Glowing with Glory (Devotional for Aug 29)

Posted on August 29, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:

Psalm 95:1-11 | Job 33:1 – 33:33 | 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 | Proverbs 22:8-9

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 3

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  2 Cor. 3:18 (NIV)

Moses walked intimately with the Lord and the effect was sometimes seen on his face– it would glow with reflected glory.  But over time, the glory would fade, so Moses began to put a veil over his face.

The New Testament promises a “surpassing glory” that goes beyond what Moses experienced.  As we behold the glory of the Lord, we are transformed into the very likeness of the one we worship–the Lord Jesus Christ.

I’m encouraged to know that as I spend time with Jesus daily, he begins to rub off on me.  Little by little, day-by-day, I reflect more of the life of Christ within me in my daily attitudes, character and behavior.

It’s God’s intention for each of us to experience a little more of that glory today than we experienced yesterday.  Of course, it doesn’t just happen with time. It requires seeking the Lord.  It requires time in his presence. It requires times of intimate fellowship with the one who loves us most.  Maybe that’s why some of us don’t seem to be glowing much.  Maybe that’s why some of us aren’t growing much.

There is so much more of the glory of Christ to be revealed in us.  There is so much more of his glory to be reflected on our faces and through our lives.  So, with Moses, our prayer is, “Show us Your Glory!”

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:

Psalm 96:1-6 | Job 34:1 – 36:33 | 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 | Proverbs 22:10-12

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What is that Fragrance You Are Wearing? (Devotional for Aug 28)

Posted on August 28, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

 

Today’s Scripture Readings:

Psalms 94:12-23 | Job 28:1 – 30:31 | 2 Cor. 2:12 – 17 | Proverbs 22:7

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” 2 Cor. 2:14 ESV

“What is that fragrance you are wearing?”

“It’s called ‘fragrance of the knowledge of Christ’.  Do you like it?”

As we know and walk in the fullness of Christ, we begin to take on an aroma– the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.  Wherever we go, that pleasant aroma follows us.  Just by being around us, people sense Christ’s joy, or his love, or his kindness, or one of his other winsome character qualities.  As Christ lives out his life in us, we become more and more like him, and people begin to notice the difference.

It is this fragrance of Jesus that we should bring with us everywhere we go.  Then doors open to share the hope we have in Christ.  We no longer need to be peddlers who force our way intrusively into every conversation in a “telemarketer” fashion–which only turns people off anyway.

Paul looked for open doors (and prayed for them), and remained sensitive to the Spirit’s leading.  He sought to share the hope he had in Christ, but knew that he was not a peddler on a sales call, he was a sincere lover of Christ who wanted to bring the fragrance of Jesus wherever he went–hoping it to be the fragrance leading to life to everyone in the room.  Not everyone finds the aroma to their liking, but those whom God has prepared are bound to notice and ask about the fragrance we are wearing.

One of the best parts of the fragrance “knowledge of Christ” is that as we wear it, the aroma rises to heaven and brings a smile to the face of our heavenly Father. “For we are the aroma of Christ to God” (2:15 ESV).  Isn’t it good to make God smile?

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:

Psalm 95:1-11 | Job 31:1 – 33:33 | 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 | Proverbs 22:8-9

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Purer Than Gold (Daily Devotional for Aug 27)

Posted on August 27, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

(These devotional thoughts are intended to encourage you as you read through the Bible in a year. Each day I focus on one of the texts from the daily “read through the bible” schedule).

Today’s Scripture Readings:

Psalms 94:1-11 | Job 23:1-27:23 | 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11 | Proverbs 22:5-6

Today’s Scripture Focus: Job 23-27

“But he knows the way I take; When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

