Devotional Time with God

If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn’t in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.

1 John 1:8-9

I’ll always be tempted. I’ll always be tested. I’ll always fall down. But, the good news is God will never let me stay down. He offers a way out.  In Him, I have an escape route. God will not tempt me beyond my capabilities (1 Corinthians 10:13).

However, I do have to abide in Him. I do have to ask for forgiveness whenever the temptation is too great and I give into it. I need to have an accountability partner. I’m not in this alone. I have God on my side. I just have to beware that the more God use me, the more Satan will tempt me to move away from God.

Lead me, Lord, to your salvation. Lead me out of temptation and into Christ’s perfect love. Rescue me when I’m down. Fix me when I’m broken. Forgive my sins as I forgive others. Thank you, Abba Father!

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

James 5:19-20

When I see someone who is sinning, or making mistakes that he/she should not have, I must attempt to correct it because he/she may be heading into destructive behavior or even away from God. This is something that must be handled with some delicate balance. Today’s society is not open to Christ’s rebuke. This world longs for love and it has been looking for it in the wrong places. Grey areas become a “normal” thing, nothing is completely right, nor completely wrong.

God is the truth. His words are the truth. I need to be aware of that. I need to proclaim that, so others may benefit from the saving grace of God.

In Mark 11:25, Jesus said I have to forgive others so I may be forgiven by God for my sins.

Many times, I hold grudges. I despised people for doing what they did.  I didn’t like what they did, so in turn I will not like who they are.  It’s a sin of hate.

But I’m not perfect myself.  I can’t be a hypocrite and expect others to be clean, kind, or nice.  I have to forgive their mistakes.

Every day, I ask God to forgive my sins and mistakes.  I hold on to that promise that God will forgive me of my sins, no matter how small it is, or how many times I commit it.

Jesus is the greatest example when He was on the cross and asked the father in heaven to forgive humanity, for we know not what we’re doing. That is the truth: Jesus died for our sins.

Therefore, I must go out there and forgive others as well, for it is God’s command for me to obey.

Josh Etter quoted D. A. Carson about us mistaking we can “drift” towards holiness.

We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.

It’s easy to be on the sidelines and watching other Christians do God’s work.  I need to get involved. I need to take a bigger role. I need to spend more time.

I need to try harder!

God’s grace is a given.  But to gain His rewards, I must run to get them!

Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Luke 12:18-21

I listened to Greg Laurie’s service today on Harvest Christian Church, and he talked about the most difficult part of my Christian life: How to evangelize.  Sharing my faith can be tricky in this day and age.  He covered what I need to do:

I need to go to Samaria (John 4:4), which is practically everywhere, especially where no one wants to go and be with people no one wants to be associated with. The gospel is for everyone.  If they don’t hear about Jesus’ love, they’ll be going to hell.  I have to overcome my prejudices and biases.  Everyone’s the same in the eyes of the Lord.

I need to be tactful. Evangelism is about a dialogue, not a monologue. I have to do a lot of listening. Everyone’s favorite topic is himself or herself.  I must need to learn how to respond, with tact.  The objective is to win the soul, not the argument. For example, Jesus was using the well and its water as a metaphor for her life (John 4:13).

I need to adapt to the situation.  People might try to change the subject (John 4:20), but I have to keep trying to go back to the main issue.  There is no one way to evangelize. Sometimes I have to answer a question with a question – it’s for those who just want discredit what I know.  Asking questions engages the other person, creating a bridge to a dialogue.

I need to use my story.  It’s a way to preach to a person without actually preaching.  Many people will believe as a result of my testimony (John 4:39).  A real story is a powerful message, as real as I experienced it – not exaggerated.  It’s not about me, it’s about God.

I need to faithfully deliver the word of God, giving everyone the true gospel. The truth is, the way to heaven is through Jesus Christ.  Jesus died for my sins. He’s the way, the truth, and the life.

I need to let God work through me.  He’ll give me the strength to deliver the Good News to anyone – everyone.  I need to let God direct me.

It’s so easy to stray from the Lord.  This world facilitates the way to hell.  People tend to sin, and most of the time, they want to take me with them!

In dark times like this is when I really need to guard my heart.  Only Jesus can give me that peace of mind (Philippians 4:7).  Only God can protect me from the dangers that my dark heart desires.  I need the Lord to cleanse my heart and let Him be the ruler of my life (1 Peter 3:15).

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Lord, I give thanks to you.   I lift my praise to you.  In my time of trouble, in my time of darkness, in my time of sin – I want  you to get me out of there!  Help me, God.  I can’t do this on my own.  Cleanse me.  Fill me with your spirit.  Make me be right again in your eyes.  Give me the strength to go on.  Amen.

