The Joy of New Life
THE SETUP
"I don't know what to do! I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-body! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!” — Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol
“Bah, Humbug!” That’s Scrooge’s take on Christmas, the holiday season, and just about anything else. While everyone else is getting excited about celebrating with family and friends, Scrooge sees it as a distraction that’s keeping him from doing more business and gaining more wealth. A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens, is one of the great Christmas classic stories and has been made into a movie many, many times.
In the story, Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by three ghosts – the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. The Future shows him the end of his life and how miserable it will be (people are literally dancing in the streets when he dies). Scrooge is despondent and wishes for another chance, but the Ghose of Christmas Future offers none. But that’s not the end of the story. It’s all a dream, and Ebenezer wakes up on Christmas very alive and changed. He is a new man with a second chance, and he is full of joy.
As we anticipate the birth of Christ during the Advent season, we celebrate because Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have given us a second chance at life as well. In John 3, Jesus calls it, “being born again.” In the book of Romans, Paul says we were “dead in our sins” but Jesus has given us new life. Talk about a reason for joy! Because of Jesus’ birth, we can experience new life. May your holiday season be full of joy as you consider the great gift Christ has given to you – and to anyone who puts their faith and trust in him.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
If you had Scrooge’s experience, seeing not just your past and present, but also your future, how do you think it would affect you? Would you want to know those things?
In Romans 4, who does Paul say should experience joy? Why?
Does our text describe righteousness as something we earn or as a gift? What impact does that have on you?
PRAYER IDEA
“Jesus – thank you for the gift of new life. In Psalms, David wrote, ‘restore to me the JOY of your salvation.’ Help me to rejoice and find joy in the gift of salvation you have given to me. May that gift be the focus of my Christmas this year. In your name, amen.”
Choices and Feelings
THE SETUP
“Cheer up, dude. It’s Christmas.” — The Grinch
On Sunday, Kevin Starkey taught that joy is not an emotion. We often confuse or conflate joy with happiness. We wait to feel joy. But joy is more of a decision than an emotion, and it is something that we get to choose.
In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch wants to steal joy from the citizens of Whoville, by stealing Christmas. Overnight he takes it all: the presents, the stockings, the trees, the lights, the decorations, even their Christmas dinner. On Christmas morning he stands, looking down on Whoville, waiting for the sounds of anger, disappointment, and sadness. Instead, he hears singing. While the Whovillians aren’t happy about someone stealing their gifts and holiday trimmings, they realize they have each other and choose joy.
During the holiday season, many people struggle with depression, loneliness, and sadness. They don’t “feel” Christmas. But the message of Christmas – the birth of Jesus – is that we can experience joy in any circumstance. That’s why James, Jesus’ half-brother, writes in James 1:2, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
When trouble comes my way, I don’t typically see it as an opportunity. But it is often out of seasons of difficulty that the greatest lessons are learned, and growth happens. There may be reasons that the cheer of the holidays feels far away this year. You might be struggling to find happiness this Christmas. But Jesus’ birth brought joy into this world and he wants to help you to experience it even in the middle of today’s challenges. As he told his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.” May that bring you joy during this Advent season.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What do you think James means when he writes that facing trouble in this life is an opportunity for joy? Have you ever seen it that way?
What are some of things that James says can be produced in our lives when we face trouble?
How do feel your faith in Jesus has helped you to find joy in difficult circumstances?
PRAYER IDEA
“Lord – you know about the troubles that I deal with in my life. Help me to find opportunities for joy in those circumstances. Remind me that I am not alone in facing those challenges. You have promised to never leave or forsake me. I don’t want to let my feelings determine my attitude. I want to choose joy in every situation. In your name, amen.”
"I Know Him!"
THE SETUP
"Santa’s Coming! I know him! I know him!" – Buddy the Elf in Elf
There have been very few times in my life where I have seen anyone get as excited for anything as Buddy does in the movie Elf when he finds out that Santa is coming to Gimbel’s department store. The cheering of the kids in the store is drowned out by Buddy’s enthusiasm for Santa. Why is Buddy so much more excited about Santa than everyone else? Because he knew him. The kids were excited about the possibility of Santa, Buddy was excited about seeing someone he knew.
As we celebrate Advent, the anticipation of Jesus’ birth, we have the benefit of experience, much like Buddy. The shepherds, wise men, and even Jesus’ own parents were aware of the promise of the Messiah. Two thousand years later, we know Him. Our joy at Christmas isn’t the joy of anticipation. It is the joy of experience. It’s the joy that comes from what Jesus has done in our lives, from the gift of salvation to the ongoing work of transformation he brings to us. We know Him.
This Advent season, may you be filled with joy as you reflect on and celebrate the birth of Jesus. And if you want to shout about it, go ahead, you know Him.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How do you define joy? What has been the most joyful moment of your life?
