Posted by Charlie on Nov 1, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Psalm 121; Mark 9, 10
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:42-45
Observation
Servant leadership is such a foreign concept to fallen human nature. It’s fascinating to see the disciples still jockeying for position in what they perceived to be the upcoming kingdom, not realizing that they had it all wrong.
Application
One of the faults of the current church is that, by and large, there is still a tendency to utilize kingdom-of-the-world tactics to attempt the spread of the kingdom of heaven. In reality, though, the kingdom of heaven only gets established through using kingdom of heaven tactics. It’s the act of living out the gospel by loving and serving people that makes the kind of changes that turns the world upside down.
Prayer
Father, please help me today to serve the way Jesus models. Please grant that your kingdom would be expanded as I abide in you and allow your kingdom influence to touch others through me. In other words, let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: kingdom, leadership, servant
Posted by Charlie on Oct 29, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Job 20; Mark 3, 4
And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
Mark 4:30-32
Observation
I think in our post-modern America it is easy for us to fall prey to the feeling that the church is doomed to shrinking influence and marginalization. According to Jesus, however, the influence of the true kingdom of God has just the opposite effect. Instead of moving from a history of influence to marginalization, the true kingdom is like a mustard seed that gets planted and then grows in its reach and influence until it is rooted and sturdy.
Application
The real question, then, is what is necessary for the true seeds of God’s kingdom to take root? Often today’s Evangelical church falls into the trap of attempting to establish God’s reign in the world through kingdom-of-the-world kinds of methods, but that was never the way Jesus or the Apostles operated. Instead, the power of the gospel touched individual lives to the core, and the change that resulted left person after person forever changed. Out of that powerful influence of the transforming power of Christ the world was turned upside down.
The key is to live in a way that invites God’s presence and power on a daily basis. The gospel and the kingdom it represents have never changed, and still pack the power of a mustard seed for the transformation of the world.
Prayer
Father, please forgive my tendency to marginalize your place in my life day by day. I pray that you would grant me an undivided heart to follow you and the grace to abide in your presence at all times. Then I pray that my life would be the means of sowing much kingdom seed in the lives of the people I encounter. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: gospel, influence, kingdom, seed
Posted by Charlie on Oct 4, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Esther 1, 2; Psalm 150; Luke 17
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Luke 17:20-21
Observation/Application
I have spent the past three days at Mt Angel Abbey on a personal retreat (with no internet). My days have been filled with reading, daily offices with the monks, prayer, walks, naps, and great food. I need to do this more often. Jesus said to his disciples, “Come away to a quiet place and rest yourselves awhile.” Rest needs to be part of the ebb and flow of life.
The above passage from Luke 17:20-21 capsulates my time away with Jesus. I have come away with a renewed commitment to be leaven, salt, and light in Portland, Oregon. God is at work in this city (the kingdom of God is in the midst of you) and I want to be a part of its spread.
Prayer
God, I’ve come down from the mountain top to the city. Please open my eyes to see where you are at work today, and grant me the grace to join you in your work. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: kingdom, rest
Posted by Charlie on Sep 27, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Haggai 1, 2; Psalm 129; Luke 10
In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Luke 10:21—22
Observation
I’m continually amazed at how raw and outside the box of the expectations of the religious people the ministry of Jesus was. God has a way of choosing people and circumstances that don’t seem to make sense in the eyes of the learned or wise by the world’s standards, and managing to move his kingdom forward in spite of what people think. Then he rejoices at the sheer audacity of it all.
Application
I want to be in the middle of the audacious move of God.
Prayer
Father, I know you’re at work in Portland and I want to be in the middle of an audacious move of God. Please be with me and don’t pass me by. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Tags: kingdom
Posted by Charlie on Apr 15, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: 1 Samuel 17, Psalm 9; Matthew 2
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Matthew 2:1—3
Observation
There is a remarkable parallel in the 1 Samuel 17 and Matthew 2 passages today. Both scenarios involve a king who perceives a child as a threat to his kingdom and reacts with murderous rage. In both cases the political threat is an illusion, but the underlying issue of who rules the heart is not.
Application
I rule over a little kingdom as well. It isn’t very big, but it comprises all the things I seek to control in my world—work, relationships, finances, time, recreation, etc. Daily I’m faced with the same issue as Saul and Herod: Who’s going to be in control of my world? Me or God? I’d love to say that it’s an easy issue to put to rest, but the flesh thinks otherwise.
I know that I struggle over who rules because I have a hard time dealing with disappointment, and anger come to the surface a little too easily. Giving my rights up to God is a daily act of faith, and it says I am willing to trust that he loves me and has my best interest at heart in all circumstances. In reality he’s a lot more qualified to rule my world than I’ll ever be.
Prayer
Father, I lay my rights down before you today and ask for you to be the King of my world. I give you thanks that your rule is one I can trust. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: kingdom, rights, rule
Posted by Charlie on Feb 22, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Numbers 10, 11; Psalm 27; Mark 1
“Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”
Mark 1:38
Observation
Mark sets the stage for the development of Jesus’ ministry in chapter 1 by painting a scene that is somewhat tragic. Because of his love for people, Jesus reaches out to relieve human brokenness. He casts out demons and heals the sick as he proclaims the message of the kingdom. But rather than a response of gratefulness and a desire for relationship with God, people mob him everywhere he goes, simply seeking the temporary benefits of healing he can provide. He is not able to settle in and teach in any one place for very long because the crowds just want the freebies, not the entrance of the kingdom. Jesus is repeatedly compelled to move on, hoping to find the few who will actually get it.
Application
When I think about God’s intention for sending his Son into the world it boils down to his unrelenting love for mankind. When Jesus began his ministry he proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (1:15) That gospel simply says that God desires his love to manifest itself in a relationship between him and the people he made. His highest aim is for people to want him—that they would be so wrapped up in relationship with him that he can share the depths of his heart with them for eternity, and he has cleared the way for that relationship through the sacrifice of his Son.
God is pleased to heal, deliver, and provide for his children. But I must never lose sight of the fact that he is my reason for living—he himself is my shield, my exceedingly great reward.
Prayer
Jesus, today I set aside all the cares, desires, and activities of my life, and I cry out for you. Thank you that the kingdom of God is at hand. Thank you that the way is open to really know you and to have your presence with me day by day. Please draw near to me today, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: deliverance, gospel, healing, kingdom, relationship
