I Am the Greatest*

May 6

Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and char-

acter, hope.

Romans 5:3–4

“C’mon, James!” Lester pleaded. “Just throw me a few pitches, pleeeeease? I

won’t ever ask again—I promise!”

“I can’t, buddy. I gotta get to work. Just toss it up and hit it like I showed

you.”

Disappointed, Lester headed out behind the barn to do as James suggested.

“Maaaaan.” The word dragged out. “How am I ever gonna be the greatest?”

But Lester, being who he was, made the best of things.

Imagining the hayfield was Yankee Stadium, he tossed the ball into the air;

it hit the top of its arc and began its descent. Lester hauled his bat back and

swung, missing the ball completely. “Strike one!” he declared. Undeterred, he

picked up the ball and repeated the process, this time tossing the ball a little

higher, giving himself more time to prepare. The ball came down; Lester swung

and missed again. “Strike two!” his mother heard him cry.

Taking a break from hanging out laundry, she peeked around the corner of

the barn in time to see her youngest son retrieve the ball and launch it skyward

once more. The toss was perfect! She watched the ball drop as Lester timed

his swing. He swung for the fence and missed a third time. “Strike three!” he

hollered. “You’re out!” What she heard next made her giggle. “I am the greatest;

that is a fact. But even I didn’t know I could pitch like that!”

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Lester’s hope-filled character is a lesson for us all; Lester’s spirit prevailed. In

his mind, he succeeded in spite of his apparent failure. He chose to view things

from a lofty perspective. He saw himself as a victor no matter what it looked

like in the natural.

In each of our disappointments, God includes a lesson for our benefit.

These are character-building moments. If we lose hope and allow disappoint-

ing results to influence us negatively, we miss an opportunity to learn and grow.

If we seek to learn the lesson God provides, we gain understanding.

Are you the greatest? The choice is up to you.

Prayer

“Sometimes it seems as if I fail, Lord. Teach me

to see with eyes of hope instead of a heart of

discouragement. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

* Adapted from Kenny Rogers' hit son, 'I Am The Greatest'

With Kenny's Permission

 R-I-S-K

May 5

As you go …

Matthew 10:7

To Jonathan, it wasn’t a risk. He’d learned to trust God for the results and not

worry about how he looked. He had such a hunger to learn more about the

nature of his Creator. He was convinced that miracles had not passed away. His

reasoning? Christ is still building His church! The miracles seen in Jesus’ era

served a specific purpose; they pointed to a greater truth: God.

Jonathan believed that if God is still building the church, he was supposed

to continue to ask the Holy Spirit to show up in power.

Sadly, many in his church felt that Jonathan was stepping over reasonable

boundaries. Their lack of understanding didn’t stop him. “Lord, only You are

capable of strengthening Martha’s weak muscles. Only You have the power to

rid her body of this torment. Satan, loose your grip on this woman in Jesus’

name. Jehovah Repheka*, cause power to come into her limbs and strength to

her body. Raise her from this bed of infirmity, Holy Spirit. May it bring God

glory and honor to work among us today. Amen.”

God had been stretching Jonathan; the results of Jonathan’s obedience had

been awesome! Of the sixty-some people God had led Jonathan to pray for

over the last few months, ten had been completely healed of terminal illness.

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Many of Jonathan’s critics were quick to point out that fifty-some people did

not receive healing. Had Jonathan allowed their powerless approach to the

gospel to influence his actions, ten people would have died. He chose to believe

the inerrant Word of God—that God is doing today what He did in the New

Testament church: “Healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing those who

have leprosy, driving out demons.” This is still the church age. God has not yet

sent Christ to get His bride.

Your belief does not change the truth: God is the God of the supernatural.

We are His children, heirs to His power and authority. His desire is that we

claim and use our inheritance now, when it will have the greatest affect on the

kingdom.

What would you risk for the King?

Prayer

“Father, move on Your people to quicken them to

believe. Send Your power through us today. Amen.”

* Jehova Repheka means the ‘Lord who heals you’ as in Exodus 15:26

 Septic or Sanctified

May 4

But you were washed, you were sanctified.

1 Corinthians 6:11

Warren listened as the group discussed sanctification. There were varying per-

spectives; but, the main assumption was they were saved and that was enough.

He smiled as he recalled the vision God had given him a few years before at a

time when he had felt the same.

