Do the people of your church really understand the community around your church from a spiritual viewpoint? You can use the “I Spy” scavenger hunt to help them. Check it out at www.edhandkinsministries.com on the “I Spy” page.
Terry Walters is pastor of the CelebrationCommunityChurch in Pana, Illinois.
November 25 The True Measure of Greatness
…Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. Matt. 20:26 NIV
Today’s Readings: Matthew 20, 21, 22
When I was 8, 9, and 10 years old, in the early 1960’s, I delivered papers in the small Illinois town of Forsyth. I was so shy that I barely spoke to my customers and I remember often being teased with the question, “Do you think you’ll ever amount to anything?” Well, the jury may still be out on that, but one thing I’ve learned over the years is that people define success and greatness in many different ways.
In today’s readings it seems that nearly everyone had a wrong perspective on what really matters in life. The Pharisees were envious of Jesus’ popularity. His disciples jockeyed for position. Some vineyard workers begrudged others for getting the same pay for less work. Why, even the fig tree apparently didn’t want to just produce figs!
Only one got it right. Jesus, the Son of God – Creator, Master, and Savior of the world – came not to be served, but to serve others. He sacrificially gave even His very life for us! He said success is found in serving others. Greatness is measured not in possessions, power, or popularity, but in service. The greatest person who ever lived says to be a servant. Love God first and others next. Don’t settle for survival, or even success, but go for significance! Be a servant.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings You’ve given me. Show me ways to give back to You by serving others. Then help me actually do it! Terry Walters
November 26 Ready or Not! Here I Come!
This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matt. 24:44 HCSB
Today’s Readings: Matthew 23, 24, 25
I don’t how many kids today play the game “Hide and Seek”, but when I was young it was a summertime favorite. We spent many evenings playing that old game. The boundaries were set, a home base was determined, and one player was chosen to be “It”. “It” would cover his eyes and count to 100 while the rest scattered to hide. When finished counting, “It” would holler, “Ready or not – here I come!” signaling that he would begin to search out the others and tag them before they could sneak or run safely to the base. It didn’t matter if you were well hidden or not, “It” was coming after you. If you didn’t want to get caught out in the open, you had better get ready!
The visible, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ will be even more sudden and unfortunately catch many off-guard. There will be no hiding from Him, no time then to get ready, and the devastating consequences will be eternal.
It’s a stern warning to all who have not yet asked for His forgiveness for sin, nor received His gift of salvation. But it’s also a warning to believers. When He comes, will He find us faithful, using our talents and spiritual gifts for His glory? Or will they be useless, buried somewhere in the ground? Will we be worshiping, working, and witnessing for the Master? I hope so. Watch out! He’s coming! Ready or Not!
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be vigilant and faithful. Show me the areas of my life that I’m not using for Your glory and help me to begin today to put Your word into practice.
Terry Walters
November 27 Ready, Willing, and Able
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matt. 26:41b KJV
Today’s Readings: Psalms 125 Matthew 26, 27
At one time or another each of us has probably fallen asleep while praying, reading the bible, or even listening to a sermon in church. We didn’t mean to, but we did.
It’s easy to pass judgment on the disciples who fell asleep in the garden or Peter who denied even knowing Jesus. We can be quick to condemn Pilate for being too afraid of the crowd to release Jesus even though he wanted to or Joseph and Nicodemus for waiting so long to make their discipleship public. But who among us has not passed up a chance to witness or pray publicly? Which of us has wanted to give more or go on missions ourselves…. but didn’t?
Sometimes our spirit wants to worship, or work or witness, but our flesh is weak. Knowing that, we need to pray for strength and exercise spiritual disciplines so that we will be ready for whatever tasks our Lord may call us to, whenever He may call. Many years after sleeping when he should have been praying, an older, wiser Peter wrote that we should prepare our minds for action (1 Pet. 1:13) and always be ready to give a reason for the hope we have (1 Pet. 3:15). He knew from experience that sometimes we won’t live up to our beliefs, unless we work at it because even though our spirit is willing, our flesh can be weak.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I confess my weakness and ask for Your help to make me stronger. Help me see the importance of preparing myself for action through prayer, bible study, and worship. Terry Walters
November 28 Proud Spiritual Parents
It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:8 NLT
Today’s Readings: Matthew 28
1 Thessalonians 1, 2, 3
Last year my wife and I experienced the birth of our first grandchild – a boy. At the time of this writing, we are expecting our second – a girl. What a joy that is! However, also a joy to our hearts is watching our two children grow in their adult roles and responsibilities. As a pastor, I’ve experienced a similar feeling many times over as I have seen the growth in church members over the years.
