Focus on Living for an Audience of One

By: Pastor Rick Warren as posted for Daily Hope Devotional on PastorRick.com

“No one can serve two masters.”

Luke 16:13 (NIV)

When you’re always worried about what other people think of you, you can’t be what God wants you to be. But, when you learn to think like Jesus, you won’t worry about pleasing everyone. Jesus had the right focus. He was only concerned with pleasing God.

Jesus was never manipulated by crowds or by the approval or the disapproval of anybody else. He lived for an audience of one: “I try to please the One who sent me” (John 5:30 NCV). When you have the mind of Christ, that’s what you do.

Wouldn’t it simplify your life to live for an audience of one? If God likes what you’re doing, then you know you’re doing the right thing.

God says in Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (NIV). Jesus was obviously doing it right.

The truth is, you can’t please everybody. Even God can’t please everybody! When someone prays for it to be sunny, somebody else is praying for it to rain. Somebody is praying for their team to do well, and someone else wants the opposing team to win. You can’t please everybody.

Luke 16:13 says, “No one can serve two masters” (NIV).

You have to decide whose approval you’re going to seek—God’s approval or other people’s approval. Are you going to live for what other people think or what God thinks?

When you’re always looking for validation from other people, it means you don’t really realize who you are. You don’t understand what God made you to do or believe that he is always with you.

Jesus never let someone else’s approval or a fear of rejection control him. He wasn’t out to win a popularity contest. He didn’t need other people’s opinions to validate himself.

When you have the mind of Christ, you will be so secure in your identity, your purpose, and God’s presence in your life that you won’t need to look to other people for approval.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick

Talk It Over

• Why can’t you fully realize your identity and purpose when you are worried about what other people think of you?

• What are your top goals? In each of those goals, whose approval is motivating you?

• How can knowing God’s Word help you have the mind of Christ and be more concerned with his approval than other people’s approval?

The First Step Toward Having the Mind of Christ

If you want to start thinking like Jesus, the first thing you need to do is invite Jesus into your life. You can’t have the mind of Christ without an intimate relationship with him.

Pray this prayer: “Dear God, I don’t want to go another day without you in my life, controlling every part of my heart. In light of all you’ve done for me, I give myself to you.

“I confess my sin to you and ask that you forgive me for the many ways and many times I have ignored your will. I invite Jesus into my life. He is the only one who can truly transform my life and give me an eternal life with you.

“Father, I want you to give me the mind of Christ. Help me to think the way you want me to think. I want to start living for an audience of one—for you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

How to Take Every Thought Captive

BY RICK WARREN — as posted on pastorrick.com on OCTOBER 16, 2020

“Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” Romans 8:6 (NLT)

Have you noticed your mind doesn’t always do what you tell it to do?

Sometimes your mind has a mind of its own. Sometimes your thoughts go off in directions that you don’t intend. When you need to pray, your thoughts stray. When you want to ponder God’s Word, your thoughts want to wander.

The Bible says, when this happens, you need to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). What does that mean? The Greek word used in that verse literally means you take thoughts prisoner. You conquer them. You bring them under control.

That’s only possible when you use the two weapons every believer has available to them: the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

First, you need to recognize the power of God’s Spirit inside you. Without him, you are defenseless. Romans 8:6 says, “Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (NLT).

You need Jesus in your life because, without the Holy Spirit, your sinful nature controls your mind and will always lead you in the wrong direction. But when the Spirit controls you, you have the power you need to take every thought captive.

Second, you need the Word of God. Jesus says, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32 GNT).

People like to quote the second part of that passage. In fact, it’s posted on university buildings all over the world. But very few people quote the first part, where it says you have to learn and obey God’s Word. People want the freedom without God’s truth.

In reality, there is no freedom without truth. And there is no truth without God’s Word. God has given you the direction you need for life, and you can trust every word the Bible says. The more you get to know God’s Word and fill your mind with his truth, the easier it will be to direct your thoughts where you want them to go.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick

Talk It Over

• When do you most often find yourself having to take a thought captive?

• How does it make you feel to know that, if you want God’s power, you have to surrender control to the Holy Spirit?

• Why do you think many people want to ignore God’s command to obey his Word? Why do people want freedom without the truth?

Following The Good Shepherd In Tumultuous Times

By: Dr. Steven K. Parker

Reflection on the week:

·      Have you faced any crossroads decisions lately?

·      Why was that decision so difficult?  Did you sense God leading you?

Approaching God’s word: Spend a few moments in silent prayer and meditation, asking God to open your heart to His word for you. 

Reading the text: If you missed this week’s message, you can access it here. Spend some time today meditating on the beautiful words of this prayerful song.  Focus on the words, “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake,” as you read.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever. (Psalm 23)

Reflection on the passage: 

• What do you think the Psalmist means when he says, “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake”?

• Why do you think this leadership was so important for sheep?  Why is God’s righteous guidance so important for us?

Pastoral Thoughts:

Should we keep our kids at home or send them back to school through a hybrid model of learning?  How should we handle the church’s re-launch and the daycare’s re-opening?  How do we respond to the great polarized divide of our current political season?   Life has a way of throwing crossroads decisions in front of us and we aren’t always sure which path to take.  What should I do with my career?  Which direction should I go with my education?  These are just a few of the many “should I turn this way or that way” decisions we face daily.  It can be anxious when life feels so uncertain and we are unclear on which path to take.  Psalm 23 reminds us that God hasn’t left us to muddle through life on our own.  As we plunge deeper into this great Psalm, we do so reflecting upon what it means to be led day-by-day, moment-by-moment, by the God who really does have our best interests at heart. 

Sheep can be head-strong and difficult to manage.  They have very poor eyesight, unable to see more than ten or fifteen yards ahead.  They also aren’t considered the brightest critters in the animal kingdom.  It’s interesting that God’s people are so often compared to animals that are difficult to handle, lack vision, and have trouble finding their way home.  If you’re like me, you tend to resemble that description.  Sheep follow the shepherd, trusting that the shepherd is leading in the right direction.  Like sheep, we have a tendency to go astray…to get sidetracked…to lose sight of where we need to go.  We get lost.  We need guidance.  We lose our way and need direction.  It’s a good thing that the Good Shepherd really does lead us “in the paths of righteousness.”

