FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE

Give us our food for today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:11-15

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Upper Room - 05/22/06

Throughout the scriptures, the LORD repeatedly demonstrates forgiveness. The LORD gave instructions and mankind fails to obey. He chastises His people, they repent from their sin and the LORD forgives.

When we have brokenness in our relationships, we are to follow the Divine example. Even when we don’t feel like it, even when we would rather stay angry, God’s example of being willing to forgive is the biblical answer.

And remember, how the other party responds to your act of forgiving is not the issue. God calls you to be obedient, no matter how they respond.

NEVER ALONE IN THE MISSION

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned…” When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

Mark 16:15-16, 19-20

TODAY’S DEVO LINK

Youth for Christ - 05/19/06

“…the disciples went … and the Lord worked with them…”

What a powerful word from the Lord! He sends us on the mission with the assurance that He will be working in us and through us as we go.

I pray for those of you who have responded to this commandment and will be a part of a formal mission project this summer. Those who are not on mission teams are not off the hook. Your mission field is wherever you go … the beach … the amusement park … the golf course … the river bank or out to sea. Wherever you go, spread the Good News about Jesus Christ. Be ready to share your testimony. Be ready to give an account of the faith that is within you.

You take with you a wonderful partner in the mission … the Holy Spirit. You are never alone!

BEING SURE-FOOTED

Thanks Kevin!

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.

2nd Samuel 22:31-34

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

In Touch - 05/18/06

Estes Park in the Rocky Mountain National Park is 7,500 feet above sea level. That is so high, at times you can view the clouds from the top instead of the bottom. The air is thin. The mountain tops are snow-capped. The sunset against this backdrop was magnificent. I saw a herd of deer on the side of the mountain. They maneuvered the mountainside with ease. God has given them feet to match the needs of their environment.

The author of 2nd Samuel, in describing the attributes of God (perfect, flawless, a shield, a refuge, unique, the Rock) says that the LORD enables us to be as sure-footed as the deer on the mountainside. We have the feet we need to step out in faith in a world that is dangerous and has paths that are littered with stumbling blocks. Just as He made the deer’s feet perfect for their environment, when I am made brand new by the Spirit of God, “he enables me to stand on the heights” in every situation I face. I have no reason to fear when I take the high ground.

PROGRESS

You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right.
 
Hebrews 5:12-14
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
Our Daily Bread - 05/17/06
 
Do you still struggle with the same sin over and over? Maybe it’s like the Apostle Paul. Do you remember him writing about doing the things he didn’t want to do and not doing the things he wanted to (Romans 7:15-17)?
 
You know its wrong but you do it anyway. The Hebrew author says the sign that we are maturing is that we will not only “recognize the difference between right and wrong”, we will “then do what is right”.
 
That’s progress. Are you making any?