Tag: Rev. Dr. Ken Crawford

So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear [God’s] voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness …”
— Hebrews 3:7-8 NIV

God has spoken to the hearts of his children over the centuries inviting them back into relationship with him. These Spirit-inspired messages came in many and various forms, but the clearest came through Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-3). Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, God speaks to us and to those around us, inviting us to come home to him. We must respond, or our hearts harden, and we lose any possible sensitivity to the message of grace. The message from the Holy Spirit, uttered over and over through the centuries, now comes to you and me in today’s verses: “Hear God’s voice! Do not harden your hearts!” How will we respond today?

Father in Heaven, I want to have a tender heart that responds to the Holy Spirit’s invitation to hear your voice and respond to your grace. I ask that the Holy Spirit convict me of my sins, help me take notice of and avoid my vulnerabilities, overcome my weaknesses, and empower me to be like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the Lord. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.” — Isaiah 30:1 NLT

In the time of Isaiah, God’s people were in a very difficult predicament politically and militarily. They saw making alliances with foreign governments their only hope for survival. Why is it that we, the people of God, so easily forget that God is our only hope for survival — not military might, not financial strength, not alliances with other people or other governments. The problem is that we don’t live directed by the Spirit. Galatians 5 reminds us that we are to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16), to be “led by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:18), and to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Eight centuries before Galatians was written, Isaiah was challenging God’s people to live this way, and they ignored him — and even more importantly, they ignored God — bringing disaster upon themselves. I wonder if we are listening to him today?

Father God, King of Glory, I surrender my heart to be influenced, led, and directed by the Spirit so that I can produce the fruit of the Spirit in my life as I walk in step with the Spirit’s will in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

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.

Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
Psalm 105:4 (NIV)

Most people would admit that life is full of stress and that there is never enough time for the things we enjoy. Our vocations, families and hobbies consume so much of our daily schedule. We must prioritize and actively think about the most important tasks at hand. A form of triage becomes so necessary so we may faithfully follow a routine of activities in order to get through each day in an organized and productive manner. When we honestly evaluate where we use our time, how we spend our money, what we think about most often, and where we put forth our best efforts, what do we find? Is God our consuming passion? Is he our first love?

O mighty Lord, it is hard not to be able to see your face, yet I know my imperfection makes that impossible in light of your awesome holiness. Until that Day I see you face to face in heaven, please make your presence known in my life as I seek you with all of my heart. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
Psalm 105:4 NIV

Most people would admit that life is full of stress and that there is never enough time for the things we enjoy. Our vocations, families and hobbies consume so much of our daily schedule. We must prioritize and actively think about the most important tasks at hand. A form of triage becomes so necessary so we may faithfully follow a routine of activities in order to get through each day in an organized and productive manner. When we honestly evaluate where we use our time, how we spend our money, what we think about most often, and where we put forth our best efforts, what do we find? Is God our consuming passion? Is he our first love?

Mighty Lord, it is hard not to be able to see your face, yet I know my imperfection makes that impossible in light of your awesome holiness. Until that Day I see you face to face in heaven, please make your presence known in my life as I seek you with all of my heart. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

But Jesus said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
Luke 4:43 NIV

The need for the gospel is greater than ever in our broken world. When you think about the large cities of our modern world, what do you think about? Jesus sees them, and passionately yearns for the lost people in those great cities to be saved!

Most holy and loving God, revive in us, your Church, a passion to reach the lost people of the world’s great cities with the gospel and grace of your Son. In the name of the world’s only true Lord and Savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
— 2 Thessalonians 1:12

I can’t think of a more lofty goal for today than that the name of Jesus be glorified in what we do and say. But then Paul takes it a step further — that we find our glory by being identified with him! As the famed old hymn “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” says it, “my glory all the cross.”

Father of majesty and might, please help me as I strive to plan what my daily activities will be and then prioritize those activities so that my focus and passion are on bringing you glory in all that I do, think, and say. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”
— John 3:5

Water and Spirit — they track together as key components in conversion and the new birth throughout the New Testament. One is an act of submission and surrender. The other a gift and reminder that only God can make us new by his power. No wonder Jesus made them so important to being a part of his Kingdom.

Holy and righteous Father. I acknowledge that my best efforts often fail and my consistency isn’t always consistent. That’s why I’m so thankful you have given me your grace in Jesus and made me new by my spiritual birth into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
— Proverbs 9:10

We look for wisdom in so many worthless and futile places. But ultimate wisdom is found only when we intentionally humble ourselves before our incredible God, giving him the reverence and worship he deserves. Seek the answers to your life in the Word of God.

Magnificent and awesome God, the great expanse of space and the incredible intricacies of the things in your creation that are so small humble me to silence. Please forgive my lapses into ignorant arrogance and lead me in the way of your wisdom. In Jesus name. Amen.

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. – Psalm 90:2,4

So many things about our life are uncertain. This one thing, however, is sure: no matter where, when, or how long, God will be there and will be with us and for us. When we are young we cannot wait to grow up and days and weeks seem so long. However, as we age the time we look back seems like only yesterday. God holds all of our days, yesterday, today, and tomorrow in his immediate presence… we are never alone.

Everlasting Father, I find great comfort in knowing that I cannot be in a place or time where you are not. Stir my courage through your Spirit that I may be more bold, by your power and presence, to share the Gospel of Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.