Power and Conviction

It is difficult to figure out which ministry is legit nowadays. Technology has made it easy for ministers to increase their reach while at the same time creating a facade of an alternate reality. How does a disciple discern who is legit and who is fake? Paul gives us some guidance in today’s passage. Look…

Time to Take a Knee

There has been a controversy in the United States over people taking a knee during sports events. It upset a lot of people, especially those who had served in our military. A former president got behind the protest, blowing up the controversy from there. Whatever side you are on in the debate, you need to understand that one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. As a disciple of Jesus, you need to submit yourself to His authority. It’s time to take a knee and worship.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭95:6-7‬

“Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice,”

Taking a knee is a symbol of submission to someone over you. You’ve seen people do it for kings and popes for centuries. The Psalmist in Psalms 95 beckons his readers to make kneeling a part of their worship. He reasons that God is over every king and Pope and thus deserves our worship and surrender. It isn’t an act of humiliation but one of utmost respect. It also heightens your worship as your heart is given entirely to the Lord.

Don’t Lose Your Life

Most people didn’t give one thought to growing wheat until the war in the Ukraine. This hit home when the store shelves weren’t as full as they once were. Now people know that most of the wheat that people use in the world is grown there. Without wheat there is no flour and without flour there are no baked goods. This affects the supply chain not only at the grocery stores but at restaurants and beyond. If you can’t sow any seeds you are not going to have anything to reap. Jesus uses this analogy to say, “Don’t lose your life.”

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭12:25

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Develop a Habit of Prayer

Every Christian knows that prayer is essential to the life of a disciple, yet most struggle with making time. Jesus often prayed in a remote place after spending the day doing ministry. This shows us that it is a challenge, even for the best. Paul encourages the Colossians to develop a habit of prayer. He knew as a young church, that would serve them best. We could grow a lot from heeding Paul’s advice.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭4:2

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”

Paul tells the Colossians about two crucial aspects of prayer when going through difficult times. The first tip he gives them is to devote themselves to prayer. Devotion means to be committed and consistent. When you are devoted to prayer, you remain alert to what the enemy is doing. The Holy Spirit gives you discernment and makes you aware of what is coming. The second tip Paul gives is to keep an attitude of thanksgiving. The danger with prayer when you are in the midst of a crisis is to focus on the needs and strength to get through and forget to give thanks for what God has done for you in the midst. I always try to start my prayer with thanksgiving.

Choose the Life You Want

People would pay big money if someone could show them the path to happiness. Many have promised, but all have failed except one, Jesus Christ. He promises abundant life for those who follow Him and warns against a thief who wants to steal that happiness. It’s up to you to choose the life you want.

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

A disciple of Jesus Christ needs to be alert and on their guard because they have a target on their back. There is an enemy which Jesus refers to as a thief. He wants to steal the joy you have, kill any life you have in Christ, and destroy your hope. The Apostle Paul tells you in Ephesians 6 to Stand Firm in your faith. Don’t give up any ground to this enemy. Any foothold of doubt or discouragement can trip you up.

Work Heartily For the Lord

Studies have been done in the workplace and found that over 60% of workers would leave their job if they had a better opportunity. The number one reason they would leave is their supervisor. This is even more interesting because the same survey found over 60% of bosses are happy with their job and don’t want to leave. What do Christians do when they are in a situation that isn’t ideal? Paul tells the Colossians to work heartily for the Lord.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭3:23-24

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

Paul gives his readers some practical advice when it comes to working. He tells the Colossians to work heartily for the Lord. That means your motivation to get up and go to work should be from a desire to please Him. You may try to impress your boss or customer, but you understand that the eternal rewards come from the Lord. You serve Jesus first and foremost. He is the one you will have to give an account.

Jesus Bore Your Sins

One of the hardest things to watch is to see someone you love suffer. If you are a parent, you want to take your child’s place or protect them in some way. Seeing them struggle through the crisis makes it hard because you are powerless to make it better. Jesus came to earth to take your place. He went to the cross so he could bear your sins. The world was changed from that day on.

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

On what we call Good Friday, Jesus was hung upon the cross so that He could bear your sins. He who knew no sing became sin for you so that you might not perish. That Friday afternoon, He hung on a tree and bore the weight of all of your sin. The mind-blowing part is that Jesus wasn’t forced to do it; He did it willingly. He substituted your life with His and took the punishment you deserve.

Who Really Killed Jesus?

As I write this, it is Holy Week. I am in full preparation mode for three different services to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. Easter Morning is always such a wonderful day, but I love our Good Friday service just as much. One question I frequently get is, “Who really killed Jesus?” Some say the Romans, and others say the Jews. I always reply that God used both to accomplish what He sent His Son to do. Did you know Isaiah prophesied about it 750 years before it happened?

Isaiah 53:10

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 53 is one of the four servant songs. This final one is known as the “suffering servant.” It vividly describes the suffering that Jesus endured while on the cross. The fact that Isaiah foretells it hundreds of years before it happens is mind-boggling. It wasn’t until the 12th century AD that Jewish rabbis acknowledged it and then tried to say the servant was Israel. We won’t go into those flaws, but suffice it to say the servant talked about here is Jesus. He fulfilled every one of these prophesies.

Hide and Seek

My kids loved turning all of the lights off in the house and playing hide and seek. To say there were tons of screams would be an understatement. As parents, my wife and I would be in tears laughing at how scared our kids were. They were afraid to look behind doors and curtains out of fear their sibling would scare them to death. In our relationship with Jesus, we are hidden with Him and spend the rest of our days on earth seeking His heart. It’s a different kind of hide and seek.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭3:3

“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

When you put your faith and trust in Jesus, you die to your old life. Sure, you still have your physical body, but the old spirit has been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20), and you have been resurrected into a new one hidden with Christ. What does it mean to be hidden with Christ? A couple of devotionals back, I talked about God being our stronghold and refuge. The same principle applies. You can run to him and be protected within His strong fortress and thus focus your mind on things above.

My Stronghold and Refuge

Did you ever build forts when you were young? On rainy days my mom would let me and my brother transform one of the rooms in our house to make a fort. It would consume our whole day as we pulled out blankets and moved around furniture. We had tunnels, rooms, and secret escapes by the end of construction. Sometimes adults wish they could build a fort and escape from all of their troubles. While you may not have a physical fort to run to, you do have a stronghold in the Lord. David writes how the Lord is my stronghold and refuge.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭94:14, 22‬

“For the LORD will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance… But the LORD has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.”

Strongholds were a reality back in David’s day. Most people lived outside the city on their land to farm it and raise animals, but whenever there was an enemy threat, they would run to the city that was surrounded by walls and close the gates. It was a safe place that protected them from enemy fire. You have a stronghold you can run to when the temptation and attacks of the enemy come after you. Jesus is your refuge.