July 13 (Ephesians 2:10)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  (ESV)

What do you think of when you read the first part of this verse?  If it is anything other than an epic poem, a symphony, a handcrafted masterpiece, then you have missed something vital.  We may not think a lot about workmanship in an age in which we can buy the same product from the same store in a hundred different cities, but think for a moment of an artist, a poet, or a composer laboring over every detail of the piece he is creating.  The word for “workmanship” in this verse in Greek is poiema, the word that gives us “poem” in English.  Are you seeing the picture?

Stress and problems to solve do not define you.  A list of things to do does not define you.  Temptation and sin do not define you.  As Christian artist Michael Sweet once wrote, “You took this life and painted it with definition.”  You are defined by the attentive, caring hand of God, Who crafted you for works of true Kingdom significance.

How does the truth of this verse change your perspective on today or this week?  How does it cause you to see your relationships differently?  You are God’s poem, my friend, the lyrics to a celestial song.

Jesus, it is so hard sometimes to believe verses like this one.  It is much easier to believe the message of the world.  Give me the courage to live the life that You have created, even if it is more brilliant than makes me comfortable.  Amen.

Copyright © 2014 by Steven R. Perkins

July 6 (Romans 8:5)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  (ESV)

The brain is a piece of meat.  It is surrounded by chemicals and electricity.  It sends signals that cause fingers to twitch and knees to bend, and many things influence how it acts.  How much sugar, how much protein, how much alcohol, how much marijuana, how much caffeine…all these and countless more affect the behavior of our flesh.

Living according to the flesh is always to live by the dictates of our electro-chemical makeup.  We do this when we feel angry and lash out at someone, when we want something and take it with no regard for others.  Living by the Spirit is to make choices about our actions based on God’s will.  We do this when we feel angry and choose not to lash out, when we want something and choose not to take it.  The more this happens, the more our flesh acts with the Spirit, and we experience less conflict between the two.

How do your actions weigh in the balance between flesh and Spirit?  Living by the Holy Spirit is not a matter of muscling up and trying harder.  That is still an act of the flesh.  Living by the Spirit means surrendering to His gentle guidance.

Jesus, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to live among us and to dwell in my heart.  May I never run so hard and fast that I try to outpace Him.  May all I do, say, and think, bring glory to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.  Amen. 

Copyright © 2014 by Steven R. Perkins

June 29 (Acts 1:12)

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.  (ESV)

This hardly seems like a verse on which to base a devotion.  It certainly is no John 3:16 and seems to serve no more purpose than to give the setting for whatever is the really important message.  Yet in this verse is an important key to living the Christian life…obedience.

Go back and read the first eleven verses of Acts 1.  You will see that Jesus had appeared to the apostles after His resurrection.  In verse 4 He told them not to leave Jerusalem, explained some things about the Holy Spirit, and then ascended into heaven.  After this heavy hitting passage, the very next thing Scripture tells us is that the apostles did exactly as Jesus had told them.  They went back to Jerusalem.  They obeyed Him in this simple, seemingly trivial instruction.

We all want burning bush, Damascus road experiences.  We want grand messages from God.  Do not overlook the little things.  What simple thing has God asked of you that you were too busy to notice?  Jesus told the apostles to stay in Jerusalem, and they did.  That is the Christian life.

Lord, as I strain my eyes into the distance for some grand vision, help me not to miss what is right at my feet.  Quiet my spirit so I may hear truly from You.  Help me be quick to obey, even in the small things.  In the name of Jesus, Who was obedient even unto death, I pray.  Amen.

Copyright © 2014 by Steven R. Perkins

June 22 (Matthew 12:49)

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!”  (ESV)

Our son and daughter have many nicknames around our house.  One for our daughter is “Sissy” because she is her brother’s sister.  Recently, she referred to my wife as Sissy, and this caused us to pause a moment.  With the patience of a nine year old who has to explain the obvious to rather dim adults, she said, “She is my sister in Christ.”

