Psalm 133 - A Song Of Harmony

Psalm 133 (NLT)

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

1 How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

Psalm 121 - The Lord Watches Over Us

Psalm 121 (NLT)

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

End-of-Series / Month Reflection and Meditation

What once seemed a dim glimmer in the distant future is now upon us. We’ve reached the end of a three month journey through the Back to the Basics series. To the few who’ve remained faithful, I say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Won’t sound as sweet as when Jesus says it later, but you get the jest, I’m proud of you.) Here are a handful of questions to conclude:

1. How has Jesus changed you during the course of the Back to the Basics series? Be specific.

2. Which part of the vision do you struggle with the most? What can you do about this?

3. If you signed the commitment card, are you continuing to be part of the “solution”? Continuing to live out the vision?

4. Who can you share all of the things you’ve learned through the series with?

5. Take a moment to thank God for his working through this series. Then, at the next opportunity you have, thank John for his courageousness and effort in bringing all this to our attention. And, while you’re at it, thank the wiser and wittier Jason for his devotion (no pun intended) in taking the writing and getting it posted on the website.

The Solution

Hebrews 10:22-25 (NLT)

Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

After three months of mouth watering anticipation (of the spiritual variety), we’ve come to the end of the Back to the Basics devotions. All of the writing, Scriptures, stories, quips, and quotes have led to this moment, this conclusion, the solution promised us by John (the Pastor, not the Baptist). And it is this: will you answer the call, will you commit to accomplishing the Gospel and the vision of Refuge Church, will you-

1. Passionately seek a relationship with Jesus Christ

2. Grow and mature as part of a spiritual body

3. Reach the least, lost, and broken with the Gospel

4. Become a living, breathing church in the community

Praise Yahweh for taking us through this series and giving us the Solution. Prayerfully ask him to help you as you undertake this vision in your life. And watch in awe as God moves amongst his people.

Serving the Body

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NLT)

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

As the icon for underdogs worldwide, Rocky Balboa endured many a pummeling through his self-titled series. Similarly, we as Refugees have been pummeled by the idea of reaching out during the Back to the Basics series. As previously highlighted in the “Reaching In” devotion (13 February), we must also serve within our body, the church. John nailed down this thought in week nine’s message, “Serving the Body and Community.” Focusing mostly on the body, he did this by summarizing many valuable ideas into three powerful bullet points:

1. Giving our time and service. More than throwing money in a basket or at the problems of the world or an hour-long service on Sunday morning, serving the body should be about giving our time and service. Time is the most valuable commodity in this life, due to our inability to get it back once its spent and the limited amount we have in this life. When we sacrifice our time, we’re completely emptying ourselves. We’re, in essence, saying, “This person or thing is special. They/it mean something.” Jesus says, “There is no greater love than a person who lays their life down for another.” That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to launch yourself into traffic, shove a pedestrian out of the path of a Mack truck, and absorb the blow yourself. Quite simply, you giving your “life-time” to build up another accomplishes this.

2. Realize your spiritual function. This is where most people get lost. “What’s my function?” “How will I know when I’ve found it?” I don’t know how many people read this devotion, but I’d be willing to bet (and I’m not a gambler) that all of you haven’t turned in your Spiritual Gift Survey. This priceless resource is painless (minus maybe a wicked paper cut) and steers you toward an understanding of your spiritual functions. You may even learn something new about yourself! The other way to realize your spiritual function is by trial and error. Find an area of the church which needs help and volunteer. Test it out on a trial basis. With the amount of ministries, you’re bound to lock onto one you will both enjoy and encourage others.

3. Plug in relationally. Relationships grant life meaning. Our relationship with Jesus brings salvation, hope, peace, eternal life, and a host of other things. Relationships with others brings us closer together, allows us help and accountability, and makes life more memorable. As John advised, get with him about joining one of the upcoming small groups, called LifeGroups. An easy way to get started to changing your life…and strengthening the body as a whole.

Reflection and Meditation

1. During this week, we looked at the three most notable ways to worship corporately (song, Bible study, and tithing/giving). Using self evaluation, which of these do you humbly excel at? Which of these is your weakest area? What are some things you can do during the week or prior to entering service that will prepare your heart for worship?

2. Accountability time: How many of you have continued following the steps we’ve discussed in the past: praying for the lost, finishing your spiritual gift surveys, reaching out in creative ways, living a life of worship. If you’re doing so, press on and keep fighting the good fight. If not, allow this to be an encouragement to steer back to the narrow path.

Corporate Growth #5 (Giving/Tithing)

Malachi 3:8,10 (NLT)

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, "What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?" You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 

Isaiah 29:13 (NLT)

And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.

Keep in mind yesterday’s question: “Is the Scripture enough?” Without laying a guilt trip on you or blathering on about how the church should be willing to give everything (read the book of Acts), I will allow these Scriptures John shared on tithing to do that for me. After considering these passages, prayerfully ask Yahweh what he wants you to do about it. Then obey, with a heart of joy and worship.

Corporate Growth #4 (Reading The Scripture #2)

Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT)

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Never will I look at salad the same way again.

John (the Pastor, not the Baptist) continued his message on corporate growth by making an observation that went something along the lines of, “Studying the Bible is like the salad bowl story.” He went on to explain how a salad- with its spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and so forth- is good and nutritious for the body. It gives us energy to burn, loads us with vitamins and minerals for growth, and is a small piece of the greater plan for a long and healthy lifestyle. But as we flawed humans tend to do, we’re not satisfied with that. We desire the pleasure of more, more, more. More taste, so we pile on the bacon bits. More fill, so we pour on the dressing high in fat and corn syrups. More muscle, so we scoop on the protein powder (okay, that’s sickening, but you get the point). The salad alone is adequate; we just overdo it. Make a good thing bad.

Like Jesus with his parables, John is illustrating both a physical and spiritual message with his salad metaphor. Bible study is the salad to a healthy believer. Simple. Nutritious. Healthy. Vital to our eternal well-being. What we tend to do, however, is play Captain Christian and pile on all the “extras” to enhance our spiritual stature. We make an elaborate schedule of how we’re going to study the Bible, purchase a specific commentary, research the latest fad or interpretation of the passage, read until we garner some sense of philosophical truth or revelation. Its lasts about two days, then we give up. And we won’t feel full or like we’ve got our money’s worth.

We may all splurge on the extras from time to time, but here is the point I believe John is trying to convey: To grow (as individuals and the collective body), we simply need to feed on the Scripture. Its powerful enough to stand alone, to speak for itself. We can read it and apply it without all the gimmicks and gizmos designed to enhance it. We could even read it in service or in our morning devotional and stop there. Allow its words to sink in and change us. Do what it says without the added fluff.

Reflection time in the Refugee camp. Ask yourself the question, “Is the Scripture enough?” If John stood up to preach one Sunday morning and said, “I’m only going to read the Scripture aloud this morning,” would you feel like you wasted your time in coming to service? If Jason plied to the stage wielding his guitar and confessed, “I’m just going to strum and sing straight from Psalms,” would you still worship with the same ferocity? On those days where I give you a portion of Scripture in the devotional and tell you to do something about it, do you feel let down that you didn’t get my witty and intellectually stimulating commentary?(that’s a joke people, you can laugh).

All kidding aside though, fall in love with the simple, yet eternally profound Scripture. Allow it to change you.

And never look at a salad the same way again.

