Mission Minded: Given a New Identity!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 10, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Secure in Their Identity!
Who am I?
The question has been asked for ages. Philosophers have debated profusely. Individuals have wrestled for years. Personally you may find yourself asking the question.
How do you answer the question, “Who am I?”
“I am a mom.” “I am a dad.” “I am an American.” “I am a Democrat.” “I am a Republican.” “I am a fire-fighter.” “I am a real estate agent.” The list goes on.
We look for identity in what we do. We look for identity in how we interact with others. We look for identity in our belief systems. However, all of these can challenge us because many, if not all of them, can change. When they do we are left asking again, “Who am I?”
Who we are can very much affect what we do. If you identify as mom…you will do mom things. If you identify as a dad…you will do dad things. If you do not identify as a real estate agent, you won’t do real estate agent things.
I’m getting a little philosophical, I know.
However, having a clear answer to this question is crucial to understanding yourself and your life’s purpose and direction. The reality is, if we find our ultimate identity in a person, occupation, or persuasion of this world, it will lead to our identity being shaken. If we find our purpose in what others think of us or think we should do, we will always be lacking.
To solve the identity question, we must go back to the one who made us and really is the one who gives us a glorious and unchanging way to look at and see ourselves.
I invite you to return to your baptism. (If you have not been baptized and this sparks curiosity, please email me at pastor@crossandcrowntx.com and let’s talk!)
In baptism, God put his name on you as you were baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This simple, short activity wasn’t just a “tradition of the church,” this was your spiritual birthday! It has as much if not more significance to your physical birthday! It was not just a “symbolic act” just like your physical birthday isn’t a “symbol” of life – it was the day you were GIVEN life! In the same way, your baptism isn’t a symbol of God putting his name on you and claiming YOU as HIS own, it was the day he DID claim you as his own. Your baptism day wasn’t a day you showed God you were his child, it was the day God showed you, you ARE his child!
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
It was the day you were given a new identity: A child of God.
Apply: Do you know your baptism day? Take time to look it up. Put it on your calendar and enjoy celebrating every year another year of being part of God’s family!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for making me your child through the waters of baptism. Lead me to understand, appreciate and live this new identity every day of my life. AMEN.
Thank you for praying the following with us at Cross & Crown:
Day 2 – Ephesians 6:10-11 “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”
Thank you, God, that our strength and power rests in You. We pray for protection for our leadership team, for our church and for our community, and that the enemy’s strategies will not advance. Bring unity, grace, power and renewal to the ministry you have called us to.
Mission Minded – Renew Your Mind!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 10, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Secure in Their Identity!
Have you thought recently, “This world needs Jesus”?
People dying of the pandemic…need Jesus. People breaking the law amidst political passions…need Jesus. People anxious and nervous about the future…need Jesus.
The world needs Jesus. Our country needs Jesus. Our communities need Jesus. Our family needs Jesus.
I need Jesus.
Our congregation in Georgetown, Texas is embarking on work to better focus our efforts to reach people with the saving message of the Gospel. We know God has us here for “such a time as this.” We have homes being built right next to our property with 1000 plus more to come in the next 5-10 years. We have opportunities with our online ministry to reach people for Jesus. We want to connect more people to Jesus.
I pray you do to.
No matter where you are as you read this, God has you at this time and in your place for such a time as this. You may feel discouraged as it may seem like the voice of Christians is being silenced, but remember, the Gospel has not lost its power. You may feel like your efforts don’t matter, but be assured the angels rejoice when just one soul comes to believe in Jesus.
I am inviting you all to join us in the journey to see how God wants to use each of us in a time such as this. It may seem scary…I know. It may seem overwhelming…I feel the same. But know that the mission God has us on has eternal impact in the lives of people.
Over the next weeks we are asking God to develop the heart and mindset inside each of us to carry out the work he has given to us. It’s time to let his Spirit refocus, renew, and refresh our mind. I pray he will declutter the noise of our culture, dismiss the lies of Satan we believe, and distill a mindset of truth in each of us. Paul put it this way in Romans 12:1-2:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The first mindset we are asking God to instill in us is security in our identity. I invite you to sometime today listen/watch the message from Sunday (Click on link above). It will tee up our topics for the rest of the week as we answer the question, “Who Am I?”
Apply: Take time in prayer simply to ask God’s Spirit to renew your mind to align with God’s good and perfect will.
