Sin is deceitful. We need one another.

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb 3:13)

We need one another. Not just to help with physical matters, but to help us grow spiritually. Sin can be deceitful. It can trick us into believing that our thoughts and actions are right and good when in reality they are sinful. We need others who are willing to speak into our life to point out our wrong thinking and wrong doing.

Spiritual growth occurs in community. If we are not in community with other believers, we hinder our own spiritual growth. As believers we should want to grow to be more like Christ. He is the One who has provided us with salvation after all. He is the One who provides us with rest.

If you are not prioritizing Christian community, you need to make it a point to do so. You need to plug in with a solid Bible believing, gospel-centered church in your area and begin fostering community.

Sin is deceitful. We need one another.

Jesus helps us defeat temptation

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Heb 2:18)

Jesus did not have an easy life. He was misunderstood, attacked, beaten, and finally nailed to the cross. Along the way He was tempted. Unlike us, He did not succumb to temptation. He held fast, proving Himself to be faithful and righteous. As a result, He is able to act as our high priest, as the one who is the go between us and the Father.

As our high priest, He not only brings sacrifice on our behalf, but He is the sacrifice. He gives Himself so that He might propitiate (satisfy) the Father’s wrath against our sin (Heb 2:17).

Through Jesus’ high priestly activity we are also released from bondage. We no longer have to fear the power of death. It’s bondage has been broken (Heb 2:14-15). We experience these benefits because Jesus took on flesh and blood, partaking in our life, living righteously and defeating temptation (Heb 2:14;18).

Jesus can help us, then, in our suffering because His suffering resulted in our release from bondage and empowerment by Him. Therefore, when we are tempted, we should not turn inwardly, nor should we run from God. Instead, we should turn to Jesus. He is able to help us defeat the temptation to which we are experiencing.

Believe it or not, God puts his grace and mercy on display by pointing out sin

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PastoralLeave a comment

Believe it or not, God puts his grace and mercy on display by pointing out sin. In Jonah 4, God comes to Jonah and says,

…“Do you do well to be angry?””

(Jon 4:4)

In other words, God asks Jonah: What right do you have to be angry at Me saving the Ninevites? Do you see what God is doing? He is pointing out Jonah’s sin. He is revealing his heart.

Not the first time

This isn’t the first time God has pointed out the sin of another. Way back at the beginning of the Bible is the story of Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel both brought God a sacrifice. God accepted Abel’s instead of Cain’s. This made Cain angry. God seeing Cain’s anger comes to him and says,

“The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

(Gen 4:6–7)

God is extending grace and mercy to Cain by pointing out his sin and the consequences of it. If you continue through the story, you find Cain doesn’t rule over his sin. He allows it to attack and rule over him. He eventually rises up against his brother and kills him. Cain ends up banished from his people forever. I’d like to think God’s words to Jonah would have made a connection back to this story in Jonah’s mind, just as it should for us.

When God points out sin, it is an act of grace and mercy.

God could have left Jonah to stew in his own sin but God doesn’t do that. Instead, He extends grace and mercy by pointing out Jonah’s sin.

God could allow us to stew in our sin, but He doesn’t. He brings others into our lives to point out our sin, so the next time your spouse, neighbor, coworker, or friend points out your sin, praise God for His grace and mercy instead of getting angry with them. The next time you are reading a book and God’s uses its message to point out your sin, praise God for His grace and mercy and keep reading instead of throwing it down. The next time a song or sermon reveals your sin, praise God for His grace and mercy and keep listening instead of tuning out.

Our God is a gracious and merciful God and He puts His grace and mercy on display when He points out our sin.

Be a refreshment to others through your love

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

“For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.” (Philemon 1:7)

We should seek to refresh one another in the faith, being a blessing to them. We should be a joy for others to be around. We should love others in such a way that they are reinvigorate them rather than deplete their energy.

Philemon was a refreshment for Paul so much so that Paul gained much love and comfort from Philemon’s sacrificial love for him. Oh, how we should should long for someone to say the same about us. That we refresh them. That they derive much joy and comfort from our love.

May we be refreshing brothers and sisters in Christ.

We don’t have a pretty past, praise God for our present

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5)

We do not have a pretty past. Before Paul pens these words he paints a picture of us. Telling us we were foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to all kinds of passions and pleasures. If that wasn’t bad enough, we learn we were full of malice, envy, and hate for one another. The picture of our past is not pretty.

It is important we understand who we once were. If we forget, we might believe we were worth saving. That it was our righteousness that wooed God into giving himself for us. But then again those who are righteous don’t need saving. Those, however, who are unrighteous do — that’s you and me. We are unrighteous people who need the righteousness of Jesus. We need to be changed, to be washed, to be renewed, to be regenerated. We need saving, not because we are righteous but because we are unrighteous.

We have not gained salvation any other way and for any other reason than our God is a God of mercy who doesn’t give us what we deserve. When we think of salvation like that, we should be driven to worship and praise God for what He has done for us.

Pastor, be faithful and trust the Lord to bring growth in those you serve.

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,” (2 Tim 2:24)

Pastor brother ministry is not easy. Ministry is not easy because we mainly deal with people. People are not always easy.

Even though people are not always easy, we are told that we must not be quarrelsome. In other words, we must not be people who are argumentative or who like to engage in disputes over every last thing.

Instead, we must be kind and patient. We must be able to teach. As well as we must correct our opponents with gentleness (2 Tim 2:25).

In all the work we do, we must trust that the Lord will bring growth in the life of others. We are not the Holy Spirit. We cannot cause another to change. Only the Lord can bring about true repentance in a person (2 Tim 2:25). We must be faithful to do what we are called to do and trust the Lord will bring the growth.