LifeLink Devotions 

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Luke 2:1 – 7 “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

It was the busiest travel day of the year. Everyone was returning to his or her hometown. People were clamoring for a place to stay and something to eat. The hotels were filled to capacity. People were camped out in the streets. They had come to fulfill a government requirement. If only they had known what was about to happen. Would it have made a difference? Would they have stepped aside and sacrificed a motel room for the soon to be born King? Would they have stopped complaining about the inconvenience of the trip and started praising God as they saw the glory of God shining in the sky as His birth is announced? Would they have stopped pushing and shoving in line as they waited for a chance to get the last piece of bread? Might they have been more concerned about the Lamb of God than a slice of leg of lamb?

Let’s look at another scene in another time. It was the busiest travel weekend of the year. Everyone was returning to his or her hometown. They had come to fulfill a cultural tradition of turkey and stuffing, football and pumpkin pie. They were willing to camp out on the floor of the home so that everyone could be together. They spent the evening with all of the flyers from the department stores, planning a strategy to purchase all of the gifts being offered at incredible prices but at ridiculous times. They arise early the next morning to see the stores well lighted with the colors and glitter of the season. They shove their way into a line hoping that the item they want to buy is not sold out before they get to it. People’s smiles quickly turn to sneers as they complain that they didn’t get what they wanted, as if life depended on that item. There is no more recognition of the pretty decorations or the shining lights. There is only the frustrated attempt to get to the next store and the next line to get a gift that the hope bring greater meaning to life for someone.

After 2000 years, nothing has changed: there still seems to be no room for Jesus. He is given the place of lowest regard and seen as an intruder into the holiday originally instituted to be a holy day celebrating His birth. Any reference to Christ or depiction of His birth is eliminated from public display. Politically correct terms have to be used so as not to offend the non-believers. Even those who truly worship Him have pushed Him aside for a moment by canceling worship services when Christmas falls on a Sunday. Regardless of the arguments that they are honoring families or scheduling additional services on Christmas Eve, the real point is that personal pursuits, family traditions, social pressure and inconvenience have relegated Jesus to another manger because the rooms of our lives are filled. 

If only we would stop and look outside of our boxes: if we could just catch a glimpse of the sky again. We haven’t been able to see it for a while because of the cities and skyscrapers we have built – cities of social and cultural acceptance designed with skyscrapers of possessions, prestige, relationships, recreation, and more. Every time we look up we see what we have done. But there, in the sky, outside the city, where there is only what God has built, the angel still announces good news of great joy for all people. The glory of God is still appearing and proclaiming to all who will listen, “Peace on Earth.” We may not be able to see it because we’ve not been willing to get outside of our self-constructed cities. But when we do, we will discover that there is a place of humility. We must step outside of the comfort of our homes, businesses and relationships and discover that in the lowly place of personal sacrifice a King has been born, and He will change our lives.

Maybe it’s time to make room for Jesus in your skyscrapers. 

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Monday, December 20, 2021

There were those in ancient Israel who were still anticipating the coming of the Messiah. Though they had not heard from a prophet for over 400 years, the prophecies of Isaiah and others of his time still stood as the shining hope of national rescue and renewal. 400 years is a long time to maintain hope in the fulfillment of a promise, and most had forgotten the tiny details that would validate His coming, like the fact that He would be born to a virgin.

Matthew 1:18 – 23 ¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  ¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.“ ²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  ²³”The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”,which means, “God with us.“

 Try to put yourself in the position of the average citizen of rural Israel. You have heard of the promised Messiah, and you have heard the writings of faithful men who proclaimed the promise read to you in the synagogue. You have never had a reason to doubt the reality of the ancient prophets and the validity of what they wrote, and you have looked for His coming. But doubt certainly rises in your mind when someone from Nazareth tells you a rumor that a young girl is pregnant without ever being intimate with a man. You immediately conclude that this must be a deeply troubled young girl who is seeking attention. She most certainly has lied to protect some man’s reputation. Who could believe that she is really carrying the Messiah?

Yet that was the sign that God proclaimed would validate the birth of His Son – it would be a virgin who would give birth. How else would it be possible for God to dwell with men as man and still be God? An earthly father would have sealed His fate as a sinner, having inherited Adam’s nature from Joseph’s seed. But this baby was a child of the heavenly Father, created by the power of the Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary’s sinful flesh. What an incredible miracle – God born as a man. Because I know the rest of the story of His life I believe it all to be true. But what would I have believed if I were there? Would I have left my sheep in the field to go see Him in the manger? Would I have traveled for two years from the farthest reaches of the known world to worship Him? 

