From Believers to Disciples
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
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“Study to show yourself approved by God …” 2 Timothy 2:15a KJV
Prayer Focus for Today
Pray for all the children and young people who participated in Sunday’s worship service, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for their willingness to use their gifts and talents in Jesus’ service!
Ask God to bless the children as they share God’s Word through prayer, song, drama and testimony each day.
God’s Word Today
Since Sunday was a children and youth Sunday at New Life, we will be taking a break from a specific teaching Scripture. We are going to look at our hearts (Valentine’s Day is on February 14th in the U.S.A.) this week.
2 Chronicles 25:1-25 (Take time to read the entire story. We are only providing key portions below.):
1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin, from Jerusalem. 2 Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, but not wholeheartedly …
14 When King Amaziah returned from defeating the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and presented sacrifices to them! 15 This made the LORD very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, "Why have you worshiped gods who could not even save their own people from you?" 16 But the king interrupted him and said, "Since when have I asked your advice? Be quiet now before I have you killed!" So the prophet left with this warning: "I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have not accepted my counsel."
From Today’s Reading, a Believer …
Amaziah is one of the obscure Bible characters we come across in God’s Word. But we can learn a lot from him!
What was the condition of Amaziah’s heart? (Read verse 2). We could say his heart was lukewarm.
As a believer in Jesus, what is the condition/temperature of your heart?
Let’s Go Deeper in Our Walk with Jesus
Some background: Amaziah takes the throne in Judah after his father’s assassination (and the previous three rulers before him were also murdered). He is preparing to attack Edom and decides he needs to “beef up” his army. He hires 100,000 mercenaries – professional warriors from Israel (the nation no longer in favor with God). A prophet warns him that God has the power to help him or overthrow him – he needs to get rid of the Israelites or lose God’s favor. Amaziah dismisses the mercenaries (he had paid them with about 4 tons of precious metal) but was able to keep his focus on God.
Read verse 14. What does he do after the victory?
We see Amaziah moving from lukewarm to cool!
From Today’s Reading, a Disciple of Jesus Will …
As a disciple of Jesus, we need to ask ourselves, “How is it with our heart?”
A disciple of Jesus will ask God each day to light a fire under him or her.
If your heart is lukewarm, what do you need to do to love Jesus wholeheartedly?
If you heart is cool, what do you need to do to love Jesus wholeheartedly?
If your heart is cold, what do you need to do to love Jesus wholeheartedly?
Ministry, Mission, Outreach, Service Opportunities to Consider
Helping hands and hearts full of love are needed to assist in rebuilding the Gulf area. Here is one mission to consider:
Hurricane Rita Recovery Teams – Mercy Ships
Hurricane Rita blew through southeast Texas a year ago September. The hurricane caused major damage to many homes. There is still a great deal of work to be done and teams of 2-30 are needed to work on the many projects. Mercy Ships (one of New Life’s partner missions) is serving with Rita Recovery, the on-site organization managing the reconstruction efforts in the Beaumont, Texas area. There are more than 800 uninsured/underinsured homes needing immediate attention. The work consists of repairing roofs and walls. Ken and Janet Winebark (New Life missionaries) invite anyone from New Life who would like to serve on a team, to contact them at 903-939-7111 or Janet at mercyteams@mercyships.org.
My Journal
Note any thoughts from Through the Bible or the Daily Reading here:
Growing and Going!
The Israelites of Hosea's day were trying to worship both pagan idols and the one true and living God. So the prophet Hosea used three colorful figures of speech to describe their divided hearts.
First, they were like a half-baked cake – palatable neither to God nor the pagans (7:8). Second, they were like a proud man who can't see the signs of his aging – they were unaware of their spiritual decline (vv.9-10). Third, they were like a senseless dove –flying from one pagan nation to another in a vain quest for help (v.11).
Today, we as disciples are often afflicted with the same divided-heart syndrome. We believe on Jesus but are reluctant to commit every area of our lives to Him. We go to church but don't want to live out our faith each day if it deprives us of worldly success or pleasure. A divided heart, though, results in some serious consequences. First, we don't please God or attract nonbelievers to Jesus. Second, it may take a crisis to show us our true spiritual decline. And third, we live unfulfilled lives, even though we flit from one worldly pleasure to another.
Let’s pray each day to live with whole hearts for Jesus.