The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 16:15–18; Acts 18:1–8; 11:22–26 (day three)

 ²⁴ for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. (Acts 11:24)

I think we can all say we would like to be remembered in the way that Luke remembered Barnabas. Luke writes specifically that he was a good man, but he expounds on why he was a good man. This world is full of “good” people that do not love the Lord. It is Barnabas’ faith and the Holy Spirit that leads him to be used by the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit and faith that produces much fruit for the Lord. Without this, Barnabas’ actions and life would simply be described as, “He was a good man.” Throughout history, countless spirit-filled Christians have gone about their lives making disciples just as Jesus said, but they may have died without somebody writing about how God used them. God tells us in Acts about Barnabas so we have an example of what He does with ordinary people when we are diligent in following Him and growing in our faith. To be used most effectively by Him, we should be growing in Him to be full of the Holy spirit and faith.

How would your life be described? Would people say you are merely a good person? Would they expound on that? Are you growing in your relationship with Him? Are you following the Lord the way you should so more disciples can be encouraged to follow?

Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 16:15–18; Acts 18:1–8; 11:22–26
(day two) 

I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking on your part.

Out of context, this looks like a pretty dismissive verse. In light of our study on discipleship, this takes on a different dimension. Paul wasn’t trying to highlight where the church was failing; he was helping them acknowledge where they could grow. Do you see the difference? We all have growth areas in every part of our lives, and especially our faith walk. We would do well to hear this encouragement from Paul to rejoice when others can help you grow. This is the heart of discipleship. The Lord wants to refine you. Our tendency, especially as adults, is to feel like we have somehow arrived developmentally. After all, we spend so much time in school, building a career, in relationships – at some point we want to feel like we’ve got it figured out. In truth each of those areas requires constant adjustment and refinement. Our walk with the Lord is a series of becoming more like him each day, and that means allowing others to help you where you are weak.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day seven)

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:27

The people had no idea that Jesus was being prophetic here. Jesus spoke in parables and illustrations; surely this was another one, right? This was horrifying! Everyone knew that if you took up your cross, then you were not returning from it. This was personal. It wasn’t just “A” cross or “The” cross; this was a call to take up your own cross. Jesus was calling each individual to be willing to start something that they would see to the end. He doesn’t just want us for a moment. He doesn’t just want us for a little bit. He wants all of us for all of time.

Except this wasn’t a parable, nor was it an illustration. Jesus was literally telling his followers what it was going to look like for them to take this road with Him. Today, he asks us to join Him on that road. Are you willing to give Jesus all of you for all of time?

I write this from Impact Camp as we prepare the campus and our student leaders for a week of immersion with Jesus. Pray for our students to become committed disciples of Jesus this week. For some it will be for the first time, for some it will be a challenge to give Jesus all of themselves, and for others it will be a calling to take their faith to the next level. Pray for our students to realize that Jesus wants all of them for all of time, as He does for you!

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day six)

One of the great temptations of modern Christianity is to keep Jesus on the margins of our lives. We gladly welcome him into certain areas of life, but hesitate to surrender everything to his lordship.

In Luke 14:28–33, Jesus reminds us that discipleship requires more than admiration or occasional participation. Following him means counting the cost and allowing every aspect of life to be reordered around him.

Gerhard Lohfink writes, “Where faith is really faith, it cannot be shoved to the margins of life. Christian faith, just like Jewish faith, subjects all of life to the promise and claim of God.”

The image of the margin is powerful. Margins are for things that are secondary, not central. Yet Jesus refuses to remain on the periphery. He calls us to place him at the center of our lives, where our priorities, relationships, ambitions, and decisions are brought under his loving rule.

A marginalized Jesus is not discipleship. Discipleship is all of life realigned around Christ.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day five

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Jesus says these words seven times in the gospels and again seven more times in the book of Revelation. Of all the senses, hearing is the one that affords the best opportunity to transform hearts and lives. Words have a preeminent value in God’s economy. We serve a God who speaks. Who created the universe by using words. Who reveals Himself and His plan for salvation and sanctification through words. The scriptures tell us “faith comes from hearing.”  The real battle for our hearts and souls is fought using words- written and spoken. Why? “Whom you hear with delight today will be who you become more like tomorrow.”- David Mathis

Whose voice — whether through audio or written words or video, or old-fashioned face-to-face talk — whose voice is most regularly streaming into your ears, and going down into your soul? Whose voice captures your finite attention, and focuses you, or distracts you? Which voices do you long to hear most? Whose words are you welcoming most to enter into your soul, to sow seeds of life — or death? Whom do you welcome into that intimate space that is your ear?

Our discipleship and spiritual growth will be mainly fueled by words. Let those who have ears be intentional and disciplined to not only listen, but hear the life giving and life changing words of the Lord. “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day four)

Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?

This remark about salt seems odd here at first. Jesus seems to be mixing metaphors about building towers and cooking spices. But this is not the first time Jesus has talked about salt. The disciples would have heard Jesus use this metaphor of salt at least twice before, recorded in Matthew 5 and Mark 9. Each time he talks about this, Jesus is telling believers to live a distinct life – one that is noticeably different from the world around them. The calling to be a disciple requires us to live in such a way that people take notice.

In Luke 14, Jesus is communicating one of the ways that disciples are called to live in a distinct way – we are called to center our entire lives around Christ and follow him alone, keeping all other things subordinate to him, even things that are precious to us. This goes against the norm of the society Jesus lived in, and it goes against the norm of our world today. One of the ways we maintain our “saltiness” is by keeping all other possessions, loves, and positions in our life subordinate to Christ. Consider the testimony it is to the world to live in this way.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day three)

³³ So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

Does this sound familiar? We recently finished a study on stewardship where we took a deep look at how God wants us to view our possessions. Here, in Matthew, Jesus is pointing that out again. I do not think that Jesus meant that we cannot be a disciple if we own anything. His point is more on our hearts. Considering this verse in terms of stewardship, we do not truly own anything here on this earth anyway. Everything belongs to God, and He has given us all we have to be good stewards and use well. So, when we hold too tightly to our possessions, they stand in the way of us following God with our whole hearts. Jesus’ point in this passage is that we cannot be half-in on following Him. Ask the Lord today to search your heart and reveal if there is anything standing in the way of you being fully invested in your relationship with Him.

On a side note, today is Day 4 of VBS! Thank you for praying for this week and all that God is doing. We have had an increase in both kids and volunteers this year and God is at work! Tonight, the kids will learn about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Tomorrow, our lesson is on God’s plan for forgiveness. Please continue to pray for the kids (and leaders!) to hear what they need to hear and that God would move in their hearts as they hear the Good News!

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day two)

 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? v. 28

I am writing this sitting outside a service station on the border of Portugal. One of our buses had a small electrical malfunction, and we are all waiting for the green light so we can continue our journey to Lisbon. This tour has been incredible, and I am so grateful to explore the world and sing the gospel.

Many of the towns we have seen have Roman roots, and some roots that pre-date those. In many cases those influences are clearly still on display and used. We traversed a first century bridge, we saw a first century aqueduct, and many of the castles and churches are several hundreds of years old. In the case of the aqueduct, there is no mortar or cement, just pieces of stone stacked precisely together. FOR 2000 YEARS! Doesn’t that blow your mind? In many ways, the Romans were living in the future. Their understanding of engineering was remarkable. You can be sure they understood the process before they began work, and that has made all the difference.

As we walk our faith journeys, may this example encourage you to take time to cultivate relationships, invest in people, and deepen your walk with the Lord, so that you may bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God. Your spiritual legacy will outlast any other work you do here on earth, so plan well.