Daily Reading for Friday, Feb. 29: Community

“But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.’” Ruth 1:16

Ruth was married to an Israelite who, along with his father, mother, and other brother, had gone to Moab to find relief from a famine that had taken place in the land of Israel. Ruth was a Moabite—not an Israelite. She didn’t have the promises of God that the Israelites had. In fact, she didn’t even know the God of the Israelites. Yet, somehow, in her interactions with this family of the chosen people of promise, she found herself so drawn to Naomi (her mother-in-law), that even when Ruth’s husband was dead, and they seemed to be in a hopeless situation, Ruth was determined to forsake her old way of life, her identity, even her own family to follow Naomi and to take Naomi’s God as her own.
What compelled Ruth to take such a drastic step? Her relationship with this family did. There was something in them that the gods of Moab could never offer Ruth. There was something in them that drew her. Day after day, year after year, Ruth interacted with this family—learning their traditions, experiencing their lives, being impacted by their example. And when the time of decision came for Ruth, she decided (like Mary did when she sat at Jesus’ feet) to take the better part. She chose to follow Naomi, and to serve the God of Israel.
This is our goal of community building with those outside the family of faith. We want them to experience Jesus and to see the difference He makes in our lives. We want them to be drawn by the Holy Spirit and our example of Christ-likeness so that when the day of decision comes for those in our “sphere of influence” they will choose the better part. And then, we can welcome them into the greatest community of all—the community of faith.

Daily Reading for Thursday, Feb. 28: Community

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Col 1:17

Here is one definition of community that is particularly insightful: Community means: [A] group of people sharing a common understanding who reveal themselves by using the same language, manners, tradition and law.
Think of the local community you live in. Your town is comprised of even smaller communities or neighborhoods. And these neighborhoods are comprised of even smaller communities of families. And to break it out further, each family is comprised of individuals. For even a small town, that is a lot of people. But even though all the individuals of a town are unique and one-of-a-kind, they still have the commonality of understanding about who they are and why they are there. They reveal themselves in their language, in their manners, in their traditions, and in their laws.
But what about the community of faith? Or, more precisely, the community of faith that you are associated with—your church? What defines and describes this community? You see, a church is just like any other community in many ways. There are all kinds of individuals who make up the church with all kinds of personalities and gifts. And yet, we come together in Christ with one common understanding—that our ultimate purpose is to make Jesus known. People have poked fun at the “Christian-eze” (that church-talk that we often use when talking with one another), and rightfully so in many cases. However, we do have a common language, common manners and traditions, and a common law written on our hearts. As this verse says, in Him (Jesus) all things are held together. Jesus holds us together in our individuality so that we can accomplish His purposes for us—as a community and as individuals.

Daily Reading for Wednesday, Feb. 27: Community

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

This passage depicts the very infancy of the church as it began to form after the day of Pentecost. We see that the believers devoted themselves to several things: the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, to prayer. They devoted themselves to the teaching so that they would know the truth and learn how to live as Christ followers. They devoted themselves to fellowship so that they could not only hear the teaching but see it in action. They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread, to building relationships with one another as they grew together in faith. Finally, they devoted themselves to prayer which covered all their other activities and promoted fellowship with the Father.
This is picture of the church is what we desire to be as a faith community. Although we do not have a 1st century Christian lifestyle (as far as culture and society is concerned), we can still behave like they did. We can devote ourselves to the Word of God, both in our private devotions and in its public proclamation and teaching. We can devote ourselves to fellowship—to spending time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. That time will result in our personal faith being strengthened, our determination to press on being lengthened, and our desire to press in being deepened. As we devote ourselves to building relationships with one another, we become more able and ready to build relationships with others outside the community of faith. And, as we devote ourselves to prayer, we keep everything before God, so that our fellowship is not only with one another, but it is with one another in Him. If we behave in such a manner, the result of this will be that day after day, the Lord will bring more souls into the kingdom of God.

Daily Reading for Tuesday, Feb. 26: Community

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV

Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t need church. I have my own faith. God knows I believe in Him, and I don’t need to go to church to prove that.” I feel sorry for those people. They genuinely believe that they have the best that faith can offer, and there is no way that being a church attender can be any better. While I do agree that simply attending church is not necessarily going to make your life in Christ any richer or fuller, when we examine this verse, we see some interesting things that promote being involved in a church as a viable means of growing in faith.

First of all, we see Paul explaining that God planned for there to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. God desired for these gifts to be in operation in His church. Why? 1) So that the people would be prepared for their works of service that God had planned for them. 2) So that as people performed their works of service that God had gifted and planned for them to do—they themselves would be strengthened thereby strengthening the whole body. 3) So that all in the body would reach unity in the faith—not just what we believe but how we believe (with our whole hearts, minds, souls and strength). 4) So that as we belong and operate as part of this beautiful body of Christ, we would see the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. In other words, there are some things we will not see in our walk as Christians if we don’t belong to a local body.

