Archive for July 2010

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Hello, My Name is … God | 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 30, 2010

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Growing up, I attended a church that had a whole lot to say about drinking and smoking. A couple times I attended a camp that introduced us to the dangers of Al. K. Hall (the personification of beer) and Smoking Sam, a manikin whose glass jar lungs showed the build-up of nicotine. Today’s passage was the proof text.

These years later, I am thankful that Al and Sam scared me away from these unhealthy endeavors, but 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is not a good proof text. Remember, context is the ultimate determinant of meaning. And the context of our passage today is sexual immorality. In 1 Corinthians 6:18, Paul says, “Flee sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” Teenager, young adult, husband and wife—as believers we must honor God with our bodies by not giving in to the cheap thrill of undisciplined intimacy.

This morning, I read about a prominent college basketball coach, who had sex with a woman he had just met at a table in a restaurant after it closed and the owner had gone home. Sounds so cheap, doesn’t it? She has charged him with sexual assault and now the trial is big news. I have read about this man for years. His arrogance and cut-throat tactics to sign recruits are well documented. But today, I feel sorry for him. His behavior is being described in detail for all to read. He has embarrassed himself, his profession, his college, and his players…not to mention his wife and five children…all because in an undisciplined moment, he did not honor God with his body.

O Father, help us to not make the same mistake. Protect us. Guard us. Help us to be wise enough to flee tempting situations. May we always honor you with our bodies. In Jesus name. Amen.

Today on The Journey: Divine or Disaster: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? (Big Questions). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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Hello, My Name is … God | Colossians 3:12 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 29, 2010

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

I am a pretty boring dresser. About 80% of the shirts in my closet are some shade of blue, and 60% of my pants are some shade of khaki. I have never taken one of those assessments to determine what color arrangement compliments my skin tone (and I certainly would not admit it if I had). I just like shades blue and khaki. But, for the record, God really does care how you dress.

As children of the living God, chosen, set apart, and loved by him, there are some things he wants us to wear every moment of every day. We need to put on compassion. We need to make sure kindness is tucked in. We can never forget to slip into humility. Gentleness is a non-negotiable accessory. And don’t even think of leaving the house without patience.

Many people spend a lot of money on the right kind of clothes. And many people spend a good bit of time each morning in front of the mirror getting prepared for the day. But after it’s all said and done, they leave their homes way underdressed. When it’s all said and done, it’s not the material that matters; it’s the character that counts.

Father, while we certainly desire to present ourselves well, help us to never forget the clothing of godly character that we must wear every moment of every day. In Jesus name. Amen.

Today on The Journey: God, Are You Listening to My Prayers? (Unshakable Faith). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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Hello, My Name is … God | Exodus 34:14 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 28, 2010

Exodus 34:14
Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

The dictionary on my iPhone (a free app, just in case you were wondering) defines the word “jealous” as “feeling resentment against someone because of that person’s rivalry, success, or advantages; characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears.” With that definition, the word “jealous” results in negative feelings. But when the Bible says that God is a jealous God, or that his name is Jealous – something much more is at play.

God’s description as “jealous” means that he is intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry. The first commandment makes it clear, “I am the Lord your God…. You shall have no other gods before me.” God demands our total allegiance. He will not be one of many gods we serve.

So, how about it? Are there any rival gods in your life? Any divine competitors? A relationship? A job? Spouse? Children? Money? God will not be one of the “things” you bow before. He is God and God alone.

Father, show us what stands between you and us. May we move any god aside…may we move all the gods aside…until we are bowing before you alone. In Jesus name. Amen.

Today on The Journey: Do All Things Really Work Out for Good? (Unshakable Faith). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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Hello, My Name is … God | Leviticus 20:7-8 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 27, 2010

Leviticus 20:7-8
Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

There are two critical truths found in our passages today. Let’s break them down.

Positional Holiness: To be holy means to be “set apart.” On our best day, with our best efforts, we cannot make ourselves holy. It is the Lord “who makes you holy.” By our trust in the work of Christ on the cross, God places us into his family. We are set apart—made holy—as sons and daughters of the living God. Nothing can ever change our position.

Practical Holiness: While we are set apart positionally, we have the responsibility to live a life that is set apart to God. We need to keep his “decrees and follow them.” Here obedience to live a life pleasing to God is key. Nothing can change our position of holiness, but we can choose to live a life that is not practically holy. We can chose disobedience and practically betray our position.

