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Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Fan or Follower – Seek Truth”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad (diseased) tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 

Watch out!

Do you remember when your parents said this as you crossed the road to catch the school bus?  “Watch out for cars!”

Maybe as you went swimming in your favorite lake, “Watch out for snakes!”

Maybe as you caught wind of a Facebook or telephone scam, “Watch out for scammers!”

When we see danger, we warn people we love so they are not negatively affected.  When we are warned, we know what to notice and avoid to prevent harm and danger coming to us or those we love.

The motivation behind Jesus’ words is his love for us.

Just prior to verse 15, Jesus said this in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Jesus desires that all of us enter eternal life with him, not apart from him.  As he claimed in John 14:6,  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

So, watch out for any one, any thing, any teaching that would teach or lead contrary to Jesus being the way to heaven.

The world around us promotes the opposite of Jesus’ statement. Many would like to believe and teach that wide is the path to heaven and narrow (if there is any) is the path to hell.  Individuals claim, “All paths lead to God.”  Other’s claim, “We all worship the same god, just call him by different names.”  To claim otherwise is attacked as close minded, arrogant, or judgmental.  A wide path to heaven sounds loving, accepting, non-judgmental.  It looks like an innocent sheep. 

But this teaching is dangerous deception.

Any teaching that distorts the truth that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven is Satan’s ferocious lies that he tells to lead us down the wide path to destruction.

Jesus warns us because he loves us.  Jesus’ disciples warn us because they love us.  Here are Paul’s words to the leaders of the church in Ephesus, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:29)”

The greatest threat to the Gospel of grace found in Jesus is any teaching that shifts the focus from the perfect performance of Jesus to the personal performance of the individual.  Whether it is a teaching that makes salvation 100% dependent on your effort or 1%, each is equally as dangerous and damning.

Like a child ready to cross the street who doesn’t see the oncoming car coming at a high rate of speed, our Savior yells in love, “WATCH OUT!”

Apply: What teachings have you heard (or believed) that sounded really good, but when measured against the truth of the Bible they were destructive deceptions?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the warning.  Give us wisdom and discernment to recognize and avoid any dangerous teaching that would lead us to turn to ourselves and away from Jesus.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Fan or Follower – Seek Truth”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Most of the country is observing Halloween today.  October 31st at it’s worst is the night of celebrating all that is ghoulish and at its best, a night to dress up and have fun collecting candy from neighbors.

The day has much more significance for Christians.

Halloween is the old English form for All Hallows Eve.  All Hallows Eve was followed on November 1 by All Hallows Day, more commonly known as All Saints Day.  In the 1500s, this was a big worship day where people would come to the Catholic church to honor the saints.  Relics of the saints would be on display, so more than usual would gather for worship.

Martin Luther knew this.

He took advantage of All Hallows Eve in 1517 to post 95 statements he desired to debate with the church officials of his time.

The issue? Indulgences.

Indulgences were pieces of paper sanctioned by the pope that when purchased were to give individuals assurance that their sins were forgiven.  The validity of the paper was based on what was called the “treasury of the saints.”  This treasure was said to be the extra good works the saints had done over and above what they for their own salvation.  Because the saint didn’t need them, they were available to be assigned to others.

Thus the sale of indulgences.

The proceeds? Gathered to build St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The problem?

Forgiveness is not based on the merits of the saints or our merits for that matter.

People were being guilted into buy indulgences at the fear of their own salvation or that of someone they loved.

Consciences were not being soothed, they were being taken advantage of.

This deception deserved debate and discussion.

So Luther wanted to have that debate.

And we live in the legacy of what this these statements sparked.

Was our certainty of salvation based on our own merits or that of the saints or would our salvation be based on the merits of Jesus Christ and trust in him?

The clear truth of Scripture had been clouded over by the traditions of the Church and the decrees of the pope.

