How messed up are we? The media has made everything in life fast. Today we eat fast food, we have fast internet, we have on-demand movies, music, and 2-day shipping is about the longest we are willing to wait for something.
We are a society that is messed up by immediate gratification. Honestly, I even have a hard time watching a youtube video if it's more the 6 minutes long. We have become so rushed, so impatient that if our abs don't change after a 6-minute workout we are willing to give up.
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Man, I hate (maybe a strong word) this time of year. Not the new year, or the end of the past year, but the resolution part.
So where did New Year's resolutions come from and why do you almost feel guilty if you don't make them? But not so guilty if you don't keep them after a month? Interestingly enough, according to several online sources, one being History.com, the act of resolutions began with the Babylonians about 4000 years ago. Man, that's a lot of failed promises! At their new year, which was in mid-March, the Pagans would make promises to their gods, that they would return the things that they had borrowed and repay the loans they had received. Too, long. But my walk has just taken a big turn and with that I have been allotted more time for, blogging. This is exciting news. cause frankly I miss it. I miss sharing my devotional thoughts with you all. I also miss seeing some of you grow through my blog. So I have decided that I will get back to it look for new blogs. Coming January 1st. I will be sharing with you again. Devotions. Life updates. And a fitness component. Years ago, I started a blog about my triathlon journey to fitness. It was called average Joe to Ironman. Well, I am going to blog my triathlon and fitness journey again because its enjoyable and I want to encourage others. So in the next few days, be looking out for more updates.
So here is just a thought to get you ready for more. One of the things that I regularly contemplate is my failings. Most of you are probably in the same boat. You look at your life and all the ways you have fallen.
In the words of Wayne Campbell, "We're not worthy!" When I find myself slipping into temptation, these are the words that I often use to convince myself that it's ok to slip. "You're not worthy!" "You're not good enough.", "You can't stop that." But are these phrases true? I have been a Christian for a long time, yet I am still far from perfect. Although sometimes I joke with my wife that I am. She knows. But what about what Scripture says. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV) 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV) It seems to me through my experience that to often we make excuses that let us fail. We talk negatively. We are not failures anymore! That is not what the Bible teaches us. If we have given it to Christ. He makes us new. The Old is gone. The language it uses is very final. I think we need to stop making excuses and claim victory over our sins when we are faced with them. You are not a failure, you are a champion. That's right you. You're a Champion! Say it, "I am a Champion!" No more negative talk. You are a victor. Jesus died for you and washed it all away. Your past is gone. If Jesus can raise from the dead, surely our sins are nothing. I want to take you back to Hebrews 11. Read it today from the perspective, that because Jesus died for you, you too can be a champion like the people in listed Hebrews. If Christ is for us who can be against us? What does it mean to continue in faith? What does it mean to grow? Paul said that he died daily. He also said that we are to run the race of endurance. This suggests that growth as a Christian is a continual process.
Read Hebrews 11 What does this suggest to you about faith? How does their faith inspire you? In looking to their example how can you work on your daily walk with God? Today ends our 30-day challenge, but the challenge continues, your walk must always progress. Look to Jesus. He is the way the truth and the life. I read an article this morning by a Pastor that I respect a great deal. It brings up a point that all too often we are missing. Urgency! Do you have any urgency in your walk with God? Does it matter to you what happens today, tomorrow, or years from now?
I thought the article was so good I had to share it with you. For today's challenge read this article and contemplate what it means. Do you need more urgency? Five minutes later, it's over! www.adventistreview.org/voices-dwight-k.-nelson Read Matthew 24, is the end near? Should we be ready now, or wait until later? Prayer for today: God put urgency in my heart, help me to commit to you today, give me the desire to be fully committed to you, and ready for what is to come. A walk with God is continual. It is a daily necessity.
One of my favorite passages to think on in scripture is in Genesis 5:22-24, it speaks of a man by the name of Enoch who knew God so well, that God just took him. The word that Moses uses to describe their relationship is "walked" "Enoch walked with God" this implies a growing continual relationship. They were so close that as reached maturity in age, God just took Him. I used to think that it was right before Enoch died. But before the Flood, Enoch had a son named Methuselah. Methuselah was the oldest man to ever live, so he must have had good genes. Enoch walked with God and God took him, the story goes. But Enoch was not old for their day, he was just 365 years old when he went with God. A young age when considering that of his contemporaries. God and Enoch must have had such a close relationship that God could no longer live without Enoch. So this makes me ask? If God can have that close a relationship with man, how much closer can we get to God? We began this challenge 28 days ago, but it never really ends. It continues daily as we learn to walk with God. Matthew 5:33 suggests a way of growth in our walk with God. Today make your prayer a request for God to draw you to Himself. That we can be so close to God that he will take us. Who is a Christian?
The word in itself means to be Christ-like. This makes me wonder how often are we who ascribe the name Christian are Christ-like? What did Christ do? Read Matthew 9:35-38 Read Matthew 18:15-35 What does Christ suggest being a Christian is about? Matthew 16:24-26 Philippians 4:13 What does this mean for us? How can we be like Christ? "seek, and you will find"
We have been on this journey to draw closer to God. Today Read Matthew 7 concluding the sermon on the mountain. Pay special attention to verse 12. William Barclay in his commentary on the book says this, "THIS is probably the most universally famous thing that Jesus ever said. With this commandment, the Sermon on the Mount reaches its summit. This saying of Jesus has been called ‘the capstone of the whole discourse’. It is the topmost peak of social ethics, and the Everest of all ethical teaching." William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Third Ed., The New Daily Study Bible I would suggest that this verse suggests the very essence of the Law, and is a defining point that shows that the Law is about love. It also suggests to us that everything that Jesus has said in His sermon up to this point can be summed up here. Read Philippians 2:1-5 In a book, I love the author says, "If your brethren err, you are to forgive them. When they come to you with confession, you should not say, I do not think they are humble enough. I do not think they feel their confession. What right have you to judge them, as if you could read the heart? "Ellen White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1900), 249–250. God longs for us to treat those around us with a love that is beyond understanding. A love that we could only get from Christ. Do you love others? Then, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." NKJV 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." NKJV Pray, pray like you have never prayed before that God will give you this kind of love for others. Only when we love like He loves will anything change. Continuation from yesterday.
In Mathew Chapter 5 you see that we are blessed because of our relationship with God not because of the things we have. From there Jesus expresses that the law is something that extends out of our hearts. Today read Matthew 6 Pay attention to the tension between outward and inward. Ask yourself, where your heart is? Today spend some specific time in prayer asking God to lead you away from worldly pleasure and toward having God as the real passion in your heart. |
AuthorRyan Hodgins, pastor, coach. Married to a gorgeous wife. Father to three girls. I need this epic walk. Archives
February 2023
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How often do we wonder, "Where am I going? or What is my purpose?" In our day to day life, in our inner walk, many of us are looking for a purpose. You may be here because you want answers. You may be here because you truly want an Epic Walk. For whatever your reason, I am glad you are here. Read on. Enjoy our daily homework and hopefully, you can find more purpose, and begin an Epic Walk.
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