Scripture:
Ephesians 3:16-19 “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Observation:
This passage reminded me of yesterday’s study in Leadership Essentials. Greg Ogden, the author, wrote about the importance of a full understanding of our value as a child of God. I appreciate Paul’s prayer the we are God would “empower you with inner strength.” The author asked us to rate our awareness of how much God loves us; in my head, though I could never fully understand, I am deeply aware that I am a beloved child of God, yet I am often disappointed in my lack of “inner strength.” One of my group members posited that inner strength is a by-product of a complete understanding of our value … I’m pretty sure I disagree. I think the lacking part of the equation is not my understanding of God’s love, but, ultimately, the value I place on it. Ouch. If I truly and deeply value God’s love, and root myself there, my “inner strength” will overflow. When I don’t place enough value there, then I am concerned with the love of others.
Application:
This step is so hard for me so often. I wish there was something I could just … do, be done, and move on. However, as this is not the case – what steps can I take today to move my value toward God’s love, and away from the love of others? There’s certainly the base “awareness” that I hope will affect change. Perhaps this is an instance where having a scripture or two memorized could come in handy?
Prayer:
Lord – thank you for a complete love, and thank you for valuing me beyond my value of you. Please forgive the inaction caused by this misalignment, and help me remember what it means to be your child. I love you Lord!
Scripture:
2 Corinthians 12:10 “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Observation:
No one jumps to my mind as a good example of this – and I guess that doesn’t surprise me. My bible says “I am content in my weakness.” There is really no point in our lives when we’re taught to delight in or be content with our weaknesses. Perhaps accept them, but only grudgingly, and strive to overcome, or pray that God removes it from our life. But not to delight in it. Paul says a couple things about weakness:
- Keeps us from becoming conceited
- God’s grace is sufficient
- It allows Christ’s power to rest on us
Application:
I want each of those apparent in my life. I don’t want to be conceited, thinking anything other than God’s grace is enough, but instead to feel the power of Christ in my life. Next time I am faced with my weaknesses, I want to remember I am made complete in God.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for completing my identity – remind me of my completeness in you.
Scripture:
Luke 6:36 “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”
Observation:
Luke 6 is just brutal. Christ gives all sorts of warnings, admonishments, and instructions – each indictments of my basic nature. This verse flipped a switch in the way I view compassion. Typically it is referred to as a gift – something God has just given us a natural tendency for (or not). And that’s kind of the end of it for those who don’t feel it naturally. Then we laugh about it. Peoples foibles or rough circumstances are laid out before us and the best we can muster is “Hah – compassion is just not my gift.” That’s not good enough! We are to become compassionate. We are to become godly.
Application:
This is me. I am not a person with the “gift” of compassion (I suppose a predisposition to compassion, and every other holy trait, is indeed a gift). I tend to scoff and mock others misfortune – especially when I deem it is of their own making. This is not acceptable. God is compassionate as a function of His holiness, of his purity of character. I can no longer dismiss this as something God just hasn’t given me, but must integrate it to my character.
Prayer:
Lord, help me love people better. Give me the discipline to build compassion into my soul until it is my gut reaction toward others hardship, even of their own making.
Scripture:
Daniel 6:4-5 “At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.’”
Observation:
Daniel truly was an incredible man of God. Who knows the number of those trying to fault Daniel, but these are men in power. They had resources – not just money, but access to a large network of people. If there were something to find – this group would have found it. Beyond not finding individual messes, his overall character could not be found at fault. So, frustrated by Daniel’s holiness, these men attempt to use it against him.
Application:
Though I don’t see this situation arising in my future, I want to be the same kind of man. So single-minded in dedication to Christ that the only charges someone could make against me would be in relation to my faith.
Prayer:
Lord, help me be holy as you are holy – like Daniel. Help me lead a life of purity and character above reproach.
Scripture:
Revelation 13:10 “The people who are destined for prison will be arrested and taken away. Those who are destined for death will be killed. But do not be dismayed, for here is your opportunity to have endurance and faith.”
Observation:
This is another unique translation by the NLT team – most others essentially say “The saints must have endurance and faith.” On one hand – I really like the way this team interpreted this passage – “here is your opportunity.” On the other, I don’t think that’s what the scriptures actually say. What’s even more irritating is that this keeps me checking other versions or journaling about the NLT rather than about the scripture itself. In any case…
John’s worldview or outlook here is exemplary – something to follow. Do not be dismayed … the world crumbles at the hands of satan’s beast – if ever there were time for dismay, for the utter loss of composure, this is it! John doesn’t even point to God, which would have been perfectly reasonable: Do not be dismayed, for the reign of God is near. He cites this as an opportunity for US! Do not be dismayed, not because we know the light is coming, but because WE can shine! Character truly is tested in darkness.
Prayer:
Lord – build my character – hone my faith so that when I am faced with dark times, not only am I not dismayed, but that I would be bolstered by the opportunity for faith and endurance.
