In Search Of A Better Tomorrow

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Time Alone With God daily devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ Church

Tuesday, November 1

Read: Romans 8:12-17

Romans 8:12-17
New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

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Consider: The scriptures teach that every human being is a child of God. We were all created in his image (Genesis 1:26-27). All of us are his image-bearers. So what did Paul mean when he said that “those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14)?

We know that some people do not live as though they have a parent. Some people have rejected their parents. They have no communication with them and, therefore, no relationship with them. I’m not throwing stones here. For some, there may be good reasons they have had to cut off that relationship. Others have been given no choice. All I’m saying is that it is possible to have a parent without living as that parent’s child.

Paul is asking us to embrace our Heaven Father—to embrace his parenthood in our lives. And he tells us that as we allow the Father to lead us, we are led into greater intimacy with him. That’s why he uses the Aramaic term, Abba (8:15). It is a term of endearment that a child uses when talking to his or her father.

What is fascinating is Paul’s teaching that we are adopted into the family (8:15). In our self-ness and sinfulness, we rejected God’s fatherhood in our lives. We rejected our heritage. But we were welcomed back into the family. And since we so thoroughly rejected him, he adopted us to once again call us his children.

We were born as his children. Then we were adopted—born again.

Pray: Prayerfully meditate on what it means to be adopted into God’s family. Consider that adoption doesn’t happen accidentally. It is intentional and comes at a great price to the adoptive parents. Ask the Holy Spirit to translate the image of adoption for you so that today you live with a renewed sense that God is your Father.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

Time Alone With God daily devotional written by Pastor Phil Stout of JAXNAZ

Monday, October 31

Read: 1 John 3:1-3

1 John 3:1-3
New International Version (NIV)

3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Consider: In recent days we’ve looked at the images the New Testament uses to describe the people of God—the church of Jesus Christ. We are described as the “body” of Christ. Of course, that is more than an image. The Holy Spirit dwells in the church, so we literally are the physical manifestation—the hands and feet—of Christ in our world.

We are also called the “bride” of Christ. We are loved and cherished by him beyond what we can possibly imagine. We cannot fully understand his affection toward us, but we can live in the reality of that love.

There is another image that is ubiquitous throughout the Old and New Testament. It is so engrained in our God-concept that we rarely take it out and look at it. We are called the children of God.

From the outset we are taught that God is our Father. And it is vitally important for us to live in that reality and to constantly remind ourselves that we are his children. This helps us avoid the trap of trying to earn our standing with God. Fatherhood is not something that children earn. It is a gift to them—a gift to us—at birth.

Sometimes we find ourselves trying to convince ourselves that we are worthy to be called the children of God. For many, this is the result of a distant earthly father or a dad who seemed impossible to please. When we hear the word “Father,” we have only one reference point.

While the concept of God as our Father may be deeply engrained in us, we must constantly be on guard so that we do not embrace a distorted concept of the Father. We can only grow in our understanding of the Father as we learn to walk with him day-by-day and moment-by-moment. As he teaches us to love, we learn to trust in his love more and more. We’ll never understand God’s love apart from intimacy with him.

Pray: As you pray the Lord’s Prayer, linger on the first words—“Our Father in heaven…” Prayerfully meditate on your Father. If you have or had a good relationship with your earthly father, you may want to take hold of some things about him that are most dear to you. See how that translates to your concept of your Eternal Father. If your relationship with your earthly father was negative or nonexistent, you may want to consider the longings you have for a father and see how your Eternal Father wants to guide you to that relationship with him. However you approach him, thank God for being your Father.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

Time Alone With God daily devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout of JAXNAZ Church

Monday, October 17

Read: Matthew 3:1-17

Matthew 3
New International Version (NIV)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way
3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”[a]
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

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Consider: As Matthew introduces us to John the Baptizer, he repeatedly makes it clear what John was preaching—repentance.

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” (3:1-2)

“…he said to them…‘Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.’” (3:7-8)

“I baptize you with water for repentance.” (3:11)

Repentance is an often misunderstood concept. People tend to see repentance as synonymous with confession. Confession of our sins is certainly a part of repentance, but repentance is so much more. Simply put, to repent is to turn around. It is to change directions. It is not about living in the regrets of the past, but about hope for the future. It means stepping into the new life that God has for us and following a different path.

This brings a complete change in the way we think, in the way we prioritize, in what we value most, in how we determine our ethics, and in what comprises the center of our universe. That’s why Paul said…

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This repentance that John preached was such a radical thing that it was to be marked with a strange, but wonderful event—water baptism. This beautiful sacrament carries with it the image of cleansing. That’s why it is a celebration. We are washed, not by the water, but by the Spirit. This submission to the water is a sign of our repentance, his forgiveness and our cleansing from sin.

You can see John’s reticence to baptize Jesus. He knew that Jesus needed neither repentance nor forgiveness. But Jesus chose to become one of us and for that reason he said to John, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this…” (Matthew 3:15).

Later, the work of Christ would infuse even more meaning into this simple act of submitting to the water and submitting to the Holy Spirit.

Pray: Praise the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing. Ask him to help you today to walk in the joy of knowing that your sins are forgiven. Thank him that repentance is not about our regrets of the past. Instead it empowers us to live in joy today and in hope for tomorrow.

Time Alone With God daily devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout of JAXNAZ Church

Wednesday, October 19

Read: Galatians 3:26-29

Galatians 3:26-29

New International Version (NIV)

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

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Consider: There is a third meaning to baptism that is so important for us to consider. We are baptized “into Christ” (3:27) and that means that we are baptized into his body. Baptism is not only a sign of forgiveness, cleansing and resurrection. It is also a sign of inclusion in the Body of Christ. To be baptized “into Christ” means that “you are all one in Christ Jesus” (3:28). It means we are baptized into one another.

I have baptized people in lakes, in ponds, in swimming pools, in hospital beds and in the church. But I have never baptized a person alone. It is always done with other members of the Body of Christ because it is a communal experience. Being baptized is a recognition of Christ’s work in your life and of his ongoing work in you and through you by means of the church—the Body of Christ.

Of course, underlying the whole concept of water baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Going back to Monday’s reading we remember that John said…

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 3:11)

It is the infilling of Christ’s Spirit—the baptism of the Holy Spirit—that places the life of Christ in our bodies. But our individual bodies were never intended to live in spiritual, emotional or physical isolation. Our individual bodies are referred to as parts—or members—of one body.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Christ is in you. You are in Christ. But that is not the end of it. We share something so powerful that it can only be communicated by saying that we—together—are in Christ, for we together have been “baptized into Christ” and have “clothed” ourselves “with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

Pray: Praise the Lord for the gift that is the Body of Christ. Pray for your local body of believers. Pray that God blesses the church with his presence and with effectiveness in fulfilling our call to…

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19)

Time Alone With God daily devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout of JAXNAZ Church

Thursday, October 20

Read: Matthew 28:16-20

New International Version (NIV)

The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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Consider: It is interesting that in his final directions to his disciples, Jesus included baptism in the strategy for changing the world. Why would it be important to dip people in water in order to bring about the redemption of God’s creation? Why is that part of our marching orders?

Let’s go back to yesterday’s discussion. When we submit ourselves to baptism, we’re attaching ourselves to the Body of Christ. To be baptized “into Christ” means that “you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

This body of believers is amazing. It is comprised of Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians and a wide variety of Protestants. We worship in huge cathedrals, small country churches, storefronts, coffee houses, in “underground” homes and among the trees in remote jungles. We come from every nation and every ethnicity. Our customs, liturgies, rituals and worship styles are as diverse as we are.

But we don’t only span geography and culture. We span time. We worship a God “who was, and is and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). And because we are made in his image, redeemed and resurrected by him, the same is true of us. The church is past, present and future.

The church is called to be the manifestation of Christ on earth. We are called to be the hands of Christ and we join hands with Christians across the ages. We are not only defined by what Christ has done in us as individuals. We are also defined by what Christ has done in his church and through his church.

