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Don't Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater!

If you're able to plug your new Christian friend into a Bible study and church, she's probably beginning to grow spiritually. But she's still a baby Christian. So it's understandable she'll fail. That's okay. That doesn't mean she's “lost” it or just can't cut being a Christian. It's normal to make mistakes. Remember when you first learned to ride a bicycle? You fell, scraped your knees, maybe even ran into your neighbor's mailbox-but you didn't quit. You kept on until you got the hang of it.

Please don't give up on your friend when she blows it. Encourage her. Remind her to ask for God's forgiveness, accept it, then get up and keep walking.

There may be some habits in her life that she needs to get rid of. It's not your job to point out all the bad stuff you see. That's God's job. You're not His “sin monitor.” Let Him deal with it in His perfect timing.

But as she begins to wrestle with some of these issues (possibly drinking, smoking, cussing, her sex life), you can help her learn to see and understand what God wants and expects. When she asks you (yes, wait until you're asked) if you think she should go out with Mark (who's a heavy drinker), you can share that as a new Christian it might be too big a temptation for her. And you can explain the importance of dating those who share her newfound faith and morality.

But if she goes out with him anyway and drinks and tells you about it later, don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. It's understandable you'll be frustrated. And it's understandable that you want her to “hurry and grow up” spiritually. But growth takes time.

Offer to pray with her. Seek God's forgiveness, then “toss out” the habit of going out with those who will tempt (just like you'd “toss out” old bathwater), and continue walking forward. Most important: Let your friend know you care about her spiritual growth! Don't abandon her. Stick close and introduce her to more Christian friends she can hang out with.

Know It!
Aren't you glad God didn't give up on you when you first came to know Him? Chances are you made a few mistakes, struggled to let go of some old habits and maybe even refused to break away from friends who were pulling you down. But because God stuck with you, showed you His patience and let other Christians into your life, you continued to walk with Him. Do the same for your friend.

Read It!
1 Corinthians 3:6; Colossians 1:10; Colossians 2:19; 2 Thessalonians 1:3.

Pray It!
Ask God to give you wisdom to know when to speak out and when to be silent.

Bought, Branded, Bonded Part I

Don't even think about reading the next three devotions unless you're willing to stretch your mind, use your imagination and enter into a world from which you may never want to leave.

Yeah, it's bizarre, but you were warned. Ready to travel? Okay. Close your eyes. Go ahead. As in now. (Hey! Your eyes can't be shut if you're still reading!).

Okay. With your eyes closed . . . pretend you're a cow. A beautiful golden-brown cow with just the right amount of white sprinkled throughout your hide to make you attractive to all the other cows.

Are you hungry? Okay, let's mosey out to greener pastures. As we stroll through the thick, tall green you stop to swish your tail and show the flies who's boss. Ummm. The warmth of the yellow sun on a clear day feels incredible. You lift your nose to the sky, taking in the glistening glow of warmth about to become heat. Ahhh. How could life be any better?

Your four hooves leisurely lead you through the bright green pasture, rich in a grassy buffet of your favorite vegetation. Yep. This is the life, you think as you chew on your favorite meal.

You lovingly gaze at your friends next to you enjoying the same wonderful life. Suddenly, your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of horse hooves parading upon your territory. You turn your head to see the owner of the ranch dismounting his horse with a long, iron rod. Almost immediately, several ranch hands have joined him. They start a fire, and you turn back to your lunch.

Within no time, the fire has become steady, strong flames of heat. You hear one of the ranch hands say, “It's hot enough now. Grab the iron.”

You turn around just in time to see the owner of the ranch dip the iron rod in the blazing fire. What happens next is a blur.

The owner pulls the rod out of the fire, and you notice that what was once black iron is now a brightly glowing red. You've never seen anything become so hot that it changes colors. But in just seconds, you not only see it, you experience it.

