Category: From Pastor

Devotions based on week 13 of Joy in the Journey: Mindset (WATCH HERE)

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A Mindset of Integrity (Philippians 4:8–9)

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is noble, whatever is right… think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

When Paul urges believers to think about what is noble and right, he’s calling us to shape our minds around integrity, living in a way that reflects God’s character and honors Him in both thought and deed. “Noble” points us toward what is honorable, worthy of respect, and uplifting. “Right” directs us toward justice, fairness, and alignment with God’s standards. Together, they describe a life guided by integrity.

In a world where shortcuts are celebrated and compromise is often easier, integrity may feel costly. Yet, when our thoughts dwell on what is noble and right, our actions naturally begin to reflect those qualities. Jesus taught that what flows out of our lives comes first from what fills our hearts and minds. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). If our inner life is marked by selfish ambition, pride, or greed, our outward life will eventually show it. But when we consistently train our minds to dwell on what is noble and right, our lives begin to shine with a quiet strength that points people to Christ.

Consider Joseph in the Old Testament. When tempted by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph refused to compromise his integrity. His words in Genesis 39:9 still challenge us: “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” His noble thoughts about God’s holiness and his desire to do what was right led to his faithful action even when it cost him greatly. Integrity isn’t always rewarded immediately, but it is always honored by God.

Paul echoes this mindset in Titus 2:7–8: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned.” Thinking about what is noble and right leads us to live with consistency—so that our private lives match our public profession of faith.

The blessing of this mindset is credibility and peace. People around us notice integrity. They see the difference between words and actions. When they align, it builds trust. More importantly, God sees. Paul says in Philippians 4:9, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” The God of peace walks closely with those who seek to live rightly before Him.

Here are some practical ideas for thinking and practicing what is noble and right.

1. Ask before acting: “Is this noble? Is this right? Would this honor Christ?”

2. Close the gap: Make sure your private decisions match your public witness.

3. Choose courage: Integrity often requires standing firm when compromise would be easier.

4. Lift others up: Speak and act in ways that bring dignity and honor to others.

Apply: Where in your life is it hardest to maintain integrity? Who is an example of noble and right living that inspires you? How might your daily thought life shift if you filtered every decision through the lens of “Is this honorable? Is this right?”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for calling me to live a life of integrity. Help me to dwell on what is noble and right so that my heart and actions are aligned with You. When I face temptation to compromise, give me strength to stand firm. Let my words and deeds point others to the goodness and justice of Christ. May Your peace fill me as I walk in integrity. Amen.

Devotions based on week 13 of Joy in the Journey: Mindset (WATCH HERE)

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Anchor your mind in truth!

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true… think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Truth is the starting point of a healthy and godly thought life. Paul’s list begins with “whatever is true,” and that is no accident. Truth provides the anchor, the foundation, the compass by which all our thinking is measured. If we begin with lies about ourselves, about others, or about God our thoughts inevitably wander into fear, pride, comparison, or despair. But when we anchor our minds in what is true, we are tethered to the unchanging reality of God’s Word and His promises.

The world is full of competing messages that invite us to fix our minds elsewhere. Social media often tempts us to believe lies about what defines worth. News cycles feed fear and anxiety. Advertisers convince us that more possessions equal more happiness. Our own inner critic whispers that we are not enough. If we are not careful, these “half-truths” and outright lies can become the soundtrack of our minds.

But Paul calls us to a better way: dwell on what is true. Jesus Himself prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” God’s Word grounds us in eternal reality. Scripture reminds us that we are children of God (John 1:12), forgiven and redeemed (Ephesians 1:7), and never abandoned (Hebrews 13:5). It reminds us that Christ has conquered death (1 Corinthians 15:55–57) and that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38–39).

The blessing of this mindset is peace. Paul concludes in verse 9 that when we think this way and put it into practice, “the God of peace will be with you.” Peace is not found in avoiding difficulties or pretending problems don’t exist. Rather it’s found in aligning our thoughts with God’s truth. When lies lose their grip, fear subsides, and God’s peace takes hold.

