CBN - Devotional

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. (Luke 6:45 NLT) This Scripture in Luke 6 follows Jesus’ extensive teaching in vs. 27-44 about extending forgiveness to one another. Good things flow from the heart of a person who walks in forgiveness. They can express joy in ways that the bitter person can’t. Few people enjoy spending time around someone who is bitter—the amount of complaining and negativity can be draining. Hopefully no one specific comes to mind!   Years ago, when I was in a paid ministry position at a church, a couple of members went to the pastors and tried to get me fired. I remember being so angry and it took me quite a while to forgive them, which was sad. I understand there is a healthy process we can walk through of being angry but avoiding sin (Ephesians 4:26). It’s important not to suppress or live in denial when someone hurts us. However, the amount of torment I experienced by allowing bitterness in my heart was unacceptable. As a child of God, I knew better and had experienced the poison of unforgiveness before. Unfortunately, I had not allowed the foundation of Christ’s command to forgive to become solidified in my heart. One thing about the brutality of unforgiveness is that it distorts our perspective. We believe others are truly against us, which perpetuates the wounding.  Thankfully, Jesus patiently walked me through and helped me to forgive. He helped me see that, even though some of the things they shared were not true, this couple was not trying to lie. They truly believed a distorted version of events. Plus, compared to the unending amount of sin that I had been forgiven for—paid for by Jesus—what took place pales in comparison. Painful, yes. But a blip on the radar compared to what Jesus took on the cross.  I remember seeing this couple years later and was able to hug them and have a great conversation. What was amazing was that I had truly forgotten about everything that had happened—not just able to forgive them but did not even remember! I’ll never forget when the Lord spoke to me the next day and said, See what I did there. You didn’t even remember what took place. I only remembered what had happened once the Lord spoke to me. But the memory was without any sting.  The Lord helped me give them mercy because He is merciful. How many people through the years has the Lord helped extend mercy to me when I fell short? Jesus is the treasure in our heart and the world will know we are His disciples by how we love one another. He who is forgiven much loves much. (Luke 7:47) The words that we speak are evidence of our posture of walking in forgiveness. Jesus told us that offenses will come. (Luke 17:1) May we keep our hearts soft towards one another when they do.  Prayer for today:  Father, help us to receive Your love and extend it to one another. Thank You for forgiving us, help us to extend that same grace to others. May You show us anywhere we haven’t forgiven and lead us into all truth. All things are possible with You. In Jesus name, amen.   ~ Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

When I became engaged, I was so excited to start a new life with my husband. One day, while scrolling through social media, I saw a girl talking about how she was sad to change her last name because she didn’t want to lose that part of herself. Immediately, the thought “Can’t relate” came into my mind. Changing my last name was one of the things I looked forward to most about getting married. To me, it meant a fresh start—a clean slate, a new identity. For much of my life, I felt defined by things outside of my control. It wasn’t always said directly, but it was felt—in the way I was perceived and the expectations placed on me. Often, it seemed that where I came from mattered more than who I was becoming. No matter what I did or how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape a reputation that wasn’t even my own. Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute. (Judges 11:1 NLT) It’s the very first verse of the story and the first thing we learn about Jephthah. I remember reading this passage for the first time and thinking, how unfortunate for Jephthah to be identified in that way. As I continued reading, I learned that Jephthah’s brothers kicked him out of the house because of who his mother was. Yet when trouble came, they went back to him—because they knew who he truly was. He was a great warrior, and through the divine favor of God, he was made ruler over them. His story is one of redemption, grace, and God’s ability to rewrite what others try to define. I realized: our identity is not found in our bloodline, but in the blood of the Lamb. Have you ever felt like that—guilty by association? Like you’re remembered more for someone else’s failures than for who you actually are? For as long as I can remember, I lived under a reputation that wasn’t mine, simply because of my ancestry. One day, the Lord spoke Galatians 1:10 to my heart: Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. I realized that people think or say whatever they will, but living a life that is pleasing to God is what matters. I was reminded of how Jesus was mocked and ridiculed—yet His Father is the most perfect Father imaginable! That was the day I truly understood who I am: His. You are a chosen people. … royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. (1 Peter 2:9) If you haven’t yet surrendered your heart and life to Jesus, this is your invitation to do so—to turn to Him, trust Him, and receive the new identity He offers. When we turn our hearts to Christ and receive salvation through Him, we are washed clean by His blood. He didn’t die in vain—He died so that we could live lives full of purpose, joy, and light. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) No matter what others say about you, or who you used to be, when you belong to Him, you are now a daughter or son of the Most High King of Kings. You are made new! ~ Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

“It's time to leave the house,” I said to my toddler as he was playing with his toys scattered across the playroom floor. As I instructed him to go towards the garage door and get his shoes on, he waddled slowly with toys spilling out of his hands. He had a mountain full of “things” he planned on taking with him for our simple trip to the store. As toys dropped one by one to the floor, I looked at him, smiled, and told him, “Son, put those toys back, you don’t need to bring them in the car for where we are going.” Jesus used similar words when He called Matthew to be His disciple. Luke 5:27-28 says that when Jesus called Levi (Matthew) the tax collector to be a disciple, Levi responded by leaving everything behind. Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. (NLT) Levi (Matthew) the tax collector knew the value of money, and most likely, because of his profession, he had accumulated some wealth. But when Jesus called him, he left everything behind. When I reflect on this passage, I’m overcome with the realization of how much I’m carrying with me in my journey with the Lord. Have I abandoned all to follow Him? Would I lay down anything and everything to follow Him fully? Jesus not only called Levi (Matthew) the tax collector to abandon all, but this call of complete surrender is for you and me today. We can take heart in knowing when we make Christ the cornerstone of our life, we will inherit much more in eternal life than anything we might give up in our earthly life. Is this a costly surrender? Absolutely. But the reward for following Jesus will always be greater. Jesus states this in Matthew 19:29, “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.” May we not gain the wealth, possessions, or titles of this world only to lose our soul in the process (Mark 8:36). May we desire to live a life fully sold-out to Jesus, counting the cost (Luke 14:28), and responding with full surrender to His call. What does that look like for you and me today? Maybe that’s letting go of what is in our hands that is keeping us from full surrender. Just as I encouraged my son to leave his toys, maybe today Christ is calling you and me to surrender the “childish things” we are holding onto, and follow Him openhandedly, with nothing hindering us. Whatever that looks like for you and me, may the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts today and give us the strength to lay everything at the foot of the cross. When I think of this type of surrender to Christ, I am reminded of the truth from this beautiful hymn. As we worship our Lord and Savior and declare that we have decided to follow Jesus, may we follow Him with full abandon—with no turning back, may we fully surrender to Him. I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back; no turning back. If no one joins me, still I will follow; No turning back; no turning back. The cross before me, the world behind me; No turning back, no turning back. ~ Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.