How, in your opinion, is the joy of experience different than the joy of anticipation?
What has Jesus done in your life that you can rejoice about this Christmas?
PRAYER IDEA:
“Jesus – thank you for coming into this world so we can know you. You became flesh and lived in our world, sharing our experience so we could experience you. This Christmas help me to share your joy with the people around me. Not the joy of the holidays or the emotions of the season, but the joy of knowing you. In your name, amen.”
Someday, Someday...
THE SETUP
"I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and next year, and the year after that." – George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life
Probably the most well-known Christmas movie is It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s the story of a guy named George Bailey who has big dreams that never seem to come true. His plans for tomorrow, the next day, and the next year are constantly interrupted by that thing we call reality. But George keeps dreaming and convincing himself that one day he is going to get to go all the places and do all the things he has planned. Someday.
But (spoiler alert) that time never comes. And there is an angst, a restlessness that comes over him. Eventually, his despair pushed him to consider taking his life. But an angel intervenes, and George sees the good in his life and the people that are a part of it. It’s a Christmas movie after all, so of course, it ends on a good note.
For a lot of people, the holidays can highlight or amplify the disappointments they have gone through or the anxiety they feel. Here’s the bad news, an angel named Clarence is probably not going to show up and help you find perspective. Now here’s the good news – one of the things the birth of Jesus brought into our world is peace of heart and mind. The Apostle Paul describes it as, “peace which exceeds anything we can understand.” May you experience Jesus’ peace during this Advent season.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What does Paul encourage us to do and not do with our worry and anxiety in Philippians 4:6
What do you think it means that God wants to give us a peace that is beyond our understanding? How can we experience peace of heart and mind without our situation changing.
When you read the list of things to “think about” in verse 8, how could that be of help to you this holiday season?
PRAYER IDEA
“Lord – I want to bring you my worries, the things that rob me of peace. I believe you want to give me peace of mind and heart this Christmas. When I am stressed or restless, help me to give those things to you and to fill my mind with things that are true, honorable, and praiseworthy. Fill me with your peace. Amen.”
Restoring the Peace
THE SETUP
Nick 'Santa' Claus: “I never realized. You hate me.”
Fred Claus: “I don't hate you, Nick. I just wish you'd never been born.”
Fred Claus tells us the story of the Claus brothers, Nick and Fred, who had a falling out as kids. When Fred realizes that he will never be able to live up to the reputation of his younger brother, Nick, he distances himself from Nick and the rest of the family. Fred grows up to be a lonely and cynical repo man, while his brother becomes you-know-who.
As adults, Fred and Nick are reunited and all their old issues resurface. No matter what Nick does to try and win Fred over, Fred isn’t interested. Nick can’t figure out why Fred hates him, and Fred doesn’t know why Nick won’t just leave him alone. There is clearly no peace between the two brothers.
During this week of Advent, as we celebrate the peace that Jesus brought into the world, we can focus on the peaceful stillness of the moment we sing about in Silent Night. But the peace that the Scriptures describe is bigger than that.
The Old Testament prophets wrote that one day a Messiah would come into the world who would restore peace between God and humanity. The gulf of sin, our rejection of God and his ways, would be bridged and we could be reconciled to God. In the New Testament, we learn that peace has come through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. The peace that we experience at Christmas is more than good feelings or a sense of calm. It is the peace of being reconciled to God through Jesus.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Has there ever been a time in your life when you needed to “make peace” with someone? How did you handle it?
When you read Romans 5, what captivates you about what Jesus has done for you?
How do you think peace with God can impact your sense of peace this Christmas?
PRAYER IDEA
“God – thank you for loving this world so much that you would send Jesus to bring peace to us. Thank you for doing for me what I could never do for myself. I don’t have the ability to be self-righteous, to be good enough, but you have made it possible for me to experience your righteousness through Jesus. Thank you for that indescribable gift! Amen.”
The Gift of Peace
THE SETUP
"Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?" — Clark Griswold to Cousin Eddie, Christmas Vacation
If you’ve watched the Christmas classic, Christmas Vacation, you know all about Cousin Eddie. He and his family show up unexpectedly (and uninvited) to the Griswold’s house which is already overflowing with family members. Cousin Eddie can get under Clark’s skin like no other. Eddie always says the wrong thing, always does the wrong thing, and has no sense of social boundaries. Clark has to do everything he can not to snap.
Maybe you have a family member like that — one who robs a little of your Christmas joy. You can avoid them most of the year, but when those family events roll around during the holidays, you have to count slowly to ten. A lot. Or it could be a co-worker. Or your neighbor whose decorations encroach into your yard. Sometimes “peace on earth” seems like a pipe dream during the holidays.
