Day 22

Day 22
Created to Become Like Christ

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29

A little girl was seated between her parents and for the first time she got a look at her parents' wedding album. She was amazed when she saw her Mom in the bride's dress and her Dad in his tux and she turned to her Dad and said, "Daddy, is that the day you got Mom to come and work for us?" That's what Moms do. They work for us, to help us to grow, and if that growth is slow in developing then there is cause for concern. In the same way, God wants you to mature and develop, to be shaped in a certain way.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: Colossians 3:1-5

We can see from the verse above that even though you are positionally in Christ, you have been raised with Christ. Mysteriously, you are already there. He says, "Set your mind on the things above, not on earthly things." You died. When Christ came into your life, you died and entered into His death. Now your life is hid with Him in God, and when He returns to glory you are going to be glorified with Him. What an unbelievable passage! Now, that's true and that's why it says, so why do we live according to the old nature instead of the new nature? The old nature is like a bad dog and the new nature is like a good dog that are both living in and fighting within a Christian. Whichever dog we feed the most is going to win. If we feed the old nature we will not be like Christ. If we feed the new nature by God's Spirit, we will be renewed more and more into the image of Christ. We have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. As we walk with God we grow more and more into the image of Christ.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Notice it doesn't say that we know that in most things God works. God says, ALL things work together for our purpose. If you are a Christian, this is not just 40 Days of Purpose, but as Rick Warren says, 25,550 Days of Purpose. (The average life on planet earth) Your purpose as a Christian is to become like Christ. Look at Romans 8:29.

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son."

That is the first half of verse 29. That's the purpose. To become conformed. It says that we were predestined. God fore-knew, before the foundation of the world, before you were born. Those who trust in Christ, their design is to become like Jesus. That is the goal of God for each of us in this life. God predestined us. What does that mean? Don't let the word throw you. The root word of predestined is where we get our English word horizon. The ancient Greeks saw life as though fate were propelling them toward a certain end, a set course with distinct boundaries that had to be pursued. But here Paul takes that word and says that is not fate at all. God has a horizon for us. We are moving toward a certain purpose. What is that? To become like his son Jesus. That's discipleship.

"All things work together for good to those who love Him." Now, what does that include? It includes all things. All things. Even bad things. Mistakes that I make. Painful stuff. God allows all this stuff to shape us, to sand us, so that we will become like Jesus.

Everything that happens to you and I as Christians, everything is designed by God to conform us to the image of his Son. Trials are situations designed by God to draw us closer to Him.

"Trouble produces patience and patience produces character and character produces hope." Romans 5:3-4

God is far more interested in your life and what you are than in what you do. God is always more interested in your character than in things like your career. Why? Because you are not going to take your career with you to heaven. You are going to take your character with you to heaven. Life is not about career and life is not about comfort. Life is about building character in Jesus Christ and until we understand this life is not going to make sense. All kinds of problems are going to come into our lives. We are going to struggle, but our struggles are not empty. They are purposeful. Comfort is not the goal; character building in the image of Christ is the goal.

The real test of moral virtue is how we love one another. That's the real test. How deeply we express our love for God and for one another. If you are expressing your love for God and one another properly, then you are going to be a shining light that the Bible talks about. Jesus said to his followers, "Take my yoke upon you.” Matthew 11:29 What is his yoke? Back then the rabbi's would say, "Here’s the yoke. It's the rules that you have to follow to be part of my rabbi school." And there would be a ton of lists and a huge number of rules. The holiest, most important people had the most rules. Jesus came along and said, "Take my yoke upon you." And then He said, "My yoke is easy. My burden is light." What did He mean? He’s saying, "I don't have a long list of rules. I just have one commandment." Actually it is two in one. "Love God and love each other." That's it. And if we follow that commandment, everything else is fulfilled.

Paul picks this up in Romans 13. He says, "Don't owe anybody anything except love." And then he lists a bunch of commandments. He says, "Do not murder, do not kill, do not steal," and any other commandment that is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law." Jesus is saying, "You want to be a part of my school? Take my yoke and learn from me." Why? Because when we take His yoke we are submitting to Him. We are submitting to His ways. Often we hear the word submit and we think of it as a dirty word. But when we take His yoke upon us we submit and it makes us powerful. The Greeks would take the word submit and apply it to the training of a powerful stallion under its master’s control. The Preakness is going to run soon and when they come into the home stretch you will see the power of those horses. Why? Because they are under the control of the rider. And when Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you" we are submitting to him. Does that mean that we become weak? No. It means we become powerful in Him because He says, "take my yoke upon you and learn from me. I am meek and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls." You become like Christ as you become more loving. So practical morality can best be evaluated by our meekness, by how we relate to each other in love.

