Live A Life Of Service For Christ

 

 

Jesus shows us how to live a life of service by doing the very same for us. Jesus gave it all up for us (2 Corinthians 5:21, 8:9; Philippians 2:5–8), laid down His life willingly (John 10:18), got into the muck and the mess (Mark 5:25–34, 7:33; John 9:6), and served with love, joy, and compassion (Mark 6:30–44; John 13:1–17). Jesus laid down His life to save us, and He calls us His people saved by His work to lay down our lives (our old ways, our selfish desires, ambitions, agendas, and will) for Him, His will, His kingdom, and His purpose.

It’s such a privilege to be a believer. We get to follow the example of our Savior, to live for and be part of something so much greater than we could imagine. We get to be used by God to bring people into salvation and lead them into the hope of eternity. We get to follow in the footsteps of our King and Lord—and all it takes is us laying down our less than lives for a greater kingdom and purpose! Praise Jesus for this glorious call.
 

~From The Gospel Of Mark Devotional, Part 5 on YouVersion

 

Stay Encouraged and Be Blessed!

God's Ways Are Not The World's Ways

 

 

 

Any financial planner would tell you that if you want to be successful, you need to maximize the return on your investment, meaning it’s best to invest in something that will appreciate or gain value. They would tell you to sacrifice now to reap huge benefits later, which is basic economics.

Jesus here is giving the disciples a lesson in the economy of the kingdom of God. Anyone who gives up their prized possessions—their home, family, and loved ones—for the sake of the gospel will receive a blessing a hundredfold. A financial planner would very likely be supportive of anything you invest in that is returned to you a hundredfold.

Now, scholars say that a “hundredfold” is a figurative expression because, for instance, no one can have 100 biological mothers or fathers. It’s a description of the abundance you’ll receive when you forsake all to follow Jesus. It’s an enormous return on your investment!

Usually, you have to wait until way later to receive your return on investments, but Jesus promises it now AND later, which is the miracle of the kingdom economy. He also promises eternal life in heaven–the world to come. No one knows quite what the world to come will look like, but we can get glimpses of it in Revelation, and we can trust that it will be good because God is there and He is good.

Jesus is also giving the disciples a lesson in the hierarchy of the kingdom of God. He says those who are the greatest now will be least important and vice versa. Imagine C-suite executives lower than the interns and entry-level employees. Picture the marginalized, the ignored, and the overlooked elevated to the status of kings and queens. However, the goal would not be for the disciples or us to gain status, importance, fame, or power in this life but to serve as Jesus did.

One final point we should not skip over is that with the promise of blessings comes persecution. As Christians, Jesus didn’t promise us a perfect life. Instead, He warned us of just the opposite by saying, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV).

But, despite those persecutions, nothing will be able to separate us from the furious love of God (Romans 8:38-39)! And, the pattern we see over and over again in the Bible is that suffering always turns to glory. 

~From The Gospel of Mark Devotional, Part Five on YouVersion

 

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Know Your Triggers

 

 

Anger isn’t a sin, it’s just a sign. And when you see a sign, you need to pay attention. The sign is trying to tell you something important.

God created us to need security, connection, and a sense of control (free will). But he wanted us to get those needs met directly from him. Sin messed that up, but Jesus reconnected us to God through his sacrifice and forgiveness. With the relationship restored, we have access to all we need in God. So, when we start getting angry about not getting our need met from someone or something around us, it’s a sign pointing us to an area we need to surrender to God, the only one who can really meet that need.

Because of our past experiences and upbringing, we usually have one area of security, connection, or control that makes us super sensitive. When we don’t have it, or it seems like we are being threatened in that area, we just react.

We need to know ourselves and what makes us angry. Thomas à Kempis said, “A humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning.”  

That’s what King David was talking about in today’s verse when he says: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Psalm 139:23, NIV)

Keep a piece of paper handy today and whenever you feel yourself getting angry,  after you calm down, write down what was happening when you started getting angry. See if you can connect it to feeling threatened in security, connection, or control. Keep track of your angry moments and you’ll start to see a pattern.

When you know patterns of what makes you angry, you can either avoid those kinds of situations, or, if you can’t avoid the situation, you can go in mentally prepared. (I always have to give myself a pep talk before driving in rush hour traffic.)

Know your triggers and you’ll soon find your angry episodes will become fewer and fewer. And, in the process, you’ll be looking to God more, the true source of your security, connection, and control.  