So many people have confused the rituals and traditions of men with church. But that is not what belonging to a church is all about. It is about being connected to others of like faith, who have something to supply to you that you may not have and vice-versa. God has a plan for the local church—He gave local church leaders as gifts for a reason. He wants us to participate in a local church. He desires that we connect not only with Him as an individual, but also as a community of faith, so that we can have the full revelation of Christ in our lives.

Daily Reading for Monday, Feb. 25: Community

Core Value: Community

We are committed to building healthy and loving relationships with God and each other.

Life is lived in relationship! Our intent is to connect relationally with others and join together in a community of faith for love and support. Accountability, belonging, care, and spiritual growth happen best with relationally-connected people. People matter to God, and they matter to us – believer and unbeliever alike – we love people. We understand our relationship with Christ is personal but not private, and we are called to live life together in honesty, authenticity, and transparency.

Introduction

Last week, we discussed the very real joy we can experience in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those we come into contact with. This week, we see how that joy is made complete by coming into fellowship with one another. Our belief in Christ automatically places us in this special, one-of-a-kind organism that is called the church. As we build community with one another, we build each other up, enabling us to build real, life-affecting relationships with those who need to hear the good news we have to share.

Daily Reading for Monday, Feb. 25
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10 NIV

Belonging—–that is the essence of community. Have you ever been somewhere where you didn’t belong or where you were made to feel that you didn’t belong? You didn’t want to stay in the place, or with those people, for very long. This verse is part of a whole passage of practical exhortations for Christ-like living, but I wanted to take particular note of this phrase: “...to those who belong to the family of believers.” We belong!

First, we belong to Jesus. We belong to God. We belong to our creator who paid the dearest price that could be paid so that we could belong to Him. How incredible it is when we consider what Jesus did in order to make it possible for us to no longer belong to the enemy of our souls, to no longer be trapped by our sin-steeped selves, but to belong to one who gave up His very life so that we could live with Him eternally.

Secondly, through the blood of Jesus, we are joined together in a family that has stronger ties than any natural family could have. Jesus not only gives us a new life, He gives us a community to support that life, to help nurture it, grow it, and encourage it. And then, as we grow, we can give others that same encouragement that we have received and offer that same belonging.

Daily Reading for Sunday, Feb. 24: Sharing

“13...for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Romans 10:13-15 NIV

When I read these verses in Romans, I have such mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am so grateful that someone shared Christ with me. That I have called upon the name of the Lord and have been saved, not only from the eternal death that hell promises, but from simply existing on this planet, grasping at the few handfuls of pleasure that come through this life. On the other hand, I am reminded of the many who have not believed because they have not heard. It is heartbreaking to think of all those who have not been “preached to” (whether by words or by actions), and who haven’t heard the Word of the Lord. They may have been evangelized; they may even have been regular church goers—yet, their hearts haven’t been opened to the Lord. You can hear the pleading in these verses to go to those who haven’t heard, to give them the opportunity to hear.
We can be sharers of His word, witnesses empowered by the Holy Spirit, and runners with beautiful feet, just as God said we would be. If we share what we know, what we experience, and what we have, we will be.

Daily Reading for Saturday, Feb. 23: Sharing

“7 He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”” Acts 1:7-8 NAS

In this passage, Jesus was sharing some parting thoughts with his disciples before He was taken to heaven. The disciples were still of the mindset that Jesus was going to restore the natural kingdom of Israel; they had not gotten the revelation that they were the chosen instruments to bring the salvation message of eternal life not only to the nation of Israel but to all the world. They were hoping for Israel to be empowered to overthrow the Roman government; Jesus countered with the promise of power to overthrow the kingdom of darkness. That is precisely what happens every time someone comes to the Lord. The kingdom of darkness that has been set up in the human heart is overthrown by the kingdom of light. Or, to be more accurate, the kingdom of light regains its rightful place in the heart of man. Just as Israel was promised an everlasting peace when Messiah came, so to are we promised an everlasting peace when Messiah comes into our lives. We are given the peace that passes all understanding.
Jesus said that we would be witnesses throughout the earth. It is interesting that the Greek word for witnesses can also be translated as the word “Martyr.” But it is entirely appropriate when we understand that the Holy Spirit comes to empower us to lay down our lives, our agendas, and our desires, so that we can be a new creation with a new nature—one that is in God just the like the Son is in the Father. (John 14:20) And this new nature compels us to share the good news with all the inhabitants of the earth—for we have been given the power to do so.
Finally, this verse tells us something very simple. That we are the witnesses. The word translated shall is the future present perfect form of the verb “to be.” In other words, it can be translated to say that “you will be my witnesses.” This is how God sees us. Not what we hope to be, but how we truly are. If this is how God sees us, we need to see ourselves this way too, sharing His love and His good news.