But Jesus came to bring peace to each and every one of us. His peace is a gift to us. It is what allows us to experience peace in the middle of the most trying situations. Often, we think changing our circumstances will bring peace, but the peace Christ offers isn’t dependent on ideal conditions. It is a work of heart that brings peace in spite of the storms of life. This Advent season, let’s take some time to thank God for the gift of peace that we have in Jesus.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What is the thing (or things) that can rob you of peace during the holidays? Why do you think they have that effect on you?
What do you think Jesus means when he offers us, “a gift – peace of mind and heart”? How does Christ bring peace to your heart and mind?
How can you cultivate peace in your heart and mind this Christmas?
PRAYER IDEA
“Jesus – thank you for the gift of peace. Help me to embrace that gift this Christmas. I pray that the circumstances around me, which I can’t always control, will not determine the peace I feel this year. Help me to experience internal peace despite what the season brings. In your name, amen.”
Hope You Find Your Dad
THE SETUP
“I planned out our whole day. First, we’ll make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Toll House cookie dough as fast as we can, and then we’ll snuggle.” – Buddy the Elf, when he found his real dad
If you’ve seen Elf once, or a thousand times, you know that Buddy, a human, was raised by elves at the North Pole. As an adult, he sets out to find his real father. As Buddy is sent off, a Narwhal tells him, “Bye Buddy, hope you find your dad.”
After a long journey, Buddy tracks down his dad and shares his plans for father-son bonding. But his hopes are dashed. His dad is not interested in a relationship. He wants the opposite. He wants Buddy as far from him as possible. Buddy is crushed (don’t worry, it works out in the end, it’s a Christmas movie after all).
Sometimes it can feel like our hope, even in God, is unrealized, just like Buddy’s. We pray. We wait. We believe. But the answer doesn’t come, and our hope begins to fade. Advent is a reminder that God fulfills his promises and that his timing often looks different than ours. Hope in God doesn’t have an expiration date. When it is realized in our lives it brings a fulfillment the world around us can’t provide.
READ THE PASSAGE
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What are some of the attributes of God in this passage that inspire hope in you this Advent season?
What do you think that it means to “wait on the Lord” (verse 31)?
What can re-kindle hope in you this Advent season? Have you talked to God about it?
PRAYER IDEA
“Lord – I will wait on you this Advent season. You are the Everlasting God and the creator of the universe. As I wait for and trust you, I believe you will strengthen my faith and exceed my hopes. Amen.”
Looking For Hope
THE SETUP
A common theme in Christmas movies is hope. In most of the classics, from It’s A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol to Frosty or Elf, Christmas brings hope. Hope that circumstances will change, that a situation will be resolved, or hope that a relationship can get better.
Often that hope is wrapped in sentiment. A beautiful lighted scene, a Christmas Eve party filling the house with people and joy, or Santa showing up with just the right thing under the tree. There are a lot of places where people look for hope — in the movies and in real life.
In Psalm 121, the psalmist writes, “I lift up my eyes to the hills and where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” The hills were significant in that culture. That’s where the altars and places of worship to various idols and gods took place. So people looked to the hills for hope. But the psalmist doesn’t look for hope from a totem, an altar, or an idol. He looks to the Lord for hope and help. Advent is a season of expectation, a time of waiting that culminates in the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world. May our eyes be focused in the right place during this season.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What are some places that people in our culture commonly look for hope? What about you – where do you look?
Psalm 121 is a psalm rich in hope. What promise in Psalm 121 jumps off the page to you?
How can this passage help you to re-focus this Advent season?
PRAYER IDEA
“God – I lift my eyes to you for hope and help. I thank you for watching over me in every step of my life. Even before I believed in you, you were looking out for me. That is amazing! Help me to keep my focus on you this Advent season. You are my hope and my help. Amen.”
I Believe
THE SETUP
As the animated Christmas movie, Polar Express is beginning, the narrator says, “I was listening for a sound I was afraid I’d never hear. The ringing bells of Santa’s sleigh.” The movie tells the story of a boy from a poor family who thought Christmas would pass him by as it had in years past. Instead, he is magically whisked away on the Polar Express. He gets to see and experience what he had always hoped was true, but because of years of disappointment, he had stopped hoping.
In the movie, getting the boy to believe in Santa and the spirit of Christmas wasn’t the challenge. Getting him to believe it was for him was. Finally, he speaks those two words: “I believe.” His hopes and dreams were fulfilled.
For many people, disappointments keep them from hoping for the future. Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “I don’t want to get my hopes up.” Maybe you’ve said it. We’ve all been let down. We’ve all put our hope in someone or something that has come up short.
