Blessed Persecution

By: Dr Steven Parker

For the Kids: Sunday is Mother’s Day.  Take a few moments before reading together and say something nice to and about your mom.  Pray for her together as a family, because being a mom can be really hard.

Read the passage together:

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ”Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:1-12 (vs. 10)

Pause: Sit for a few moments and glance back over this passage. Re-read the focal verse for this week: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (vs. 10). 

For Everyone: Sunday we will be celebrating Mother’s Day and wrapping up our Blessed Life Now series on The Beatitudes.  Looking back on these statements of blessing from Jesus, is there anything on this list that surprises, interests, or really speaks to you? 

 I think it’s particularly interesting how, again and again, Jesus says we’re blessed through circumstances that we wouldn’t think would produce blessing.  We don’t think of being poor in spirit as a positive thing, but Jesus says that the beginning of life in His kingdom is understanding that we are flawed and can’t make it without God’s grace.  We don’t think of anything good about mourning, but Jesus says that brokenness, especially brokenness over our sin, brings us to a place where we are ready to receive God’s comfort.  Meekness tends to get equated with weakness, but Jesus says that we’re ready to inherit the earth when we bring our lives under the humbling, controlling influence of His Spirit.  We don’t like to be hungry or thirsty, but Jesus says that we can only be satisfied when we are hungry and thirsty for righteousness.  The need for us to show mercy means that someone is in a position to need mercy, which probably means they’ve wronged us in some way, another surprising time to find blessing.  Purity of heart means we can see God, but feels a little out of reach for most of us; but, looking back at the blessings of spiritual poverty and mourning reminds us that when we think we’re unworthy to be in God’s presence, we’re probably closer to being pure in heart than when we think we’ve got it all together.  The need for peacemakers means that there is conflict and struggle, but even conflict and struggle can be blessed when we bring God’s peace into the mix, because that’s what the family of the Prince of Peace does. 

All of that brings us to the final unexpected blessing of The Beatitudes and it’s a doozy.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (vs. 10).  When Jesus talks about blessed persecution, he is talking about harassment and suffering inflicted upon others because of their faith in Him and commitment to His kingdom.  Jesus was persecuted all the way to the cross and promises more of the same for His followers.  But, along with that promise comes the blessing of the kingdom of heaven.  Kingdom of heaven is Matthew’s 1st century Jewish way of saying kingdom of God. This is the place Jesus taught us to pray for in the here and now when we pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  After the first and now the last Beatitude, we find this promise of the kingdom of God like bookends showing us that this kingdom life of blessing in the midst of our spiritual poverty, persecution, and everything in between is a promise in the here and now for Jesus’ followers.  We can rest in the promise that if we’re going through a tough time for our faith, God sees and will bless us through it with the blessing of His kingdom.

Wonder: What are some examples of persecution followers of Jesus go through today?  How can persecution like that be blessed? 

Bless: Affirm what everyone has shared. Commit together to pray for persecuted believers throughout the world.

Pray together: Thank God for His blessing and ask him to encourage anyone going through persecution for the sake of righteousness.

Example: Father in heaven, we are grateful for what Jesus endured for us at the cross.  Thank you for being with us when life gets tough for followers of Jesus.  Help us to stand strong in the face of opposition, living for Your kingdom and righteousness no matter what consequences that might bring in this broken world.  Please encourage and strengthen persecuted Christians all over the world today.  Help us to find ways to bless these struggling brothers and sisters any way that we can.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Be Kind

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities,

to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Titus 3:1-2

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”  - Dalai Lama

For the Adults:

Last week we looked at verse 1 and today we will continue with verse 2. Paul continues the list of commands Titus is to "remind" believers of. Crete was famous for its immoral culture, but this letter encourages Christians to live according to better principles.

Verse 1 began with three commands and verse 2 adds 4 more. First, believers are not to gossip or tear others down with words. Reminds me of my youth ministry days and how we adopted the saying “429” from the Christian group, Building 429. If you would like to know more about this feel free to call me.

Second, Titus was to remind them to avoid quarreling and to "be peaceable," or "be kind." Arguments was a major reason for Paul's concern when it came to the churches on Crete. False teachers argued that Christians must be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law. This problem was so serious that in verse 10, Paul teaches that a divisive person should be cut off after their second warning. There are times where to stand on your rights would cause such damage toward an unbeliever that he would never want to hear about our Savior.

Third, Christians were to be gentle and Paul uses the Greek word epieikeis, meaning "suitable" or "fair-minded." Believers were not to be violent, or hot-tempered, especially church leaders, and this is not the first time he mentions this in this short letter.

Finally, believers were to extend kindness both to believers and non-believers. Paul reminds us that we who have been saved by God’s grace should be gracious neighbors towards those who do not know Christ.

Shelter at home may have us a little irritable and maybe short fused. Let’s remember these behaviors and live them out during these trying times. Let’s learn to be kind to one another.

For the children:

How have you treated others who are different than you?

Who do you know doesn’t attend church you can invite to church?

Read and meditate:

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities,

to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Titus 3:1-2

Pray:

Lord I know this pandemic has been hard on so many people, and I ask that you reveal someone to me, so that I can love them like Jesus. Help me to be obedient to your Holy Spirit and do something that can help them. And if I have mistreated someone, grant me an opportunity to see the flaws in my ways.