Corporate Growth #3 (Reading The Scripture #1)

Acts 2:42 (NLT)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT)

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Only prayer has been covered more in these Back to the Basics devotionals than Bible study. Don’t blame me. I’m only writing these little lessons based off my notes from John’s messages. So blame him. Naturally, I’m kidding. I stand behind John and his hammering the importance of Bible study both to us as individuals and as a collective body. Coupled with prayer, it will determine our survival as believers and as a church body. Yahweh is such a powerful and glorious and creative entity that He speaks in countless ways. Many of us simply don’t know how to listen or get mixed messages in this convoluted and confusing world. Enter the Scripture. Nowhere short of Yahweh Himself can we find guidance, encouragement, correction, instruction, principles, and hope like we can here. In short, everything we need to be a new creation, a Christ follower, a Spirit-filled soldier, a disciple and mentor, a servant-leader, is found in these pages. And I understand I’m preaching to the choir (if you’re reading these devotions, you’re already studying the Word…and afford me this digression to say I’m proud of you. Continue to relish the journey.). But imagine if half of us Refugees did it! Lay aside the church a minute, just imagine the changes that would take place in homes, lives, workplaces, schools, and the community!

If you’re already studying the Scripture, continue to do so. When you grow weary of doing it this way, grab a different devotion or a methods book. Dig around (or ask me or John). There are resources out there to guide you through diverse ways to read and analyze the Bible. Growth sometimes requires a change. But once again, if you’re reading this you already know this. So I’ll use the reminder of my time with you this morning to share ways you can encourage others to blow the dust off the cover and pick up their Bible. I’m often asked, “How can I get my friends to read the Bible more? Or read it with me?” Some experienced observations:

1. Live it out. It seems it always comes back to this. When people see Life-Change in you, they will wonder how you changed. Now is your opportunity to describe the role of God’s Word on and in your life. This tends to go over much better than “preaching” to them about the importance of Bible reading.

2. Relate Biblical principles to situations. One of the ministries Jesus uses me in is working with recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. Many are lost in trying to follow steps that sound good but are backed up by no purpose other than trying to stay “sober.” This allows me the opportunity to share with them that the steps are based off of Biblical principles and if you go straight to the source, you find not only sobriety but a relationship with the Savior and Lover of our soul. You find more than hope- you find Jesus and all He entails. Usually this salvo leads them to search the Scriptures. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities like that. They happen all the time.

3. Simply ask. If you want to encourage a friend to read the Bible and try to live it out, pay them a visit. Or a phone call. Tell them you’re interested in going deeper in your relationship with Jesus and you chose them to go through the process with. They will appreciate being thought of, you will have encouraged them to study the Bible, and you will have accountability as well. You may even ask them to follow the LifeTogether devotionals with you (shameless plug). It’s a win-win situation.

Corporate Growth #2 (An Inventory of Sorts)

Although this devotion is labeled “Corporate Growth,” it's more of a personal exercise than a group one. If you choose to go through this with honesty and transparency though, you will find it will not only help your growth…but all of ours together. As usual, I will use myself as the example, not because of ego (okay, some ego) but I don’t want to ask anything of you I haven’t done myself. Yesterday, we discussed the power music has upon us. Both in our former lives. And in our current ones. This is an inventory to display the massive growth that takes place when you sellout everything- including your musical selections- to Jesus. This inventory contains two parts; the first is if you currently struggle with the music you listen to, the second if you’ve already laid down your music at the cross and replaced it with more uplifting influences. Here is the exercise:

Part 1 (if you never analyzed your musical selections). Complete the following exercise:

Write down the last five songs or artists you’ve listened to. Include some of the lyrics to the songs. Now ask yourself the following questions:

1. What effect did the words and/or music of this song have on me?

2. Would you describe these as positive or negative effects?

3. Does the song or artist glorify Jesus in both word and deed?

4. Is this music conducive to your growth as a follower of Christ?

5. Would you want your children or friends or spouse listening to this music?

Part 2 (compare/contrasting your “old” music with your “new” music) Complete the following exercise:

Write down the lyrics to five of the songs you once listened to. (If you’re like me, the Lord has removed most of these…but usually you can remember a few). Next, write down some of the lyrics from the last five songs you’ve listen to. Now look at the differences. And praise God!

Example-

Old (the last song I used to listen to that came up in conversation with a friend):

“…disarm you with a smile, and leave you like they left me here, to wither in denial, the bitterness of one who’s left alone…” -Disarm by the Smashing Pumpkins

New (the last song I listened to before writing this devotion): “…I get carried away, like I’m the only one who’s ever felt the way I do, but I can hear you say, you’re not the only one cause everybody hopes to get through…” -Sleeping In by Relient K

Can you see the glaring difference; one oozing misery, the other exuding hope. What you put in will eventually come out. Praise Yahweh for being my Hope! And yours!

Corporate Growth #1 (Song)

Psalm 122:1 (NLT)

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Perhaps no power on earth can sway our emotions or tug our heartstrings as much as music. It has the rare ability to evoke nostalgia, inspire, encourage, depress, fill with sorrow, release anger, praise the Savior, and much more. It transports us to memories, both good and bad, and creates new ones. It’s the soundtrack of our lives. If you listened to “worldly” music before coming to Christ, you understand the difficulty of surrendering it to Jesus. You know the pain of trying to pry those deep roots from your heart. Of hearing those opening notes and being jettisoned back to feelings and emotions that ruled and suppressed your life long ago. Or still now. As believers, you also realize the power that “Godly” music has over your spirit. How it takes you out of self. How it allows an avenue of worship. How it lifts your spirit, pulls you through storms, affords opportunities to share the Gospel in a less-preachy way.

Because of all this, its no wonder John (the Pastor, not the Baptist) described song as one of the key aspects of our growth and maturity as Refugees. Singing and making music before (and about) Yahweh is the easiest way for many of us to worship. Its what draws many people to church. It prepares our hearts for the reading and studying of the Word. It allows us get excited about God, jump up and down, lift our hands, form a holy mosh pit, release pent-up praise. All commendable things. All things John mentioned as good. But in order to grow, here is something to dwell on. Call it a thought-provoker. Call it a growing pain. Call it whatever you will.

It's not about you!!!

I’ll never forget this phrase. Not only because John mentioned it as it related to worship music, but also because the first devotional I ever completed began Day 1 with this statement. It's not about us! Worship…and worship music isn’t about us. The music is meant to be an offering before God, lending our voice and blending it with others with the sole purpose of thanking and lifting up Yahweh. Its great that you have favorite songs or sprint to the front to shout and do the hand motions when the wiser and wittier Jason and company strum the opening chords of “Like a Lion.” But what about the other songs, the songs that may not draw an emotional response from us. Can we shift the focus off of us and onto God? Can we worship anyway? Can we dwell on the words…or the heart, even if we don’t “like” the music? If we can, we’re living up to the Scripture, “Lord, you become greater and allow me to become smaller.”

Reflection and Meditation

1. What does the phrase “reaching in” mean to you. List three Refugees that you can reach in to this week and describe some ways you can encourage or build them up. Now follow through.

2. Accountability time. Did you follow through with the devotion’s request during the week. Have you listed five lost people and begun to pray for them daily? Have you found a prayer partner to agree with you in prayer?

3. Recall the analogy of the Potter and the Clay. What are some issues Jesus is “thumbing” out of you now? How does it feel to know that you are being lovingly shaped (or reshaped) into the image of God?

4. Reread (or listen to) the lyrics from yesterday’s devotion. Allow them to sink in. Then act upon them in your own way.

A Closing Word on Reaching Out

Mark 9:37 (NLT)

Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.

To close part three of the vision, John mentioned a song by the band Caedmon’s Call that had a profound impact on him and the way he perceived the least, lost, and broken. I will share my space with them today. And, on a side note, I have included my own musical inspirations when it comes to the least, lost, and broken (Leeland and Brandon Heath).