The LORD leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  This path of righteousness is for the sake of His name.  God’s righteousness is characterized by things like justice, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love.  God leads us down paths that honor His name…His character…His Spirit; God’s paths always build up His people in fellowship.  If we are not growing in fellowship and helping others grow in fellowship; if God’s justice doesn’t flow from our lives; if we don’t show love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness then we are not following the LORD.  When we follow the Good Shepherd, we begin to love the ones He loves, to serve the ones He came to serve, to show justice, grace, and mercy that honors His name. 

It’s hard to know what to do when faced with crossroads decisions.  We don’t always know which path to take and that can be an unsettling part of life.  This Psalm seems to say that if we make following the Good Shepherd our top priority, a lot of decisions will take care of themselves.  If we are walking in the paths of His righteousness, honoring Jesus with how we think, speak, and act, then we will, more often than not, choose the right path.  Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).  When we do that, we discover that the LORD really does lead us “in the paths of righteousness.”

Further Reflection: 

·      How can we be sure that we are following closely behind the Good Shepherd?

·      Spend a few moments in prayer, asking God to lead you in His righteous path for His glory.

Praying together:

            LORD, thank you for leading us.  Forgive us for when we don’t follow close enough behind to see where You are leading and end up straying away from Your path.  Bring us back to the right road.  Show us Your righteous path and strengthen us as we try and follow right behind You by faith. Amen.

Looking ahead:

            We hope you’ll join us for worship on Sunday as we continue this study on the 23rd Psalm titled: Following the Good Shepherd in Tumultuous Times, considering what it’s like to follow God through Death Valley.  Please pray for our church’s leadership as we make decisions regarding the timing of our re-launch of in-person services.  If you are feeling the need for face-to-face contact and want to be a part of our pre-re-launch services, please call the church office at 956-968-9585 and we will do our best to accommodate you.

A Dose of Optimism” for the pandemic: The daily key to empowering hope

by Dr. Jim Denison

Donald McNeil is the New York Times science and health reporter focusing on plagues. He has “become a household name for many over the past several months” due to his early and consistent reporting on the coronavirus pandemic. His article this week in the Times, titled “A Dose of Optimism, as the Pandemic Rages On,” has therefore drawn significant attention.

McNeil reports that “non-pharmaceutical interventions” such as mask-wearing and social distancing have “made a huge difference in lives saved.” Now he focuses on pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. On this front, he has become “cautiously optimistic,” citing experts who “are saying, with genuine confidence, that the pandemic in the United States will be over far sooner than they expected, possibly by the middle of next year.”

We have already fared far better than we did during the Spanish influenza, the pandemic to which this one is often compared. It cost 675,000 lives in a country of 103 million, a toll equivalent to two million dead today. 

In addition, the flu season in the Southern Hemisphere was almost nonexistent this year because of social distancing and mask-wearing. As a result, if Americans get their flu shots, we can hope to avoid a “twindemic” of coronavirus and influenza. Monoclonal antibodies such as the regimen given to President Trump are making progress, and the FDA is likely to begin approval of vaccines sometime in the next three months. 

Such progress is expected to catalyze markets and jumpstart the global economy. 

The first person in the US to contract coronavirus twice 

This is very good news, coming at a time when we need such pandemic-related hope. 

A twenty-five-year-old man in Nevada with no history of significant underlying conditions has become the first confirmed US patient to become reinfected with COVID-19. He has now recovered, though his second case was more severe, requiring hospitalization. In related news, an eighty-nine-year-old Dutch woman is the first confirmed case of a person dying from a COVID-19 reinfection. 

Johnson & Johnson has paused its COVID-19 vaccine study due to an unexplained illness in a study participant. A clinical trial testing an antibody treatment by the drug company Eli Lilly has also been paused because of a “potential safety concern.” Such delays, however, are not unusual in large clinical studies. 

As predicted, the US is now grappling with a fall COVID-19 surge. As a result, experts are warning that a second wave of mental health devastation due to the pandemic is imminent. And the virus is now known to survive for twenty-eight days on phone screens, cash, and stainless steel surfaces. 

Hope “sings the tune without the words” 

Teilhard de Chardin observed, “The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.” Emily Dickinson wrote, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.” 

Hope in hard times, however, is advanced most powerfully by practical action. 

Urban gardens are flourishing  in Washington, DC, as people seek ways to counter isolation and discouragement. The “effective altruism” movement is working to align benefactors with systemic issues they can affect for good. Researchers are discovering that doing good for others may even enhance our physical attractiveness. 

And a new study shows that highly spiritual people are more likely to contribute to the greater good. This is good news, since 86 percent of Americans identify as spiritual to some extent. The more a person identifies as spiritual, the more likely they are to vote, speak out on social and political issues, and get involved in politics and social movements. 

There’s a key to such practical spirituality, however. Nancy Ammerman, professor of sociology emerita at Boston University and a reviewer for the study, notes that 70 percent of Americans consider themselves both spiritual and religious. Only 16 percent said they were only spiritual. She concludes that “sitting behind that spirituality is the participation in religious communities that strengthens and sustains the spirituality.” 

An empowering daily prayer 

To summarize: we need hope in hard times; such hope is powerfully advanced through practical spirituality; and such spirituality is best grounded in religious community. Where, then, should we ground such community? 

The presidential election is in less than three weeks. Here’s what is not on the ballot: the Lord “is exalted over all the peoples” (Psalm 99:2, my emphasis). This is true whether the “peoples” know this or not. 

Donald Trump is currently the president of all Americans, including his critics, whether they support him or not. It was the same with President Obama before him, and President Bush before him, and President Clinton before him. 

The key is for us to acknowledge our Father’s sovereignty by our daily commitment to his lordship. To this end, I recently discovered a morning prayer in John Baillie’s A Diary of Private Prayer that I have found empowering. I encourage you to pray these words with me now: 

Dear Father, take this day’s life into your keeping. Guide all my thoughts and feelings. Direct all my energies. Instruct my mind. Sustain my will. Take my hands and give me the skill to serve you. Take my feet and make them quick to do whatever you ask. Take my eyes and keep them fixed on your everlasting beauty. Take my mouth and give me the words to tell others of your love. 

Make this day a day of obedience, a day of spiritual joy and peace. Make this day’s work a little part of the work of the kingdom of my Lord Jesus, in whose name these prayers are said. 

Amen.

