Posts in category Daily Devotions

Things To Consider Before Becoming Christ’s Disciple

Apr28
2012 Written by Warner Smith

I absolutely despise shopping for a new car.  You never know if you got a good deal or not.  This uncertainty arises from the lack of proper pricing.  Everyone knows that the sticker price is not the real price.

I feel that too often individuals try to apply the ideal of getting a good deal to becoming a Christian.  Some people seem to be most interested in knowing what is the very least that they will have to commit to Christ in order to become a Christian.  This question reveals a great misunderstanding about the Christian life.  Bargaining with God reveals a total misunderstanding of God’s nature.

Becoming a Christian is nothing like purchasing fire insurance to keep yourself out of the fires of hell.  Instead becoming a Christian is accepting your own moral bankruptcy and God’s absolute grandeur and awesomeness.  A deep and desperate desire to know God while simultaneously realizing your own moral corruption precede the decision to accept Christ as Savior.  Jesus told us that ;

“. . . the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46 (ESV)

Our own salvation is worth everything we have.  Actually it is worth all we have ever had, currently have and ever hope to have.  Anyone who is considering becoming a Christian needs to understand the following key principles.

First, be clear on who the boss will be.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them He said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-26

Jesus is the boss!  His will is most important!  Only His vote counts!  Every disciple who is obedient must submit to His will 100% of the time.  The idea that one can follow Jesus while “doing their own thing” is not only wrong-headed it is a sin.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood the commitment necessary from each disciple when he wrote, “When Jesus bids a man he bids him come and die.”

Second, be certain that you must carry a cross.

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

Being obedient will not be easy, and will involve personal sacrifices.  You will lose many things while following Jesus.  You may lose family, friends, respect, or business.  Some today in Islamic countries lose their life when they accept Christ.  Suffering for Christ is not a topic you hear Christians discuss often but it is biblical.  Reading the book of 1 Peter is an excellent place to begin to study the concept of Christian suffering.

Next, be sensible and consider the cost of becoming Christ’s disciple.

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?  For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’  “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king.  Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.  In the same way, any of you who does not give up every thing he has  cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:28-33

The price of becoming a disciple is everything. That is a high price. The gain you receive is everything, that is a great return on your investment. You give everything you have and in return you share in everything Christ has.  Personally I cannot think of a better deal.

Finally, consider the cost of not becoming a disciple.

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.  “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 14:34-35

Do you have ears to hear? On first blush it seems that the price of not becoming a disciple is nothing.  That is a low price.  The gain you receive is nothing, that’s no return because there was no investment.  You give nothing and in return you share nothing with Christ.

The logic seems sound. Unfortunately, on the day of judgment instead of sharing in the riches of Christ you will share in the punishment of the devil.  Talk about sticker shock.  It does not take a genius to realize that this is definitely not a good deal.

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How to Evangelize Those Who Are Spiritual But Not Christian

Apr27
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Do you know someone who believes in God and angels but does not really believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.  They welcome dialogue about religion because they consider themselves to be very spiritual.  They insist, however, that all such conversations tolerate all religious ideas equally, since in their mind no one can be certain about religious truth.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

We need to ask God the Holy Spirit to convict these individuals of God’s righteousness and of their own sinfulness.  We need to ask God to give us each the boldness to challenge their false presuppositions concerning the truth claims of false religions.  If we will live consistent Christian lives in front of them and lovingly challenge their misinterpretations concerning Jesus’ own claims about Himself we will have the opportunity to share our faith in Christ.

7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: John 16:7–8

Pray that those who are lost will meet Christian friends who will share with them the truth about Jesus. If a lost person meets you today will they have made such a friend?

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Religion Can Get In the Way Of Your Own Salvation Part 2

Apr26
2012 Written by Warner Smith

If you have always gone to church you could have trouble accepting the truth that you need a spiritual rebirth.  According to Jesus’ teaching everyone “must be born again.”

We all need to be twice born.  Once “from above,” or a supernatural rebirth.

Christianity at its very core, is about our each having a supernatural rebirth. This rebirth can only be accomplished through a genuine work of God.  God alone can make it happen. This second birth can only be received by faith, and if God does not make it happen after you receive it by faith then it will never happen. Why? Because you and I do not have the ability within ourselves to make it happen. This makes us feel helpless, but the truth is only God can make it happen. All you can do is throw yourself upon His mercy and cry out for His grace.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.     John 1:12-13

In Greek, the word translated “right,”is  (εξουσίαν) exousia. It means the right or freedom of choice, authority, and ability or power.  It means all three of those things. You and I have the God given right or freedom to choose to receive Him.  We have His authority to choose to receive Him for ourselves, and He has given us the ability to make the choice to receive Him. God has given us the right, the authority, and the power to become children of God.  He gives this right, authority and power to everyone who will believe in His name.

