March 3-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 181, Week 9, Day 1: To understand the power of Jesus’ words, it’s important to understand something about salt in those days. Salt was much more than a spice. Without refrigeration or modern antiseptics, salt was a valuable commodity. It was used as a preservative to keep food (many times in short supply) from going bad. Also, in that area of the world, salt had medicinal value as it was effective in healing wounds and stopping infection. In ancient times, salt (or the lack of it) could drastically affect the health of entire populations. Jesus’ point is that in a world that is decaying and unhealthy, those who are salt are the hope of preservation and healing.
Relate it to your life.
I need to be known as salty in the best sense of the word.
Do something.
“Father, make me a healing and preserving presence in all that I say and do. Amen.”
March 4-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:38-39, Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted pages 185, Week 9, Day 2: There are many misconceptions about what makes someone a Christian. Some think it has to do with living in a “Christian nation” such as America. Some think it has to do with being religious (keeping certain rules and rituals) or going to church. Others believe it has to do with believing in God and being the best person you can be. Others may think it has to do with praying a prayer to accept Jesus at some point in life and intellectually agreeing with the statement, “Jesus died for your sins.” None of these are entirely correct, although there is truth in some of them. How does the Bible explain what someone needs to know, believe, and do to be saved? The verse above is what Peter told those who asked what they must do to respond to the gospel message. Have you done so?
Relate it to your life.
Today, I want to make it clear that I repent of my sin and believe in the good news of Jesus Christ as represented in my baptism (or that I will choose to do soon.)
Do something.
“Father, I confess my sins to You, I turn away from them, and put my full trust in Jesus Christ as the One and Only who can redeem and re-create me by the Holy Spirit into a brand-new person. Amen.”
March 5-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:18-20, Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 190, Week 9, Day 3: Before we move on, it is important to be clear on a particular point. While we are the messengers, and we express the message in an understandable and compelling way, it is not our job to “save” anybody. God does that. He works in the hearts of people, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to move them to the decision point of committing to following Jesus. Sometimes our role in someone’s faith journey may be the open door-the first time they have ever considered a place for Jesus in their lives. Others may have been about it for a while, and we provide that next stepping stone in their journeys. Others may be ready to commit, and we may have the privilege of praying with them and celebrating that life-transforming decision.
Relate it to your life.
There are many ways in which God can use me to be a link in the chain in leading others to salvation.
Do something.
“Father, use me today to provide another link in the chain for someone to become a disciple. Amen.”
March 6-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 16:19-22a, “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 196, Week 9, Day 4: After Paul presented his story, you may think King Agrippa was won over and committed his life to Christ immediately. But not quite. Look at what the king says, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’” Paul’s response: “Short time or long-I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Paul did his part. He told his whole story and then committed to pray for his listeners and their decision about Christ. That is what we’re to do: tell and pray.
Relate it to your life.
I am to be faithful to tell my faith story and ask God to use it for His glory and others’ gain.
Do something.
“Father, give me Paul’s boldness to willingly tell how Your story has changed my story. Amen.”
March 7-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:16, In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 200, Week 9, Day 5: If we are going to be salt and light, we are to do something. It is not enough to have good intentions, or to talk about it, or even just to pray about it. Jesus wants us to move. What is it He wants us to do? We need to be intentional and sometimes even strategic. This doesn’t mean we should manipulate relationships or actions with evangelism as our only intent. That’s not it at all. But, we may need to be a little more purposeful in sharing our stories with those with whom we come in contact. God is working all around us, and if we are paying attention, we can join Him in His work. The Holy Spirit can move us into places or situations to plant spiritual seeds and walk with people on their spiritual journeys. Jesus has called us to show both grace and truth to people.
Relate it to your life.
I need to be careful not to just talk about sharing my faith, but actively and intentionally do so.
Do something.
“Father, move me beyond where I am to actively be a witness of Your glorious gospel. Amen.”
March 8-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
1 Corinthians 9:20-23, To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 206, Week 9: As Christians, we are called to live counterculturally-that is, not to adopt the thinking and behaviors of a world that doesn’t follow Jesus. But it’s important to be relevant to our audience, to identify and celebrate healthy, wholesome cultural practices within the community that are not in conflict with biblical teaching. When we aren’t sensitive to the culture in which we minister, we do harm to the core of the Gospel: Jesus came to us, on terms we could understand, so that we could have a relationship with Him. To follow Jesus’ model, we cannot alienate ourselves from community life.
Relate it to your life.
I am called to the delicate balance of effectively participating in the world without becoming like the world.
Do something
“Father, keep my heart, mind, and hands pure as I enter into the culture to tell Your great story. Amen.”