Jesus told the Eleven to “go and make disciples” (28:19). We are those disciples that were “made” by the obedience of Jesus’ first disciples. So just as I am one with you and you are one with me, so we are one with Peter, James and John—and two millennia of faithful followers. We call that the “Communion of the Saints.”

Pray: Take some time to prayerfully meditate on the precious gift that has been given to you—the gift of being part of Christ’s church. Consider all that God has given you through the church and thank him for all of those blessings. Meditate on what it means to commune with the saints throughout the ages.

Friday, October 21

Time Alone With God Daily Devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ Church

Read: Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19-20

New International Version (NIV)

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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Consider: “Go and make disciples” (28:19). We call this “The Great Commission.”

There are other expressions for it as well. We often talk about “evangelizing” others. The root word in the original language of the New Testament is euangel, which simply means “good news.” It is also translated as “gospel” in our English Bibles. So any time you read the word “gospel” in the New Testament, remember it really means good news.

But over the years evangelizing has come on hard times. I believe the reason is that the word has become too narrow. When some people think of evangelizing, they think of proselytizing or recruiting. They reduce The Great Commission to convincing someone to say a prayer or make a decision. But Jesus didn’t say, “Go and make decisions.” He said, “Go and make disciples.”

A disciple is more than a believer. A disciple is a follower and a learner. A disciple is one who emulates the life of the master. A disciple is one who does the work of the master with the master.

Jesus made disciples by calling them, teaching them, living with them, correcting them, ministering with them and, most of all, loving them. He didn’t simply ask them to repeat a prayer. He said, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19).

And we are called to make disciples in the same way. We humbly follow the master. We allow him to conform us to his image (Romans 8:29) so that we can say to others…

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Pray: “Lord, use my life, my heart and my passion in such a way that others can see Christ in me. I pray that as I follow you, others will be drawn to the journey.”

Time Alone with God daily devotionals

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, of JAXNAZ church

Friday, October 7

Read: Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:14-16
New International Version (NIV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Consider: “Let your light shine…” (5:16). The church—the city on a hill—is called to be light to the world.

It’s interesting to me that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus instructed us to “let your light shine before others,” but also warned us to “be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others…” (5:16 & 6:1). He is making an important distinction—one that liberates us and the people around us.

We are encouraged to let our lights shine—to freely allow the Spirit of Christ to flow through us—so “that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (5:16). We are warned against engaging in practices “in front of others to be seen by them” (6:1). Motivation is everything.

The anonymous acts of compassion we do are seen in such a way that God is glorified and we don’t get the credit. That’s good stuff!

Of course, we can’t always do God’s work in anonymity. But we can always ask God to help us be so transparent that others see him in us and through us.

This is true of individuals and of the church. My wish for the church is that we never use our acts of compassion as marketing tools—we never say, “Look at what we’re doing!” Rather, we want light to emanate from our hearts, our actions—our love—in such a manner that people see Jesus and understand his love for them in ways they could never have comprehended without being loved by his body.

Pray: “Lord, make us that beautiful city on a hill. Help each one of us to love with abandon—with no thought of how we are perceived. Help us to glorify you by being your hands and feet—your body.”

Time Alone with God daily devotionals

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, Lead Pastor of JAXNAZ CHURCH

Monday, October 10

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

1 Corinthians 12:12-14
New International Version (NIV)

Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

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Consider: The Corinthian church was a deeply troubled church. They were a divided and quarreling people. There was gross sexual immorality in their leadership. It was the kind of church you and I would run from. We’d be out of there as quickly as possible to go and find another church across town. But, of course, in that day there weren’t various churches around town. If you were a believer, you had access to only one Christian community. So I’m sure when people left the Corinthian church, they left the faith. In many ways the church at Corinth was doing more harm than good.

So when Paul wrote to the church, he did so with a mixture of sadness, frustration, anger and discipline. But at the root of his two Corinthian letters was his desire for them to understand. He wanted them to understand the gospel and the church—to understand with their lives and not simply with their minds.

To deal with their divisions, Paul reminded them that theologically, organically and spiritually they were one. They certainly weren’t living as one. But they were one. They were a body that was tearing itself apart.

Self-destruction is not a natural state for a physical body. Our bodies were created in such a manner that the health of the parts gives health to the whole and the health of the whole gives health to the parts. The parts cannot stand independent of the whole. Christ didn’t send his Spirit to fill my arm. He sent his Spirit to fill my body. He didn’t breathe life into my leg. He breathed life into my body.

But it goes further. This organic, spiritual body is not a description of any one of us. It is the description of all of us.

“Now you (plural) are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (12:27)

Pray: “Lord, you have not called me to independence. You called me to inter-dependence. You called the church to strengthen me and you called me—as a part of your body—to strengthen the church. Show me how—through my prayers, my words, my actions, my love and my passion—I can strengthen your body.”

Time Alone with God daily devotionals

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ church lead pastor

Tuesday, October 11

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:14-27

1 Corinthians 12:14-27New International Version (NIV)

14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

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Consider: The metaphor of the physical body is incredibly powerful for communicating the realities of the church—the body of Christ. As you read Paul’s words, your mind drifts between insight about the physical body and understanding the spiritual body. The realities of both are clear to see.

I think the reason this is such a powerful metaphor is the fact that it really isn’t a metaphor. I think Paul and the early church believed that they were literally the body of Christ.

When Christ—who existed before creation (John 1:1-3)—came to us, he put on a physical body (John 1:14). The cosmic Christ came to us in Jesus of Nazareth. I always say that what happened in the manger of Bethlehem was not Jesus coming into existence, it was Jesus coming to our neighborhood.

As he left us in the flesh, he promised us that his Spirit would live with us and in us. In the second chapter of Acts we read where this same Spirit—the Spirit of Christ—was poured into the physical bodies of the church. You and I are literally the body of Christ. We are his actual hands and feet. We are the manifestation of Christ in this world.

Take some time to reflect on the ramifications of that truth. If we really are the body of Christ, what does that mean about how we treat one another? What does it mean when it comes to serving the body? What does it mean about our affection and love for the church?

It is life-changing and life-transforming to understand—with our whole being—the New Testament vision of the church.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see the church as you see it. Thank you for making me part of your body.”

Time Alone With God daily devotionals

for the week of October 2 to October 8

written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ church.

Monday, October 3

Read: Genesis 12:1-4

Genesis 12:1-4New International Version (NIV)

The Call of Abram
12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”[b]
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

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Consider: In the first book of the Bible—the book of beginnings—we read about God calling Abram to a new life. It is amazing to see how Abram responded. The call was so unexpected and so demanding. In the New Testament, Abram (later known as Abraham) is lauded for his amazing obedience.

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country…for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

It is important for us to see that the call given to Abraham was more than a call to a person. It was a call to a people.

I love to read about the heroes of our faith. I am always challenged by the eleventh chapter of Hebrews and books on the history of Christianity. I’m amazed and humbled when I learn about the martyrs who went before us. But it is important for me to understand that the story of God’s work on earth is not simply a story of stand-alone saints. It is not the story of persons as much as it is the story of a people. And we see this from the very beginning. God said to Abraham…

“I will make you into a great nation…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

In our highly individualized culture, it can be difficult to remember that God’s call on my life is also a call to a people. I am so accustomed to making sure that I am right with God, that I have my needs met, that I have plans for my future. But God never intended for my faith to be mine and mine alone.

When we rediscover that peoplehood is more important than personhood, all of God’s ways take on a new perspective. We think differently about prosperity, joy, success, suffering, peace and love. We pray “Give us today our daily bread” rather than “give me today my daily bread.” We pray “Forgive us our sins” rather than simply saying “forgive me my sins” (Matthew 6:11-12). We bear the burdens of others, and in the process, discover our burdens to be much lighter than they were before.

