Being Focused on Both Faith and Works
Good Morning Friends,
Today’s devotional and scripture is about discovering good endeavors… those things pursued in response to God’s calling that make a difference. It was prompted by a request of a friend who asked about a particular passage. The scripture starts with the premise that living a godly life, a renewed life, will bring us the best of life; that godliness has value for everything and worldliness is basically rubbish. Whereas it is good to be physically fit it is better yet to be spiritually fit and reap a healthy return on investment… the full life that Christ offers. So we need to practice and live by faith, the saving faith of Jesus, the sustaining faith of the Holy Spirit and a serving faith of God’s love. And when He intervenes in our life and blesses us with a faith to believe, we are to exercise our spiritual muscles, studying the Word and praying with others, but also to glorify God by Being Focused on Both Faith and Works.
Scripture: The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness. I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
Philippians 3:7-16 The Message (MSG)
I’m not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians’ enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 The Message (MSG)
Message: If God is going to use us and transform us we must face the issues of our uncertain times. Be assured that God will not be shaken but that we should be. When it comes to being committed to disciple others who in turn disciple and empower the next generation to become servant leaders we are to know and be motivated by the saddest words ever uttered….”what might have been.” We are to know the speed of the seed and the dream of the need in a reality attained. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need to accomplish the task God is preparing us for. Almost 2000 years ago Paul gave us some advice that stands the test of time. We are not to be imprisoned by our past. We need to commit ourselves to forget our failures. We need to commit ourselves to give up our grudges, to restore relationships and to turn our back on sinning. We are to be focused on a future in Christ. All this we do so that we may know Jesus Christ… that we might rediscover the passion in our heart to encounter Him, discovering who He says He is, validated by both the knowledge and revelation of His sanctifying power in our lives. Paul realized that the only way to overcome the power of sin, in the flesh, is through the power of a life focused on knowing Christ. Through a life lived in sharing the sufferings of Christ we gain a new perspective on knowing Christ. Only then might we live the resurrected life. Friends, it is not what we do but what God does in us through love.
Pray we not waste our lives away. Pray we seize the moment and live life to the fullest. Pray we are placed into the center of God’s activity and respond with the right choices. Pray we not walk away. Pray our life becomes so full of opportunity that our focus remains on the future leaving little room for regret. Pray also that we not dream our lives away. Pray we are equipped for a purpose worthy of God. Pray we accept who we are and act from the heart, letting God do the rest. Pray we find purpose in our lives. Pray we face the present. Pray we put our faith in Jesus and choose to live life day by day. Pray we be here right now seizing the moment with Jesus and live. Pray that in the race we look to the goal with faith. Pray we be without fear. Pray we believe Jesus is with us. Pray we not be dismayed or discouraged. Pray God will put all of our problems into a new perspective… that He will make our relationship with Him personal. Pray that He reveal His plan to us. Pray we have a winning attitude. Pray we claim the prize of His promise. Pray that we embrace not the power of the world, but the power of knowing the resurrected Christ. Pray that when we go through trials we draw closer to God. Pray that we gain new perspective. Pray we see. Pray we learn to love with faith and works.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 