Daily Reading for Friday, Feb. 22: Sharing

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Romans 12: 9-18

If you have ever wondered about how to have authentic faith, read these verses, and you’ll see how it is done. There is perhaps no greater synopsis of living the faith than can be found in these verses. As you read through, you get a very good sense of the practicalities of our faith. So often, we can look at faith as some purely spiritual with little impact in the “real world.” However, these verses dispel that myth. When we practice what is preached here, we can be assured of many things: 1) that our light will not be dimmed because we are exposing any darkness that may be resident in us. 2) that sharing the gospel is much more than using words—it is living the faith. 3) that by doing these things we can prove what God’s will is because it has been accomplished in us. We share the life-changing message of Christ through a transformed life. There is no greater message than that.

Daily Reading for Thursday, Feb. 21: Sharing

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. “ Romans 12:6-8

There is a wonderful expression of variety within the body of Christ. We are not all the same; nor do we express our faith in the same way. And God has designed it that way. He has created each us to be unique and to share His good news in our own, personal manner. He is not impressed when we copy someone else’s expression, and He is not fooled when we use someone else’s words as our own. He wants to hear our original song, to see our original artwork. And so do those who are seeking the Lord. When we are authentic in our faith, that is, when we live what we believe to be true according to the revelation of God through His word and His Spirit, we are creating a masterpiece that only we can create. Not everyone has the same gift, not everyone has the same story, and not everyone will share the good news the same way. And that is precisely the way God wants it. He delights in our diversity; for each us of is an expression of Him in some way or another. So do not be reluctant to share simply because you don’t share like someone else. We cannot be intimidated by our brothers and sisters in Christ. We simply must do what we’ve been created to do—to the best of our ability according to the grace that has been given us by our Lord and Savior.

Daily Reading for Wednesday, Feb. 20: Sharing

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” Acts 3:19 NAS

Have you ever been awakened in the pre-dawn hours by someone turning on a light? The light hurts your eyes, and you struggle to open them against the glare of the brightness that surrounds you. This is how it is with those who are perishing. We, as Christians, come bearing our light, and that light reveals the darkness and the hidden things in the hearts of men. That darkness is sin, and it is resident in the heart of every person. Many, when they encounter the light, beg us to turn it off. They say things like, “How can you judge me?” or “I think I’ve been a good person.” They are calloused to their own sin, and refuse to consider anything but their own opinion as their guide to right and wrong. However, there are others who struggle with the light, who open their eyes and face the pain. They recognize their error, and they admit their sin. Soon, they have had their sins wiped away, and they have become accustomed to the light. Finally, they themselves become light-bearers, bringing light to the dark places of the soul where sin hides itself so well.
We must remember that our ultimate goal is not to reveal sin but to bring refreshing. If someone isn’t ready to face the light, we cannot force them to do so. We simply keep shining, and pray that they open their eyes in time. We cannot force their eyes open—only they can do that. But we must keep shining, and we must keep the light bright. That means turning it on ourselves everyday to see if there is any darkness in us. We are not perfect, but when we shine our light on ourselves (by spending time in the word, by prayer, by acts of kindness and service to others), that light shines brightest to those around us. And then they have to opportunity to find the refreshing they are longing for.

Daily Reading for Tuesday, Feb. 19: Sharing

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

When we talk about sharing the gospel, inevitably this passage must be examined, for these verses encompass our primary motivation to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world. The bible tells us that when Jesus gave this command, He was speaking with his disciples. In fact, Matthew leads us to believe that this was one of the earliest encounters the disciples had with Jesus after His resurrection. Why is this important? Because after Jesus accomplished his mission on the cross—defeating death and sin—the very first thing He commands us to do is share this good news with everyone. No one (if he/she is a disciple) is exempt from sharing the news, and no one is excluded from hearing it. Jesus is extending to the entire human race the same opportunity He gave the original twelve, to come and follow Him.
When we read this passage, we can be motivated by the obedience of our hearts, for we desire to do what our Savior has commanded. But I believe there is a deeper motivation at work in these verses. First of all, we are a part of Jesus (that is what the baptism symbolizes.) Just as when a man and woman are joined together in marriage, so are we joined with Jesus in faith. We no longer look to our own interests—our interests become mingled and joined together with Jesus’. We obey not out of obligation, but out of love. The law is not written on tablets of stone, it is written on our hearts; and we desire to obey because it is our nature to do so. We share because we have something to share...the tangible, very real presence of God in our lives. Jesus said, “surely I am with you always,” and He meant it. His presence in us cannot be contained by us, for He desires to reach beyond us and share His presence with as many as would receive Him. That is why we share. Like with the manna that was provided in the desert, we cannot, nor do we desire to, hoard the good news.

Daily Reading for Monday, Feb. 18: Sharing

Core Value:
Sharing

Making Christ known is our purpose in life!