I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ my Savior

Amen.

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 11 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.

Hope is a Powerful Word

HOPE is by far – my most favorite word in the whole Bible!  We all need a little hope in our lives, and I pray that each of you reading this devotional will keep seeking it daily in your walk. 

-Robin Wiley

Scripture

Romans 8:22-25

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

For the Adults:

Imagine that your favorite team plays in a championship game, but you’re not able to watch it live. This is a picture we can certainly visualize with all sporting events being cancelled due to COVID-19!  At the end of the night you check your phone and see that they won, so the next morning you sit down to watch the recording. Even though you haven’t seen it yet, you know that when the clock hits zero, you’re going to be the happiest person in the world!

Well, in Romans 8 Paul uses a word to describe this type of knowledge—it’s called “hope.” In the English language we typically use the word hope to mean wish. “I hope I make a good grade on this test” or “I hope I get into this school” or “I hope my team wins.” It’s a way of saying, “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I wish it would work in my favor.” 

But the Bible uses the word hope to describe a future certainty, not a wishful dream. John Piper says, “Hope is faith in the future tense.” In this passage of Scripture, Paul says that we hope for what we cannot see, and we wait for it with patience. If we were to read all of Romans 8, we would see that Paul is writing about our future glory in Jesus. He’s reminding us that even when the world around us is crumbling (as it might seem to be with this pandemic), we know how our story ends. If we are in Christ, we have a future certainty that our bodies and souls, as well as creation itself, will one day be made new. And we don’t just wish for this moment; we hope for it with all our hearts.

For the Kiddos:

Enter:

What do you think Paul means when he tells us to hope for what we cannot see?

Can you think of any stories in the Old Testament when God’s people hoped for what they could not see? How do those stories point us to the coming of Jesus?

How do you think we might apply this passage of Scripture to the coronavirus epidemic?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Luke 17:12-19 and Psalm 107:8-15 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to chose a different place to do your devotional time. Maybe sit outside or in the backyard and be still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

·      What do you hope for right now?

·      Why is our hope is Jesus Christ?

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story. 

• This would be a great opportunity to draw or color a picture of what you believe hope means and also what it can provide for you. Display your artwork(s) around the house. 

• Make a point to share the message of God’s hope in Christ Jesus with someone else this week.

• Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Jesus, you purchased a hope and a future for us when you laid down your life on the cross and then rose again. Help us to trust in that hope and not in the uncertainty of this world. Thank you for the promise of this hope, especially in times of great turmoil and uncertainty. May we worship you alone and live each day to your honor and glory. In the name of Jesus - Amen.

Prove It!

By Raymond Sanchez

Gather:

Have you ever had to prove something to someone?

How did you do it?

Did they believe you without proof?

Hear:

Romans 5:6-11 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

6 At just the right time Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. 7 It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. 8 But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God’s anger. 10 Once we were God’s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives. 11 And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself.

For Everyone:

When we were kids, we would often hear tales of amazing feats told by our friends. “I jumped my bike over the ditch down the street.” “I did a 360 Tomohawk dunk like Jordan on my rim back home.” “I beat all of Super Mario Bros. in 10 minutes.” The inevitable response to these outlandish tales was, “Prove it.” To which there would be a litany of excuses. “My bike has a flat.” “I sprained my ankle.” “I’m grounded from video games.” I think someone did actually beat Super Mario Bros. in ten minutes, but we didn’t believe it until we saw it!

Paul spends the opening chapters of Romans reminding us of God’s wrath, judgement, and righteousness. There was no hope for humanity to ever justify themselves in the eyes of God. But God loved us. “Prove it,” you might say. Proving it takes a demonstration. A demonstration of the skill, the feat, or in this case - a grand demonstration of love. God sent His one and only son to die for our sins. Even though God’s people fell short of his expectations again and again, he sent Jesus. Even though, we all have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23), God sacrificed His son. Even though the wage we earn for sin is death (Romans 6:23), God allowed Jesus to die for us, so that we may have life!

God loves us. He proved it through his actions. It is because of this proof that we can celebrate (v. 11). It is because of this proof that we can face the uncertain days of COVID-19 with confidence. It is because of this proof that even when we feel alone, neglected, and unloved by those around us, we can remember that God loves us. He proved it!

Wonder:

How do we know that someone loves us?

Is it more important to say you love someone or to show it with our actions?

Do we ever wonder if God loves us?

How does God show His love for us?

How might you show love to those in your household during this COVID-19 pandemic?

Bless:

Dear God, thank you for proving your love for us. Help us to not only accept your free gift of salvation, but to realize we are loved by you. May that realization lead us to show our love for others.

Amen

Watch Treehouse Club Ep. 6 featuring Romans 5:8.

Right Relationships

by Charles Stanley (Originally posted on Intouch.org on May 1, 2020)

Proverbs 27:17

Becoming a godly person is a worthy goal for every believer. We know prayer and Bible study are essential in achieving this objective, but did you know that having right relationships is also a critical element in our journey toward godliness? 