Dear Father, life makes so much more sense when we realize that it's not about our careers, it's not about our comfort. It's all about character and becoming like Jesus. Help us to use life for the reason that you gave it to us. I want to grow in character. I want to become who you made me to be. Thank you for Jesus and his model. I want to become more like Him in the way I think, and the way I feel and the way I act. If that means taking me through troubles, then I say, I want your will for my life. Jesus, I can’t live like you unless I know you. So I want to get to know you today. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Point to Ponder: I was created to become like Christ.

Verse to Remember: As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. 2 Corinthians 3:18b

React (and share) to the below statements:

1. In what area of my life do I need to ask for the Spirit’s power to be like Christ?

Day 23

Day 23
How We Grow

We will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15

We live in an "instant" society. There is instant coffee, instant oat-meal, instamatic cameras, and instant breakfasts. People today demand instant gratification.

The Lord tells us it takes time for us to grow up, to become mature in the Christian faith. We seem to forget in our age of instant convenience foods, products, and services that mature Christians are not produced by taking a rounded teaspoon of freeze-dried Gospel, adding a cup of warm acceptance, and lo! – an instant, full-bodied Christian! There are instant conversions of course; the Apostle Paul is a good example. But even he, after his conversion, spent some 3 years growing and maturing in the faith. I think we all realize that we must work at growing up as Christians. It's a long and painful process that we must all endure.

The goal the Lord has set for His people and His church is maturity. No one likes to be told to grow up. Teenagers bristle at the very thought that they could be immature. And a husband who is trying to get mileage out of a cold or the flu doesn't take kindly to his wife's statement, "Don't be such a baby!" Yet, Christ tells His church to grow up.

"Become mature," says Paul. The image here is that of a little child. The word Paul uses for maturity is the same word used to describe the development of that child until he or she attains adult strength, discretion, height, wisdom, knowledge, and emotional stability. In each stage of development the parents' objectives are clear. At first, parents tie their children's shoes, but their goal is to have their children tie their own shoes. Parents decide what their younger children may and may not do, but older children must learn to decide for themselves. We raise our children to let them go. Our goal is their maturity.

Christ has a similar goal for His people and His church: to make it mature, to make it grown-up. The goal is a full-grown Christian and a full-grown church. Above all, the Lord does not want a childish church; childlike – yes; but childish – absolutely not!

The goal the Lord has set for His church is fullness: "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Paul tells us that in Christ is all the fullness of God (Col 1:19). We, in turn, are to have all the fullness of Christ. In other words, the Lord wants His people and His church to be like Christ, to imitate Christ.

What is the "fullness of Christ" we are to imitate? Some years ago when I was Director of Discipleship at a church our mission statement for Adult Education was based on Ephesians 4:12-13:

To Prepare God's People for works of service

(With God Preparing those works of service in advance - He sets the agenda)

So that the body of Christ may be built up until all reach unity in the faith

(One Church)

And in the knowledge of the Son of God (Have the Mind of Jesus) and become mature

(Have the eyes of Jesus)

Attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ

(Be like Jesus)

TO SEE, TOUCH, FEEL, AND ACT LIKE JESUS!

Dear Father, Help me by your spirit to grow in the knowledge and character of you – so that I can be conformed day by day into your image. In you I find my PURPOSE. Amen.

Point to Ponder: It is never too late to start growing.

Verse to Remember: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

React (and share) to the below statements:

1. What is one area where I need to stop thinking my way and start thinking God’s way?

Day 24

Day 24
Transformed by Truth

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

The Spirit of God uses the word of God to make us like the Son of God. To become like Jesus, we must fill our lives with His word. The Bible is far more than a doctrinal guidebook. God's word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever.

The truth transforms us. Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth. In chapter 29 of his classic "Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis compared the process to God changing us from toy soldiers into real people. "The real Son of God is at your side. He is beginning to turn you into the same kind of thing as Himself. He is beginning, so to speak, to 'inject' His kind of life and thought ... into you; beginning to turn the tin soldier into a live man. The part of you that does not like it is the part that is still tin." To abide in God's word requires three decisions I need to make every day.

1. First, I must accept the authority of the Bible. What is the ultimate authority for my life? Regardless of culture, tradition, reason or emotion, I need to choose the Bible as my ultimate source of authority
2. Second, I must assimilate the truth of the Bible. I must fill my mind with the Word, so the Holy Spirit can transform me with the truth. I need to make the choice to receive it, read it, research it, remember it, and reflect on it.
3. Finally, I must apply the principles I've learned from the Bible. This is where most of us fail, because we think that just assimilating truth (by osmosis of hearing the word) is going to make life change. God's Word exposes my motives, points out my faults, rebukes my sin, and expects me to change. Its human nature (the tin man) to resist change, so applying God's Word is hard work.