Here’s how I know whether I would have or not: Did I get up today and prepare myself for His next coming? I have never had any reason to doubt the reality of the ancient prophets and the validity of what they wrote. I have not doubted the truth of what Jesus has said. But did I arise today in anticipation that this might be the day the Messiah returns? Do the tiny details of world events cause me to consider the closeness of His appearing? Do I live each day as I did the last or as the last day?

At His first appearing, it was “God with us.” At His next appearing it will be us with God. 

Forever.

Look up.

It may be today.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Friday, December 17, 2021

Luke 1:38  “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

A fast food chain that had previously been relatively unknown became nationally popular by choosing a slogan that caught on quickly.  “Have it your way!” In an attempt to appear helpful and serving, what they were really doing was capitalizing on the self-centered nature of the customer. We are constantly bombarded from secular society with the philosophy of entitlement and the presumed rights we have to please ourselves by either having it or doing it our way.

In stark contrast to that philosophy stands the statement of Mary in response to the angel’s announcement of God’s purpose for her life. After asking how this miraculous event would happen to her, she fully surrenders self and accepts the nature of a servant. With an attitude of total humility Mary says, “May it be to me as you have said.” No debate. No suggested changes or adaptations to the plan. No looking around to see who’s watching this great example of humility. Just quiet and complete surrender to what God said. “Have it your way, God!“

We may be tempted to think that her surrender was easy because she was being asked to do something so wonderful. She got to be pregnant. She got to bear a son, the fulfillment of her cultural responsibility as a wife. She got to participate in the eternal purpose of Jehovah to save the world from its sin. That choice seems like a no-brainer, right? But what about all of the problems she would encounter by making that choice to surrender? There would be the possibility of losing her fiancé. She would be considered an adulteress by her society. Her son would have to grow up as an illegitimate child, scorned by his youthful friends. She had to know all of those things, and yet she considered the call of God to be more significant than the opinion of people.

The same call of God goes out to us today. He has called us to be a part of His incredible plan to bring His grace to a lost world? He has sent His Holy Spirit upon us to overshadow self and the flesh and empower us to accomplish God’s eternal purpose. We have the choice of two responses: we can look up to God in anticipation that the King will tell us “Have it your way,” or we can look up to the King and tell Him, “Have it your way.“ 

In the first response there appears to be safety because we believe we can control the social fallout of our choice. But in the second response there is incomparable fulfillment, knowing that we are participating with Almighty God in His glorious plan of salvation. Response #1 elevates self and society over God: response #2 recognizes the need of self and society that only God can meet. Response #1 leaves us at the mercy of man and destined to the world’s destruction. Response #2 puts us in the merciful hand of God and guarantees us eternal life. Seems like a no-brainer to me! 

“Have it your way, God!“

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions 

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Luke 1:37  “For nothing is impossible with God.”

What an incredible statement! What an opportunity for participation in the miraculous! There is not one thing that God has promised to do for us that is outside of His ability to fulfill. Whatever it is that He is asking you to do may stretch you to your limits and deplete you of your strength, but not His. Whatever miracle you need today so that hope is restored and survival assured is totally within the realm of possibilities with God. While there are timing issues and purpose issues to be resolved, there is no issue with the power. Anything God wills is done!

There is an old praise chorus that expresses the heart of this verse very well. It goes like this:

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?

Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?

God specializes in things thought impossible;

He’ll do the thing others cannot do.

So before you build your life raft and try to sail across the flooded river of frustrations, ask God to remove the river. Before you set your next stick of dynamite at the base of the mountain of madness hoping to tunnel through, ask God to move the mountain. Before you take matters into your own hands, trust the hand of God. His hand is strong and safe. Join the Psalmist in proclaiming…

“Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand, those who take refuge in you from their foes.” (Psalm 17:7) 

“His hand provides us with strength and endurance. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” (Psalm 18:35) 

“His hand protects us. Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (Psalm 37:24) 

“His hand is secure. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” (Psalm 73:23) 

“His hand controls all things. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.” (Psalm 95:4)

Nothing is impossible with God!

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

The battle to protect the life of an unborn child has become rather nasty. Recently, a television host made this outrageous statement about the Supreme Court decision to uphold a Mississippi abortion law.

“Do any of you men have any eggs or the possibility of carrying a fetus? How dare you talk about what a fetus wants! You have no idea.”