Since this world is filled with people who don’t share our values, we need relationships that inspire and challenge us to become the people God wants us to be. We’d like to think that all our Christian acquaintances help us achieve this goal, but sadly, many believers interact with each other only on a trivial level. 

We need friends who give wise counsel based on God’s Word. Even when their advice isn’t comfortable, it’s always beneficial. They’re not afraid to speak the truth, even if it is painful to hear. When we’ve gotten off track, they lovingly confront us and point us in the right direction. And if we encounter times of suffering, they are by our side, encouraging us as we walk through fiery trials. 

What kinds of relationships do you have? Can you name someone who helped you become more like Jesus? If you don’t have anyone like this in your life, ask the Lord to provide someone. We were not created to walk alone. 

Skimming the Surface

By Charles R. Swindoll (Taken from Insight.org daily devotional - May 1, 2020)

Are you seeking to know the depths of God, or are you just skimming the surface? 

Can you discover the depths of God? 
Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? 
They are high as the heavens, what can you do? 
Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? (Job 11:7–8)

Let me repeat the question: Are you seeking to know the depths of God, or are you just skimming the surface? Only you know the answer. Our current culture is so busy we can become proficient at faking it. We can look like we're going to the depths when, in fact, we're just skating. So you must answer for yourself. Are you seeking to know the depths of God? Or do you find that you're just attending a lot of religious meetings, reading a few religious books, and learning all the religious-sounding language. 

One of Larry Crabb's books is titled The Pressure's Off. In it he writes, 

As a culture, present-day Christianity has redefined spiritual maturity. The reformers knew we were saved to glorify God. We moderns live to be blessed. The mature among us are now thought to be the successful, the happy, the effective people on top of things and doing well . . . We're more attracted to sermons, books, and conferences that reveal the secrets to fulfillment . . . than to spiritual direction that leads us through affliction into the presence of the Father.1

We seem more interested in managing life into a comfortable existence than in letting God spiritually transform us through life's hardships.

That cuts to the quick, doesn't it? Don't run from the hardship. Don't seek a friend who'll help you get out from under it quickly. Stay there. Stay in it. The Lord God will get you through it. As a result you'll stop skating. 

This question is for you to answer: personally, introspectively, truly. Are you seeking to know the depths of God, or are you just skimming the surface?

1. Lawrence J. Crabb, Jr., The Pressure's Off (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2002), 183. All rights reserved.

Taken from Great Days with the Great Lives by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com

Are You Afraid of Giants?

By Kim Curry

Hear:

Numbers 13:17-21

When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath.

Numbers 13: 23-25

When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

Numbers 13:31-33

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Pause:

Sit still for a few moments and allow God to speak to you through the passage.

For Everyone:

God had promised the Israelites that He was going to lead them to a land that was awesome.  It would already have houses, farms, and vineyards.  There would be wells for water, and fences for their livestock.  They were going to be able to move in and have a wonderful time.

When they neared the promised land they knew there were already people living there.  Moses decided to send spies into the land to see where the roads were, where the cities were.  They were going to do “recon”.  

 So Moses sent several groups of two into the land and they were to come back with a report?

They came back with a report and they all saw giants.  

But they didn’t all see the same kind of giants.

Some saw giant people, they said they were very big and scary.

They told Moses and the people that they couldn’t possibly take over this land, they would be wiped out.

Some saw giant grapes, uvas gigantes.  They were so big that it took two men and a pole to carry them back.  They thought the new land was great.  Even better than they could imagine.  They encouraged the Israelites to have courage, that they could trust God and He would keep them safe.  They couldn’t wait to get moving.

What would you have seen if you had been one of the spies?  

Would you see giant soldiers or giant grapes?  

Would you be afraid or would you trust that God would keep His word?

Wonder:

What is a giant?

Are you afraid of giants?  Why?

Why did Moses send the spies into the land?

If you were one of those spies, what would you look for?

What different kinds of giants did they see in the land?

What did the spies that saw the giant people say about them?  (We looked like grasshoppers)?

How did they feel about going into the new land to live there?

Have you ever been afraid to move somewhere new?

How did God feel about those that were afraid to trust and follow Him?

Challenge:

Do you believe God keeps His word?

What giants are you facing today?

About the Author:

Kim Curry is currently serving as Deacon Chair at First Baptist Church Weslaco. During the COVID-19 restrictions, Kim’s Multi-Generational Sunday School class has thrived via a conference call format at 9:45 am on Sundays. Contact Kim at 956-373-0988 if you would like to join the class.

Blessed Meekness

For the Kids

Enter:

What are some words you might use to describe someone who is strong?

Do you think people who practice self control and kindness are strong?  Why or why not?

Hear:

Read the passage together:

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 

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

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 

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

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

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

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

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12) (vs. 5)

Back in early March, before this year’s rushed addition of the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and all this Covid-19 shelter-in-place stuff we looked at the third Beatitude, which says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).  You can access that message here. We find it surprising to hear Jesus blessing the meek, because meekness is not a quality that is honored much in our world.  Meekness tends to be equated with weakness.  We know that Jesus wasn’t talking about weakness when he blessed the meek, because He uses this same word to describe Himself and no one who honestly reads the gospels would think of calling Jesus weak. 

