Day 13
Without Love we are not much good for God. God is love so to express His nature through us we have to be able to love unconditionally. Who is it that you need to forgive today? Who is it that you need to serve out of love today?
The only thing that counts is faith
expressing itself through love.”
Galatians 5:6
A man in Santa Fe once put a marriage announcement in the newspaper. However, after deciding not to marry the woman, he called the paper to cancel the announcement but was told that it was too late; the paper had already gone to press. Casually the man remarked, “Oh well, I guess I’ll marry her then.” Imagine if you will, a callous young man such as that courting a beautiful young woman. He buys gifts for her and takes her out to fancy restaurants and the theater. One day, he stops by a flower shop and orders an extravagant bouquet of flowers and a box of gourmet chocolates to be delivered to her at work. The sales clerk comments that he must really love his fiancée a great deal. To this, the man replies, “No, not really, but you’re supposed to do this sort of thing when you’re getting married.”
A relationship based on such empty motives is destined to be unfulfilling at best and utterly disastrous at worst. A commitment as intimate and binding as marriage must be founded on love. The kindness that is shown within the marriage relationship must come from the sincere love shared between husband and wife. It is nearly grotesque to picture the extravagant expressions of love during courtship and marriage as happening for any reason other than love.
The Christian life is one of sacrifice, service, and extravagant good deeds, but to live such a life for any reason other than love is a cheap parody. The reality however, is beautiful beyond compare: To have a passionate love for God that overflows into extravagant expressions of worship. We sacrifice because we love. We give because we love. We obey, not because we must but because we love. We abound in the work of the Lord, not because we should but because we love.
As a church, we have been active in good deeds, and God is drawing us into a season of greater activity than ever. In the midst of this, let us never forget that we must do all that we do out of love for God and love for our neighbors. No lesser motive will last.
Prayer focus: Ask the Lord to reveal the inner motives of your own heart. Pray that love would overwhelm us as a church and be our supreme motivation in all we do. And pray that our love for God and for our neighbors would burn strong, so as to move us to extravagance.
“The whole worth of a kind deed lies in the love that inspires it.” The Talmud
Day 12
What great things is God calling you to do? What is it that burns with passion in your soul. God will give us the strength we need to match the passion that He has placed within each of us as we stretch out and trust in Him!
“They go from strength to strength
till each appears before God in Zion.”
Psalms 84:7
The unspoken American motto, “Bigger, Better, Faster, More” can be either a blessing or a curse. The way of life that has led to that phrase has helped contribute to both the unprecedented advances and unbearable stresses of life in Western culture. In science, technology, and education (not to mention world missions) the United States of America has contributed the lion’s share to global progress. Yet America is also among the most stressed and fatigued of all nations.
Americans are seldom content. This discontentment drives us to constantly look for ways to upgrade our standard of living, education, status, and our influence in society. It also drives us to seek solutions to problems such as world hunger, cancer, and AIDS. The great Americans who have harnessed this drive and put it to godly purposes have gone down in history as world changers.
There is always more. There are always greater heights of glory to be attained. The path of the righteous is ever onward and upward, “brighter and brighter until the full light of day,” as Solomon wrote. If the success of the harvest is judged not by how much was brought in but by how much is left in the field, then we still have much work to do. The believer may likewise look on his own spiritual growth in the same light: How much growth remains until perfectly conformed to the glory of Christ? This realization should not burden us, but inspire us to a greater walk with God, a deeper intimacy, an increasing faith, a deepening love, and an ever-growing fruitfulness as His children.
The Lord is calling our church to things bigger and better than ever before. The believers of River Oaks Community Church have already done far beyond all reasonable expectations, yet the Lord is calling us to higher. And He asks us to embrace this servant’s fire, this driven passion not with anxiety or stress, but in the tranquility of His peace.
Prayer focus: Ask God to give you wisdom and zeal together. Pray that both would be vast, active, and powerful in your life. Pray that the fire of God would grow among us to earth-shaking proportions. Pray for those who are under great stress to know God’s peace.
“Do all the good you can by all the means you can in all the ways you can in all the places you can to all the people you can as long as you ever can.” John Wesley
Day 11
He’s an on time God…Yes He is!
Today was a whirl wind kind of day, yet it fit perfectly with the devotion. I have been praying about getting the chance to be a presence in the schools here and after sharing that prayer with another man the wheels began spinning! I shared this prayer with a school board member that has the zeal of the Lord in him and immediately we began touring the schools. Now I have a lunch day planned with our students from Thornridge! Our God can open doors when He finds people with zeal and passion for His kingdom!