Here’s some ideas to anchor your mind in God’s truth:

1. Start your day in Scripture. Before the flood of voices comes from the world, root yourself in God’s truth.

2. Challenge false narratives. When negative or anxious thoughts come, ask, “Is this true? Does this align with God’s Word?”

3. Speak truth to others. Encourage someone with the promises of God today.

4. Practice integrity. Let your words and actions reflect honesty and transparency.

Apply: What lies are most tempting for you to believe about yourself or your circumstances? Which Scripture promises help you to realign your thoughts with truth? How does dwelling on truth change the way you experience peace in your daily life?
Prayer: Lord, help me to anchor my thoughts in what is true. Guard my mind against the lies that seek to steal my joy and peace. Fill me with Your truth from Scripture, and let it shape the way I see myself, others, and the world. Thank You that in Christ I am deeply loved and fully forgiven. Let Your peace guard my heart and mind as I live in Your truth today. Amen.

 

Devotions based on week 12 of Joy in the Journey: Generosity (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Generosity trusts God to meet all your needs!

God is always after the heart.

More than other areas of the Christian life, generosity can challenge our heart.  Especially it reveals to what extent we trust the Lord.

For the history of God’s people, giving to the Lord the first 10% (tithe) was directed as the baseline for a relationship that trusted the Lord to provide with the other 90% of their resources.  Part of this giving was bringing the “firstfruits,” the first part of the harvest to the temple as an offering because it fostered a heart that trusted the Lord would provide additional harvest to meet one’s needs.

All too often as we plan our giving, WE take care of our needs first.  We pay the bills, take a vacation, buy a new toy, or add on to the house.  At the end of the month if we have all the bills paid, we will throw a few dollars in the offering plate.  If we have more month than money, well, a gift to the Lord can wait until we have all our needs taken care of.

And often they never are because we are relying on ourselves to take care of our needs.

We, like the people of Malachi’s time need to be confronted, not because we are “shorting God” but because our hearts are short of God.

Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. 

“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. 

“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ 

“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 

The lack of giving was indicative of a heart that lacked the Lord.  The Lord hasn’t changed.  His promises of provision, grace and love were and are always constant.  But the hearts of the people, our hearts can drift away from him.  As a result we spend on our needs and “rob God” of the honor and offerings he is due.

Let me be bold.  The lack of giving and generosity is a sin when it is a reflection of a heart that lacks the ability to trust the Lord and put him first in ALL areas of life, including our finances.

So what was the answer?  The prophet Malachi continues:

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty. 

This is a wonderful promise from the Lord.  It is intended to help us see the emptiness of pursuing our needs first and rather pursuing the Lord first.  It helps us see that the LORD WILL provide all our needs…abundantly!  The Lord challenges us to trust and promises he will provide.

The tithe was the baseline.  Generosity was above the tithe.

As we end this week on generosity, repent of where your heart has lacked trust.  In faith and with the certainty of God’s promises, let your heart grow in its trust of the Lord and in response bring in the whole tithe and more…and see that God can completely be trusted as HE provides for all your needs.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Apply: Where is your heart lacking trust in regard to your finances and giving?  What part of the Malachi and Philippians passage resonate with you to respond to God’s goodness with generosity?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling out my heart and its lack of trust in you.  Forgive me.  Empower me by your Spirit to know and trust your promises to provide.  Let my giving to you through my local church reflect my heart which trusts you in all things, especially my finances.  AMEN.

If the LORD is moving you to give to support this ministry of Crosspoint or you are a regular attender at Crosspoint and you’d like to set up regular giving to the Lord, CLICK THIS LINK!  To God be the glory!

Devotions based on week 12 of Joy in the Journey: Generosity (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Generosity comes from a heart of abundance.

Do you remember as a kid hanging onto a toy with such a grip that your knuckles turned white?  WIth all your might and vocal power you ensured your friend knew that the toy was “MINE!”  When asked by your mother to share the toy with your friend, you said even more emphatically, “NO!  IT’S MINE!”

Does this child ever go away?

Perhaps the decibel level of the reaction is minimal and your mother isn’t around to challenge your willingness to be generous and share, but inside our hearts can react with a solid, “NO! IT’S MINE” whenever the topic of giving and generosity comes up.