People who display Jesus’ style of meekness are willing to give up their rights rather than to cause divisions. They are willing to yield in non-essential things to keep from having trouble.  Jesus’ example of meekness is not weakness, but strength under control. A good image for understanding blessed meekness is that of a draft horse like a Belgian or a Clydesdale.  These amazing creatures each stand nearly six feet tall and weigh around a ton. A kick from one of their powerful legs and massive hooves could easily crush a man’s skull, but these animals are naturally docile and when they’re trained properly they can work together to pull enormous loads that other horses couldn’t budge.  That’s the image to hold in our minds when we hear Jesus saying: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”  Elsewhere, Jesus challenged us saying: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). When we are yoked to our mighty Savior, pulling in His direction toward the will of God, we can accomplish amazing things for the kingdom while resting in His limitless strength and goodness. According to Christ, this quality of meekness is blessed by God and will lead His faithful followers to inherit the earth when God brings heaven and earth together in His eternal kingdom.  

What will it look like today if we begin to display the kind of meekness that Jesus says is blessed in His kingdom?

Bless:

Affirm what everyone has shared.

In prayer ask God to produce Christ-like, blessed meekness in your family’s story. 

Pray together:

Example: 

Father in heaven, we thank You for Jesus who invites us to yoke ourselves to Him and pull together with Him, sharing in His rest.  Jesus showed us what a meek life is in Your kingdom, modeling strength under the control of Your Spirit all the way to the cross.  We ask you to build that kind of blessed meekness into our family as we press forward together by faith through this pandemic. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Obey, and Do

By Pastor Joe Aguilar

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:1-2

For the Adults:

“You know how you change a community? Obey the law.”

-Chip Ingram

Paul begins chapter 3 with 2 verses that list out how we apply the teachings he spoke of in chapters 1 and 2.  Today we will look at only the 1st verse. 

Paul begins with the word "remind," which means that these teachings are not new. These are probably lessons taught by Paul when he was at Crete with Titus setting up the churches a few years earlier. 

The culture of Crete was famous for living in sin, and the first 2 verses in chapter 3 instruct the Christians in Crete under Titus' leadership not to be part of it. The term "them" in verse 1 refers to the Christian church members in Crete.

Paul gives us 3 commands here in the 1st verse. First, believers are, as Paul puts it, to be "subject to," or "submissive to" authority figures. This is something we learn throughout the New Testament. Christians are to submit to, not necessarily obey, authorities such as the government (Romans 13). We are also instructed to pray for governing leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–4).

Titus reminds believers to "be obedient," which is not the same as submission. Someone who refuses to comply with an unjust law, but who accepts the resulting punishment from the government is being submissive, not obedient. Believers are called on to obey God. Obedience is not part of earning salvation or becoming right with God but is an expectation for the believer.

Titus was also expected to teach believers to "be ready" to do good works. This is also mentioned in Ephesians 2:10, where we learn that we are created in Christ, in order to do the good works God planned for us in advance.

At FBC Weslaco we have created accountability groups during these trying times brought forth by the Coronavirus pandemic. We have given people the name and number for some of our members who could benefit from a phone call or two throughout the week. As we check up on our loved ones, we have also learned of some needs we would have otherwise been oblivious to. 

If God is tugging at your heartstrings, obey and do. Pray that God give you His eyes to see the needs around you. If you need help or need guidance please feel free to call the office, 956-968-9585. 

For the children:

When was the last time you checked in on your grandparents? 

Who have you heard through your contacts/connections is not doing well?

Can you reach out to them and see how you can help? 

Read and meditate: 

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:1-2

Pray:

Lord I know this pandemic has been hard on so many people, and I ask that you reveal someone to me, so that I can love them like Jesus. Help me to be obedient to your Holy Spirit and do something that can help them. I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ my Savior. Amen.

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 11 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.

Thanksfulness is as Thankfulness Does

April 28 Family Devotional

(Taken from YouVersion Bible Plan: “Thankfulness is as Thankfulness Does”
I had the kiddos (our students/youth) read it a few weeks ago – enjoy!

-Robin Wiley

Scripture
Luke 17:12-19 (ESV).
12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”[

For the Adults:
The words, “Thank you,” can easily become a lifeless, mechanical kneejerk reaction that is spoken with precious little thought, meaning, appreciation, or integrity. What “Thank you” should be is an intentional expression of sincere gratitude that communicates the intent of a thankful heart regardless of how big or small the deep inspiring the “thanks” maybe. It is easy to think that the Lord has other, more lofty concerns on His mind and doesn’t need or isn’t concerned about our expressions of gratitude.

Nothing could be further from the truth. He takes notice of whether or not we appreciate His gifts to us just as any parent notices if their child appreciates a gift or callously just wants more, disregarding their tangible expression of love.

This is evident in Luke 17:12-19 which depicts Jesus healing ten lepers upon their pleading with Him to have mercy on them. As they turned and went to show themselves to the priests at Jesus’ command, that’s when their healing occurred. Nine of the ten kept going, rejoicing in their gift, but one stopped to thank the Giver. He “…he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks.” 

However, the other nine didn’t escape the Lord’s notice. He was quick to ask where they were, implying that He was wondering why they weren’t grateful enough for the gift of healing they had just received to also thank Him.