 Job was wrestling with feelings of abandonment from God. He wanted to state his case before the Almighty, but he seemed unable to find him. Often the trials of life bring on such feelings of abandonment. “But if I go to the east, he is not there, if I go to the west I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.” We all have these “dark nights of the soul” where God is teaching us to trust him in the dark. They are difficult times because they stretch our faith, but they can be times of incredible growth.
Job was also wrestling with feelings of injustice.  He didn’t understand why he was enduring all these trials: hadn’t he been faithful to the Lord? He thought that if he could only argue his case with God, he could show his integrity and blamelessness and that the trial would be over.  Of course, Job didn’t understand the underlying theme which we saw in the early chapters.  He was going through these trials not because of disobedience, but because Satan was testing the character of this righteous man, hoping to prove that difficult times could shake him from his trust in God. God saw the integrity of his character and allowed the test to take place. What Satan meant for evil, God planned to use for good.  He always does.
Tough times are a test of our faith, and an opportunity for growth.  Conventional wisdom (Bildad and Eliphaz) assumes that the tests come because of our disobedience. Job reminds us that this is not always the case.  Sometimes the tough times are tests of our faith given to us so we can grow and mature in the faith.

James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. [4] Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

1 Peter 1:7-8 (NIV)
These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Despite the feelings of abandonment and injustice, Job continued to trust God and persevere in his faith.  His statement is an amazing one, filled with wisdom: “But he knows the way that I take; When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

God knows all your ways, he sees you in your trial.  He hasn’t abandoned or forgotten you.  He is using this tough time to test and refine your faith.  When he has tested you, you too, will come forth as gold.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 94:12-23
Job 28:1 – 30:31
2 Corinthians 2:12-17

Proverbs 22:7
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Comfort Received, Comfort Given (Daily Devotional for Aug 26)

Posted on August 26, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 93:1-5 | Job 20:1 – 22:23 | 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 | Proverbs 22:2-4

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. [5] For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  2 Cor. 1:3-5 (NIV) 

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God reveals himself through his names.  It is good to meditate on them to find a fresh revelation of the truths they contain.  Think on these: “God is the Father of compassion,” He is “the God of all comfort.”  We all do well to allow those truths to sink deeply into our hearts.  While life is difficult and there is more than enough suffering for all of us, he is the Father of compassion and the God of all Comfort who comforts us in all our troubles.  That is good news.

In our readings in Job, we see a man struggling to understand the sufferings he is going through. The answers seem hard to come by, especially with the “many words” of his “miserable comforters” who don’t understand a thing about his situation. But in this text, we learn something about the mysteries of the ways of our God of compassion and comfort.

Even our suffering is not lost on God.  As we draw to him through the trial, he gives comfort and grace and peace.  He even gives us joy to strengthen us as we walk through the circumstances we cannot understand.

The comfort God gives is meant to overflow.  He comforts us not only that our need is met, but also so that we have comfort to give away to someone else in need.  As he fills you with his comfort, you become one he can use to comfort others.

Our God of comfort beckons us to cry out to him in the midst of troubles that we may receive his presence which comforts us.  Our Father of Compassion holds out his arms ready to embrace us and uphold us without regard to where we’ve been or how we’ve failed.  It is good to have a friend in Jesus who joins us in our times of suffering.  The Holy Spirit, the comforter, is also there pouring out his love into our hearts (Rom. 5:5).  Yet even with all of that comfort, God also knows that we sometimes need a shoulder to cry on, someone to encourage.  That’s where you and I come in.  The wounded healers who’ve found comfort and healing in the arms of our loving Father, allow the comfort of Christ to overflow through them to bring healing to others.

Receive His comfort today; allow it to overflow and bring comfort to others.  It’s one of the ways he “works all things together for good”.

With Joy,
Pastor Jeff
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Refreshing (Daily Devotional for Aug 25)

Posted on August 25, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Today’s Scripture Readings:

Psalm 92:9-15 | Job 16:1 – 19:29 | 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 | Proverbs 22:1

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Cor. 16
1 Cor. 16:17-18 (ESV)  

    I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence,  [18] for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.
 
Some people refresh the soul.  Others drain it of all energy.  Paul here admonishes the Corinthians to give recognition to three who were “soul refreshers”: “they refreshed my spirit as well as yours”.

In contrast we have been reading about Job’s “miserable comforters” who are probably trying their best, but still end up draining Job of any remaining energy his soul might have.

It’s good to have people like Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus.  We all need the encouragement that such people bring.  An encouraging word, a helping hand, a willingness to serve where needed: these things refresh the soul of one who is in ministry.

