Daily Devotions - Lutheran Church Charities

Your Mission - Winning The Lost - Part 1 - March 17, 2010

2010-03-17T07:00:00Z

Your Mission - Winning The Lost - Part 1

Therefore go and make [THEM MY] disciples …
Matthew 28:19

We each have different gifts, but God has given us all the same mission: "Go make [them My] disciples" That's the great commission, not the great suggestion! And it's not just for pastors and missionaries, it's for you! And it's mandatory, binding and urgent. Listen: "you must warn them so they may live. If you don't they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible" (Ezekiel 3:18 ). 'But I'm not good with words', you say. So what? If you can interview for a job, apply for a loan, or propose to your husband or wife, surely you can say something on behalf of Christ. Can you imagine having a cure for cancer and keeping it to yourself? Sharing the greatest news is the greatest kindness you can show to anyone. One problem long-term Christians have is - they forget how hopeless it felt to be without Christ. Another problem is - they mix so much with church people that they forget how to communicate with non-church people. No matter how contented or successful the people around you appear to be, without Christ they're empty and lost, eternally lost! You are the only Christian somebody knows; there are people that only you can reach because of where you live and what God has made you to be. If just one person is in heaven because of God working through you, your life will have made a difference. So, start looking around at your personal mission field and begin to pray, 'God, who have You put in my life today who needs to know about Jesus?'

Prayer
Father in Heaven, Help me to serve and to share your mercy and compassion with others and when they ask why to always point to and share about you. In Jesus' Name, Amen

You Can't Afford It! - March 16, 2010

2010-03-16T07:00:00Z

You Can't Afford It!

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life"
Luke 18:18

The rich young ruler was educated and respected. He'd already achieved the three Ps of success: power, prosperity and posterity. He was a bottom-line guy who cut to the chase and asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life" Even the way he worded the question suggests that he thought he could get eternal life the way he'd gotten everything else in life, by self-effort. So when Jesus replied, "sell all that you possess - he became very sad; for he was extremely rich" (Luke 18:22-23). He'd mistakenly assumed that heaven was just a payment away. But it's not! Paul says, "What the law was powerless to do, God did by sending His own Son" (Romans 8:3 ). Only a cold-hearted God would sell salvation to those who can afford it! That's a hard concept to grasp, since we've always been rewarded for our performance. But just as you wouldn't impress the space-shuttle crew with your paper airplane, or you wouldn't show your crayon sketches to Picasso, so your character and good works don't qualify you for heaven. Eternal life costs more than you can afford. That's why you need a Redeemer! Money wasn't this man's problem, self-sufficiency was. It wasn't his big income, it was his big ego! And it's not just the wealthy that have difficulty grasping this; so do the educated, the strong, the good-looking, the popular, even the religious. To receive salvation you must first declare that you're spiritually bankrupt; that your cupboard is bare, your reputation worthless, and your options gone. You can't approach God demanding justice - you can only come pleading mercy. So come to Him today!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, with you I bring nothing to the table when it comes to my eternal destiny. I come to your feet asking for Mercy and Compassion because of your Son Jesus the Christ. Please give me that eternity with you I so desire but cannot achieve on my own. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Knowing What's In You - March 15, 2010

2010-03-15T08:00:00Z

Knowing What's In You

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20

There are words in your Bible that have so much life and power in them that they're stronger than any therapy. God can give you a Word that goes back into your past and heals your yesterday, secures your today, and anchors your tomorrow. That's why Satan clutters your life with so much junk that you don"t have time for God"s Word. He knows it will unmask him and reveal the "God" potential that's lying dormant within you. Before Jeremiah rose to prominence as a prophet God told him: a) "before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5). Your parents didn't get the first look at you, God did. Nothing about you surprises Him. In spite of what you've been through, He hasn't changed His mind about who you are or what you're destined to become. b) "before you were born I set you apart" (Jeremiah 1:5). Stop looking for acceptance in places where you don't belong! You're on a mission from God. That's why the enemy has tried so hard to take you out. Once you understand that, your struggles will begin to make sense. Only as you read God's Word will you begin to sense the awesome, mind-renewing, thirst-quenching, life-changing potential that was deposited within you from before the foundation of the world. Listen: "Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20). So, start tapping into that power today!

