Monday, May 26 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) What an unbelieving world finds simply believable are followers of Jesus who are fake. For we’ve taught the world that being real isn’t allowed. Put on a good show, fake-it-till-you-make it, don’t let anyone see you cry, be who you should be and the like. What an unbelieving world really needs are followers of Jesus who are real. Followers of Jesus who are “joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer”.
Tuesday, May 27 – “Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” (1 Peter 1:17) One of the reasons that many people have abandoned church attendance is because the church forgot that we are all “foreigners here”. Somewhere, somehow, someway, we taught ourselves that we’re honored citizens here. Thus, institutionalization has spelled the church’s downfall. Reverent fear of the institutional church was never God’s intent. You don’t have a saving faith in a church. You have a saving faith in your personal relationship with Jesus.
Wednesday, May 28 – “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32) One of the side-effects of the institutionalism of the church is the expectation that the church will take care of everyone. When, in fact, God’s intention was actually for us to take care of each other. No institution, just people living life with each other, seeing a need and filling a need. This kind of community is addictive. Once you have it, you never want to lose it. Oh, and everyone wants to have it!
Thursday, May 29 – “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” (Acts 2:1) Another factor to decreased church attendance is our world’s proclivity to avoid being all together in one place. Yes, if it’s a concert, a sporting event, a convention or any other short-term event, we’re there. But being “all together in one place” is about so much more than simply physically being together, for a brief time. It’s about a common life, a common purpose. It’s about living together. And let’s face it, our world doesn’t encourage us to live together. Our world is about soundbites, not soul searching.
Friday, May 30 – “Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.” (2 Corinthians 1:12) Many churches are reaching for straws, trying to stay relevant. The latest technology, the latest marketing, the latest social media footprint. All of which, in and of themselves, are good. But when staying relevant becomes the church’s mission and vision, the simple function of a community of followers is lost. And a community is what we all really crave.
Saturday, May 31 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) We aren’t justified through church membership. We aren’t justified because an institution says that we’re justified. We aren’t justified because we do everything right. We aren’t justified because of a specific translation of the Bible or a specific kind of worship style or the clothes we wear or the people we hang out with or…So, why is it that we have such a hard time living in community with each other? That’s what an unbelieving world wants to know.
Tuesday, May 27 – “Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” (1 Peter 1:17) One of the reasons that many people have abandoned church attendance is because the church forgot that we are all “foreigners here”. Somewhere, somehow, someway, we taught ourselves that we’re honored citizens here. Thus, institutionalization has spelled the church’s downfall. Reverent fear of the institutional church was never God’s intent. You don’t have a saving faith in a church. You have a saving faith in your personal relationship with Jesus.
Wednesday, May 28 – “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32) One of the side-effects of the institutionalism of the church is the expectation that the church will take care of everyone. When, in fact, God’s intention was actually for us to take care of each other. No institution, just people living life with each other, seeing a need and filling a need. This kind of community is addictive. Once you have it, you never want to lose it. Oh, and everyone wants to have it!
Thursday, May 29 – “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” (Acts 2:1) Another factor to decreased church attendance is our world’s proclivity to avoid being all together in one place. Yes, if it’s a concert, a sporting event, a convention or any other short-term event, we’re there. But being “all together in one place” is about so much more than simply physically being together, for a brief time. It’s about a common life, a common purpose. It’s about living together. And let’s face it, our world doesn’t encourage us to live together. Our world is about soundbites, not soul searching.
Friday, May 30 – “Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.” (2 Corinthians 1:12) Many churches are reaching for straws, trying to stay relevant. The latest technology, the latest marketing, the latest social media footprint. All of which, in and of themselves, are good. But when staying relevant becomes the church’s mission and vision, the simple function of a community of followers is lost. And a community is what we all really crave.
Saturday, May 31 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) We aren’t justified through church membership. We aren’t justified because an institution says that we’re justified. We aren’t justified because we do everything right. We aren’t justified because of a specific translation of the Bible or a specific kind of worship style or the clothes we wear or the people we hang out with or…So, why is it that we have such a hard time living in community with each other? That’s what an unbelieving world wants to know.
You try to eat right. You drink plenty of water. you exercise. don't forget your spirit - feed it!
daily devotions
