A Contribution or A Sacrifice? - The X Factor Devotional - Day Thirty Five - February 26, 2010

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2

Did you hear the story of the chicken and the pig who were walking together down the road?  They came upon a beggar who was nearly starved to death.  He hadn’t eaten in days.  The chicken and the pig decided to help him.  The chicken said,  “I have an idea.  Let’s fix him some breakfast - some ham and eggs!”  The pig thought about that a moment and then said,  “I don’t like that idea very much because it only requires you to make a contribution, but for me it is a complete sacrifice!”

As the Apostle Paul writes, he describes a turning point in his letter to the believers in Rome.  He is finally giving an application to the truths he has been telling about in previous chapters.  He is stating how we should respond to the knowledge God has procured our salvation and saved us from the wages of sin through Jesus Christ.  He’s telling us to lay it all on the altar for God; surrender completely.  Don’t simply make a contribution like the chicken, but sacrifice it all like the pig.

Prayer Focus: Pray Impact is a body of believers willing to totally surrender to God.  Pray it all starts with you.  What does it look like to surrender all?  What might you need to sacrifice?

Delayed Dreams... The X Factor Devotional - Day Thirty One - February 22, 2010

“‘Here comes that dreamer!’ they said to each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him…Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’”
Genesis 37:19-20

Joseph found out what every dreamer finds out – not everyone is happy about your dream.  Joseph found out people can envy your dream, conspire against it, speak against it, and even attack your God-given dream.  Joseph’s brothers put him in a pit and then sold him as a slave to go to Egypt.  Don’t you imagine that at that time, Joseph wondered just what in the world God was doing and if his dream would actually become a reality?

Remember, every God-given dream must die a human death.  That is, every dream from God will come to a place where it is impossible to accomplish the dream in human ability alone.  God is sovereign and His timing is perfect.  Remember Habakkuk 2:3b, “It (our plan to build) will certainly come and will not delay.”  Therefore, when we run out of resources and get to a place where we realize the dream cannot happen unless God steps in, then God alone will get the glory when the dream is accomplished.  And, as scary as that type of position is… it’s the best place to be.

Prayer Focus: Pray Impact will continue to move forward with changing more lives.  Pray God will give us the endurance and stamina needed to face any temporary setbacks.  Pray all involved will experience joy on this spiritual journey of faith.  Ask God to strengthen you also as you continue to pursue your lifelong goals, despite the delays.

Freedom Compels Us to Reach Out... The X Factor Devotional - Day Twenty Five - February 12, 2010

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17

Several years ago in the unlikely town of Fulton, Missouri, the town fathers directed huge chunks of concrete to be hauled onto the local college campus.  They knew there would be no better backdrop for a historic speech to be given in their little city.

As chunks of concrete go, they weren’t particularly attractive.  In fact, they were pitted, scarred by blows, and smeared with graffiti.  But to those who saw them, carefully situated behind a podium on the broad green campus lawn, they were beautiful.

The speech was by Mikail Gorbachev, former leader of the former Soviet Union, in commemoration of another speech given decades before in that same place by Sir Winston Churchill.  In that earlier speech — on the same campus, behind the same podium — Churchill coined the phrase “Iron Curtain” to describe the conditions in Eastern Europe.

Half a century later, an ex-Soviet strongman stood at the microphone to talk about freedom... against a backdrop of large chunks from a fallen Berlin Wall, the actual remnants of that once-daunted “Iron Curtain.”  What a visual of freedom.

Freedom.  Such a wonderful word.  Here in the U.S., we are blessed with a measure of freedom that is remarkable in the annals of modern history.  Yet this social freedom pales in comparison with the spiritual freedom we know and experience in Jesus Christ.  In Him, we have been liberated eternally. 

And, because of the freedom He has given us, we are motivated to commit wholeheartedly and unreservedly to Him.

As we seek God in this spiritual journey, we ensure the message of freedom in Jesus Christ continues to go forth from this place.  It is because we are free we must do everything possible to spread the message of freedom to our community and beyond.