The owner raises the glowing-red rod to you! You're too stunned to move. And in the millimeter of a second, he's pressing the iron to your back. What? Hey! You don't even have time to think. Or to process. All you can concentrate on is the sound of your own flesh being seared with the owner's rod.

You've been branded.

Everywhere you graze, anywhere you wander, everyone will see your owner's mark on your skin. From this point on, there will be no doubt as to whom you belong.

Know It!
Yes, it's a bizarre illustration, and you won't realize its full impact until you've finished reading the following pages. But get this: God wants there to be no doubt that you belong to Him.

Read It!
John 15:19; Romans 1:6; Romans 14:8; 1 John 3:9.

Pray It!
Ask God if you're allowing His reflection to shine clearly through your life. Are there any blockages that are standing in the way?

Bought, Branded, Bonded Part III

You timidly glance up to see Plow Man rushing the other bidder. He violently throws him in the dust and raises a knife to the stranger's throat.

Plow Man's a maniac! Oh, God, protect me! you desperately pray. The stranger-you can't figure it out, because you never saw him move-is suddenly on top of Plow Man holding the knife to his throat. You can't see the stranger's face, but the plow guy is sweating so much on the dusty road, the dirt is turning to mud on his face. The stranger stabs the ground. Then he stands and says, “Get this through your head. She's mine. There is no price too high for me to pay.”

Plow Man raises himself to his feet and pulls his knife from the ground. “You can have her,” he hisses, “but this isn't over. When you least expect it, I'll take her from you!” He spits at the stranger's feet and leaves.

The stranger turns around. You gasp. It's the guy with the gentle eyes and the warm smile. He pulls out a wad of bills-empties his wallet-and unchains your feet and hands. “Here,” he says, “wrap yourself in this.”

Flannel. Your favorite. Ahhh, it feels so soft against my filthy body.

He doesn't put you in the back of his wagon. He has a place ready for you up front-with him. On your way out of town, he stops at a tailor's. “Only the best,” he says. “Make her fine clothing out of your best material. Spare no expense.”

Days turn into weeks. And you can't believe your good fortune. You're a slave, but you're being treated like a queen. Your master has given you a king-sized bed in your own big room. He cares and provides for you more than you imagined. You're so grateful, you find yourself wanting to serve him. “What can I do for you, Master?” you ask. “Can I clean the barn? Can I plant seed?”

He smiles and takes you by the hand. “I'll show you how,” he says. While you're working alongside your master, you try to concentrate on your good fortune of meeting such a wonderful friend, but you're haunted by the words of Plow Man: “This isn't over! When you least expect it, I'll take her from you!”

A month later, your master calls you into his office. “You've done a fine job here,” he says-and his eyes glisten with pride for you. “But I bought you. You had no choice in the matter. I paid for you, and I brought you here as my own. I love you so much that I will not keep you against your will. You're free to go.”

Know It!
How would it feel to be saved from an evil person such as the Plow Man and then to be granted your freedom? Would you choose to go? Or would you choose to remain with the master who more than adequately provides for you?

Read It!
John 8:47; Romans 6:18; Galatians 5:1; 1 Peter 2:9.

Pray It!
Ask God to help you truly understand what it means to be “bought” and “set free.”

Bought, Branded, Bonded Part V

It's as if Jesus opens wide the windows of heaven, parts the clouds, splits the sky right in half and announces to all creation, “I CHOOSE HER!” (Insert your own name here for greater effect.)

“I want YOU on My team.”

Whew! No more standing by the fence hoping you'll be selected. No more wishing that someone would want you. He chooses you! In fact, He selected you years ago. He knew Plow Man would engage in a bitter bid of wills offering all kinds of things for you-sex, attention, popularity. So He said, “I'll just go ahead and pay the highest price anyone could ever pay. I'll give My life.” And He did. He paid for you with His blood.

