Do Something

It has been said that “ "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."  We hear statements like that and nod our head in agreement.  We know that there is evil in the world... we condemn it on Twitter... we get into spirited discussions about it over dinner... but how many of us are doing anything to change things?  

The Bible tells us that we don’t have the option to stay indifferent.  In Romans 12:21 it says, “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  We serve a big God... and He’s stronger than anything bad the enemy could throw at us. It’s our responsibility to remember that... and be bold enough to stand up to those that want to do harm to others.   It may not be easy for us... but through God’s power and our willingness to be brave... good will ultimately win.  

Getting Better

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4

When I went to college, I played a lot of basketball... and believe it or not, our team didn't win every game. As you would imagine, those losses hurt... but I remember an important truth that our coach shared with us. He said that the wins were better for our reputation but the losses were better for our game. Why? Because we discovered what we needed to work on to become even better!

Sometimes in life, we have losses. Setbacks. Challenges that appear pointless. Many of us look to Heaven... asking God that age old question... why? The answer is simple...If we won all the time...if everything always worked...many would think they didn’t need God. Failure reminds us that we can’t do it without Him... it teaches us lessons that develop our character... and as James 1 reminds us... it allows our faith and endurance to grow! I challenge you... the next time you face a setback... see it as an opportunity to get stronger and better equipped for future success.

Kissing a Crooked Smile

“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ...For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body." Ephesians 5:21 & 25-30

Today’s devotional is for the guys... the married ones to be more precise... or those that this weekend may find themselves saying “I do” to a beautiful bride.

I encourage ladies to read this through as well...

Think back to the words you shared in your vows. More than likely, they included the familiar phrases... “in sickness and in health” or “through good times or bad” and ended with “till death do us part.”

Those vows are still in effect.

I talk to many men who tell me that they have a rough time with their wife because she “doesn’t understand” or is “too needy and emotional” or simply “won’t give me space.” I want to challenge you today to think back to that wedding day. You looked her in the eyes and told her that no matter what... you’d be there for her. If she needed a knight in shining armor... you’d find the perfect horse to ride in on. If she wanted a shoulder to cry on you’d offer both. Things got tough? You’d be tougher and provide security.

We didn’t get married to change our wives... we did so to celebrate the way they already are. Is your wife perfect? No. Are there differences between the two of you? Absolutely. But take a look at today’s verse... we are to love our wives like Christ loves His bride...the church!

Sacrifice, commitment, love, dedication, endurance, forgiveness, communication, trust... all given willingly... all provided without pretense or condition.

I know that when we are loving our wives in this way, the negative issues that come between ourselves and our spouse will decrease dramatically. When Christ is first and we are growing closer to God... we will, in turn, grow closer to each other.

I want to wrap up our time today with this story...
Richard Selzer, MD, tells of standing before a hospital bed where a young woman was recovering from surgery. Her mouth was twisted. A facial nerve connected to her mouth muscles had been severed, and her deformity was permanent. To remove a tumor in her cheek, the nerve had to be cut.

Her husband, also in the post-op room, stood on the opposite side of the bed. The young wife asked, “Will my mouth always be like this?” The reluctant answer was yes. She nodded silently.

But her husband smiled. “I like it” he said, “It’s cute.” He then bent down to kiss her crooked mouth, twisted his own lips to accommodate hers, to show her that their kiss still works. And the doctor remained silent, in awe, in the presence of this divine love.

That’s the kind of love I’m talking about. Unconditional and complete. This husband didn’t see brokenness...

He saw beauty.

That’s the way God sees your wife as well.


You won’t always understand her. The devil may tell you there’s better out there. You will get frustrated...challenged...and may feel at times like you should give up on your marriage.

Don’t. Just don’t.

Your wife is a daughter of the King of Kings... and there is nothing that you will face that can’t be mended through prayer, honest communication, trust, and a commitment to grow closer to God together.