We are not born into God’s kingdom through any natural process.  Our blood does not qualify us, nor our ancestry, only God can initiate this second birth.  People tell me very often that their parents were great Christians, and they somehow assume that their parents faith passed to them genetically.

Unfortunately this is not the case.  Mom and Dad passed down to you a sinful nature known as depravity. They needed to be born again just as you I need to be born again.  God has to work the miracle of salvation deep within you through His Spirit or it will not happen.

A true spiritual rebirth will not occur through religion. It will only happen through a life changing encounter.  You need to know this because you need to tell others that only a life changing encounter with Jesus Christ can forgive sin.  Not only does He forgive your sins, but a genuine rebirth will alter your nature.  Deep within your spirit God will change your inclination to agree with His will forever. You can still sin, but inside your core you will grieve.  You will feel terrible, because God the Holy Spirit will convict you and condemn your sin.

This second birth is a spiritual birth.

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.    John 3:5–6 (ESV)

Someone recently asked me what being born of the water meant in this text.  The best answer will fit the context of the passage.  This text is an example of Hebrew thought being translated into Greek.  Hebrew often uses parallelism to expand and complete a thought.  Being born of water is to be understood as the parallel for being born of the flesh.  Being born of water or of the flesh parallels being born of the Spirit.  When our mothers water breaks we are born of water, when we exit her womb we are born of the flesh.

The point of this text is to explain the necessity of our being born of the Spirit.  God the Holy Spirit must be the midwife of our being reborn or we will not be truly born again.  While I have the right to choose, God’s Spirit must also be involved.  Many people have walked an aisle, shook hands with their pastor and joined the church, but were not born again.  If God’s Spirit is not involved your nature will not change and sooner or later you will claim that Christianity did not work for you.  The reason for this is that you tried to be born again by your own will in your own power and God’s Spirit was not involved.

This second birth is a spiritual birth or it becomes only an empty religious ritual that has no saving power.

We all “must” be born again or we cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘you must be born again,’    John 3:7

In Greek the word translate “must” is dei.  It means a divine necessity. In other words a spiritual rebirth is a divine necessity.  It is nonnegotiable.  You, me and everyone else who has ever or will ever walk the face of this earth must be born again, there are no exceptions.  Jesus did not say:

  • Nicodemus, it’s important for you to be born again, or
  • Nicodemus it will help you to be born again, or
  • Nicodemus you will achieve your spiritual ambition if you add this component of rebirth to you religion.

He said, Nicodemus You Must Be Born Again!  If you are NOT born again you, the CEO of religion in Jerusalem, will not see the kingdom of God.  This concept is at the very heart of Christianity. There is no substitute. You cannot substitute church for this rebirth.  You cannot substitute your parents relationship with Christ for your own.  You will not get a pass because of your denominations understanding of salvation.  You, each and everyone must be born again!

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Religion Can Get In The Way Of Your Own Salvation

Apr25
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Many Christians were raised in the church.  For some this Christian heritage gets in the way of their own salvation.  In John Jesus talks to someone whose spiritual heritage is getting in the way of his own salvation.  His name is Nicodemus and he has one of the most impressive spiritual resumes in all of the New Testament.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Him by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?  He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered. “Truly, truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said to Him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?    John 3: 1-10

Nicodemus was a Pharisee who was a ruler of the Jews. In Greek the presence of the definite article “the” is very important.  Sometimes it is left off for the purpose of adding emphasis. It is absent for this purpose in this text, to say to us that Nicodemus is “THE” most prominent person.  In Greek, we can understand this to read “there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews.” He was the CEO of religion in Jerusalem.

Nicodemus asks Jesus a question “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”  Jesus didn’t answer his question.  He did not say, yes, I am from God. Instead he said “Nicodemus do you want to know where you really stand in your relationship with God?  I want you to know that unless you are born again you, the CEO of religion in Jerusalem, will not see the kingdom of God.”

This answer baffled Nicodemus.  We mistakenly think this is the first time Nicodemus had heard the term, “born again,” but it was a common phrase among the Jews.