God's message of forgiveness through Christ is still relevant and necessary today. This message is most effectively conveyed within the context of personal relationships. Therefore, we desire to be ever ready and willing to invest ourselves in others for the sake of the Gospel. We will make every effort to impact our community and the world with the love of Jesus. Our mission is to make more and better followers of Jesus Christ simultaneously. A disciple who is growing spiritually will evidence a growing desire to reach out to those who don't know Christ.

Introduction
Have you ever had something happen to you that you just couldn’t wait to tell someone about it? Perhaps you got a good grade on a test, or a promotion at work. Maybe you had an unexpected windfall, or your child made the varsity team. These are all wonderful things that we rejoice in. And we want others to share in our joy. How much more so do we share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. What Jesus did on Calvary 2000 years ago didn’t stay in that long ago past, but still impacts lives in the present—each and every day. He lives, and His work is still continuing in and through us. We cannot remain silent with such good news. We’ve been redeemed! We’re free! We’ve been given a place at the royal table, even though we were nothing but dirt-covered peasants. And, that is good news worth sharing.

Daily Reading for Monday, Feb. 18

“3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 ‘What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’” Luke 15:3-10 NAS

Sharing the good news. When we pick up a magazine or a newspaper, or when we browse for news on the web, we usually find nothing but bad news. There seems to be little to rejoice about in this world, for fear and a critical spirit saturate our current events. But as Christians, we have good news to share. We offer hope when there is no hope, and we offer help when none seems to be available. We can tell of wondrous things that satisfy the longings of our souls; we can relate the experiences of living a life of richness that far surpasses any wealth the world can relate to. When we share the good news, it is light in the darkness.
We can be like the shepherd who went out searching for the lost sheep. We must be like the woman who found her coin. We have good news to share that will help countless multitudes. Many want to rejoice with us in our treasure; many more want to experience that treasure for themselves. And when we do, the results can make the angels dance.

Daily Reading for Sunday, Feb. 17: Mentoring

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

How do you effectively mentor? Read verse 9. Live what you believe, and you’ll mentor others. It really is that simple. Throughout our lives, we will be involved in many types of mentoring relationships—some very intimate, others very casual. Many of us will never know the inspiration we give to someone else simply because we are authentic in our love for God and our desire to live out that faith. In this society, where we are bombarded with false images and exaggerated claims, people are longing for the freshness that a true believer brings. Does this mean we have to be perfect all the time? Yes! But, we can’t be perfect, so we simply have to rest in the grace of God. The bible tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. How true that is. God’s love, exemplified by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, has covered our sins. And so, that same grace that we rely upon to make us righteous and justified before God, we rest in as we live out our faith. We are being perfected—that is, we are allowing ourselves to mature in faith, to be corrected when needed, to be mentored by Godly individuals and the Holy Spirit. And as we allow this process to take place in our lives, we become examples to others. That is what mentoring is all about. We are mentored, we mentor. When we are changed, that sets off a chain reaction in the lives of those who are watching our lives—so that they, too, can be changed. And whatever they have learned or received or heard from us or have seen in us will allow them to walk in the fullness of their faith in God. And that is the greatest success of a mentor.

Daily Reading for Saturday, Feb. 16: Mentoring

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”
Luke 9:1-2 NIV

A key ingredient to mentoring is knowing when you need to let those who are being mentored “try their wings.” We’ve all heard how birds learn to fly. Many times, they are forced from the nest (which has often been made uncomfortable by mama and papa bird), and they either fly or fall.
We see here that after the twelve had been with Jesus for a period of time, he sent them away from him to do what he had been doing. Why? Because he was modeling mentoring for the church. He trained his guys, sent them out to do what he trained them to do, and then brought them back together for more training and feeding. That is how we need to be as Christians. We gather together to celebrate the Lord, to worship him together, to be fed by His word and encouraged by one another. We then go out and do what we were taught to do, and then we come back together for more celebration.
If you are mentoring someone, make sure you let them test their wings. If you are being mentored, and it seems as if your mentor is not paying much attention to you, you may be in your wing-testing time. It may feel uncomfortable when you realize that you are not in the safety, security, and comfort of the nest, but birds are not designed to sit in a nest—they are designed to fly. And so are we.

Daily Reading for Friday, Feb. 15: Mentoring

“Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. 2 Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the LORD your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm… 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:1-2, 18-21

Have you ever had an experience that was so overwhelming, so incredible that you just had to tell someone about it? And then, when you tried to explain to them how wonderful it was, there was no possible way for you to get them to understand that experience? You were probably frustrated and simply ended up saying, “Oh well, I guess you had to be there.” It’s a funny thing about these types of experiences—it was such a wonderful thing for you, and yet, impossible to portray to someone else.
The Israelites were in a similar situation. In this passage, God is telling the Israelites how to transmit their life of faith from one generation (who had seen the wonders of God performed) to the next (who had not.) God is extremely interested in keeping faith alive throughout generations. He is not short-sighted, only enjoying the response of one generation to His word. He sees through His timeless gaze to the countless generations of individuals who will call upon His name. And so He commanded to Israelites to teach their children—first by example (verse 1), and then with words (verses 18-20). Mentoring is that act of generational transmission. We mentor when we live what we say we believe, and God has promised that when we mentor that way, we will reap the rewards of seeing our children (both natural and otherwise) serving the Lord and living in His blessing.

