October 8th

Yes, God has given to each of us an ability to carry out His mission or His purpose. Sometimes we function in one capacity but, for some reason, we can no longer function at all.

For example, many of us have known singers that at a point in their lives they could no longer sing. They are not to be “put on the shelf.” They just go to another function or gift. Maybe it’s prayer, or some other productive gift.

One of the greatest gifts needed in the Body of Christ is an encourager. As Joshus became the leader of the children of Israel God knew he would face trials. God said to the people, in Deuteronomy 3:28, “But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.”

As others become involved in their gifting it is important that the “old guard” encourage them.
Encourage means to “put courage in.”

Let’s not be prideful or embarrassed to allow others to step into roles that we occupied. Also, let’s not stand back and watch; let’s be encouragers.

October 7th

The result of research says that a pastor invests about one hour of study for every hour the congregation hears. At Bancroft Mission, our praise team invests about 2.5 hours of practice and leads us in worship for about 20 minutes. There are several others who participate in some form of leading, teaching, etc. during a normal gathering.

However, the majority of believers are in the congregation. Now, that’s fine but does that mean that the sitting congregation have no talents. Not at all. The scripture teaches in too many places to cite in this short devotional that all believers have a gift. MOST of these gifts are used while not at a geographical location which we call church.

In Exodus 35 we have the account of the master artisan by the name of Bezalel. Bezalel had two very important gifts; he could make things with his hands and teach others to do this also. Your gift, or talent, may be in the use of your hands. It may be in the use of your mind, or even in your body (such as athletics). It may even be in the entertainment industry. The important thing is to remember that your “earthly vocation supports your heavenly vocation). We are all full-time ministers.

October 6th

Some people wish days were 36 hours long while others would like 6-hour days. Paul had some things to say about time. Ephesians 5:16, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

To Redeem here means to make wise use of. Are our days cluttered with “time consuming” things that are not productive. Rest and relaxation are very important so don’t take a guilt trip if you just do nothing at times; we need “down time.”

Paul included in his letter to the Ephesians to examine ourselves. Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” “Psalms” here refers to times when we get alone with the Holy Spirit, in a quiet place, and examine our heart. In other words, get real or authentic, with God and ourselves. Are we using time wisely? We have to answer that question honestly.

Next Paul talks about “hymns.” Hymns has to do with anthems to God. To remove what is not productive in our lives and to reinforce what is. Again, be honest.

The last of this progression is “spiritual songs.” “Spiritual songs” is the result of a time alone in the “closet” with God, then reinforcing what is of the Kingdom (dominion of the King). We come out of this quiet time with a renewed spiritual vitality. Go ahead, do it.

October 5th

Speaking of priorities; “A fairly wealthy man one day was driving his BMW and had an accident—a very bad accident. The car was totaled. A policeman came on the scene and got the man out of the car. As the man came to, he said, “My BMW, oh my BMW!” The policeman said, “Sir, I’m sorry but you don’t have time to worry about your BMW. It’s just a car. We’ve got to rush you to the hospital because your arm has been severed at the elbow.” The wealthy man said, “Oh, my Rolex oh my Rolex!”

Paul, the apostle, gave us the correct view of priorities. He was very influential among his peers, rising in rank and status. In Philippians 3:1-6 Paul lists his credentials. The he says in Philippians 3:7 &8, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” In verse 10 he says, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”

October 4th

I read this story recently—A father wanted to give his daughter something to do, and there was a picture of the world on a sheet of paper. He tore it into smaller pieces and told her to see if she could put the pieces back together correctly, kind of like she would work a puzzle. The little girl agreed. Five minutes later, she showed her father the pieces put back together perfectly. He was stupefied. When he asked her how she had done the task so quickly, she said, “Oh, on the back was a picture of Jesus and I figured if I got Him right, the world would fall into place.”

What a fantastic example of how when we put Jesus as the priority of our lives, everything else falls into place. Jesus said, “Matthew 13:44-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 “who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

October 3rd

After Jesus told His disciples they were the salt of the earth, He said they were also the light of the World (Matthew 5:14).

John 9:5 is of the utmost importance to understanding the believer’s position of being the “light of the world.” “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” We must ask, “how was Jesus the light of the world?”

The world at the time of Jesus was far removed from the original intent of the Father. Our Father’s passion was always relational. In John 17:24 Jesus said, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” Jesus was not speaking so much about geographically “may be with Me where I am” but relationally, “You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

The “religious” world at the time of Jesus was one of self-righteousness and superstition. Jesus brought the love of the Father to a dark world.

Jesus is no longer physically in the world, but we are. Now, we are the “light of the world.” Or rather, “light to the world.” John 17:20-23, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

October 2nd

Jesus gave a monumental declaration in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Notice He does not say “you ought to be the salt” or “you should be the salt”, He says, “You are the salt.”