When you were circumcised on the eighth day you were said to have been born again. When you went through the rite of  your bar mitzvah you were said to have been born again.  When you were married, you were said to have been born again.  When you turned forty, you were said to have been born again.  Were you to become a Rabbi you were said to have been born again.

Nicodemus understood the term “born again” as it related to his practice of Judaism. What he did not understand was Jesus telling him that he must be born again, again. He was thinking I am a Jew, I have been circumcised, I have been bar mitzvahed, I am married, I am now over forty and I am a Rabbi, in fact I am “The Rabbi” in Israel. In other words, Nicodemus is saying “I have had all of the born again experiences in Judaism and you, Jesus, are telling me that I must be born again!”

He is totally shocked. Nicodemus was confused: thinking “How can I do that, when I have already done it all.”

Many Christians who grew up in church are like Nicodemus.  They think “I grew up with Christian parents, I have gone to church all of my life.  I have gone through catechism class, I have learned all of the liturgies and rituals.  I was in the choir, or I was in the youth group.  So when they hear  Jesus is saying, “you to must be born again.”  Some church people who have done their religious duty all of their life, do not truly understand that they must also be born again.  Religious people also need to be changed from within by regeneration.

Nicodemus did synagogue, just like some people today, do church.  Doing church doesn’t save anyone!

. . . unless one is born of water and spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Jesus is saying the Spirit is not something you can predict.  He is not a formula, He is God, He is the movement of God.  Nicodemus throws up his hands and says, “how can these things be?”  Jesus ask him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and you don’t understand these things?” Nicodemus is totally confused when it comes to really talking about the things of the Spirit of God.

When Jesus wants to talk about spiritual things, Nicodemus wants to talk about church attendance. Nicodemus can only talk about duty, the law.  Nicodemus wants to talk in terms of the outside of man while Jesus’ language is about the inner man.

A. T. Robertson, a great theological scholar said: “this well known authorized teacher of Israel was told by Jesus that his theology had made him immune to spiritual apprehension.”

Are you like Nicodemus?  Are you trusting in the outer signs of your religion to save you and forgoing asking God to re-create you from the inside, through His Spirit as you call on the name of His Son, Jesus.

Please for the sake of your eternal soul ask Jesus Christ to give you the spiritual new birth!

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Jesus Encourages His Disciples To Be The Good News

Apr24
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Christians sometimes feel as though they do not fit into society.  The news of the day and other peoples opinions of it are often very different from ours.  I am often amazed when I speak to people who are not Christians.  I am often shocked by the attitudes and opinions which they hold.  The reason for this difference is that as a Christian we are aliens in this present world.

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11 (NIV)

The longer one walks with the Lord the more you realize how different God’s ways are from the ways of the world.  When we dwell on how different this world is from what Christ’s will is it is easy for us to become discouraged and think “Why bother, why not just give up we are obviously not making any real difference in the world”?

When you feel this discouragement remember Jesus and his disciples faced enormous obstacles also.  He taught them two parables that encouraged them to be the good news and trust God for the results.

1. Do not be afraid of small beginnings.

According to Jesus great things can come from small beginnings.  Jesus taught His disciples;

“What is the kingdom of God like?  What shall I compare it to?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden.  It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches. Luke 13:18-19

The mustard seed is the smallest of the garden seeds, yet it may grow to a height of 30 feet in a single season.  Jesus is teaching His followers that the kingdom will start small yet it will grow.

2. Never underestimate the power of God to transform the world.

A little yeast can leaven a great amount of flour.

Again he asked, “What shall I compare it to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Luke 13:20-21

The lesson is that kingdom men and women can and will make an enormous difference in this world, as we live transformed lives.  Are you making a difference for the kingdom by the way you are living?

You may not think that your are.  If you are trying to live the Christian life but are discouraged by the results you see around you remember the words of the old hymn Little Is Much When God Is in It.

In the harvest field now ripened There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling To the harvest calling you.

Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it, If you go in Jesus’ Name.

In the mad rush of the broad way, In the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy, Give to them the Word of Life.

Does the place you’re called to labor,  Seem too small and little known? It is great if God is in it, And He’ll not forget His own.

Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it, If you go in Jesus’ Name.

Are you laid aside from service, Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle, In the sacred place of prayer.

When the conflict here is ended, And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful, Welcome home, My child well done!

Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it, If you go in Jesus’ Name.

Quit worrying about results.  Trust the results to God!  We just need to be the best seed and most active leaven we can be!

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