“Think of it this way, Warren,” God began. “You’re struggling through life,

doing the best you can. But then you realize you’re standing up to your chin in

a septic tank. In your revelation, you determine that you cannot get out of the

tank on your own, yet you come to believe that Someone else has the power to

lift you out of the stench and onto solid ground, i.e., salvation.

“Let’s say you accept His offer to be removed from your helpless situa-

tion, and He lifts you out of the mire and stench. In that moment, you are

saved—but you still stink! You are still covered in contaminants that must be

removed so you can be free of the vile things in your life. That is the process of

sanctification. Unless you allow Me to wash away the dirt a little at a time, you

will continue to smell like the world.” Warren smiled as he shared with them

God’s desire that we be washed in the water of sanctification.

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For many Christians, there is a sense of complete relief when they receive sal-

vation, and that’s as far as they care to venture. Their lives are filled with things

they would need to give up if they intended to come into a deeper relationship

with Jesus Christ. They don’t care that they still stink like the world; saved is

good enough.

Others don’t know there is more. So they continue on in blissful ignorance,

smelling, not knowing something can be done to ‘purify them.’

Some come to the knowledge that God wants more for us, and they set

out to be washed in the waters of sanctification only to become uncomfort-

able, stopping part way through the process. God’s desire is that we make a

life-long commitment to sanctification, and in doing so, find unknown depths

of cleansing!

Prayer

“I still have an offensive aroma, Lord. Continue to

wash me until I am completely clean. Amen.”

 What I Need

May 3

Your Father knows what you need.

Matthew 6:8

“I don’t enjoy the new house church as much as our old group,” Ray said. “It’s

not that I don’t benefit from this one—I just really miss our old friends. I wish

we were still together.”

It was the third time in as many months that Ray had made this com-

ment. He, Brett, and their wives had been part of the old group made up of six

couples. They’d been together for over five years. They had shared struggles, and

in doing so, had become very close.

The old crowd had split up, each couple leading their own group. Ray was

missing the closeness tonight.

Brett smiled. “God knows how much we miss the old fellowship, Ray. He

just loves us too much to leave us together too long. He wants us to develop

new relationships. As God stretches us, we discover things about ourselves we

would never have known otherwise. Trust Him a little longer, Ray. God knows

what we need. He may even choose to bring us back together.”

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Ray’s desire to go back to the more comfortable and seemingly more nourish-

ing group is not uncommon. Unfamiliar things can be awkward in the begin-

ning. Ray wasn’t remembering that it had taken him two years to loosen up in

the old group. He just remembered the benefits he’d reaped.

We tend to resist change. But we can’t grow if we remain anchored in the

familiar. We can unknowingly get to where we worship the atmosphere cre-

ated in close-knit groups and not the Creator of the atmosphere. It can and

does happen without our recognizing it. Trusting God in the uncomfortable

is where we grow the most. We gain invaluable experience when we let Him

move us into the center of His will instead of demanding that He submit to

ours. It’s not always easy or comfortable at first, but the dividends we receive

from being stretched spiritually are priceless.

The next time you encounter change, embrace it in expectation. God

knows what you need.

Prayer

“I don’t do change too well, Lord, and I need Your

help seeing the benefit of new things. Give me a

heart to trust You when I step out believing You

know what’s best for me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Deliberate Investments

May 2

Be Shepherds of God’s flock …

1Peter 5:2

Hardy moved quietly, trying not to awaken anyone but his eight year-old son,

Griff, “Hey Buddy,” he whispered while softly shaking Griff ’s shoulder, want-

ing to awaken, but not startle his son.

Griff was groggy at first. Then, in that first moment of awareness where

we lay hold of understanding, Griff sat upright, they were going fishing! “Is it

time?!” he asked excitedly.

“Yep!” Hardy could barely restrain his laughter at his son’s immediate tran-

sition from a dead sleep to wide awake, Funny how the mind works its way

through the fog of unconsciousness into stark clarity so quickly when it’s something fun! he thought.

Twenty minutes later, with breakfast consumed, fishing gear loaded, and

the boat hitched to the truck, they set out for the lake and a day of adventure.

Griff was a live-wire, shooting rapid-fire questions, hardly allowing

Hardy time to answer before the next one burst from his lips, “Where we

goin’ first?! Can I drive the boat?! Do we have ‘nough worms?! Didja get the

bigfatjuicyones?!”