Over and over the Bible enjoins us to give thanks to the Lord – in Psalm 107 alone, the psalmist cries out for us to “…give thanks to the Lord” (NIV) some five times. And just as the tenth healed leper’s thankful actions spoke louder than any words ever could have, we need to express our thankfulness to God with more than just talk.

Thankfulness is as thankfulness does!! 

Thus, every day can be a day of thanksgiving as we show the Giver how thankful we are for His unsearchable gifts and goodness. 

“Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!” (Psalm 107:8)   For we are ALL the children of man – but more importantly – of God!

For the kiddos:

Enter:

·      What is God saying to you through His Word and this story read today?

·      What stands out to you the most in this story?

·      What do you think happened to the other 9 lepers who were healed?

Hear:
Read the Bible Passages. (Luke 17:12-19 and Psalm 107:8-15 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause
Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. With little ones, it may be a ten count, but we can sit still and let God’s word work in their hearts! 

Wonder:·     

• What was the best gift you were ever given?

• What gifts do you possess right now that you could be thankful for (ie: gift of singing, music, drawing, being a fast runer, etc.)? Who ultimately gave them to you?

Bless:
Affirm what was discussed about the story.

Make a list of everything you are thankful for in your life. Express your gratitude to the one that made you, our great creator God, and your parents too J. Look for ways you can use your talents and gifts for helping others around you and also for God.

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:
Father God, we should always be thankful to you for our lives and waking up to a new day. Thank for loving us so much that you gave us your son, Jesus, who is our Savior and through Him, we have eternal life. Thank you for the talents you gave to each of us. Show us how we can use these gifts to further your kingdom here on earth. Thank you for our family too. In Jesus’ name – Amen.

You Get What You Work For?

Gather:

Did you earn anything this week? (Money, Grades, Free time)

Name something you thought you deserved, but didn’t get?

Hear:

Matthew 20:1-16 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Pause:

Sit still for a few moments and allow God to speak to you through the passage.

For Everyone:

This may not sound very holy, but in my opinion, the grumbling workers had the right to grumble! Maybe they shouldn’t have said it out loud - that seems rude, but they had a point. They had put in more work than the workers who came later. They had seen others rewarded for much a partial day’s work and assumed that they would get more for full day of work.

But in God’s upside down world where grace abounds, God chooses to give grace freely - even to those who we may not deserve it. But before we get too mad about that, we should consider whether or not we want the wage we “earned” on our own. Romans 6:23, our Treehouse Club verse from last week (Ep. 5) tells us very clearly that the wages of sin is death! The only fair wage we can earn is death! How merciful is our Father that He has offers us the gift of life through Jesus Christ our Lord?

We should be glad God doesn’t give us a fair wage for what we worked for - that way leads to death! Instead, God gives us a gift that we should cherish and want to share with others. Let’s revel in the gift of grace God has given us!

Wonder:

How did this parable (story with a meaning) make you feel?

Does the landowner in this story treat everyone equally?

Does he treat them fairly?

How does the “wage” we can earn compare to the gift God has given?

When can we remember this story?

Bless:

Dear God,

Help me to embrace your gift. Help me to not grow envious of others who receive grace from you as well. Help me to show grace to others. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

The Blessing of Creation

By Charles Stanley (from Insight For Living Daily Devotionals)

In the beginning, God created the world—a place for every living thing to flourish as He intended. And telling the first man and woman to be stewards of the earth, He gave them power to maintain harmony in His creation if they obeyed Him—or to bring discord if they didn’t. 

As Jesus spoke, the crowd around Him surely recalled that God had charged their ancestors to take care of the earth—“to cultivate … and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). At the same time, the Lord’s first-century audience knew all too well what it meant to be oppressed, as their cities were occupied by military conquerors. In this context, imagine how they received His promise that the meek would inherit the earth. Maybe they envisioned their earthly oppressors falling to their knees before God. Or perhaps they imagined freedom and riches.

Think about it
• Consider how living in today’s world might influence how we hear Jesus’ words. Do you find your perspective affected by prevalent cultural messages? What does it mean today—in 2020—to be gentle, faithful stewards who’ll inherit the earth?

• What comes to mind when you think about inheriting the earth? Consider what it means both for you individually and also for the church.

God's Answer to the Problem of Sin

by Charles Stanley (Original Devotional found at In Touch Ministries)

Romans 5:6-10 New International Version (NIV)

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Many people think they should wait to accept Christ’s offer of salvation until after they have improved themselves in some way. But that is actually the exact opposite of the gospel’s message. 

We’re all unworthy of salvation. There is nothing we could ever do to merit God’s forgiveness and acceptance. However, He bridged the gap of sin that separated us and Him. We didn’t deserve this act of love; God did it on His own, motivated by His unfailing grace. 

It would be a tragic error to think we had to make ourselves more presentable without first depending on Christ to enter our life. Jesus didn’t say, “Go clean yourselves up, get some rest, and then come to Me,” did He? Rather, He opened His arms and said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). 

Jesus didn’t wait until we deserved Him—He knew that we never could. Instead, He gave Himself freely for all mankind and extended an invitation for every sinner, just as he or she is, to come to Him and find rest.