P.S. Perhaps the wiser and wittier Jason can use his magical technology and put a link to these songs so we can listen to (or purchase) them as well. We’ll call it the Refugee Soundtrack to Reaching the Least, Lost, and Broken.

Caedmon’s Call - This World

And the least of these, look like criminals to me, so I leave Christ on the street, this world has held my hand, and has led me into intolerance, but now I’m waking up, and now I’m breaking up, but now I’m making up, for lost time







Leeland - Follow You

And I’ll follow you into the homes that are broken, follow you into the world, meet the needs for the poor and the needy God, follow you into the world







Brandon Heath - Give Me Your Eyes

Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes so I can see, everything that I keep missing, give me your love for humanity, give me your arms for the broken hearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach, give me your heart for the ones forgotten, give me your eyes so I can see

The Broken

Isaiah 64:8 (NLT)

And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.

A few years ago, my dad and I embarked on a father-son road trip to the Ozark Mountains. Before seeking seclusion, we took a detour to the Passion Play. For those of you not familiar with the place, its an outdoor theater drama based on Jesus' ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension. Prior to the actual play, there were several side attractions to entertain and enlighten. One of those was a man who imitated Jesus, teaching a lesson as he shaped a lump of clay on an old spinning wheel. As he molded the mud into a cup, he shared the Scripture above. He went on to detail the process of creating something beautiful out of a chaotic mess. How you have to dig your thumbs into the knots until they smooth out. How if unsupported by a gentle hand, the piece being fashioned will flop over and fall off the wheel. How you must place the finished product through the fire to strengthen its structure. How you can take broken pottery and make it new again.

These gripping images have shaped my understanding of brokenness and restoration. We, along with those around us, are all beautiful pieces in God’s collection. Along the way, sin (and the consequences of it) cracks and peels us until we’re ugly and marred. Some of us even shattered into a million little pieces. It takes a potter- the Potter- to mend us back together. To make us new. So we’re returned to the spinning wheel. Jesus lovingly thumbs the knots out of us. A painful, but necessary process. His gentle hands reshape us in his image. He sends us through the fire to galvanize us for his cause. And we’re being used to carry his living water to the lips of others. Other broken people.

Just something to think about.

Praying for the Lost #2

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

Once again, we’ve reached an impasse. Rather than reading three more paragraphs on reaching the lost, let’s reach the lost.

Make a list of five people you know are lost. Or those not currently walking in personal relationship with Jesus. Now make a commitment to pray for them daily. Then let your deeds back up your faith. List some ways in which to reach out to them (you may refer to your answers from Saturday’s reflection questions). Find a prayer partner and share your list with them. Add their list of names to your own. Pray together and as individuals. As you do this, remember what it was like when you began your walk with Jesus and found out all the people that were praying for you. It’s a powerful thing. And finally, praise God ahead of time for the harvest!

Praying for the Lost #1

John 14:6 (NLT)

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

At first glance, this verse fits the mold of a good one to share with someone to lead them to salvation. But if we venture straight there, we’re missing an essential truth along the way, coming prior to a “salvation experience.” And that is Yahweh must show us our need for Him even before we can cry out for salvation. Quite simply, before we can be saved, we must recognize our need for salvation through Jesus. Its God’s Spirit- the Holy Spirit- which pricks our heart and makes us aware that there is Someone beyond us and that we desperately need him.

If we are to reach the lost, we need to remember what it was like to be lost. As John mentioned, “We didn’t act like we had a relationship [with Jesus] because we didn’t have a relationship [with Him].” We had no concept of a loving God. Or if we did, we lacked concern or were rebellious toward him. Praying for God to bring us the lost is noble, but perhaps we should first pray that God draws people to Himself first, then to us. This thought is driven home by the powerful pamphlet, Praying Effectively for the Lost, John shared during this message. As it points out, we spend massive amounts of time in fellowships, families, and festivities. And most of us even pray. But when was the last time we prayed for a specific lost person? By name. And really cried out to Yahweh on their behalf, begging him to reveal Himself to them in such a way that they can’t deny his love.

It happens to be Valentine’s Day. Besides being a corporate holiday designed to take advantage of the emotions and wallets of millions, it’s a day to celebrate love. So share the greatest love story ever with someone who has never heard it today. Keep that in mind and we’ll finish this thought on the morrow.

Reaching In

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 (NLT)

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

As believers, its easy to get caught up in the “routines” of being a Christ follower. Praying, studying the Word, attending service, and even reaching out. Often neglected, however, is the act of reaching in. By reaching in, I’m not referring to some sort of meditative mysticism. I’m talking about reaching inward when it comes to our body. Many times we busy ourselves so much by reaching out to the least, lost, and broken outside of our four walls that we overlook the need for encouragement within. This isn’t a loophole where I’m granting you permission to stop reaching out. I’m simply suggesting you follow Jesus in reaching both out (to the world) and in (to the Refugees). Full circle.

An example: John and Jason are the “faces” of Refuge. They are the pastors. Its their “job” to shepherd the flock. We hold them in high esteem and look toward their example. We sometimes have the thought that their lives are perfect, that they never grow weak or weary, that they’re superhuman, like they have capes underneath their church clothes. But in reality, they are people much like you and I. People who need encouragement, need a kind word, need to be reached out to. And they aren’t alone. How many Refugees do you know that toil both on stages and behind-the-scenes who could use a hand- a hand of help or applause. A pat on the back. An offer to talk. An invitation to dinner. An “I’m proud of you!“ sentiment. Yes, I know we fellowship and visit and eat. But I’m referring to one-on-one reaching in. By doing so, we’re completing the following:

1. Imitating Christ - Jesus’ entire life was about reaching the least, the lost, and the broken. But notice as you read the Gospels that Jesus continually reached in as well. Pouring his love, time, and teaching into a small group. A rabble that he held accountable, scolded, and encouraged time and time again.

2. Strengthening  the Body - As we’ve discussed previously, serving the Lord is exhausting and sometimes lonely work. In order to maintain balance, its as important for us to reach in toward other Refugees as much as it is to reach out. By building up the body, we will gain endurance and perseverance to continue reaching out.

3. Completing the discipleship process - The church isn’t a factory spitting out new believers and sending them into the world unprepared. Once Jesus delivers us a new believer, we’re responsible for building them up. We do this by continuing to reach out to them as much as (or more than) we did when they were lost. Its easier for some to make a decision for Christ; the difficulty comes in living it out daily.

Reflection and Meditation

1. Describe what Jesus' reaching out to you means.

2. What are several ways in which Jesus has reached out to you? (Think outside the box; he does)

3. List several people who have reached out to you with the love of Christ. Take a moment this weekend to share with them their role in your life and thank them for it.

4. Make a list of people you will make an effort to reach out to in the coming week. Be specific (but don't limit your reaching out to only them)

5. What are some simple and creative ways to reach out to others with the love of Christ?

Reaching The Least

Mark 9:35 (NLT)

He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Despite its short length, I hope we didn’t miss the point of yesterday’s exercise- to reach out in a simple way to another. Practicing it, not simply preaching it. Today’s lesson picks up there and begins with a question:

Have you ever uttered the following prayer (or one similar): “Jesus, I pray that you send me (us) the least, lost, and broken so that I (we) can minister to them. Lead them to you. See them changed. And praise you because of it.”

