Author: Ken Crawford

Church Transitions and Conflict Solutions

What Will You Choose?

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. — Galatians 6:8 NLT

We have to make a choice. There are only two possibilities: Either we will choose to live out of our sinful nature, or we will choose to live to honor and please the Spirit of God within us. To do the first, we need no real commitment — we will live out of our sinful nature by default; no surrender to a higher calling is required. To do the latter (to live to honor and please the Spirit), we must intentionally yield to the Spirit’s influence in our lives. In the dance of life, we want to yield daily to the leading of the Holy Spirit! The results of this daily choice are starkly opposite: a self-centered, sinful life leading to decay and death on the one hand versus abundant life leading to everlasting life!

Father in Heaven, I choose to live to please your Spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit is at work in me to bring life in me. I want that life, your everlasting life. So please influence me in every aspect of my life through the work of your Holy Spirit within me. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our Nation Needs Jesus

My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way,
and my arm will bring justice to the nations.
The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.
Isaiah 51:5 (NIV)

God’s promises stand through the ages. He has fulfilled them in many different ways. He has punished evil nations, he has redeemed Israel according to his promises, and he has sent Jesus as Savior and redeemer. But most importantly of all, Jesus stands at the edge of history waiting to return and bring full redemption for God’s people and salvation for those everywhere who long for his return.

Father in Heaven,
I see so much injustice in the world and I long for truth, righteousness,
and justice to triumph. While I long for the return of Jesus,
my heart also breaks for the many that do not know Jesus
and for those who are in rebellion to your will.
I don’t know what to ask other than that your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven and may the triumph of your will begin with me.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.

Choose Wisely

[Paul and his traveling companions] looked up the local disciples [in Tyre] and stayed with them seven days. Their message to Paul, from insight given by the Spirit, was “Don’t go to Jerusalem.” –  Acts 21:4 MSG

Okay, I admit this is confusing. Paul is convicted that he must go to Jerusalem. At the same time, he knows hardship awaits him. Now this warning from the Spirit: “Don’t go to Jerusalem!” I don’t know any way to understand this situation other than one of two ways. One, Paul is disobeying the Spirit when he goes to Jerusalem. Two, this message is more of the Spirit alerting him that grief and hardship await him if he goes to Jerusalem than it is the Spirit instructing him not to go. Here’s the bottom line: Either way, God uses this trip to Jerusalem to deliver the collection from the Gentile churches and to get Paul to Rome, where the good news of Jesus needed to be heard and where Paul was determined to go. Somewhere in the confusion we all face in trying to follow the Spirit’s lead, we have to trust that God will get us where we need to be and doing what we need to do to honor him fully (Romans 8:28, 38-39). The question is whether we are willing to invest ourselves fully and trust in the Spirit leading us no matter what the short-term consequences of our commitment may be.

Gracious Father in heaven, I trust that you will use the Holy Spirit to lead me where I need to be to do the work you want me to do. I ask, dear Father, that my life glorifies you no matter where your leading takes me or what your leading entails. My deepest prayer, Lord, is that I never, ever, outlive my love for you and my trust in you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

All Nations Need God

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”
– Matthew 12:18 NIV

Matthew is quoting a prophecy from Isaiah 42, applying it to Jesus in a time of rising conflict. In spite of the conflict, Jesus refuses to stop ministering even though he is under intense scrutiny and faced fierce opposition. Instead, he takes his closest followers and teaches them his will and shares his healing grace with those who are in need. With God’s approval and the power of the Holy Spirit upon him, he cares for the broken in the face of hostility and shares grace in the face of criticism. Through kindness, compassion, integrity, and passion, Jesus accomplishes what only Immanuel can do — he brings God’s grace and social justice to all nations — and he does it even under unfair scrutiny because the Father has empowered him through the Holy Spirit!

Father, we confess that we sometimes give in to fear. We fear aging and illness. We fear the crazy swings in the economy. We fear the legal opposition to practicing our faith openly in our schools, at work, or online. We confess that when we fear these things, we forget that you are still at work in our world and in us. Give us courage and tenderness through the work of your Spirit within us so that we will minister as Jesus did, including in times of opposition and hardship. In Jesus’ name, we request this grace. Amen.

Accomplished Task

Inspirational Words

“Well done is better than well said” – Benjamin Franklin

Today’s Word

Well done, good and faithful servant! … Come and share your master’s happiness!  – Matthew 25:21

Thoughts on the Word

As a child some of the sweetest words you ever heard were words of praise. A little girl’s self-esteem grows by leaps and bounds when she knows that her parents are proud of her. “You did well with your recital.” “You did well when you took care of your little brother.” “We are very proud of the way you handled yourself.” “We know you’ve worked hard, and you did well.”