Pray: Ask the Lord to help you see your call in the perspective of his will for his people. Pray the Lord’s Prayer with a strong consciousness of the “our,” “us” and “we” manner in which he called us to pray.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

Tuesday, October 4

Read: Romans 9:22-26

Romans 9:22-26
New International Version (NIV)

22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”[a]
26 and,

“In the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”[b]

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Consider: We saw yesterday how God chose a person in order to create a people. The call of Abram was part of God’s plan for his entire creation. It was not an isolated blessing that was promised to one individual. God told Abram that “all peoples on earth” would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3).

This thing that began in Genesis continues throughout the Old Testament. God didn’t only create a people, he entered into a covenantal relationship with them. And though they broke the covenant again and again, God continued to love his people and call them back to him.

As he says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” and, “In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’” (Romans 9:25-26)

Sometimes we miss the joy of being the people of God by focusing solely on being a person of God. At times my ego wants to stand apart from the rest. I want to accomplish things that make me feel special. I want to be used mightily by God instead of wanting his people to be Christ on this earth.

The irony is that if I’m using my relationship with God to shore up my weak ego, I’m missing my real worth in Christ. My worth is not in standing apart, making a name for myself or leaving a personal legacy. My worth is experienced as I understand that Christ is in me and I am in Christ (John 14:20). And to be in Christ is to be in his body—his people.

Pray: “Lord, I don’t have to earn your favor. I already have it. I don’t have to prove my worth. You gave it to me. I don’t have to stand apart and prove to myself that I am significant. I am in Christ and Christ is in me. You are in your people and your people are in you. Thank you!”

Wednesday, October 5

Read: Ephesians 3:20-21

Ephesians 3:20-21
New International Version (NIV)

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

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Consider: For the past two days we’ve looked at God’s creation and call of a “people” in the Old Testament. But the people of God—the people of the covenant—are not simply the subject of the Old Testament. The New Testament continues their story and gives them a new name—the church. Paul tells us that now we are children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7).

So the same reverence we give to the nation of Israel that God created, we also give to the church of Jesus Christ. We have been invited and accepted into the “people” that God created to bless all of creation.

I fear that sometimes we miss the significance of the church. I know our culture doesn’t understand the church. But sometimes I’m afraid that nominal Christians view the church as simply a gathering of people who have common religious convictions, opinions and preferences. And since our culture honors individual accomplishment, the church is seen as optional. The concept of a “personal” relationship with Christ has been convoluted into a “private” relationship with Christ. This individualized idea of Christianity easily endorses the values of this world. Without a powerful concept of the “people of God”—the body of Christ—there is no power in our Christian lives. We simply become agents of the values of our surrounding culture while claiming we’re agents of the new kingdom.

God has a different plan. Paul said…

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known…” (Ephesians 3:10)

I often say that I want God to be glorified in my life. I mean that with all my heart. And while we constantly see God honored in the lives of individuals, we know that work is made possible because God is gloried in a people.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Pray: Thank God for inviting you—inviting us—into his family to be the people of God. Ask the Lord how you today, by your prayers and by your actions, can honor God by honoring his people.

Thursday, October 6

Read: Matthew 5:14

Matthew 5:14

New International Version (NIV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Start:

Consider: A city on a hill. What a powerful symbol of hope. Imagine yourself as a wanderer who is lost in the wilderness. You have been journeying through desert lands and your supplies and strength are almost gone. Far ahead you see a light. And you know what it is. It’s a city. It’s a people. It’s hope.

It’s also a sign of protection. In times past, cities were built on hills so they could be defended. The high walls of a city on a hill were a guarantee against surprise attacks.

It’s also a symbol of strength. Jesus didn’t talk about a hut on a hill, an encampment on a hill or even a village on a hill. He talked about the lights that shone from the houses, buildings and streets of a city on a hill.

So who was Jesus talking to when he said, “You are the light of the world”—you are that city on a hill? Those words of Jesus came immediately after the blessings, as he was addressing…

the poor in spirit

those who mourn

the meek

those who hunger for righteousness and justice

the merciful

the pure in heart

the peacemakers

the persecuted (5:3-12).

The hope, protection and strength—the light of the world—was again being defined by our Lord in ways that the world could not understand. This city on a hill—the church of Jesus Christ—will have to be understood in a manner consistent with God’s intent for his people.

When we look at Jesus, we see light. When the world looks at us, they should see light. For God has formed his church to be a city on a hill.

Pray: “Lord, I pray for your church—your body. We are weak and frail. And yet, you said that your strength would be perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Give us your strength as we embrace the meekness of Christ. Help us to allow you to define hope and strength rather than embracing the values of the kingdoms around us.”

Friday, October 7

Read: Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:14-16
New International Version (NIV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Start:

Consider: “Let your light shine…” (5:16). The church—the city on a hill—is called to be light to the world.

It’s interesting to me that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus instructed us to “let your light shine before others,” but also warned us to “be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others…” (5:16 & 6:1). He is making an important distinction—one that liberates us and the people around us.

We are encouraged to let our lights shine—to freely allow the Spirit of Christ to flow through us—so “that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (5:16). We are warned against engaging in practices “in front of others to be seen by them” (6:1). Motivation is everything.

The anonymous acts of compassion we do are seen in such a way that God is glorified and we don’t get the credit. That’s good stuff!

Of course, we can’t always do God’s work in anonymity. But we can always ask God to help us be so transparent that others see him in us and through us.

This is true of individuals and of the church. My wish for the church is that we never use our acts of compassion as marketing tools—we never say, “Look at what we’re doing!” Rather, we want light to emanate from our hearts, our actions—our love—in such a manner that people see Jesus and understand his love for them in ways they could never have comprehended without being loved by his body.

Pray: “Lord, make us that beautiful city on a hill. Help each one of us to love with abandon—with no thought of how we are perceived. Help us to glorify you by being your hands and feet—your body.”

Saturday, October 8

Read: Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13-16

New International Version (NIV)

Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Start:

Consider: Salt and light. One is almost invisible. (You know, when you’re in a dark restaurant and you put too much salt on your potatoes because you couldn’t see how fast it came out of the shaker.) The other is highly visible. It is the light of a city on a hill that can be seen miles away.

We are both. The church of Jesus Christ is salt and light. We are visible while being highly invisible.

From my vantage point as a pastor, many times I get to see what is done in relative silence. Every day members of the body take the love of Christ to hospitals and homes. People anonymously supply material needs to those who are struggling. Members of the body weep together and rejoice together. Some spend hours in intercessory prayer for others. Lives are saved, futures are altered and hope is restored without fanfare. Servants love to serve. And they love to serve Christ by serving others, not by calling attention to themselves.

So it’s amazing when the things that are done in silence and anonymity shine out like a city on a hill. When that happens it truly is the light of Christ. Then, as Jesus said, God is praised (5:16) and the kingdom has come.

Pray: Thank God for the salt that becomes light—the sincere works done in the dark and difficult places that shine forth God’s love. Thank him that your work is part of his great plan. Ask him to help you find incredible joy in serving, even and especially when no one is looking.

Time Alone With God daily devotionals

by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ church

Monday, September 26

Read: Matthew 5:10-12

Matthew 5:10-12
New International Version (NIV)

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Start

Consider: Perhaps this final Beatitude—the blessing of the persecuted—is the most difficult one for us to bring into our context. While embracing poverty of spirit, meekness, mercy-giving and peacemaking are hard to do (5:3-9), it is difficult for me to even see how this final blessing pertains to me. I have never known persecution.

I read about the great saints and martyrs who have gone before us—“the great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1)—and I hope that my faith, commitment and love are that strong. I doubt that I’ll ever be tested in the same way that Stephen, Peter, Paul, Justin Martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Oscar Romero were. And yet, it is possible for me to become like them—it is possible for us to be like Jesus.

