Daily Devotion

 

Mark 2:3-5 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him, and when they had made an opening they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

In this passage there are multiple people who are answering the call of God. On one hand, we have the paralytic man.  And on the other, we have the four men who brought him. This passage makes us question… who showed the greater leap of faith? The paralytic man who just knew that if Jesus were to see him, he would be gifted with something immeasurable, or the four who carried him on this journey knowing that a blessing would follow. There have been so many instances of God calling and sending someone. The hard part about being sent is answering that call to go. The Call can be completely out of your comfort zone and sometimes not even feasible with your understanding.  But God finds and makes a way. I am not a prophet so I can’t give you the step by step manual on How to Live in God’s Purpose, but I do know that the first step is saying YES! By accepting the duty that God has given you, your life will be enhanced in countless ways.  And I promise that blessings will flow just as the verse says… Son, your sins are forgiven. Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 15” →

 

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

In many team sports, certainly in most businesses, diversity of skillset is very important to the success of that team or business. If those with diverse skillset do not collaborate well… the diversity has lost some of its value. It is only within the collaboration of diversity where we discover the true value. Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 14” →

 

Matthew 5:43-44 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

It is easy to live sent with those we love – but how do we live sent with people we hate, struggle with, or who irritates us? Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 13” →

 

1 Thessalonians 2:5-8 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed-God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.

I just started lacrosse for the very first time this summer. I had been playing soccer since I was three, but felt an inner desire to start a new sport. So I prayed, and that’s when I remembered I had a lacrosse stick in my garage and decided to try this sport. In the process, I met a new friend on my street who also plays lacrosse, and we have quickly become great friends and fishing buddies. That is when God helped me realize that He may be using lacrosse as an opportunity to send me out to a new group of friends and teammates. Going to another country might be one person’s mission field, but there are many fields out there. I have been to Guatemala five times with my family, and I love serving there. However, we are only able to go for a few weeks of the year. God is now giving me the chance to have a mission field that is right here in my community… on the lacrosse field. Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 12” →

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Living sent isn’t just a one and done type deal. It is your whole life. It’s your home, your family, your friends, your work, your school… everything! When we truly do love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might, it will overflow into every area of our lives. However, as humans, it’s not always easy to keep our love for God and the idea of sharing Him with others at the forefront of our minds. Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 11” →

 

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.   

You can’t go out and live sent if you can’t even get out of your head. Yes, I am part of God’s Holy Nation, but my earthy life gets in the way and some days I can’t get passed myself. I have days when I make plans, but, of course, they never go as I think they should. They can go sideways or even off the rails.  And, when that happens, I may get mad, angry, sad, disappointed or down. It can even take me to a really dark place. It gets trapped in my head, swirling around, never stopping, replaying over and over until I say GOD MAKE IT STOP!! In those times, I get down on my knees and really talk to God… pouring my heart out and asking, even begging, for His help. God has given me a gift…Mercy. He forgives me of all my sins, helping me to move out of that darkness into His light. Coming out the other side always makes me stronger… stronger in my belief and my love for God. With that strength, I can go and do God’s work sharing my story, struggles and internal conflicts. I can also help others put their burdens onto God and see how great He is. Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 10” →

 

Esther 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal poison for such a time as this?

As we live sent, we were made for this time. Just as Esther was made to help deliver her people, you are made for more, you are not made to remain silent. Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 9” →

 

Philemon 1:3-7 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

The MSG version of verse 3 says ”I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers.” Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 8” →

 

Mark 6:7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

God didn’t design humans to be alone- He knows we’re better together. Two are better, stronger, and more abled than one. That’s why God created Eve for Adam, and that’s why Jesus sent the Apostles out in pairs. We are made to be together with others, even though some things may seem easier to do solo. Our lives, nor our ministries were intended to be solo-missions. In fact, Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit so that we would never have to be alone as we live our lives for Christ. We have a Helper who is always with us, and we also have the Church. Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 7” →

 

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

I love to look at this great promise that was given to Abram and know that I am here today because of God’s faithfulness. One part that I often overlook, however, is the action that God required of Abram. Continue reading “Living Sent – Day 6” →