Decisions, Decisions

By: Elizabeth Ramirez

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

The book of Joshua comes to a close with Joshua reminding the tribes of Israel all about what God had seen them through (multiple battles, multiple years wandering in the wilderness, etc) and the promises he had kept (to give Abraham multiple descendants, to free the Israelites from slavery, etc). Joshua challenged them to make a decision. “Choose this day whom you will serve?”

As a human race, Yahweh gave us free will and the power to make our own decisions.  As children, our parents gave us guidance and direction to hopefully make good choices in life. As adults we go on to instill values in our own children. Who will you serve?

Who or what we serve will receive our devotion, our time our attention, and become our priority. Unfortunately, it is easy to and allow other things (sports, video games, friends, work, money) to take priority in our lives. We must listen to Joshua’s advice and make the decision to stay intentionally focused on the one true God. 

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

For Kids:

How can we show our love for God? 

- we can read the bible daily, pray, sing songs of praise, obey His commandments

What kinds of things can turn us away from God? 

-money, people, entertainment, popularity, things (treasures

Are these things bad things?

-they are only sinful if we allow them to turn us away from obeying God.

How can we serve the LORD in our home?

Challenge: In our quiet time each day, let's ask God to show us if we are serving anyone or anything other than Him, and ask him to help us serve only Him. 

Spiritual Poverty and Mourning

by Steven Parker

For the Kids

Enter:

Is there anything you’ve enjoyed about being stuck at home?

Are there things you really miss because you’re stuck at home?

Does anything make you feel afraid as we go through this time together?

Hear:

Read the passage together:

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

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

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

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

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

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

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

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)

Pause:

Sit for a few moments and reflect on this passage. Re-read the focal verse for this devotional: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Wonder:

What do you think Jesus is teaching in these verses?

How can being poor in spirit and in a state of mourning bring blessing?

For Everyone:

This past week we jumped back into our Beatitudes series that we are calling “Your Blessed Life Now.”  In these beautiful lines, Jesus shows us what a blessed life looks like in His kingdom.  These are not characteristics to which we aspire as much as they are the natural byproduct of a life lived in His name. 

The Beatitudes begin with Jesus blessing circumstances that we don’t expect to be blessed.  These words of blessing start with “blessed are the poor in Spirit” (vs. 3) and its emotional counterpart, “blessed are those who mourn” (vs. 4).  You can access the second message in this study by clicking here.

While others find themselves pursuing external measurements of worldly success, Jesus offers blessing to those who recognize their own shortcomings and are grieved by them.  When Jesus says that we’re blessed when we’re poor in spirit and mourning, He’s saying that we’re blessed when it doesn’t seem like we’re blessed.  Jesus reminds us that when it seems like we have things upside down that’s probably ok, because His kingdom is at odds with most of what seems normal in the world and so upside down in this world is often right side up in His eyes.  Our life of faith begins with acknowledging that we are sinful and in need of God’s grace and broken over our shortcomings.  The promise of God in those genuine expressions of spiritual poverty and brokenness is that God will grant the kingdom and His comfort to those who recognize their need for Him.

The Beatitudes are an encouraging word for us as we face this pandemic together, because we are, in many ways, dealing with the loss of many things we took for granted a short while ago.  Some have lost loved ones to Coronavirus and other illnesses and are grieving that loss.  Most of us are feeling poorer because of the absence of family, friends, and simple human contact as we go through this period of mandated social distancing.  Our students are missing their friends and the fun things that they expected to participate in as the school year came to a close.  Many families are struggling through the loss of income due to layoffs or shutdowns and the fear of permanent closures.  In the midst of all of that we have the hope that in our seasons of spiritual poverty we gain the kingdom of God and when we take our brokenness to Jesus, He gives us comfort.  Because of what Jesus does for us through seasons of struggle, we learn to say with the Psalmist: “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” (Psalm 30:11-12)

Bless:

Affirm what everyone has shared.

In prayer, share any feelings of fear, anxiety, spiritual poverty, and brokenness.

Pray together:

Thank God for blessing us when we’re poor in spirit and mourning.

Example: 

Father in heaven, we can be quite self-absorbed, and we don’t always understand what You’re doing.  Forgive us for the ways in which we have forgotten to trust in Your goodness.  We are saddened by a lot of what is going on in our world right now and ask You to bring us the comfort that only You can give.  Teach us the ways of Your kingdom as we live into our status as Your children through this pandemic. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God's Grace

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,”

Titus 2:11

For the Adults:

“Grace of God that brings salvation.” I absolutely love these words. We too many times get so busy trying to do for God, when He has already brought it to us. Salvation is not performance based. Salvation is not obtained by giving money to charity or the church or even going to church. We can’t work our way into heaven by keeping laws, rules, and checklists. The law is powerless to save us. The law was given to us only to prove our shortcomings and our inability to meet the standard of perfection that God has set. Christianity is not founded on what we can do for God.

Grace is best defined this way, “receiving something that we do not deserve, the undeserved favor of God.” Paul is saying that if it were possible to be saved by the law, doing good works, then Jesus’ death on the cross was unnecessary.

So then how are we saved? We don’t go out and get it, it comes to us, and all we have to do is receive it. “The grace of God that brings salvation.” Therefore, we must stop trying to deserve salvation, and simply start receiving it.

