Virtual Devotions

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6

Friday, April 27, is my birthday.  No, not my physical birthday, but my born-again birthday.  It was four years ago on April 27, 2003 that I realized I was never going to be able to do enough good to merit my acceptance by God.  I knew how much bad stuff I had done in my life and so did God.  And even when I thought I was making up lost ground, I went and did something bad again.  Praise Jesus, He called me to the cross, I surrendered a sinner and was raised a saint.  And it was all a gift!

Yesterday, I sent him an email just to follow up and to keep the door open.  He replied saying that he felt it was very important for everyone to have something that they are passionate about; Christ, family, marriage, baseball – it didn’t matter so long as you had a passion.  He went on to say how he travels a lot and he spends his time reflecting on his life choices, both good and bad.  But strangely, he never told me what he was passionate about.

So I emailed him back and asked.  But the Spirit moved me to give him an out and time to think.  I will be seeing him again in about two weeks.  I told him he could tell me then if he wanted to.

I was saved because Christ used someone to lead me to Him.  When I reflect on my life before I came to Christ, I can see how many people planted seeds in my heart and mind and watered them.  Now, I am the farmer, planting and watering.  Yet still, God makes it grow.  You too, if you are a Christian, were called to share your faith.  You’ve been given the gift of salvation.  It’s time to pass it on.

Ask God to send someone to you today whom you can share the Gospel with.  He will do it.  Just tell them why you accepted Christ.  Don’t try to get theological or eloquent.  Just tell them a story about your life and when you realized you needed Christ.  It’s that easy to pass on the gift you have been given.

In Christ,

David

“I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians; both to the wise and to the unwise.” – Romans 1:14

Dear Friends,

This morning as I prayed, I asked God to guide me in the subject of today’s devotional.  By some inspiration, this verse from Paul came to me.  I recalled it as; “I am in debt to all men, both wise and foolish.”   It made me think about how many people feel they are in debt “to all men”.  Not spiritually, but financially.

Debt happens.  Last year my car died before we were finished paying it off, we had unexpected medical bills and both happened when sales dropped off.  All these circumstances have added up to a debt load that we are carrying still today.  Unfortunately, we are not unlike many Americans.   The worst part of it is that it effects our giving to others.  It’s hard to help someone else when you yourself are in a hole.

And this is the subject of today’s devotional.  Get out of debt.  Figure it out, get a plan, and work that plan until it is gone. It may take years, but do it.  Then, stay out of debt.   In the meantime, give to your church in other ways; volunteer, visit sick members or just pray for your church.  All are acts of stewardship.  I’m not saying to stop giving financially if you are able, but supplement it with good works for your conscience sake.

Nothing will pain your cheerful giving heart as much as not being able to give.   Once you are free of financial debt, you will be able to give joyfully in sums that you had not thought about before.  Paul was not in financial debt, but he viewed the cost of his salvation as infinite.  He had a “debt” he could never repay; yet he worked until his last day in an honorable effort to show his great appreciation for the One who had paid his debt in full.

Your financial debts are finite.  You will pay them off.   Your spiritual debt is infinite.  But don’t ever stop working it out through the sharing of the Gospel.  As with financial debt, the more you pay off, the better you feel.

In Christ,

David

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

Dear Friends,  

A friend of mine who has a more liberal theology told me that she once taught a class in which she put forth the argument that Genesis is not to be read historically, but metaphorically.  At the end of the class, a rather angry man came up to her and told her that she had ruined his faith.   She said she was surprised that a person’s faith could be so easily shaken.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is being sure of what we hope for.  That lends to the question of what is it that we hope for?  My hope is that I will be resurrected some day in a glorified body and I will spend eternity with Christ.  Being confident of having been born again, I am sure that this is what will happen.  

Faith is also being certain of what we don’t see.  I did not see the risen Christ.  I was not able to put my finger in the nail holes in His palms or put my hand in the hole in His side.  Yet I believe that He is resurrected and as He is resurrected so will I be.  The risen Christ told Thomas, “Blessed are those who do not see and yet have believed.”

So what does this mean for you today?  Simply, consider how you stand up against assaults on your faith.  Recently, the media has been promoting the “Tomb of Jesus” and the bones that are allegedly his.  The implication is that Jesus was not the Christ.  He was just a man who lived and died like everyone else.  

Yet, this should not shake our faith in the least.  For centuries unbelievers have put forth lies about the Lord Jesus Christ.  Still, we know the truth.  The tomb is empty because He is risen!

Happy Easter,  

David