Category Archives: Devotional
The Gospel is Worth Every Effort, For Every Person
“We proclaim Him, warning and teaching EVERYONE with all wisdom, so that we may present EVERYONE mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.”
Colossians 1:28-29
The Gospel – the news of Jesus’ death, burial, & resurrection that cancels sin & death & brings new life – changes us, so that we can bring change to others. We’re saved – reconciled to God, transformed by His power (Colossians 1:21-22) – to serve by sharing the Gospel (Colossians 1:23). It’s not a habit for most because it takes effort & intentionality. Paul uses the words SUFFERING, STRUGGLE, STRIVING to describe Gospel Servanthood. What makes it worth the Effort?
- The Sacrifice & Love of Jesus. The cross tells us that the God of the Universe thought the salvation of others was extremely important to Him. We see that Jesus was willing to go to any length to have a relationship with you & others. He came “to seek & save the lost” & He gave it all, in love, to do it. What’s precious to Him should be precious to us.
- The Cost to Others. If people do not hear & respond to the Gospel, they remain ALIENATED, HOSTILE, SEPARATED FROM GOD (Colossians 1:21). They face all eternity separated from God. Does not making the effort to share the Gospel mean that we are OK with our friends remaining alienated from God & facing eternity unprepared? EVERY PERSON you know, EVERY PERSON you meet will die & face eternity. Hebrews 9:27. Are we concerned for them?
Make the Effort. What will I have to do?
- Die to Yourself. Drop excuses. Drop fear. Grow in your faith. Make spiritual things a priority over the things of this world.
- Learn the Gospel. You can’t share it, if you don’t know it. Get to know the Gospel & figure out how to share it with your network.
- Pray. Pray for opportunities & boldness to share. Pray for people that you know. Pray for your church’s ministry in the community & to the world.
Bridge Church is currently studying the book of Colossians in a message series called Focus. Get audio from the series HERE.
Fruitfulness = Character and Capacity
“the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world–just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it”
Colossians 1:6
Fruitfulness is the result of the gospel’s work in people & the church. Jesus desires fruitfulness from his people (John 15:16). How do you define fruitfulness? Two words come to mind: Character and Capacity.
1. Character – Jesus’ work in our lives is inside out. From within he hones & shapes our character to bear the fruits of godliness. Galatians 5:22-23 lists some of these – “love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, self-control.”
2. Capacity – This speaks to our desire & ability to bring others into the kingdom. When we cut open a fruit or vegetable, we’re reminded that God placed the ability to make more into every living thing. Every living thing is a package of seeds designed to produce more. Our capacity may be different based upon our personal giftedness, soil conditions around us, & our own obedience, but Jesus’ work in us, should produce in us a desire & ability to share the Gospel with others.
Fruitful Christians grow in character & capacity. Show Jesus by the fruit of a godly life & share Jesus with others to grow the kingdom.
Bridge Church is currently studying the New Testament book of Colossians in a series called Focus. We meet on Sunday mornings, 10:30am at the Maritime Museum in Madisonville. Join us this Sunday as we talk about expanding our personal capacity for fruitfulness.
“Why do you give?”
Someone ask me recently, “Why do you give?” Talking about the practice of giving a percentage of our income to our church & other ministries. My answer: Well, I WAS TAUGHT the discipline by my parents when I started mowing yards for $7 a piece at the age of 10 years old. They’d help me count my money out that needed to go in the envelope at church each Sunday. I obediently practiced THE DISCIPLINE, hesitantly at times, as I opened my first bank account & started my first job in my teen & college years. Over the years, I’ve experienced THE PROMISE of God to care for needs of the generous over & over again. Now, I can say I know THE JOY of giving as I see my money pooled with others for the good of God’s mission & the JOY of others. Now, if I didn’t give, I’d feel naked.
Giving should be TAUGHT, as a DISCIPLINE, so that people can know the PROMISES of God, for the sake of their own JOY & the joy of others.