Those of us who have soon discover that we had no idea as to the consequences of our actions. We figure out that beyond (and in) our little personal world, there are people with issues, hurts, hang ups, habits, and histories. They’re loud, annoying, dirty, stinky, selfish, ungrateful, complaining, arrogant, depressed, dishonest, and in denial. Just to name a few. But let’s understand something here- hurting people are the ones who need help! Jesus says in the Gospels, “Its not the well who need a doctor, but the sick. That‘s what I‘m here for” (Jason’s paraphrase). Those who grace the doors of Refuge don’t do so because their lives are perfect. Rather, we come because we are hurting in some form or fashion, from a literal pain to emotional scars to feeling homesick for our digs in heaven.

Let’s get down to the heart of the matter. Most of us don’t even pray for the least. Period. Fewer still pray… but honestly don’t want their prayers answered, for fear of dealing with the mess that comes with working with the least. There is wading through the garbage of the past, evicting skeletons from the closet, confessions and amends and relapses. There are inconveniences and phone calls and mentorship. It’s a spiritual janitor job. Scrubbing and polishing and cleaning and restoring.

And truth be told, everyone fits into this category, for it is the church. You and I.

In the words of Matthew (of Hope Ministries, not the Gospel writer), “If you’re willing to minister to the hurting, you’ll always have an audience.”

A Practical Guide To Reaching Out

James 2: 14-18 (NLT)

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

This devotion will be different from most days. This is because I will stop writing after the next sentence and challenge you to follow its instructions. With the time you usually use to complete this devotional, reach out to someone else- write a letter, make a phone call, visit a friend, volunteer with a neighbor, feed the hungry, share a Scripture, whatever.

On Sunday, tell me about it...

Ultimate Act of Reaching

John 3:16 (NLT)

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Yesterday, we defined what it meant to reach out. We even compared scenes from a couple of films John mentioned to inspire us to do so. Today, we get not just examples of such reaching but rather, the ultimate act of reaching. And that is, in a word (or the Word):

Emmanuel. Emmanuel- God with us. God reaching out a fleshly arm, Jesus, to reconcile us to Himself. The Creator stepping into, reaching into, His creation.

Use your imagination (remember child-like faith). We live in a technological world so it won’t be too far of a stretch. Let’s say you create a world on your computer. Sort of like a SimCity deal. You program and create beautiful, good things like people and trees. Your desire is to have these people love you because you love them, not because they have been programmed to. In fact, you create them with the intelligence and free will to make their own decisions. Then one day as you turn on your computer to spend some time with them, you instead discover a virus. And no sign of them. They’re hiding. Ashamed of the choice they made when you weren’t “there.” Ashamed they’ve allowed a virus in. Before long, the creation goes haywire. Your cute little people turn to face you in the screen and curse you. They kill one another. Fight over material fashions. Destroy the world you gave them reign over.

But alas, you desperately love these people, this world that you creatively and uniquely shaped. Despite their failures. You love them so much that you, in your infinite power as Creator, scan yourself and step into your broken program. Only to have these once beautiful people turn on you. And no matter your time and love for them, they want to delete you from the hard drive, erase any semblance of you from the program. You know this. But you enter your created world anyway, die at their hands. All for the chance to redeem them.

Would you?

I wouldn’t.

Bet you’re glad I’m not Yahweh. Its been quoted until we nearly ignore it, but read the Scripture reference again. And praise Him for reaching out to us...

Reach

Mark 16:15 (NLT)

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Part 3 of the vision: Reach out to the least, lost, and broken.

Pastor got no further than the word “reach” during this message. That should tell us something! Reach, he described, is defined by such words as “come to, stretch out with hands, take effort.” Continuing his introduction, John mentioned two films (Cliffhanger and The Guardian) which painted perfect pictures of how we are to reach out. Each includes a scene where the protagonist clutches a helpless victim with a steel grip, refusing to allow them to free fall to their death. By doing so, we witness how we should view our reaching and its implications on the least, lost, and hurting.

Everyday, we encounter hundreds of people who are free-falling through life. Burdened by the toil and turmoil of life, they are flailing at the air, clawing for any stable thing to cling to. Anything to give life meaning. To offer a purpose worth living for. To give shelter from the storm. They are headed for a collision course with the ground, death, and an eternity away from the Loving God. This is where we come in…

We aren’t just saved to go to heaven. Certainly, an eternity in heaven with Yahweh is the reward of the faithful servant. Be we’re saved to be just that- a faithful servant. We are saved to reach out and share such salvation with others. We are saved to reach out and snatch unbelievers …and believers alike. (Read the book of James).

As always, our discussion inevitably leads to questions. John concluded by inquiring, “How do we reach out?”

We do this in numerous ways. The easiest:way is to live out what we believe. Or even more simply, practice what you preach. Follow Christ. Obey his word. Study the Scripture. Pray. Whether people are watching or not. Especially when they aren’t. Another way: Build relationships with people. Not checking on their Facebook status or shaking their hand at church. But really getting to know them. Invite them to the Chinese joint or Subway (especially if that person is me). Watch the game together. Dance the Zumba together. Spending time with others strengthens relationships. Period. And as the wiser and wittier Jason so eloquently articulated, “What if instead of being social in the shallow end, we sought relationships in the deep end (without floaties even).” Things would change.

Reach…

Passion and Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (NLT)

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

For fear of getting bogged down in the “one” verses of Ephesians, we’ll move on to week five of the Back to the Basics series. (If you’d like more of the “one” verse discussion, let’s meet for coffee). Mostly review, John did mention one thing we have yet to elaborate on- passion. Yes, we touched on passion when it came to being as passionate about Jesus as we are about our favorite team or TV program or fitness regimen. This passion, however, deals with our spiritual gifts.

Anyone who completed those “Spiritual Gift” surveys the Pastor passed out realized something fairly quickly: your spiritual gifts are something you’re already passionate about. Most times anyway. For example, my wife Elizabeth tested extremely high in the giving category. One of her many passions (besides me of course) is giving to anyone who needs anything. Her time, money, talents, possessions, and dozens of other things. It's something I fell in love with her for and has always been a part of who she is. It's something she loves doing and is passionate about! God planted the gift in her and she waters it. And that is what the spiritual gifts are all about. A God-given gift intended for us to use to further His kingdom.

What I witness in my wife is similar for those of you who took the time to fill out the survey. God created each of us differently. Uniquely. Creative and diverse. These little variations set us apart from others. Some use such gifts and passions for selfish reasons; we, as believers, are called to use ours to help the entire body. To strengthen and encourage. And if we all (imagine that!) heed the Pastor’s challenge, the church’s vision, and God’s call and exercised these gifts, imagine the change that could take place not only among the Refugees, but in the entire community.

Reflection and Meditation

1. Do you consider yourself a patient person? Do you find it easier to be patient with Jesus, others, or yourself? Why?

2. Do you tolerate others or do you bear with them in love? What types of things can you put into practice to help you better bear with others?

3. List three opportunities you've had this week to share the hope you have in Jesus. Did you? If not, how can you change that?

Growth and Maturity #7 (One Hope)

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

A while back, John pounded into us the importance of planting the Scripture into our hearts, even if we had to write it down and tape it up all over the house and workplace. During my various stages as a believer, I’ve done just that. My apartment resembled my writing notebooks, with scribbled scraps of paper covering everything. One anonymous quote I cut out and attached to the backside of my front door read, “Hope is more than just a feeling, it’s a call to action, it's what you are willing to sacrifice for, as much as that power lies in you.”

The “one hope” Paul alludes to revolves around Jesus, his salvation of us, and our future home with him in eternity. Furthermore, we are to share this hope with others. Whenever the opportunity arises. This begs the question, “Do we?” Are we prepared to share the hope we have in Jesus? Are we willing to share our hope with others, so that our hope may be their hope? Are we, as John (the Pastor, not the Baptist) asked, comfortable sharing this?