Christians must always be sitting at the feet of someone who knows more than they do about the Bible and at the same time sharing with someone who knows less than they do. At all times we are to be a Disciple and an Apostle.

Gracious Father, thank You for Your word. Help me to never take it for granted but to begin today to let the truth You teach me today be applied in my life today. Amen

Point to Ponder: The Truth Transforms me.

Verse to Remember: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

React (and share) to the below statements:

1. What has God already told me in His Word that I haven’t started doing yet?
2. Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth.
3. The Bible must have the first and last word in my life, not culture, tradition, reason or emotion.
4. The scriptures must first be received, then read, studied, remembered, reflected upon and then put into practice.
5. God's blessings come from obeying the truth, not just knowing it.

Day 25

Day 25
Transformed by Trouble

FOUR Kinds of Problems in Life

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Troubles are working for us as long as we are not looking at the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. As long as it is not only your natural eyes that you see with, but also your spiritual eyes, they will work for you, as long as you are not focusing on those temporary, physical things around you. In these momentary light afflictions you should keep your eyes not on the physical or natural surroundings, but on the One who is working for you for far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. It is a problem when we expect that God is going to do something for us but our eyes are glued on what we can only see with our natural eye. When you see something with your natural eye you are likely to say, "This is impossible!" But when you see it with your inner eyes you say, "With God all things are possible." Mark 10:27

Everything is possible for them that believe! God is not limited, He is all-powerful. The enemy is mighty, but God is Almighty. The enemy is powerful, but God is all powerful. God can remove every Jericho wall that stands in front of you as long as you continue to keep your eyes on those things which are eternal and not on those things which are temporary and physical.

In verse 16 we are told not to lose heart or give up. We don't faint. We are not weak and struggling and barely making it. We are not just hanging on. Things that we can see with only our natural eyes are temporary. They come and they go, there is no eternal value in them. It is the thing that we cannot see with the natural eye that is eternal. That is where we need to focus. We are also told in these verses that the momentary glitches and problems that we go through are working for us. The eternal benefit of what we’re going through far outweighs the problem.

I Peter 4:12 says, "Don't be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange or unusual thing that is going to happen to you." It is not a strange thing; God knows all about it. Remember the verse of scripture that says, "such as is common to man" 1 Corinthians 10:13. We tend to isolate ourselves, thinking we are unique individuals and the only one going through this. No one understands, no one has it as hard or tough as we do. But according to scripture, these are all things that are common to man.

Being transformed by trouble is not a negative; it is a positive. If the clay could squeal every time the potter had it in his hands it would say, "Ouch! Take it easy! Don't pull and stretch me so far!"

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs the trouble, or the problem, or the situation. Our troubles are only momentary, but the end results are eternal.

You should expect four kinds of problems in your life. Jesus warned us that in this world you are going to have tribulation, but don't lose heart. The problems that come into our lives are entirely impartial. Trouble comes into your life when you are young, when you are old, if you are black or white or Indian or Oriental. The problems that come into our lives are unpredictable and often you cannot prepare yourself adequately for the next onslaught. We are to be "Ready Always." What do I mean by “Ready Always? It means that spiritually I'm ready and my eyes are where they need to be and my heart is centered and focused where it needs to be. I'm ready whatever comes, high winds or glassy calm, I'm ready.

Troubles come in many flavors. Some of the troubles are bitter, very bitter. Some we can hardly tolerate. Some we just shrug off and say, "I can handle that; I've been through this before." The ones you have been through before you have learned from, so God doesn't have to repeat those. There are others that come along that will tweak us a bit and assist us over the next stretch in the area of character establishment and they may be a little more difficult. Peter assures us in the Bible that they are normal. In the Old Testament it says troubles in a man's life are like sparks that fly upward from a fire. (Isaiah 50:11) They are normal. Everyone has them. God causes the rain to fall upon the just and the unjust, the righteous and the unrighteous, the saved and the unsaved, the church-goer and the non church-goer, the believer and the unbeliever.

So troubles are impartial, unpredictable, come in many flavors and are normal. No one is immune. You cannot be inoculated against troubles or problems that arise in your life. Some Christian people think that they can. "I will go to church and get inoculated this morning and everything will be fine. No problems or difficulties will come my way. I prayed like mad this morning and as a result nothing like that will come into my life today." It doesn't have anything to do with what you do.