I also understand that there are people in our neighborhoods and churches who have experienced some forms of persecution. I think of teenagers who have been bullied for their faith. That may not sound significant to some people, but to a young person who desperately wants friends and supportive peers, rejection is monumental. I think of some people who are married to spouses who are hostile to their faith and who make life miserable. In ways unseen by the rest of us, their pain is deep—almost indescribable. Yes, real persecution takes place in the lives of people around us.

But it’s important that we don’t paint ourselves as victims when we are not suffering for the faith. If people disagree with us, we shouldn’t see that as persecution. If we are verbally attacking others for their beliefs, we shouldn’t point out their viciousness when they respond in like manner. (Remember, Jesus said that “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”—Matthew 7:2.)

Jesus said that you are blessed “when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you” because of your faith in him and your relationship with him (5:11). As we talk about persecution, it’s easy to focus on those insults and lies. But Jesus wants to focus us on the blessings.

This week we’ll look at some of the blessings he has for those who are beaten down—physically, emotionally, spiritually and relationally.

Pray: If you have been going through a time of persecution, thank the Lord that you are not forgotten. Praise him that you have been singled out for blessing. If you are not going through such a time, spend some time in prayer for your Christian sisters and brothers who are experiencing persecution. In some parts of the world our spiritual family is undergoing extreme persecution which includes the loss of churches, homes and even loss of life. They need our prayers.

Tuesday, September 27

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

1 Corinthians 1:26-31
New International Version (NIV)

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[a]

Start

Consider: We have a checkered history. We look back over two millennia of Christianity and we see times when the church was pure. We’ve never been faultless or free from error. But there have been times when the world looked at the church and clearly saw Jesus. The church displayed the unity of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) and the beauty of the Bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7).

But, sadly, there have been times—so many times—when the church was so corrupt that it was a force for evil in this world. People were attacked, tortured and killed in the name of Christ. Those who claimed the legacy of the persecuted became the persecutors.

As you study our history, you’ll find something fascinating happening within you. Your heart will break as you read about the Christian martyrs. Those brothers and sisters suffered so much for Christ and for you and me. But your grief will be much deeper when you read about those who persecuted others in the name of Jesus. When you see how “Christians” attacked our Jewish brothers and sisters, tried to destroy Islam by the sword, launched inquisitions against and tortured one another, used the Bible to justify subduing Native Americans and enslaving African Americans, and even today justify evil in the name of Christ, your heart is truly shattered.

What is the difference between a pure church and one full of corruption? The answer is found in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10). Corruption revolves around power. When we pursue power, we are forgetting the One who set aside power to redeem the world. The oppressive regimes of the world take the view from the top. The Beatitudes show us how to take the view from the bottom. And it is from that vantage point that the pure Body of Christ can be used to save the world.

“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are…” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)

Pray: “Lord, I want your church to show forth the beauty of the Bride of Christ. I pray today for my church, the church in America and the church around the world. Help us to seek you rather than power. Forgive us of our arrogance and teach us to be humble. Help us to learn the values of the One who called us to humility of spirit and purity of heart (Matthew 5:3, 5, 8).”

Wednesday, September 28

Read: Acts 4:23-31

Acts 4:23-31New International Version (NIV)

The Believers Pray
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.[a]’[b]

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Start

Consider: Tertullian, a third-century Church Father, said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” And clearly he was right. Martyrdom didn’t destroy the church of Jesus Christ. It strengthened it and purified it.

The whole reason empires have persecuted and continue to persecute Christians is the belief that the vast power of an empire can crush the weak. From the perspective of this world, that only makes sense. After all, how could a small group who followed a carpenter the authorities had killed, stand up against the most powerful government and the strongest military the world had ever seen? Caesar probably didn’t think those Jesus followers would be too much of a problem.

The empires of this world are deeply deceived when it comes to power. They see it in all the wrong ways. When you hear a president or politician brag about our country, what do you typically hear? You hear about our strong economy and the world’s greatest military. Things like the “heart” of Americans or the “spirit” of Americans usually take a back seat or they are directly related to having pride in our military power.

But in Jesus’ kingdom, true strength is found in another source.

The Sanhedrin—the ruling Jewish council—detained Peter and John and jailed them overnight. The next day they were released after “further threats” as to what would happen if they continued to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ (4:21). The council hoped that would be the end of it.

But after “Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them” we hear a remarkable prayer rise up from God’s people…

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” (4:23, 29)

And the result was that they “spoke the word of God boldly” (4:31).

“Persecutions are to the works of God what the frosts of the winter are to plants; far from destroying them, they help them to strike their roots deep in the soil and make them more full of life.” — Alphonsus Liguori

Pray: “Thank you, Lord, for empowering our forebears to endure great suffering for the cause of Christ. Thank you for what they have handed down to us. May their suffering be used by you to embolden us to follow you faithfully, no matter what we must endure.”

Thursday, September 29

Read: Hebrews 11:32-12:3

Hebrews 11:32-12:3
New International Version (NIV)

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[a] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Start

Consider: I’ve always heard the eleventh chapter of Hebrews referred to as the “Faith Chapter.” It begins with that wonderful description of faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (11:1). But I like to refer to it as the “Faith Hall of Fame.” The writer doesn’t really deal with faith at a theological level. He doesn’t try to explain what faith is. Instead, he shows us what faith is by reminding us of those who have gone before us. Those Hall of Famers—those heroes—lived and died for their faith in God.

The writer to the Hebrews links our faith with theirs. He wants us to be emboldened by them. To some it may seem absurd that we might be encouraged and emboldened by hearing that our forefathers and foremothers “were tortured…faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment…were put to death by stoning…were killed by the sword…destitute, persecuted and mistreated…” (11:35-37). But there is a reality underneath this that defies human logic. Jesus said they were “blessed” (Matthew 5:10).

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Later in that same letter, we are again encouraged to remember those who led the way.

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (13:7)

And then he added…

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (13:8)

In other words, what Jesus did for them, he will do for you.

Pray: Thank the Lord for “the great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1)—those people who have gone before us and are cheering us on to victory. Take some time to remember people you knew personally who ran the race in a manner that you would like to emulate. Thank God for their lives and the powerful examples they gave us. Ask God to use you in the same manner for someone else who needs to see Christ at work in a real person’s life.

Friday, September 30

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
New International Version (NIV)

7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Start

Consider: Since Paul described his weakness as “a thorn in my flesh” (12:7), I believe it was a physical problem—perhaps chronic pain. Paul called it a “messenger of Satan” that tormented him and kept him humble. People don’t usually talk about this as part of his persecution, but I believe it was. Consider what Paul had endured physically.

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move…I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (11:23-27)

Paul was probably in his late forties or early fifties when he wrote this letter to the Corinthians. But I’m sure he had the body of a much older man. Each of the five beatings he described would have taken him close to death. The tendons and muscles in his back would have been torn to shreds. I’m sure that Paul lived with chronic pain and that every movement he made was difficult for him in his later years.

How could he possibly go on with life? Why wasn’t he driven to despair? It was because he believed the promise Christ gave him…

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (12:9)

The Lord taught Paul to see power differently than those who persecuted him. He had discovered that Christ’s power would be perfected in his weakness. To him that was a cause for celebration.

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (12:10)

Pray: “Lord, teach me what it means for me to proclaim, ‘When I am weak, then I am strong.’ I am painfully aware of my weaknesses, so I need you to show me how your will, your way and your strength are perfected in me. I submit myself to you for you to use me—especially my weaknesses—in any manner you choose.”

Saturday, October 1

Read: Acts 1:1-8

Acts 1:1-8New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Start

Consider: Before Jesus left his disciples, he gave them a commission—the Great Commission—to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). But he reminded them that they could not do it on their own power. They were instructed to wait in Jerusalem for the “gift” that the Father had promised—the Spirit of God who would fill them, live in them and love through them (Acts 1:4).