You, like me, would say, “Of course I share the hope I have in Jesus.” But give it some brutally honest thought. Between the conversations about the weather, football, hunting, shopping, diets, work, and television programs, the hope of Jesus can get suffocated.  We get side-tracked. Jesus gets lost among the hustle and bustle. Or rather, we lose grip of him. In addition to posting notes around our house, we should post notes on our hearts. Notes that shout, “My hope is you, Jesus. Allow me opportunities to share your hope, my hope!”

A last question to ponder, from John (the Pastor, not the Baptist):

Is everything we do about him?

Growth and Maturity #6 (One Body-Bearing One Another in Love)

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Most of us have mastered the art of tolerance with one another. Fewer have passed the test when it comes to bearing with one another. And nearly no one does so with love. Doing so requires all the characteristics previously mentioned on this topic…plus love. It's possible to have them all without love, but only in an empty sort of way, like pottery. Fragile. But when you add love, you’re living like Jesus.

I've been writing the phrase “practice [the topic of the day]” at the end of the lessons because it takes just that- practice! Like a ball player, guitar strummer, or zumba dancer, all of these attributes must be put into practice. Apply it when the time comes to shine. Remember the words of James, “Faith without works is dead.” Practice is the action…or the application of faith. John (the pastor, not the Baptist) can preach about peace and unity until he’s blue in the face, we can nod our heads in agreement for years to come, we can sing songs dealing with us united until we’re hoarse. But until we long for unity and are willing to lose our self in the Savior and his body, its only faith. And it will be dead.

Most of us desire the action, the application. We just seem to get bogged down along the way. For those of us who need such things, here’s a list-

-Pray. Ask God to make His will, your’s.

-Participate. Get involved in being the hands and feet of Jesus.

-Practice. Make the prayer and participation a habit. Habits become lifestyles.

-Peace. To bear one another in love, live a life of worship. Do this by following the other “p”s. And enjoy the “peace that passes all understanding.”

Growth and Maturity #5 (One Body-Patience #3)

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Before pausing yesterday for the end-of-the-month reflection, we had been analyzing patience. On Friday, we witnessed the depth of Jesus’ patience with us and others. On Monday, we saw how we are to be like Christ in this and be patient with others. Today, we’ll tackle an often overlooked area of the topic- patience with ourselves.

Barring any severe case of denial, we tend to be hardest on ourselves, especially when it comes to our Christian walk. We confess our need for God, clean up, sober up, accept our Life-Change through Jesus and begin the journey. Then before long (usually later that day), we succumb to a temptation of our past life- sleeping around, getting drunk, taking a hit, stealing money, blaming others, cheating, whatever. We have little patience with ourselves because we were supposed to be perfect after we came to know Jesus and were filled with the Holy Spirit, right?!? Many times, we dive into a tailspin, believing the lie that now that we’ve sinned again, there is no return to him. That maybe his grace isn’t enough. That somehow He’s going to sling it into our faces despite Him already saying He’s thrown it into the sea of forgetfulness. Why is it that we can’t be more patient with ourselves and “forget” our sin. Do we enjoy playing God and not forgiving ourselves for some sick reason?

Although my capacity for patience has grown with me as I’ve grown spiritually, I have a tendency to lose patience with myself quickly. You see, I have a confession to make: I sinned this week. I hate to burst any sort of righteous bubble you may have put me in, but I’m bluntly honest. Since I‘m transparent, I might as well tell you I sin every week. Not a lifestyle of sin, mind you. But sins nonetheless. It's frustrating because I feel like the Apostle Paul when he lamented something along the lines of, “I don’t want to do this, to commit this sin…but d--- it, I do anyway.” I know its wrong. And I may even wrestle with it a while. But more often than not, I relent. I surrender. I give in. I quit. I sin. Less than the least. Overwhelmed by Godly sorrow, I hit my knees to seek forgiveness. Yet, despite knowing Jesus has forgiven and forgotten, I lash out at myself. Sometimes even use an explicative or two. It's then that the Spirit, not I, reminds me that “His grace is sufficient for me,” that I need to be patient not only with Jesus and others, but myself as well, that I won’t be perfect until I’m one with Him for eternity. Only then, do I accept the opportunity to grow in patience. And by His grace, I walk again.

Practice patience…

End-of-the-Month Reflection and Meditation

Well, done. good and faithful servant…

My prayerful hope is your relationship with Jesus has never been as close and intimate as it is now. Take a few minutes to praise and thank him for walking with you over the last month as we've revisited Refuge Church's vision. Then take a few more minutes to finish the reflection questions.

1. Has your personal relationship with Jesus changed over the last month? Explain.

2. Of all the Scripture, devotionals, sermons, or meditations, which one stuck out the most to you? Why? Explain.

3. How have you applied what you have learned or read to your daily life? Be specific.

4. What can you begin doing today to share what you’ve learned with others? Be specific.

5. List some reasons why you’re thankful to God

6. Pause to praise God. Thank Him for who He is and all He has done for us. Confess any lingering sin. Accept his forgiveness. Ask of Him your needs (and even your wants).

7. Remember… Jesus loves you just as you are, but He also loves you too much to let you stay that way!

Growth and Maturity #4 (One Body-Patience #2)

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

The following devotional was part of Friday’s lesson. My fear was that I would put too much on the plate at one time, so I give you this smaller portion today. Call it patience continued…

It’s been said (and I’ve found it to be true) that God doesn’t bestow patience upon us. Rather, he affords us opportunities to learn patience. Through practice. And by experience. Perhaps no place is better suited to offer us these opportunities than the church body. We’re only human, and as highlighted by my fictional tale Friday, prone to issues, dramas, and circumstances. Some we cause and some of which are beyond our control. When people join the body, they aren’t perfect. No where near it in fact. Some are immature, some needy, some clingy, some misunderstood, some bitter, some scarred and scared, some lost still. In other words, they’re babies, of the spiritual sort. And like infants, they need to be nurtured, loved, fed, counseled, and consumed with time.  Taking care of such people isn’t for the impatient or faint of heart.

These aren’t times to respond with destructive, condemning behavior. These are the opportunities we’ve actually been praying for!!! These are times to bend and stretch your threshold of patience. These are opportunities to be Christ-like and to grow, for both them and us. Offer encouragement. And, in the end, not only are we growing in patience, but gaining a friend…and a disciple! (“the vision wreaks of the purpose“) Remember, most people don’t come to know Jesus through a sermon or alter call, but by watching our lives. They see something different, something real. (Cheap slogan plug). And they want it! Badly!

Despite being an admirer of Einstein, I’m not much of a mathematician. However, let’s put this into a simple equation even a child can understand…

Jesus is patient with us.

We are to be like Jesus.

Thus, we are to be patient with others.

Practice patience…

Reflection and Meditation

1. Take time to answer the following questions about your 5 closest friends:

a. What kind of fruit do they bear?

b. How do they speak of others, including the church?

c. Do they frustrate or encourage?

d. Do you think Jesus would want to be a third-party in their conversations?

2. Take an honest inventory of where you stand on the issues discussed this week. Write down where you think you are now and to what point you would like to get to.

Humility -

Gentleness -

Patience -

Growth and Maturity #3 (One Body-Patience #1)

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Be Patient.

Sometimes those plot twists not recorded in the Gospels can be more powerful than that which is. In those times, there is room for imagination. John (the Gospel writer, not the Pastor) even alluded to this at the end of his Gospel when he scribbled the statement, “Jesus did so much stuff that if you wrote it all out, there wouldn’t be enough books in the world to hold all the stories.” With that in mind, allow me some creative leash to walk. And I’ll try not choke myself.