Daily Reading for Thursday, Feb. 14: Mentoring

“Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.” Deuteronomy 11:1

Today is the day that love is celebrated. What better way to show God our love for Him than to do what He commands us to do? I know that when my children obey me, when they do what I ask, I am very pleased. It touches my heart that they love me and trust me so much that they know I am only doing my best to help them—even if that means having them empty the dishwasher! We have a love relationship that makes the obedience an act of faith—faith in my character, my justice, and my goodness. My children know that I would never ask or command them to do something that would bring them harm. And even when I’ve had to correct them or act harshly with them to punish their behavior, the bond of love has grown. Why? Because when all is said and done, my children know I love them, and everything I do for them is because of that love.
How much more does God love us? The love we have for our children is like a drop of water when compared to the ocean-sized love God has for us. When we mentor our children and when we mentor others, we are acting in obedience because we love God. He is our first love—both primarily and foundationally. Out of this love flows all other love. Love is the well-spring of everything: prayer, passion, servanthood, change, and mentoring. Everything we do as Christians comes because we love the Lord our God, and we know that He loves us. Therefore, we gladly walk in mentoring relationships because we want as many as can to walk in love with God.

Daily Reading for Wednesday, Feb. 13: Mentoring

12 “In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 "For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. 14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” 1 Samuel 3:12-14 NAS

Yesterday, we discussed the benefits and blessings of mentoring. We saw how a Godly mentor can greatly influence a person’s life and can bring out hidden gems in the lives of those being mentored. Today, we reinforce that concept by looking at what happens when we don’t mentor. Eli was the priest of the land of Israel in a time when Israel was without any stable government. This was during the time of the Judges, when each man did what was right in his own sight. Although Eli was the man of God during that time, he failed to mentor his own sons in the ways of the Lord. They did evil in the sight of God and the people, and Eli did not rebuke them or try very hard to turn them from their wickedness. Because of this lack of mentoring, a curse was pronounced on the house of Eli and grave consequences ensued.
Mentoring is a responsibility we all have. We cannot think that because we may not be “something special” that we have not responsibility to mentor. God has given us great power—the power of eternal life and the power to be His witnesses. And so, we pray for one another. We bear each other’s burdens. We show the way to those who are lost, and we give a cup of cold water to those who thirst. And then, we show others how to do what we are doing. We want to bless those who come after us and not leave a curse as a legacy.

Daily Reading for Tuesday, Feb. 12: Mentoring

“Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them.” 1 Samuel 22:2a NAS

Everyone needs a captain if they’re going to move from being in distress, in debt or discontented to being “mighty men of valor.” This is exactly what happened to David and his men. He became the captain of a group of men who seemingly had little potential for greatness. They had bad attitudes. They owed people money. They were probably having a whole host of emotional, mental, and physical issues that caused them to be in distress. And yet, this group became known throughout Israel as David’s Mighty Men. Why? Because David mentored them. He showed them how to live uprightly before God even in times of great need and sorrow. He loved God, and he did what was right. He listened to wisdom when Abigail stopped him from killing her husband and all the males in that household. He would not kill Saul even when he was twice in a position to do so. He followed the Lord and waited on God to establish his throne. And he did so all the while his men watched. They watched and learned. The more they learned, the more they watched. The more they watched, the more they learned. And, over time, something in them changed. They were no longer a rag-tag bunch of ne’er do wells. They became a mighty army. And their affection for their leader grew to be so great that some of them risked their lives just to get him a drink of water.
That kind of affection only comes in a mentoring relationship. David’s men were so grateful for all that David had done for them, and were proud of the men they had become because of David’s captaincy. Mighty men of valor are not born that way; they must be mentored so that the gift that is in them can be nurtured and grow, for it is the mentoring process that takes the seed of gifting and brings it to fruit.

Daily Reading for Monday, Feb. 11: Mentoring

Core Value: Mentoring

We are pursuing transformation through intentional and personal interaction.

We are commissioned to pass on the wisdom and depth of purpose of a Christ-filled life to those around us. Life change happens best in loving relationships, which are authentic in love, supportive in care, and challenging toward change. We believe that anointed teaching and personal interaction is the catalyst for transformation. We are committed to the discovery, responsible development and wise deployment of spiritual gifts in service of Christ, the Church and our community.