Life has a way of sapping our energy.  There are more than enough “Soul drainers”.  Be a soul refresher.  An encouraging word goes a long way toward refreshing a tired soul.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff


Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 93:1-5
Job 20:1 – 22:23
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Proverbs 22:2-4

 
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Worthless Physicians (Daily Devotional for Aug 24)

Posted on August 24, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 92:1-8 | Job 12:1 – 15:35 | 1 Corinthians 15:29-58 | Proverbs 21:30-31

Today’s Scripture Focus: Job 12-15

“You are worthless physicians, all of you! If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.” Job 13:5

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Too many words spoken too soon.  Too many cliches. Not enough answers.  Job needed some friends to be there for him.  But the counsel he got didn’t seem to bring any relief from the pain he was feeling.  The words seemed empty and false.

When we see a friend in pain, we are often quick to spout cliches.  Yet these are the very times we would usually do well to just be there and to be a good listener.  James tells us to be slow to speak and quick to listen.  That’s good advice.

When we rush in with words, we usually fail to appreciate the true situation and often our words ring hollow.  Even when the words are true, the one who needs comfort may not be in a place to listen just yet.  We do well to listen and understand.  We do well to allow the suffering person to vent their feelings and frustrations.  We do well to just be there.

Job’s friends rushed in with words before really understanding the situation.  Their words didn’t bring the needed healing and only seemed to bring additional frustration.

There will come a day for encouraging words.  There will come a time for advice.  There will come a day when then words will be welcome.  Until then, be there–be fully there.  Listen. Pray.  Then you will be the kind of friend we all need in difficult times.


With Joy,

Pastor Jeff


Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 91:9-15
Job 16:1 – 19:29
1 Cor. 16:1-24
Proverbs 22:1
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No Easy Answers (Daily Devotional Aug 23)

Posted on August 23, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 91:9-16 | Job 8:1-11:20 | I Corinthians 15:1-28 | Proverbs 21:28-29

Today’s Scripture Focus: Job 8-11

“So what’s new? I know all this” 9:1, The Message
“God’s wisdom is so deep, God’s power so immense, who could take him on and come out in one piece?” (9:3, The Message)
Job’s friends came with all the easy answers.  In many cases, what they were saying would be true.  But there are seldom “one size fits all” answers to life’s big questions.  Job is a book about struggling with life’s mysteries when all the “right answers” don’t seem to fit.

We grow up learning the “sunday school answers” to all of life’s questions.  But life’s questions sometimes require more than just a simple answer.  Especially when we are dealing with the mystery of suffering.  Even more so when we are dealing with trying to figure out God’s purpose in our suffering.

“God’s wisdom is so deep”.  Job had it right there.  Trying to understand the mystery of suffering would require us to understand the mystery of God and his wisdom.   Our brains would short-circuit for sure if we got close to perfect understanding of God and his wisdom.

We all have times when the easy answers just don’t seem to fit our questions.  They ring hollow.  What do we do?  Like Job, I believe we take our questions to God.  He doesn’t always give us the answers.  But we do a lot of learning in the process.  As our faith is stretched, as our character is developed, as we search for deeper answers, and as we just stand in awe of the God whose mind and purposes are beyond our understanding we come to know Him in a deeper way.  As we learn to trust him even when the answers don’t come and when we don’t sense his presence, we learn the fellowship of sharing in Christ’s sufferings.  These are lessons of trust we could learn no other way.

Counting it all Joy,

Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 92:1-8
Job 12:1-15:35
I Corinthians 15:29-58
Proverbs 21:30-31


With Joy,

Pastor Jeff
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Under His Wings (Daily Devotional for Aug 22)

Posted on August 22, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 91:1-8  | Job 4:1-7:21  | 1 Cor. 14:18-40  | Proverbs 21:27

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 91

“Under his wings you will find refuge” (91:4 ESV)

I was struck by the contrast between Psalm 91, which looks with hopeful expectation for God’s protection and blessing and the readings in Job where he is trying to make sense of a situation where he feels abandoned and beat up by the circumstances of life.
Psalm 91 is filled with wonderful promises of God’s protection and blessing for the one who loves him and holds fast to him.  He describes his protection like a bird gathering up her young in her wings to protect them from danger. “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler”.

