obedience

Called to Take a Risk

“ ‘So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ ” – Exodus 3:10,11 As we look at the call of Moses, it appears very dramatic. As God summons Moses, he encounters the burning bush which was on fire but not consumed. In this exchange, God instructs Moses to go and speak to Pharoah and set His people free. Moses says, “Who am I to do that?” And then God says, “You can do it.“ Moses then expresses his doubts about his ability to fulfill the assignment: “Who will I say sent me? What if they don’t believe me? And oh, by the way, I stutter!” Out of fear, Moses pleads with God to send someone else. When we feel

Read More »

An Uncomfortable Sacrifice for the Better Good

“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 God is calling you to make an uncomfortable sacrifice for the better good. There are invaluable and specific moments in life when we’re called to do something that’s responsible, honorable, life-giving, and meaningful. However, sometimes this can become a really hard choice to make. We know in our hearts we’re supposed to move into these life-giving moments and actions, and we must trust God with our sacrifice. Our sacrifice should never be half-baked, it should never be a half-step, but it should be our very best, and it should be accomplished with our whole heart.  An obedient response to God’s call on our life honors God and brings dignity to our being, but also is practical. This undertaking actually is to your

Read More »

A Snowball Effect

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 Yesterday, we talked about how the Lord uses pangs of discomfort to help us see that He’s birthing change in our midst. That said, when we feel like something new is on the horizon, it’s important not to let uncertainty cause us to stagnate. When we said “yes” to Jesus and were born again, a cataclysmic event took place that set our existence on a whole new course — one that finds us constantly in motion. God makes the ball of our lives roll forward, and as we abide in Him, He renews our spirits and consistently moves us to places where we’ll bear the most fruit. Knowing this, we’re wise to keep up with the pace He

Read More »

A Person of Prayer

“Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” – Daniel 6:10 There’s no doubt that my favorite Old Testament book is Daniel. There are many things about this passionate prophet’s life that inspire me, but perhaps none as much as the fact that although his circumstances were nothing like he thought they would be, he never wavered in his faith. He was a great, great, great, great grandson of King David, and before his exile to Babylon, he was set apart to do big things in Judaism. Considered an earl among Hebrews, he was extremely gifted — and the Babylonians knew it — so when they captured him, they took him to the palace to serve their king, Nebuchadnezzar. Suddenly thrust from a place of safety and familiarity into a pagan world, Daniel was presented

Read More »

The Blessing in Righteousness

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33 For the next few days, I want to discuss three things that I believe lead to a blessed life. As Christians, we use the word blessed a lot, but I’m not always sure we understand what it means. Because I try to look at the Bible holistically, I’ve come up with a triad of virtues, which, based on the entire compendium of Scripture, seem to lead to the most happy and fulfilling human existence. While this is just my observation, I hope these next few devotions offer a point of focus as we seek to obtain the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. That said, the first thing that causes us to inherit blessing is righteousness. Though this can be an uncomfortable word, the reality is

Read More »

Don’t Waver!

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23 Today, I want to encourage you not to waver, wait, or wander when it comes to walking out God’s plan for your life. In the Old Testament, the Lord told Moses again and again that great and mighty things would happen through him if he agreed to lead the Israelites out of slavery. However, being stubborn and full of self-doubt, he said no four times and offered a laundry list of excuses as to why he shouldn’t be the one to rescue his people from the hand of Egyptians. His refusal caused God’s anger to burn against him, yet the Lord remained gentle and merciful, constantly affirming that He would go before him. Even better, he commissioned his brother Aaron to speak on his behalf so he wouldn’t have to worry about

Read More »

Do What’s Right

“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” – Proverbs 21:3 Sometimes doing the next right thing can be difficult. I remember one summer during high school, when I was living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, my friend Josh — who just loved to fish — would ask me nearly every day to go with him. Now, if you know anything about Tulsa, you know that summertime is not just hot, but humid — it’s like going into hundred degree weather wrapped in a blanket that you’re trying to breathe through. That said, because I minded the heat, each time he would call and want me to go, I would say no. I much preferred lying on the couch in the air conditioning, sipping a Coke, and watching my favorite T.V. shows. Nevertheless, Josh was persistent, and when I finally said yes and accompanied him,

Read More »

Receive your daily eDevotional

Don't miss new updates in your email!