Our relationship with Jesus not only trumps all others, it redefines them.  Coworkers and strangers become family.  People who have hurt us become those we love.

If this is true, and it is, how would it change the way you look at others?  Think for a moment about that co-worker you do not really like.  Picture the politician you love to rail against.  Call to mind all those you avoid, gossip about, or malign.  Now think of all of them as brothers and sisters in Christ.  Ouch.  It makes a difference, doesn’t it?

Lord, You have called me Your brother and friend, yet I treat other members of our family, well, You know.  Help me to love as You do, Jesus.  It does not come easily to me.  In Your name I pray, amen.

Copyright © 2014 by Steven R. Perkins

June 15 (Psalm 22:3)

You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.  (ESV)

I was driving with our son recently, and we were listening to one of my favorite albums from back in the day, Steve Camp’s 1983 Fire and Ice.  When the song “It is Good” came on, I was struck by the huge contrast between secular and Christian music…once again.  The message of the song is to praise God even, or especially, when you don’t feel like it.  Contrast that with Elton John’s “Sad Songs,” which advises that when all hope is gone we should “tune in and turn them on.”

Don’t get me wrong.  I love plenty of secular music.  Yet this is a clear example of how differently the world looks at things.  When I am down I should listen to sad songs?  Really?  That may seem like the right thing to do, and praising God when you are down is certainly not intuitive and takes some work.  Scripture tells us, however, that God inhabits the praises of His people.  Does it not actually make more sense to have your loving Father with you when all hope seems gone?

Try it.  As Amy Grant sang, “Sing your praise to the Lord.  I can never tell you how much good that it’s going to do you.”

God, I will praise You when things are good and I will praise You when things are bad.  Your praise will be in my heart and on my lips when I awake and when I lie down.  May my life proclaim Your praise forever!

Copyright © 2014 by Steven R. Perkins

June 8 (Mark 10:33)

See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.  (ESV)

He says it in such a matter-of-fact way.  “We are going to Jerusalem.  I am going to be executed.  Be sure to pack extra socks.”  It is one thing to admire this from a distance, but put yourself in the place of Jesus for a moment.  Think about driving a few miles to a place where you know people are lying in wait to kill you.  Imagine the anxiety that would build into raw fear as you got closer and closer.

I don’t know how He did it.  I have no idea how He suppressed the natural, human desire for self-preservation.  Yes, Jesus was God, but He was fully human, too.  He had to overcome the most basic instinct to save His life in order to save ours.  And He had to overcome it again and again, with each and every step on the way to Jerusalem, knowing He could turn around at any time.

He did it for you and me.  With each one of those steps, He fought back the natural desire to go anywhere but Jerusalem.  He willingly walked a slow, anxious journey so that you and I could have immediate passage to a life we do not deserve.  Forget not knowing how He did it.  I cannot get my head around why.

Jesus, I really do not get it.  I cannot come close to understanding the how and why of Your love.  When confronted by the enormity of it all, the only thing I can do is accept it and say, “Thank You!”

Copyright © 2014 by Steven R. Perkins

June 1 (Job 27:6-7)

[T]ill I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.  My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.  (KJV)

This is how I want to live.  Job has suffered mightily, but he simply will not give up or give in.  He will not do anything that would damage his integrity and righteousness. 

My dad’s mother used to talk about the importance of a person’s good name.  What do people think of when they hear your name?  For more than two thousand years Job has been known for his patient suffering and unwillingness to sin in hardship.  His righteousness and integrity have survived intact.

Free will is a wonderful and terrifying gift.  We have the freedom to do what we want, but then again, we have the freedom to do what we want.  The choice is ours.  Whether it is suffering or temptation that confronts us, we can, if we want, stand with Job and hold onto our righteousness and integrity.  We can also throw it all away.

Dear God, give me the strength of Job.  I want to maintain the purity that is mine through You.  Jesus has cleansed me of my sin.  Help me say no to all the opportunities I have to stain myself with it again.  In the strong name of Christ Jesus I pray.  Amen.

Copyright © 2014 by Steven R. Perkins