1 John 2: 3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Obedience is genuinely foundational to the Christian life. And yet obedience, honor, and respect have been on the decline in American life for decades. As our view of the Bible and God’s authority have become degraded, it’s not surprising that our relationships with each other have declined in honor and respect. At its heart, such dishonor is reflective of selfishness and desire to live by our own rules. We must rekindle our view of Scripture and of God’s authority. We must learn obedience. Otherwise, Scripture says we’re only lying to ourselves.

Give it up for Lent: thinking you know God by showing up at church for an hour on Sunday

Questions for 1 John 2:3-6

1. In America, we have spent years avoiding the word liar. Now we hear it everywhere and for everything. What does Scripture say is the definition of liar?
2. What litmus test does Scripture say is evidence of belonging to Christ?
3. What steps can you take today to become more obedient in your walk with Jesus?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

To all of us who are tired of manmade credentials ruling the day and determining the worth of one’s ministry or the validity of someone’s message;

to those among us who are sick of people promising one thing… but doing another;

to those of us who are bored with just another superficial sermon written by committee and focus groups;

and to those of us who enjoy reassurance from God that our obedience matters to Him no matter what the world may say about us, today’s passage is just the ticket.

Matthew 21: 23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism– where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?” They discussed it among themselves and said,

“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men’– we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Give it up for Lent: seeing but not believing

Questions for Matthew 21:23-32

1. Have you ever had someone question your credentials, authority, or leadership? Jesus knew what that was like. How did He respond to their question?
2. Did each person answer individually or did they try to come up with a group decision?
3. How did Jesus’ question put the ball back into their court?
4. How did Jesus’ story about the sons and the vineyard highlight both faith and obedience?
5. How can you rekindle your understanding of Jesus’ authority in your life?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

2 Corinthians 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything– in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us–see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

I am glad that most often I do…what I do…as a volunteer. All this Seminary Gal stuff? I don’t earn a dime from it. My reward is in heaven and I like it better that way.

Do I like a paycheck? Sure. I’m human and I like the joy of taking what I earn and giving it away to good causes.

When I get money from pulpit supply or speaking at retreats, the first thing I do is tell myself that it’s mine…

…to give away.

One of the best byproducts of a grateful heart is looking at money and not really thinking of it as necessary for one’s happiness. People tell me that if I were poor, I wouldn’t view money that way. Perhaps. Or maybe I just appreciate that money can’t buy happiness.

One doesn’t have to be rich to have a wrong view of money or a bad attitude about giving.  Greed, envy, bitterness, resentment–they can flow out of a poor man’s heart just as easily as out of a rich man’s.

Give it up for Lent: thinking that money kept will purchase happiness

Questions for 2 Corinthians 8:1-12

1. What do you think of Paul bringing up the generosity of the Macedonian church to the church at Corinth?
2. In 2 Corinthians 8: 8, Paul says something rather shocking: “I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.” Isn’t he pitting one group against another?
3. How can setting forth a role model seem like comparing one to another?
4. Are role models good? Why or why not? How do they relate to a rekindled giving?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

The Apostle Paul was a prisoner for the Lord. He understood how a time bridge of patience rested between God’s anger and His final action of judgment. Paul’s imprisonment was a tool of communicating the Gospel so that all would hear the good news and all Christians would live a life worthy of the calling to salvation. Time. God uses it patiently to save us.

Consider how the flood involved time as God expressed His regret at creating man when Noah was over 500 years old (Genesis 6-7). Noah had marriageable age sons—so he was somewhere in his mid-500s. It took years to build the ark and Noah entered it when he was 600 years old. Even then, God gave Noah a 7 day warning and it wasn’t until the door was sealed that the earth was flooded for 40 days and 40 nights. Time. God uses it patiently to accomplish His will.

Consider how the deliverance from Egypt took 400 years of suffering. Genesis 15:13 Then the LORD said to [Abram], “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.” Consider also how after coming out of Egypt through a miraculous parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites still rebelled. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because of disobedience. Time. God uses it patiently to bring us to our senses, to discipline us, and in some cases wait for the natural death of the rebels among us. God uses time patiently to purify us.

Are you willing to let patience do its work while bearing with one another…patiently?

Give it up for Lent: a warped view of time.

Questions for Ephesians 4:1-3 and Genesis 6-7:

1. What does a worthy life look like?
2. What is the unity of the Spirit and how is it related to the bond of peace?
3. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights, but in Genesis chapter 6 and 7, how long did the waters remain on the earth?
4. How difficult do you think it was for Noah to remain patiently in the ark after it stopped raining?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

On this Palm Sunday, consider the words of Scripture as you rest, reflect, refresh and worship:  John 12:12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him…23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Tomorrow we resume ReKindle, the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Like self-control, patience is another thing we want…but we don’t. There’s a reason why we all desire patience but don’t like what it takes to develop it. It’s tied into the relationship between our will and time, accepting those seasons of our lives for the time they require.

Self-control focuses on limiting our will and desires over a period of God’s time.

Patience focuses on removing the limits we place on God’s time while He makes our will and desires conform to His own.