No one is immune to pain or insulated from suffering. No one can skate through life problem free. We have a tendency to look at someone else’s life and say, "They don't have a care in this world. I'm going from the frying pan into the fire and they seem to have no problems whatsoever." We don't have a clue what's really going on in their lives, so don't compare yourselves to others and think you have it really tough and someone else has it really easy. It doesn't work that way. No one is immune from pain or insulated from suffering and no one gets to skate through life problem free.

Life is a series of problems and it is our reaction to these problems that counts, not the problems themselves. It's our response to those problems that matters and determines whether or not we are looking at things that are only temporary or if we are really looking at the things which are eternal.

Here are the four kinds of problems you can expect in life:

Trials

Temptations

Trespasses

Trouble

Here are their definitions:

Trials – These are designed by God Himself to draw us closer to Him and to build our character. "The trial of our faith is like gold tried in the fire and we come out of it a better person having gone through the trial of our faith."

Temptations – These are designed by Satan to draw us away from God and to destroy our character. "A man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust." That lust is not always sexual, but can be for power, position, etc.

Trespasses – These are hurts caused by someone else's sinful or inconsiderate act toward us.

Trouble – Usually, but not always, the consequences of our own sin or poor choices and decisions.

Expect these four kinds of problems in your life. Some of the problems that come into our lives are God designed and they help us. Some the enemy has designed and they can damage us. Some are by people's design and they can really hurt us. Some are of our own making. There is only one of the four that I have any control over and that is the last one – my own choices and my own decisions. I can't tell God what to bring into my life and what not to and often times I am confused or even deceived by the enemy of my soul because he is very cunning, he is a liar and the father of all lies and is in the presence of God accusing the brethren all the time, so his designs are not easily detected and we are caught up in them before we are aware of it. I do not have control over other people's designs and they can really hurt me. They set out to hurt me. Those are difficult for us to deal with. They have purposed in their heart to do you as much damage or difficulty as they possibly can.

The book of Proverbs gives us a long list of sins that will get us into trouble. I have only listed a few here. For instance:

Impatience.

Dishonesty – Fudging on the truth, not really telling it like I should.

Selfishness or self-centeredness. You listen to some people and you can pick it up right away – me, mine, I, myself. So much involved in me and so little involved in Him.

Hot temper.

Talking too much.

These things can get me into trouble. I need to be watchful over the things that come into my life through the choices and decisions that I have made. It also tells us that wisdom will keep us out of trouble. The Bible says, "Listen to the words of your Father, son, and pay heed to what he says." Why? Because he went down the road and it was rough and he wants to help you avoid that rough journey, so pay attention to his wisdom. Anytime we ignore God's principles, we certainly will suffer the consequences. Remember, the scripture says we always reap what we sow. You do not reap what someone else sows; you reap what you sow. I thought it remarkable that the word always comes to mind there. There is always a harvest. The wages of sin are not always paid on Friday, but they are always paid.

God has given us freedom. He has made each of us totally autonomous. In spite of what we hear, know, receive, do in worship and praise, Bible study, listening to tapes and so on, we are still responsible to see to it that we follow through with being a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. We’re autonomous. We make the choice or decision whether or not we will put into action what Jesus has said.

We make decisions and go in a certain direction; however, we are not free to choose the outcome or the consequences of those decisions. Free to make the choice but not free to select the consequences. David prayed, "I am surrounded by many troubles and my sins have caught up with me." Psalm 40:12

People are often confused when it comes to these four types of problems that you can expect in your life. Sometimes we blame God for something God designed and we want to get out of it quickly, but God designed it for the next two weeks. The intensity of it is part of God's design, but we rebuke the devil, pour on the oil, ask for prayer, do everything under the sun to try to do something, but it is by God's design that it is there. We are trying to cast out the devil and the devil hasn't got anything to do with it. It is not there by the devil's design, but by God's. We pray like crazy when we should be relaxing and we relax when we should be praying. We blame God for natural consequences that come into our lives because of our own poor choices and decisions. Then we blame the devil for circumstances that were actually designed by God Himself to draw us closer to Him. We get very confused, don't we?

You can take this to the bank – God will never tempt you. Test you, yes; tempt you, no. God doesn't do that. God will never tempt you. Why? Because temptation is designed by Satan to draw you away from God, not closer to Him. The Bible says, "God tempts no man." (James 1:13) God will never tempt you into something that is questionable, or compromising, or sinful. He will, and often does, test your character and your faith to see to it that you are drawn closer to Him and that your character is refined and your faith is enhanced or increased. One is to test, the other is to tempt. Tempting, to draw you away from; testing, to reaffirm the character that you have and the faith that you profess to others, to see if it is really there.