(If this is sounding too good to be true, you can find the proof in Romans 5:8 about how God selected you when you were still a sinner!) Isn't it exciting that He didn't wait for you to get your act together before choosing you? He could have said, “Whoa! Once you get off that filthy auction block and clean yourself up . . . once you've become involved in a youth group and have become a respectable person . . .” He saw you at your point of greatest need and said right then, “I want you! And I want you right now-just as you are!”

Wow! That's grace!

I like being chosen, you may be thinking. It feels great to be selected-to realize that God loves me so much, He looked inside my mom's womb even before I was formed and said, “I want her!” Wow. But really . . . what are we talking about here?

We're talking about you being so in love with Jesus Christ that you become enslaved to Him. In other words, as a slave would belong to his owner for a lifetime, you want to belong to Jesus for a lifetime and an eternity.

Yeah, I DO love Jesus, you're thinking. And I DO want to serve Him forever. But how do I become His bond slave?

1. Realize you've been bought. Remember, He paid for you with His life. You are incredibly valuable to Him. Don't ever take His death for granted. (If you start to think His death was no big deal, flip back to the devotions found on March 21-25 for a recap of what Jesus actually went through for you!)

Know It!
God is crazy about you! He loves you more than you can imagine. What are doing with His love? How are you responding? Are you sharing it with others?

Read It!
Romans 5:6-8; Romans 6:2-10; Romans 14:9-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3.

Pray It!
As you pray, ask God to show you specific ways you can share His love with those around you today.

Bought, Branded, Bonded Part VII

Quick recap: Are you so in love with your Master, Jesus Christ, that you're willing to become His bond slave forever? If so, here's the process for becoming enslaved to Him.

1. Realize you've been bought.

2. Realize you've been branded.

3. Realize you're bonded to Christ forever. In other words, don't simply fly through these devotional pages thinking this is just one more fad. Another creative commitment. Choose, instead to be chained to Him. Not simply attached to, but a part of! Make your prayer: “I willingly take on His name and His lifestyle.” There's a difference in being attached and being a part of! Being bonded to Christ forever is saying, “I'll put everything I have into bonding ever closer to Him.”

This is an ongoing process. And to become a bond slave of Jesus Christ, this needs to be your highest priority. This is your job right now: To become as close to Jesus Christ as you can. To become so tightly bonded to Him that the world just can't comprehend it.

Your job really isn't to worry about how much money you can earn or how you can push your way into the most popular clique or look better than anyone else at your school. Repeat: Your job right now is to become as close to Jesus Christ as you can. To become so tightly bonded to Him that the world just can't comprehend it!

If you truly want to become all God calls you to be, then this commitment to become His bond slave will affect everything in your life. From this point on, you'll have a new standard. You'll use a brand-new measuring stick for everything in your life.

From now on, you'll measure all you do according to the seal, the brand, the mark of Jesus Christ-His Holy Spirit.

For example, imagine I actually jumped through the pages of this book and burned the name of Jesus Christ and all He stands for (His character, His will, His plan for your life) on your forehead. That would become the measuring stick for your life.

“Will you go to this R-rated movie with me?”

Hmmm. Does it match the brand on my forehead?

“Will you go to this party?”

Does it reflect His brand?

“Come on! Show me how much you love me. We won't go all the way; let's just mess around. Everyone else is.”

Will my behavior echo the brand I'm wearing on my forehead?

Okay. You don't really have a scar on your forehead. That's not where the brand, the mark, the seal of Jesus Christ is anyway. That was only an example. His seal, His mark, His Holy Spirit is branded on your heart. And inside your mind. It becomes your lifestyle.

My language. The magazines I read. What I do on the Internet. Does it reflect the Holy Spirit in my life? No? Then, sorry. It's not for me. See, I have a new standard now for which I'm measuring my life!

Know It!
When you become Christ's bond slave, you're actually living out your love for Him.

Read It!
1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:22.

Pray It!
Tell God your desire to become His bond slave forever. Ask Him to take complete control of your life.