No one has ever earned it or deserved it, but God brings it to us anyway. God rescues us from sin, through the work of His Son, Jesus, on the cross. It is a FREE gift from God, it is ours for the taking.

The gospel “has appeared to all men.” Paul is letting us know that there is only ONE gospel for ALL humanity. God doesn’t have different plans for different people. He has only ONE way, Jesus Christ our Savior, and that is salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). All men find salvation through the gospel of the grace of God.

AND no one is outside of the plan of salvation!

For the Children:

Who brings salvation to us?

What do we have to do to receive salvation?

Who did the work so that it doesn’t cost us anything?

Who will you share this message with?

Meditation:

Read:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,”

Titus 2:11

Rest:

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to rest in Your word, Jesus thank you for the work on the cross, Holy Spirit show me how to reflect my faith to the world.

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 11 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.

Can You Hear Me Now?

By Robin Wiley - Have a great week!!!

Scripture

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10 (ESV).

For the Adults:

Time is that rare modern commodity of which for many, we never have enough, until now! Because of the shelter-in-place rules – we seem to have nothing BUT time on our hands. Time to be productive or time to waste.  Even time to be still, but are we deepening our relationship to God? Are we listening to Him in the midst of the world's Covid-19 turmoil?

Being still is not easy; in fact, it is more difficult than ever before. We have become technology gluttons, bombarded with a clamor of smart phones, computers, tablets, I-pads, radios, and TVs. From sun-up to sundown, the sights and sounds never stop. As we move through our day, we must take some time to unplug—literally—from the world. 

Some people stay plugged-in to run from reality. As long as their minds are filled with these noisy distractions, they don't have to think about or evaluate their decisions in life, their relationships with others, or their relationship (or lack thereof) with the Creator. 

For others, staying plugged-in is a habit; they can't think, work, or play without background sounds. Many need such noise to lull them to sleep. Personally, I have to have a fan to sleep because of the constant noise it makes.

Back in December while visiting family in Austin, we all went on a bicycle ride to a nearby park. I went off on my own down a narrow path and I came up behind a speed walker wearing earplugs. To let her know I was coming I called out, "Good morning!" No reply. I called out again, a bit louder, "Good morning! Can you hear me?" No reply. "Hello! On your left (is bicycle talk when passing someone) please!” I called out again as my bike inched closer. Again, nothing. Slowing down to maneuver safely around her, I tried again, "Good morning." She never looked up or acknowledged I was there. How rude!

I imagine that God calls out to us above the noise saying, "Hello, can you hear me now?" When there's a steady stream of noise in our lives and we're always "plugged-in," we are allowing the world to mold our minds and determine our thoughts, which makes cultivating a deeper relationship with God more difficult (how rude of us!). In essence, we are ignoring God’s voice and I can only guess that action hurts Him, just like when friends, family or even strangers ignore us.

The Holy Spirit can certainly penetrate the constant commotion—and one way or another if He wants to get your attention He will get through. However, by allowing stillness in our lives—to think about God, and permitting our souls to marinate in His Word as we work and play—God will speak to us in new ways; and we will hear Him—maybe for the first time! 

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV). 

For the kiddos: 

Enter:

·      Try an exercise of just sitting in silence for 30 seconds (60 seconds if you can) with eyes closed.

·      Was it difficult to keep silent?

·      What thoughts came to mind in your silence?

·      What are ways we can listen to God?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Psalm 46:10,  Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. With little ones, it may be a ten count, but we can sit still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

·      How can you quiet your mind and minimize distractions that get in the way of hearing from God?

·      What does this phrase, "Be still, and know that I am God.” mean to you?

·      Share a story of your own experience with your family when God spoke to your heart. What did He say?  What happened?

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

Listen for God when reading the Bible. God speaks to us in our thoughts and it’s the Holy Spirit that illuminates His Word, speaking to us so that we can better understand it and how it relates to our lives. Here are a few tips for quieting your mind so you can listen to God:

·      Place yourself in an environment that helps you concentrate.

o   Quiet room, outside in the backyard, in a closet in your house.

·      Don’t fight distracting thoughts by trying to avoid them altogether

o   The more you focus on what you don’t want to think about, the more you’ll think about it!

·      Choose a short phrase or sentence from the Bible.

o   Meditate on it, read it over and over to your self until it sinks in.

·      Find a time in the day to do this exercise – to pray and meditate that works for you and be consistent.

·      Start small.

o   Baby steps. If you aren’t used to sitting quietly, start with 1 – 2 minutes and then work your way up to longer periods of time.  The point is just be silent and listen!

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Father God, thank you for your holy Word, which is alive and breathes in us. We know this world is very noisy and distracting so please help us to find the place and time to sit silently with You and listen. Speak to our hearts and fill us with your love, kindness and grace so that we can shine those same things to others around us.  In Jesus’ name – Amen.

Does God Have Favorites?

By Charles Stanley (Original Post from In Touch Ministries, Monday, April 20)

James 2:18-23 New International Version (NIV)

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b] and he was called God’s friend.