God tests our character to see what we are made of or our faith to see how strong we are getting or how weak we remain. He does that continually. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 When you face a problem the first thing you and I need to do is determine its source. Is this a test, is it a trial, or am I being tempted to draw away? Let me give you an illustration.

Nowhere in the scripture does it say that when Jonah was on board the ship and they encountered a terrible storm that Jonah was some place hovering in a corner on his knees praying and asking God to help him through that storm. It says that the people on board that ship said, "We have a problem somewhere because this is a very unusual storm. Storms do not come up that quickly in this stretch of water. We have a bigger problem here than just a storm." So they cornered Jonah, who said, "I'm the problem. Just throw me overboard and the storm will cease." What was the source of Jonah's problem? Disobedience. God said go to Nineveh and Jonah said, "No, I'm going to Tarshish and enjoy myself." God said, "On your way, you are going to have a problem," and he did. We know what happened after that and finally Jonah owned up to the problem and resolved the issue and did what God asked him to do.

Don't blame God for #4. That one is the consequences of your own decisions and choices, so you can’t blame God for them. What you do in a situation like that is confess and repent that you made some bad choices and decisions and pray, "God, help me through this whole mess and I will give you honor and glory and praise when I come out the other end." You don't blame Him for the trouble you are in because you made a silly mistake. Some people do that all the time. God will help you when you have made a poor choice or decision, but He will not necessarily bail you out. You may have to go through the consequences of your choices and decisions.

On the other side of the coin, Paul was involved in a raging storm at sea because of other people's disobedience and total disregard of God. Here was the man of God involved in a stormy situation because of some one else's doings. Jesus said to His disciples, "Let's go over to the other side," and Jesus got in the boat and went down inside and curled up and went to sleep. They encountered a terrible storm and in the middle of the storm the disciples thought they were going to lose their lives. They woke Jesus up and said, "Don't you care that we are going to perish, for we are in the middle of a raging storm?" (Mark 4:38) Wait a minute! Didn't He say, "Let's go over to the other side?" You are not going to go under when Jesus says, "Let's go over." When Jesus is your constant Companion you won't go under when He says, "Let's go over to the other side."

The storms in your life can indeed be a trial of your faith; however, they can be caused by other people and their deeds. They can be caused by temptation that is staring you in the face and they can be caused by your own decisions. They could be found in the category of trespass – hurts caused by other people and their dealings with you.

Do not be impulsive to follow after the unbeliever and his decisions and choices. You will find yourself swirling in the midst of nonsense and saying to yourself, "What in God's name am I doing here?" You wanted to please people and because your were so intent on that you didn't find out if it was pleasing to God and just jumped in with both feet. The trespasses of other people can suck you right in if you are not careful. The Bible says, "Be careful lest you become complicit in another person's evil deeds." (Proverbs 5:22) In the prayer that Jesus modeled for us He said, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." It could be a trespass sometimes caused by someone who has roped you in. They love companionship even in their poor choices and decisions and there you are – caught. It could be a troubling thing you brought on yourself. In either case, each one requires a different response. Let's handle them now.

If it is trouble that you find yourself in and it's your fault, "If we acknowledge our problem or sin and if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) If we say, "God I'm really sorry. I blew it and hurried into something without asking you. I didn't even inquire and the consequences are now in front of me. I'm sorry; please forgive me."

We must forgive those who trespass against us. It is incumbent upon us to understand that He said forgive us in the same measure that we forgive others. If we do not forgive another person their trespasses, neither will He forgive us our trespasses.

If it comes to a temptation, this is from the enemy. It is by Satanic design to draw you away from God and to reduce your spiritual content; to take the sharp edge off of your walk with God; to make you somewhat of a murky gray instead of white; to draw you away from your faithfulness and your consistency in whatever area he can, whether it is in giving or going or sharing or doing. To lull you to sleep; or one of his favorite things to do is to desensitize you to the presence of the Spirit of God within you and to His voice. Be still and know, because there is an inner voice and He is speaking to you, but in order for you to hear Him you may have to shut out other sounds. The Bible says you resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) When it comes to temptation, or to draw you away, you resist that and he will flee from you.

One of the areas of real difficulty we face is in the trespass area. If someone hurts us, it is not always easy for us to let it go. If it is a trespass against us, something someone else did, you need to release it. Picture a dove in your hands and as you walk out on the balcony of your hotel room you release it. That's what you do with every one who trespasses against you. Let it go. When it comes to a trespass, no matter how intense it is, whether it is downright dirty and soiled your reputation or soiled your witness or your robes of righteousness, you still must release it. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."(Luke 23:34) Let it go. It doesn't matter.