But the Lord led Luther to see clearly the truth the Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write in Romans 1:16-17

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Rightness before God comes by faith in the good news about Jesus. 

Perhaps this truth seems trite and ordinary, but it is profound and unique. 

Many, including the Catholic Church, still believe and teach that in some way my performance before God merits eternal life.  The teaching seems to make sense, but it is eternally destructive.  If we can be honest with ourselves, the only thing our performance deserves is separation from God, not life with him.

So we need grace.  We need forgiveness.  We need Jesus.

The 95 statements sparked a debate, many discussions, and finally a divide from the Catholic Church.  The followers were called “Lutherans” but more importantly, the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone found in Scripture alone resurfaced from the pages of Scripture and brought true peace, joy and forgiveness to every soul who by faith, believed it!

So happy Reformation Day!  Know YOU are a “holy one” who has been covered by the blood of Jesus.

Apply: Ever read the 95 Theses?  Here’s a link.  Which statements would you like to discuss or debate if you had the chance?  Which do you agree with?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the work of Martin Luther who you used to bring the truth of grace back to the forefront amidst the deception of indulgences. As we thank you for the work of Martin Luther, may our confidence always rest in the gift of grace you have given in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Fan or Follower – Worry Less”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Stop worrying!

Ok, that’s easy to say and hard to do.  I pray this week’s message and devotions have helped a little bit.  

A technique called “visualization” helps to catch a glimpse of a future reality while we are engaged in the present.  When you set a goal, you visualize yourself accomplishing that goal.  When you practice a sport, you visualize yourself succeeding at that shot, kick, or swing.  

Visualize your life with less worry…or no worry…not because you just choose to give up and not care, but because, with the Lord’s help, you’ve replaced worry with trust.  

Picture three things.

1. When I worry less, by body is healthier and more rested.

Jesus invites us come to him with our worries, concerns and anxieties.  As he carries them, our soul and our body can rest more fully.  Rest supports physical health, improves mood and memory, and restores your energy.

Matthew 11:28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

2. When I worry less, my mind is at peace.

Worry keeps our mind active with concern and anxiety.  Worry leads our minds to imagine worst case scenarios.  Worry wakes us up at night as our mind tries to figure out the future or engages in concern of the present.  Jesus desires our minds to be at peace.  So he invites us to take whatever we are worried about and give it to him.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Philippians 4:6-7″Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

3. When I worry less, I can better carry out my purpose.

When we worry about things of this world, we lose sight of our purpose and Jesus’ promise.  Our purpose is to live for Jesus.  His promise is that when we put him first, all the earthly things we worry about will be taken care of as well.  To worry less is to love God more.  Perhaps more than that is that when we worry less we trust God more.  And when we worry less we find our purpose in Him more.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

So, ask the Lord to forgive your worry and replace it with trust.  Find the rest, peace and purpose found in Jesus as we let him take care of the things of this life and simply put him first and follow him.

Apply: What blessing of worrying less can you visualize increasing in your life?  What does it look like?  

A way to process worry is through journaling.  Here’s a resource of questions that perhaps can be helpful to spark your thoughts and allow you to process worry and replace it with trust.  https://www.thescribesportion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marchjournal.pdf

Prayer: Father, forgive my worry.  Replace it with trust.  Grant me the blessing of physical and spiritual rest, peace in my heart, and purpose in my life as I worry less and trust you more.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Fan or Follower – Worry Less”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Replace lies with truth.

How much worry do you carry that is based on false assumptions or false information?  How much worry do we carry because we seek to solve the issue with our own abilities and realize our limitations?  How much worry do we carry trying to figure out multiple answers when we have none or little of the information?

Perhaps it’s those situations when we look back we say, “Why did I worry about that?” or “That was dumb to worry about that.”

A lot of worry is time, energy and effort NOT well spent.  Jesus said, “Who by worrying can add a single hour to our lives?”  The opposite is true that worrying can shorten our life rather than lengthen it.

