Based on “Living or Dying - We WIN!” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 7/17-18/10,
Message #6055; Daily Devotional #2 - “The Fixed Point”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24). About twelve years ago, it was my little girl’s first birthday, and I always recall something interesting she did. We had invited some friends and family round the house, and it was a bright summer day in the Southeast of England. We were all out in the back garden, and I had set up a birthday cake outside as the weather was so beautiful. I decided to take some photographs for memories. I could not get my daughter to stand by her cake for a personal picture or with her friends in a group. Each time I put her down, she would run straight back to me! She was not upset and did not cry, but she had a very determined look on her face with her eyes fixed on me. We tried to distract her without success; she was only interested in being where I was. For young children, it often appears that life revolves around their parents, but as mature adults our focus in life determines our destiny.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): To be made new in the attitude of your mind; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:23-24). There are so many opportunities for ‘distraction’ in our present world, and our individual lives are often packed full of various activities. How do we find the right balance; how do we keep “the main thing the main thing” and not stray away from God? I once attended a Christian conference and opted for a seminar on time management. The pastor shared something about time that I had never heard before .We all have the same amount of time in a day, and it is like packing a suitcase. We all decide individually what we pack in our suitcases. We decide exactly how we utilize our time, knowing our time is truly in God’s hands (Psalm 31:15). The Word of God puts our lives in perspective and helps us find the right balance in our lives. Lives that are focused on Jesus Christ and the expansion of His kingdom here on earth are joyful and free of anxiety. Each new day is a blessing full of opportunities to live for Christ, fully convinced that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). When we renew our minds with God’s Word, and let it dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16), we draw divine strength to carry on. We also pave the way for God to act on His Word in our lives.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): For in Scripture it says: “See I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2:6) Jesus is the cornerstone, the Rock on which the church was built. He is a sure foundation, and He modeled life for us, teaching us how we should live. To live is making Jesus our focus, the center of all we do and the ‘heartbeat’ of our lives. Constant study and meditation on God’s Word will keep us going on the tightrope of life. Regardless of prevailing circumstances and situations, life for Christ followers should not be described as a struggle. Even when ‘life is tough,’ when we completely surrender to the Lord, He will make our life a blessing and an instrument for the expansion of His kingdom. This is only possible if your eyes are on the fixed point – Jesus! Are your eyes on the fixed point today? Jesus is the only one that was the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We are all living witnesses to the fact that the stock market, empires, our health, the economy, and everything else can fail. In times like this, dear one, do not stray away from the winning side - Jesus’. God is able to make your life relevant to the world around you every day; fix your eyes on Him, and you will always make a positive impact for Jesus.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 5:16
LO
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.