Devotions Idea: Take It With You

Sometimes it’s hard to keep a connection with God throughout the day. It can be hard to remember what you learned in the time you spent in devotions this morning. How do we combat this spiritual disconnect?

One solution is to “take it with you”.

When you are reading or studying your Bible write down the highlight on a notecard. That way you can carry it with you through the day. Maybe you have one or two verses that succinctly illustrate your study that morning, or perhaps you found a great quote in another book that gave you strength for the day. Perhaps there was a verse that inspired you. Write it down and take it with you.

In the picture above are two verses that I carried with me on Tuesday. I was studying through Matthew 5, and came across the concept of dying to the normal human desires that have not been renewed in Christ. I wrote down the original verse, and another verse I found that I thought developed the idea nicely.

Remember, this is supposed to help you, not to make you feel proud/guilty because you did/didn’t do it.

Don’t write down so much that the process intimidates you. Write down a little and look at it often.

And take it with you.

Have a Poor Day Today

Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

My natural position as a human being is to present myself in the most possible light. I was taught in school to spin myself in the best ways on my résumé. We think as human beings about how to move ourselves forward in life, how to attain our goals, and how to make people think better of us. I’m not saying that at some point these things might not be necessary, but without a change, we inherently approach life in a selfish manner. Christ’s words provide a shock to the expected order.

I have to admit my helplessness and inability to provide the ultimate answer for myself. I have to admit that I can’t solve my ultimate sin and selfishness problem. I have to admit that the God of the Bible has the answers. It is this realization, this humility that God is looking for: God I am bankrupt without you.

Isaiah 66:2 – For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the LORD. ” But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.

There are no spiritual virtues that I source within myself. Not faith (Rom 12:3), not grace (1 Cor 15:10), not wisdom or intelligence (Prov 2:6), not natural ability (Dan 1:17), etc.

James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Facing this realization is the important thing. In my own life I’ve learned to pray like an alcoholic. That is, to pray admitting my problems and inabilities to solve them myself. “God, you have to help me, because there’s no way out of this sin on my own.” God responds to this change of heart immediately and with power. Though I may be weak and totally unable to conquer your problems, God will enable me to stand and to endure. “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench” (Isa 42:3). “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10).

“When we have a realization of our weakness, we learn to depend upon a power not inherent.” {Desire of Ages 493.3}

“There is a remedy for the sin-sick soul. That remedy is in Jesus. Precious Saviour! His grace is sufficient for the weakest; and the strongest must also have His grace or perish.” {Testimonies vol. 1 158.1}

I hope you have a poor day today. Find your strength in the true God. For then the kingdom of heaven will be yours.

Meekness

Matthew 5:5 – Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

The verse starts with Blessed (well off, happy) are the meek. The standard definition of “meek” is: humbly patient of docile, as under provocation from others. The question arises ‘why?’ Why should one be happy under provocation, or how does that make one better off?

The “for” links us to the explanation: because they shall inherit the earth. If in the process of salvation, or the Christian experience, someone gives you a difficult time because of your new beliefs and how they are influencing your actions, remember the proper perspective. In the end, the earth will not be given to the mighty conquerors, but to those who humbly endured provocation for Christ.

Matthew 11:29 – Jesus says he is meek and lowly in heart
Philippians 2:6,7 – Jesus took the form of a servant

Meekness is a key attribute of Christ. It is the attitudinal expression of unselfishness/true love. Love does not seek its own or take revenge, but it is long-suffering.

Psalm 37:11 – The meek shall inherit the earth. (The psalm Jesus referenced above.)
Romans 4:13 – Abraham and his seed inherit the earth through the righteousness of faith.

An interesting side note to meekness is that there is a parallel method of inheriting the earth. Abraham, the spiritual father of all true Christians, inherits the earth through righteousness by faith. So, either meekness and righteousness by faith are the same thing, or, perhaps more likely, they are virtues that exist at the same time. This is assuredly the case because the first four beatitudes (Matt 5:3-6) illustrate a process of conversion with an initial justification taking place in the first one.

An interesting verse on the meekness-righteousness link is Zephaniah 2:3, which pairs the two. By seeking those two virtues one can avoid the day of the LORD’s anger, the corollary being a natural inheriting of everlasting joy.

Meekness is the expression of unselfishness when Christ is living in the life through faith. He is looking for humans with that attitude to take home with him. I hope you live a meek life today.