Day: January 25, 2012

Not that Into You Series Starts Tonight!

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

Every one of us has experienced it at some point. At one time, we were really into a relationship—whether that’s a friendship or a dating relationship—and now, well, not so much. We’re just not that into it anymore. So we walk away or we let the relationship die. But what happens when that relationship you’re not that into anymore is the one you have with God? You were really into Him at one point. You were feeling connected, directed, close. Now it feels like nothing. How do you deal with it?

Starts tonight at 6:30pm!  Be there!

Accountable to God: Day 13

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional11 Comments

January 25, 2012
Today’s Text:  Read Matthew 6:9-13

“Give us this day…bread”– Without refrigeration and without as many resources as we have today, a person in that time could not store food as we can today.  Often they would only have enough money to get them food for that day.  Of course there were exceptions, but this part of the prayer reflects the idea that we should be dependant for God’s provisions on a daily basis.  For many of us this may not look like praying to God for our next meal because we don’t know where it will come from, but it does look like recognizing that what we have comes from Him and that He gives us what we have as a gracious gift.  Dependence.

“forgive us our debts…debtors”- We must also recognize our status with God as being indebted to Him.  We could never ‘pay Him back’ for what He has done for us.  In fact, He has payed the sin-debt that we owe by dying on the cross.  Even still, when we sin, we sin against God and should ask for His forgiveness so that we may stay clean and close to Him.  In recognizing what God has done for us, we also must learn to forgive those who have sinned against us.  In fact, Jesus says that God should forgive us “as” or in the same way that we forgive those who wrong us.  Forgiveness.

“lead us not….amen”-  The last part of this prayer requests of God that we should not be lead into temptation, and that we should be delivered from evil.  He is able to ask that prayer to God because God is the one who can answer it!  Why?  Because “Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”  Ultimately everything will be to the glory and honor of God and not exclusively for our honor and glory.  We should live for His glory first. Glory.

Application:

Dependence–  As God observes your life, would He say that your attitude reflects that you depend on Him or on yourself?

Forgiveness–  As we recognize the goodness and forgiveness that God has given to us, we should be motivated to do good and forgive even those who do us wrong.  Is there someone you need to forgive today?

Glory–  Ultimately it’s all about God’s glory and not ours.  Are you concerned with God getting the glory in your life?