“Never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Romans 12:11
More than 4 million people visit Arlington National Cemetery each year. Some come to see the graves of loved ones or to pay tribute to one of the many heroes of American history that lie there. Others come to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was constructed out of seven pieces of Yule marble and weighing over 79 tons and pays tribute to those who gave up their lives in obscurity, unknown and unburied.
Others come to see the grave of John F. Kennedy and the memorial flame that burns there unceasingly. This memorial to our fallen leader was built when a tired and saddened Colonel, Clayton B. Lyle, received a phone call on the Sunday afternoon after Kennedy’s assassination. He suddenly found himself responsible to build an eternal flame memorial by 8 a.m. the next morning at Mrs. Kennedy’s request. He leapt into the task with determination, working passionately through the entire night. Just in time for the memorial service that morning he laid the final underground gas line and tested the flame to be sure it would light and stay lit under any circumstances. The flame still burns to this day.
The honor and responsibility of building a lasting memorial to a great leader inspired Colonel Lyle to new heights of accomplishment, even under great pressure. Followers of Christ are given the honor and responsibility to build a living monument—the Church. What is more, they are given the exalted privilege of being the very repository of the flame which keeps the church alive—the Holy Spirit. The honor and glory of this distinction are beyond comprehension.
As a church, let us burn with divine fire to accomplish divine wonders. Let us kindle the blaze of the Holy Spirit within our hearts and make of ourselves a living memorial to our crucified and risen Lord. In that passion let us rise to the holy calling so that many will be drawn to the Life of Christ. Like the Unknown Soldiers we don’t need recognition for our sacrifice, for our treasure is in heaven.
Prayer focus: Ask God to kindle a fresh flame in your own heart. Wait on the Lord and fight this battle in prayer until the victory is won. Pray that the Holy Spirit would fall mightily on this congregation and that our community would be drawn to His fire.
“Awake, my soul! Stretch every nerve, and press with vigor on; a heavenly race demands thy zeal, and an immortal crown.” Philip Doddridge
Day 10
What an awesome reminder about how God can work miracles when we trust Him with the little resources we have. I am convinced that God can do more Kingdom building work with the last dollar someone has that with a million dollars from someone like Bill Gates. God sees the level of sacrifice and always works his power and miracles at that level. If we are really stretching and trusting in the Lord then He will move in some really big and powerful way! I hope you enjoy this word as much as I did…
The people are bringing more than enough
for the work that needs to be done.”
Exodus 36:5
Jesus had been teaching the multitudes about the kingdom of God through the heat of the day, and now the sun was beginning to sink toward the horizon. The multitude would need strength for the journey home, but nobody had brought any food except for one young boy. All he had was five small loaves of bread and two small fish. It was clear, however, that even eight months wages wouldn’t give everyone so much as a nibble. The boy probably thought his meager offering was virtually worthless. Still he gave what he had to the Lord. Jesus took the offering, gave thanks, and made sure that five loaves and two fish fed 5,000 people with bread left over to snack on later.
This story is much more than an interesting miracle. It is a manifestation of the glory of God and a demonstration of His character. It illustrates an eternal principle: When our best is placed in God’s care, there is no limit to what He can accomplish through it. The little boy didn’t need to be concerned with making his meal into a supernatural feast. All he needed to do was simply offer it to Jesus.
When Moses asked the Israelites to give toward building the tabernacle they demonstrated willingness much like this little boy. There was no compulsion in his request; Moses made it clear that the offering was for people who were freely willing to give. And the offerings came in such abundance that soon Moses had to “order” the people to stop giving. They had to be “restrained from bringing more!” (Exodus 25:2, 35:4-36:7). They brought gold, silver, gems, animal skins, precious dyes, and wood. They also offered their time, energy, and abilities.
Won’t it be wonderful to see what the Holy Spirit can do through us, as that same spirit of willing generosity rises in our hearts? We too, can live at a level of generosity that exceeds the current need and looks far beyond. Those of us who are financially stable should do as much as possible. And the poorest among us may have no more than a loaf or two, but that one loaf may be the exact one that Jesus is waiting for!
Prayer focus: Ask God to give us the spirit of generosity as the little boy and the Israelites had in these illustrations. Pray that nothing would be able to hinder that overflow of giving. And pray that we would see great miracles of multiplication through our giving.
“What I spent I lost; what I possessed is left to others; what I gave away remains with me.” Inscription on Tombstone
Day 9
Well…today we had a few typographical errors as we had another church mentioned in the devotional…Here on the post I have corrected that problem!