Patience doesn’t mean we won’t eventually have our desires fulfilled, only that we must wait upon God to fill them. Such a thought gives today’s passage deeper meaning. Time is the undercurrent of hope, patience, and faithfulness. Our faith in God is what gives our hope a joyful outlook, cultivates patience in both affliction and good times, and prompts a consistent prayer life whether times are good or bad.

Consider what the Apostle Peter has recorded for us: 2 Peter 3: 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation

Give it up for Lent: thinking that time is our resource rather than God’s

Questions for Romans 12:12 and 2 Peter 3:2-15

1. How can patience with God’s timing help us to remain joyful and faithful?
2. What is God’s purpose in using time?
3. What happens when time runs out? What’s the difference between God’s patience running out and His time coming to fulfillment?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

In his discussion of living as Christians who represent Jesus wherever they go, the Apostle Paul turns to characteristics to clothe ourselves with and ones we need to put away once and for all.

Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Paul says your old dead life is gone and it needs to stay that way. It’s like an ugly coat of death that no longer fits the Christian looking forward to eternal life.

Give it up for Lent: the old self and all its practices

Questions for Col 3:1-15

1. What is our primary reason for not going back to the old self?
2. The whole person is involved. In verses 1-2, we are supposed to set our hearts and our minds on what?
3. Why must a person rid themselves of things in verse 8 in order to clothe themselves with things in verses 10-15?
4. What about the items in verses 8-9 make them incompatible with a godly life?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Kindness—brotherly kindness—is the link of a chain of virtues onto which the greatest virtue, love, naturally hangs.

Take a moment to picture a chandelier hanging from the ceiling by a chain. Foundational to the lights of the chandelier working is the electrical plate plugged into the ceiling. That’s like faith in Christ. It’s His divine power which is the light of the world. The power travels down the cord and sure, the world may observe a Christian’s goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and even godliness, but where it first touches the world–the electrical connection inside the light–is our brotherly kindness, a visible expression of love for our neighbor.

2 Peter 1: 3 [Jesus’] divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Maybe you’re heard the old saying that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Do you want to be a light for Christ? Show a little kindness.

Give it up for Lent: unproductive Christianity that is selfish at its core.

Questions for 2 Peter 1:3-11.

1. Where does the power to live as godly people come from?
2. What does it mean to participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world?
3. Why do you think Peter begins with faith and ends with love?
4. What does he mean when he says to make your calling and election sure?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Have you ever noticed that Jesus gave thanks to the Father a lot? At the Last Supper, when multiplying the loaves and fishes, outside of Lazarus’ tomb (John 11), etc. Oh, it’s not always the words “thank you” but it’s always the meaning.

Jesus’ heart was one in which gratitude made its home. Gratitude didn’t get banished to the back porch or storm cellar Monday through Saturday as it often does for us. We show up on Sunday and thank the Lord. Monday through Saturday, how many of us show up pretty thankless except for maybe a tiny prayer here or there?

How do we rekindle gratitude?

Here are some ideas:

• See the world through the eyes of a child. Everything small and curious, wonderful and fun, tasty and sure to make you smile … is a gift. Children are dependent upon the giver and every gift is a new discovery. What about you? Upon whom do you depend?
• See your sufferings through the eyes of God. Even hardships are bringing you closer to His heart and conforming you to the likeness of Christ.
• See gratitude as a key for God to unleash His power to do the miraculous. If we remain ungrateful for everyday miracles, why should God do the spectacular on our behalf?

Give it up for Lent: Sunday-only gratitude

Questions for Colossians 3:15-17

1. How are peace with God and gratitude connected?
2. How are you and I connected in this passage? How does it change your perspective to know that the word “you” is plural (all of you)?
3. How do we give thanks to the Father through Jesus?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

When life is a struggle, the quickest and best cure is rekindled gratitude. 

How is that possible, you ask?

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.

Give thanks in all circumstances.

Not just good ones. Not just comfortable ones. Not just happy ones.

All circumstances.

Does anyone besides me find that really hard to do?

I have bad days. Probably more bad ones than good if I stop to think about. Probably not as bad as other people’s if I stop to think about it some more. In fact, I know that some people would trade everything to be in my shoes and it’s only my inherent selfish first-world-attitudes that view my life as anything but wonderful.

So why do I find it so hard to give thanks?  What about gratitude is so hard?

I am guessing it has something to do with rebellion against God. Resenting that this is the best He has for me. Comparisons I’m making between my life and someone else’s and their grass being significantly greener. So, why not me?

Today’s passage is a good reminder that God’s will is…God’s…will and every day I do His will is better than any day I don’t. Bloom where you’re planted as I just spoke about at the Lenten retreat over last weekend. Rekindle that gratitude. If I hold onto what is good and avoid every kind of evil…if I am content in God’s hands because that’s the best and safest place to be, I will find it easier to show the very thing that is God’s will: being joyful, prayerful, and yes….grateful.

Give it up for Lent: Any comparisons that lead us to ingratitude.

Questions regarding 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22.

1. What items are we supposed to do? What 3 items are we not supposed to do?
2. What types of things put out the Spirit’s fire?
3. What does it mean to treat prophecies with contempt?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.