I do not intend to engage in debate about the total stupidity of this statement that in its substance actually discredits abortion. However, it is true that men are not capable of carrying a baby. However, it does not mean that men are not capable of knowing what its like to give birth to new life.

I had the wonderful experience of watching my wife go through three pregnancies. I watched as my daughter and my two daughters-in-law carried a total of eleven children. I marvel at the wonder of conception and birth, as God uniquely creates from His infinite mind the precious babies that we love and cherish.  But I do not claim in any way to know what it is like to carry life inside of me. I can only observe the expressions on the mother’s face as she feels the baby move, yet that is only a glimpse of the awe they must be feeling in their hearts. As a man, we cannot know what it is like to give birth to a new life. Or can we?

Luke 1:35 “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’”

The angel’s statement to Mary declares the details of the miraculous birth of Jesus – God Himself in the flesh. But Mary is not the only one who gets to experience that. His statements are true for all of us who experience the spiritual birth of Jesus Christ in our lives. Mary understood the problem of sin and her unworthiness to bear the Holy One. She also understood her physical limitations to be pregnant, for she had not been in an intimate relationship with a man. We are also unworthy and unable to physically bear the likeness of Christ. Our sin has kept us from an intimate relationship with God that would produce any physical seed capable of birthing good works. But God has an answer for Mary and for us – The Holy Spirit will come upon us and the power of the Most High will overshadow our sinfulness so that the Holy One can be born within us.

When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 He said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”  Paul says it this way in Titus 3:5-7, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” The Apostle John describes it this way, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 

The same power of the Holy Spirit that came upon Mary and created the physical life of Jesus Christ in her womb is the power that each of us experiences when by faith we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. The power of the Most High overshadows all of our sin, and the Holy Spirit creates in us the spiritual life of Jesus. Paul calls this an explained mystery in Colossians 1, where he says, “God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus Christ has been birthed in us, and that experience is to be more precious to us than any physical birth.

So the next time a woman says to you men that you don’t know what it’s like to give birth, use it as an opportunity to witness. Tell her that you have given birth, and that the wonder of spiritual birth far exceeds the wonder of natural birth.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

It’s been over seventeen years since my first grandchild spoke his first word. It wasn’t long until the questions started rolling off his tongue. His first question was, “Wha dat?“ He would ask it about everything he saw, and he fully expected an answer. Then the question became “Why?” and he would ask it over and over and over again. I would do my best to give him answers. I love the natural curiosity of children who need to know what things are and how they work. I love being the one who can tell them.

When God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and as we read His Word, it is not wrong for us to ask questions. We must, however, ask the questions from a position of faith and not doubt. The Christmas story contains examples of both. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptizer, questioned the angel Gabriel after being told he would have a son. His question asked for proof before he would believe. “How can I be sure of this?” The result of his faithless question was the  discipline of God expressed as a speech impairment until the son was born. Then there was Mary, who also asked a question but clothed it in faith. 

Luke 1:29 – 34  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.“ ^“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?“

Mary did not doubt the angel’s words like Zechariah did by asking how she could be sure of it. She affirmed the angel’s promise by asking, “How is this going to happen?“

We have two options for the kinds of questions we can ask God when He speaks to us: we can ask questions that seek faith or questions that affirm faith. We have the same two options when life’s circumstances change. We can ask questions that express doubt that God is really in control, or we can ask questions that state our faith in God’s promises. There is a huge difference between asking, “God, how is this ever going to work out?” and “God, how are you going to work this out?“

God hears both questions, but only one carries consequences. Questions of doubt will extend and deepen our suffering. But rest assured that suffering is God’s way of deepening our faith. Questions of faith also deepen our faith because God the Perfect Father loves to answer them and show us the how and why so we can know Him more deeply and trust Him more fully. I don’t know about you, but I am going to assume that you want to grow by asking the right questions instead of the wrong ones. So ask questions that spring from faith. God wants to show you even more than He already has.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions 

Monday, December 13, 2021

Every year my wife and I travel to North Dakota to be with family for Christmas, and ever time I go I am struck with the immensity of God. After traveling from the beauty of the forests and hills of northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, the topography changes radically to flat and almost treeless plains where one can see for miles. As we drive the next farm is barely visible and the horizon seems unattainable. I imagine what is beyond, and my mind swirls as it swims in the depths of infinity. My limitations overwhelm me in the attempt to visualize the limitlessness of God.  

That is the way my mind is responding to the incredible grace of God as the angel Gabriel converses with the soon-to-be mother named Mary. 