Prayer: Father, life has been and will continue to be distracting. Forgive me for allowing my mind to be transformed and aligned to the world around me. I ask that you would remove all the thoughts that are not good and pleasing to you and replace them will your “good, pleasing and perfect will.” AMEN.
Special reflection and prayers:
As our congregation goes through the planning process, I invite all our devotion readers to pray with us and for us. This “special reflection” section gives an additional Scripture and prayer to include in your daily prayer life. Thank you!
Scripture: Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Prayer: God, we seek you first and foremost to define the vision for our church. We want to align with Your heart and what matters to You. Help us hear Your voice above all noise and distraction.
Get a Move on…Confident of the Lord’s Promises!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 3, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Be Still…and Get a Move On!
This past Sunday, January 3 I “preached” (since I recorded the message on December 26, 2020 as we were in Florida on January 3) on the crossing of the Red Sea by the people of Israel in Exodus 14. This “beach” story is one that has many facets to consider of God, people, and leadership.
The people saw the challenges – water in front, cliffs on the side and the army of Pharaoh pursuing them – and were convinced the slavery they came from would be better than dying at the hand of Pharaoh’s army.
Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Moses, the leader, saw the same challenges, but trusted God would fight for his people.
Exodus 14:13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
God saw the same challenges and said, “I will bring glory to my name.”
Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.”
On midnight of January 1, 2021 one sensed a “sigh of relief” that we had “made it” out of the challenges of 2020 and we could put those things behind us…CoVid Pandemic, riots in major cities, charged political climate and more. In fact people were congratulating each other that we “made it” through 2020.
In my message last Sunday, I quipped, “I don’t know what will happen in 2021, but there may come a point that we, like the people of Israel, view the challenges of the present and wish we could go back to the familiar of 2020.” A sobering thought to think, “What would make 2021 worse that we would yearn for the days of 2020 as the ‘good ol’ days’?”
I don’t know.
But already seven days into 2021, a quote appeared on Facebook “I’d like to cancel my subscription to 2021. I’ve experienced the free 7-day trial and I’m not interested.” Why? January 6 saw a dual senate race lean to the Democrats giving them control of both houses of congress. As well as the Senate met to certify the 2020 election results. However in the middle of that process, agitators broke into the Capitol and stormed the building causing all Senators and Representatives to seek shelter in secure basement rooms. Unfortunately one lady lost her life and 70 plus have since been charged. As they should be for breaking the law.
We thought we had left all this in the rear view mirror of 2020. Not so.
And we’re only 7 days in.
Here’s what I know.
People, even God’s people, even me, will naturally look at the challenges we face individually and collectively and want to run from them, avoid them, or simply despair of them. It’s human nature…especially when the situation seems out of our control and bigger than we can handle or know how to help. Perhaps 2021 is shaping up to be a year that will make 2020 look rather benign and lead us to wonder why God is allowing the events of this year to happen.
Leaders, especially God’s leaders, have a choice. Despair with the people or lead forward confident of the promises of God. This is where I pray the devotions of this week and message have been helpful to keep the challenges around us in perspective while we trust God’s promises to deliver and save us…forever in heaven.
God has only one choice. His name will be glorified.
Even the Egyptian army realized they were in trouble because the Lord was fighting against them.
Exodus 14:25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.”
How will God’s name be glorified? May I suggest three ways I see today:
- God’s name is glorified when I trust his power and promises more than any person or politician.
- God’s name is glorified when I find greater pride and honor and passion in being a child of God and citizen of his kingdom than being a citizen of America (of which I still have a great sense of pride).
- God’s name is glorified when I see and believe the heart of our country is changed when the Spirit of God changes the hearts of people…starting with mine.
I am confident 2021 will provide many opportunities for us to be tempted to despair, for godly leaders to reminds us of God’s promises and God’s name to be glorified.
So we have only one option because we can’t go back…we must go forward! So, get a move on…confident of God’s Promises!
Apply: What promise of God will guide you and give you strength as you move forward in 2021?
Prayer: Lord, we pray for our country and all those in a position of authority. May their hearts seek your wisdom and seek to honor you in all the ways they govern. Forgive us for despairing of the situation around us and forgetting that you are fighting for us. Thank you for godly leaders and fellow Christians to remind us of your power and promises. Lead us forward and cause your name to be glorified in our lives and those around us in the year ahead! Amen.