 

~From Calming Anger A Devotional Based on the Book Love Slows Down on YouVersion 

 

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Give Your Life To Jesus

 

 

Accomplishments and success on earth do not bring you closer to salvation. You see, people who “have it all” on their own will not need God. Their trust is in their stuff rather than in Jesus. When you have little or nothing, it’s easy to give it all up to follow Jesus. What do you have to lose?

Let’s look at Jesus, the Son of God, and consider how He was willing to put on flesh and walk among the disciples—and ultimately give up His life for us! He was obedient to give it all, and His resurrection offers us the promise of eternal life. This is the good news! The wonderful thing about the gospel is that by yielding everything, we gain everything in this life and in the life to come. It is better to follow Jesus than anything this world has to offer. I’m not telling you to sell everything to follow Jesus, and this isn’t a call to extremism, but to place our trust in Jesus above all else, making it easier to follow Him!  

 

~From The Gospel of Mark Devotional, Part 5 on YouVersion

 

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Jesus Values All

 

 

[T]he disciples argue about who will be the greatest. You might expect that Jesus would quell their argument by proclaiming His deity as the Son of God. You could anticipate Jesus summoning an army of angels to prove the point that He is the greatest, but He didn’t. Instead, He brings a little child into the conversation.

He takes the child in his arms. It makes me wonder. What was it like to be in Jesus’ arms? What was it like to be embraced by God? There are certain people you hug, and it brings about this sense of deep comfort and peace, this sense of belonging and security. I imagine the embrace of Jesus, who was fully man and fully God, infinitely magnifies that feeling.  

By bringing a child into the conversation with these Jewish men, Jesus places value on a young life. In that time, children weren’t allowed into circles where adults were. They were shooed and weren’t even regarded as a family but more like property. Instead of following the typical customs of the day, Jesus does the opposite and welcomes the children. And in doing so, He sets the standard for how others should show hospitality.

I love how Jesus intentionally displays how He values every human life. We’ve seen Him care for the ones who have been sick, the women who were considered inferior, the outcasts who lived along the edges of society, and the young ones.

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV). This reminds us that Jesus values the ones that society and culture deem worthless, and we should, too. Remember, Jesus came not to be served but to be the servant of all. He made Himself low, and He took on flesh to bear our sin and shame to reunite us with the Father. Everyone deserves the gift of salvation!

Whoever welcomes the servant welcomes Jesus and, even more powerfully, welcomes the Father. This is who God is. He is a father who cares for children, outcasts, the sick, widows, orphans, and the lonely. As a child of God, I want to be just like my Father!

Pray: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of salvation. Thank You for showing me what You are like through Your word. You care for every human being. Help me extend the same gift of hospitality and humility to those around me, just like You did, Jesus. Amen. 

 

~From Denise Trio in The Gospel of Mark Devotional on YouVersion 

 

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We Long For God

 

 

We all struggle with the temptation of idolatry in forms as numerous and diverse as us. But let’s not forget that the “one thing” our soul truly longs for is for God to occupy His rightful place in our lives . . . and as He does, our story will be much different than this man. 

 

~From The Study Of Mark Devotional, Part 5 on YouVersion

 

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Letting Go Of Unforgiveness

 

One of the hardest things to purge is unforgiveness. We’re tempted to think that unforgiveness gives us power, when in reality, it keeps us a victim. Yet we keep clinging to our unforgiveness, convinced that doing so is fair. 

But as Jesus followers, we don’t focus on what’s fair. We focus on being faithful. And one of the most faithful things we can do is offer forgiveness, especially when it’s undeserved.

It’s not easy to forgive. But when we follow Jesus, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. And His Spirit is strong enough to help us forgive those who have hurt us, even in the most horrendous ways.

So, when you’re struggling to offer forgiveness, consider this question: Do you want to be right, or do you want to be healed?

You can choose to keep holding on to hurt, convinced that keeping score keeps you ahead. Or you can choose to forgive anyway, knowing that you’re never more like Your Father than when You forgive one of His kids.

This kind of deep work requires humility, honesty, and compassion for both yourself and the other person. And while forgiveness is not a magic solution that will fix all your problems, it does help you fix your eyes on your Father, who is guiding you, helping you, and cheering for you in the process.  

 

~From Deep Clean: Getting Rid of Shame, Toxic Influences, and Unforgiveness Devotional on YouVersion

 

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The Church In The Last Days

 

Biblical prophecies about the church include predictions of persecution, apostasy, and the faithfulness of God’s remnant. We have seen more prophecies regarding the church fulfilled in the last century than ever before. Some prophecies that have to do with the persecution of the church were fulfilled during the Middle Ages, but others are still being fulfilled today in countries where Christianity is outlawed or ostracized. (See, for example, Matthew 24:9–10.)

