Category: living by faith

Jesus left that place and went to the area around Tyre. Jesus went into a house there. Jesus did not want the people in that area to know he was there. But Jesus could not stay hidden. A woman heard that Jesus was there. Her little daughter had an evil spirit inside her. So the woman came to Jesus and bowed down near his feet. –  Mark 7:24-25 NLT

Jesus and his leading followers are still in need of rest. The crowds have pressed upon them repeatedly. However, Jesus’ reputation has now grown and he is well known even far away from his home and center of ministry. Gentiles have heard of his power and know their need for help. In this context—the deep need to withdraw and be alone and the seeking hearts of Gentiles—a woman comes to Jesus with a deep concern on her heart. Her daughter is possessed by an evil spirit. The Phoenician people had a proud, but very pagan, heritage (from a Jewish point of view). They had often been bitter enemies with the children of Israel. For this woman to fall at the feet of a Jew, especially one of “no noble rank,” was indeed a sign of desperation and humility. For the culture that produced Jezebel and a host of condemning words because of their Baal worship, here is a woman who shows dependence and worship to the Savior of the world, who also happens to be Jewish. Not even the distance—geographical and racial—could keep Jesus’ saving power from being known!

Father God, please help us awaken and realize that what we have to share with the world is Jesus—not our technology, our culture, our knowledge. While many other things are good to share and I know we need to be generous in sharing them, please help us to be more passionate about sharing Jesus both in our teaching and in our conduct. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” –  Romans 10:15

How beautiful are your feet? People with beautiful feet are either “sending folks” or they are “going folks” who share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. Which are you? If we’re not one of those two options, we’re Christians with ugly feet. Now nobody would want that to be said of him or her? So let’s make a partnership agreement with other believers by either going and asking for their support and help, or by helping and supporting others while they are going!

Almighty God of the nations, I know it pains your heart to see so many people in our world today that do not even know the name of your Son, much less trust in him as their Lord. Through your Holy Spirit, stir in us the desire to have beautiful feet just like our brothers and sisters had in those early chapters of the book of Acts. May the Gospel spread in our day as it did in theirs! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
– Philippians 4:19

Do you ever think that God has forgotten you? Have you ever felt that God did not provide? Paul gives the Philippians this promise only after he has emphasized to them that he had found the Lord’s grace sufficient in good times and tough times, in times of plenty and in times of lack. The key to this promise is not just God’s provision, but also our trust upon him to satisfy what we most need in Christ Jesus. When our hearts yearn to be full of him, to be pleasing to him, to be blessed by his presence, to be given the assurance of life beyond death, surely we can rely on his supplying everything we truly need!

Give me eyes to see, O God, all the many wonderful ways you are providing for me and graciously providing the abundance you have poured into my life. I confess that my vision is shortsighted and narrow. I need to see the panoramic view of your graciousness. Yet the “little” part of your blessings that I am able to recognize is lavish, gracious, and fulfilling. I know you have blessed me with many more things that I do not see. Thank you for being so generous! In Jesus’ name! Amen.

Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. –  Psalm 10:12

We are very much aware that we live in a broken world. Unfortunately, our broken world is also filled with broken people. In days of pain and anguish, in days when those who hurt know their helplessness, we have no other source than God to whom we can turn. The LORD, the covenant God of Israel, who kept his promises, preserved his people and produced his Messiah, is also the God who stands by us. In the short run, there are moments when he appears to not be watching or listening or caring. What do we do in those moments? Pretend we don’t have our feelings and doubts? No, we honestly cry out to our LORD who has redeemed, saved, and liberated in the past and call on him to do the same in our day!

God of hope, do not be far from us in days that are dark and menacing. Restore to us the joy of living and the hope of good things; give us comfort in our times of pain and anguish. Lift up your hand and act to bring repentance and renewal to our time, our families, our culture, and your Church. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

[After his baptism,] Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  – Matthew 4:1 NIV

We sometimes miss part of the significance of this verse because some of the wording is different from Mark and Luke. Notice carefully that Jesus was LED INTO the wilderness TO BE TEMPTED by the devil. Jesus’ temptations were no accident. Clearly, the evil one wanted to derail Jesus’ ministry before it began. But Jesus defeating the devil in his temptations was part of God’s plan just as Jesus’ crucifixion was part of God’s plan (Acts 2:23). In both situations — Jesus’ temptations and his crucifixion — the evil one was involved, and in both, even the devil was beaten. Jesus was tempted like we are so that we can be assured that God knows what it is like to be tempted. Yes, God knows all things. Nevertheless, for our sake, he chose to experience things in Jesus so that we can be sure he knows what it is like to be hungry, alone, abandoned, betrayed, tempted, belittled, mocked, ridiculed, denied, treated unfairly, and even murdered. We know that God not only knows, but that he also felt, what it was like to be in our world and face these horrors. Thus, we can go to him knowing we will receive grace, help, and a sympathetic ear in our times of trouble (Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:14-16).

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Forever! Amen.”

And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. – Romans 8:27 NLT

After the incredible promise of the previous verse and the Spirit’s intercession for us (Romans 8:26 ESV), Paul adds promise upon promise. He tells us that the Spirit of the one true and living God pleads for us “with groanings too deep for words.” He then adds that the Spirit pleads for us in harmony with the Father’s will. Like being unable to explain how Jesus was both fully God and fully human when he walked this earth, I do not know how to fully explain the beauty and wonder of this truth about the Spirit’s intercession for us. The Father knows our hearts. The Spirit pleads for us. The Spirit’s pleadings and intercession are done in harmony with the will of God. My human brain can’t capture all that these truths mean. However, I take comfort in knowing that God loves us in such high and holy ways and yet lives within us in a holy nearness that defies explanation. Sometimes, I believe, we are meant to be lost in the wonder of such grace and not try to dissect it. This grace is to be claimed at all times, including when our hearts are breaking, our minds are confused, and our lives are hard. The Comforter is near. He knows and pleads our deepest longings and aligns them to the will of a loving and knowing Father.

