Archive - Devotional Thought RSS Feed

January 4, 2012 in Community, Devotional Thought 1 Comment

A Donkey, Really?

Community and our need for it is a bigger than we think.

The idea of community so permeates the Scriptures that Jesus even sent two disciples to go fetch a donkey. Really?

     Luke 19.29-30 – When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here.

Was this simply because they could not do so alone? Hardly. These men were fishermen, surely they could get a donkey alone. No, the simple truth taught here is that Jesus knows we are in need of community, even in the mundane of life. Maybe I am looking at this and overthinking it, or maybe I am not. I think there is something there, something simple yet profound.

(image)

April 15, 2011 in Devotional Thought 2 Comments

Everythings Amazing & Nobodys Happy

Here is a great, very funny, video that shows our great discontentment in all things, it is a great reminder that we will never be happy and fulfilled apart from Jesus.

Note: the comedian is not really totally clean, so I do not endorse all that he has to say.

October 29, 2010 in Devotional Thought, Quotes 0 Comments

He Began to Wash the Disciples’ Feet

Here is a devotional I read the other night from C.H.Spurgeon’s Mornings and Evening’s for October 24th. I broke it up a little and encourage you to read through it slowly and dwell upon the truth of what our savior continues to do for us.

“He began to wash the disciples’ feet.”
–John 13:5

The Lord Jesus loves His people so much, that every day He is still doing for them much that is analogous to washing their soiled feet.

  • Their poorest actions He accepts;
  • their deepest sorrow He feels;
  • their slenderest wish He hears,
  • and their every transgression He forgives.
  • He is still their servant as well as their Friend and Master.
  • He not only performs majestic deeds for them, as wearing the mitre on His brow,
  • and the precious jewels glittering on His breastplate,
  • and standing up to plead for them, but humbly, patiently, He yet goes about among His people with the basin and the towel.
  • He does this when He puts away from us day by day our constant infirmities and sins.

Last night, when you bowed the knee, you mournfully confessed that much of your conduct was not worthy of your profession; and even tonight, you must mourn afresh that you have fallen again into the selfsame folly and sin from which special grace delivered you long ago; and yet Jesus will have great patience with you;

  • He will hear your confession of sin;
  • He will say, “I will, be thou clean”;
  • He will again apply the blood of sprinkling,
  • and speak peace to your conscience, and remove every spot.

It is a great act of eternal love when Christ once for all absolves the sinner, and puts him into the family of God; but what condescending patience there is when the Saviour with much long-suffering bears the oft recurring follies of His wayward disciple;

  • day by day,
  • and hour by hour,
  • washing away the multiplied transgressions of His erring but yet beloved child!
  • To dry up a flood of rebellion is something marvellous,
  • but to endure the constant dropping of repeated offences–
  • to bear with a perpetual trying of patience, this is divine indeed!

While we find comfort and peace in our Lord’s daily cleansing, its legitimate influence upon us will be to increase our watchfulness, and quicken our desire for holiness. Is it so?

October 16, 2010 in Devotional Thought, Personal, Preaching, Quotes, Theology 0 Comments

Bless Believers Hearts

One great commentary set is the Reformed Expository Commentary. Bryan Chapell has written a couple of them and they are superb! Here is a quote from Chapell on Ephesians 1.5-6,

Paul is using the doctrine of predestination not to separate believers, not to instill pride in our being chosen, nor to vaunt any special knowledge of how God works, but simply to assure hard-pressed believers that God has loved them loved them and does love them apart from any merit of their own. In other words, predestination is meant to bless believers’ hearts. It is not meant for endless argument; it is not an excuse not to evangelize; it is our basis of comfort when we face the limitations of our actions, will, and choices.

This is why the doctrine of predestination is so beautiful to me and fills my heart with joy, comfort and confidence in Jesus, not me.

September 23, 2010 in Devotional Thought, Writing 0 Comments

My Dire Need

I know we understand that there is Spiritual warfare in the world and Satan his demons their attacks and effect are present and real. The only problem is that we don’t really pay any attention until these things come into our lives. It seems like this moment in the history of my life and ministry Satan has unleashed his menace upon this guy. Here are some of the things that have been going on over the past week, and how my soul has been filled with Joy because of the cross.

Twitter - I just started following Paul Washer. I know he is a polarizing guy to some (I find him refreshing), but one thing about him is he has a passion for prayer. His tweets every morning and afternoon about prayer and his dire need for prayer in his life have been a blessing to my soul. Because of this my soul has been encouraged. It has brought me to a place where I not only know my need but I see the reason I need more time in the Word and prayer.

Problems - This past weekend was a somewhat busy weekend, nothing in comparison to many in our ministry. Yet this weekend there were 2 or 3 different things that happened to my leaders, all unexpected, where they had to bail out, and for totally legit reason. All of this added more to my plate, showing me the need for prayer in my life just to make it through.

Students – One student contemplating suicide, two who might be going to jail and a host of others who have family problems, relationship problems, money issues, addicted to sex, porn and a whole list of other issues that are going on in their life. I have to, and am, understanding that the students need my prayer! If there is going to be any real change it has to be empowered by the Spirit.

Atmosphere - It always seems like as we move forward the powers of evil strike us hard, over and over again. We had a great leadership meeting, yet I could sense that there was an under-current of sin within the meeting. We need to be praying for other people, my fellow leaders, the students and those who will be in the group some day.

Sermon - I was in school, NEBC, and the chapel speaker talked about Mark. 11.15-19, where Jesus cleans the temple. The reason Jesus was upset is that they are not people of prayer. They had turned His temple into a place where there was trade not worship. The speaker challenged each of us and our ministries to be built upon prayer. He challenged us to make a whip and chase out the things that cause us not to pray. Those things, even the good things, that get in the way of our prayer life.

Forgotten God - I have been listening to Francis Chans audio book, Forgotten God. I was listening to chapter 6 on my run and what he said struck me. He talked about how we can create great programs, draw people to our church gatherings and do it all in our own power. We need to be people of prayer, who trust the spirit for the works in our life and to work through our life.

All of this has lead me to understand and see my dire need for more of the word of God and prayer. I need to be on my knees pleading to God for the teens in my life. I need to pray over my wife, my kids, my ministry and everything in my life. My prayer needs to be more about hearing from God and His will for the moments in my life then my measly little to-do lists.

Page 1 of 212»