At the same time, especially in the West, the church is going through one of its biggest times of apostasy, as predicted. (See, for example, 1 Timothy 4:1.) We are seeing a departure from the faith and from the ministry of the Holy Spirit that is quite alarming. Significant portions of the church are ignoring or renouncing the supernatural and the full efficacy of the cross. The church has moved away from the priesthood of believers, prayer, worship, and fasting. Instead, for many congregations, church has become merely a social club. Some people may try to help their communities and the world, but they are attempting to do so without the power of the cross and God’s Spirit.

Yet there is a remnant of Christians who wholeheartedly embrace the Holy Spirit and all that God desires to pour out upon His people. We see a reference to this faithful remnant in the book of Revelation, which repeats the phrase “he who overcomes.” (See, for example, Revelation 2:7; 3:5; 21:7.)

Our generation is on the verge of seeing the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the greatest revival in history. The remnant church is about to enter into the glory of God. This remnant will complete its spiritual cycle when the bride of Christ is taken up by her Bridegroom, Jesus.

In these days, the Lord wants to reveal Himself more fully to the church, and that is why He is bringing manifestations of His glory. Only when we dwell in His glory will we stop looking to human beings for our strength and help, and look to Him instead. The Holy Spirit is disclosing more spiritual understanding about God’s elect than ever before. It is only through the revelation of the Spirit of God that we will see what no eye has seen and hear what no ear has heard! (See 1 Corinthians 2:9–10.)

 

~From Discerning Prophecy And End-Times Devotional by Guillermo Maldonaldo on YouVersion

 

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Fight The Lies With Truth

 

Can you imagine how much shame Jesus endured as He faced that cross? He’s naked, beaten beyond recognition, and about to die a very public death. And yet He endured the shame of the cross so that we could overcome shame once for all.

That’s why the answer to shutting down shame isn’t self-help. It’s not doing good things. It’s not telling ourselves we’re awesome. It’s not ignoring our mistakes or compensating for them.

The answer to shame is an empty grave. And when we focus less on what we’ve done and more on who God is and what He’s done for us—we’re on our way to conquering shame.

The next time you’re trapped in a toxic shame spiral, convinced that what you’ve done disqualifies you from the family of God, here’s the truth you declare:

I am not ____. Because of Christ I am ____.
I am not bad. Because of Christ I am forgiven. (Romans 8:1, John 3:17)

I am not broken. Because of Christ I am loved. (John 3:16)

I am not enough, but Christ in me is more than enough. (Romans 8:37)

Whatever lie shame is telling you, shut it down with God’s truth.

Pray: God, I don’t want to separate myself from You any longer. Shame says that I’m too much, too bad, too messed up for Your love. But You say that because of Christ, I am loved, worthy, chosen, called, and forgiven. Replace my lies with Your truth. Thank You, Jesus, for conquering shame and offering freedom. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

~From Deep Clean: Getting Rid of Shame, Toxic Influences, and Unforgiveness Devotional on YouVersion

 

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Lead By Example

 

 

Throughout Mark Chapter 9, we see the disciples creating obstacles to the gospel for others. They argue with religious leaders, fight with each other about who will be first in the kingdom, and try to condemn a man who was trying to set an oppressed person free because he wasn’t “one of them.”

In other words, today’s verse isn’t only for outsiders, but to those closest to Christ as well—and that includes us. In her commentary on Mark 9, professor Amy G. Oden writes: “Sometimes, even our best intentions to reprove others can have unintended consequences for innocent bystanders. Indeed, great damage is done to the gospel when Christians are preoccupied with infighting and self-righteous proclamations about others. Jesus returns the focus to our behaviors, the ways we speak and live good news, and the ways we place obstacles in the way of that good news.”

Jesus’ warning in today’s verse is stern because those who look to us and follow our example can be hurt when we don’t embody the faith we claim. Let’s be careful not to cause anyone—young or old—to stumble by our carelessness, but let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus to a watching world.



Pray: Father, help me see the areas in my life where I may have caused someone else to stumble in their faith and forgive me for getting in the way of the good news You offer them. Please help me repent and lead others to the life-giving, thirst-quenching hope of the gospel by my example. Amen.  