This first account of the early Christian church is called the Acts of the Apostles. But it could also be called the “Acts of the Holy Spirit,” for in writing this account, Luke made it very clear that it was the Third Person of the Trinity who was transforming the world by working through human beings who were made in God’s image.

And Jesus was very clear about what the Holy Spirit would do through the lives of his followers.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (1:8)

He didn’t say “you should be my witnesses” or “you ought to be my witnesses.” He said, “you will be my witnesses.” That would be the result of the indwelling power of God’s Spirit.

Now we tend to think of a witness as someone who verbalizes what he or she has seen. But that doesn’t communicate the full scope of this word as it is used in the New Testament. In the original language of Acts, the word is martures, from which we get our word “martyr.” The “witness” that those disciples would deliver would be communicated through their words, their actions, their lives and their deaths.

So we often refer to our “witness” as something that is revealed by our lives. We witness to grace. We strive to live out a witness for peace and justice. We bear witness of the love of Christ that is given to us and given to others through us. In other words, our lives are not ours. We have given them fully to him.

Paul said…

“I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of witnessing to the good news of God’s grace.” (20:24)

I believe this is the true definition of a martyr. A martyr witnesses the good news, no matter what it costs.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” (Matthew 5:10-11)

Pray: “I’m grateful, Lord, that your Spirit will make my life a witness today. I give myself to you without reservation. Thank you for your promise that you will be with me always—‘to the very end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20).”

Time Alone With God Daily Devotionals: Love And Peace On Earth

Written by Pastor Phil Stout

P With Those Who Hurt Us

Monday, September 12 — Saturday, September 17

Monday, September 12

Read: Matthew 5:9

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Consider: I grew up at a time when peace was controversial. I was a child during the war in Viet Nam. Our country was sharply divided. It seemed that every day protests and counter-protests were highlighted on the nightly news. But it wasn’t just the domestic response to the war that took center stage. The war itself was always in front of us. The Viet Nam war was the first “living room war”—the first war that we watched on television in almost real time.

Though I was a child, I vividly remember the polarization. Families were torn apart and relationships were severed. I heard stories about people who accused their parents of hate, while their parents accused them of treason. It seemed that there was no middle ground. How could there be? You were either in favor of America’s involvement or you were against it. Or so it seemed to me from my elementary and middle school vantage point.

Of course, peace is still controversial. But, why? Doesn’t everyone want peace? The military general wants peace and the anti-war activist wants peace. So, why do we fight over peace?

We know why. We don’t actually disagree over our desire for peace, but we have basic disagreements over how peace can be achieved.

So how can we even begin to talk about Jesus’ blessing on the peacemakers? We can only begin by looking through the eyes of Jesus. So when it comes to peacemaking, we can’t look at the polarities of our world. Our world offers two options—fight or flight. But Jesus always offers a “third way”—or more correctly stated, a new way.

This week we want to try to see peace—shalom—through the eyes of Christ.

Pray: “Lord, in my encounters today, I may be given the opportunity to be a voice for peace or a source of division. That opportunity may come upon me unexpectedly. So please give me your eyes and ears. Give me your heart. Help me to be a child of God—a peacemaker.”

Tuesday, September 13

Read: Ephesians 2:11-18

11Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 18for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Consider: Part of the reason that peace is so hard to achieve between individuals, groups and nations is that we tend to view peace as a win or lose proposition. Someone has to be victorious and someone has to surrender. Someone has to be right and someone has to be wrong. Someone has to win the argument and someone has to concede.

But that’s not Jesus’ standard for peace. His equation is 1+1=1.

“For he…has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…” (Ephesians 2:14)

So if you get into an argument with your spouse, the question is not, “Who is right?” The question is, “How can we become one?” “How can we destroy ‘the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility’?” And Jesus taught us that the manner in which we approach someone we love is the manner in which we should also approach someone we are tempted to hate (Matthew 5:43-48).

That takes humility. We all believe we’re right. We all believe that we will be affirmed when others see it our way—when others admit that we are right and they are wrong. That kind of thinking is pretty central to our egos. But Christ asks us to lay aside our need to be right and asks us to take up the task of building bridges—forging peace.

Now, of course, there is no denying that sometimes right and wrong are pitted against one another. Sometimes you are right! Peacemaking is not an exercise in ignoring your convictions or abandoning your principles. That’s a terrible caricature of peacemaking. But it does mean putting people first. It means always seeing the image of God in others—even our enemies.

Pray: “Lord, you focused on me instead of focusing on my sin. You chose reconciliation with me rather than my destruction. You were right and I was wrong. Yet you saw me as an image-bearer of God rather than seeing me as the sum total of my sins. Give me your eyes as I seek to be an agent of your peace in the lives around me today.”

Wednesday, September 14

Read: Matthew 5:38-39

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ 39“But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40“If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42“Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Consider: Turn the other cheek. Could there be a more difficult command? Could Jesus have been serious when he taught us this response to evil?

Perhaps no other command has been as misunderstood as this one. And it’s not an abstract issue. It touches real life. As a pastor, I have had women ask me if they had to allow an abusive husband to beat them—if they had to go home and live in that hellish environment. Of course, the answer is an emphatic no! It is not God’s will for anyone to be abused. So what was Jesus saying?

There was a cultural subtlety at play that we don’t want to miss. In that day, if a person struck you on “the right cheek” they were using the back of their hand. (They always used their “clean” hand, their right hand.) A back-handed slap meant that they were treating you as a slave, an inferior, a sub-human. Jesus was telling people that they were not sub-human, they were not inferior and they didn’t deserve abuse. So to “turn to them the other cheek” was to say, “I’m your equal. I will not allow myself to be treated as sub-human. But I refuse to act toward you in the hateful manner that you acted toward me.”

That is why we always talk about Jesus’ “third way” or new way. We don’t return evil for evil. Yet we don’t allow evil to go unchecked. We take a stand for what is right. Yet we do it humbly, in a nonviolent manner, thereby giving dignity to ourselves and to our enemies. We don’t allow ourselves to be abused and we don’t abuse.

“Peacemaking doesn’t mean passivity. It is the act of interrupting injustice without mirroring injustice, the act of disarming evil without destroying the evildoer, the act of finding a third day that is neither fight nor flight but the careful, arduous pursuit of reconciliation and justice. It is about a revolution of love that is big enough to set both the oppressed and the oppressors free.” — Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

Pray: Thank you, Lord, for my inherent dignity—a dignity given to me by your image in me. Help me to always see that in me and in everyone. Help me to stand against injustice in your way, not the ways of this world.”

Thursday, September 15

Read: Psalm 85:8-13

Context
8I will hear what God the LORD will say;
For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
But let them not turn back to folly.
9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.

10Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11Truth springs from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.

12Indeed, the LORD will give what is good,
And our land will yield its produce.

13Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.

Consider: There is a beautiful Hebrew greeting that you hear from time to time—shalom. At its most basic definition, this Old Testament word means “peace.” But there is so much more to shalom that we need to embrace.

We typically think of peace as the absence of hostility. When fighting ceases, we call it peace. But that is not all that God wants for us—that alone is not God’s shalom.

We’ve all heard of cases in which two brothers had an ongoing war of words over many years. They may have finally grown tired of it and stopped seeing each other altogether. Or they may have gotten to the point where they could see each other, but remained silent about their differences. Open hostilities had ceased. But that’s not peace. That’s not shalom.

Shalom would come to that family when those two brothers were reconciled—when the severed relationship was restored. Shalom is the presence of wholeness, justice, righteousness and peace. I love the way the psalmist says it…

“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace (shalom) kiss each other.” (Psalm 85:10)

We were created for a deep, lasting shalom with God and with one another. So we undertake the hard work of listening, forgiving, restoring, reconciling, humbling ourselves and seeking what God has wanted for us all along.

Pray: God gave Moses a blessing that the priests were instructed to give to the nation of Israel. Let’s pray that blessing over ourselves and all people this day.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Friday, September 16

Read: Romans 12:9-21

9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20“BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Consider: One of the Latin words for peace is pacem. This yields other peace-related words to our English language. When a general brings peace to a war-torn area, it is said that he pacified the region. A person that is against the use of violence is called a pacifist.