[from this quarter’s Contribution Statement letter from our church]
It’s my belief that giving isn’t primarily about my church’s budget, but my heart’s obedience & worship. The Bible commends regular, sacrificial, & cheerful giving to us as a way of life. Our church offers us the opportunity to pool our obedient giving together for the sake of a common mission. Church is about obedient hearts coming together.
Each quarter our church sends out contribution statements that give us an opportunity to examine our own obedience:
- Have I given regularly? (1 Corinthians 16:2) If not, pick a regular rhythm to begin giving. Once per month, once per week, each time you’re paid, etc.
- Have I given sacrificially? (Malachi 3:10) The Old Testament commands & Jesus commended 10% of our income. In the New Testament many gave all they had. Pick a % of your income that would be sacrificial & try giving it regularly & see how God honors His promises.
- Have I given cheerfully? (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) Is there an enthusiasm in my heart about the opportunity to grow God’s kingdom & put my faith in God’s promises?
Giving has an impact on others, sure, but its greatest impact has been on me.
You Don’t Really Lose at the Buzzer
Villanova’s Kris Jenkins sinks a last second shot to win the 2016 National Championship.
My high school basketball career ended with a buzzer beater loss in the 3rd round of the 1992 LHSAA playoffs. My high school baseball career ended in the 2nd round of the LHSAA playoffs with double suicide squeezes in the bottom of the last inning. Watching last nights NCAA Championship game with Villanova winning over North Carolina reminded me of the pain. Ouch! Of course, both times, the pain was not in that last second shot, but in the regret of something that happened earlier in the game that could have made the difference. In that last basketball game, I had missed a free throw that could have tipped the score in our favor. When the buzzer sounded, my mind immediately went to that moment. In that baseball game, there were base running blunders, there were opportunities missed throughout that could have made the difference. Games are not necessarily lost at the last second.
The Bible tells us that will be true in eternity as well. There will be a last second for all of us (Hebrews 9:27). And now we have opportunities to prepare & help others prepare. If we miss the opportunities we’ll be held accountable for the eternal loss that others may experience (Ezekiel 33:8). Let’s not wait for the regret of that moment, but make the most of every opportunity we’re given today (Colossians 4:5).
In Christ, We Stand Where It Has Already Burned
One of the favorite titles I’ve held in my life (besides “Dad”) is Volunteer Fireman. I was honored to volunteer with one of St. Tammany Parish’s finest Volunteer Fire Departments for a number of years and still like to provide spiritual care for our first responders as a Volunteer Chaplain. One night I was out with our guys for a woods fire. The fire was away from a road so our trucks couldn’t get close. The chief says, “I need to know how close that fire is. Two of you go see.” Since I hadn’t volunteered for any assignments involving burning buildings, I jumped out first and took off through the thick woods. As we approached the fire, the wind picked up and we noticed that it was coming at us fairly fast and the way we had come was too thick for us to be able to make a quick escape. We began clawing as fast as we could parallel to the fire until we found a spot that was burning low enough to jump over. The environment at that point changed from scary to eery. The ground singed and scarred, smoke rising, but we were safe. We were standing where it had already burned and the fire would not be able to burn there again. We followed the fire up to the trucks at which point it was quickly extinguished.
That night I was reminded of 1 John 2:2, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” The word propitiation is used only here in the New Testament and it is filled with meaning for the Christian. The word means “the appeasement or averting of God’s wrath or justice.” So, Jesus, through His death on the cross, appeased, absorbed, and averted God’s wrath toward me. Because of my sin, I faced the fire of God’s judgement (see Romans 1:18, John 3:36), but in Christ I have moved over to where the fire has already burned. Jesus took my judgement, He took my sin, He took my penalty, He took my justice. In Christ, there is an eery safety. There’s been fire here, but there won’t be again.
Hebrews 9:27 says, “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” On that day of judgement, which side of the fire line will you be standing on?
Do I HAVE TO go to church? No, I GET TO go to church!!!
Church is sometimes billed as boring, out of step with real life, or something in the way of so many other awesome opportunities that come our way on the weekend. The question we sometime ask as kids, but that can stay with us into adulthood, “Church? Do I HAAVVVVEE to?”