~From Rob Nieminen in The Study Of Mark Devotional, Part 5 on YouVersion

 

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Yield Control To God

 

We need to yield control over what happens in our lives and trust God to do whatever He thinks best … until we develop a taste for God we prefer a better life of blessings from God over a better hope of intimacy with Him … we prefer control over trust … you were saved by grace and you’ll grow by grace … the law imposed the intolerable pressure to live perfectly in order to live well. You now stand in the Law of Liberty. Stand tall. Live as free men and women.

 

~From Author Larry Crabb, used in God Hunger - Meditations For A Life of Longing Devotional on YouVersion 

 

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Happy New Year!

Let No One Limit You

 

We spend energy trying to love others, care for others, and tell others about Jesus. But when that energy is met with closed hearts and open hostility, we walk away and keep going.

We keep sharing God’s love. We keep doing God’s work. We keep doing what’s good.

It’s okay to limit relationships that limit you. While we are challenged to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44), and go the extra mile for others, we’re also encouraged not to throw our pearls to pigs—meaning that we can’t spend all of our energy on those who won’t receive our love in the first place.

So, today, consider any relationships that you might need to deep clean. Then, spend time praying about how you can set some loving boundaries.

Pray: God, thank You for Your truth. Show me any relationships in my life where I need to set boundaries, and give me the wisdom to know what those boundaries are and the courage to stick to them. Help me become a better friend to those in my circle, and show me which relationships to invest my energy in. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

 

~From Deep Clean: Getting Rid Of Shame, Toxic Influences, And Unforgiveness Devotional on YouVersion

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Ask Jesus For Help With Your Unbelief

 

 

 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”

Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:14-24 NKJV

Truthfully, there’s such humility in this man’s response. He has faith in Jesus. He’s likely heard of the great miracles, feedings, healings, resurrections, and the casting out of demons in others. He had likely heard the rumblings that this Jesus could in fact be the long-awaited Savior of the world. It's clear that he believed Jesus was his best chance to see his son healed and whole. So, he puts his trust in Jesus, but humbly admits his faith is not as strong as it should be. And could you blame him? This oppression has consumed his life and destroyed whatever grand hopes and dreams he had for his boy. He has faith; he believes if anyone can help, it would be Jesus . . . but after years of failed attempts to save his son, hopelessness is threatening to overtake him.

I think we can all sympathize with this man whose belief wavered in the face of seemingly hopeless circumstances. And when we experience moments like this—and we will—we shouldn’t condemn ourselves or be filled with guilt at how terrible a Christian we are. No! We must do like this man did and humbly ask the giver of everything good and perfect to give us the gift of faith in greater measure! We can say to our Savior: Jesus, I believe, but I'm weak and often struggle to see beyond my circumstances and experiences, so please help me overcome the areas of unbelief!

He can make miracles out of our mustard seeds. He can take our little faith, and our areas of unbelief, and bring healing, rescue, and help as He nurtures, develops, and grows our faith.

Pray: Father, I believe in You. I believe in Your Son. I know You are who You say You are, and You are faithful, powerful, good, and loving. I believe, and ask You to help me overcome my unbelief in the areas where I still struggle, where I’m still fearful, where I have doubt, and where I feel hopeless. Amen.  

 

~From The Study of Mark Devotional on YouVersion 

 

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Study, Then Act On God's Word

 

No shortage of Bible studies fills book stores and web sites, offering up unique topics and teachings about God’s Word. You are reading one right now. God wants us to read and hear His message of grace and truth. But He wants us to do more than that: He expects us to act upon what we’ve learned.

This passage opens with a warning still repeated—and needed—in modern culture: “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.(James 1:19)” Anger, James says, does not produce godly righteousness. Listening, with patience and perseverance, allows us to receive “with meekness” the word of God. We find the source of abundant life in the scriptures, not in our own impulsive, selfish emotions.

James is writing to religious people. They know God’s law. But James keeps pushing them, and us, to take the next step. Don’t just hear it—do it! Don’t just reject the immorality of the culture around you, but also be careful about your own anger and pride. Let your faith show up in your actions.

Do you think of religion as a good thing or not? Do you think your colleagues consider religion a good thing? A lot of people these days consider themselves “spiritual but not religious.” To them, religion seems narrow, restrictive, maybe even hateful toward people outside the religion. But when believers behave according to the Bible’s teaching, we look for opportunities to care for those people around us, especially those in the most need.

And beyond that, are you careful about what you say? Maybe you consider yourself religious, too. Maybe you have been a Christian for some time now. You have this faith thing figured out. But James keeps pushing us to put feet to our words, to live what we say we believe.