Prayer
Father – it is in your Word that I find out about myself and about my maker – you. I know that you had plans for me before I ever saw the first light of day. Shape, mold and use me today for your plans and purposes. In Your Precious Name, Amen

What Are You Passionate About? - March 14, 2010

2010-03-14T08:00:00Z

What Are You Passionate About?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23

Are you passionate about your relationship with the Lord, your life, your family, your future? I pray that you are. But if your zest for life has been drained, it may now be time to redirect your efforts and recharge your spiritual batteries. And that means refocusing your priorities by putting God first.

Each day is an opportunity to serve God and to do His will. Are you enthused about life, or do you struggle through each day giving barely a thought to God’s blessings? Be assured today that God loves you very much. He sent His One and Only Son Jesus Christ to die for your sins and to rise again victorious over sin, death and the evil one. He has called you by name to be His and He has blessed you with gifts and abilities to passionately serve Him whether at home, school, work, or church.

Your relationship with Jesus Christ must never be an afterthought; it must be your ultimate priority, your ultimate possession, and your ultimate passion. When you become passionate about your relationship with Jesus Christ, you’ll become passionate about your life, too.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You have called me not to a life of mediocrity, but to a life of passion. Today, help me to be an enthusiastic follower of Jesus Christ. Empower me to be passionate about my relationship with Jesus Christ and bold as I share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen

Courage to be Courageous - March 13, 2010

2010-03-13T08:00:00Z

Courage to be Courageous

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

Every life (including yours) is an unfolding series of events: some wonderful, some not-so-wonderful, and some downright disheartening. When you reach the mountaintops of life, trusting God is easy. But, when the storm clouds form overhead, your faith will be tested, sometimes to the breaking point. As a developing disciple of Jesus Christ, you can take comfort in this fact: Wherever you find yourself, whether at the top of the mountain or the depths of the valley, God is there, and because He cares for you, you can live courageously.

Christians have every reason to be courageous. After all, the ultimate battle has already been fought and won on the cross at Calvary. But, even devoted followers of Christ may find their courage tested by the unavoidable disappointments and tragedies that occur in the lives of believers and non-believers alike.

The next time you find your courage tested to the limit, remember that God is as near as your next breath, and remember that He is your shield and your strength; He is your protector and your deliverer. Call upon Him in your hour of need and then be comforted. Whatever your challenge, whatever your trouble, God can handle it. And He will.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, At times, this world is a fearful place. I fear for myself, my family and friends. Yet You have promised me that You are always with me. With You as my protector, comforter and guide I will not afraid. Today, Lord, empower me to live courageously as I place my trust in You. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 4 of 4 - March 12, 2010

2010-03-12T07:00:00Z

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 4 of 4

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:18

If your sense of self-worth is based on anything other than God's approval, you won't serve with the right motives. True servants accept jobs that insecure people consider "beneath them'. Remember Jesus washing the feet of His disciples? Could you do that? Insecure people always worry about how they appear. They hide their weaknesses beneath layers of protective pride. The more insecure you are, the more you need people to serve you, and the more you work for their acceptance. Henri Nouwen says, "In order to be of service to others, we have to die to them; that is, we have to give up measuring our meaning and value by the yardstick of others, thus we become free to be compassionate." Your service should not be based on the response of those you're serving, but on obedience to God alone. True servants don't need to cover their walls with plaques or insist on lofty titles. Paul writes, 'You may boast about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval" (2 Corinthians 10:18). If anybody had a chance to "name-drop" it was James the half-brother of Jesus. What credentials, growing up with Jesus as your brother! Yet he simply referred to himself as "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (James 1:1). Your service to Christ shouldn't be an obligation or a job, it should be a joy. Listen: "Serve the Lord with gladness" (Psalm 100:2). Can you imagine what would happen if even 10 percent of us got serious about our role as true servants?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me focus on you and others and their needs more than on mine. I trust you for my needs; use me to be you to others who are in need. In Your Precious Name, Amen

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 3 of 4 - March 11, 2010

2010-03-11T07:00:00Z

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 3 of 4

We will not compare ourselves to others.
Galatians 5:26

True servants concentrate on their God-given assignment - not on what somebody else is doing! Competition between God's servants is illogical: we're all on the same team. Our goal is to make God look good, not ourselves. Listen: "we will not compare ourselves as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do. Each of us is an original" (Galatians 5:26). Grow up! Get over your petty jealousy! When you're busy serving, you don't have time to be critical. When Martha criticized Mary, she lost her servant's heart. True servants don't complain of unfairness, don't have pity-parties and don't resent those not serving in the same way. They just trust God and keep serving. It's not your job to evaluate others. Listen: "Who are you to criticize? The Lord will determine whether His servant has been successful" (Romans 14:4). God determines who's successful, not you! Nor is it your job to defend yourself against criticism. Let God handle it! Nehemiah's response to his critics is a classic: "My work is too important to stop now and visit you" (Nehemiah 6:3). One of the most beautiful acts of love shown to Jesus was criticized by His own disciples. When Mary took the most valuable thing she owned, expensive perfume, and poured it over Jesus, they called it "a waste" (Matthew 26:8). But Jesus called it "significant" (Matthew 26:10). There's only one opinion that matters - His! Your service for Christ is never wasted, regardless of what others say.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to stay the course and keep focused on serving you by seeing you in the eyes of those in need. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 2 of 4 - March 10, 2010