The Advent season is all about hope. Advent means “coming” in Latin and it is the anticipation of the birth of Jesus, the birth of hope. If you have grown hopeless, or if you just hope less, may this Christmas season renew your faith as you remember that God keeps his promises.
PASSAGE TO READ
Proverbs 13:12, Psalm 146:3-6
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Is there a hope you have that has been deferred? How have you handled the waiting?i
When is the last time you had a “tree of life” experience – a dream fulfilled?
The psalmist writes, “He (God) keeps every promise forever.” How does that fill you with hope this Christmas?
PRAYER IDEA
“Lord, I thank you that you keep EVERY promise FOREVER. Even when I don’t see your hand at work, I believe that you are keeping your promises in my life. During this Advent season I want to keep my heart focused on the hope and promise of Jesus. Christmas is a reminder that you do keep your promises and that you will keep your promises in my life. Amen.”
The Real Thing
THE SETUP
One of my sneaky favorite Christmas movies is Jingle All the Way. In the movie, all a young boy wants for Christmas is a Turbo Man action figure. It is the must-have toy that year. His dad, Howard, (played by Ahh-Nold Schwarzenegger) forgets to buy the Turbo Man figure and chaos ensues. Howard spends all day on Christmas Eve trying to find And buy a Turbo Man, but it’s impossible to find one. Finally, in a whacky turn of events, Howard ends up dressed as Turbo Man in the middle of a Christmas parade.
As part of the parade, he is allowed to give a Turbo Man figure to any child along the route. Who does he choose? His son of course. But in the end, his son ends up giving the action figure away. Why? “Who needs this Turbo Man when I have the REAL Turbo Man at home!” he says.
Advent is a reminder that in the middle of all the holiday stuff — the wrapping, giving, and getting of gifts, and the gathering with family or friends – our real hope (and joy, and peace) lie somewhere else. Advent is a reminder that God wants to be the source of our hope — not our circumstances or our emotions. When we have the real source of hope in our lives, why would we settle for anything else?
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How has God been a source of hope in your life to this point?
What are some things besides God that people tend to put their hope in? Have sny of those things let you down in the past? How so?
What does Paul say the result will be when we trust in God as our source of hope?
PRAYER IDEA
“Father – you are my source of hope. I ask that today you would completely fill me with joy and peace as I put my trust in you. May my life overflow with confident hope so I can share that hope with the people I interact with today. In your name. Amen.”
A Lovely Cheese Pizza Just For Me
THE SETUP
The old saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” That’s what Kevin McCallister thought happened to him in Home Alone. After everyone in his family dumped on him, including eating all of his favorite cheese pizza, he had one wish, one hope, for Christmas: that his family would all just disappear. And that’s exactly what seemed to happen! At first, Kevin thought he had it made. He even got, “A lovely cheese pizza, just for me.” But eventually, he missed his family and found out it was not as great as he had hoped it would be.
Have you ever had that experience? When what you had hoped for, what you were sure would make things better, didn’t work out like you thought it would? We’ve all been there.
During this week of Advent, we are focusing on the theme of hope. In his letter to the church in Rome (Book of Romans in our New Testament), the Apostle Paul talks about a hope that does not disappoint us. This Christmas, may we put our hope in Christ and his process for our lives. If we do, we will not be disappointed.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What kind of hope does Paul say “will not lead to disappointment”? What do you think he means by that?
When you read the process of growth in verses 3-5, what sticks out the most to you?
How do you think trusting God, even during our problems and trials, can help us to experience hope?
PRAYER IDEA
“Jesus – thank you for the gift of salvation which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. This Advent season, whatever highs and lows may come, I pray you would help me to trust your work in my life and let that be my hope. I know your hope will never disappoint me. Amen.”
Fra-Gee-Lay, It Must Be Italian
THE SETUP
In the movie, A Christmas Story, Ralphie holds out hope that he will get a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas, despite all the adults in his life telling him he’ll shoot his eye out. But that’s not the only glimpse of hope we get in the movie.
Ralphie’s dad is filled with hope when he finds out that solving a crossword has earned him, “A major award!” When he received the telegram about his prize, he dances a jig and begins to imagine all of the things he may have won, even a bowling alley (“They won’t deliver the bowling alley, just the deed!”). Eventually, a large wooden crate is dumped into their front door and the possibilities seem endless. “There could be anything in there!” old man Parker exclaims.
As the crate is opened, the family (and those of us watching) are surprised to find out the crate contains a leg lamp. The main story moves on from there, but the hope remains – anything is possible at Christmas. That’s A Christmas story, but in THE Christmas story, the hope that people had been hanging onto for centuries comes to fruition in the form of a little baby laying in an animal trough.