The problem with these words is the manner in which we understand them today. For example, the word “pacifism” (a word that is very distasteful to many people) is not the same as “passive-ism” even though that’s how many people hear it. And when we think of “pacifying” someone, we don’t think of bringing peace. We think of sticking a pacifier in a baby’s mouth so Mom and Dad can get some sleep. (Well, I guess that is a form of peace.)

Making peace and being passive are not the same thing. In fact, Paul says that working for peace is anything but passive.

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Peace is something for which we work and fight. But we don’t fight in the same manner as people have done throughout the ages. We have a different king who leads a kingdom that is unlike any of the kingdoms of this world. So we use different weapons.

That’s why we are constantly called to Jesus’ “third way”—his new way. Paul summarized it powerfully when he said…

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17, 21)

The ends do not justify the means. To use sinful practices to accomplish good goals is still sinful. As Paul said, we totally disagree with those who say, “Let us do evil that good may result” (Romans 3:8).

So we humbly and creatively—under the power of the Holy Spirit—search out the weapons that God wants us to use in order to overcome the evil within us and all around us.

Pray: “Lord, teach me what it means for me today to ‘overcome evil with good.’ Remind me that love is more powerful that any weapon that can be used against your kingdom.”

Saturday, September 17

Read: Matthew 5:3-9

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Consider: In Jesus’ instruction to turn the other cheek and in Paul’s admonition to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21), we’ve seen this week that peacemaking is central to our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ. In his Sermon on the Mount and throughout The New Testament, Christ calls us to this work. And it is daily work. We can practice peacemaking every day and every hour of our lives.

How? Again, we must return to the idea of shalom that we looked at Thursday and the biblical concept of justice. When our lives are given to others—when we embrace the lonely, lift up the fallen, minister to the hungry (no matter what kind of hunger they experience)—we are practicing justice, righteousness and shalom. Peace is justice and justice is peace—“righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Psalm 85:10).

And in this expansive view of peacemaking we see the Beatitudes—the blessings of Jesus—fulfilling one another.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice…blessed are the peacemakers…” (Matthew 5:6, 9)

Every time we allow our hands to be the hands of Christ and every time we bring the presence of Christ to someone who suffers, we are engaging in the high calling of peacemaking.

It takes the mind of Christ to do so. It takes selflessness. It takes a perspective on life that transcends our own needs and agendas. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why peacemakers are considered “children of God.”

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pray: As we did last week, let’s end the week by praying the Prayer of St. Francis…

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

Time Alone With God daily devotional

Written by Phil Stout, lead pastor, JAXNAZ church
http://www.philstout.org/daily-devotionals/

Saturday, September 10

Read: Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7
New International Version (NIV)

7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

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Consider: It’s easy to look at the fifth Beatitude—the fifth blessing—as a future promise only. I saw it that way for years. If I’m merciful now, then someday God will show me mercy by allowing me into heaven. But God has already been merciful to me. One day on a cross and every day of my life are gifts of mercy.

You see, the biblical concept of mercy is very close to the idea of forgiveness. Just a few moments after giving us this blessing, Jesus said…

“…if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (6:14)

And a few moments later he said…

“…with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (7:2)

I think the promise that merciful people will be given mercy is a promise for every moment of my life here and now. And part of that is the mercy I will receive from others when I have been graciously merciful to them.

I believe our lives with God and with one another are to be lives that inhale and exhale mercy, forgiveness and love.

This week we’ve heard God proclaim it through the prophet (Hosea 6:6) and Jesus affirm it as he lived among us (Matthew 9:13, 12:7) and Paul put it to poetry (1 Corinthians 13:13). And they all tell us the same thing. Nothing is more important.

Pray: To remind us to live the life of a mercy-giver this day, let’s pray the Prayer of St. Francis…

Time Alone With God daily devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, lead Pastor of JAXNAZ church

http://www.philstout.org/daily-devotionals/

Thursday, September 8

Read: Matthew 12:1-8

Matthew 12:1-8
New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a] you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

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Consider: We’ve been looking this week at the tension between law and love. Sometimes it is communicated as the tension between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. As Paul said…

“…the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)

This is vital to our understanding of Jesus’ message. A legalistic “righteousness” makes us harsh and judgmental. We begin to rationalize our unloving stance by saying that we are speaking truth and speaking truth comes before our obligation to love. But it doesn’t. Our top priority is not getting our theology right. Our top priority is learning to love like Christ loves.

As Jesus and his friends walked through the grain fields on the Sabbath, the Pharisees (there they are again) challenged Jesus about the disciples’ apparent breaking of the Sabbath laws. Jesus’ response included a quote from the prophet Hosea who gave us these words from God…

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Matthew 12:7 quoting Hosea 6:6)

What Hosea and Jesus meant by “sacrifice” were the rituals, worship and laws of Israel (which included the sacrifice of animals). Jesus was saying very plainly that how we treat others was much more important to God than how we worship or even what we believe. That was a pretty radical statement. It still is today. But remember that it comes from the lips of God.

Our worship is important. Our rituals are important. But if we do not live the life of a mercy-giver, we’ve missed the whole point.

Pray: “Lord, you desire mercy more than the other things we’ve often associated with our faith. Help me today to be a mercy-giver and one who loves all people regardless of who they are or what they’ve done. Today someone will cross my path who needs your mercy, forgiveness and love. Please give that to them through me.”

Time Alone with God daily devotionals

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ
http://www.philstout.org/daily-devotionals/

Monday, September 5

Read: Matthew 23:1-3, 13-15
New International Version (NIV)

A Warning Against Hypocrisy
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

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Consider: The Pharisees were the Jewish sect that saw themselves as the keepers and preservers of God’s Law—also called the Law of Moses. They were convinced that if every Jew kept the entire Law for one full day, the kingdom of God would come.

So why were they constantly at odds with Jesus? Why were they always confronting him and why was he always challenging them? Why did Jesus use such strong words when dealing with the Pharisees? In fact, they were the only ones who had Jesus’ biting language directed at them. Jesus didn’t call anyone else “hypocrites” (23:13) and “snakes” (23:33).

Jesus could read their motives. (By the way, that’s why we don’t call people hypocrites. We don’t know their motives. Only Jesus has that right.) They used the Law and religion to make themselves look holy as they oppressed and dominated others. They set themselves up as the arbiters of who was right with God and who was not. They used that power to control others. God’s intent for the people’s relationship with him was being destroyed by the Pharisees.

It remains the same today. Whenever people use religion—including the Christian faith—as a measuring rod that they can wield to declare who is in and who is out, Jesus is not seen. Judgmental religion is seen. And it’s ugly. Legalistic “righteousness” is as deadly today as ever.

We don’t come to Jesus as Pharisees who believe we have all the answers. We don’t save the world by bullying people into agreeing with our theology. We don’t belittle those who have yet to discover God’s grace that came to us through Christ. We come to Jesus as the “poor in spirit” (5:3) and approach our brothers and sisters as people who need the good news that we’ve discovered.

I love that old saying that describes how we approach the world. We’re beggars who are running to tell other beggars where we found bread.

Pray: “Lord, your grace is a gift that is beyond my comprehension. Thank you for teaching us that ‘God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world’ (John 3:17). Help me today to be a ‘saving’ force for you and never one who condemns. Thank you that you chose not to condemn me.”

Time Alone With God daily devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ lead pastor
http://www.philstout.org/daily-devotionals/

Monday, September 5

Matthew 23:1-3
New International Version (NIV)

A Warning Against Hypocrisy
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Start:

Consider: The Pharisees were the Jewish sect that saw themselves as the keepers and preservers of God’s Law—also called the Law of Moses. They were convinced that if every Jew kept the entire Law for one full day, the kingdom of God would come.