Jesus Calling: Potter and Clay

Lana Marie Paris and I used walk three miles every morning for three years in a row when she used to live in Weslaco just down the road from me. I would drive to Harlon Block Park and she would walk from her house to where we would meet up to start our morning walks. On our many walks – we would discuss family, friends, life but more importantly – our faith in Jesus. When we talk now (usually by phone because she moved to Houston to be nearer to her family) – we always reflect on the memory of those walks and the enrichment we both experienced from our conversations about God, faith and trying to be a shining a light in this broken world. She gave me this devotional book – which I cherish and am sharing a devotional with all of you. 

One caveat – the devotional is from the point of view of Jesus speaking to your heart about the scriptures and topic mentioned. The book is called “Jesus Calling – Enjoying Peace in His Presence” by Sarah Young. And yes – Lana and I surely did and still do enjoy peace in our Savior’s presence daily!  As I hope you do as well - enjoy my friends!

-Robin Wiley 

Scripture

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
    we are the clay, and you are our potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.

Psalm 27:8

You have said, “Seek[a] my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”[b]

I am the Potter; you are My clay. I designed you before the foundation of the world. I arrange the events of each day to form you into this preconceived pattern. My everlasting Love is at work in every event of your life. On some days you will and Mine flow smoothly together. You tend to feel in control of your life when our wills are in harmony. On other days you feel as if you are swimming upstream, against the current of My purposes. When that happens, stop and seek My Face. The opposition you feel may be from Me, or it may be from the evil one. 

Talk with Me about what you are experiencing. Let My Spirit guide you through treacherous waters. As you move through the turbulent stream with Me, let circumstances mold you into the one I desire you to be. Say yes to your Potter as you go through this day.

Questions to Consider:

Reflect:

• What’s one area of your life where you need to fully surrender to Jesus so that He can freely mold you as it seems best to Him?

• What are some oppositions or distractions in your life that prevent you from knowing Jesus in a deeper way? How can you get rid of them?

• Is a sin in your life hindering you from taking your next step? The best way to overcome sin is to confess it out loud to the One who always forgives.

Prayer:

Loving Father, you know my heart so well and only want the best for me. Thank you for having my best interest in mind as you shape me to be the person I am meant to be for You. Fill me with your Spirit of truth and light to be a bright beacon in this dark world. Forgive me for sinning against you in the area(s) of:_____________________________. Help me to be strong to stand up against sin when it tries to tempt me. In the name of Jesus – our Savior – Amen!

The Worth of God's Word

By Charles Stanley (From intouch.org)

2 Timothy3:14-17

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a] you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[b] may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Bible is the most amazing book ever written because its author is the Lord God. Although it was penned by men, the Holy Spirit inspired every word He wanted them to record. The Scriptures contain the Lord’s revelation of Himself and His plan of redemption. Among the many topics it covers are: the creation of the world; the fall of man; the presence, power, and penalty of sin; the provision of a Savior; the final judgment; and the eternal kingdom. The Bible also answers questions about humanity’s value, wise living, and existence after death.

All sections of God’s Word are valuable and interconnected. For example, the Gospels tell about the Messiah, whose coming was predicted in the Old Testament. He is called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), and His death is the fulfillment of the sacrificial system in Leviticus. What’s more, the gospel of salvation by grace through faith is first seen in the story of Abraham, whose belief was credited as righteousness (Gen. 15:6).  

Scripture was given to us so we might know the Father, be reconciled to Him through His Son, and bring glory to His name. Therefore, we should make it a goal to become familiar His precious Word.

Living By Conviction

By: Dr. Charles Stanley, for InTouch Ministries as posted on intouch.org

Daniel 6

Have you ever wondered what you would do if practicing your faith, witnessing to others, or attending church resulted in persecution or death? Worldwide, many Christians are facing just such a scenario but stick to their convictions instead of caving in to pressures around them. And some are suffering tremendously because of their faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

The prophet Daniel faced some tough situations as a result of his convictions, but he never compromised, even when the simple act of praying could have cost him his life. His confidence in the Lord remained firm as He was placed in the lions’ den. In fact, his steadfast faith and God’s deliverance had a powerful impact on the pagan king, who decreed that all the people of his realm should fear Daniel’s God.

Today we have the same choice to either live by our Christian convictions or compromise for the sake of peace and safety. It doesn’t have to be a matter of life or death. Sometimes we simply want to avoid ridicule, evade conflict, or fit in. Although we may gain temporary comfort, we forfeit a godly witness and the opportunity to influence others.

Following The Good Shepherd In Tumultuous Times

By: Dr. Steven K. Parker

Reflection on the week:

·      Have you experienced God’s presence in a special way this week?

·      How do you think God might be working in your story?

Approaching God’s word: Spend a few moments in silent prayer and meditation, asking God to open your heart to His word for you.

Reading the text: If you missed this week’s message, you can access it here. Spend some time today meditating on the beautiful words of this prayerful song.  Focus on the words, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul,” as you read today.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever. (Psalm 23)

Reflection on the passage:

• Why would sheep need to be made to lie down in green pastures and be led beside still waters? 

• What does that look like in our walk with the LORD? 

Pastoral Thoughts:

The progression of this Psalm is such a beautiful picture of God’s providence and protection for His people.  First, we acknowledge that God is our shepherd.  Once that’s been established, we affirm that God really will provide everything we need.  The next lines reveal a little more about what that Providence looks like: “He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.”  

           Notice that the Psalmist says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”  The shepherd knows when the flock has grazed their full and needs to get off their feet for a while, for the good of their own health, and he makes them lie down.  In the scriptures the LORD doesn’t suggest regular rest.  He commands it.  Woven into the law, from the very origins of Israel’s history, was the command to set apart the Sabbath day and keep it holy.  In the NT, Jesus combats the ridiculous, life-denying Sabbath practices of the religious leaders, but He affirms the importance of this command saying, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.”  The Sabbath was made for man.  It is for our good.  God knows that we need time to chew on and digest His word and that we can’t do that on the fly.  Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”  As we read through the 23rd Psalm, reflecting on the nature of true worship we find a summons to do that, by being more faithful to honor the Sabbath command.  We find a calling in this Psalm to worship regularly by ceasing our productivity and focusing upon God as our provider and sustainer.  In worship, we step back from our striving and shift our attention to the Good Shepherd who “makes us lie down in green pastures.”

           The Psalmist says that the LORD is like a shepherd, tenderly watering His flock.  Jesus embraces this great metaphor saying, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).  In worship we find that drink that we need desperately.  The Good Shepherd who waters His thirsty flock also “restores our soul.”  In the midst of our hectic lives, the LORD allows us to catch our breath.  He picks us up when we are at the end of our rope and fills us with new hope.  Through meditating on the scriptures, saturating our lives with prayer, worshiping in God’s presence, fellowshipping with God’s people, and practicing the discipline of Sabbath rest, our Good Shepherd leads us beside quiet waters and there, as we cry out to God in praise, He restores our soul.

