July 9, 2018
I am always excited to see what God is doing in the lives of young men who feel called to serve the Lord. It is not a one time decision, or even a monthly responsibility. It is a moment by moment, day by day walk with the Lord. I have asked for our pastoral staff and summer interns to share a devotion from each of them of what God is doing in their lives. I look forward to these next few days. As you read each of these devotions, may it remind you to faithfully pray for each one of these men.
I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE
TO BRING ABOUT REACTION AND ACTION
2 Peter 1:12-13 KJVS
[12] Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them , and be established in the present truth. [13] Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
We all know and love the song “we will remember”, but how often do we truly reflect on where we are now, where God brought us from, and everything in between. There are two things that should happen when we are put in remembrance of what God has done in our lives.
Reaction: Thankfulness and Praise
I don’t know about you but when I look back at where I was when God saved me I can’t help but praise God and give him thanks for claiming me as his own. God has been good to all of us, much better than any of us deserve. When I remember the opportunities God has given me, it lifts my spirits and reminds me that he’s not done with me yet. When your devotions get flat or your prayers become habitual and dead, take some time to remember and thank God for all he’s done in your life, for saving you, for waking you up this morning, for putting clothes on your back and shoes on your feet, for this amazing church where we can gather and worship, and for an amazing pastor to lead us.
Deuteronomy 7:18 KJVS
[18] Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;
Action: Renewed Purpose
Notice the use of the phrase “to stir you up”. In Chemistry when you mix one substance with another, one of them might stagnate and start to separate from the other. In order to mix them together and get a reaction out of them you have to stir them up. In a sense, one substance is the Holy Spirit, and the other is a Christian. If left sitting the Christian will get stagnant and start to grow distant from Christ, in order to be stirred up the Christian can be reminded of all the amazing things God has done in their life. The most important part of this is the chemical reaction at the end. In chemistry that might be the bottle fizzing over, bubbling up, or maybe even exploding. In a Christian the action should be a renewed purpose and drive to serve God. When we are reminded of what God has done we should be inspired to new depths of faith and actions for God.
Joshua 1:9 KJVS
[9] Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Chris Holland