2010-03-10T07:00:00Z

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 2 of 4

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2

When you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, God won’t focus only on spiritual and moral issues; He’ll deal with you also about money. Listen: ‘He called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back’’ (Luke 19:13). Then we read: ‘‘he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money to find out what they had gained with it’ (Luke 19:15). It’s wise to have financial goals for your life, but God’s greatest goal for mankind is: ‘This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world’ (Matthew 24:14). ‘How will we do that?’ you ask. By doing what Jesus did – reaching out to those who are in need with the Mercy and Compassion of Christ – and proclaiming in whose name we touch them. We also proclaim the Kingdom of God through the printed page, Christian broadcasting, local churches, prison ministry, humanitarian relief and the supporting of missionaries. Have you checked the price of a round-trip airfare to Haiti or Africa lately? Your prayer, ‘Lord, meet all my needs’ won’t get the job done! Somebody’s going to have to believe God for more than just their own needs, step out in faith, succeed and say, ‘Lord, Your kingdom is my first concern. I’ll sign the check, You fill in the amount. One day I want to be able to see You face to face and declare, ‘I’ve invested every ounce of energy, every talent, every penny You entrusted to me to fulfill Your purposes on the earth.’’

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me to see that all that is in my possession is not mine buy Thine – to be used for your purpose and not mine. Help me remember that I own Nothing – it is all yours. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 1 of 4 - March 9, 2010

2010-03-09T07:00:00Z

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 1 of 4

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Matthew 5:41

Service begins in your mind! Listen: ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant’’ (Philippians 2:5-7). Are you into reputation-building or serving others? You can’t do both. God is always more interested in your attitude than in your achievements. King Amaziah lost God’s favor because ‘He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a true heart’ (2 Chronicles 25:2). True servants have certain attitudes. For the next few days we’ll examine some of them. True servants focus on others, not themselves! Real humility is not thinking less of yourself - but thinking of yourself less. A lot of what we do is just self-serving. We serve to be admired or to achieve our own goals. Some of what we do is manipulation, not ministry; we’re really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful we are. We even use serving as a bargaining tool: ‘God, I’ll do this for You, if You’ll do that for me’. True servants don’t use God for their purposes; they let God use them for His. Self-forgetfulness is a daily struggle, a lesson we must relearn over and over again. You can measure your servant’s heart by how you respond when others treat you like a servant! How do you react when you feel taken for granted, bossed around or treated as an inferior? Jesus said, ‘If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life’ (Matthew 5:41).

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me focus on you and others and their needs more than on mine. I trust you for my needs; use me to be you to others who are in need. In Your Precious Name, Amen

Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing - March 8, 2010

2010-03-08T07:00:00Z

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Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables."
Acts 6:2

As the New Testament church grew, it became impossible for the Apostles to keep all the plates spinning - it was time to delegate. Listen: "Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them" (Acts 6:3). And what was the result of that decision? a) The problem was solved and the needy were cared for b) the Word of God spread and the number of disciples increased rapidly c) key leaders in the city of Jerusalem were won to Christ. Because of their rapid growth, the Apostles quickly found themselves in the food service business. And evidently they weren't good at it. Strife and division threatened the church because Jewish widows were being given preferential treatment over Greek ones. Only when the Apostles delegated this task to others and got back to what they were called to do did things start to go right. John Maxwell says, "You are most valuable where you add the most value. It's vital to your success that you discover that narrow area of responsibility where you add the most value - and stay there." The Apostles wrote, 'It would not be right for us to wait on tables' (Acts 6:2). Take a moment and consider this question. "What would it 'not be right' for me to continue doing, or start doing?" Either eliminate it or delegate it, but whatever you do, start making the main thing the main thing. Okay?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to keep the main thing that you want me to do to be the main thing. Keep me from being distracted into areas that I am not called to and am not good at. In Jesus' Name, Amen