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 181, Week 9, Day 1: To understand the power of Jesus’ words, it’s important to understand something about salt in those days. Salt was much more than a spice. Without refrigeration or modern antiseptics, salt was a valuable commodity. It was used as a preservative to keep food (many times in short supply) from going bad. Also, in that area of the world, salt had medicinal value as it was effective in healing wounds and stopping infection. In ancient times, salt (or the lack of it) could drastically affect the health of entire populations. Jesus’ point is that in a world that is decaying and unhealthy, those who are salt are the hope of preservation and healing.
Relate it to your life.
I need to be known as salty in the best sense of the word.
Do something.
“Father, make me a healing and preserving presence in all that I say and do. Amen.”
March 4-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 2:38-39, Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted pages 185, Week 9, Day 2: There are many misconceptions about what makes someone a Christian. Some think it has to do with living in a “Christian nation” such as America. Some think it has to do with being religious (keeping certain rules and rituals) or going to church. Others believe it has to do with believing in God and being the best person you can be. Others may think it has to do with praying a prayer to accept Jesus at some point in life and intellectually agreeing with the statement, “Jesus died for your sins.” None of these are entirely correct, although there is truth in some of them. How does the Bible explain what someone needs to know, believe, and do to be saved? The verse above is what Peter told those who asked what they must do to respond to the gospel message. Have you done so?
Relate it to your life.
Today, I want to make it clear that I repent of my sin and believe in the good news of Jesus Christ as represented in my baptism (or that I will choose to do soon.)
Do something.
“Father, I confess my sins to You, I turn away from them, and put my full trust in Jesus Christ as the One and Only who can redeem and re-create me by the Holy Spirit into a brand-new person. Amen.”
March 5-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:18-20, Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 190, Week 9, Day 3: Before we move on, it is important to be clear on a particular point. While we are the messengers, and we express the message in an understandable and compelling way, it is not our job to “save” anybody. God does that. He works in the hearts of people, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to move them to the decision point of committing to following Jesus. Sometimes our role in someone’s faith journey may be the open door-the first time they have ever considered a place for Jesus in their lives. Others may have been about it for a while, and we provide that next stepping stone in their journeys. Others may be ready to commit, and we may have the privilege of praying with them and celebrating that life-transforming decision.
Relate it to your life.
There are many ways in which God can use me to be a link in the chain in leading others to salvation.
Do something.
“Father, use me today to provide another link in the chain for someone to become a disciple. Amen.”
March 6-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 16:19-22a, “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 196, Week 9, Day 4: After Paul presented his story, you may think King Agrippa was won over and committed his life to Christ immediately. But not quite. Look at what the king says, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’” Paul’s response: “Short time or long-I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Paul did his part. He told his whole story and then committed to pray for his listeners and their decision about Christ. That is what we’re to do: tell and pray.
Relate it to your life.
I am to be faithful to tell my faith story and ask God to use it for His glory and others’ gain.
Do something.
“Father, give me Paul’s boldness to willingly tell how Your story has changed my story. Amen.”
March 7-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:16, In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 200, Week 9, Day 5: If we are going to be salt and light, we are to do something. It is not enough to have good intentions, or to talk about it, or even just to pray about it. Jesus wants us to move. What is it He wants us to do? We need to be intentional and sometimes even strategic. This doesn’t mean we should manipulate relationships or actions with evangelism as our only intent. That’s not it at all. But, we may need to be a little more purposeful in sharing our stories with those with whom we come in contact. God is working all around us, and if we are paying attention, we can join Him in His work. The Holy Spirit can move us into places or situations to plant spiritual seeds and walk with people on their spiritual journeys. Jesus has called us to show both grace and truth to people.
Relate it to your life.
I need to be careful not to just talk about sharing my faith, but actively and intentionally do so.
Do something.
“Father, move me beyond where I am to actively be a witness of Your glorious gospel. Amen.”
March 8-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
1 Corinthians 9:20-23, To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 206, Week 9: As Christians, we are called to live counterculturally-that is, not to adopt the thinking and behaviors of a world that doesn’t follow Jesus. But it’s important to be relevant to our audience, to identify and celebrate healthy, wholesome cultural practices within the community that are not in conflict with biblical teaching. When we aren’t sensitive to the culture in which we minister, we do harm to the core of the Gospel: Jesus came to us, on terms we could understand, so that we could have a relationship with Him. To follow Jesus’ model, we cannot alienate ourselves from community life.
Relate it to your life.
I am called to the delicate balance of effectively participating in the world without becoming like the world.
Do something
“Father, keep my heart, mind, and hands pure as I enter into the culture to tell Your great story. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals