Category: Daily Devotions

 

Happy Valentine’s Day! Jesus loves you!

Today’s devotion is based on Week 2 of “Tough Love”: Challenges Perspective! (WATCH HERE)

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Riley Gaines didn’t start her schooling career with an ambition to be an advocate for protecting women’s sports from men infiltrating it.  However when she was forced to give up a swimming championship to a man allowed to compete in the women’s swimming event, her mission changed.  She didn’t want other girls who worked their whole lives to compete at their best to be out done by a man who was given the ability to compete as a woman.  She has become the face of the effort to keep only biological women in women’s sports.

Perhaps there is an event in your life that has changed your perspective on some issue.  Navigating my father-in-law’s recent stroke and illness has made us acutely aware of what is needed to ensure someone else can come in and care for you if needed, transfer of financial responsibilities and perhaps the need for long-term care insurance.

When events in life happen, it can change our focus and our ambitions.

The interaction of Jesus and Peter did just that for Peter.

Peter was keeping an ear for Jesus’ teaching as he was cleaning his nets after spending a whole night fishing.  He was cleaning his nets, because he had every ambition to go out again fishing the next night or in the near future.

However, when he cast those same nets in the deep water as Jesus had said, he saw such a catch of fish that almost landed two fishing boats at the bottom of the Sea of Galilee. 

Here is his reaction:

Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. 

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. 

Two things became crystal clear for Peter.

First he was standing in the presence of God, and didn’t deserve to because he was sinful.

Second, his life was forever changed from the ambition of being a great fisherman in Galilee to the mission of Jesus to save souls.

All in an afternoon, the ambition of fishing was changed to the mission of Jesus.

The nets, just left on the shore.  Did they sell all the fish?  We don’t know.

We just know Jesus worked on this day to help them see their calling was much bigger and more important than fixing and casting nets into the water.

While we weren’t there, the Spirit records this interaction so we see and hear a similar calling from Jesus.

He’s calling us as sinful individuals to be part of sharing his glorious Gospel. 

It’s a calling, purpose, and mission greater than any earthly ambition you may have.

Headed to work this morning?  It’s ok.  Do your best at work, but see that God has placed you in the “deep water” at work to cast the net of the Gospel.

Headed to school this morning? It’s ok.  Learn.  Do your best, but see that God has placed you in the “deep water” of the classroom with classmates to cast the net of the Gospel.

Headed to care for your children and home? It’s ok. Be the best mom or dad you know how to be today.  Give it your all, but see that God has placed you in the “deep water” of your family to cast the net of the Gospel in the hearts of your children.

Headed to a Dr. appointment, the gym, a club meeting, or out on the golf course?  Have fun.  Enjoy the company of others or the expertise of your doctor, but see that God is moving you around today into the “deep water” of relationships to cast the net of the Gospel wherever today’s events take you.

It just takes a change of perspective and you begin to see that today your personal ambitions become second to being part of God’s mission.

 

Apply: Think through your schedule today.  How might God be directing you to interactions so you can cast the net of the Gospel into the hearts of people?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to see your grace that you want to use me in your mission to “catch” people with the Gospel.  Help me to see all my interactions today as ordained by you for the purpose of connecting hearts with your saving grace.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on Week 2 of “Tough Love”: Challenges Perspective! (WATCH HERE)

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It’s hard to see another perspective.

 

Ask any experienced fisherman on the Sea of Galilee and he would have said, “Jesus is not the one you want giving you fishing advice.”

Throwing your nets into deep water was not the optimal or preferred setting for a successful fishing outing.

But that’s what Jesus told Simon Peter to do.

Peter’s perspective was this.  They fished all night and caught nothing.  It was time to clean the nets and go home.

When your experience tells you something, it’s hard to see someone else’s perspective.

How many times have you heard the phrase, “We already tried that.  It didn’t work.”

Our perspective is built on our personal experiences and when those personal experiences have resulted the same each time, it’s hard to do the same thing or something slightly different and expect different results.

Sometimes our perspective prevents us from experiencing a different result.

If Peter would have objected AND stayed on the shore, he would not have experienced what happened next.

There was one thing that changed his perspective.

Jesus.

Luke 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 

“Because you say so…”

This powerful statement of faith moves us from a perspective that is governed by human limitations to one that is open to see what the power of God can do.

Having no idea if they would catch anything, Peter trusted the words of Jesus and let down his nets.  The result was two boats on the brink of sinking because the catch was so large.

Jesus taught his Word.  Now he demonstrated the power of his Word.

Jesus wanted his disciples to move beyond the perspective of their human limitations to the power of Jesus’ words and the impact of his promises.