There lived in those days a man. A man who throughout his teenage years grew disillusioned with the world around him. He became a rebel…with plenty of causes. He despised the Roman occupiers and made trouble for them at every turn. He hated the suffocating religion and God of his people. A God who cared nothing for the common man because it placed violent thieves over the people. Jealous and angry, he lashed out, becoming a violent criminal himself. Only of the illegal variety. He stole food, robbed people, killed those who turned on him, cavorted with the town’s women, smuggled contraband. Anything and everything you can possibly imagine in those days. On numerous occasions, on his gallivanting through the country, he’d heard of this man named Jesus, who was supposed to be a rabbi above all rabbis. But he wrote him off, simply because he was a rabbi and he wanted nothing to do with them. One occasion, he even bumped into this Jesus by accident as he ducked into a crowd fleeing the authorities. As he turned to see who he slammed in to, he was staring directly into the eyes of Jesus. He just knew it was Jesus, for his eyes seemed to go right through his own, straight to his troubled soul. Jesus smiled, held out his hand, said follow me.

For an emotional moment, the man’s heart weakened…but then the hardness returned. “I want no part of you,” he spewed, shoving his way around Jesus and spitting over his shoulder in an utter display of contempt.

Peter, James, and John rush to Jesus' side. “Shall we restrain him, Master? Call the authorities and have him arrested?”

Grasping their arms and pulling himself from the ground, Jesus says simply, “Patience, friends…Patience.”

Shortly after the encounter (and this is where the real Gospel story unfolds), the man was caught, convicted, and sentenced to death by crucifixion. He somehow managed to survive the brutality of the earlier beatings and found himself hanging from a cross, wheezing and raw. Raising his bloodied and bruised head, his eyes met the eyes he never forgot. The eyes of Jesus. And they were staring at him with tears streaming down. And this Jesus hung on a tree like his.

At that moment, all his pain, confusion, and anger were swallowed by the compassion and love of those swollen eyes. And from somewhere within the deepest recesses of his troubled soul, he cried out, “Jesus…remember me!”

Patience had prevailed!

Patience should never look the same to you now.

More on that later…

Growth and Maturity #2 (One Body-Gentleness)

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Be Gentle. When we envision gentleness, the word “soft” comes to mind. While this attribute tends to be easier for women, genuine gentleness is a difficult part of all of our walks as believers in the body. We are faced with much drama (and trauma) in the body. After this occurs, we’re left with a choice to make. Do we sever the body by lashing out verbally, physically ignoring them, or judging them under our breath, thus injecting more poison through the body? Or can we handle the situation differently. A Christ-like way. With gentleness. With a softness that won’t break them, but start the restoration process. Lift them up with grace and forgiveness, rather than amputating them and wreaking debilitating damage to the body as a whole. After all, isn’t this what Jesus did for us?

A story…

On shopping sprees with my wife, I instinctively slip away to make a pilgrimage to the bookshop. Poking around a while back, I paged through Heavier Than Heaven, a biography on the life of Kurt Cobain. Those of us who lived through the nineties either listened to, or at least heard, the “voice of our generation,” the depressed, angst-ridden, front man of the band Nirvana. The troubled soul who eventually rammed a shotgun in his mouth and blew his brains out. I scanned through descriptions of his bouts with depression and addiction, stomach pains and relationship issues. But a short passage in a rather obscure chapter reached out, gripped my heart, and ripped it out. Almost a physical pain. A lump even came up in my throat and my eyes got misty. The author reported of a time when Kurt “tried“ church. What Kurt met there was far from the body of Christ. Instead, he was met by a firing squad of contempt and judgment. In their eyes, he was only there to cause trouble, pollute their young people, pick up girls. And perhaps that was true. But do any of us come to Christ or to church with the purest motives? At least when we started. That experience, along with a couple of others, turned the young man away from Jesus and led to a life-long irritation for those of faith. And a depressive impact on a generation. And a hopeless life. And a lonely suicide. And a suicide that led to other suicides and disillusionment.

I don’t live in the past. Nor do I possess any regrets (for they’ve brought me to where I am today). But take a moment to contemplate the question: What if Kurt Cobain had encountered the body of Christ, love personified, Jesus with flesh on. Imagine if he had been loved with gentleness? The next time we meet in worship, look around and see your friends and others with habits, hurts, and hang-ups. Don’t turn your face or attention away from them. And please don’t judge and condemn them. But with gentleness, reach out and strengthen the body. We’re all in this together. And we’ll only stay together if we live lives of gentleness.

Practice gentleness…

Growth and Maturity #1 (One Body-Humility)

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

If you’re comparing the devotions with John’s messages, we’ll now ready to enter week four of the series- “Grow and mature as followers of the body.” We've already taken a gander at the church as the body of Christ and how to have a healthy body, we need healthy members. In contrast, we've also mentioned the damage a wounded member can do to the remainder of body. The time has now come to elaborate on the “oneness” of the body, to what John labeled the “Seven Ones.” They are:

One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

Over the course of the next week, we’ll dive deeper into these things.

1. One body

Our lives, both individually and collectively, should reflect Jesus and his calling on our lives (verse 1). And how do we do that? The Apostle Paul continues his Jesus-inspired rant, “Be humble, gentle, patient, bear one another in love, and make an effort to live in unity and peace.”

Be Humble. Contrary to humanistic beliefs, we’re not born humble. Humility is something sought after, and learned, over time from looking to (and living) the example of Jesus Christ. It’s the pushing aside of ourselves (or who we think we are) to lift up Yahweh. It’s as Paul writes, “Jesus becoming greater and us becoming smaller.” Flip over a few pages in your Bible (Philippians 2) and we’re given a vivid description and definition of humility. Jesus being God, stepping down from his eternal glory to become an insignificant human. Lowering himself to our level. Then, God raising him up and putting him in the place of honor. (He never lifted himself up but always allowed the Father to do so.) When we follow such an example, we too will be given a place of honor.

In a recent conversation over coffee with a friend, I heard one of the greatest acts of human humility, a story so poignantly powerful, it caused me to reevaluate my own humility. My friend told me of this guy who had decided to walk in loving relationship with Jesus. He sobered up and cleaned up and moved forward by faith. Even got a job and some money in his pocket. I’ve worked in recovery and rehab circles long enough to see and know what happens next. With money in their pocket, most run back out there and spend it, brushing Jesus off as if a piece of insignificant lent. Then, after finding out the world is shallow and superficial and can’t fill the void, they are swallowed by their addictions again. They return to the chains of their past. And the brutal process continues. I was prepared to hear yet another sad story of sorrow.

As my friend dramatically paused, I felt a surprise ending coming on. He told me the man became an inspiration and an example of genuine humility. That Jesus became greater. And the man smaller. This man, this new creation in Christ, did buy himself a vehicle. But it was an old beat up pick up truck. And the only reason he made the purchase was to carry the grill in the back. This man would set up on streets- the streets he used to run on- and cook for the community. All his money went to food and all his time went to ministering to these people. All his energy went to sharing the Gospel through his words and actions. His humility won people to the cause of Christ.

While we’re not all called to such ministry, we are all called to imitate such humility. Humility that personifies the body of Christ. Humility that puts flesh and blood on the church.