So…both positional and practical holiness is critical to living a life that pleases God. It all begins by being set apart as his son or daughter, and continues as we choose to live a life set apart to him, instead of immersed in the world. Our position is set. Every day there is a practical decision.

Father, thank you for making us holy. May we live a life set apart every hour of every day to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today on The Journey: God, What Are You Trying to Teach Me? Part 2 (Unshakable Faith). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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Hello, My Name is … God | Exodus 31:13 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 26, 2010

Exodus 31:13
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

I just returned from a trip to NY to meet with some local pastors. While there, we visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The experience was very moving. As our tour boat took us to the sights, I tried to imagine the emotions of the immigrants as they saw Lady Liberty after weeks or months at sea, and later, as they walked up the steps to enter the immigration building on Ellis Island to begin the process of becoming citizens of the new country. These were special people who, with little or no money, made their way in the new world. Talk about self-made men and women! Our country has been greatly blessed. Even through challenging times of war and economic struggles, hard working individuals have been given the opportunity to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.

But when it comes to our relationship with God, no person can make his or her own way. We are sinners to the core, and our best effort on our best day is far below God’s standard. We can’t pull ourselves up by our own spiritual bootstraps because when it comes to a relationship with God, we have no spiritual boots!

Only God can make us holy. Maybe that has been one of your struggles. You have been trying to make yourself good enough for God. You have been trying to set yourself apart for God. Sorry, but it just can’t happen. But here’s the Good News—Jesus came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus died for our sins, so that through our trust in him we could be made holy. Jesus walked in our boots and pulled us up by his sacrifice on the cross. Trust in him as the One who makes you holy.

Father, thank you for sending your Son. I pray for the person trying to make himself good enough for you. I pray that you will help him see the futility of their efforts. I pray that they will trust in Jesus today as the One who makes them holy. In his name. Amen.

Today on The Journey: God, What Are You Trying to Teach Me? Part 1 (Unshakable Faith). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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Hello, My Name is … God | Matthew 6:33 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 23, 2010

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I’m sure he never realized the impact of his words, but I will never forget them. It was the night of a big game. The band was playing, the crowd was yelling, and it was deafening in our gymnasium. I was waiting with our team in the tunnel that led from the locker room to the court. I had stood in that tunnel with the adrenaline rushing many times as a player. But now, one year out of college, as the assistant coach at my high school alma mater, I still got goose bumps. Then he stopped by.

Faye O’Dell was our Athlete Director, and everyone knew where he stood with Christ. As he walked down the tunnel, he stopped and yelled in my ear, “Matthew 6:33.” The noise was so loud, I had to ask him to say it again, and he said it louder, “Matthew 6:33!” I have heard many sermons since that time and received tons of challenge and exhortation. But I have often wondered why that moment before a high school basketball game has remained so powerful in my life experience.

Maybe it was because a man I admired sought me out and spoke to me. Maybe my heightened adrenaline in the tunnel resulted in heightened memory retention. But maybe there was more. Maybe God was using that moment for a life lesson. Maybe he was telling me that I needed to seek him first when something else was causing an adrenaline rush. Maybe he was teaching me that I needed to seek him first, even in the excitement of crowd noise. Maybe he was telling me that while coaching was a great calling…it wasn’t the calling he had for me. Maybe he was telling me that I needed to seek him first whether in the “tunnels” or on the “courts” or on the “platforms” of my life. Maybe he was telling me that whatever had my attention at the moment should have all my attention at the moment.

Father, I want to thank you for that meeting with Mr. O’Dell. Help me to always seek your kingdom first. Help me to focus on the primary thing; and let you take care of all the secondary things in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today on The Journey: God, Who Are You in My Shaken World? (Unshakable Faith). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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Hello, My Name is … God | Matthew 6:31-32 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 22, 2010

Matthew 6:31-32
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Our God is not a force somewhere out there…he is our heavenly Father and he knows exactly what we need. It gets better…he is capable to provide everything we need. And it gets even better! He desires to give us all that we need.

Those who live without God run after all the stuff the world has to offer. In our culture with full refrigerators and closets, we are not that concerned about the basics. We like to run after the “WOW!” stuff. Have you noticed the iPhone 4 frenzy? On the day it came out, people in New York City were paying $800-1000 just for a place in the front of the line that led into the Apple Store. I contrast that scenario with a trip I took to the Marhare slums in Nairobi, Kenya. No one was lining up for new smart phones there.

