let’s consider them today.