Practice humility…

Seeking God #10 (Fellowship With Other Believers #2)

2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1 (NLT)

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty” Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

Yesterday, I abandoned you to ponder four questions. Today, we’ll explore them…

1. What kind of fruit do they bear? - Fig Tree verses

On numerous occasions, fruit (and/or trees) are used in the Bible as graphic word pictures. A person’s fruit is what blossoms from their lives (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control). These people lift you up with their words and actions, help you out during difficult times, and live a Christ-like example for you DAILY (not just at Sunday service). The opposite is painfully clear. Lying, cheating, stealing, drunkenness, whoring around. Such diseased fruit can spread to us if we’re not careful. You wouldn’t pick up a bruised orange from the market. You wouldn’t snag a rotten, worm-laced apple from the tree. So why would we rub shoulders with those who would cause us stomach problems?

2. How do they speak of others, including the church?

We need to choose friends who discuss the good things about people, those who refrain from gossip, those who encourage others when they speak, praise the accomplishments and values of others, rejoice with them when they achieve something. Surround yourself with those who focus on the good of the church and our desire to live out “the vision.” Those who condemn other members (or visitors) or knit-pick the pastor’s preaching or voicing dissent about the song selection are those you don’t need to connect to. Before you know, you’ll be their echo.

3. Do they frustrate or encourage?

It’s been mentioned in both previous comments…so it must be important! Your friends should encourage you, not frustrate you. They should be a near constant source of inspiration, accountability, and even mentorship. True friends don’t look down on you, take advantage of your generosity, or use you as a punching bag of blame. A simple test. Pause after you’re next encounter with someone you consider a friend. Are you left with an uplifted spirit of encouragement? Or are somehow angry, bitter, envious, or ready to share their juicy gossip? Our question would then be answered for us.

4. Do you think Jesus would want to be a third-party in their conversations?

In my book (for what that’s worth), this is the most important question John brought up. Studies and surveys have consistently shown us that we are products of our society. At least in some form or fashion. What, who, and where you are will inevitably rub off on you. You are, essentially, who you are around. Without insulting your intelligence, this tells us that if we spend our time with believers trying to make it, we are more likely to succeed in our Life-Change than if we were hanging out with our old running buddies. Reach out to the lost, but in your reaching, don’t tumble back out there.

Seeking God #9 (Fellowship With Other Believers #1)

Psalm 1:1-6 (NLT)

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Before leaving the topic of how we seek God, John added our need to fellowship with other believers. If we so desired, we could flip through page after page through scripture after scripture presenting us with the positives and negatives of “gathering ourselves together.” But more than likely, we’ve heard all of these verses so much that we’re immune to or desensitized to them.

So let’s head straight to the source of the verses. God Himself. Yahweh. Creator. And His creation.

Although not a hunter, nothing invigorates me more than a tromp through the outdoors. Give me a backpack, water, Clif bars, a notebook, and a Bible and send me to the woods at your own risk. I may never return. I may even get lost. On purpose.

On my hiking excursions, I soak in nature. And if nature has taught us anything, it’s this- there is safety in numbers, or even more specifically,  the weakest members of the pack are always the first picked off. This word picture may capture your attention more than any Scripture I could quote.

Think about it. An animal with a wounded leg, a weaker immune system, frail health or is just too young to be on its own will inevitably slip behind and make quite the tantalizing appetizer for a predator. Or you can go the opposite way with it. An animal that thinks he is strong enough to venture off into the great unknown alone is singled out and cut off, isolated and endangered.  The power of one is no match for the collective strength of the group. Pride can kill (and not just the lion variety).

What is evident in nature is mirrored in our Christian walk. If we aren’t empowered by the Holy Spirit through constant and consistent relationship time with Yahweh and other believers, we’re prone to fall in a weakened state. If we set out in pride to save the world alone because we think we’re more righteous, we’ll be devoured by the enemy.

Truth is…we need to run with the pack. With the Jesus Pack. With other believers. How can we find the “right” pack to run with? John gave us four questions to ask ourselves to see if we’re running with real Refugees:

1. What kind of fruit do they bear?

2. How do they speak of others, including the church?

3. Do they frustrate or encourage?

4. Do you think Jesus would want to be a third-party in their conversations?

Consider these questions and we’ll analyze them deeper tomorrow.

Reflection and Meditation

1. Reflect back over the week. Did you find yourself talking / listening to God more this week? What effect did this have on you?

2. Are you not only completing the devotions but applying them to your life as well? If not, what are some ways in which you can begin applying them. If so, what effect has this had on your Jesus-Walk?

3. What does the Bible mean to you?

4. Are you willing to undertake Bible study? Pick you an accountability partner and have them ask you (daily if possible) how its going.

5. Read the passage from Max’s book. Out loud. Before you start the day. For the next week. Enjoy the change.

Seeking God #8 (Bible Study #3)

Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Just the other day, a new friend of mine asked how much Bible study had really changed me during the course of my Jesus-walk. I answered by sharing with him this portion of When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado. This passage, along with living one day at a time, helped radically change me. As a writer, I can only wish to capture with words what Max did here-

“Each Day…It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still dark. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few minutes the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will e replaced by the pounding pace of the of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love…No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy…I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace…I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience…I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness…I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God treated me.

I choose goodness…I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness…Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will come home.

I choose gentleness…Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, my it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control…I am a spiritual being…After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when my day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”

Seeking God #7 (Bible Study #2)

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Let’s face something. The Bible can be quite intimidating. Especially for new believers. Or for stunted believers who’ve put off a more thorough (and therefore more challenging) study. Many people I know have snatched the Bible off the shelf, knocked the dust off, and dove into the book of Genesis with the honorable ambition of reading through the entire Bible. No one I know has finished this, most of them surrendering before law sixteen (of hundreds listed) in the book of Deuteronomy. That “no-man’s-land” has gunned down many a seeker charging out of the trenches of complacency. My last desire would be to discourage you from such an undertaking. I, like your fearless pastor, am merely advising taking it in chunks. Slowly. Over time. The following is a basic outline of Bible study ideas John offered, along with some I’ve learned along the way. As John related, the most important thing is that you “dig in and drink deeply.”

• Make up your mind (and your will) to study the Bible.


• Pray for understanding each time you open the Word.


• Take one day at a time.


• Conduct your Bible study during the “best” part of your day.


• Buy (or borrow) several translations of the Bible to get a different perspective.


• Buy (or borrow) extra resources to help…commentaries, handbooks, etc.


• Write down your observations so you can track your growth.


• Share what you learn with others (which is perhaps the greatest reason).

Now you have some guidelines. No more excuses.

Now it’s accountability time. After doing this for a week, come and share what you’ve learned with me, John, or the wiser and wittier Jason. And I’ll be prepared to share mine as well.

Seeking God #6 (Bible Study #1)

Psalm 119:9-16 (NLT)

How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

As a teacher, I relate the material in many different ways, so as to make the activities and lessons more engaging and learner-centered. One way I do this is by dropping hints and allowing my kids to try to figure the topic/person/event out ahead of time. Without further ado, I want you to attempt the following question with the prompts provided:

What am I?

According to Pastor John, this determines your success and failure as a Christ follower. It is the most untapped resource available to all of us. It is truth, life, wisdom, knowledge. It relates both our beginning…and our end. It includes such subjects as poetry, history, science, psychology, sociology, literature, prophecy, and dozens more. It can be both mundane and gloriously exciting. It is the all-time bestseller but rarely read, and even more rarely lived out in principle. It is simple yet profoundly deep. You can do it again and again and get something different each time. It goes beyond mere words on a page to the unseen, eternal world. It soars along airwaves and is broadcasted into homes through televisions and internet. It has been dissected and proven. People have died to bring its words and principles to us. It makes people weep, cry, rejoice, dance, sing, shout and praise. Many have ripped it out of context and a few have preached passionately about it. It has been brought to all the world, bringing with it a message of freedom and hope. It shines light in the darkness. Its sharper than a two-edged sword, shoving the gray world into contrasting shades of black and white. It gives us the good news. It gives us an eternal love story, a romance that even us guys can get in to- of a Creator who loved his fallen creation so much he entered said creation and reconciled that creation to himself. All in the name of Love (my apologies Bono).