As a Christian, I suffer hardship.  I suffer the mockery from others that I’m too proud and judgmental.  I suffer the pain of being accused of dishonesty.  Some folks will just deny my voice just because I’m a Christian.  People expect me to make exceptions for the “happiness” of non-believers, such as cheating on their spouse, gay marriage, or living self-centered lives.   They make it clear that what I believe doesn’t matter and has no merit.  They don’t even bother examining the source of my beliefs.  They resort to discredit and discriminate.

What is the source of my truths?  How do I know what’s right and what’s wrong?  Read the Bible!  It’s God’s word.  I believe in God.  I believe in Jesus Christ.  He has a clear message for me:  live a pure life.  Jesus is here for the sinners, so sin no more!

Reading the passage of 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, I learned the Apostle Paul had suffered a great deal more than what I’ve been through.  However, the comparison is still there, Christians are now being persecuted.  But I must not be afraid or discouraged, because I’m not abandoned.  I’m not forgotten.  What matters to me is God’s approval, not other people’s.  What matters to me is that I live a sinless life.

What matters to me is Jesus!

I’ve been taught by my Pastor and by other believers, that I ought to be like Christ.  Like the Bible said in 1 Peter 1:15-16, Christ is holy – Therefore I have to be holy too.

However, holy living is difficult.  My very nature is sinful.  I have awful thoughts.  I want to judge and slander.  I tend to take the easy ways, and they usually involve lying or cheating.  I want what’s best for me.  I’m selfish.

Christ changed all t hat.  He is not selfish – He died for me so I could be saved.  He didn’t take the easy way out – He suffered His way to the cross!  He didn’t lie or cheat His way to prominence – He is the truth and the light!  He didn’t judge or slander, He loves me!

God wants what’s best for everyone.  That is holy living.

You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.* Love each other deeply with all your heart.

1 Peter 1:22

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3:2-5

All my life, I want to be in control.  I want to control what can happen to me.  I want to control what people say about me.  I want to control what people can do to me.  I want everyone and everything to behave the way I like.  I want to be the god of my life.

Now that I’m married with a kid, it’s them that I’m in control now.  Not 100%, mind you, but I definitely want all control.

At work, I want to make sure my projects gets down the way I want it: less unknowns, on-schedule, and keeping it simple.

If there’s something that I do every day, like driving, riding a bike, etc., I want to be very good at it so I’m in full control.

When people see me as a weak person (because of my boyish look and figure), I tend to lash out, quick to judge, give the stink-eye, and in some cases, I would curse under my breath.  My face scowls to give an impression I’m tough.  I walk upright and shoulder scrunched up to show strength. I walk with loud thumps using a pair of heavy soled shoes/boots, to tell others that I’m coming.

I’ve denied having problems with anger, being wrong more than usual, looking at dirty pictures, give up too easily, and having a short attention span.  I don’t admit to be the poster child of what’s wrong with being a man – or a human being, for that matter.

I have my fair share of fear, frustration, fatigue, and failures.

However, I am glad that God cares for me.  He takes away my bad habits, painful hurts, and bothersome hang ups.  Not just one time, but all the time!  I just tell Him, “I’m sorry.” and He will give me another chance in life.

I have to admit I’m powerless to change myself.  I’m powerless to take control, when it’s not mine in the first place.

Jesus, you’re full of grace. I sin and constantly sin.  But every time, you always forgive me.  You always let me live everything as if they’re a fresh start.  I love you for it.  You’re the God of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and all of the chances!  Thank you, Lord, for saving me.  I give you control of my life.  Amen.

As part of the 8-week study of the book Life’s Healing Choices by John Baker of Saddleback Church, I’m going to dig deeper into it and apply them to my life.

I sometimes wonder why I make bad choices.  I’ve always known I’m capable of making the wrong choice, but why do I keep making them?  The apostle Paul said it best here:

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

Romans 7:15-17

It’s the sin living in me.  I’m sinful by nature.

I’ve always known that eating a lot of sweets and caffeine are bad for me.  I’ve always known pleasuring myself leads to all sorts of bad thoughts.  I’ve always known indulging myself with gadgets will lead to overspending.

I used to do all that when I was single all the way to my late 20’s.  I used to think it didn’t hurt anyone.  That was my addiction: over-indulgence.  I was a spoiled kid and I absolutely needed the stuff I want, right there and then.

But now I’m married with a daughter to support.  I can’t be reckless anymore.  I can’t abuse my body as I used to.  I have to set a good example, not only for myself, but to everyone around me.

I have to make the reality choice:  I’m not in control.  I must let God take over.  My sinful nature always get the better of me, and it’s time God has it.  Whenever the thoughts of over-indulging returns, I’ll always run to God and let Him give me the strength to overcome it.