Hope is what the Advent season is all about. The word Advent is from Latin and means, “coming.” It is waiting in expectation for the hope of the world. With all of the holiday activities, school programs, office parties, and family get-togethers, it can be easy to overlook the hope that Jesus brought into this world. This Advent season may we take the time to reflect on the hope that Jesus brings to us and to the world around us. May you rejoice in the hope of Christmas this year!
PASSAGE TO READ
John 1
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What is thing that you can’t wait for every Christmas season?
What has the hope of Jesus’ birth meant to you?
What is one practical way you can spread the hope of Christmas this year?
PRAYER IDEA
Jesus, I thank you for bringing hope into this world. I especially thank you for bringing hope into my life. In times of difficulty or pain, I am so glad I can turn to you for hope, because you are Immanuel, ‘God with us.’ I am not alone, and that gives me hope. Help me to keep that hope in mind during the challenging moments of this Advent season and help me to share that hope with those around me. In your name, amen.
United Devotional: Day 58
The Set-Up
My high school band director always told us, “We’re only as strong as our weakest link.” He loved sports, but he often pointed out that sports teams have the option of benching a player who isn’t performing well. He also pointed out that even in their best games, athletes don’t have perfect performances. Joe Montana is one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks, and throughout his career, he completed 63% of his passes. Tom Brady has completed 64% of passes. Both of these highly decorated athletes have missed just under half of their passes. When performing music, those stats are unacceptable. Could you imagine what it would sound like if the lead trumpet in a concert band missed half of their notes while playing the Star Spangled Banner? It’d be horrific.
In music, it is absolutely vital that every person know their part inside and out. They have to play every performance with 100% accuracy. Even the smallest parts need to be polished to perfection. If they aren’t, the whole band suffers.
This is what it means to be the body of Christ, to be part of the universal Church. We don’t have to be perfect, but we must confidently live out the parts God has called us to play. We don’t have the option of sitting on the bench when we’re having an off day. Like they say in show biz, “The show must go on.”
Today is the last day of our United study of 1 Corinthians, and throughout the summer, we’ve learned that Christians must be unified. Just like great orchestral pieces, we all have God-given parts to play. We are individuals, but each of our parts fit together as a whole in order to glorify God and share His love with the broken world around us. Sometimes the most effective way for us to do that is to give up some of our individual rights so others can better play their parts or so others can better hear God’s love rather than ourselves. In the words of Paul, the only way this is possible is by doing “everything with love.”
Passage to Read
Reflection Questions
What has stuck out to you the most throughout Journey’s United series? What is something from this series that you can apply to your own life?
How can we be unified but still individuals? What does it mean to live as God has called you specifically to live while still living in unity with other Christians?
There are so many examples of parts working together to make something happen – a car, a TV, your commute to work. How do you fit into the body of Christ? How do your skills and talents work with other Christians to promote God’s message to others?
Prayer Idea
Thank God that part of His great plan includes connecting us with other people so we don’t have to do life on our own. Thank Him for the encouragement you’ve received from others that He has placed in your life. Thank God for also using you for something far greater than yourself, for allowing you to be a part of something larger than we could ever imagine. Ask God to help you take the message of 1 Corinthians to heart so that you can do everything in love.
United Devotional: Day 57
The Set-Up
As mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, the Corinthian believers didn’t accept Paul’s authority as an apostle. In this section, Paul argues his rights as an apostle.
Paul did things a little differently than the other apostles, which may have been why the Corinthians didn’t respect his authority. Many of the other apostles were married and were financially supported by other believers. Paul wasn’t married, and he chose to work for financial support rather than accept donations from the churches he worked with.
While Paul had the right to be supported financially by other believers, he didn’t take advantage of it. This is where we see Paul’s true heart and intentions – it didn’t matter to him if he got paid or not for his work in sharing the gospel; what mattered was that the gospel was being preached.
Why didn’t Paul accept financial contributions? We don’t know the exact reason, but it may have been because he didn’t want others to think that he was using the gospel as a way to make a profit. But regardless of the reason, Paul’s example shows us that there are things we might have to give up in order to share the gospel effectively.
Passage to Read
Reflection Questions
Why do you think accepting financial support could inhibit Paul’s ability to share the gospel?
Paul gave up his apolostic rights of financial support in order to better share the gospel. What are “rights” you may have to give up in order for you to better share the gospel?
In verse 12, Paul writes, “We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.” How might someone be an obstacle to the gospel? How can you keep from being an obstacle to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
In verse 14, Paul writes, “In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.” What are your thoughts on those who preach the gospel getting paid? Should we financially support those who preach the gospel? Does this affect your thoughts about giving to the church?
Prayer Idea
Thank God that He provides for all our needs and that He blesses us when we sacrifice our will to live by His. Ask Him to give you the willingness to let go of any “rights” that might be an obstacle to sharing the gospel. Ask Him to give you a desire to share the gospel with those you interact with, even if it’s uncomfortable.