What am I?

Bible Study.

(Yes, yes, I know. You were all bright enough to read the devotional title and thereby get the answer. If you didn’t do that, I’m sure you figured it out along the way. If you still did not, this study is exactly what you need.)

So, why, if it involves all of this, don’t we do it more often?

Seeking God #5 (Prayer #4)

Continued from yesterday…

3. Philippians 4:6-7 (Overcoming Worry)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

The greatest way to overcome worry, anxiety, and all-out fear is a consistent and constant prayer life. It's quite simple really. If you’re in constant communication with the God of peace, patience, and freedom, there is no room for worry, anxiety, or fear. Everything is placed in his hands, complete with your thankfulness for faithfulness. It's not that we won’t experience the dark valleys of life- deaths of people or unpaid bills or cancer or a stubbed toe or lost job or a million other things. But it means we face those things with the lover of our soul standing side by side with us. This Jesus who told us we would face troubles, but to take heart for He has already overcome the world and its petty issues (John 16:33). You can have His peace not only in the world to come…but in the one today!

4. Jeremiah 33:3 (Spiritual Knowledge and Maturity)

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

Have you ever been in meditation and wondered about the great mysteries of God. About who God is and how He operates. About the significance of Jesus stepping out of heaven and wandering homeless on the earth. About what life is and the purpose behind it. About inner peace and a clear conscience and a pure heart. About how we must die to live and live to die. About how we become the best by becoming the least. I have…and still do.

And the answers lie in God. And in this verse John shared, God’s offering to enlighten us to things we consider “great and unsearchable.” Why is it then that myself and others say something along the lines of, “Some things we’ll just never know” or “we’ll know it all once we get to heaven.” Is it a lack of faith that has us relating such fallacies or is it perhaps because we haven’t taken the time to call to him with such profound inquiries? Maybe both. But here again is God telling us, “Call me. Ask me anything. Anything! And I’ll tell you.” God may be mysterious, but he’s not secretive.

Back to the bottom line: All of these references, observations, and devotions don’t mean anything unless we APPLY them to our lives. So, I, like John and Jason before me, challenge you not only to read these verses, but pray and apply them. And watch in wonder as a world you never thought possible…is.

Seeking God #4 (Prayer #3)

Another word about prayer. There are hundreds of references to prayer throughout the Scriptures. Many we have memorized; many more we know in principle and paraphrase.  As John continued to guide us through week three of the Back to the Basics series, he highlighted four references that those of us who were in the old punk rock scene would refer to as “underground.” Off the beaten path. Not in the norm or mainstream of conversation. Different…in a good way.

Like pastors feel the need to preach until at least twelve (I’m only half kidding), teachers must elaborate on lessons to reinforce them. So I will follow the verses with a brief observation.

(Author’s Note: whether or not the far wiser and wittier Jason will have the space to print out all of the Scriptures, I don’t know. Especially the Hosea reference. But I encourage you to read them before proceeding. The title following the references were Pastor‘s words, not my own.)

1. James 4:2-3 (Voicing Our Request)

You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

In his letter, James explains two overlooked principles in prayer- our not asking for things and the motives behind our prayers. One reason we don’t posses the fulfilling spiritual life we desire (or one at all) is that we simply don’t ask. We sort of just expect it. We already know He knows everything, but we don’t ask out of pride or ignorance. But our asking for his help displays a healthy humility and acknowledgement that He alone can provide for our needs. Secondly, our motives go hand in hand with the aforementioned humility. If we expect anything to come of our conversations with God, we must leave our selfish desires at his feet. One way to tell if you’re a maturing Christ follower is that your prayers focus less and less on you and more and more on Jesus and others. Unless our heart is broken before God and our motives are pure, we’re wasting our breath. As with anything with God, it comes down to the beat of your heart. Are we praying to communicate love with our Savior? Or are we rubbing the lamp and wishing our personal genie will appear? Why settle for three wishes when there are an endless number of unselfishness ones waiting to be granted?

2. Hosea 14:1-7 (Seeking Forgiveness)

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the LORD. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises. Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.” The LORD says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon. Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon. My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.

Yes, there is a book of the Bible called Hosea. And no, the spiteful, vengeful, judgmental Old Testament God who lacked mercy and grace never existed. We must look no further than this selection of Scripture to see this. In it, he tells us our downfall (sin), instructs us to return to Him (repentance) and nothing but Him can save us (humility/grace/mercy), and finally that we will then be healed (salvation/restoration) and flourish (filled with the fruits of the Spirit). And he does so in such beautiful, poetic word pictures. No one can read that and see anything else. Prayer involves forgiveness.

To be continued…

Reflection and Meditation

1. Where (or with who) does you passion lay? Has this passion become an idol you have put in God’s place?

2. Ask yourself the questions from Tuesday’s devotion: Do I leap and shout when it comes to the things of God- not just in a literal way, but spiritually? Am I passionate- not simply generally interested or complacently consistent- in my walk? If I can do such things for a soccer match, and you can do them for ________ [fill in the blank here], why can’t we display as much (or more) for the Savior of our very souls?

3. What are the positive things that result from meeting with others to worship God?

4. Describe your prayer life. Is it everything you think it can be? What are some ways in which you can pray that you haven’t tried before?

Seeking God #3 (Prayer #2)

Matthew 6:5-15 (NLT)

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

At some point in our walk (just this last week for me), we all reach a point where we feel like we’re beating our head against a spiritual wall. Its the age-old problem of feeling like our prayers have soared only as far as the clouds before they ricochet back, never fully making it to the ears of Jesus. Or if they are, he’s just sitting quietly. In those times, let us not further our desperation by walking away. But instead, let us persevere, standing in faith and in the promises we’ve been given. There isn’t a “correct” way to pray but I wrote the following based off the Lord’s prayer for my guys at the shelter. When I hit “the wall,” I try to return to these. And true to His word, Jesus comforts me with His presence. I also find that it wasn’t he who wasn’t really listening…but me.

1. Find a quiet spot free of distractions.

2. Communicate with God. Listen, talk, sing, write, read a Psalm.

3. Worship and praise God for who He is, what He has done in creating and restoring you, and where He has brought you from.

4. Confess any sin that may be blocking a complete relationship with Jesus. Be specific if possible. He knows anyway, but there is freedom in not hiding it.

5. Repent and ask forgiveness. Ask Him to forgive where you fall short of his glory and step into self. Tell him of your desire to avoid going back to the vomit of your past and your desire to follow His will.

6. Thank Him. Give thanks for such things as salvation, love, shelter, food, clothes, your still being alive, forgiveness and forgetting. You’ll find that your lists can go on for days, so maybe pick a day to thank him for survival things, another day to thank him for particular people, another day for things in recovery. And so on.

7. Personal Requests. Ask God for stuff. Your genuine needs. And even your wants. Stay in God’s will, the fruits of the spirit, direction, others, health. Whatever is on your heart really. Revelation, clarity, wisdom, understanding. Soften people’s hearts for your message and amends. Avoid traps of temptation. Rely more on him. Shape and mold you in his image.

8. Reflection/Meditation/Listening. To finish, sit still and quiet. Reflect on God. Take deep breaths. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as he speaks into your soul.