If it is a trial or test from God, please don't pray to be released from it. You are still the clay in the Potter's hands and He is doing the working.

Remember, no matter the source, God, the devil, other people, or your own choices, none of your problems could ever be there without God's permission. None of your problems can be there without His okay. "I will not allow anything to come into your life without it first going through my preview. I know how intense it is and I know you can handle it and therefore you've got it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) If anything came into your life that you couldn't handle God would say no and move it away. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond that which we are able, but with every temptation He provides a way of escape.

Everything that happens in the life of a Child of God is Father filtered. He intends to use it for your good. Even if Satan was the designer, God will turn it around and use it for your good. Even if other people trespassed against you and meant evil by it, God will turn it around, they will be punished and you will be further developed into what God intends you to be. The source is not your problem and it is no problem for God, either. He will turn it around for you and He will use it for your betterment, value and growth if you believe that what God has told you is absolutely true.

When your life was turned over to God, it was no small event. As far as God is concerned, it was the most important time of your entire life. Now He is in charge of what is going on in your life. You noticed that I did not use the word "control." You are still in control. He is in charge, but you are still in control. He never took away your right of choice and decision. That means you are in control.

Accidents only become incidents in the hands of God when you are living for Him. Every day of your life was written in God's calendar before you were even born, according to Psalm 139:16, which says, "Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed and in your Book they all were written, the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none." In the Living translation it is put this way, "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe; every day was recorded in your Book."

Everything that happens to you has spiritual significance. Whether it is the devil or other people or whatever, everything that happens in your life has spiritual significance. Everything!

Dear Father, give me the wisdom to be able to discern the source of my trouble and to accept that no matter what the source – you will use it (if I allow you) to bring good. Amen

O God, help me to understand that my suffering has a purpose in your plan for me, just as Jesus Christ's suffering was in your plan. God, cultivate my character through the circumstances of my life. Amen

Point to Ponder: There is a purpose behind every problem.

Verse to Remember: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

React (and share) to the below statements:

1. What problem in my life has caused the greatest growth in me?
2. Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth.
3. Don't be surprised by troubles. Nothing happens without God's permission
4. All the events of life work together, interdependently, to fulfill God's will for you.
5. You know you are maturing when you begin to see the hand of God in the random, baffling, and seemingly pointless circumstances of life.

Day 26

Day 26
Growing Through Temptation
It's About Character

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

In the 1992 presidential election Bill Clinton's campaign had a slogan that every campaign employee, every political operative, every ward boss, every consultant was constantly challenged with: "It's the economy, stupid!" What the slogan was designed to convey was the conviction of those at the top that the election would be won or lost on economic issues alone. Nothing else really mattered and nothing else was going to be allowed to distract the campaign - not ideology, not foreign affairs, not family values, not even bimbo eruptions (as Rush Limbaugh so delicately puts it) - nothing but the economy.

What Paul is talking about in Galatians 5 is that the most important thing is the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. Or to put it another way - IT'S ABOUT CHARACTER! It's about having God's Character.

Galatians 5:19-21 lists fifteen acts of the sinful nature. I don't need to list them here - we are ALL very familiar with them. But he goes on and talks about the "FRUIT" (singular) of the Spirit and then lists 9 things. It's soothing just reading them. Who would not want to have all of these going on in our lives? But how?

Look at the list of the fruits of the Spirit. Note that the sinful acts (verses 19-21) are works, and the list in verses 22-23 are described as fruits. What is the difference between a work and a fruit? An apple is produced by an apple tree simply because it is an apple tree. The same is true for all fruits. The fruit of the Spirit is produced because of the presence of the Spirit. It is the natural and expected result of a spirit-led life. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that a branch which does not bear fruit should be cut off. If Jesus is our Lord, we will bear spiritual fruit. One more thing about fruit - a fruit tree NEVER produces fruit for itself. You will never see an apple tree eat an apple! God wants to produce fruit in our lives - not for ourselves - but for others.

Matthew 7:20 says "by their fruit you will recognize them". Let's take a good look at that list of fruit. As you look at each item on that list, do you see these as being the fruits of your life? When you look at the life of Christian leaders, do you see these in their lives also? We sometimes will rationalize and say, "They're only human", etc. But if you don't see these fruits in their lives, and they are to have spiritual authority over you - RUN!!!!!!!!!