United Devotional: Day 56
The Set-Up
Isn’t it frustrating when people don’t trust who you say you are? Or when people question your authority?
This was one of the issues Paul had with the Corinthian church. Even though he had started the church a few years earlier, they refused to acknowledge his authority as an apostle. We’ll look at some of their reasons for this later this week, but Paul starts out this section by throwing down the hammer – the fact that he was the one who brought them the gospel should be enough evidence of his apostleship.
The work that we do – the words we speak, the way we live and act – should be evidence to others of our faith. In the book of James, James spends some time talking about this. We are saved by faith alone, but the things we do prove that our faith is genuine (James 2:19-24). Paul is using that same argument here in regard to his apostleship. There may be people who doubt his apostleship, but the Corinthian believers should know and accept his authority as an apostle because they’ve seen the work of God done by Paul firsthand.
In today’s divisive environment, there may be times when your faith is doubted by other believers because of the stances you take. You may hear, “You can’t be a Christian if you vote this way,” or “You’re not really a Christian because you (fill in the blank here) during COVID.” But ultimately, your faith is between you and God. Paul knew he was an apostle because he had an experience with the resurrected Christ. It didn’t matter if other people accepted that or not, but he continued to live in a way that reflected his belief in Christ. In the same way, we can know we are true believers because we know we’ve accepted Christ’s forgiveness and have chosen to follow Him. Our salvation is not based on other people’s standards or opinions. Regardless of what others might say, continue living in the way God has called you to live. How you live your life will be proof of your faith – maybe not in this life, but definitely in the next one.
Passage to Read
Reflection Questions
Have you ever had your authority questioned? What did that feel like? How did you respond?
Has anyone ever questioned your faith because of a choice you made? How did you handle that situation?
Why are our works – the things we say and do – important for proving our faith?
Prayer Idea
Thank God that it is only His opinion that truly matters. He places people in our lives who challenge us in appropriate ways and help us grow, but there are people who may cause you to doubt your salvation. If that is happening to you, or if you are doubting your faith for another reason, ask God to help you find reassurance and trust in His promises.
United Devotional: Day 55
The Set-Up
We probably don’t think about this, but I wonder how many of us are enslaved in the metaphorical sense. How many of us are slaves to our jobs? Entertainment? Our desires?
How often do we put ourselves under the inappropriate control or influence of others?
We are influenced by a number of things throughout our lives. Each day we are bombarded with messages from the culture around us – Buy this! Cook this! Lose weight! Social media is full of “influencers,” people whose literal job is to affect our purchasing decisions or lifestyle.
I’m not saying that any of these things are bad in and of themselves. God created work, and we can do our jobs in a way that is pleasing to Him. God also created and modeled rest. Many of us find relaxation in doing things that are entertaining to us. God gave us our desires; it’s not wrong to pursue those things. And it’s not wrong to look to other people for guidance, inspiration, or advice. The problem arises when we put too much trust and emphasis on those things and not enough on God. It’s when we allow our jobs, our entertainment, our desires, or other people to have far more influence on our lives than is appropriate.
Jesus sacrificed Himself for us so that we would be free from the world. He purchased us with His blood in order to set us free. Before knowing Christ, we were slaves of the world. We didn’t know there was anything better. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” But now that we know Christ, we know the joy that awaits us in following Him. But how often do we leave our Master, who wants more for us than we could ever imagine, to go back to making mudpies, thinking that will satisfy us?
The world will never be able to satisfy us. No matter how much we give of ourselves to our jobs or our desires, no matter how much we try to emulate another “successful” person, if we’re not following God’s will for our lives, we will never be satisfied. We are not to be enslaved to this world, because this world no longer has any bonds on us. Our bondage belongs to Christ. It’s only through submitting to Him completely that we will find what we’re looking for.
Passage to Read
Reflection Questions
What does it mean to be “enslaved to the world”?
Based on what we’ve learned about the Corinthians so far, why do you think Paul instructed them not to be enslaved to the world?
What’s the difference between being a slave to Christ and being a slave to the world?
Prayer Idea
Thank God for purchasing our freedom through Jesus’ sacrifice. Ask Him to help you renew your commitment to submit to Him and Him alone. If you are struggling with being “enslaved” to something, ask Him to help break those chains of bondage.
United Devotional: Day 54
The Set-Up
The last couple of devotionals have focused on Paul’s teachings about lawsuits between two Christians. In yesterday’s reading, Paul was mainly talking to the person wronged. He taught that as followers of Jesus, we should extend forgiveness and peace rather than seek restitution through the secular court system. To go file a lawsuit against a brother or sister in Christ not only puts a bad light on the church but also causes disunity among the Christian family.