Devotional:

God doesn’t play favorites. He makes choices and decrees, but Scripture repeatedly testifies to His impartiality (Deut. 10:17; Rom. 2:11; Col. 3:25). Sometimes, though, it doesn’t seem that way. Look at the nation of Israel—God even says that He chose them to be His people (Deut. 7:6).

So, what does this mean? Did God change His mind? No, actually it’s simply a way of saying that God selected Israel for a purpose within His divine plan. Look at Israel’s history. Consider her sorrows and setbacks. It certainly doesn’t appear that God is playing favorites with Israel. Rather, He has a specific plan for this chosen nation, just as He has a specific will and plan for each of us. 1 Peter 1:17 states: “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.”

Remember that “from everyone who has been given much, much will be required” (Luke 12:48). God’s judgment is righteous and perfect, and He knows exactly what should be given to each person. Take heart in knowing that God loves everybody in His creation equally. He doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9), and He has gone to the greatest lengths imaginable to prove it.

Jesus is Alive and Active

By Charles Stanley (This devotional appeared April 17, 2017, on the In Touch Ministries Web Page)

Hebrews 10:10-14 New International Version (NIV)

10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Have you ever wondered what Jesus is doing, now that He’s in heaven? Today’s passage tells us that He is sitting at God’s right hand. It might make us wonder what He’s doing up there. Is He simply waiting for the time when He comes back to earth? No! He’s actually quite active on our behalf. 

First, the Lord Jesus is within every believer, in the person of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26; Rom. 8:9-10). This means that from heaven, Christ is working to shape your character and empower your obedience. 

Second, the Lord intercedes for us (Heb. 7:25). He makes requests on our behalf and brings our prayers to the Father. 

Third, we see in 1 John 2:1-2 that Jesus is our Advocate when we sin. Positioned between us and the Father, He declares our righteous standing because of His sacrifice and our faith in Him. 

Finally, Christ is preparing a place for us in heaven (John 14:1-3) and arranging all events necessary for His return. 

Jesus is in heaven carrying out the Father’s will. And we should be doing the same thing here on earth. The Lord can save others through us when we reflect His life in our work, attitudes, words, and behavior. Let us, Christ’s body—His eyes, ears, voice, feet, and hands—point others to Him.

I Still Have Some Growing Up To Do

By Sarah Geringer (This devotional was taken from a post on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Website)

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)

It wasn’t the first time I had hunted Easter eggs.

But it was the first year I no longer believed a big, magical bunny hid the eggs for me to find. I stood in the dew-covered lawn and shivered in my flannel nightgown. Empty basket in hand, I secretly felt foolish, worried someone would see me in my pajamas.

Eight years old going on 30, I already knew Jesus was the real reason for the season.

Still, I played along because I saw the excitement dancing in my aunt’s eyes. She delighted in times like this when she helped take care of my sister and me. I didn’t want to let her down.

My sister and I returned from the garden, baskets overflowing with multicolored eggs. “Let’s see what the Easter Bunny gave you!” exclaimed my aunt, and I pasted on a smile I hoped looked real. Still, I was delighted to find the coins, stickers, bead necklaces and chocolate inside the eggs. The gifts momentarily distracted me from the new, wondrous, uncomfortable truth I had discovered: I was growing up.

Yet I still had a lot of mental, emotional and spiritual growing to do.

It took decades to recognize my childish thinking patterns, which persisted into adulthood. I didn’t believe in fictional characters anymore, but I did subscribe to wrong ideas about God, others and myself. Until I addressed my immature thinking, my spiritual growth was stunted.

The Bible gives us a vivid example of believers trapped in childish thinking. When the Apostle Paul began ministering to the church at Corinth, he faced this challenge. The Corinthians could only handle simple truths instead of meaty teachings. Due to their childish self-focus, Paul constantly had to review basics with them. He emphasized how they needed to view God, others and themselves in the right way.

Right before Paul penned his famous love verses in 1 Corinthians 13, he wrote how the church was squabbling over small matters when big issues were at stake. He followed with a well-known passage on the mature qualities of true love, then reemphasized the basic truth he wanted them to grasp:

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11).

I can be like the Corinthians and settle for childish thinking instead of moving on to mature thinking.

I had to overcome my childish view of God as a harsh punisher but also a vending machine. By studying the Bible, I learned how loving, patient and kind He was to me. As my faith matured, my friendship with God flourished.I needed to adjust my thinking about my relationships. After much struggle, grief and surrender, I have learned to be assertive and independent, rather than passive and codependent. And I’ve found more joy in serving people than determining how they could cater to my needs.

Most challenging of all, I’ve had to mature in the ways I viewed myself. My inner critic no longer sits on my mind’s throne, pronouncing judgment over real and perceived failures. When Jesus took the throne of my thought life, He reigned over my mind with truth and peace.

For all who struggle with speaking, thinking and reasoning like a child, there is a solution. Jesus is the One who helps us take thoughts captive and examine which ones need maturing. Then, as we learn to submit to God’s loving authority in our lives, He transforms our hearts and minds to be more like His.

Lord, I want to put away childish thinking with Your help. Show me where my thoughts are immature in how I perceive You, others and myself. Help me take every thought captive, examine it and transform it for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Hebrews 6:1a, “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.” (NLT)

James 1:4, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)