I can identify with Paul as he rejoices over the spiritual growth of the church of Thessalonica. I know of his care and concern and I understand his joy. Sometimes we don’t get to see the fruits of our labors; sometimes we do. Sometimes we are disappointed and discouraged when we don’t see the growth for which we worked and prayed, but other times, hopefully more times, we can rejoice. Paul’s continued care for this young church allowed him to see their continual growth and made him a “proud parent” in the Lord.
My question for you is this: if there is a pastor or “spiritual parent’ out there somewhere looking back at you, are they gladdened by your growth in the Lord or saddened by your shrinking from the Lord? My prayer is the same as Paul’s (1 Thes. 3:13), “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy…”
Prayer: Dear Lord, strengthen us today and help us live lives that are more pleasing to You, also gladdening the hearts of those who have labored to help us grow. Terry Walters
November 29 Daytime Living
Since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV
Today’s Readings: 1 Thessalonians 4, 5 2 Thessalonians 1, 2, 3
Cell phones are becoming, at the same time, both the best and worst thing ever invented. They have so many different functions; I can’t begin to name them all. However, I use mine for something absolutely essential to my well-being. I use it as a flashlight when I get up two or three times in the middle of the night every night! Without my portable nightlight, I would stumble over every piece of furniture in the house
People all around us are stumbling through the darkness. Some have been lulled to sleep by smooth talking preachers of peace and safety; some have been deluded by false prophets. Some oppose the gospel; some just ignore it. None of them want to live right and can’t without the light of God’s word.
But we are to be people of the light. We are to live self-controlled, holy, faithful, thankful lives to the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. How? Well, the Psalmist said he hid God’s work in his heart in order to not sin against God (Ps. 119:11) and that the word was a lamp for his feet and a light for his path (Ps. 119:105). We must get into the word. We are people of the daytime, so let’s live like it!
Prayer: May the light of God’s Word keep us from stumbling.
Terry Walters
November 30 God Has the Power
…Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. Romans 4:21 NIV
Today’s Readings: Romans 1,2,3,4
So many times over the years I have thought or said, “I wish I had the power to ….” and then finished the statement with the need of the moment. It is always a need that I cannot supply myself, hence the “wish.” Someone was sick or hurting and I couldn’t make them well. Something was broken that I couldn’t fix. Wisdom was needed beyond my sphere of knowledge and expertise. What was needed was a miracle and I’m no miracle worker. Nor are you!
But aren’t we glad that God is! In just today’s reading we see that God has the power to create (1:20), to forgive (4:8) and to judge (2:6), to save souls (1:16), to change lives (1:1), and to resurrect the dead (1:4). He is God and can do it all! Our part is to trust and obey.
What do you need today? Healing? Forgiveness and cleansing? Wisdom? Power to change? Power for daily living? God has promised to supply our needs and just as Abraham believed, He has the “power to do what he promised.”
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we have many needs today. Help us to know and trust that You can and will meet them. Terry Walters
December 1 Salary and Benefits
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness and the result is eternal life. Romans 6:22 NIV
Today’s Readings: Romans 5, 6, 7, 8
When anyone considers taking a new job, they generally look into what the salary will be and what benefits they’ll get. We think in terms of vacations, days off, insurance and retirement plans and more recently we’ve learned about “perks” as well.
We all have heard of Romans 6:23 and we’ve learned about the spiritual wages of sin (death) versus the gift of God (eternal life). But we skipped over the benefits! Verse 22 says we reap a benefit that leads to holiness.
We’re quick to accept and revel in the prospect of eternal life, but we are not so quick to take hold of holiness. Eternal life is a gift – holiness we have to work at. But we must work at it, for we are now slaves of God. We don’t like the idea of being slaves, but we need to understand it’s not a bad thing. It brings a benefit that leads not only to eternal life in heaven, but also to an even better life on earth. Holiness is not only possible, but it is to be desired. Belonging to God is not just about getting to go to heaven, but it is also about living like we belong there!
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to understand the concept of being your slaves – slaves to righteousness – rather than what we used to be. Lead us to holiness. Terry Walters