“Whoa, Buddy! Don’t wear yourself out before we get there!” Hardy

smiled, remembering mornings like this when his Dad had looked at him in

amusement, while shaking his head and patiently answering each question.

This was going to be a great day, full of possibilities; a day of memories

waiting to be made and experienced!

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Hardy loved to fish because his father had taken the time to introduce him to

the sport. The man had deliberately invested in his son; depositing knowledge,

wisdom, and time, so that Hardy had the best chance at becoming a man of

character, and one who looked out for others. Hardy, likewise, wanted Griff to

be a man of character; someone willing to invest in others. In short, he under-

stood a father’s charge: shepherd your flock.

Our sons and daughters will exhibit only the characteristics we take the

time to model for them. If we deliberately invest in them they will not disap-

point us, or society.

The truth about time is that it is fleeting. We should endeavor to not miss

a chance to plant good seeds into each moment provided.

Prayer

“Help me plant good seeds, Lord. Show me when and what to

deposit into my flock’s lives, Father. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. “

 Created to Be Dangerous

May 1

The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

Exodus 15:3

During his personal morning worship, Jacob began praising Jesus for the work

of the cross, thanking Him for the suffering he endured on his behalf and for

subjecting Himself to the scorn of those who would kill Him.

At one point, Jacob’s thoughts turned to what felt like blasphemy; he actu-

ally had a vision of himself trading places with Jesus on the cross, not dying

for the sin of the world, but wanting to relieve Christ of His burden. He felt a

momentary sense of shame for even entertaining the possibility that he could

take Jesus’ place.

Yet, in that moment, the Spirit of God whispered, “Do not be ashamed of

such thoughts. I created you to do great and mighty things. I placed in you the

desire to rise to the occasion, to save the day, to be someone’s hero; I created

you to be dangerous. You have been made in My image. Am I not a warrior?

Do we not have a foe that comes to steal, kill, and destroy? You also are a war-

rior created for battle! I expect you to have such thoughts. The work of the

cross is not for the weak and frightened. You must be dangerous; a formidable

opponent.”

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Ladies, your husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers were created to be danger-

ous. And for good reason; this world we live in is not safe.

C.S. Lewis said of Aslan (a character representing Christ) in the Chronicles

of Narnia, “He is not a Safe Lion, but he is good.”

Men, we were created to be dangerous, to stand against the injustice in this

world and the one just outside our vision. If we are to care for those who cannot

care for themselves, those who were not created to stand against the enemy in

the heat of battle, then we must be dangerous! We must take our place on the

watchman’s wall (Ezekiel 33:7–9), not as bullies, but as protectors, warriors who

would stand between those we hold dear and the enemies of heaven.

Prayer

“Lord Almighty, teach me to stand against an enemy

who wants me dead and powerless. Help me stand

as Your image bearer. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Commitment

April 30

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen

the hearts of those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

2 Chronicles 16:9

Sherry began setting up her keyboard as André assembled the rest of the

sound system. André was pastoring a small church on the campus of a local

college in a sleepy little community. He and Sherry felt a deep sense of com-

mitment to this body of believers. This was a unique congregation in that it was

mostly made up of transient college students with just a few people from the

surrounding countryside thrown in for good measure.

Three times in the past two years there had been evictions threatened by

the school, trying to stop them from meeting on campus. Two times the church

had appealed and been given a stay of execution. Today, however, would be

their last Sunday in Horn Hall. Last Friday’s board meeting had ended in what

appeared to be a victory for the school.

As they completed setting up for the morning service, André and Sherry

thanked God for the time they had been given in this building, winning young

lives for Christ.

Having found a new place on campus to meet, they would continue min-

istering to the students. But this had been where they had begun their ministry

for the Lord, and it would always cling to a corner of their hearts.

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Jesus’ commitment to us, our salvation and sanctification, is almost impossible

to comprehend. He allowed Himself to be led to a day where it appeared He

had lost all hope of reigning as King. Only by His great act of love do we have

hope of true life. In Him we have the perfect example of how to strengthen

the body of Christ.

As we live for Someone else, serving those around us that they might know

Christ, we discover where our strength comes from. Only through Christ’s sac-

rifice and the power of the Holy Spirit do our hearts receive what’s needed to

walk out a life committed to Christ.

Prayer

“Thank You, Jesus, for teaching me about walking

in grace. When I want to run, hem me in. When I

falter, hold me up. When I fall, pick me up. When

I have no strength, give me Yours. Amen.”