Introduction

Mentor: Definition: (n.) a well-intentioned role model, advisor, and guide to someone less experienced, knowledgeable, or mature; (v.) to serve as a counselor, teacher, or guide. Synonyms: (n.) advisor, supporter, guide, tutor, teacher, role model, coach, (v.) guide, advise, support

God’s plan and His design is that faith is transmitted and strengthened by continual interaction with others in the body of Christ. Mentoring is God’s way of reproducing His love, grace, and wisdom. Look at the words used to describe a mentor: role model, advisor, guide, coach, supporter. Every one of us can be mentors—used of God for His purposes by supporting, advising and most of all, loving His people.

Daily Reading for Monday, Feb. 11
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 NAS

Who comes to mind when you hear the word “mentor.” Do you envision an older saint who’s impacted your life somehow? Or do you think of someone who’s taught you great things about yourself? Perhaps you think of someone very wise and educated. You may think of a friend, a pastor, or a boss. Perhaps you think of a parent or grandparent or other relative or maybe a teacher, neighbor, or good friend. But do you think of yourself? All too often, we think of the many people who have made a tremendous impact in our lives, and yet, we don’t believe that we ourselves are capable of that kind of impactful living. Did you know that God sees you as a mentor? He does! That’s why he’s made some of you parents and grandparents. He’s given businesses to some of you and, to some, positions of authority. He’s given others a circle of friends and family and to still others, he’s given one single, special person. He intends for you to transmit your faith to all those around you. He wants you to lead those who will to Him, and He longs for you to help your brothers and sisters grow in faith. Why? Because you are a part of Him. He means it when He says that you are a vital part of His body. You have a unique voice that only certain people will listen to and respond to. Use it!
Mentoring is not reserved for the most learned, the most experienced, or the most aged. The only requirement for mentoring is this: Fear (that awesome, holy fear that keeps us humble before Him—allowing His glory to shine in our lives and fill us with His grace) the Lord and receive His wisdom. If you love the wisdom and instruction of God, you’re ready to be a mentor!

Daily Reading for Sunday, Feb. 10: Serving

“1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
til he establishes justice on earth.”
Isaiah 42:1-4a NIV

This passage speaks specifically of Jesus, the fulfillment of the prophesy of the Messiah. We see many attributes of Jesus in these passages, and we could discuss many things about this particular passage. But notice in verse 1, where the Lord says “my chosen one in whom I delight?” I love that verse because of another verse, this time found in Romans 8: 15b-17, which states that we are God’s children and joint heirs with Christ. Yes, we share in his sufferings, but we also share in his glory. And, to me, there is no higher glory than the delight of the Father. We have been chosen, as heirs of Christ, to carry on the work of the Word of God. We have been chosen to serve, just as Christ was chosen to serve. We serve in differing manners, but we serve nevertheless. And God, when He sees our service, takes great delight in us. In fact, He even gives us gifts! Notice what verse 1 says: “I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.” That is what our ministry of reconciliation is accomplishing! We serve the world, those who are perishing, by the gifting and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, so that the justice of Christ may be theirs. If Jesus, who was foremost in all creation, can serve in such a way; then certainly, we, who say we are called by His name, who lay claim to His promises, and who are rightly called joint-heirs with Christ, can surely serve in such a way as well. We serve because we love God; our reward is that He delights in us. We serve to administer the justice of God, which is the blood of Jesus; our reward is that many come to the saving grace of the knowledge Jesus Christ. This is our heartbeat and the very foundation of our passion—however it is expressed. And this is what we were chosen for.

Daily Reading for Saturday, Feb. 9: Serving

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” Acts 2: 17-18 NIV

If we are born again, we are God’s servants. God recognizes that, the angels recognize that, and we must recognize that. The word minister is actually derived from a word that means “to serve.” A minister is a servant; so if you think you’re not called to ministry, you are wrong. We are all called upon to serve in this kingdom. When a young man reaches the age of 18, he is required to register with the selective service. Why? So that, if needed, his country can call upon him to serve in the military. In the same way, when we are born again, we are registered in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Our name is placed on the list. And because we are among those who have been redeemed, we gladly take up the call to serve. Our service is not a compulsion; it is an expression of worship. We volunteer our service, and the Lord prepares the place where we are to serve. In fact, not only does the Lord prepare a place to serve, He equips us to serve as He desires. The Lord said he would pour out His spirit on all flesh, and His servants would prophesy. Why? So that we would boldly proclaim the living Christ and His atoning death—through our service. I encourage you today, be filled with His Spirit as He is poured out. The Holy Spirit will transform you from a hearer of the word to a doer of the word; He will guide you in His truth as you translate it into deeds. And by doing so, you will be walking in servanthood, fervently seeking and finding the kingdom of God.