Luke 1:26 – 28 “In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,  to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  he angel went to her and said, ”Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

The great and overarching theme of Christmas is the grace of God. There is nothing that overwhelms our finite thoughts more than an attempt to comprehend the wonder of God’s grace. Our minds are befuddled when we try to qualify that which qualifies us. We who measure others and ourselves by qualifications cannot fully comprehend the unconditional qualification of imperfect people by a perfect God, yet that is what God does by grace.

Have there ever been sweeter words to the ears of any person than to be told that they have found favor with God? Mary was puzzled by this greeting, as are all of us when we are told that we are fully and unconditionally accepted into relationship with God. Yet those are the words that we long to hear. It is the deepest desire of our hearts to be accepted and to know that our lives have purpose and meaning. Yet we doubt the authenticity of the message. We are troubled by the thought that God can draw that close to us because we know the depths of our sin and unworthiness. But can you think of anything you would rather hear than the voice of God calling you His child, His heir, and His friend?

Why should we believe that God’s favor rests on us when the message was delivered to Mary? When God directed Gabriel to tell Mary that she was highly favored, He chose a word that in the Greek language is used only one other time in all of Scripture, and its use is very significant for all of us. It is found in Ephesians 1:6, and literally translated says, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” We have found, in Christ Jesus, the same favor of God that was proclaimed to Mary. We have been accepted into the beloved. 

Hallelujah! 

What a great message of encouragement for not only us but for all of those millions of people still seeking acceptance. We have the Gospel of Grace. We have experienced God’s unconditional forgiveness and acceptance. Let’s go tell the world that they too can be forgiven and accepted, and it’s FREE!

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions 

Friday, December 10, 2021

Acts 11:25-26 “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

The term Christian is used only three times in the entire Bible, and yet it has become the world’s primary term of identification for those who have chosen to be followers of Jesus Christ. But so many people use the term loosely and do not understand the personal implications of such an identity. I think it would be good to be reminded of what the term Christian really means and what should be true in the life of a person who is so identified.

In the very front cover of the Bible I have been using this week from my youth, on a page nearly disintegrated by the acid from ink, I found this acrostic of the word CHRISTIAN, and want to share it with you. Every one of these titles is given to you by God.  They are your identity.

Child – John 1:12-13 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Heir – Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Redeemed – 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”         1 Peter 1:18-19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

Instrument  – Romans 6:13 “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.”

Soldier – Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”  2 Timothy 2:3 “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

Temple – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Influence – Galatians 2:20  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”   1 Peter 2:12 “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

Ambassador – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

New Creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Isn’t that refreshing? For the past two weeks we have been studying Christian maturity and successful Christian living. This puts a wonderful cap on it. I hope you have been encouraged and challenged to grow in your faith. Growing in faith is important, because even though little faith will bring your soul to heaven, great faith will bring heaven to your soul.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions 

Thursday, December 9, 2021

I get a great sense of satisfaction from completing a project. When I know I have invested my best in an assignment and can stand and see the results it fills me with joy. That same feeling of gratification can be ours in our spiritual lives as well when we become fully invested in the assignment we have been given.

Jesus Christ has commissioned all of us as His followers to be witnesses of His saving power and to go into the entire world and make disciples. The Apostle Paul fulfilled the commission of Jesus Christ in its entirety. He not only went with the message but he passed on the disciplines of the faith so that others were equipped to live faithfully for Jesus. Sometimes our fears keep us from doing this. We are either afraid to begin a conversation about Jesus with an unbeliever, or we are afraid of the commitment level it takes to disciple a new believer. But if we are going to be considered successful at living the Christian life then both of these actions must be active in our lives.

2 Timothy 1:7-14  “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

Paul reminds us of several things that serve as the foundation for fulfilling the commission to be a witness and a discipler. First he tells us that the Holy Spirit has provided us with what we need to witness – power, love, and self-discipline. He specifically states that the fear we experience when we are put in a situation to be a witness is not from God. If sharing our faith scares us it may be because we have chosen to listen to Satan who is empowering our pride to be brought to the top priority position of consideration. We must make a choice at that point to surrender to the Spirit of God who gives us the self-discipline to say no to self-serving solutions, the power to conquer the influence of Satan’s deceptions, and the love for the lost that reflects the heart of Christ. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.

