BELIEVE: week sixteen: Biblical Community

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47

The members of the early church did not devote themselves to evangelism—leading other folks to Christ. They devoted themselves first to each other and to God. They saw each other every day and often shared a meal together. When they gathered around the table, they ate with “glad and sincere hearts.” How did they do that? Between notes they chatted about the wonderful life they now had in Christ, and they praised God for it.

Once they finished their meal, they walked through the neighborhood streets and simply met the needs of the people around them from a heart of gratitude. Before people knew the doctrine that drove these believing neighbors, they experienced it. The result? People were added to the community of Christ every day. Evangelism resulted.

Happy and kind people are contagious. You may only be a great meal away from seeing another person come to Christ.

“I fellowship with christians to accomplish God’s purposes in my life, in the lives of others, and in the world.”

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-Day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee, pgs. 35-36.]

BELIEVE: week fifteen: Total Surrender

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1

The problem with living sacrifices is they keep trying to crawl off the altar. Surrendering to someone else’s will bring about tremendous fear, even when it is God’s will.

What will he ask you to do? Stay in a tumultuous relationship or marriage for the good of the other person? Walk away from a relationship that is not honoring or pleasing to him? Watch your spouse or child head overseas to serve their country? Move your family halfway across the country for a new job?

Fear associated with surrendering to uncertainty can cause a living sacrifice to wiggle off the altar, God asks you to stay on it, rely on his mercy and grace to get you through, and believe his promise that he is working out all things for your ultimate good.

“I dedicate my life to God’s purposes.”

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-Day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee, pgs. 33-34.]

BELIEVE: week fourteen: Single-Mindedness

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Max Lucado tells the story of a little girl who earns enough money to buy a pretty faux pearl necklace. One night her daddy comes to tell her good night and asks her, “Do you love me?”

The daughter replies, “Oh, yes, you know I love you!”

“Then give me your pearls,” he says.

“Oh, not my pearls, Daddy! You know I love my pearls.”

Kissing her good night, he says, “I understand.”

Several nights pass, then one evening the dad sees tears filling up his little girls eyes. He asks, “What’s wrong?”

Holding out her hand, she opens it and offers her strand of pearls to her ad, explaining, “I love my pearls, Daddy, but I love you more.”

The dad accepts the pearls and then reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a beautiful genuine pearl necklace and places it in his daughter’s hand.

Your heavenly Father wants you to open your hand and let go of the temporal things of your world so he can relate them with genuine eternal things of his kingdom.

“I focus on God and his priorities for my life.”

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee]

BELIEVE: week thirteen: Bible Study

“The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

A surgeon determines that you need surgery by evaluating your symptoms. He may treat your symptoms, but this only masks them. When the medicine wears off, your symptoms return. The illness is caused by a deeper problem. Until the root problem is cut out, the symptoms will not disappear.

The writer of Hebrews says living the Christian life without consistently reading the Bible is like treating symptoms of a disease instead of removing the actual cause. Symptoms like anger, bitterness, depression, or hatred are indications of a deeper problem and can be masked for a time, but they always return.

Studying God’s Word is like being under the skilled scalpel of a surgeon. During this surgery, however, you’re awake, peering over your draped body in a mirror. Now you see the deeper problems—insecurity, doubt, and sin.

Engaging in surgery by Scripture daily will bring healing and comfort for deep wounds, reinforce beliefs where doubt has crept in, and lead you in practices that will strengthen your faith.

The very best surgeon in the universe is available to you. Put your trust in the Great Physician!

“I study the Bible to know God and his truth and to find direction for my daily life.”

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee]

BELIEVE: week twelve: Prayer

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” Psalm 66:18-20

Asking for forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do, mostly because it requires admission of guilt. If you have wronged a friend—and whether or not your friend knows you have wronged them—you naturally avoid eye contact or avoid their presence altogether. You certainly would not be calling on them to do you any favors.

If you knew approaching your friend with an apology would mean reconciliation, you might be more likely to attempt the hard conversation, but most of the time your chances are fifty-fifty at best.

With God you never need to fear rejection if you approach him with a repentant heart. He’s your loving heavenly Father who wants nothing more than to be in a relationship with you, to hear your requests, and to grant the desires of your heart. The chances of reconciliation with God are one hundred percent. He already knows what you have done. He even knows your motives, and he loves you anyway. So you might as well come clean.

“I pray to God to know him, find direction for my life, and to lay my requests before him.”