So, when worry begins to creep into my heart, what truth can replace or counter the potential lies or misinformation that is creating worry.

1. God loves and cares for you. 

Situations arise that tempt us to worry and our conclusion is that God has left us or abandoned us.  There is nothing farther from the truth.  In fact, God is ready to journey with you and for you into the uncertainty and fear of the situation you face.  Jesus reminds us in a comparison from the lesser to the greater that if the Father cares for the birds of the air, he WILL care for you because, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

2. God has the future figured out.

Worry comes when we perceive future problems.  Without knowing the future, the news of the present tries to predict or give indication of what the future holds.  Will it be a time of prosperity and success or a time of hardship and persecution?  However we perceive the future may indicate our daily sense of worry.  But here’s the truth.  God knows and sees the future.  Not only that, he controls and is present in the future.  So the promise we can carry when we are tempted to worry about the future is this, “         Psalm 31:14 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands;  deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. David didn’t worry about the future, he commended it to the Lord…so can we.

3. God turns tragedy into triumphs.

What if the things we perceive as tragedies are actually triumphs waiting for us to realize?  Tragedies are events in life that WE didn’t plan, WE don’t like, WE wish we could change.  But what if we perceive them as situations GOD planned, GOD desires us to experience, and GOD planned for us to experience…not for our hardship, but for our blessing? We can carry this perspective because of this promise, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

4. God is in control.

Worry comes when we realize something is out of our control.  Sometimes this is the “bottom” that we hit that turns us back to the Lord.  Worry often intensifies as we try to control a situation, but we can’t.  We try to control the future, but we can’t. We try to control a relationship, but we can’t.  So we give up and worry changes to despair.  Instead of allowing worry to change to despair, forge the worry and replace it with this truth, “God IS in control.”  The disciples realized this as they were worried they were going to drown in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, until Jesus did something about it.  Jesus’ miracle was not just to still the waters, but to still the disciples hearts and help them realize, “Jesus is in control, not them.”  Matthew 8:27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Let God’s truth and promises always replace the lies that lead to worry.

Apply: Which of these four truths resonates with you most today?

Prayer: Father, replace the lies I believe wit

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Fan or Follower – Worry Less”  (LISTEN HERE).

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The answer to worry is trust. 

Jesus is teaching us this week that we don’t have to worry, because our heavenly Father loves us and cares for us, more than the birds of the air or the flowers of the field.  He challenges our worry with the statement, “Oh, you of little faith.”

Worry is the opposite of trust.  Worry indicates there is something real or perceived that I am concerned about that my heavenly Father says, “I already know you need it.  I will take care of it.”  Worry is a heart that is consumed with the affairs of life to the point it chokes out our trust and relationship with our Father in heaven.

So if we are NOT to worry?  What is the replacement?

Trust.

But what is trust? What does trust look like? 

Trust is not laziness.  Trust is not doing nothing and waiting for God to do everything.  

Trust is rooting my confidence in the promises and presence and provision of my  heavenly Father.

The prophet Jeremiah put it this way:  

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” 

Trust in the Lord allows us to face the challenges and difficulties of life without worry or despair.  Our confidence is that the Lord will sustain us and strengthen us for whatever is present or ahead of us.

Trust is not wishing away the hardships of life, it is engaging in life without fear.  Trust is not wishing God removed all challenges, it allows us to produce fruits of faith in the middle of those challenges.

Where does this trust come from?  

Trust comes from watering your spirit with the Word of God.  Trust is strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit as he works through that Word.  Trust is feeding our heart on the promises of God so that when the challenges come (and they will), the promises of God sustain us.

The worries of life will come.  Trust in the Lord will keeps your “leaves green” and your branches “bearing fruit!”

Apply: What part of this image painted by Jeremiah stands out to you today?

Prayer: Lord, keep us deeply rooted in your love so we trust you more and worry less. AMEN.