Daily Reading for Friday, Feb. 8: Serving

“And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” Luke 22:24-26 NAS

What is a servant? Webster’s Unabridged 1913 Dictionary defines a servant as : 1) one who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who is employed by another for menial offices, or for other labor, and is subject to his command; a person who labors or exerts himself for the benefit of another, his master or employer;

Clearly, being a servant is not the most exalted position to be in. When you are in a servile position, you have little control over your actions. Your passions and desires must submit to the master, and your will cannot be done, only the master’s. Sound familiar? Remember what Jesus taught us to pray? “Thy will be done.” When we enter into the kingdom of God, we become the children of God. But then, we willingly take on the mantle of servanthood. In following Christ, we lay aside our privileges, our perks, and our trappings of royalty in order to serve a lost and dying world. The Bible says that Jesus emptied himself when he left heaven. What did he empty himself of? He willingly set aside the divine adornments in order to walk among us. And He did so with only one purpose: to reconcile a broken world to the Father through his ultimate act of servanthood—the cross. We, too, are servants of Christ. And like Jesus, we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, not to only be filled, but to boldly proclaim the mystery of God in Jesus. How glorious it is to be a servant of the Most High! To be used in such a manner! And so, we press in, daring to serve, desiring to serve, desperate to serve. We serve one another, we serve those who are perishing, and most of all, we serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Daily Reading for Thursday, Feb. 7: Serving

“4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:5

Yesterday, we discussed the story of Martha and Mary. The cause for Martha’s frustration was the fact that Mary was not serving as Martha expected her to. In the church, there can sometimes be expectations that we are to serve in one manner or another. Yet, this verse reminds us that this expectation is really counter-productive. Have you ever heard the phrase, “If everyone would just (fill in the blank).”? I know I’ve even uttered it a time or two. But the truth is that not everyone will serve as you expect them to, because God places different gifts, different passions, and different kinds of service into each and every one of us. So we must not be discouraged or offended if not “everyone” does what our passion dictates we do. We must simply follow the Lord, serve Him as He desires, and thank Him for the diversity of His body.

Daily Reading for Wednesday, Feb. 6: Serving

“38 And as they went on, it happened, He also entered into a certain village. And a certain woman, Martha by name, received Him into her house. 39 And to this one was a sister being called Mary, who also was sitting alongside, at the feet of Jesus, and heard His Word. 40 But Martha was distracted about much serving. And coming on she said, Lord, is it not a care to You that my sister left me alone to serve? Then tell her that she should help me. 41 But answering Jesus said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 But there is need of only one; and Mary chose the good part, which shall not be taken from her.’” Luke 10:38-42 LITV

Have you ever felt like Martha? I know I have. In fact, I know I’ve acted like Martha a lot more than I’ve acted like Mary. It is so easy to get “distracted with much serving” so that we lose sight of the whole reason we’re serving in the first place. I’ve been in Martha’s shoes before; and I know how frustrated I’ve become with others when it seems like they get to sit at the Lord’s feet while all I get to do is work, work, work. And then the Lord takes me aside, and says, “Jennifer, Jennifer, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but there is need of only one.” What He tells me is that I have to choose whom I will serve—the things that demand my attention or the Lord who deserves my attention. We often miss the point that Mary was serving the Lord, too, that day. Her service to Him was to sit at His feet and receive the Word He was giving out. Jesus said that she chose the good part—to serve him in quiet worship at His feet.

Daily Reading for Monday, February 4: Serving

Core Value:
Serving

Greatness in life comes through serving and loving others.

We know life is about serving others, not ourselves. God has shaped each of us in specific ways with natural and supernatural gifts to serve Him and expand His kingdom. We shall strive to be a community of servants who, like Jesus, did not come to be served but to serve. For a person to truly be great, he must be a servant of God and others. We find personal significance through being released to focus on the needs and interests of others. We believe that the desire to serve God and people is God's intention for everyone.

Introduction

This week we explore the core value of service. As Jesus said, “The greatest among you shall be your servant.” If, out of all of our times of prayer, our passion for Christ, and the changing process He takes us on, we cannot develop a servant’s heart toward one another or to the lost, we have acted in vain. For we cannot effectively minister to one another or to our neighbors if we cannot serve them. Let’s explore what it means to serve, how to serve, and the love that God pours out on those He calls His servants.

Daily Reading for Monday, February 4
“5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” Ephesians 6:5-8 NIV

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he replied, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” We’ve already explored how these verses describe the passion a believer possesses and expresses for Jesus. Perhaps the greatest expression of passion is service, for it is service that differentiates between true passion and emotionalism. Emotionalism quickly gets dried up in service; passion gets fired up. Emotionalism’s fervor wanes in service; passion’s fervor is stoked higher. That is because, when we serve according to the passion God has placed inside us, that passion is fed. And, using the campfire analogy, the glowing embers are fanned into flame as passion is acted upon through service.