I do want to point out here that Paul was talking about civil lawsuits, not criminal charges. There’s a huge difference. I don’t think Paul would ever suggest that we should keep criminal acts under wraps for sake of the church’s reputation. In fact, in Romans, Paul says we should submit to governing authorities. He calls them God’s servants and argues that those who do wrong should be punished by those authorities (Romans 13:1-4). In all honesty, when churches do keep illegal activity hidden, they ruin their testimony to others because of the harm and trauma they’ve caused victims. So many people are hesitant or blatantly against Christianity because of hypocrisy. Covering up illegal activity only furthers distrust of those outside the church.
In today’s passage, Paul changes his attention to the person who did the wrongdoing. Even if cheating or deceiving someone didn’t seem like a big deal, it was still wrong. Sin is sin, and no matter how big or little it is, it’s worthy of God’s punishment. Because He is absolutely holy, even the smallest sin can’t be in His presence.
Because we are human, sin will be a constant battle for us in this life. Thankfully, through Jesus Christ, God allowed us a way out of our sin. Once we’ve made the decision to follow Christ, our job is to live like it. Any of us can look at the list of sins in verses 9-10 and know we’ve done something on that list, probably even after becoming a Christian. That doesn’t mean your faith isn’t valid. The problem is when we become known by that sin, when it categorizes us because it’s so much of who we are. As followers of Jesus, we shouldn’t be known by our sin, but by the holiness we now have through Christ.
Passage to Read
Reflection Questions
We are not saved by our works. The Bible is pretty clear that we are saved only by the blood of Jesus. However, our actions should match up with our faith. Is there an area of your life that isn’t matching up with your faith?
Which of the sins out of the list in verses 9-10 is the most surprising to you? Why or why not?
Why do you think Paul ends his discussion about lawsuits among Christians by calling out sin? What point do you think he was trying to make?
Prayer Idea
Thank God for allowing Jesus to pay your sin debt. Acknowledge that without Christ’s sacrifice, you would be unable to earn your salvation. Ask God to point out any areas in your life where your actions don’t line up with your faith.
United Devotional: Day 53
The Set-Up
Yesterday, our devotional focused on why we shouldn’t sue another follower of Christ. From a practical standpoint, I think not suing another believer makes sense – both the financial cost and the ridiuclously long process of taking someone to court just don’t seem worth it. And, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we should be able to deal with our issues in a God-honoring way, without having to bring in the court system.
In today’s reading, however, Paul goes a little bit deeper, and personally, I find it harder to stomach. In verse 7, Paul basically says, “Why not just let yourself get cheated?”
Wait, what?! Just let someone scam me? Yeah, okay, Paul.
I think the best way for me to explain this is to create a hypothetical scenario, so imagine the church parking lot after service. As I’m pulling out, I back into Pastor Cody’s car, bashing in his passenger side door. Now, there are a couple of ways to handle this situation:
I leave, hoping no one saw the accident.
I tell Pastor Cody what happened but refuse to give my insurance information.
I tell Pastor Cody, to contact insurance, and we work together to figure out a plan.
In each response, both Pastor Cody and I have different ways we can work through the situation. We can either work together to find a resolution that works for both of us, or we can try to cheat one another – not just financially, but emotionally, too. If I chose not to come clean to Pastor Cody, I would ruin any trust he has in me and my integrity would be shot. In that scenario, Pastor Cody would have the right press charges. He could also decide not to forgive me or to hold the event over me. Either way, if we responded in those ways, we would cause havoc on Journey Church.
Thankfully, if this scenario did happen, I know Pastor Cody well enough that he wouldn’t hold it against me, and I hope he knows me well enough to trust that I’d do whatever possible to clean up my mistake. It’s not about our “rights,” it’s about doing what is most beneficial to the body of Christ.
We are so concerned about our rights that we sometimes forget about what is most important – loving God and loving people. That’s why it is so important for us to lean into the unity that 1 Corinthians teaches. When we lose sight of what unifies us, it’s easier to take advantage of one another, to not care about how outcomes affect others. Don’t let your rights keep you from exhibiting godly character.
Passage to Read
1 Corinthians 6:7-8
Reflection Questions
In today’s and yesterday’s reading, Paul never says, “Suffer wrong and not confront the problem.” His concern is about bringing disputes before unbelievers to resolve. What’s the difference?
Is it possible to “accept injustice” or “let yourself be cheated” while still confronting an issue? Why or why not?
Why is it important for us to have unity in the face of disagreements?
Prayer Idea
Thank God that He has brought us together as brothers and sisters. Even when we argue and hurt each other, whether unintentionally or not, He gives us the grace we need to work through problems and find resolutions. Ask God to continue to unite Journey Church and Christ followers from around the globe by helping us focus on our unified goal – to glorify Him.