Get a Move On…Confident of the Lord’s Power
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 3, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Be Still…and Get a Move On!
The closest I’ve come to walking through water on dry land is walking through a clear aquarium tunnel as the fish (and sharks) swam all around us. While safe inside, I will admit there was a tinge of nervousness as to what would happen if the Plexiglas would break while inside.
I would have been more nervous if there was no Plexiglas and was told to walk through the water.
But that’s what God told his people to do…Get a move on!…through the water!
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. (Exodus 14:15-16)
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. (Exodus 14:21-22)
What would you be thinking as you stepped into the pathway with your family with the water to your left and right realizing nothing was holding it back but the power of God.
Each step was a step forward in confidence that the power of the Lord was strong enough to hold back the waters. The deeper it got…the more confidence you needed. As you stepped on the shore safely on the other side and watched the waters crash in over the Egyptian army, one might have thought, “That could have been me if it weren’t for the power of God fighting for me.”
Even the powerful Egyptian army realized they were powerless before the Lord.
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. (Exodus 14:23-28)
God opened the way before them and defeated the opposition pursuing them. He was willing to display his power to carry out his promises and give them confidence to move on!
When they all were safe on the other side, Moses and the people sang a song of praise (Good read in Exodus 15):
13 “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. (Exodus 15:13)
God doesn’t promise us the same display of his power, but his power is ready to be displayed to carry out his promises. He wants to lead us to an eternity in his holy dwelling.
I don’t know what seas or armies you will face in your life, but God has one desire for us to be with him in his holy dwelling, heaven. He has his power ready to be displayed to carry out this promise to you.
So…in 2021, get a move on … moving forward confident of the Lord’s power – no matter how deep the waters get or how powerful the pursuit!
Apply: Resolve today to move forward with confidence in the Lord’s power. The path forward may seem challenging, but the Lord is able to remove the obstacles and bring an end to the opposition.
Prayer: Lord, display your power in my life. Help me to realize my weakness and rely all the more on your strength as I go through the days of 2021. Amen.
Be Still and WATCH the Lord Act!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 3, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Be Still…and Get a Move On!
Sitting on the beach in most situations is a relaxing and refreshing activity. As you watch the waves roll in and hear their roar, you are mesmerized by the uniqueness and power of each wave. If you venture into the water, you realize the weight and force those waves have as they shift you around.
Taking time to observe the creation of God is a good thing to do. The beach is a good place to do it. (Just my humble opinion!)
However watching the power of God is not always so relaxing…or so calming.
The community of Israel was sitting on the beach. The water of the Red Sea in front of them. The cliffs beside them and their only path out being closed in by the Egyptian army. The cliffs were no longer marvels of God’s immensity, but a high point over which they could not climb and from which any army could fire upon them. The water in front of them was not the calming waves of a relaxing vacation, it was a death trap which may be preferred to the Egyptian army.
The people wanted to surrender. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (Exodus 14:11-12)
Ironically, the nature around the camp of Israel would be their deliverance…they only had to watch God act.
The passage way between the cliffs was blocked by the pillar of cloud – making the army of Pharaoh unable to see the Israelites. The opposite side was the light of the pillar of fire, enabling the camp of Israel to get ready to move while darkness prevented Pharaoh from attacking.
Then the water in front. What would you be thinking as the waves stopped and the water coming on shore was blown back until the ground covered with water was now as dry as the land on which you were sitting. The water you thought would be your demise was now your deliverance.
God acted while you watched.
NOTHING humanly speaking would save them from the Egyptians. I’m sure some were grabbing their swords, trying plot how they would escape or figuring out words they would speak to save their lives, or graveling to offer themselves to be slaves again.
But God wanted them to stop the fretting, stop the planning and be still and watch the Lord act.
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
Perhaps we don’t face the same situation as the Israelites did in the year ahead, but we will encounter obstacles that humanly speaking have no way of overcoming. Maybe in those situations the voice of God whispers, “Be still and watch me fight for you.”
Apply: What situation are you facing that seems to have no way out? Ask the Lord to act on your behalf and show you the way. Be still and watch him act.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my fretting, worry and lack of trust that faces life with my limited perspective and power. Help me in 2021 to trust that you WILL fight for me…and then calmly and confidently watch you act. AMEN.