Do we listen more than we speak?
Do we keep our anger in check?
Are we careful about what we say?
Do we put into practice what we hear in God’s Word?
Do we let God’s implanted Word grow within us?
So what is the next step for you? What issue is James calling you to confront?  

~From The Book of James With Francis Chan: A 12-Day Video Bible Study on YouVersion

 

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Your Inner Is More Important

 

 

The Lord calls us to be people of inner substance, not just outward appearance. We are to demonstrate the reality of His presence in us by an attitude of humility. “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).

In living for Jesus, our content is far more important than our cover. We are here for more than show. — David McCasland

Let my will be lost in God’s will,
Ask no question; seek no place;
Render humblest duties gladly,
Showing forth His truth and grace. — Anon.

If God controls you on the inside, you’ll be genuine on the outside. 

 

~From Our Daily Bread Devotional by David McCasland on YouVersion

Joy In Christ

 

Too often we are taught a small, human-centered gospel. Women are pelted with Christian messages about how special we are, how beautiful we are, and how happy Jesus wants us to be. This message is all over the place in books, blogs, and Instagram posts. After a while these messages begin to distort the gospel communicating the idea that Christ died mostly to help us like ourselves. These popular messages are thinly veiled self-help words whose greatest ideal is high self-esteem. “Joy in Christ” is about enjoying the lives we have, and not a whole lot more.

God doesn’t give us joy to hoard and keep at home. He wants us to take it to the world. 

 

~From Defiant Joy: A Study On Philippians Devotional on YouVersion

 

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God Will Work On You

 

 

Arriving at this flourishing finish isn’t a passive thing. God is doing this great work in us, and He has promised to keep at it. But will we keep at it too? Will we learn to appreciate the work in progress, to listen to how He is calling us to grow, to pursue Him in the midst of the in-between? We are all becoming more like Him, and we have the privilege of joining Him in that work.  

 

~From Philippians: Living For What Really Matters by Teresa Swanstrom Anderson on YouVersion 

 

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God is Merciful

 

 

Two thousand years ago Christ demonstrated His mercy toward us when He went to the cross to take the judgment that was meant for all humanity! It’s because of His mercy that He effectively lets us off the hook from the much deserved death sentence we’ve earned ourselves, and in its place, He offers us salvation and eternal life. Now that’s grace and mercy at its best! His mercy says, “I’ll pardon you from the punishment you deserve,” and His grace says, “I’ll give you what you can’t earn!” Don’t we serve a good, good Father?

 

~From The Beatitudes  Devotional on YouVersion

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How To Be Wise According to Jesus

 

Following Jesus is not just about what we say. In Christianity, confession of Christ and what you say about Christ is important. But mere verbal confession is not enough: “Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Following Jesus is not just about what we do, not even what we do for Christ and in the name of Christ: “Many will say, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons, and do many mighty works in your name?” In our Christian lives, serving Christ and his cause in ministry is important, but it is not enough. 

Following Jesus is not about what we know or have learned. Jesus says that it’s not enough to just hear his words. It is, again, important to rightly know the teachings of Christ and the Bible itself. But again, it is not enough.

Following Jesus is about wisdom: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man.” Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. The greatest challenge of the Christian life is living the Christian life.  

~From The Sermon on the Mount Devotional on YouVersion

 

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Don't Give In

 

As followers of Jesus who are seeking to live godly lives, serve Him, and draw people to His kingdom, we should take steps to avoid temptation. If scrolling through Instagram is leading to bitterness or covetousness in you, pray, surrender this struggle to Christ, and by all means, cut off your exposure to it or delete it WHILE dealing with the heart matter in play—finding one’s contentment, fulfillment, and identity in Christ. If your phone, computer, or streaming services are causing you to stumble into porn, surrender the struggle to Him and create boundaries, safeguards, and accountability WHILE seeking help from a counselor, support group, or pastor, to deal with the heart issue. It’s logical to trim off the branches as you work on removing the root, but if you only trim the branches and think that’s enough, the firm root will find a way to grow. 

 

Pray: Father, as Jesus showed me to pray, I ask that You lead me away from the temptation to sin. I ask that You help me in my struggles with sin, that You give me the strength by the Holy Spirit to flee from and overcome sin in my life. Sanctify me daily so I may be more like Jesus and less like my sinful nature. I want to be willing to sacrifice all things for the sake of Your kingdom and glory. Help me, Father, to be about Your kingdom. Amen. 

 By Danny Saavedra

 

~From The Study of Mark, Part 5 Devotional on YouVersion 

 

 

Stay Encouraged and Be Blessed!