Now, for the devotional thought…What gets you excited? Is sharing the Gospel something that wakes you up and gives you energy? ROCC is committed to sharing the Love of Jesus throughout the community! This world is hurting and people need Jesus more than ever as we are quickly approaching His return!
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’”
Isaiah 6:8
Danny was a beautiful dog with boundless energy and enthusiasm. His master had found him as a small puppy during an extended backpacking trip, and they had been together day and night ever since. One day, his master had spent several spare hours trying to get the growing pup to fetch a stick when the concept suddenly clicked. From that moment on Danny was fanatical about this wonderful game called “fetch.”
Danny grew up to be a most faithful and obedient dog. He would come with a mere word, whistle, or whisper. He would stay on command, even for hours at a time! He would walk away when asked not to beg. He would make a running leap into his master’s arms upon request, and he would obey gladly, with a broad doggy smile on his face. But right from the start, his favorite thing was always fetch. At the words, “Go find a stick!” he would explode with frantic energy, never stopping until he had found one and brought it to the feet of his master.
Jesus has told believers to “Go!” One of the last directives he presented to the Church before His ascension was to “go make disciples.” (Matthew 28:18-19). History shows that many have paid heed to the call and been mightily used of God, while others have neglected their divine mandate.
At River Oaks Community Church, we are being called. We are being entrusted with a great responsibility and must not take it lightly. We do it, not because we must, but because we delight to do God’s will. We simply must reach the lost. We must build up the saints in the faith. We must send spiritual giants out into a needy world. We must reach, teach and send, and we must do it at any cost.
Prayer focus: Ask God to give us a boundless enthusiasm as we enter our Reaching Up, Reaching Out and to give us the same simple-hearted obedience as Danny to the Great Commission. Pray for the multitudes that will be touched locally and even globally as we realize our vision. Take some time to intercede specifically for the lost in our community.
“Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help…And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world.” William Booth
Day 8
This devotional was so timely! We are fighting a great battle and the Lord wants to know which of us are really going to stand strong in the face of the enemy. Take the leap into the battle using the word of God as our weapon!
“Be strong and courageous.”
Twice in Deuteronomy; four times in Joshua; three times in Chronicles
When it comes to bravery we have, on the one hand, “Brave” Sir Robin, from the comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” As he marched through the forest, his faithful bard extolled his bravery in song. “He was not afraid to die,” the bard sang. “He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways.” Throughout the song, the torments that “Brave” Sir Robin would gladly endure increased to ludicrous proportions. Sir Robin’s courage could be seen melting away on his increasingly terrified countenance. His true colors were shown at the very next opportunity, when he fled from combat in cowardly fear.
On the other hand, we have courage such as that demonstrated by Ray Blankenship: When he saw a little girl being swept away in the waters of a flooded storm ditch he leapt into the deep, raging waters after her as quickly as he could. They were swept violently downstream, and just before the stream disappeared underground beneath the road, he managed to grab a handhold on the bank and pull the girl to safety. Ray later received the Coast Guard’s Silver Lifesaving Medal for the courage he demonstrated, which courage was magnified by the fact that Ray did not know how to swim.
“Brave” Sir Robin fled from the battle, while Ray Blankenship rushed directly in. Two very different responses to danger, each one demonstrating the inward condition of the heart. The Christian life is not for the faint at heart. It is not for those who will flee from challenges but is for those who will look into the flames and say with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it!”
We as a church must be prepared to wage war in the spiritual realm through intercession, sacrifice and obedience. The enemy will not give up in his attempt to steal, kill and destroy, and we must therefore not flag in our vigilance! Like David’s mighty men we will fight, for we are “more than conquerors” through Christ.
Prayer focus: Ask God, on behalf of yourself and those you are closest to, for supernatural courage. Intercede for the spiritual battles you believe could most easily hinder this work. Pray that God raise an army of warriors for the ministries of River Oaks Community Church and then enlist!