Further Reflection:

●      Why is Sabbath such a difficult discipline for so many of us? 

●      How does God use spiritual disciplines like prayer and scripture reading to “restore our soul?” 

●      How can we experience this promise throughout our week?

●      Spend some time asking God to make us “lie down in green pastures,” “lead us beside quiet waters,” and “restore our soul.”

Praying together:

            LORD, thank you for being our Good Shepherd.  Thank you for providing everything we need to experience rest and spiritual nourishment.  Forgive us for times when we become so enamored with our own productivity that we forget the need to rely on you.  Teach us the importance of Sabbath, physical and spiritual rest, re-creation, and renewal. Amen.

Looking ahead:

            We hope you’ll join us for worship on Sunday as we continue this study on the 23rd Psalm titled: Following the Good Shepherd in Tumultuous Times, considering how God guides us in His righteous paths.  Please pray for our church’s leadership as we make decisions regarding the timing of our re-launch of in-person services.  If you are feeling the need for face-to-face contact and want to be a part of our pre-re-launch services, please call the church office at 956-968-9585 and we will do our best to accommodate you.

How to be the change we need to see

Dr. Jim Denison

Lane Unhjem was working on his farm near Crosby, North Dakota, when his combine caught fire. While fighting the flames, he went into cardiac arrest and was hospitalized. If his farmstead had gone unharvested, the loss would have been devastating for his family.

In response, sixty local farmers came together with eleven combines, eleven semitrucks with trailers, and several grain carts with tractors. In about seven hours, they harvested approximately fifteen thousand bushels of canola and thirty-five thousand bushels of durum across a thousand acres. Their wives also made a month’s worth of meals and filled a freezer for the Unhjem family. 

A friend explained: “The outpouring of support for Lane and his family is not surprising for those of us who live here. We have a long history of helping people in our community when they are faced with tragedy or hardship. We strongly believe in faith, family, and the Golden Rule.” 

As you read this story, did part of you wish you lived in their community? 

An electrician called to help an elderly woman with one of her light fixtures discovered holes in the ceiling where raccoons were getting into the house. She didn’t have proper running water and the kitchen sink was broken. In response, he organized “Gloria’s Gladiators,” raising $100,000 to renovate her home completely. The electrician hopes the movement will spread to help other elderly people in need. 

Rev. Zac Morton of First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown, West Virginia, recently completed a 175-mile walk over eight days to draw attention to extreme poverty and homelessness in his state. When he arrived at the State Capitol, he made contacts and built relationships with leaders with whom he will be working on future solutions. 

The pastor explained: “As someone who strives to emulate Jesus, I believe it is my responsibility, and the responsibility of all people of faith, to advocate for people who are up against it the most.” 

I have been quoting frequently from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ magisterial new book, Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times. Let’s visit his transforming insights one more time today, beginning with his description of morality: “A concern for the welfare of others, an active commitment to justice and compassion, a willingness to ask not just what is good for me but what is good for ‘all of us together.'” 

When we read Sacks’ remarkable book, we learn that such “concern” is not just essential for farmers who suffer heart attacks during the harvest season, elderly people in dilapidated houses, or “people who are up against it the most,” but for the rest of us as well. 

What saves us from anarchy 

Western society was built on three piers: democracy, free-market capitalism, and consensual morality. The first two cannot sustain us without the third. 

Sacks notes that our survival instincts propel us to competition for power (politics) and possessions (capitalism). However, we also need cooperation, lest competition devolve into anarchy. Winners victimize the losers; the wealthy victimize the poor. 

We will cooperate with family and close friends, in part because our survival depends upon them. But if we are to cooperate in a larger sense, we need a shared morality and value system that enables us to trust people we do not know enough to sacrifice ourselves by cooperating with them for the common good. 

As the farmer’s friend in North Dakota explained, “We strongly believe in faith, family, and the Golden Rule.” 

“A society of individualists is unsustainable” 

Tragically, individualism has replaced cooperation in our culture. Darwin convinced us that humans are not made in God’s image but are just one branch of the primates. Freud explained religion as the voice of conscience when we feel remorse for acting out our base instincts. Evolutionary psychologists define a human as just a gene’s way of making another gene, here by sheer accident. 

In short, we are merely individuals locked in competition with other individuals. 

Sacks summarizes individualism’s worldview: “We are nothing, our planet is insignificant, our existence is a mere caesura in time. Our noblest thoughts conceal base intentions. There is no freedom, only necessity or worse, mere random chance. There is no truth, just hegemonic narrative. There is no moral beauty, just a sordid struggle to survive.” 

However, as Sacks notes, “A society of individualists is unsustainable. We are built for cooperation, not just competition. In the end, with the market and the state but no substantive society to link us to our fellow citizens in bonds of collective responsibility, trust and truth erode, economics becomes inequitable, and politics becomes unbearable.” 

Is this where we are today? 

How to be the change we need to see 

The good news is that our faith points the way to a better future. Here’s the foundational biblical fact about humans: “God created man in his own image” (Genesis 1:27). As a result, every person I meet today was created by my Father. They are not my competitor for survival but a member of my family. 

The coronavirus pandemic and the crises it has created provide us with an historic opportunity to love others as our Father loves us. So, ask God to help you help someone in need today. Encourage those you influence to do the same. And pray for the body of Christ to manifest the love of Christ around the world. 

I will join you. Together, we’ll be the change we need to see, one soul at a time, to the glory of God.

“Simply Good News” - Anointed to Bring Good News

[Devotional on YouVersion Bible App – by N.T. Wright]

Scripture

Luke 4:14-21

Jesus Begins His Ministry

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Think back to the last time you received some really good news.

What was it about this bit of news that made it so good? Was it a long-awaited answer to prayer, news that a potential disaster had been avoided, the welcome arrival of an unexpected family member, or perhaps, something else?

As followers of Jesus we can become so accustomed to hearing about ‘Good News’, or the ‘Gospel’, that we lose sight of what makes the Christian message so revolutionary. Jesus’ contemporaries were astonished at the words coming from the mouth of the man whom they had known simply as Joseph’s son.

