Good Morning Friends,
There is a joy in sharing the Gospel and sometimes a bit of it is humorous. Think about Paul and his knack for starting riots. Not exactly a unifying action but still in the will of God if only to teach us a lesson that God can use a relatively unhealthy, troublemaking, ex-jailbird to do ministry. There is a battle within all of us at times for we want to recharge our spiritual batteries our way and not God’s way. The thing is that God, in the middle of our darkest hour, reassures us and sometimes it should bring a smile to our face, so we do not take ourselves too seriously, especially when situations seem more divisive than unifying. And if you have been part of an institutional church, you know what I mean. And that brings us to today’s question: Are We Energized With Holy Spirit Encouragement So We Might Spread The Cheer?
Scripture: Since he wanted to find out what Paul was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them. When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.) Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees’ group stood up and contended, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks. That night the Lord stood near him and said, “Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.”
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 (NRSV)
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17:20-26 (NRSV)
Message: Maybe some of those reading this devotional have experienced, like Paul, difficulty, and discouragement in evangelizing others or being part of an institution that has that stated purpose. But the reality is that evangelism has never been easier than in our society today. What is difficult today in our, in the moment, tweeting “I want it now,”- society is discipleship. It was difficult for Paul as well. A long journey of obedience and love in the same direction is a rarity in people’s lives. But, if we are indeed doing the will of God then we are to remember that Jesus is walking with us and will encourage us to be faithful in blessing others, so they might in turn become blessings that value relationships and experiences of others as essential to a faith community. So too, in a world that is ever changing, people need the consistency of the unchanging Word of God manifested in the love of God in us, and in turn focused on inspiring and nurturing others to become lovers of not just scripture but each other. You see, Jesus loves the truths of God’s Word and the lives of God’s people. So, we are to encourage long-term involvement in a way that promotes social-emotional learning, developmental growth, as well as community development and spiritual and Biblical growth. But who are we to spend time with? How do we choose who we disciple and how do disciples choose who they will learn from? The process of selection was a matter of prayer for Jesus, and it should be for us as well. It is to function on a spiritual level that also considers our stages of life and strengths, beyond us being a collection of contributing units to a cause, but there must always be love. There must be a chemistry and hunger and willingness to pay it forward. So, consider family and then consider people who have spiritually discerned a path of being Christian but still need to grow. People need more than you or me alone they need the Body of Christ in a healthy state and a sensitivity to the age, gender, diversity, learning styles and faithfulness of others to in turn to teach others. So, make discipleship an essential priority in your scheduling. Learn from mistakes and pray for those in need of Jesus.
And So, when things appear bleak, God responds in amazing ways. In one of Paul’s most discouraged moments, as people were plotting to kill him, the Lord Jesus appeared to him and told him to cheer up. We should be buoyed by the same command and encouragements. So too Jesus as he was about to be betrayed, knowing he would soon be crucified, prayed for unity and love for his disciples and us, essentially encouraging us all. We too are to experience the joy of life even in difficult times.
Pray we realize that a kind word is priceless. Pray we have a touch of joy in our sharing on the journey. Pray we do not avoid a sense of community. Pray we view each other with a sense of expectancy. Pray we figure out how to live in a community of faith and develop the maturity that can share and exchange God’s grace. Pray we encourage each other. Pray we believe that God is not stingy. Pray we develop skills of the faith not just a knowledge of God. Pray we stir each other up in faith and good works. Pray we choose wisely. Pray we define our relationships in the context of scripture. Pray we realize there is no greater joy than to help develop other people unlike ourselves. Pray we realize that the more we develop others, the more God develops us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 