What if we did the same?
When we are hesitant for whatever reason to trust and live out the promises of God, we must set aside our human perspective and see God’s power and promises.  Our ineffective excuses that keep us limited by our abilities must be set aside to see the power of God at work in our hearts and lives. Our perspective must shift from seeing life only from our ability to do something to the power of God that is at work in his promises.

Here’s how the Apostle Paul saw things:

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

It is hard to see things from another perspective, but when that perspective starts with a Word from Jesus, maybe all we need to trust is “because he said so” he is going to show me a new perspective that brings great blessing.

 

Apply: What promise of God is hard for you to belief and act on because your personal experience has been completely different?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to live life from your perspective simply “because you say so.” AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on Week 2 of “Tough Love”: Challenges Perspective! (WATCH HERE)

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Over the last two basketball seasons, I have enjoyed officiating basketball.  There are two things that are emphasized to officials.  1. Be in your rule book…so you know the rules.  2. Be in position on the court to have a good look at the call you make.

The rule book provides the content.  The positioning gives the context.

It has been a benefit to work with and talk with officials who have had much experience seeing the game through the lens of the rule book and making calls and interpretations to the best of their ability.

In life we are constantly confronting situations that need decisions and action.

The question is, what will be the perspective with which we evaluate those situations?

The options?

My own experiences and personal conclusions.

What I have been taught in schools or experienced at home.

What is popular in culture and promoted by the majority.

Is this a safe way to interpret and see life?

What if I called a basketball game based on my experience playing it?  Or watching the NBA or what the fans would like?

It would be a mess.

What if I called a basketball game based on the rules for a debate team or a football game.

Disaster.

The point is I want to view the game through the rules of the game.

The same is true of life.  There are many different philosophies and perspectives on life.  They may work at times or seem right at others.

But would it not be best to see and “call” the realities of life through the lens of the One who created life?

Seems like that would be best.

Jesus felt the same.  He spent much time teaching people the Word of God.  They wanted to hear his insights, his authority, his truth so much that they would crowd around him.  Jesus knew that the best way to view the world, was not through the world, but through his Word. So he taught the people.

Luke 5:1-3: One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 

The best way to navigate all aspects of life is viewing it through the Word of God.  Jesus himself said, (Matthew 7:24) “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 

Jesus’ advice to us today?

1. Be in the Word and 2) view every aspect of life through it!

Apply: How can you find more time to be in the Word.  Think of a situation you are addressing currently in your life.  Does your approach change as you view it and seek to understand and make a decision when you see it through the perspective of God’s Word?

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to always see life through your word!  AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on Week 2 of “Tough Love”: Challenges Perspective! (WATCH HERE)

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“That’s your perspective.”

This phrase is often at the conclusion of a conversation in which two individuals are discussing a matter and finding no agreement.  They see the situation differently.  They have different conclusions and the only alignment they can find is to agree they have different perspectives.

This could be in the area of politics.

This could be a relationship dispute or difference.

This could be a child’s behavior or performance in school.

Perspective.

It’s the way we view not just a situation in life, but actually the way we view all of life.

Perspective.

It’s been fashioned by our life experiences, the inputs of people we trust, and what our mind has concluded is correct.

Perspective.

It’s hard to change.  Especially if it has been a perspective you have held for years.

Perspective.

It’s hard to challenge.  Especially if the topic will create conflict or uncomfortable conversations.

Perspective.

Sometimes we have to challenge them.

And that’s tough.

But that’s what tough love does.

Does a parent challenge the perspective that a young daughter has on a young man that is taking advantage of her?  Of course.  You love her too much not to.

Does an employer challenge the perspective of an employee that is underperforming due to drug and alcohol abuse.  Of course.  You care about the person and the work of the company not to.

Does God challenge our perspectives that come naturally and are skewed by our sinful nature?  Of course.  He loves us too much to live in our sin and find the eternal destruction an ungodly perspective has.

That’s what tough love does.  It challenges our perspectives…especially the ones that are not seeing the world through the lens of God’s truth.

This week God will do just that.

Why?  Because he loves us enough to show us tough love and challenge the perspectives that are not spiritually beneficial, biblically correct, or eternally lasting.

This is God’s heart for every person of every generation.  Since sin entered the world, he has been willing to confront perspectives that are fashioned from our heart of sin and replace them with the perspectives of a heart of his Spirit.

Here’s one example to reflect on today from the prophet Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 36:22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

 

Apply: What perspective are you holding on to that you know God is wanting to change in you?

Prayer: Lord, again thank you for your heart of love that is willing to challenge our perspectives and align them to your heart, your word, your truth.  Keep my heart willing to conform to your heart and my perspectives to your perspective.  AMEN.