United Devotional: Day 52
The Set-Up
I have always been fascinated by true crime and criminal justice. This is probably because I was raised on Law and Order, CSI, and Judge Judy.
I remember one Judge Judy episode where the plaintiff was asking for compensation because her ex-roommate stole some vintage wine. Even as a kid, I thought that was the most ridiculous reason to go to court. Why couldn’t two people who were presumably friends – at least at one time – work out a way to resolve the issue?
I like to imagine that this was what type of dispute Paul was talking about in today’s reading. In Paul’s day, civil courts met in the middle of the marketplace. Greek culture found legal battles entertaining, so it didn’t take long for lawsuits to become public knowledge. If one Christian decided to sue another, everyone in the area would know about it. What type of example would that be to those who weren’t Christians?
We currently live in a “sue-happy” society, but God’s people are called to live differently than the rest of the culture. We’re also called to live at peace with one another, to the best of our ability (Romans 12:18). Not only does taking other Christians to court not look good for the church, but it’s also not very practical. Legal fees are expensive, and civil lawsuits between two individuals don’t typically result in good payouts. When looking at civil lawsuits from that perspective, it seems like it’s just another way to say, “I was right and you were wrong.” As Christians, that’s not the type of attitude we should have toward one another.
Passage to Read
Reflection Questions
Why do you think two Christians suing one another puts the church in a bad light? Why would Paul be concerned about that?
How would you solve a civil dispute with another Christian? How would you solve a civil dispute with someone who wasn’t a Christian? Do you think there is a difference in how you would respond?
In this passage, Paul is discussing civil law, not criminal law. Why do you think Paul makes this distinction?
Prayer Idea
Thank God for giving us wisdom and grace in handling issues with other people. Thank Him for His constant forgiveness, and ask Him to give you the same desire to forgive others. If you are currently trying to navigate a dispute with another person, ask God for the wisdom needed to handle the situation peacefully.
United Devotional: Day 49
The Set-Up
One thing that I’ve learned from my years in education is that different students need different expectations. Obviously, there are different academic expectations for different grade levels. I can’t expect a 2nd-grade student to multiply double digits. That’s more of a 5th-grade expectation. Likewise, in working with students with behavioral difficulties, my expectations for them have to be fair. I can’t expect a 1st-grade student with severe trauma who struggles with handling anger appropriately to act like one of their classmates who doesn’t have the same difficulties.
The same is true when it comes to spiritual maturity. We can’t expect someone who isn’t a follower of Jesus to act like someone who is. At the same time, we can’t expect a new Christian to act the same as someone who has been a Christian for a decade or longer.
In the verses immediately before today’s section, Paul is calling out the Corinthian Christians for allowing blatant sin among their members. Apparently, one of the church members had some sort of ongoing sexual relationship with his stepmother, but no one in the church was bothered by it. Paul continues, explaining that allowing sin to continue in the church can have far-reaching consequences. In order to stop the spread of sin, blatant sin must be confronted and dealt with.
In today’s verses, Paul wraps up his thoughts on confronting sin by explaining that we can’t expect godly behavior from those who don’t follow Jesus. It would do us well to remember this. How often do we spend our time and energy confronting the sins of society while ignoring our own sins? Don’t get me wrong – there are definitely things about our society that we should be concerned about, things that do need to be addressed. But we need to stop attacking those who aren’t Christian for not living by Christian ideals, especially when we tend to turn a blind eye to our own issues. For example, earlier this year, a huge investigation of the Southern Baptist Convention, the second-largest Christian denomination in America, went underway, uncovering decades of sex abuse and cover-ups. Could this crisis have been stopped sooner if Christians were more concerned about the moral behavior of their brothers and sisters in Christ rather than those outside of the church? Obviously, there’s no way of knowing, but I think that the church could do a much better job of reflecting Christ if we focused more of our energy on correcting our own sin issues rather than pointing out the sins of those who don’t claim to follow Him.
Passage to Read
Reflection Questions
Many people say that their problem with Christianity is hypocrisy. What do you think about that statement?
In verse 12, Paul says, “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” How can you apply this to your own life?
In Matthew 7, Jesus tells us not to judge (Matthew 7:1-5). How are we to judge those inside the church as Paul instructs, but also not judge as Jesus says?
Prayer Idea
Thank God for His willingness to forgive our sins. The Bible says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us. Ask God to help you focus on the things that are the most important, and ask that He would give you a heart that is open to confrontation from others when it’s necessary. If you feel like there is someone you need to talk to about a sin issue in your life or theirs, ask God to give you the compassion and gentleness needed to have that conversation.
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