• Instead of love, does the person demonstrate bitterness, anger, retribution, and self gratification?
• Instead of joy, do they demonstrate a spirit of hopelessness or despair?
• Instead of peace do they demonstrate a spirit of turmoil?
• Instead of patience, do they demonstrate a spirit of impatience?
• Instead of kindness, do they demonstrate unkindness or even cruelty?
• Instead of goodness, do they demonstrate sinful acts and rationalize them away?
• Instead of faithfulness, do they demonstrate a weak faith which is injured by every passing difficulty?
• Instead of gentleness, do they demonstrate harshness and authoritarian, even dictatorial demands?
• Instead of self control, do they demonstrate a lack of self control in a quick temper or overindulgence?

It is disappointing to note that I got the list of "Insteads" by describing the demonstrated personality of a single Christian pastor I have known in the past.

We cannot work at getting the Fruit of the Spirit since it is God who gives it, we can only surrender to God who then fills us with His Fruit. How does one surrender? By putting off the acts of the sinful nature. Cleaning house. Getting ride of the things that destroy! This then gives the room for God to fill us with His Spirit - His fruit - His Character! It's ALL ABOUT CHARACTER - HIS CHARACTER.
It is interesting to see a comparison of the Galatians passage with 1 Corinthians 13.
Galatians 5:22, 23 1 Corinthians 13:1-7

1. Love Does not seek her own, is not selfish or self-centered (5)
2. Joy Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rather rejoices in the truth (6)
3. Peace Love is not easily provoked, but is serene and stable. (5)
4. Longsuffering Love suffers long, perseveres, is patient. (4)
5. Kindness (gentleness) Love is merciful, thoughtful, and concerned, it envies not.
6. Goodness Love is great, gracious, and generous; it is kind and good. (4)
7. Faithfulness Love thinks no evil, but has faith in God and others. (5)
8. Meekness Love is humble and gentle, does not vaunt itself. (4)
9. Self-control (temperance) Love is disciplined and controlled, does not behave unbecomingly. (5)

Heavenly Father, fill me with your Spirit and Your Fruit so that others can see you in my life, and see YOUR CHARACTER. Amen

Point to Ponder: Every temptation is an opportunity to do good.

Verse to Remember: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

React (and share) to the below statements:

1. What Christlike character quality can I develop by defeating the most common temptation I face?

Day 27

Day 27
Defeating Temptation

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book Ethics, makes an interesting observation: "The tree of knowledge of Good and Evil produced the ability to choose our own good or our own evil. Both choices may take us equally distant from God. We have a third alternative, God's will."

C.S. Lewis talks about submitting to God this way: "The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says 'Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked -- the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.'" That is what James is talking about when he says submit to God!

When we are not submitted to God, we tend to be touchy, easily provoked, unable to bear insults; easily offended. When we surrender to Christ and His love fills; then we can bear all things, endure all things, and Satan no longer has the power to push the buttons in our lives.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. There are two buttons Satan loves to push in the life of every Christian: The Temptation Button and the Indifference Button.

Temptation Button Monkey trappers in North Africa have a clever method of catching their prey. A number of gourds are filled with nuts and firmly fastened to a branch of a tree. Each has a hole just large enough for the monkey to stick his forepaw into it. When the hungry animal discovers this, he quickly grasps a handful of nuts, but the hole is too small for him to withdraw his clenched fist. He doesn't have enough sense to open up his hand and let go in order to escape, so he is easily taken captive. Sounds really silly, doesn't it?

Well, this is a picture of many Christians when we refuse to resist the devil. You see, the devil with his crafty devices tries to trap us too. He appeals to the appetites of our flesh which can lead to our spiritual downfall. As long as we hold on to the worldly bait, we can't escape from Satan's trap. So he keeps on urging, "Don't let go! Enjoy the pleasure of your sin just a little bit longer!" So, listening to the tempter's alluring voice, we continue in our fallen ways. It's a button Satan loves to push. But resisting him, letting go of the very thing that's entrapping us, sets us free. Satan isn't interested in anyone who has been set free from his or her sin, so he flees.

Indifference Button Among the great number of books authored by C.S. Lewis is the wonderful story called The Screwtape Letters. In it Mr. Lewis has the devil brief his nephew, Wormwood, on the subtleties and techniques of tempting people. "The goal," he counsels, "is not wickedness but indifference." Satan cautions his nephew to keep the prospect, the patient, comfortable at all costs. "If he should become concerned about anything of importance, encourage him to think about his luncheon plans; not to worry, it could induce indigestion." And then Satan describes his role: "I, the devil, will always see to it that there are bad people. Your job, my dear Wormwood, is to provide me with the people who do not care."