After forty days of deprivation and temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returned home. Luke tells us that after an immense time of testing and isolation (sound familiar my COVID friends?!) Jesus made his way home to Galilee filled with the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14a). Up until that time, Jesus had been just an ordinary member of the small community of about 200 people in the village of Nazareth. However, he was beginning to gain a great reputation throughout the whole district as news about him spread throughout the countryside (14b).

One Sabbath day, Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read from Isaiah’s scroll. His hearers received a message that we now understand to be central to the Christian faith. Jesus claimed to be the one appointed by God to bring ‘good news’ (v 18), Euangelion. This Greek word was used in the first century to describe a welcome announcement, or something that created a whole new state of affairs.

Now, pause for one moment and consider, what’s the news and why is it good?

How does the proclamation that Jesus is the fulfillment of ancient promises continue to be simply good news for today’s world? We need to refresh our memories and our imaginations as to how this ‘good news’ was actually supposed to work from the very beginning. News is about something that has happened – something that is going to make the world different, and there are things that are going to happen for which we have to ready ourselves

News creates a new situation where we live between the event that has happened, and the event that will happen. It is easy to collapse the Christian message into good advice about how you might live your life or re-order your private spirituality. But, the whole point of Christianity from the beginning was about something that had happened:

• News concerning Jesus of Nazareth and his death and resurrection.

• News about the God we see revealed in and active through Jesus.

• News that has changed the way the entire world is now and will be forever.

The Gospel announces that a whole new world order and a whole new way to be human has now arrived and will one day be fully and finally completed. This is simply good news!

Questions to Consider:

• There are many different types and sources of news. How is the Gospel of Jesus Christ a form of news that makes a welcome announcement in your own life today? Your family? Your church and community?

Living it out:

• News create a new situation and calls for new decisions.

• Consider: in what ways does the Gospel of Jesus Christ call you to make different choices or live differently today?

Prayer:
Father God, the good news of your story is all about your son Jesus, who gave His life for all of us so that we can be part of your family forever. Thank you for that gift of grace and forgiveness. Burn it on our hearts so that we live out this miracle in our lives every day to shine the light of Christ to others around us. Help us to share this good news with our friends and family. In the name of Jesus – our Savior – Amen!

A Pattern for Praying God's Will

So I wrote a fantasy football devotional that I was going to post here, but my wife said it doesn’t make any sense unless you are into fantasy football. I disagree, but here is a non-fantasy football devotional for Monday. You can read my Fantasy Football devotional here.

-Ray

From in touch.org

Colossians 1:9-14 New International Version

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Paul’s prayer for the church at Colossae is an example of what God desires to do in every believer’s life. Although the Lord wants to hear about our physical and material concerns, we should also bring our spiritual needs to Him, as the apostle does in Colossians 1:9-14. He prays for:  

• The Knowledge of God’s Will. In order to understand what God desires for us, we need spiritual wisdom and insight, which come from His Spirit and Word (Col. 1:9).

• A Walk Worthy of the Lord. This includes a desire to please God in every area of life, to bear lasting spiritual fruit in all we do, and to grow in our knowledge of Him through His Word (Col. 1:10).

• Strength for Steadfastness and Patience. The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. We need God’s mighty power in order to persevere to the end (Col. 1:11). 

• Gratitude for Salvation. We should never forget that we have been rescued from sin and darkness and transferred to Christ’s kingdom (Col. 1:12-14). 

There is nothing more effective than praying God’s Word back to Him, because our Father promises to hear and answer requests made according to His will (1 John 5:14-15).

Why We Can Trust God

BY: Dr Charles Stanley for InTouch Ministries as posted on intouch.org

Romans 11:33-36

What situations cause you to doubt God? Do fears come because the future seems uncertain? Are hardships a challenge since they make the Lord appear unkind? Or perhaps your expectations and dreams have come crashing down, and it seems God is nowhere to be found.

Since our heavenly Father is omniscient, sovereign, and loving, we have every reason to trust Him regardless of the circumstance.

God is infinitely wise. We may have all the information that is humanly possible to gather, but God alone knows the future, the details of every situation, and the best possible plan for our life.

The Lord has complete authority over all events. Even though God’s ways are beyond our comprehension, we can trust Him, knowing that His control is exercised perfectly according to His complete knowledge and great love.  

God’s love is unfailing. No matter what we are facing, nothing can separate us from His love, which is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:31-39).

Let’s take some time today to ponder God’s limitless love, wisdom, and sovereignty. When you are trusting in Him, you’ll be able to follow His path for your life, and your heart won’t be troubled (John 14:1).

Following The Good Shepherd In Tumultuous Times

By: Dr. Steven K. Parker

Reflection on the week:

·      How have you seen God at work this week?

·      What praises and words of thanksgiving would you offer God today?

Approaching God’s word: Spend a few moments in silent prayer and meditation, asking God to open your heart to His word for you.

Reading the text: We’re going to be studying Psalm 23 for the coming weeks. If you missed this week’s message, you can access it here. Spend some time today meditating on the beautiful words of this prayerful song.  Focus on the words, “I shall not want,” as you read today.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever. (Psalm 23)

Reflection on the passage: 

• What does “I shall not want” mean? 

• Do you think most people in America today ever experience that kind of contentment? 

• What might a lack of contentment say about us spiritually?

Pastoral Thoughts: 

Psalm 23 is a prayer of content dependence on the Good Shepherd that leads us to a relationship in which we will never be found empty, deprived, or lacking, because of God’s Providence. The Message paraphrases this verse saying, “God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing” (Psalm 23:1).  Only when we follow the Good Shepherd closely can we truly say, “Because of my relationship with God, I don’t need a thing.”  

It’s interesting that contentment isn’t closely tied to how much or how little we have.  Many people who are quite poor, by the world’s standard, find a great deal of satisfaction in life.  Conversely, many people who are comparably quite wealthy never seem satisfied or content with anything.  How is it that so many people who are so poor by the world’s standards seem so happy and content and so many people who have so much seem so miserable?  It seems that maybe some have learned the prayerful lessons of the Psalms that help us rest in the God’s Providence.  Others have not and no amount of money or possessions can ever satisfy the emptiness they feel.

Author Richard Foster offers some suggestions that can help us discover the discipline of simplicity and learn to pray the 23rd Psalm’s opening lines and mean them.  Think about these practical ideas and discuss with your family what kind of difference applying even a few of these principles might have upon your story.

·      Buy things for their usefulness rather than the status they represent.

·      Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.