Father, to know you are near and you care about my struggles is such a wonderful blessing. Thank you for your loving care. The gift of Jesus, in whose name I offer this prayer, is a precious blessing and tells me so much about your love for us as your children. As I ponder the incredible nature of the Holy Spirit’s dwelling within me and the Spirit’s role as an intercessor for me, I find another channel of grace given to me that I have not fully appreciated. The Spirit speaks the deepest emotions and desires of my heart, even those I can’t put into words. Please forgive me for taking the presence of the Spirit in my life for granted. Thank you, dear Father, for your holy nearness. Amen.

I speak the truth in Christ — I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit … – Romans 9:1 NIV

We often use hyperbole to make an emphatic point about something that is important to us. Hyperbole is an overstatement meant to get other people’s attention. The words of hyperbole can even be jarring to help others understand the emotions behind the words spoken. Paul is about to make an incredibly shocking statement about being willing to be cut off from Christ if it would mean that his own people, the Jews, would know Jesus as their Messiah and Lord (Romans 9:1-5). But, Paul has done his own spiritual inventory: What he says is NOT hyperbole or exaggeration. He means it with all of his heart, and the Holy Spirit confirms it. As The Message puts it, “I’m not exaggerating — Christ and the Holy Spirit are my witnesses.” Since the Holy Spirit lives within us and works with our consciences to convict us of sin, to help us discern God’s truth when it is proclaimed, and to confirm God’s truth within us, Paul can speak with assurance that what he says is the truth. We might stretch the truth to each other, but we cannot lie to the Spirit who lives within us.

Heavenly Father, I want to speak the truth in love. I know that I need the convicting, comforting, and confirming Holy Spirit to be at work in my heart so that my words are true and redemptive. I ask for this grace in Jesus’ name. Amen.

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. – Romans 14:17-18 NLT

Who can argue with goodness, peace, and joy? These three virtues are not obtained just by human effort. Yes, a passion to possess these godly qualities is necessary, but the source of these qualities is the Holy Spirit alive in us. Goodness, peace, and joy have their source in God’s nature and are made real in us through the work of the Holy Spirit. As we invite the Holy Spirit to reign over our inner being, our character is transformed to be more and more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). So let’s yearn for the Holy Spirit to transform us to be ever more like Christ and trust that the Spirit’s influence will be displayed in our lives through goodness, peace, and joy.

Father, don’t let me be distracted by, or addicted to, food or drink. I want to be sustained and fed spiritually and emotionally by the presence of your Holy Spirit within me. I specifically pray that your goodness, peace, and joy will become more and more apparent in my life as I seek to honor Christ and yield myself to the influence of your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  – Romans 15:13 NIV

We live in the overflow of God’s grace. David said it well in Psalm 23, “my cup overflows.” Because of the Spirit’s presence, our hope overflows! In addition to goodness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17 NLT), the presence of the Holy Spirit brings deep, abiding, and personal hope! But let’s not get overly focused on just the promise to us of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Instead, let’s also notice that this passage contains a blessing that we can share with other believers — releasing God’s blessing of the Spirit into their lives. This blessing of the Spirit can bring them joy, peace, and hope! What a great gift to share with others who love Jesus.

Father, I thank you for your presence in my life. Your presence has brought me hope, joy, and peace and encourages me to live a good life. Please use me to bless others so that they can experience these blessings from your Spirit. Open my eyes to those who need this blessing of the Spirit. Give me the gracious words to share this blessing with others at just the right moment when they need to hear them. Finally, dear Father, thank you for the power to bless others. In Jesus’ name, I thank you. Amen.

The wisdom we speak of
is the mystery of God —
his plan that was previously hidden,
even though he made it
for our ultimate glory
before the world began.
But the rulers of this world
have not understood it;
if they had, they would not have
crucified our glorious Lord …
But people who aren’t spiritual
can’t receive these truths
from God’s Spirit.
It all sounds foolish to them
and they can’t understand it,
for only those who are spiritual
can understand what the Spirit means.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8, 14 nlt

The Holy Spirit lives in the follower of Christ. Without the Spirit living in us, we don’t belong to Christ and cannot live for God. Without the Spirit, we will not be transformed to become like Christ. What’s more, real prayer happens only because of the Spirit’s work in our hearts. Now, this verse goes one step beyond what we’ve seen to this point: we cannot truly understand the message of God — the Scriptures of God, the Word of God — without the Holy Spirit within us. Not only did the Holy Spirit inspire God’s message (2 Tim. 3:16-17), but the Spirit helps us understand this message and apply it to our lives. We cannot follow Christ without the Spirit of Christ alive in us!

Most Holy God,
I cannot help but fall to my knees
in humble thanks that the two things
most necessary for me to be
saved and to live for you
were provided to me by your grace.
I thank you for the gift of your Son,
who died for my sins
and was raised from death
to ensure my salvation.
I thank you for your Holy Spirit,
who makes my life as a
follower of Jesus possible.
Please accept my heart’s
deepest appreciation for providing
what I could never achieve or deserve,
because of your love for me.
In Jesus’ name I offer you my thanks.
Amen.