So why were they constantly at odds with Jesus? Why were they always confronting him and why was he always challenging them? Why did Jesus use such strong words when dealing with the Pharisees? In fact, they were the only ones who had Jesus’ biting language directed at them. Jesus didn’t call anyone else “hypocrites” (23:13) and “snakes” (23:33).

Jesus could read their motives. (By the way, that’s why we don’t call people hypocrites. We don’t know their motives. Only Jesus has that right.) They used the Law and religion to make themselves look holy as they oppressed and dominated others. They set themselves up as the arbiters of who was right with God and who was not. They used that power to control others. God’s intent for the people’s relationship with him was being destroyed by the Pharisees.

It remains the same today. Whenever people use religion—including the Christian faith—as a measuring rod that they can wield to declare who is in and who is out, Jesus is not seen. Judgmental religion is seen. And it’s ugly. Legalistic “righteousness” is as deadly today as ever.

We don’t come to Jesus as Pharisees who believe we have all the answers. We don’t save the world by bullying people into agreeing with our theology. We don’t belittle those who have yet to discover God’s grace that came to us through Christ. We come to Jesus as the “poor in spirit” (5:3) and approach our brothers and sisters as people who need the good news that we’ve discovered.

I love that old saying that describes how we approach the world. We’re beggars who are running to tell other beggars where we found bread.

Pray: “Lord, your grace is a gift that is beyond my comprehension. Thank you for teaching us that ‘God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world’ (John 3:17). Help me today to be a ‘saving’ force for you and never one who condemns. Thank you that you chose not to condemn me.”

Time Alone with God daily devotionals

Written by Phil Stout, JAXNAZ church lead pastor, Jackson, MI
Tuesday, September 6

Read: Matthew 23:23-24

New International Version (NIV)

23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

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Consider: Matthew 23 contains Jesus’ “Seven Woes” against the Pharisees. (See yesterday’s meditation for why Jesus was continually at odds with them.) I’m sure the Pharisees were not amused, but the others who were listening were laughing out loud at Jesus’ image of someone straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.

Some of the Pharisees actually did strain gnats out of their food. They had dietary laws about eating meat that still had blood in it. You can’t bleed a gnat, so you have to make sure you don’t swallow one. I know. You can’t make this stuff up. Jesus lampooned their concept of religion and said they had entirely missed the point of God’s will. They might as well swallow a camel—blood and all!

Jesus wasn’t saying that keeping the Law was bad. In fact, when he talked about their tithing he said that they should have done that. But, in their obsession with measuring an exact 10% to prove their obedience to God, they lost the intent of God’s Law.

“You have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.” (23:23)

Working for justice for the poor and vulnerable. Giving mercy as God has been merciful to us. Being faithful to the work of Jesus and learning how to love like Christ. This is what Paul would later call “the righteous requirement of the law” (Romans 8:4).

When we get free from the legalism that is so often embedded in our past, we find the freedom to love. We don’t have to judge others. We don’t have to tell people who is righteous and who is not. We simply get to respond to the invitation to love like Christ loves.

Pray: “Lord, sometimes I try so hard to be right that I lose the freedom of my relationship with you. It’s easy to concentrate on the wrong things. Help me to learn more—this very day—about loving like you love. Give me encounters and opportunities to be the face of Christ to others today. What a thrill it is to be invited by you to be your agent of grace.”

Time Alone with God daily devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ church
Monday, August 22

Read: Matthew 7:24-29

Matthew 7:24-29
New International Version (NIV)

The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Consider: “Yes, but in the real world…” We’ve all heard that. It’s often the opening phrase of a statement from someone who is struggling with the ethics of Jesus Christ. Have you ever heard that approach? Have you ever used it? Well, for most of us, if we haven’t actually said it, we have wondered, “Does that work in the real world?”

When we read Jesus’ teachings on meekness, peace-making, enemy love and turning the other cheek, we can’t help but wonder if they really apply to our world. In day-to-day human interaction, in family relationships, in business and industry, in relationships between communities and nations, it just seems like Jesus’ teachings don’t apply to the real world.

Jesus’ teaching is stunning. It is challenging. It offends us (even if we won’t admit it). If anyone besides Jesus would say those things, we’d dismiss them as naïve or castigate them for being soft and weak when it comes to injustice. Some of Jesus’ words are just hard. Hard to understand. Hard to put in perspective. Hard to live.

But we can’t ignore them. We can’t say that the Sermon on the Mount doesn’t apply to the “real world” or we are calling Jesus naïve. We’re saying that he doesn’t understand life.

We don’t want to go there, so often we try to make Jesus’ words more palatable. We believe that meekness is for safe environments only. It can be practiced among decent people. We believe that we can love when that love is returned. When it is not, we fall back on “loving” by the world’s rules and values.

So when we listen to Jesus instruct us as to how we should live, we have to come with open eyes and attentive ears. We have to humble ourselves enough to admit that we don’t understand the “real world.” The One who created it does. And he understands the world that he wants for you and me and for all of his creation.

Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount by saying…

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock…but everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” (Matthew 7:24, 26)

Pray: “Lord, your teaching on meekness, peace-making, enemy love and turning the other cheek are a rock upon which you want me to build my life. This goes against my engrained way of thinking and judging. Help me to begin to see your real world in the way you see it.”

Time Alone with God daily devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ church

Wednesday, August 24

Read: Colossians 2:6-15

Colossians 2:6-15
New International Version (NIV)

Spiritual Fullness in Christ
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b] was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[e]

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Consider: Many of the people who witnessed Christ’s crucifixion mocked him.

“Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!’ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him…. In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.” (Matthew 27:39-44)

The people thought they were seeing the epitome of weakness and failure. The one who had been proclaimed to be a king was reduced to this. All they could see was something to spit on because, in reality, they could not see.

After the fact, the Apostle Paul saw it clearly. And what he saw was quite different. Something else was being exposed and defeated.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:15)

“Powers” and “authorities” in the New Testament usually referred to the empires, governments and corrupt systems of the day. These demonic powers ruled by might, intimidation and violence. Jesus ruled by meekness, exposing them and leading to their utter destruction.

So Christians don’t see strength in the sword. We see strength in the cross. We see power in a manner that is unintelligible to the world. The power of love has brought down empires and saved the world. If we miss the humility, meekness, power and love of Christ, we fall into the trap of depending on the wisdom and “strength” of this world.

Pray: “Thank you, Lord, for making ‘a public spectacle’ of sinful ‘power,’ exposing it for all its weakness. Today I humble myself to live in the true sacrificial power of the cross—the power of the love of Christ. Help me to see like you see and to love like you love.”

Time Alone with God daily devotional

by Pastor Phil Stout – JAXNAZ church

Read: Matthew 5:1-3
New International Version (NIV)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes
He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Start

Consider: You may want to take another look at the passages we’ve read from the New Testament this week. You may want to scan the observations we’ve made, because they all point to one of Jesus’ central teachings…

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (5:3)

The kingdom does not belong to…

The “ninety-nine” who won’t admit that they are lost (Luke 15:1-7).

The obedient son who feels morally superior to his promiscuous, but repentant, little brother (Luke 15:25-32).

Those who feel no need for a spiritual “doctor,” believing that they are already whole (Matthew 9:9-13).

The one who looks at the “other” with contempt (Luke 18:9-14).

No, not them. The kingdom of heaven belongs to “the poor in spirit.”

This is the starting point—the very first phrase—in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and it is the starting point for all of Jesus’ teaching. If we do not recognize our own spiritual poverty, if we will not humble ourselves, if we will not ask God to change us from what we are, the kingdom of heaven will be unintelligible to us.

As Jesus sat on the hillside and told the people what it would mean to follow him, his very first sentence explained the attitude we must bring. He spoke about the position we take in order to hear him and to follow him. He blessed us who go to him as “the poor in spirit.”