“When I was crossing into Gaza, I was asked at the check-post whether I was carrying any weapons. I replied: Oh yes, my prayer books.” Mother Theresa
Day 7
How big is God in your mind? If He is beyond big and beyond powerful in your mind then you are ready to take a leap in faith that will even surprise you! Our God is great and awesome and He is able to supply all of our need and desire if we simply trust Him enough to let Him do what He wants to do. Jesus met a rich man open day that asked Him how to get to heaven. The response Jesus gave is incredible…He told him to sell all that he had and then give his money to the poor. Of course this rich man walked away disappointed and never saw the glorious riches that God was ready to pour upon him because he could not trust God in this way. What about you? Are you up to this kind of challenge?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”
Proverbs 3:5
Once upon a time there was a fellowship of saints in a distant land whose poverty was enough to cause derision, condescension, and mockery. Their clothing was threadbare. Their meals were simple and few. Their homes were far from impressive. Yet their hearts were generous. When an area several days journey from them was ravaged by famine, they worked even harder and sacrificed even more. Little by little, their offering grew until it seemed even to the wealthy areas nearby to be borderline extravagant.
In love, they lavished this generous gift upon their distant brothers and sisters in Christ, and their hearts surged with a joy in giving that made every sacrifice seem as nothing. Their giving also served as an inspiration to many, and their offering was joined by gifts from everywhere. The apostle Paul briefly mentioned this church—the church of Macedonia—when he wrote to the Corinthians. He said that out of their “extreme poverty” they demonstrated “rich generosity.” They gave of their own initiative, even beyond what seemed to be their ability. (2 Cor. 8:2-3).
Extreme faith requires fierce courage. The Macedonians put themselves out on a limb. Would God provide? Would they suffer unnecessarily? Perhaps these questions entered their minds. Thankfully, they knew the great promises of God and trusted Him to provide all their needs “according to His riches in glory.” Not only did God provide for them, he also used them to provide for others. They were shining examples to others who might have been hesitant, and God immortalized their brave generosity in Scripture as an inspiration for all generations.
As a church, we must now discover further heights of generosity within ourselves and adopt that as a new standard. For many, this sacrifice will require great courage and unshakeable faith. Let us embrace the reality that He never changes. He provided for the Macedonians, and He always takes care of His sheep. In love, let us bravely step into a whole new dimension of service to the King!
Prayer focus: Ask God for courage to look beyond the victories of the past and look forward to ever-increasing vistas of generosity. Pray that God will provide our every need as individuals and as a congregation. Pray for divine courage and for a rich outpouring on the needs.
“All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Day 6
When we truly begin to seek God our priorities begin to shift as we realize all that really matters in life. I am believing God to help us through this project as we all begin to shift our thinking away from the temporal and earthly goods, towards eternal and heavenly treasures!
“I eagerly expect and hope…”
Philippians 1:20
In his classic novel, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens tells the tale of Pip, a young man raised in the dreary English countryside. Pip becomes enamored of a stunningly beautiful young woman and eventually receives a large inheritance from an anonymous donor. He is quickly deceived by empty hopes of romance and earthly prosperity. When he moves to London to be trained as a gentleman, he discovers that wealth offers little happiness and can even make life more miserable at times. All his hopes are dashed violently to pieces by folly, chance, and cruelty. Heartbroken and disenchanted, he begins to learn lessons about the things that matter most in life.
Fate finally seems to take a turn for the better at the very end of the novel, after Pip has learned the lessons of character, loyalty, hard work and true friendship. Though the entire novel seems shrouded in a dismal and hopeless melancholy, it closes in a “broad expanse of tranquil light.” The reader is left, at last, with a glimmer of true hope—a hope not founded on shadows and falsehoods, but on truth and love.
Life without hope is oppressive and bitter. Equally dangerous is life lived by the deceiving allure of false hope. Jesus taught that “the cares, riches, and pleasures of the world” can function like a cancer, choking spiritual vitality and strangling the soul. But true hope is like an anchor—it can hold firm through any storm. The believer whose hope is in the right things will be free from the enticements of this world—liberated to do great things for God, and their expectations can soar beyond their wildest dreams.
God is setting before us a great expectation. As we set our hope in things eternal, we can know that this “hope does not disappoint us.” (Rom. 5:5). Let us enter this season with great hopes and heavenly expectations. Let us set our desires and hopes on things that will make a difference for eternity—great things, vast things, glorious things. We may take it as a fact that we will NOT be disappointed!
Prayer focus: Ask God to turn your heart from any hopes that might prove empty or temporal, and prayerfully determine to place your hope in things eternal. Pray that as a congregation we would embrace this project with boundless hope. Pray for faith and expectation to soar among us into the endless realms of God-sized possibilities!
“Low expectations are a curse to greatness.” T.D. Jakes
Day 5
“It’s Mine…all mine!”