Pencil It In
By: Jeff Lappano

“Love keeps no records of wrongs” 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

I am so fascinated by the words that the apostle Paul penned. Every time I get to read anything that the author wrote I am totally blessed. However, there are times when I read a verse here and there, I wonder if Paul is contradicting other author’s writings, even his own at times. Its not until I study the entire passage that I find the harmony in what the two say.

A while back the Lord dealt with me in the area of anger, and out of that came a devotion out of Ephesians 4, where Paul deals with anger. If you would like a copy of that, please let me know. Verse 26 in the KJV says, “Be ye angry, and do not sin: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Paul began this verse by quoting something David wrote, and went a different direction with it, I want to show you what David wrote and tie everything together. The direction David takes is found in chapter 4, and verse 4. “Think about it overnight and remain silent.” Paul and David both tell us that it’s alright to be angry, as long as you deal with it in the proper way.

OK, by now ya’ll are scratching your heads trying to figure out how this ties in together. When that person who you lover ticks you off, you have to deal with it or else strife and a bunch of other junk will destroy the relationship. Yet the timing of dealing with the situation has a lot to do with this as well. Therefore if the timing isn’t immediately there to deal with the situation, it’s a good thing to remember the situation so at the proper time it can be dealt with. Don’t ink into your heart, but that’s permanent, but I challenge you to pencil it, because at the right time, you can deal with it and erase it.

How Serious Are You?

The Old Testament prophet Elijah had lived an adventurous life! He was instrumental in turning people back to the Lord, and he defeated the 450 heathen prophets of Baal. When his time on earth was coming to an end, God instructed him to find a young man named Elisha and to anoint him as Elijah's replacement as God's prophet.

Elijah found his replacement plowing a field with 11 more teams of plowers in front of him. Elijah went to the back of the line and tossed his personal coat across Elisha's shoulders. A person's coat was the most valuable piece of clothing he owned. It served several purposes: Not only was it used to keep him warm and protect him against the wind, sun and cold, but it was also used to sit on, to lie on as bedding and even to carry things in as a piece of luggage.

Elisha, a man of God, knew exactly what the significance meant. He understood that God was calling him to become Elijah's successor. Elisha's response was, “First let me say goodbye to my parents before I come with you.” Elijah agreed.

We're told in the New Testament of another time when someone asked to say goodbye to their parents before accepting God's call, and Jesus denied the request. Christ was issuing the call for believers to follow Him wholeheartedly. One young man asked to bury his father first. Jesus told him to let the dead bury their own dead.

Was Jesus being mean? No. Culturally, it was common to make excuses regarding your family, to get out of things you didn't want to do. It was very likely that this man's parents were actually in excellent health. Jesus was in essence telling him to be concerned with matters of living instead of focusing on problems he hadn't even encountered yet-the future of his parents death.

Elisha's situation was different. His father expected him to fulfill his obligation of working the fields. To honor his father, Elisha wanted to explain why he was leaving. He wasn't using this as an opportunity to let his parents talk him out of following Elijah. Rather, he was actually showing respect to his parents.

Elijah sensed Elisha's genuine spirit and granted him permission to do so. To prove that he wasn't second- guessing his commitment to Elijah, Elisha told his folks goodbye, and then killed his oxen, and burned their plows. With his tools now gone forever, Elisha knew he couldn't return to the fields. He was serious about answering God's call on his life!

God wants total commitment from you. Those who follow Christ half-heartedly, don't follow Him very far. Elisha was demonstrating that he desired to follow God's call on his life with abandon.

Know It!
Have you given your entire life to God with reckless abandon? When you do, you'll experience true freedom and joy of total commitment and obedience.

Read It!
1 Samuel 15:22; 1 Kings 19:15-21; Matthew 8:22; Luke 9:59-62.

Pray It!
Ask God to reveal any excuses you've been making in regards to your commitment to following Him with total abandon.