If we really understood God’s view of church & His purpose for it, we would change it from a HAVE TO, to a GET TO. Here’s some of the things we GET TO experience through connecting with a church, that make it worth it.
1. I GET TO experience God at work.
Whenever believers get together, Jesus promised to show up as well (Matthew 18:20). And He promised His power would be active through the work of the church (Matthew 16:18). In Christian relationships, we see him at work in the lives of others as we hear & see God working in their lives. We also experience God at work using us as we step out & use our gifts in ministry in the church.
2. I GET TO pool my resources together with others for God’s purposes.
From the very beginning we see churches demonstrating radical generosity to meet each others needs & the needs of the world (Acts 2:41-47). Paul, who started many of the first churches in the Asia Minor, taught the churches to set aside money on the first day of the week to be given for God’s purposes (1 Corinthians 16:2). He taught that giving was to be done regularly, sacrificially, & cheerfully (2 Corinthians 8-9). Giving is not just about meeting the needs of the church. It is an act of worship, reflecting back to God how great He is worth to us, & declaring that our faith is in Him. But I do get excited about giving to my church as I think about how my giving, pooled with others, will make a great difference in our world.
Pooling my resources is also, not just about money, but gifts & abilities. In church, we pool our God given spiritual gifts, passion, abilities, & experiences for the good of each other & the world. The kingdom & church grows by each one contributing their part (Ephesians 4:16).
3. I GET TO die to my sin & selfishness.
Christian relationships are to be marked by selflessness & sacrifice (John 13:34-35; Matthew 20:28; Philippians 2:3-4). In relationships, I’m always seeing how selfish I am. Seeing my selfishness & the selfishness of others, is actually a great opportunity for growth! Some of us see it & change. Some of us see it & vow not to change. Some of us see it, & unfortunately run away. Yep. Relationships at church can be hard. People can be difficult. Differing personalities, beliefs, upbringings, preferences can collide & create sparks. But I’ve learned that if I embrace the sparks & not runaway when I’m confronted with sin & selfishness in me & others, then we are all sharpened & changed & transformed into what God desires for me to be.
Lane, do you mean, God wanted relationships to be hard. Proverbs 27:17 says it like this, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Iron sharpening iron is a messy process. But necessary for a tool or blade to be at its greatest strength. Same is true for us in regard to relationships. We will be at our greatest strength when we are sharpened by relationships with others. Relationships where I can humble give & receive love & correction & encouragement & teaching, etc., etc.
These are three things I GET TO DO as I commit to a church. There are more. Like I didn’t even mention the coffee & donuts. If you’re not a part of a church, let me encourage you to jump in. Commit to a relationship with God. Commit to relationships with imperfect people you’ll find there. Commit to change as your confronted with sin & selfishness. You won’t regret it.
You can join my church if your in West St. Tammany Parish. We meet each Sunday, 10:30am at the Maritime Museum in Madisonville. We’re finishing a series on relationships this Sunday called Let the Sparks Fly. Come early for coffee!
Outcome Didn’t Matter, Faithfulness Did
Throughout the scriptures, we see God calling his followers to live a life of sentness. Stability, social comfort, relational control, safety, success, respect, or clarity were not expected. People had to go purely out of obedience, a personal sense of calling, in faith, and simply because they loved God. Outcome didn’t matter; faithfulness did.
~ TK Primer
Making our 3rd trek with a small group through the Tangible Kingdom Primer. Great guide to living a sent life.
Devo: Overcoming Faith Needs Patience and Attentiveness
Growing up in rural Louisiana, I heard lots of talk around the coffee pot at church or barber shop or anywhere else that people gathered about duck hunting & fishing. One story that stuck with me was about how the indians hunted ducks on Catahoula Lake.