May I be transparent with you? One of the biggest problems I see facing the church today is indifference. So many people in the church today just don't care. If the word "indifference" is what the devil promotes, then Jesus must promote the very opposite thing. So what's the opposite of indifference? Difference! Making A Difference - Having a Purpose. James wants you to ask yourself, "What difference is my life making in the Kingdom of God?" If there is no difference, there is no faith, because faith without works is dead! Resisting the devil short circuits two of Satan's buttons: Temptation and Indifference.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Have you ever wondered why a pigeon walks so funny? Well, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can see where it's going. Because it can't adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete stop between steps in order to refocus. This is the way it walks: head forward, stop; head back, stop. Don't laugh -- that's how it goes!

In our spiritual walk with God we have the same problem as the pigeon. Sometimes we have a hard time seeing while we're moving. We also need to stop between steps -- (come near to God) to refocus on where we are in relation to the World and the will of God. That's not to say we have to stop and pray about every little decision in life. But certainly our walk with the Lord needs to have built into it a pattern of "stops," which enable us to see more clearly before moving on. I believe this can be accomplished three ways.

First, our daily quiet time which includes prayer and meditation on Scripture.

Second, at least for me, is to continuously look for God in the activities of my day - many times in the things that are not planned.

And third, is the celebration of God's gift to His Church each week in the Word and Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Some have said, "I don't need to go to church. I can worship God on the golf course." Well, that's true; you can if you truly do such a thing while playing golf. But you don't hear the Word or receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion on the golf course. You see, this is a part of our faith, which by His design requires us to come together, so that we can draw near to Him. If we don't attend church regularly, if we are not connected to a fellowship of believers, we're only fooling ourselves about drawing near to God. There's a billboard on the highway which says, "If God seems far away, guess who moved?" Draw near to God and he will draw near to you happens in our hearts and minds, in our world around us and in our church. Anything short of all three is incomplete and probably ineffectual.

Conclusion: The next time Satan tries to push some of your buttons, frustrate the hell out of him. Submit to God. Make Him Lord of your life. Resist the devil. Let go of the willful sin in your life and put your faith into action. And draw near to God, through prayer and meditating on His Word, acknowledging God in His creation, and in regular corporate worship. When we do these things, we short circuit the control panel Satan uses to manipulate our lives.

Dear Lord, I submit my life to you. Keep me planted in your Word so that I can see the designs of the Devil and flee from him and draw near to you. Protect me with your presence. Amen

Point to Ponder: There is always a way out.

Verse to Remember: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

React (and share) to the below statements:

1. Who could I ask to be a spiritual partner to help me defeat a persistent temptation by praying for me?
2. How should a Christian not Enter Into Temptation?
3. What secrets make you spiritually sick? What are you willing to do about it?

Day 28

Day 28
It Takes Time
The Weaver

"And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." (Philippians 1:6 NLT)

A story is told:
"Two knotty fingers interrupt a pleasant afternoon. Black meets white as the firm grip of a sharecropper's slave removes the soft puff from its home. The metamorphous begins.

The weaver gives his best to purchase it, for one day it will fetch a very high price. He sees beyond its present simplicity to a future glory. A bath in dye is followed by a trip to the loom. The cotton resists the change. Why must it endure a stretch, a twist, a pull? Each change hurts so much, yet each change beautifies.

Some of the weaver's work will become the soft skin of a parlor sofa; another an extravagant tapestry; some simple cloths to wipe the brow of a common laborer, and others fabric to adorn and protect; each piece different, each piece prepared for a noble use."

You are the cotton in the Weaver's hand. He's given his best to purchase you. He sees so far beyond what you are and delights to dream about what you will become. So the Weaver will change you. At times he will stretch you, pull you in ways you never dreamed; on other occasions he will twist circumstances and situations to make you more than you thought you could be. And he will gently pull you, for he is never content to let you remain the same; the Weaver has a noble purpose in mind for you.

You can take comfort in this: the Weaver loves his trade. He delights in transforming the inconspicuous into intricate designs. His work is challenging, every pattern is unique, but the Weaver never quits. You are cotton on your way to a beautiful fabric and you are in good hands-God's hands! Even today he will be working on the pattern that is your life.

Take a moment to thank God that he loves you and that he does have your best interest at heart. Remember, even today he will be working on the pattern that is your life. Look for it.

Dear Lord, remind me that I am a work in progress - each day being shaped. Help me trust you in the shaping process until you bring me to perfection in Christ Jesus in your Kingdom. Amen

Point to Ponder: There are no shortcuts to maturity.

Verse to Remember: And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. Philippians 1:6 NLT

React (and share) to the below statements:

1. In what area of my spiritual growth do I need to be more patient and persistent?
2. What do you see as some of the Christ-like habits being built-up by the "Weaver" in your life now?
3. What are some ways in which you can cooperate with the "Weaver" in your spiritual growth?