Why is that?

First we have a sinful nature that is naturally selfish.  We just don’t want to.

Second, we have a great sense of ownership and what we have earned, purchased or received is the product of hard work and we are not going to part with it easily.

Third, we believe giving and generosity is a “Zero Sum Game.”  By this we think that if we give something away, it naturally creates a void that will not be filled.  What we give is subtracted from us so we end up with “zero.”

So, if you are not feeling like being generous and this message series is a bit triggering, it’s to be expected.  You too have a sinful nature.

But for every person with a sinful nature comes a Savior who is abundantly generous.  He was willing to give up all to give you what stuff could never buy, a ticket to heaven.  When we are unwilling to share our possessions in generosity, he comes to remind us all we have is really a gift of grace from him.  When we feel like if we are generous we won’t have enough for ourselves, he points us to the creation he made and reminds us that what he gives to provide for his creation is limitless.

So he changes our hearts from selfishness to generosity, from scarcity to abundance.  

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Your heavenly Father always has more to give.  He is able and willing to give you all things that you need so you can abound in every good work.  You CAN be generous because you live as recipients of God’s abundance of grace and goodness.  You CAN be generous because God is more than willing to replace and multiply what you give away.  You CAN be generous because the Spirit of God is working to replace you scarcity, zero-based heart with a heart that is filled with abundance and generosity.

The Philippians and their gift to Paul is just one example of Christians who freely were willing to give to support the Gospel of Jesus.  For sure, they were not lacking after they gave, but rather were filled with the knowledge that the God who gave them all things was the very God who loved them and gave all for them.

Give abundantly and watch your generosity bless others richly and bless you tremendously!

 

Apply: What situations do you find yourself like a child saying, “No!  It’s mine”?  Try doing the opposite of your sinful nature and be led by the Spirit to be generous.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that in all circumstances you have been generous.  Forgive me for my scarcity and selfishness.  Renew me by your Spirit to live and give from a heart of abundance and generosity.  AMEN.

Devotions based on week 12 of Joy in the Journey: Generosity (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians in chapter 2:10, he indicates that our purpose is wrapped up in doing the good works which God planned in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

What are those good works God has prepared for you?

Maybe we more naturally think about the acts of service we do.  Helping a relative with a project they can’t do on their own.  Feeding those that are hungry.  Serving in the kids’ ministry.

But how many times do we think of our bank account as something God prepared for us in advance for us to perform an act of faith?  Do we even think about our financial giving to the Lord through the local church as a fruit of faith?

Maybe one of our reactions to encouragements for financial generosity is one of resistance.  We may even think that “the church has no business talking about my money.”  Or we may think of it as an obligation for us to do so we check the box of being a good Christian.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians,  But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7).

Growing in faith…is that a good work?  Yes!

Speaking the truth in love…result of faith? Yes!

Growing in the knowledge of the word…evidence of our relationship with Jesus?  Absolutely!

Loving others…no doubt a result of the love of Jesus at work in your heart.

Giving?

Excel in it!

Do it well!

Do it often!

Do it generously!

It is a fruit of faith.  One may even say a “necessity” of faith.  Faith WANTS to give.  It is the natural response to the generosity that has been shown to you!

By responding to Paul’s need, Paul was noticing the growing and active faith of the Philippians.  They wanted to help.  They did.  Paul knows this is a win for the Gospel at work in their hearts. He knew this was one of many good works God prepared in advance for them to take advantage of.

So how do we excel in the grace of giving?

Two things.

First, keep growing in your relationship to the Lord Jesus and your love for him.

Second, look at your paycheck, your bank accounts, your investments that God has “prepared in advance” of your good work of giving.  

The opportunity is there.  Gospel ministry takes resources, just like Paul’s did. 

So enjoy following through on the good work of generosity God has prepared in advance for you to do!

 

Apply: Open your bank account, paycheck and investments.  Take time to thank God for preparing these accounts for you.  Now ask him to guide you in the good work of generosity he has prepared these accounts for.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the material blessings you have given to me.  Let me see them as the way you are preparing opportunities for my faith to show the good work of generosity.  AMEN.