When ducks would fill the lake, the indians would take hollowed gourds & float them out toward the ducks. When the gourds got near the ducks, of course they would fly off. The next day, the indians would float the gourds again, with the same result. The next day they’d do it again. Next day, again. Everyday, until the time came that the ducks grew comfortable that there was no danger & they quit flying away. Then one day, the Indians would take the hollowed gourds & put them on their heads & then swim out to the ducks. Not thinking they were in any danger, the ducks would not fly off & the indians would carefully begin to snatch ducks under the water, snap their necks & tie them to their belts.
You probably don’t need me to make any application here. But I’ve thought about this story often from both sides.
The Indians
The Indians patience won them a great prize. Proverbs 16:32 – “Patience is better than power…” They probably were able to harvest far more ducks than I or anyone else has with a powerful shotgun. Why? They devised a plan & faithfully carried it out. Someone said, “It’s not what you do today, it’s what you do everyday that counts.” Some things only happen by deliberate, daily action. What needs my attention every day to overcome? What habits can I form that will gain me a great harvest? Overcoming an addiction, growing a church, seeing a loved one saved, growing spiritually. All this takes great patience & habitual attention.
The Ducks
The Ducks grew complacent & comfortable with possible danger. Proverbs 1:32 – “the complacency of fools will destroy them.” The Message paraphrase of that verse says it like this, “Carelessness kills, complacency is murder.” What am I growing complacent about that could possibly destroy me? Habits? Entertainment? Relationships? What am I growing less concerned about that could prove dangerous to me, my marriage, my family?
Stalled in your faith? Add Patience & Slay Complacency.
Seeing the Possibilities for Life On Mission
Life on mission emerges for the believer when we are able to see the possibilities of our relationship with God & our position in the world. Three beliefs that help me see the possibilities:
- God is all powerful – “with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26
- God has placed me in this world for a purpose with the promise of His power & presence – “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
- I will meet people today in great need – “Jesus saw the crowds & had compassion on them.” Matthew 9:36
When these three collide, the possibilities for making a difference should be constant in our hearts & minds. Just add obedience.
- Do I believe that God is all powerful?
- Do I believe that god has placed me in this world on purpose?
- Who do I know that needs encouragement, witness, acts of kindness, rebuke, etc.?
On Ramps to Spiritual Growth: Building Catalytic Relationships
God wants you to grow in 2016. Bridge Church is tackling some of the best On Ramps to Spiritual Growth & Transformation this month. First was the on ramp of Understanding the Gospel & God’s Will. Second, was the On Ramp of Personal Devotional Habits. This week, we covered the On Ramp of Building Catalytic Relationships. Check out the talk given by Evan McGinty at yesterday’s Bridge gathering HERE or on Itunes. Here’s a few big ideas from the message:
- A catalyst is something that increases the rate of change. Relationships serve as great catalyst for personal & spiritual growth.
- God desires for us to have relationships with wise people with lots of God-experiences – “Those who walk with the wise become wise” Proverbs 13:20.
- Wise people have a lot of experience with God that their eager to share. They’re not afraid to challenge you & they make you more like Christ.
- Walking is SLOW & INTENTIONAL. Walking takes time. God commends long term relationships, not just a quick fix.
- Reading books pale in comparison to walking slowly through life with friends. Following people on Facebook is no comparison to engaging relationships. Walking side by side with people in relationships is far better than following them from afar.
- Walking with the wise requires:
- Exchanging pride for humility. Pride is the #1 enemy of catalytic relationships.
- Exposing your weaknesses. Relationships sharpen us, which means we expose the dull edges to others so that they can help us knock them off.
- Making time for slow walking in committed relationships. Is there room in my life for walking with & getting to know people deeply?
- Taking risk & putting yourself out there. Relationships are risk & reward. Risk difficult conversations. Risk being vulnerable about your weakness. Reward – personal & spiritual growth.
When people have grown spiritually & matured, they can usually look back & say, “_____ helped me grow spiritually.” They point to deep relationships with people that took time, challenged them, & helped them grow closer to God.
Do you have these kind of relationships in your life? Are you looking to be catalytic in the lives of others?
Join Bridge Church next week for the final On Ramp. 10:30am at the Maritime Museum in Madisonville.
Lane Corley 