The Chosen Devotional Day 40: Mission

"I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." The the righteous will answer Jesus saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and we feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, and naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick and in prison and visit you?" And the King will answer them, "Truly I say to you, as you did to the one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.-" Matthew 25:30-40

• Jesus takes what you do and don't do for others personally. What does that mean to you? How does it motivate you?

I need to be reminded of this. At the same time, if my humanness fails me, I need not feel guilty or condemn because of all the things, that is not what Jesus wants me to feel. I will make it better each time to do the mission that He purposed me to do.

• Who comes to mind when you read Matthew 25:35-40? What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do?

Those who do not know who really Jesus is and how loved they are by Him. Share the good news whenever  I can.

• Our mission is clear, but we're easily distracted. What in your life, your relationsjips, your priorities, your perspective needs to change in order for you to be more active in Christ's mission? 

Eliminate some distractions.

The Chosen Devotional Day 39: Wellspring

[Jesus] came to a town of Samaria called Sychar... Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as He was from His journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."... [But she] said to Him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked Him, and He would have given you the living water.-" John 4:5-10

• What kind of statement was Jesus making by choosing to announce Himself to an outcast who was both a Samaritan and a woman?

He is saying that not everyone treats the woman like she was treated, that He's different.

• How was Jesus different than every other person she'd come across? How was she expecting to be treated by Him?

She expected to be treated with silence or talked with harsh words. She expected for Jesus to stay away from her.

• After she realized Jesus was the Messiah, she spread the word. How can you do the same?

Share the good news to the people around me.

The Chosen Devotional Day 38: Wolves

"Watch out for the false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.-" Matthew 7:15

• Jesus said, "By their fruit, you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:16 NIV). What does that mean?

To me it means that wolves in churches are recognized by the kind of congregation they produced. Is it a congregation that shows and follow the commandment of Jesus which is to love one another. Is it a congregation that shares the good news to those around them? Is it a congregation that doesn't condemn and judge someone?

• How can you improve your wolf-spotting skills?

What fruit they produce.

• What measures can you take to guard your heart and mind and loved ones from wolves?

Pray for wisdom and discernment. Be vigilant of what is going on around my church.

The Chosen Devotional Day 37: Create

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10

• Describe a meaningful work you've been a part of.

Church's children ministry.

• What did you learn about God through the process?

I've learned to love kids who are not my own, to work in harmony alongside other volunteers for the family that we served.

• What unique opportunities can you create to further the kingdom?

Open conversations. Know the story of one person, and when the door of opportunity opens to share the Good News, share it.

The Chosen Devotional Day : Set Free, Part 2

She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If I touch even His garments, I will be made well." And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in Himself that power had gone out from Him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my garments?" And His disciples said to Him, "You see crowd pressing around You, and yet You say, "Who touched me?" And He looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.-" Mark 5:27-34

• What are you willing to risk to get to Jesus?

Everything.

• Describe a time when you felt desperate to be in His presence. What did you do?

When I am selfish and hurt the people I love. I ask Him to help me.

• How has Jesus restored the parts of your life that satan has tried to use to destroy you?

He help me understand and get to know Him more, who He is and what I am to Him.

The Chosen Devotional Day 35: Set Free, Part 1

Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day.-" Luke 13:10-16

• What's a name you would want Jesus to give you?

The girl Jesus deeply and jealously loves.

• If Jesus showed up at your church and called you to Himself, what would He want to set you free from?

Free from fear for the safety and health of my love ones.

• What are some steps you can start taking to be freed from whatever vice has held you in bondage?

Soak in His truth and grace. Perfect love drives out all fear. Jesus is the only one who can give perfect love. If I continue to abide in that truth, fear goes away.

The Chosen Devotional Day 34: Precious

People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.-" Mark 10:13-14

• What are some of the restrictions you've placed on your relationship with Jesus? What hinders you from  communing with Him more closely?

I cannot think of any restrictions. I believe that I can approach Him whenever I want. What hinders me are distractions.

• Read Isaiah 43:1-4, Luke 12:6-7 and Romans 5:6-8. According to His Word, what does God see when He looks at you?

God sees me as His beloved child, so very precious to His heart and mind.

• What are some new habits and thought patterns you need to develop in order to approach God in a more precious, faith-like-a-child way?

I need to remind myself always that no matter what  am loved by my Father God. No mistake, no sin can take His love away from me.