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Posts Tagged "devotional"
Living in Love
March 11, 2024
Overlooking or Confronting in Love. While going through the Bullying Curriculum with the Sixth Grade, we are learning that we cannot avoid conflict. Not all conflict is a bullying situation, but experiencing conflict in this life is inevitable because no one is perfect. We can also annoy others in many ways just as others can annoy us. Sometimes God uses someone else to push our buttons so that He can work to refine something in us. While preparing the lessons that have to do with handling conflict in general, I’m reminded that love overlooks the trivial and confronts what is detrimental to the other person in humility. We patiently overlook because we appreciate when others are patient with us. We humbly confront because one day we’ll be on the receiving end of much-needed correction. May God grant us the grace to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit to overlook each other’s weaknesses and confront each other’s fault.
Loving Accountability
March 06, 2024
Loving Accountability. I truly enjoyed the ACSI Day of prayer this past Tuesday. What a blessing to
join in prayer together as a school community in corporate worship and then fellowship in small groups
with our student body. This day never fails to be one of my favorites of the year. I was particularly
touched to bond with some of our sixth-grade girls as we prayed for one another bringing each other’s
burdens and sins before the LORD. Pastor James encourages us to humbly make ourselves
accountable to one another in confession and prayer. As the girls and I went through the humbling
practice of confessing our faults to one another, the mood changed from awkward discomfort to liberating
closeness. God certainly knows what He is talking about: confession brings healing and intercession
brings unity. May we love one another by holding each other up in prayer and humbly keeping each
other accountable before the Lord.
How should we pray for our children?
April 27, 2023
Our children face an unprecedented set of challenges. Consider these overwhelming obstacles:
- lack of societal morals
- mental/emotional pressures
- international instability
- the stress of urban living
How should we pray for our children? This vital question prompted our PTFA to develop a 21-week series of prayer emphases. We pray for the Lord to give our children salvation, protection, wisdom, and purity. They must have godly friends, a love for God and others, a sense of calling, strong faith, and many more. You can see each week’s theme below or follow our weekly social media updates. Let’s pray for our children!
21 Weeks of Prayer for the Children
Easter Week: Easter Sunday
April 08, 2023
Despite the praise of the crowds on Palm Sunday, Jesus knew the enthusiasm would fade. His mission was greater than just deliverance from political oppression by pagan Romans. He had a higher calling than merely healing disease or providing free food. He was sent by the Father, appointed as Messiah, to save His people from an even greater, even deeper enemy: their sins (Matthew 1:21).
Such salvation would require the deepest level of commitment and endurance. He must live a righteous, sin-free life. He must be condemned to die a bloody cross-death. And there, suspended between earth and heaven as a divine lightning rod, He must take on the sins of humanity (1 Peter 2:24) so He could then absorb the righteous anger of the holy God on sin.
But the salvation wouldn't be complete unless the Son of God must rise from the dead. His body wouldn't decay but would be resurrected with new life from the Father. Now, ascended to the Father and having granted His Spirit to empower His followers, Jesus Christ will soon appear to claim full rights over heaven and earth.
May you delight in the tragedy and glory of this Easter weekend. May you be embarrassed by the grave effects of your sin and the extent to which Jesus must suffer. And may you be astounded by His infinite love and absolute commitment to providing you ultimate salvation. Happy Easter! He is risen!
Easter Week: Palm Sunday
April 03, 2023
The scene of the first day of what we’ve come to name “Holy Week” is quite ironic. We see a crowd of people welcoming Jesus, inviting Him as Savior as He enters Jerusalem on a donkey. The same crowd of people who cry out, “Hosanna, Son of David! Save us:” will a few days later cry out, “Away with Him!” Israel, weary of occupation and oppression by the Roman government, was looking for a savior from their present circumstances. They were willing to accept Jesus as this savior until it was clear that the salvation He offered was not the kind they were looking for.
As believers we too have to guard against a fickle allegiance to Jesus as our Savior. When we cry out for Jesus to save us from our present situation: financial strain, physical pain, relationship issues, the stress of responsibilities, etc., we need to be careful not to become bitter, angry, and discouraged when Christ doesn’t save us on our terms. Just like with Israel, our personal salvation is only a part of God’s wider plan. We don’t know where or how our current sufferings fit into this wider plan but we can trust our loving Father that it is a good fit.