August 2021 – Church, Discipleship, and Missions

God’s Power and Goodness: Year One Day 243 Devotional

Passage:2 Chronicles 7
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 57

2 Chronicles 7:1-3

Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. ²The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. ³All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

What would it be like to see such an awesome display of God’s power, to see fire come down from heaven and the glory of the Lord fill the temple? I can’t imagine it. How would I respond?

I would expect the people to feel terror. Instead, they fell down in worship and praise. In the face of such a terrifying display of God’s power, they were impressed by His goodness and covenant love. God’s glory is for His people’s good because of His covenant love.

Father, fill me with a sense of Your glory, goodness and love.

Psalm 57:5 (NASB)

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Responding to Crisis: Year One Day 242 Devotional

Passage:2 Chronicles 5:2-6:42
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 56

2 Chronicles 6:32-33

“Also concerning the foreigner who is not from Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your great name’s sake and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, and fear You as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭6:32-33‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Once again, we see war driving people in mass awa from their homes. Crises are leading people to flee their homes to other countries, and the result is that East and West will meet on Main Street. How should the church respond?

The role of the church and individual believers is to live in such a away that the glory and love of Christ is known. Their love, ministry, and message should draw the outsiders to Christ causing those far from God to desire to know more of Him, to pray, and to seek Him.

So as believers, we should not panic when we meet Afghans, Iranians, Syrians, or any other immigrant on Main Street. Let us instead thank God for the opportunity to show His love and share the gospel. We should embrace our mission and demonstrate the glory of Christ.

Father, put in the hearts of Your people a passion to reach the peoples and languages that are near us. Let us not shrink back in fear or suspicion but take the gospel to everyone.

Psalm 56:12-13 (NASB)

Your vows are binding upon me, God;
I will render thanksgiving offerings to You.
For You have saved my soul from death,
Indeed my feet from stumbling,
So that I may walk before God
In the light of the living.

The Center: Year One Day 241 Devotional

Passage:2 Chronicles 3:1-5:1
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 55

2 Chronicles 5:1

So all the work that Solomon performed for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that his father David had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and all the utensils, and he put them in the treasuries of the house of God.

I wonder if in this verse we see the root of Solomon’s eventual failure. He focused on building the house of the Lord, but was his heart dedicate to the Lord? We can become more committed to what we do “for God” more than we are to God. It is easy for pastors, ministers, church planters, and missionaries to make what they do the center of their relationship with God. Inadvertently, they more Jesus to the side.

Lord, help me to keep Jesus at the center of my love and passion for You. Do not allow me to make my service to You my idol.

Psalm 55:16-17 (NASB)

As for me, I shall call upon God,
And the Lord will save me.
Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and moan,
And He will hear my voice.

Ordinary and Extraordinary: Year One Day 240 Devotional

Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 54

2 Chronicles 2:5-6

⁵The house which I am about to build will be great, for our God is greater than all the gods. ⁶But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? And who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?

Solomon desired to build a great temple because he knew God was great. God was and is worthy of all we do for Him and His glory.

A couple of decades ago, we emphasized doing something great for God, something radical. Now, the trend is to be faithful in the ordinary and encounter God there. There needs to be a balance. We should set our sights on living lives that reveal God’s greatness while recognizing that outstanding achievements often come through a series of ordinary acts.

God may use missionaries to do great things—to start people movements and reach unengaged, unreached people groups. To do so, they had to pack and say goodbye at home. After that, they had to adjust to a new culture—learn to shop differently, drive differently, and speak differently—all very mundane things. They did those things to build relationships and share the gospel, often with little or no response, but in the end, they make new disciples. Each ordinary act led to an extraordinary thing.

God is worthy of both our ordinary and extraordinary service to Him.

Father, teach us to do all things for Your glory.

Psalm 54:4 (NASB)

Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.

Psalm 53 Reading: Year One Day 239 Devotional

Passage: Catch up by reading through the end of 1 Chronicles.
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 53

Psalm 53:1 (NASB)

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.