Prayer Focus: What are some practical ways you can share the joy and reality of your freedom with others?  To go deeper in our walks, we must not forget the tens of thousands of lives within driving distance of our church that need that freedom in Jesus too.  It’s because we’re free we can go and reach out to our community and invite them into a walk with Christ as well!

What is one practical way you can reach out to someone today… right now?  For real!  They need the freedom you have!  What will you do?  Send an email?  Make a call?  Write a letter?  Pay a visit?  Do something today to reach OUT!

Joyful in Jail... The X Factor Devotional - Day Twenty Four - February 11, 2010

“Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”
Philippians 1:14

Prisons today are five-star resorts compared to those in which Paul suffered.  He enjoyed no heated cell with private toilet and sink.  There was no mattress for sleeping, no TV room for relaxing, no well-stocked library for reading and study.  There was only the dark encasement of rough stones, filled with putrid odors and the pungent reminders of human depravity.  Perhaps worst of all were the chains, their rusty coarseness scraping his skin raw, constantly tugging at him.

As if imprisonment weren’t painful enough, Paul had to endure something worse:  the stinging criticism of those who called themselves his Christian brothers.  They dared to attack God’s apostle even while he was held captive.

Stop and imagine yourself in Paul’s situation.  Feel the weight of the chains on your raw skin.  Taste the nauseating daily food.  Listen to those dreadful sounds of suffering that filled his ears day and night.  Look into the menacing eyes of the Roman prison guards.

You are there.  You are suffering.  You are chained.  You are Paul the apostle.  Now, what’s your attitude?  What fills your heart through the weary hours?  Here’s what Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi:
“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.  As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly” (Philippians 1:12-14).

What an attitude!  Rather than being furious and inflamed with self-pity, Paul is encouraged by the positive impact of his negative condition.  In spite of the severity of the circumstances, Paul is joyful.

Prayer Focus:  What a lesson Paul teaches us!  We have troubles and trials, sure; but what is our attitude, and what is our commitment?  Paul was joyful and he kept on advancing the gospel.  What is God teaching you today about joyfulness and the priority of advancing the gospel – reaching out?  Most certainly this spiritual journey will end in God moving on all of our hearts to provide a 3 year financial commitment of some kind to further the kingdom.  Are you seeing the joy of giving even in difficult times?  Paul did!  Pray for God’s wisdom and grace, in this regard.

Disappointment... The X Factor Devotional - Day Nine - January 21, 2010

"Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever."
1 Chronicles 28:4

This expression from 1 Chronicles followed the greatest disappointment of King David’s life.  He had just learned from God that he would not have the honor of providing leadership for the building of God’s Temple.  David had said in 1 Chronicles 28:2 that his heart had been set on building a magnificent dwelling-place for the God of Israel.  Later, he describes the energy, enthusiasm, and unbridled generosity he had already invested in this God-honoring project:  "With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God — gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze…Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver…" (1 Chronicles 29:2-3).

After all of this sacrifice and preparation, David learns that he would not be the man to build God’s Temple.  What was his response?  What would we do in the face of such disappointment?  His response teaches us one of life’s greatest priorities:  focusing on the goodness of God.  Instead of throwing a "pity party," reflect on how wonderfully gracious God has been to you.  That’s exactly what David did.  Upon learning he would not be personally involved in building the Temple, he reminded himself and others around him of the incredible honor he already enjoyed:  "Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever" (1 Chronicles 28:4).

David did not allow this disappointing circumstance to rob him of his joy, nor did he regret having sacrificed so much to build the Temple.  He did not pout over his loss; he rejoiced in the honor that had been given to him as king and gave generously to the Temple project.  David’s lost opportunity could have made him resentful or bitter.  Instead, he maintained an attitude of gratitude and remained focused on the big picture of God’s purpose and glory.

Prayer Focus: Regardless of the disappointments you are faced with today, take some time to reflect on all the special expressions of God’s goodness in your life.  Put perspective on your disappointment.  How many good things are still a part of your life and your family’s life?  Are there others suffering more?  Thank God for how he has already blessed you.