Of course, the word “earth” here is not referring to ground on which we walk. He was talking about the inhabitants of the earth. Jesus said without salt doing its job, the earth is not worth much.

We are salt because the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, resides in us. That’s what makes us valuable to the earth. Mankind does not need our talent, our time, or our treasure; mankind needs the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, to season him.

Job 34:14&15 gives us a vivid image of mankind without the presence of God. Job 34:14&15 NLT, “If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath, 15 all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.”

Jim's Devotional - October 1st

The most powerful force in the world is the Holy Spirit. Before God said, “let there be light” the Spirit of God “hovered” over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2, “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

It was the Holy Spirit that brought us into the family of God. 1st Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”

It is the continuing work of the Holy Spirit that changes our human nature into the nature of Jesus. 2nd Corinthians 3:18 NLT, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”

It is the Holy Spirit that empowers the believer for service. Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Have you been born into the family of God? If not, receive Jesus’ death as the payment for your sin.

Is your human nature being changed into the nature of Jesus? If not, submit to the Lordship of the Spirit.

Have you been empowered for service? If not, ask Jesus right now to empower you.

September 30th

In Matthew 25 Jesus told a parable about 3 men who were entrusted with a sum of money. Two of the men used the money to make a profit; one did not. Jesus said to the two men in 25:21, “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

We may not receive many accolades in this life. However, there is a promise to the faithful servant. A servant will be rewarded in the continuing life with the incorruptible body.

The greatest joy for the servant will be when he sees Jesus. He will take his reward and cast it at the feet of Jesus because serving is all about Jesus. Revelation 4:10&11, “the twenty-four elders (REPRESENTING THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS) fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

September 29th

Exodus 17:8-13, “Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”

Here we have Moses, Joshua, Aaron, and Hur. How about all of the men that were doing the fighting? They were servants. Yes, they were there at the command of Joshua, who was fighting at the command of Moses. But ultimately, they were servants. They were all there for a common cause; to obey the will of God.

When we serve, we may be obeying a leader, or even meeting the need of someone else. Ultimately, we are serving God.

Jim's Devotional - September 28th

Paul is the author of about half of the New Testament. Paul spoke four languages in a time when the majority of the population was illiterate. He spoke to kings, governors, and jail keepers. He acted as his own attorney during one of his trials. Yet, he never called himself “apostle Paul.” He referred to himself as a servant. He referred his fellow workers as “fellow servants.” The books of Hebrews and Revelation refer to Moses as a servant. The angel in Revelation 19 and 22 refers to himself as a servant. James, Simon Peter, and Jude all referred to themselves as servants.

Are we slaves or servants?

A servant is different than a slave. A slave is not a slave by choice. Another imposes their will upon a slave. Paul told those who were born again while a slave to be free if they could.

Servants are those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men. When Paul was addressing the Corinthians about Spiritual gifts, he ended the twelfth chapter with a list of callings and giftings. One of these was “helps.” A helper is a servant, one who serves by choice. A servant does not serve just when it is convenient or when it doesn’t cost him anything. Repeating from Day 27, Colossians 3:7, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Always keep in mind that our service is ultimately to God.

Jim's Devotional - September 27th

Jesus took off His garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began to wash the disciples’ feet.
Then He said, “If I, your leader, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.” Then He
said something else, “you will happy if you do these things” (Please read John 13:1-17).

When we focus on the appreciation of others, or the ingratitude of some, we can begin to become “men
pleasers.” Our service will be determined by the responses of those we serve.

Paul taught, in Colossians 3:7, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Always keep in mind that our service is ultimately
to God.

A professional violinist was giving a concert. When he finished, the crowd jumped up from their seats
and gave him a standing ovation. He had delivered a magnificent performance. The young violinist, with
tears coming down his cheeks, walked off the stage, dejected. The stagehand saw him and said, “Why
are you so sad? Those people are going crazy out there and you are crying. I don’t understand.”

“Do you see the one man in the center down there? He is still sitting.”

The stagehand said, “Yeah, so what? There are two thousand other people who are standing.”

“This is true, but you don’t understand. That man down there in the middle is my dad. He’s also my violin teacher. If he doesn’t stand, it doesn’t matter what two thousand other people do.”

If God doesn’t applaud when He sees how we live our lives, it doesn’t matter what everybody
does.

September 26th

Sometimes servanthood is misunderstood. Many imagine being a servant means to wear “sackcloth and
ashes” and to go around with a sad look on their face.

Jesus is the greatest example of being a servant (more on this later). Isaiah 53 describes Him as a man
“of sorrows and acquainted” with grief. But Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a time “to cry and a time to
laugh.” Jesus, being fully human and fully God, surely sorrowed and cried. But he surely laughed too. He
did what was appropriate for the time. He was emotional. He laughed, cried, became angry, was joyous,
He was tempted (yet without sin); He experienced the same emotions as us.