·      Develop the habit of giving things away.

·      Learn to enjoy things without having to possess them. 

·      Avoiding buy now, pay later schemes.

·      Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God. 

Further Reflection:

·      Do any of the principles on that list speak to you?  How might you apply them?

·      In what ways might God be using our current struggles to help us learn some lessons about contentment? 

·      What would it mean to pray and really mean the words: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want”? 

Praying together:

            Father, you have given us every good and perfect gift.  You have created us by your grace and redeemed us by the sacrifice of your Son. You have provided daily bread, opportunities to serve in your kingdom, and satisfying relationships.  Forgive us for when we take your good gifts for granted in the pursuit of more and more things.  Help us to learn the important lesson of contentment.  Thank you that we have everything we need in you.  Amen.

Looking ahead:

            We hope you’ll join us for worship on Sunday as we continue this study on the 23rd Psalm titled: Following the Good Shepherd in Tumultuous Times, considering how God can restore our souls.  Please pray for our church’s leadership as we make decisions regarding the timing of our re-launch of in-person services.  If you are feeling the need for face-to-face contact and want to be a part of our pre-re-launch services, please call the church office at 956-968-9585 and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Spiritual Medicine

by Hal Seed

It’s impressive how quickly we’ve all become experts in avoiding germs:

• Wash your hands.

• Don’t touch your face.

• Maintain social distance.

• Etc.

After thirty plus years of teaching the Bible, I’ve seen first-hand that God has something to say on every subject; including staying well and curing illness.

For instance, Proverbs 3:7-8 says:

Don’t be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
This will be healing for your body
and strengthening for your bones.

Apparently, there’s a relationship between humble acknowledgement of God and physical wellness. This might explain why people who attend church regularly live, on average, seven-and-a-half years longer than those who don’t.

What might surprise you is how closely God lumps together spiritual and physical wellness.

Read these Proverbs out loud to see what I mean:

A tranquil heart is life to the body… (Proverbs 14:30)

Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens the bones. (Proverbs 15:30)

A person’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit? (Proverbs 18:14)

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

Walk through these with me.

Proverbs 14:30 – A “tranquil” heart. The word in Hebrew means, “yielded” or “peaceful.” If you can keep your heart at peace, it will have a life-giving effect on your body.

Proverbs 18:14 – Depressed people are more susceptible to disease.

Proverbs 17:22 – A cheerful heart is good medicine. This is my favorite. This is the only place the Hebrew word for “medicine” appears in the Bible.

What’s interesting about the second half of the proverb, “a crushed spirit dries up in the bones,” is that long before modern medicine, the Hebrews knew that dry bones were sick bones. Healthy bones have fat and moisture in their marrow.

Norman Cousins, the famous editor of The Saturday Review was diagnosed with “degenerative collagen disease,” and given one chance in 500 to recover. He went to work on researching the biochemistry of human emotions and decided to combine massive doses of vitamin C with what he called, “Laugh Therapy.”

“I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of painless sleep,” he wrote in Anatomy of an Illness. 

Cousins found by research what God gave by revelation 3,000 years earlier: A cheerful heart really is good medicine.

Proverbs 15:30 – In the King James Version, the second half of this verse reads, “a good report maketh the bones fat.”

May I make a suggestion?

• Watch less news today. There won’t be any “good reports” there.

• If you’re going to watch something, watch something that will make you laugh.

• Make it your goal to consume at least ten minutes of genuine laughter.

• Better yet, set a goal of helping someone else experience ten minutes of laughter.

Father, thank you for creating us with a sense of humor. Thank you for enabling our lips to curl upward. Today I am letting go of worry and stress and pain. I choose to laugh and find joy in life. In Jesus’ name, amen!

Smiling with you,

Pastor Hal

Throne of Grace

Scripture

Hebrews 4:16

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

What do you do when you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or emotional? Some people eat. Others sleep. Some exercise (yeah -I wish that were me! lol). Some get depressed. Others scream. 

What about you? You do something. Everyone does something. God tells us one thing we can do when we feel emotional. He says, “Draw near to the throne of grace.” Just in case you’re wondering, the best way to do this is to pray.

Sometimes it’s helpful to ask someone to pray with you, especially when you don’t feel like praying. I have been encouraging our kiddos to pray for one another during this isolation time. And God promises that when we pray we will “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

This means He will strengthen us in the exact way and at the exact time that we need. He doesn’t tell us exactly what He does or even how He does it. He just says we will receive His mercy and find His strengthening grace. But if you are like me, sometimes I think God is frustrated with how needy and emotional I can get. But that’s not true. He is not tired of our asking Him for help. In fact, the verse right before this one says, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.” That means it is impossible for Jesus to be unmoved by our needs. He can’t resist us. He gives in to our need for Him every time. And this makes sense when we remember that on His Cross and at His Tomb He took care of our biggest need…even before we ever asked.

Reflection & Application:

When was the last time you were a bit emotional and out of control?

What did you do to try and bring yourself back to peace?

How do you usually imagine Jesus responding to your neediness?

• Find your “happy place” this week and spend sometime with our Lord and Savior, reading His word and praying about your day.  

Prayer:

Father God, your grace is sufficient for me for every moment of every day. Thank you for never giving up on me and loving me where I am. Strengthen me with your love and grace to be a rock for you here. In Jesus’ powerful name – Amen!

Ministers Of Comfort

By: Dr. Charles Stanley as posted on intouch.org for InTouch Ministries

Psalm 72:12-14

During hard seasons or times of disaster—whether natural or man-made, national or local—we are called to show kindness. True compassion tries to understand people’s pain, but it also provides practical help. So, how we can express care and concern for others?

First, remember we have the wonderful privilege of prayer anytime, anywhere. As soon as word of a tragedy reaches you, lift up the victims, rescue workers, and others involved. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in petitioning God for protection, provision, comfort, awareness of His presence, and whatever else He deems fitting (Rom. 8:26).

Second, labor and donations of money, food, clothing, or household goods are usually high priority. So donations of time and resources are helpful (after wisely consulting trusted sources about what’s needed). You also can express compassion with words of comfort, a warm embrace, or a listening ear. Through this kind of love, the world will recognize the true Light—Jesus Christ, who brings good news, binds up the brokenhearted, and comforts all who mourn (Isa. 61:1-2).

We should notice the needs around us and reach out with Christ’s love. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal ways to pray for those around you. Your concern can have a profound impact.