You may be thinking to yourself, “Yeah, right. I serve and I don’t feel very passionate. Or you may be saying to yourself, “I don’t have a passion, how can I serve?” Let me challenge you with this thought: for the Christian, all passion can only come from love of Jesus Christ. No matter what we may feel passionate towards, that passion must be for Christ first and foremost. If you feel that you don’t have a passion, check your love level. Is Jesus first and foremost in your life? We can only serve wholeheartedly when the Lord has our whole heart; from that service springs the abundance of passion-fueling love that will propel you into all kinds of ministry.

Daily Reading for Sunday, Feb. 3: Change

26 “Even they will perish, but You endure;
And all of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
27 “But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 “The children of Your servants will continue,
And their descendants will be established before You.”
Psalm 120:26-28

This is our God. He is immovable, unchangeable, immutable. He is ever-present, ever-enduring, ever-lasting. There is no changing in Him for He is perfection itself. And the most wonderful part of God is that He shares Himself with us. He does not distance himself from such feeble creatures as we are. We cannot possibly attain the level of perfection that He is, and yet, He doesn’t look upon us with scorn, nor does He rebuff our seeking of Him. In fact, He encourages it. He has drawn us from everlasting to everlasting, ever seeking the intimacy of relationship He created us to enjoy. God’s years will never cease, but man’s will. God will never change, but man must change. We are exhorted to be transformed, renewed, and born again so that we may experience more of God through our changes and growth. If we do not change, we do not grow. And something that doesn’t grow is dead; but God created us to be alive! He breathed His life, His light into our lifeless frame. He purposed us for life and that purpose has never changed. Change us, Oh Lord, into your likeness! Renew us, Oh Christ, by the power of your love! We long to be what you’ve created us to be, that we may truly walk with you as you have established us before you. Grant us, dear Lord, the desire to be changed so that we may be all you’ve desired us to be in you. Amen.

Daily Reading for Saturday, Feb. 2: Change

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : 2 "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:1-5

“When I think of a house being renovated, usually one has to tear some things out. It might be old floors, old doors, or even walls. Do we have any walls that we have built that need to be torn down? There are also some things we better not mess with, such as supporting beams, supporting walls, and the foundation. We need to inspect our own spiritual house to see what needs torn out and keep the strong supporting foundation of HIS WORD to build on. Renovations usually are not easy, but they usually increase the value of the home, and usually make the structure more sound and strong.” Vonna Money

To the believer, change is a beautiful word that indicates the intimate working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Often, though, the enemy will come to us and accuse us with all our faults and imperfections, and He will taunt us with the thought that we really haven’t changed at all. Yet with the Lord moving in our lives, as He sees the marring of the vessel, He doesn’t destroy us—He simply forms us into a new vessel, one without deformity and perfectly useful for His purposes. In the renovation process that Vonna speaks of, we don’t destroy the house because we know some things need to be updated or rethought. We simply tackle those areas. In the same way, when we approach the concept of change either as individuals or as church, we don’t need an “all or nothing” approach. The Holy Spirit will indicate areas that need attention and prayer. We seek Him, He shows us. Sometimes the renovation is radical indeed—going down to the very foundations. But most often, the change is subtle with a tweak here and a nudge there. Whatever the method of change, the outcome is still the same…a shining city on a hill displaying the light of life for all to see and draw near.

A special thanks to Vonna Money for your definitions of change, and your awesome thoughts about renovation and the Potter’s wheel.

Daily Reading for Friday, Feb. 1: Change

“No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.” Mark 2:22

“And Jesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” Matthew 13:52

When discussing change and our approach to it, we must be careful to keep change in perspective. We don’t want change simply for change sake. There is great value in tradition and consistency of practice. Look at the saying of Jesus about wineskins. You don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. The new wine will ferment, causing that already stretched wineskins to burst—ruining the vessel and the contents. This verse should not be interpreted to say that only the new wine is worth having. What Jesus is telling us through this passage is that we must be judicious in our applications of both the old wine and the new wine. While change does have value, so too, does consistency. We don’t wear our winter coats in the middle of summer because the season doesn’t dictate that we do. We would be foolish to use and otherwise vital piece of clothing in a season that it wasn’t appropriate to use it in. In the same manner, while we must value and embrace change, we also must be wise in our approach. We can’t be lead by every wind of doctrine that blows around, nor can we follow every new method. We cannot be in a state of constant change; we must have periods of stability so that the building can settle and become firm on its foundation. Dr. Raleigh Jenkins once described the spiritual walk in terms of a stair step. On the horizontal plain, it seems as though not much in happening, not much is occurring. It is on that plain that the consistency of sound spiritual disciplines and practices grounds us in our faith. Then we reach the vertical plain, and that is where growth and maturity come into full fruit. We seem to rocket up to a higher level of understanding and awareness. This is the arena of change. We have change and consistency, each fueling the other and both accomplishing the plan of God in our lives, and we need both change and consistency in order to be that perfected house of God that He is building us into.