Change

Though most of us are inherently opposed to it, change is an important part of God’s good plan for his children. You and I may prefer the cozy security of familiarity, but both the advancement of the church and personal sanctification usually involves large quantities of change. Throughout the Bible we see God changing the setting and a variety of factors in the lives of his people as he moves them into new levels of maturity and effectiveness for his name’s sake. We have certainly been warned that the one constant in the Christian life is the changing nature of the Christian life (2Cor.3:18; Phil.3:12-14). So the next time you find that God’s plan is bringing some uncomfortable periods of adjustment for you, your family or your church, just remember that this is God’s tried and true method of preparing you and positioning you to be all that he wants you to be.

For more devotionals, sermons and resources go to http://www.focalpointministries.org/

Training

Accomplished athletes make their sport look easy. But for all of us who have tried to advance in a sport, we know there is nothing easy about reaching a level of proficiency in athletics. Some people can make godliness look easy. They seem to effortlessly love God and do what is right. But the Bible is clear that like athletics, reaching a level of proficient godliness requires a lot of hard work. Paul wrote, “train yourself for godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7). The word that translates “train” is the Greek word gymnazo, from which we get the words “gymnasium” and “gymnastics.” This word carries with it the sense of strenuous, persistent, and sweaty exercise. And that certainly doesn’t sound easy. Of course it is not physical exercise Paul is promoting, as he goes on to say: “…while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way” (1 Timothy 4:8). But the parallels are undeniable. To grow in godliness we must strenuously and persistently work to establish and intensify godly habits, godly traits and godly patterns of thinking. This is key in moving us toward spiritual maturity, which the writer of Hebrews defines as “those who have their powers of discernment trained (gymnazo) by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). So keep at it. And remember that God’s Spirit is in you to carry you forward as you give yourself to the hard work of becoming a more godly person.

-- Pastor Mike

For more sermons and devotionals on Training please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org. 

Easy Answers?

We all like easy answers. Yet the Bible tells us that “It is the glory of God to conceal things” (Proverbs 25:2). That may appear to be a cruel portrayal of God, who is lauded for stealthily hiding important matters from his creatures. But think for a moment about how loving parents routinely and strategically choose to refrain from simply handing over the answers to their children’s homework questions. Parents and teachers alike intuitively recognize that there is virtue and lasting benefit bound up in the process of learning, not just in possessing the right answers. Of course God could have constructed a universe in which the answers to everything were easy to come by. But he didn’t. The world he made for us requires that we search for wisdom and understanding “as for hidden treasures” (Proverbs 2:4). As hard as that often is, the Bible extols the process as a godly and noble task. God praises us for continuing to ask, seek, knock, study and labor to arrive at prudent and judicious answers and insights. Life will always require it. Godliness will perpetually demand it. So remember that yes, “It is the glory of God to conceal things” (Proverbs 25:2) but it is also “the glory of kings to search things out” (Proverbs 25:2). -- Pastor Mike

For more sermons and devotionals on Easy Answers?, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org.