Parking Lot Prayer Service

How Great is Our God, Sing with me How Great is Our God

And all will see How Great, How Great, is Our God

Name Above All Names

Worthy of All Praise.

My Heart will Sing

How Great is Our God.

How Great Thou Art

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Open the Eyes of My Heart

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 6:8-20

8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.”10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.

11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lordopened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Homily: Dr. Steven Parker

The Kromer family did such a great job reading a passage that can teach us so much about how God works and how we can function in God’s world knowing that He is with us. In this great story, God was miraculously giving the prophet Elisha military intel against the king of Syria and Elisha would pass that information onto the king of Israel so that the armies of Israel could be saved. This was happening so often that the Syrian king thought there was a spy in his court.  His servants told the king that there was no spy, but that God’s prophet Elisha somehow knew the things the king said in secret.  So the king of Syria sent a mighty army to surround the city of Dothan and put an end to this meddling prophet once and for all.

Elisha’s servant went out early in the morning and saw that the whole city was surrounded by this Syrian army.  All he could see were the enemy horses and chariots and so he ran back and shouted in despair at Elisha, “What are we going to do?” Elisha’s response is classic, OT awesome: “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  The Message puts it this way: “Don’t worry about it—there are more on our side than on their side.”  Elisha said, “Don’t be scared, we’ve got more peeps here than they do!”  Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.”  And the LORD opened the young servant’s eyes and he saw the mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  The Syrian king sent a mighty army, but the LORD of hosts was protecting His prophet with a much greater and more terrifying force!

There is so much in this story for us as we gather in the parking lot of our church facilities, celebrating that while we may have ceased normal operations in this building for the last six months, God’s church has been open and at work in this community, serving the needy in Jesus’ name, sharing His story of victorious good news in our homes, workplaces, and wherever God has led us as His people.  As I read this passage, I envy the faith of Elisha.  Wouldn’t it be great to have such a vibrant walk with the LORD that even when the army is encamped against us, we don’t even have to look out the window to know that God is with us and that His army is more powerful than anything the world can throw at us!  I don’t know about you, but I’m more like Elisha’s servant, running back to the prophet, saying, “Hey, you may want to take a look at this.  Things are looking pretty rough out here and we need to figure out what to do!”  We’re like the servant, going out early in the morning and seeing nothing but trouble all along the horizon.  We look out and see a deadly virus that seems to pop back up, just when we think it’s under control.  We look out and see hurting families who’ve had to say, “Goodbye,” to loved ones far too soon.  We look out and see people who are frightened, people who are angry, people who don’t know what to do.  We look out and we see schools struggling to figure out how and when to reopen.  We look out and see teachers, students, and parents struggling to figure out online school.  We look out and see a nation ablaze with violence, hatred, and racial discord.  We look out and see political turmoil and venomous speech.  We look out and see people longing for things to get back to something that looks like normal.  We look out and see the armies with their horses, chariots, and weapons and we aren’t sure what to do.  

So today, we gather together to do the greatest things we can do as the people of God.  We’ve gathered together to give all of this over to the King of kings and LORD of lords.  We’ve gathered together to cry out to God and ask Him to open our eyes that we might see like Elisha’s servant:

“God, we wish we had the faith of Elisha, but we come before you today confessing that many times we don’t.  Even still, we’ve gathered together, here in this place that is so important to so many of us, because we believe, by faith, that you are working, even when we don’t see it.  We look out and all we can see is the enemy army and we’re scared.  We look out and all we can see is disease, fear, hatred, and death, and we aren’t sure what to do.  So, this morning, together as a family of faith we’re asking you to open the eyes of our heart, like you did for Elisha’s servant, so we can see your army.  Open the eyes of our heart so that we can see that there are more out there that are for us than those that are against us.  Open the eyes of our heart so that we can see that He who is in us is greater than He who is in the world.  Open the eyes of our heart so that we can see healing, strength, love, and life.  In Jesus mighty name we pray, amen.”

Fight our Battles:

This is how we fight our battles (Repeat)

It may look like I'm surrounded, but I’m surrounded by You (Repeat)

Time of Prayer:

Healing of COVID-19 - Lily Ochoa

For Schools, School employees and Students - Yvette Morales

For Racial, Ethnic, and Societal Reconciliation - Joe Aguilar

For Our Nation our Leaders, and the Election - Robin Wily

Father God,

We thank You for the men and women who serve our country in leadership roles and for their families. 

We know you are all-knowing, all-powerful and all-present God.  May your Mighty hand guide the leadership of our nation – both today and tomorrow. Whatever the future holds, may your mark be upon it.  

Give our leaders, at all levels of the government–county, state and federal, - wisdom, discernment & grace to follow your will for this country and our people. Encourage them; refresh them to keep committed to the cause.  We pray all this in Jesus’ powerful name – Amen.

Because He Lives:

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

Benediction Prayer - David Warden

Before You Press "Send"

By: Sharon Jaynes as written for Encouragement For Today and posted on Crosswalk.com

“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” Proverbs 17:28 (NIV)

It was a mean email. The woman had fussed at me up and down, made untrue accusations, questioned my spirituality, and then threw a little Jesus on it. So, what did I do? I typed an email response that fussed at her fussing at me, defended myself left and right, and threw a little Jesus on it. Then … I deleted what I had written and never sent a reply. A few days later, I received a second email from the woman, apologizing; she had been having a bad day. Oh, how I love the “delete” button.

Social media is rife with unkind comments, vicious venting and vengeful vindictiveness. Fiery tweets spawn heated replies; opinionated posts provoke resentful retaliation. I’m convinced people type what they would never say face-to-face. How many times have I clicked “send” then wanted to climb into my computer and get the words back? How many times have you? You can’t put toothpaste back in the tube, and you can’t take back words once spoken or sent.

The Bible also tells us: “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3, NIV).

“Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them” (Proverbs 29:20, NIV).

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20, NIV).

Words spoken in anger can be daggers to the heart of the receiver. I’ve felt the sharp arrow of angry words pierce my heart, and I’ve also been the archer bending the bow. I’ve known many who’ve regretted words spoken or typed in anger, but I’ve never known anyone who regretted withholding them. A great question to ask ourselves before we respond in the heat of the moment is, “What is my hoped-for outcome from the words I’m about to say?”

If it’s retaliation, don’t do it.
If it’s to make the person feel as bad as he/she made you feel, don’t do it.
If it’s to shame, don’t do it.
If it’s to put the person in his/her place, don’t do it.
If it’s to intimidate, don’t do it.