Husbands love to hear it from their wives and wives long to hear it from their husbands. Friends love to hear, “Well done” from the lips of a friend. These two words can give so much encouragement. These two words provide so much strength. These two words can keep a person going when they are weary and weak. These two words can lift our spirits. These two words can change a day and can change a life.

No matter how much we love to hear “Well done!” from another human being, and no matter how many times we hear them in this world, there will be no comparison to how it will sound when we hear the Lord say it when we finish this journey.

Prayer for Today

Precious Lord Jesus, all our efforts and labors have been done for your glory and the expansion of your kingdom. Accept our humble efforts and be pleased with our joyful sacrifice. May all our days be a blessing to your name.  Amen

So Much More Power

Inspirational Words

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan

“If God is your partner, make your plans BIG!” – D.L. Moody

Today’s Word

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
— Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT

Thoughts on the Word

We confess that God is all powerful. Paul’s prayerful burst of praise in our passage today reminds us of an additional and breathtaking truth: Through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us, God can do infinitely more than we can ask or think. God is able. The Spirit is powerful. So we can be more than we can even imagine!

Prayer for Today

Glorious Father God, give me the courage to dream kingdom dreams for you and trust that you can do more than I can imagine. Forgive me for thinking too small. And do all this to your glory, not mine. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

On Fire in the Spirit

Inspirational Words

“This is our time on the history line of God. This is it. What will we do with the one deep exhale of God on this earth? For we are but a vapor and we have to make it count. We’re on your team. Direct us, Lord, and get us on our feet.”
– Beth Moore

Today’s Word

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
— Romans 12:11 NIV

Thoughts on the Word

Do you even feel like your faith is cooling? We are supposed to be full of energy and eager all the time, but it is true that sometimes we grow weary. The phrase “keep your spiritual fervor” is the meaning of an idiom in Greek that literally says “to boil in the spirit.” We are to be on fire with the Holy Spirit! That fire is the key to “never be lacking in zeal” and “serving the Lord.” Inspired, empowered, and filled with the Holy Spirit, we can be passionate for Jesus.

Prayer for Today

God of Heaven and Earth, I want to honor you in all I do. I want Jesus to be seen in my actions and speech. I want to reflect your righteous character and your gracious compassion, and I know that without the Spirit’s cleansing and power, I can’t do it. So fill me with your Spirit, cleanse my heart, and make it yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Special Messenger

Inspirational Words

“There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God.” – Alistair Begg

Today’s Word

[Paul wrote,] For by God’s grace, I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. — Romans 15:15b-17 NLT

Thoughts on the Word

There are moments when we recognize that we are in the center of God’s will, doing what he would have us do, exactly when and where he wants us to do it. Paul is at that place when he writes today’s passage. However, underneath his confidence in what he is doing is an even greater confidence — confidence that the Holy Spirit will take his offering of people and make it holy and acceptable to God. As we live our lives and as our lives interact with and influence other people, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will make our entire lives holy and acceptable offerings to God. Let’s also pray that we can live in such a way that our words, actions, and influence invite others to come to Jesus!

Prayer for Today

Most Gracious Father God, thank you for the influence you have given me. Please forgive me for the times I have squandered that influence or used it wrongly. Jesus, help me as I seek to lead people ever closer to you. O Holy Spirit, please present my efforts and the people I influence as holy and acceptable offerings to God. I ask all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Busy as Good Examples, Not as Busybodies!

Inspirational Words

“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.” – John Piper

Today’s Word

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others. — 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NLT

Thoughts on the Word

As Jesus’ followers, we want to live exemplary lives that bless others and glorify God. We must do our best to be good examples trying to live in peace with all people and want to win the respect of others as we use the golden rule in our relationships. God wants us to be busy doing good deeds, not being busybodies who unsettle others and stir up conflicts.

We must never forget that God wants us to influence unbelievers lovingly “with gentleness and respect.”  We should bless and intercede for our lost friends as we demonstrate and proclaim God’s goodness and grace and use our good influence to make disciples and help others learn to live obediently in God’s grace.

Prayer for Today

Precious and Holy God, there is none like you. There is nothing comparable to you. Thank you for letting me seek you and draw near to you. Thank you for redeeming me and choosing to live inside me through your Spirit. Please lead me and guide me by your Spirit to be transformed to be like your Son, conformed to your will, and fully living out your mission for my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.