It’s a beautiful picture of God’s protection and faithfulness.  And we’ve all walked with the Lord long enough to know that what the Psalmist says is absolutely true.  God does watch over us.  He does protect us.  He is faithful.

Job reminds us that while all that is true, life is difficult.  It’s sometimes hard to understand.  We may love God deeply and be holding fast to him, only to find the trials of life intensify rather than diminish.  Job wrestles with the questions brought on by his devastating circumstances but he refuses to lose hope; he continues to trust God even when he doesn’t understand.  It didn’t come easy, and his friends weren’t much help in the process.  But we all know that Job ultimately perseveres in his faith.  And in the end, God’s blessings were poured out into his life.

Somehow I wonder if it isn’t in the circumstances like Job’s where the truth of Psalm 91 becomes most obvious.  It is when life becomes dangerous and hard when protection is needed.  It is then that the mother hen gathers her chicks and covers them with her wings.  So in our lives, it is in the midst of the trials that God gathers us close and protects us in the refuge of “his wings”.

“It doesn’t matter, really, how great the pressure is; it only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord–then the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast.” 
–Hudson Taylor–
He is our refuge.  Let him pull you close today.


With Joy,

Pastor Jeff


Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 91:9-16
Job 8:1 – 11:20
1 Corinthians 15:1-28
Proverbs 21:28-29
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If. . . (Daily Devotional for Aug 20)

Posted on August 20, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 90:1-10 | Esther 8:1-10:3  | 1 Cor. 12:27-13:13 | Prov. 21:23-24

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 13

1 Cor. 13:1-3 (NIV)      If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 

 
Love is the glue that holds the body of Christ together despite the differences of our background, beliefs or experiences.  Often people get “bent out of shape” regarding spiritual gifts.  Love enables us to work together and learn from each other.  Some in the body bring discernment to extremes; others help bring openess to the true working of God.  As we love each other, we learn from each other.  Gifts are given to build up the body, not to tear it apart.  As we serve in love, that is exactly what happens.

Love is also the necessary motivation for using spiritual gifts.  If we are motivated out of pride or insecurity (another form of pride–seeking attention), we lift up ourselves rather than Jesus.  If we are focused on ourselves rather than on serving those we minister to in love, our service will bear no lasting fruit.

Of course, the principles of love described in 1 Corinthians 13, apply in the context of any relationship and this text is rightly read at weddings where it is applied in marriage.  Yet I’m always struck that in its original context, Paul was speaking of love in the church.  The topic under discussion when Paul penned these words was the the issue of the use of spiritual gifts.

Until Jesus comes, we have much to do.  That work needs to be done in the power and gifts of the Spirit.  As we seek for His fullness, motivated by love, we will be the kind of stewards who will hear, “well done” when we see him face to face.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 90:11-17
Job 1:1-3:26
1 Cor. 14:1-17
Proverbs 21:25-26
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Finding Your Place (Daily Devotional August 19)

Posted on August 19, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 89:46-52 | Esther 4:1 – 7:10 | 1 Cor. 12:1-26  | Proverbs 21:21-22

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 12:1-26

1 Cor. 12:4-7 (ESV)
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;  [5] and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;  [6] and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Every one of God’s children is gifted and is an important part of Christ’s body, the church.  We all are important; we all have a part to play.

Sometimes people think that because they prefer to serve “behind the scenes” that they aren’t as important as those who serve with the “up front” gifts.  Not so.  All the places of service are important; all of the gifts necessary.

A body missing the eyes can’t see, a body missing a leg walks with a limp, a body missing an ear can’t hear well.  Know that whether you are an eye, an ear or even a gall bladder in the body of Christ, you are important to the proper function of your local church.  Your church will not be as fruitful as it could be if you aren’t using that gift to the fullest.

God has a place of service for you.  A place where your passion, experience, and giftedness comes together to meet a need.  You are a unique but important piece of the puzzle that will not be complete until you find your place.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 90:1-10
Esther 8:1-10:3
1 Cor. 12:27-13:13
Proverbs 21:23-24

[This Devotional Series is tied to a “read the bible in a year” plan. If you follow the scripture readings, you will read the Bible through in one year.]
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