Jesus never did.

Paul wrote, “In your anger do not sin …” (Ephesians 4:26, NIV). Paul didn’t say, “Don’t get angry.” God created us with a stew of emotions, and anger is one of the ingredients. Even Jesus got angry. (Mark 3:5) Paul did say don’t let your anger cause you to sin. When you see something on social media that raises your hackles or receive an email that needles your nerves … wait. Don’t respond right away, if at all. The writer of Proverbs said, “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues” (Proverbs 17:28, NIV). When you feel the burning urge to wound with words, take a deep breath.

• Calm down before you respond, if you respond at all.

• Count to ten or one hundred.

• Leave the screen to add space to process.

• Go for a walk.

• Ask yourself what about the situation made you so angry. Are you filtering present words through past experience?

• Pray about your response.

• Read what you wrote aloud before you press the “send” button.

• Wait at least a day before sending your reply.

I’m not suggesting we become stuffers who never address issues that stir up anger. I am suggesting we calm down first, think about what we need to say, and discuss the issue in a productive manner. I know … that’s not easy. I’ve done a lot of walking.

But remember, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1, ESV). In Christ, we have all the power we need to respond with grace and truth … or to not respond at all.

Following The Good Shepherd In Tumultuous Times

By: Dr Steven K Parker

Reflection on the week:

·      Are you having any struggles this week?

·      What blessings have you experienced?

·      Return these concerns and blessings to God in prayer.

Approaching God’s word: Spend a few moments in silent prayer and meditation, asking God to open your heart to His word for you.

Reading the text: We’re going to be studying Psalm 23 for the coming weeks. If you missed the first message in this series or would like to re-watch that service, you can access it here. I encourage you to read and re-read this passage during that time, meditating on the beautiful words of this prayerful song and letting them soak into your soul.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever. (Psalm 23)

Reflection on the passage:

• What does this Psalm teach us about who God is and who we are in the light of His promises? 

• How does that promise shape our worship? 

Pastoral Thoughts: The agrarian imagery of Psalm 23 was common to the scriptures.  The Bible mentions shepherds and shepherding over 200 times.  The prophet Isaiah picks up this metaphor and gives us this beautiful image of God: “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (40:11).  Jesus embraced this metaphor saying:

        I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:11-15). 

Jesus so embodied these words through His life and death that Christians can’t hardly read Psalm 23 without picturing Him.

Throughout His life and through His death and resurrection, Jesus invited us into a personal, living relationship with God.  Psalm 23 points us toward that kind of intimate relationship with God.  David does not lead us to say in worship, “The LORD is a shepherd.”  He doesn’t invite us to say, “The LORD is the shepherd.”  In this Psalm we affirm in a very personal declaration of faith: “The LORD is my shepherd.”  We face good and bad times in this life, but can press forward in the midst of whatever life throws our way, following closely behind the Good Shepherd, trusting that He really does care for us, know what’s best for us, and wants us to live into a deep, abiding, eternal relationship with Him.  We affirm that beautiful hope when we pray, “The LORD is my shepherd.”

Further Reflection:

·      How might Psalm 23 speak to our current struggles with disease, economic uncertainty, racial disharmony, and political polarization?

·      What are some things this psalm might be telling us about worship and how we should live in God’s world?

·      Is there something here God is calling us to be or to do?

Praying together:

            God, you are our Shepherd. In you, we have everything we need. You lead us to a place of rest, contentment, satisfaction, and joy in your presence. When we’re at the end of our rope, you give us new strength and guide us in the right path to take for the glory of your name. Even when we face scary adversity and the Death Valley seasons of life, we will not be afraid, because you are there. Your mighty shepherd’s crook will keep us headed in the right direction and secure from danger. You lavish goodness upon us at your banqueting table, exonerate us in front of those who hate us, and provide for us blessings in abundance. Your goodness to us in the past reminds us of our participation in your kingdom from now through eternity, where we will dwell with you in your house forever. Amen.

Looking ahead:

            We hope you’ll join us for worship on Sunday as we continue this study on the 23rd Psalm titled: Following the Good Shepherd in Tumultuous Times, considering how God really does provide everything we need.  Please pray for our church’s leadership as we make decisions regarding the timing of our re-launch of in-person services.  If you are feeling the need for face-to-face contact and want to be a part of our pre-re-launch services, please call the church office at 956-968-9585 and we will do our best to accommodate you.

who do you say that I am?

Matthew 16:13-16

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

“You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

-C.S. Lewis

Jesus asked His disciples,“Who do you say I am?” This question is recorded in three of the four Gospels. But this question is a lot more complicated than we think. The disciple’s answer wasn’t just, “You are Jesus.” It was so much more. At some point in all of our own lives, we are faced with a similar question. Who do we say Jesus is? 

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record this conversation, but before Jesus asks this question, He asks them, “Who do people say I am?” 

They replied, “‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets’” (verse 14)

Jesus, knew who He was, He didn’t need the disciples to tell Him. Because He is God, He already knew what the disciples thought about Him, and would say. 

Jesus often asked questions to test the disciples. He would often answer a question with a question, leading them to think and search for answers.

First, Jesus asked the disciples what others said about Him. They responded by naming off some of the prophets. Then He shifts gears. “Who do you say I am?” Jesus was concerned with what His disciples thought more than the people around Him. 

In all three of the accounts, Jesus’ exchange with His disciples is recorded shortly after the feeding of the multitudes. By this time, Jesus has traveled all over teaching, healing,  driving out demons, and even raising the dead. The disciples had been with Jesus for a couple of years, and had seen all of these miracles first hand. Jesus turned to His disciples and asked, “Who do you say I am?”

The disciples were beginning to get it, and began to understand who Jesus was. The title of “Messiah” was not fully understood at first, as they were expecting a Messiah or Savior that would be a military leader type who would deliver Israel from Roman rule. This may be the reason why Jesus told His disciples after Peter’s confession not to tell anyone He was the Messiah.

Here’s His response to Peter in verses 17-19:

17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” 

Jesus showed just how important Peter’s answer was. What we believe, what we answer about His identity is important.

Jesus came to do much more than free us from earthly rule. He came to give us Eternal Life. 

Family Time: 

Who do you say Jesus is?

Meditate: 

Matthew 16:13-16

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Pray: 

Jesus you are the Son of the living God. Please help me to see this everyday. 

In Jesus name, Amen. 

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 12 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.