Pray: “Lord, your call to acknowledge my spiritual poverty is also a promise to me. Thank you for assuring me that I will be blessed by you.”

Time Alone With God daily devotional

Read: Luke 18:9-14
New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Start:

Consider: Sometimes Jesus’ parables are subtle. You have to look for the nuances. Not this one. Nothing subtle here. Jesus told a parable that sticks a finger in the face of anyone who embraces a sense of moral superiority. And because it is so black and white, it’s easy to dismiss. After all, who of us would stand in church, point to someone else and pray, “Thank you, God, that I’m not like that jerk! Thank you that I’m so much better!”

Of course, we would never do that. But when Jesus spoke in such stark terms, he was trying to rattle us—trying to help us see something about ourselves that may be shocking.

So let’s do a little personal inventory. Let’s talk about our feelings toward others. I’m not referring to rational discourse. I would never say I’m superior to someone else. But how do I feel?

How do I feel about people of other ethnicities? How do I feel about sexual minorities? How do I feel about people of other religions or those with no religion at all? How do I feel about people who hold politics that are completely at odds with my political convictions? How do I feel? How does Jesus want me to feel?

He wants me to feel love. Oh, I know that love is an action and can’t be reduced to a feeling. But let’s be honest, unless I’m willing to feel love toward all humans—willing to see the Image of God in them—I’m never going to act like Jesus.

This parable sticks a finger in my face and compels me to be honest about my love for God’s image-bearers. If I’m honest, it may cause me to fall on my knees and say…

“God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

And that will lead to my liberation.

Pray: There are many written prayers that have become a part of Christian worship down through the years. One is called “The Jesus Prayer”…

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Another has become a part of common Christian liturgy…

“Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.”

These are good prayers to pray if we approach them in the right way. Don’t see them as self-condemning. See them as the liberating prayers that are taken to the One who loves us more than we can imagine—the One who is eager to forgive and has already forgiven.

Time Alone With God daily devotional

Read: Luke 15:25-32

Luke 15:25-32
New International Version (NIV)

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Start:

Consider: On Monday we looked at one of the most beautiful names for Jesus—“the friend of sinners.” Of course, that didn’t sound beautiful to everyone. Those who found their identity in being morally superior to others didn’t like those “others” to be loved and cherished simply for who they are. They wanted those “others” to earn it, like they thought that they had earned God’s favor.

What Jesus saw in those Pharisees and teachers of the law (15:2), he addressed in this third parable. He pointed out the thinking of the “older brother” who couldn’t handle the grace and mercy his father gave to his “morally inferior” brother.

Of course, that’s the difference between us and Jesus Christ. We want to feel like we’re righteous. We know we’re not perfect, so we’re tempted to find our “righteousness” in comparing ourselves with others. The older brother said, “Look, I never disobeyed you or gave you a moment of trouble, while he was out spending your money on prostitutes! How can you possibly rejoice over that?” (15:29-20).

We’re always trying to make ourselves appear to be righteous. And, as I said, that’s the difference between us and Jesus. He chose the opposite.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

It’s amazing that the only one who was willing to claim total unrighteousness was the Righteous One. And he did that for you and me.

So, as is the case in so many of Jesus’ parables, he flips our world upside down. The “bad guys” become the good guys and the “good guys” have to realize that if they would only bring their unrighteousness to God, he would change everything.

This is mercy.

Pray: “Lord, I can barely comprehend what it means that you ‘became sin’ for us. I only know that it humbles me. I am reminded that without your grace I have nothing and I am nothing. But your love for me compelled you to a sacrifice of mercy that is beyond my understanding. Thank you.”

Time Alone With God – Daily Devotional

Written by Phil Stout, Lead Pastor of JAXNAZ church

Read: Luke 15:1-7

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Luke 15:1-7
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Start:

Consider: As happened so many times in Jesus’ ministry, he found himself teaching and sharing parables to two different—and very contrasting—audiences at the same time. Before Luke shared with us Jesus’ parable about the lost sheep, he told us who was listening—those who were considered to be the worst of sinners (including tax collectors) and those who saw themselves as the righteous ones (the Pharisees and the teachers of the law).

Knowing who Jesus was talking to, helps us understand the point of his parable…

“There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (15:7)

On its own, that statement doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t we rejoice more if people kept their lives pure? Wouldn’t we be happier about ninety-nine people who did it right than we would be about one person who finally got it right after making a mess of things?

Well, we know there really is no such thing as a person who does not need to repent. But Jesus was looking at “ninety-nine” Pharisees who were convinced that they didn’t need to. And because they couldn’t see their own need for repentance, Jesus knew that they weren’t ready to see what God wanted to do in their lives. So the shepherd went to those who knew they were lost.

By the way, this story contains a powerful truth about Jesus. And if we don’t understand it, we don’t know who God is. It comes from the mouths of the Pharisees who muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (15:2).

That’s where we get that beautiful name for Jesus—“a friend of sinners.” That name should be our name as well.

Pray: “Lord, thank you for loving me. Help me to love others—regardless of their actions—in the manner that you love them. Keep me humble before you. I realize that if I’m ever convinced that I no longer need to change, I close the door on the work that you want to do in my life.”

Daily Devotional: Time Alone With God

by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ

Read: Luke 15:11-24

Luke 15:11-24
New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Daily Devotional Start

Consider: The three parables of Luke 15—the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son—all end in celebration. There is one simple reason for that. What was lost was finally found.

Now if a shepherd loses a lamb or a woman loses a coin, it’s pretty obvious that something is missing. But when it comes to seeing that we ourselves are lost, we can be pretty slow (or too stubborn) to see it.

The son who left his father had no clue that he was lost. He kept going the wrong direction, picking up speed and running farther from home. He thought he was doing a pretty good job managing his life. He experienced great tragedy, sorrow and loss before “he came to his senses” (15:7).

What was obscured to the son was obvious to the father. We see that when the son returned and the father exclaimed…

“This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (15:24)

Our Father never stopped waiting for us. He never wrote us off as being unredeemable. He never gave up on us. But he had to wait. He couldn’t (and wouldn’t) force us to come home. He waited and waited. When we were humble enough—when we came to our senses—it became possible for the lost to be found and the dead to be raised.

Pray: “Lord, the thing that can draw me away from you is my delusion of self-sufficiency. When I forget that I am lost without you, I’m tempted to wander into strange lands. Today I walk with confidence because I walk with my Father in the direction you take me.”

Time Alone With God

Read: Luke 15:1-7

Daily Devotional: The Parable of the Lost Sheep

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Daily Devotional Begin:

Consider: As happened so many times in Jesus’ ministry, he found himself teaching and sharing parables to two different—and very contrasting—audiences at the same time. Before Luke shared with us Jesus’ parable about the lost sheep, he told us who was listening—those who were considered to be the worst of sinners (including tax collectors) and those who saw themselves as the righteous ones (the Pharisees and the teachers of the law).

Knowing who Jesus was talking to, helps us understand the point of his parable…

“There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (15:7)

On its own, that statement doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t we rejoice more if people kept their lives pure? Wouldn’t we be happier about ninety-nine people who did it right than we would be about one person who finally got it right after making a mess of things?

Well, we know there really is no such thing as a person who does not need to repent. But Jesus was looking at “ninety-nine” Pharisees who were convinced that they didn’t need to. And because they couldn’t see their own need for repentance, Jesus knew that they weren’t ready to see what God wanted to do in their lives. So the shepherd went to those who knew they were lost.

By the way, this story contains a powerful truth about Jesus. And if we don’t understand it, we don’t know who God is. It comes from the mouths of the Pharisees who muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (15:2).

That’s where we get that beautiful name for Jesus—“a friend of sinners.” That name should be our name as well.

Pray: “Lord, thank you for loving me. Help me to love others—regardless of their actions—in the manner that you love them. Keep me humble before you. I realize that if I’m ever convinced that I no longer need to change, I close the door on the work that you want to do in my life.”