But whether in Mathare or Manhattan, the need is still the same. Every man, regardless of skin color or social status, has a hole in his heart that only God can fill. Our Father knows what we need for our temporal existence and we need not worry, he will supply those things. But more importantly, our Father knows what we need for eternity, and he supplied that by sending his Son to die on the cross for our sins. The Father knows that Jesus is the One we really need.

Father, thank you for the promise of providing all we need. And thank you that those provisions don’t stop with food, water, and clothing. You provide for our eternity through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for providing us the gift of eternity through Jesus. In his name we pray, Amen.

Today on The Journey: God, Where Are You in My Shaken World? (Unshakable Faith). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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Hello, My Name is … God | Philippians 4:10-11 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 21, 2010

Philippians 4:10-11
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Learning to be content whatever the circumstances. Man, that is quite a statement, isn’t it? Far too many people draw contentment from their circumstances. Satisfaction comes from the “good things” going on in their life. Most conclude, “I’m healthy, therefore, I’m content,” “Things are good at home, therefore, I’m happy,” “The job is going well, therefore, I’m satisfied.” But for Paul, contentment transcends circumstances.

To be clear, Paul was not Pollyanna. He didn’t dance through life, oblivious to the challenges. He knew what it was like to “be in need, and…to have plenty,” to be “well fed or hungry,” to live in “plenty or in want.” But through these experiences, he “learned to be content” regardless of the cards he was dealt at any particular time. His contentment was found, not in the present circumstance, but in his personal Savior.

There are no five easy steps to contentment. As Paul notes, being content whatever the circumstances involves a learning process. And learning involves experiences that are not always desired and often unpleasant. When a former professor of mine heard someone say, “I’m doing pretty well under the circumstances,” he would ask them “What in the world are you doing under the circumstances?” Just like Paul, our contentment is not found in the present circumstance but in our personal Savior, Jesus Christ. He will always provide everything we need.

Heavenly Father, please teach us the secret of being content in any and every circumstance. Give us the strength and capacity to be good learners. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today on The Journey: Sex, Sin and… Grace Part 2 (Biblical View of Sex). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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Hello, My Name is … God | Philippians 4:18 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 20, 2010

Philippians 4:18
I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

God will always provide exactly what we need. But normally his provisions do not fall from the sky or appear on the ground like manna in the Old Testament. As my mom was fond of saying, “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Most of the time God provides through others. In today’s passage, Paul was “amply supplied” through the gifts of the Philippians.

God has been teaching me a lot about provisions lately. Here are a couple things I’m learning.

  • I used to be hesitant to talk about money. But no longer. God owns it all and we are only stewards. I have no problem asking people to prayerfully consider how God would have them use his resources. If the resources belong to you, I would be presumptuous to ask for them. But since they belong to God, it is my responsibility to challenge individuals to be good stewards.
  • I am not beholden to people who give. The giver is simply the vehicle through which God works. The gifts are certainly appreciated and are a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” But the praise goes to God, not the person. God alone is Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord will Provide).

Father, thank you for your provisions. Thank you for providing the basic needs of our lives. Like Paul, we are amply supplied. Help us to trust in you as our Provider. Help us to depend on you to give us everything we need to do all you’ve called us to do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today on The Journey: Sex, Sin and… Grace Part 1 (Biblical View of Sex). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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Hello, My Name is … God | Genesis 22:13-14 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on July 19, 2010

Genesis 22:13-14
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

Abraham was preparing to sacrifice his only son according to God’s instruction. Isaac, born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, had stolen the hearts of his parents. God wanted to make sure that Abraham’s total allegiance was to him. Yes, even our children can become “idols” and turn us from following hard after God.

But God’s desire was never to have Isaac out of the picture. Seeing Abraham’s willingness to obey the unthinkable test, God stopped the process. Abraham looked up to find a ram provided by God “and sacrificed it…instead of his son.” Abraham called the place Jehovah-Jireh, meaning “The Lord Will Provide.”

Is there anything that has stolen your heart away from God? A relationship? Job? Hobby? Dream? Child? Spouse? Money? Even good things can become an idol. But no one or no thing can stand between you and God. God will not put you through the same test he required of Abraham. But he wants your total allegiance just the same. Put him first and he will provide all you need in the other areas of your life.

Father, thank you for being our Jehovah-Jireh. We depend on you to provide all we need. Show us what has stolen our heart away from you, and give us the courage to take the action to place you on the throne of our hearts. In Jesus name. Amen.

Today on The Journey: Adultery: Breaking the Covenant? Part 2 (Biblical View of Sex). Listen to today’s broadcast!

Check out Ron’s new book–Ignite.

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