Author Archives: lrbartel

Jul 12 2015
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Devos

Out of our comfort zone… That’s where the Lord would lead us!

Out of my comfort zone

It’s never pleasant to be pushed “out of your comfort zone” but that is usually when and where we experience growth! And it is very often where God would lead us (and additionally, what pleases Him)!

This morning during “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage from His word that left me feeling a lot like Jesus was doing that to me… Here’s what Jesus said…

“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends, or your brothers and sisters, or your relatives, or your rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14 ESV)

Now, I have to admit I feel a lot more comfortable with that first group! They’re my friends! They’re family! I know them. They accept me. We’ve got a lot in common. And my rich neighbors… they can help me succeed – I get recognition and status from hanging out with them!

The problem is, I’m a Christ follower! He’s my Savior and leader. He not only rescued me from sin and self – He’s committed to my spiritual growth! I’ve embraced His values! I’ve committed my life to following Him! He is Lord and all that term implies! And He insists that real life is not about me – it’s not about living “in my comfort zone.” It’s about meeting needs – about loving others! So He urges me to honor the poor, the challenged, the disadvantaged, the marginalized… those who cannot return the favor. He insists that’s the way to blessing! And as if to push me even further, He says the payoff may not even be in this life – it may come in the afterlife – after the resurrection in heaven!

And my response as a Christ follower? It’s got to be “Yes, Lord – I’ll do it! Thank you for caring enough about my spiritual development to push me out “of my comfort zone!”

Jul 11 2015
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Devos

The secret of contentment… Philippians 4:11-13

secret of contentment

Here’s a question that came to mind as I was reading my Bible this morning during “coffee with the Lord”… What am I able to handle? What kind of circumstances am I able to deal with in life successfully and gracefully as a Christian?

I read the following testimony by Apostle Paul from prison and thought about what he said… It left me in awe and caused me to offer a prayer to God for help. Here’s what he said…

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:11–13 ESV)

Wow! Here the guy is… unjustly imprisoned in Rome. From the very beginning dear friends from the church in Phillipi had supported his ministry… But then all of a sudden – Nothing! Nada! No support! No communication! He had to wonder what was coming off – what had happened. Questions flooded his mind. His billfold was empty! It appeared his friends (and perhaps even God, had forgotten or forsaken him!

In his testimony, it appears that his situation actually taught him an important lesson… How to be content in any situation: lack or abundance – poverty or plenty – fellowship or lack of it. The tense of the Greek verb Paul used seems to suggest that when the challenges were the worst and the frustration the greatest he learned the lesson – in a moment of time, in a kind of epiphany of insight.

The lesson? The secret that he learned? “I can do all things through Him that strengthens me!” He discovered the sufficiency of Christ – the adequacy of His enablement – the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit! He discovered that he could handle whatever life and circumstances brought his way with the help of the Lord! Jesus, and the power He provides, were enough… more than enough!

Wow! What a lesson to be mastered! What a life-secret! I don’t know very many people who have it down yet though… very many who demonstrate they have discovered “the secret!” Most of us think we can handle plenty and prosperity (and demonstrate we can’t)! We whine and complain over poverty and problems. Contentment, for us, is illusive or absent (and it is entirely all too dependent on our circumstances)!

Oh Lord, I want to show that I’ve learned the lesson Paul learned – the secret of His contentment! I want to exhibit the truth of the secret he discovered… “I can do – I can handle – all things through Christ who enables me!”

Jul 10 2015
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Devos

The difference between the words “whatever” and “only” from a Christian perspective…

There is a big difference between the words “whatever” and “only!”

“Whatever” is a word that emphasizes freedom: “You may do WHATEVER you desire”

“Only” stresses limitation: “You may ONLY do this or that”

I’ve got to say it is a tragic thing when we use a liberating word in the Bible in such a way that what we emphasize is limitation and stricture. I would argue that we actually end up distorting the Word of God! Here’s the example that came to mind this morning during my Bible reading…

Philippians 4:8 in the Bible says, “Finally, WHATEVER is true, WHATEVER is honorable, WHATEVER is just, WHATEVER is pure, WHATEVER is lovely, WHATEVER is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things!”

Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, in that verse is not emphasizing limitation – he is emphasizing freedom! It is unfortunate – no more than that – it is tragic when that verse is used in such a way that the result is bondage!

The difference is akin to the popular (but accurate) description between an “optimist” and a “pessimist.” An optimist sees a glass of water as almost full – a pessimist sees it as partially empty. An optimist sees a morning sky as sunny and bright – a pessimist sees it as partly cloudy.

I believe Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8 is emphasizing all that possible for a devoted, obedient, Christ follower to think about and participate in… “WHATEVER is true, WHATEVER is honorable, WHATEVER is just, WHATEVER is pure, WHATEVER is lovely, WHATEVER is commendable!” He even goes on… “Anything of excellence… anything praiseworthy!”

Wow! That is a lot of things in our world! Oh God, help us get our focus right! If we do, the Christian life will be a lot more attractive to our neighbors who are not Christ followers yet… AND our Christian life personally, with be a lot more enjoyable and fulfilling! Sure, we’ll have to say “NO!” to some destructive, damaging, and life-distracting things… but there is a lot of good, wholesome, wonderful things out there that fit into “WHATEVER!”

Just say’n! And I intend to focus on those things!

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