God doesn’t want us to be spiritual curmudgeons. He wants us to enjoy life and keep Him as a priority.

September 25th

Jesus then “gives” us. He gives us to a family, a local body of believers, to our neighbors, to our fellow
workers; He gives us to people who need us.

2nd Corinthians 5:18 in the NLT says, “And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself
through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”

We become conduits of the Holy Spirit to restore others, to bring the Gospel to others, to pray for
others. We are vessels by which the Holy Spirit brings the divine “life” of God to others.

September 24th

After Jesus “took” the bread and “blessed” the bread, He “broke” the bread.

We came to Jesus with a lot of “excess baggage.” Preconceived ideas. Fleshly “me” attitudes. Yes, God
loves us just the way we are. But He loves us too much to leave us that way; He begins to “break” the old
carnal, self-opinionated, self-reliant, person. Remember, our spirits were born again but our mind
wasn’t; it needs to be renewed. Romans 12:2 NLT, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think...”

Hebrews 12:27&28, “Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being
shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore,
since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

Let’s welcome the “shaking” and “breaking” of the Holy Spirit.

September 23rd

Continuing with Matthew 26:26, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and
gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

When we receive Jesus as our Savior, God begins to reveal His plan for our lives. “And as they were
eating, Jesus...blessed...” The greatest blessing we will ever experience is to walk in the divine plan of
God for our lives.

Paul, an apostle, experienced many hardships. He also experienced many triumphs. In Acts 20:23&24,
when he was leaving the Ephesian church, he said, “except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city,
saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my
life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord
Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

One of the reasons Paul was so motivated to spread the Gospel was because of the joy of living in God’s
plan for his life. Writing to young pastor Timothy, he said, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has
enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,” (1st Timothy 1:12).

September 22nd

Most of us enjoy a bowl of cereal with milk. The cereal that we eat with milk comes from the grain, which came from the mill, which goes back to the provision of God in the wheat fields. The milk came from the cows that ate the grass that came from the ground that God provided. Everything we have is traced back to God.

We are thankful for the jobs we have that is a means of provision. Jobs change, God doesn’t. He is always the source.

We appreciate the means by which we enjoy life. However, never forget that God is the source.

Deuteronomy 8:18, “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”

September 21st

Symbiotic growth is the growth that occurs between two organisms where both benefits. Parasitic growth is growth that occurs in one organism because it’s feeding off of another. Christians must ask themselves how they are functioning in the organism of the Body of Christ.

Am I a spiritual parasite? Sing to me. Preach to me. Pray for me. Counsel me. Help me, but expect nothing from me. That is a parasite. A Christian interested in symbiotic growth says, “Yes, I have needs, but I’m willing to give too because everyone needs to benefit.

Ephesians 4:16, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

September 20th

Some of the most popular television shows of all time are Seinfeld, Cheers, I Love Lucy, Blue Bloods, Friends, The Waltons, Andy Griffith, just to name a few. Hmmm, this should tell us something, all of these shows are about friends and family.

Ephesians 3:14&15 says, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”

When we received Jesus as our Savior, we not only received a promise of heaven and an abundant life here, but we also became part of a family; a family of fellow believers. Because we are a family, no one is greater than another. We rejoice when one of the “family” succeeds or is honored. We hurt when one of the “family” hurts. We bear one another’s burdens. We have patience with each other as we all are growing and “becoming.”

A great illustration is of a fireplace roaring with wood burning. When one of the logs is taken out of the fire, it will soon extinguish. We need each other.

Ephesians 4:16, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

September 19th

“E” is for enjoying the journey.

We can get so possessed with accomplishing goals that we forget to enjoy the journey. Successful people don’t talk much about where they are, they talk about how they got there.

A very good friend of mine shared this true story with me. He said he, his wife, and two children enjoyed going on vacation to the beach. He said he was so possessed with the goal of being there that he would say to the family, “We are going to stop for gas. Everyone go to the bathroom, then grab a sandwich or a snack and come right back out.” He rushed them. Yep, they got to the beach in record time. The problem was, when they got there, no one would speak to him for a couple of days. Finally, he resolved to make the journey part of the vacation.

Go ahead, pursue the vision, or purpose, God has given. During the journey, enjoy life.

September 18

“L” is for lifestyle.

A vision that God gives, whether it’s to pray, or own a business, cannot be pursued when it is convenient; it must be part of our lifestyle. Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier said, “boxing matches aren’t won in the ring. They are won in the wee hours of the morning, when everyone is asleep in bed, and you are out running. In the hours in the gym doing conditioning exercises. The boxing ring reflects the hours of preparation.” Another great is Lee Trevino. Trevino is one of the great golfers of our time. He said, “if you hit a thousand balls a day for twenty years, you might be ready for the professional golf tour.” What these men are saying is that success has to be a lifestyle.

In Philippians 3:13 Paul said, “…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,”