Second, Paul reminds us of our previous condition before our salvation, that we were unable to do anything about our sin, and that God initiated a plan to save us that has now been revealed in Jesus Christ. We have been brought into the light of the Gospel by the grace of God. We did nothing to deserve it. We did nothing to earn it. Death has been destroyed for us. Immortality has been granted to us. What have we to fear? It is only as we live in the gratitude of this gift that we will be willing to suffer any loss for the sake of serving the one who saved us.

Third, Paul encourages us to become convinced of our faith and of the faithfulness of God to keep us secure. This assurance will result in confidence so that we will not be ashamed of Jesus Christ in any area of our lives. When we are convinced of the outcome we can endure any difficulties encountered in the process. We must keep our eyes on the finish line.

Finally, Paul tells us that we are personally responsible to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in making the most of what we have been taught and to teach it to others. There has been a good deposit made to our spiritual bank account, and we are given the responsibility to guard it. This is not referring to our salvation, for we are kept by the power of God as the children of God. It refers to all of the teaching that was given to us by the people who discipled us for the purpose of bringing us to maturity in the faith. It is our responsibility to choose what to do with that mentoring. We can guard it and live it, or we can turn from it and live according to the old nature. The most significant part of this decision, I believe, is that we have the opportunity to choose. Someone has invested himself or herself in us. That is a great thought, isn’t it? Paul invested himself in Timothy. I have invested myself in you. In whom are you investing yourself?

 I wrote down a quote in my old Bible. I’m not sure who authored it, but it is my challenge to invest my life into others so that they can mature as Christians. “Christian growth is most dependent upon an atmosphere in which Christian attitudes are present.” My friends, discipleship is not primarily about teaching, it is first and foremost about modeling. Let’s be unashamed to model Jesus Christ to the lost world, and to invest our lives into those who are being saved.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Yesterday I promised that I would teach you the way you can experience an abundant life. Here it is:

Isaiah 40:28-31  “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I think these verses give us a picture of how to get and maintain an abundant life in Christ. They describe a comparison between our lives and the everlasting God. The facts of our weakness are stated – we grow tired and weary to the point of stumbling and falling. The pressures of the world bring discontent and devaluation so that we turn to the world’s deceptive solutions for relief. We try hard for a while to remain holy and pure, but at some point our best efforts bring us to a point of weariness and we fall down into sinful responses and selfish relief efforts. The only way out is to break the cycle of self-dependence.

Therefore, the first step in achieving an abundant life is to realize that we are not personally capable of accomplishing it: it is not found in our strength. To find abundant life we must admit our weaknesses, because, as the Apostle Paul states in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

The next step is to put our hope in the LORD. The King James Version uses the words “They that wait upon the LORD.” The original Hebrew word used here is qavah, and literally means “to bind together.” It is used to describe the making of a rope by taking two stands and twisting them together so they become one. What an incredible picture of our spiritual lives. When we allow ourselves to be twisted together with Almighty God we become His strength. The Omnipotent (all-powerful) God joins Himself with us and makes us strong. To find abundant life is to become wrapped up in God rather than wrapped up in self and its sinful relief efforts. Turn from the twisted ways the world offers of seeking fulfillment and instead get twisted up with Jesus Christ. There you will find abundance.

Once we have done that, our Scripture verses teach us that the abundant life is guaranteed in 3 ways. First, we will be able to soar on the wings of eagles above the problems of life. It is not a guarantee of having no problems – it is a guarantee of rising above those problems and seeing them from the heavenly perspective that God is shaping, molding, and strengthening our faith. Second, we will run the race that is marked out for us by God and we will not grow weary in running. The word weary means “to gasp in exhaustion.” I have had a very difficult week so far, but each morning I awaken with a renewed strength because my life is twisted up with God and I can’t wait to run the next lap of the race. When we are doing the will of the Father in the strength of the Father we will not get exhausted while serving the Father. And third, we will walk and not faint. This word here for faint means to tire and be fatigued. Walking represents the mundane, everyday activities of life that get boring. But in the strength of the LORD we see all such duties as opportunities to serve Him and we do them without growing weary.

There is one more implication from this passage that is an essential part of the abundant life: when we are twisted up with God we will not stumble and fall back into continual sin. Nothing is mentioned about ongoing sin for the person whose hope is in the LORD.  The abundant life guarantees victory! Paul said it this way in Romans 8:37 after he has just told us all of the ways that this world will seek to defeat and destroy us – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Are you tired of living the roller coaster of a self-centered and self-satisfying life? Then untwist yourself from the world and get tightly twisted up in Jesus. He came that we might have life, and that life will be abundant.

Pastor John