Decide today to love your wife with that Christ-like level of love. Be flexible when life gets hard... be there for her when she doesn’t feel she’s at her best... and extend to her the same grace you receive from God daily. The whole world may be coming down on her, but be there... faithfully... guarding and honoring those vows you took all that time ago. Christ loves His church so much that He was willing to sacrifice His own life for it. It is my prayer that each of us that are married would be willing to do the same for the spouse God has blessed us with.

PS: Ladies... if you are unmarried and have read this far... don’t settle for a man unwilling to kiss a crooked smile. There are God-honoring men out there praying each night for you to arrive in their life (and they don’t even know your name yet).

Don’t settle. You are far too valuable for that.

This weekend, join us as we partner with couples who are getting hitched… and those renewing their vows. See the kind of love I wrote about today firsthand… rejoicing in the unions that God has brought together. It will be a historic wedding celebration that you won’t want to miss!

For times, locations, and more details check out our website at potentialchurch.com.

Two Sets of Footprints

A story was told about two couples in the 1950s... A husband and wife, married for many years, were driving down the road behind a young couple in the car ahead of them.  The young couple had a car with front bench seats and the girl was sitting right next to the young man who was driving and had her head on his shoulder. The woman in the car behind sighed and said to her husband, “Do you remember how we used to be like that?  Her husband who was driving looked across the front seat and said, “I didn’t move!”

Sometimes we feel like that with God.  Why did God stop drawing close?  What happened to the way it used to be?   The truth...God didn’t move.  Whenever we feel distant from God, it isn’t Him that does the moving... it’s us.  Problem is, emotions cloud things...  When we’re happy... we feel that God is right there.  When we’re sad... we think He’s moved away.  Fact is... God is always there.  He remains vigilant and steadfast.  Find peace in that truth... walk confidently... knowing that every step you take will have two sets of footprints!

The Rest

Psalm 46:10a

“Be still, and know that I am God!”

It has been reported that the average American gets 1 hour and 6 minutes less sleep than the 8 hours that they need each night.  When you add that up, that’s a 338 hour shortage... two full weeks!  Scientists have called this “sleep bankruptcy”... people walking around overtired and unaware of the risks to their health that lack of sleep poses.  

This definitely hurts our physical well-being... but there’s something that affects us far more profoundly:  A lack of spiritual rest.  So many exhaust themselves... wondering if God will come through.  Hours of time are lost to self-doubt, lack of faith, panic, and an overwhelming sense that worrying can help a situation.  God has other plans... He tells us in Psalm 46 to be still.  Rest.  Let Him be God.   When we do so, and we allow our minds and hearts to trust Him, we find ourselves refreshed and ready to enjoy the blessings that He has for us each day.

In Good Company

A student studies hard...gets her degree... graduates at the top of her class...and people call her a genius.  An athlete trains every morning without fail... climbs to the top of his game... and people call him a champion.  A person accepts Christ, studies their Bible, shares their testimony,  stands boldly for Christ, cries for the hurting, gives to the poor, and regularly attends church, they are called... religious fanatics or Jesus freaks.   

Something’s not right.  

If you’ve ever stood up for Christ and were ridiculed... you are in good company...  Matthew 5:11-12 says "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way"   

Be bold... stand up for Christ... don’t allow people with labels to stick one on you... you may not hear much applause for your efforts down here... but I can assure you, Heaven celebrates your boldness and God will reward and bless you for your commitment to Him!

Sweeter

The other day, I read an article about the diet soft drink, “Coke Zero”... it talked about how pleasantly surprised people were to discover how close to real coke it actually tasted.  The story said that many loved that they could have the benefits and great taste of a refreshing coke without the guilt of the calories.  

I was thinking about this when I ran across this scripture from Mark 8:34 - Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me"  A challenging verse...but Jesus makes it very clear what He requires to be a disciple.   I meet many who are Christ followers... some want God’s blessings and provision but don’t want the obedience and sacrifice He requires.  They want the taste without the calories... the upside without the cost.  If we are going to walk with Him... we can’t leave our cross laying on the ground.  Let’s commit today to pick it up, and follow Him with our whole heart...  When we do... life gets so much sweeter.