My Plate Is Overflowing

Scripture:
Acts 6:1-3 (NIV)

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

Devotional:

There came a point where the Apostles became overwhelmed with everything that needed to be done.  There were tasks being neglected and people were being over looked.  The job and responsibilities became too burdensome and too much for them to handle.    So delegation became critical.

What are you trying to do that has put you over the top?  I look at my own plate and see all the things I am doing and all the things I want to add to it.  I look and think that there is too much there already.  How can I possibly add more?  Well the answer is simple but one we do not like to hear.  We have to remove items from our plate.  Sometimes there still isn’t room to add more.  We just clear the plate so it is manageable.  To add more you have to clear more stuff off.  In essence that is what the Apostles did.  They took some tasks and delegated them to others so that it could be done properly.  Then no one was neglected.  

As I look at my plate I see things I am ready to remove but I ask myself how.  I just don’t see how to remove items.  Even still the removal of one or two doesn’t give enough room to add new ones.  My plate is full.  How is your plate?  Are you trying to place too many tasks onto your plate?  Is it full and even over flowing?  Prayerfully look at all you do.  Think about what you are willing to remove and what you want to keep.  Compare your list to God’s list. It isn’t a bad thing to clear your plate once in a while.  It can also be a good thing to say no, even to what is God’s work.  Just because it is God’s work doesn’t mean it is your work.

The Apostles realized they had to say no to some very important, even critical tasks.  So that they could continue in what God really wanted them to do.  If they can say no and delegate it is OK for you to as well…    

The Debt Is Paid...

Scripture:
Philemon 1:18-19 (NIV)

If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

Devotional:

Have you ever owed someone something and you had no hopes of being able to pay it back?  In fact you can’t pay it back even if you wanted to.  OK another question.  Has someone ever stepped in and paid it back for you?  Maybe you were invited somewhere but couldn’t afford it but someone else covered it for you?

Paul implores Philemon to receive Onesimus back, not just as a slave, but as a brother.  Paul goes farther and pledges to make good all that Onesimus owes.  There was no way the Onesimus could ever repay Philemon.  After all he was a runaway slave.  He only had the grace and mercy that Paul gave and implored Philemon to give.

The truth is that you do have a debt that you cannot repay.  The only way it will be satisfied is through death.  The good news is that there is a “Paul” standing there imploring that you be received back into the “family.”  We can never atone for our sins.  Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Christ paid the debt for each and every one of us.  God receives us back not as sinners but with righteousness.  Romans 3:22-24:

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

We are restored because Christ paid the price for our inequities.

Little Light, Bright Light

Scripture:
Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB)

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Devotional:

Being the light of the world is a familiar passage for most of us.  Growing up a popular kid’s song is This Little Light of Mine.  How many times have you sung that wonderful little song?  Think about headlights on a car.  When the car is new the lights are bright and shine way down the road.  Others can see you coming and your path is well lit.  Over time they get dirty, scratched, scarred and do not shine so bright.  As the light gets older it will dim and eventually stop working.

Sin in our lives is like that.  As we grow in sin we are not as bright for Christ.  Eventually we will not shine at all.  Confessing our sins is important but we must also repent.  We need to place ourselves into God’s will.  We will not be perfect but our goal is to be Christ like in perfection.  By being examples of who He is we will shine brightly for Him.  Our sins will be removed and we will be renewed.  Even though in this life we will not attain perfection our goal is to be as close to it as we possibly can.  Then Christ will shine brightly through us lighting our path and allowing others to see Him in us. 

Caring, Just Do It...

Scripture:
Luke 10:30-37 (NIV)

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Devotional:

The story about the Good Samaritan is one of the first stories from the Bible I remember.  It often told to children and adults alike.  What makes it such a popular or powerful story?  Deep down in our hearts I think most of us wants to be able to care of others the way the Samaritan did.  We want to believe that we would do the same.

There is one thing that is for certain.  All of us would want somebody to stop and take care of us the way the Samaritan took care of the man lying on the side of the road.  Each of us wants to be cared for and be loved on. 

So why is it so hard to care for others?  My mom always told us to “treat others the way you want to be treated.”  With that thought in mind you would think it would be easy to care for others.  But the truth is that it can be very difficult to care like the Samaritan did in Jesus’s story.  Because we live in a sinful fallen world, and are fallen ourselves.  Caring like this goes against our sinful human nature.  We tell ourselves that we don’t have time.  We might convince ourselves that we can’t afford to.  Another belief we tell ourselves is that someone else will come along.  We get too busy and don’t have time.  This list could go on for pages as to why we can’t help and care.

Let me go back to an earlier thought.  “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”  If you were that half dead man lying on the road how would you want someone to respond?  Do you want people to just walk by on the other side?  No, you wouldn’t.  So why should you walk on by?  It isn’t always easy but it helps to keep this simple thought in your mind.  “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”  When you are walking down the road just remember it could be you lying there…