When did we stop learning how to share? In pre-school we were taught that we had share the toys or we would end up in time out. Yet somehow as we got older it became acceptable to us to want everything for ourselves…we no longer wanted to share. Sometimes what we have can be the difference between life and death for someone else…are we willing to share what God has given us? Are we willing to end our selfish materialistic ways? If we are then God has treasures for us that we can’t even imagine!
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”
Ephesians 3:20
During World War II, Ernest Gordon served as a captain in the Scottish military. When he was captured by the Japanese army, he was marched deep into the jungles of Thailand along with thousands of other POW’s, where he was subjected to inexpressible horrors. All around him multitudes were dying of sickness, malnutrition, outright murder, and broken spirits. Over the first year of his imprisonment, the prisoners degenerated into moral depravity and animal selfishness. Captain Gordon nearly died of disease and starvation that year but was nursed back to health by the rare nurture of two Christian men. Shocked and humbled by their kindness, he rededicated his own life to the Lord.
Gradually the self-sacrifice of the few began to inspire the many, and within the next year the camp had been spiritually transformed. They began to put one another first. They sacrificed for those who needed it most. They risked their lives to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of their fellow prisoners. They even chose to love their tormentors. Revival was in the camp, and the Holy Spirit was taking over! The valley of the shadow of death served to show them their need for God’s grace and love and push them toward the cross—toward Life.
God has created mankind with a nearly boundless capacity to endure suffering. The human soul can also go far beyond mere endurance in such circumstances; it can thrive! Sometimes hardship is exactly what believers need in order to discover the infinite potential that is Christ in them, “the hope of glory.” Sometimes an impossible challenge is the key to discovering mountain moving faith.
As a church, we are facing a seemingly impossible challenge, but God is using it to help us enter a new level of living in the impossible! Like the priests of Israel, it is time for us to step into the Jordan River and watch in awe as God parts the raging waters.
Prayer focus: Ask God to give us a selfless heart. Pray for willingness to face the impossible and faith to believe for it. Pray that God will bring our congregation to a whole new level of faith and endurance. Imagine what he can do through us, and then ask him to go far beyond even that.
“When God intends to make something wonderful, he begins with a difficulty. When he intends to make something very wonderful, he begins with an impossibility.” Lord Coggan—Archbishop of Canterbury
Day 4
Ok…let me begin by saying that my intention during this 14 day prayer journey was to update a quick blog post and include the devotion for that day…well it is day 4 and I am finally getting this done!
Our devotion today is really powerful as we begin to think of where we would be if great people of the past had not made the sacrifices necessary for us as a church and a nation. Would I be serving Christ today if someone had not sacrificed themselves and gone into the prison walls to share the gosple? Yet today I can live a life of peace and joy in the Lord because of the sacrifice of others. Now I want my life to count for the good of others. The things I do and the sacrifices I make now will impact people for years to come. So what are we willing to sacrifice for those coming behind us?
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
Hebrews 13:7
“I have a dream.” These words have been indelibly carved into the heart of the western world by one of the greatest leaders of all time—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He stood for peace. He stood for equality. He stood for love. He stood for Christ! He stood boldly as his opponents threatened him. He stood firm while others turned to violence. He stood strong when others had wilted under the pressures of hatred and bigotry. Now he stands in the presence of God among the martyrs, but his words live on and his vision continues to bear fruit.
Martin Luther King Jr. died for what he believed in. More importantly, he lived his life and laid it down to serve the vision of God’s heart. Thankfully, many saw this vision through Dr. King and chose to join him. Had he been alone in this fight, we would still live in a nation of segregation, bigotry, violence and oppression with millions of our dear neighbors relegated to second class citizenship simply because of the color of their skin. But because many joined him in pursuing the dream, we now live in a much more just society. And the progress in racial reconciliation continues to this day—far beyond the life of the man, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Throughout the ages of human history great leaders have arisen and helped mankind accomplish great things. But the leaders do not deserve all the credit—great leaders are ineffective without great followers. Others must catch the vision and help to see it accomplished. This takes unified effort and willing support. Every individual from young to old is essential to the fulfillment of the vision.
As a church, we have been blessed with incredible leaders who see far beyond themselves to the heart of God. In unity they have developed a plan to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God. Now it comes upon us as a congregation to support that vision with our lives and to do so joyfully. Together we can accomplish something that will continue to grow and bear fruit beyond our wildest dreams!
Prayer focus: Ask the Lord to bless our leaders and give them strength. Pray that we would all be united in vision, in willingness, in sacrifice. Ask that the fruit of the Spirit would be upon us abundantly as we labor with God’s power to achieve this vision.
“Behind an able man there are always other able men.” Chinese proverb