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Post by Parker on Apr 19, 2023 6:34:50 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY-ONE
BAPTISM—IT’S NOT JUST WATER
Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3–4)
Jesus tells us to baptize: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Some Christians sprinkle water and some dunk in a pool, river, or lake; in each of these ways the church obeys Jesus’ command.
Jesus removes your sin and transforms you. Baptism illustrates our salvation in Jesus. In baptism we are identified with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. As the water washes over us, we realize our old, broken, sinful self has been put to death and raised to new life. “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Romans 6:5–7). Jesus forgives us and gives us new life with him.
Baptism reminds us of our new life with God. Baptism reminds us that we haven’t fixed ourselves; Jesus has forgiven us and washed us clean by his grace. We are not our own. In baptism God seals what he has done in making you new. Your church celebrates your faith with you!
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 20, 2023 4:27:17 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY-TWO
COMMUNION—IT’S NOT A SNACK
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:53–54)
The night Jesus was betrayed, he celebrated the Passover with his disciples. Every year the Israelites celebrate Passover to remember when God miraculously rescued them from Egypt by protecting them with lamb’s blood on their doorposts and nourishing them with lamb meat. Jesus revealed that there is more to the Passover they had always celebrated. Passover pointed to what he did on the cross. His blood covers and protects us, saving us from death! His body was given for us; he will sustain and nourish us during our life’s journey.
Jesus offered himself so that we have life and forgiveness. We remember and celebrate this reality when we take Communion—what some churches call the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist. Believers drink wine or juice and eat bread together. In this meal we refocus on our relationship with Jesus and one another.
In Communion we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for us. “The Lord Jesus … took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me’ ” (1 Corinthians 11:23–25).
In Communion we slow down to examine ourselves. “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). We confess our sins, we ask God to forgive us, and we reconcile with one another.
In Communion we declare that Jesus is coming back. “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
In Communion we bring our sin, fear, and weakness to Jesus. And he blots out our sin, comforts us, and strengthens us. “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8).
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 21, 2023 5:59:44 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY-THREE
WORSHIP—MORE THAN SINGING
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. PSALM 139:7–8
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. (Psalm 95:6–7)
Worship is all about who God is. By worship we honor God and submit to him. True worship makes God our highest priority and acknowledge our life comes from him. “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods” (1 Chronicles 16:23–25).
We are privileged to worship God. When we declare in thought, word, or action that Jesus is Lord of our lives, we are worshiping. Worship is saying who God is and what he has done. Who he is and what he has done lead us to confess and repent our sins, to hear and respond to his word, to sing his praises, and to take Communion. These acts of worship aren’t restricted to a Sunday church service!
In worship we spend time with God, whether we’re happy or sad. We can and should spend time with God in the various phases of our lives. In rough times we can cry out to him and confide in him. In awesome moments we can celebrate and rejoice with him. In every up and down we can praise him and talk with him. No circumstance can prevent us from worshiping God.
Christians worship God by ourselves and with others. We can sing at the top of our lungs in our car and we can worship with our church on Sunday. We can lie silently under the stars and we can listen quietly to others. We can read the Bible with our family after dinner, with our friends after school, and by ourselves in the morning.
Worship can be painting and writing, hiking and relaxing. We can even worship God by helping with chores and volunteering our time. Worship is praying, giving, serving, and sharing life.
God created you uniquely. He wants you to praise him in a way that celebrates your relationship with him. He created you to worship with other Christians too. Your faith is not meant to be lived alone!
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 22, 2023 7:28:16 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY-FOUR
PRAYER—TALKING WITH GOD
Lord, teach us to pray. (Luke 11:1)
Prayer can be intimidating. Praying in front of people can be even more intimidating. Fortunately, God doesn’t require fancy words or long prayers. He wants what every close friend wants: open, honest, frequent conversations. That involves talking and listening.
Even though God knows everything about you and everything you need, he wants to hear your thoughts and requests. But prayer is more than just asking God for things. If you only list what you want God to do for you, you will quickly grow frustrated. God wants to speak with you and to grow his relationship with you. And like in any relationship, this requires regular practice and attention. Prayer will line up your ideas with God’s. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus models this for us. For example, knowing that he will soon be arrested, tried, and executed, he prepares by praying in a quiet garden. He prays earnestly, pouring out his heart and wrestling in prayer. He asks for the strength to submit to God’s will. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Psalm 31 is another example of prayer. David describes God as his refuge and only help. He tells God his fears, problems, and discouragement. As he prays, he remembers God’s strength and unfailing love. He ends his prayer praising God, confident he can do anything in the Lord’s strength!
Let God do this with you. Begin your prayer by acknowledging something about God. Then pour out your fears and your thoughts. Listen to him in prayer and in Scripture; let him remind you of his character and actions. Close your prayers with praise. By the end of your prayers he might give you a new perspective or an idea of how to deal with something. God longs to transform you into the image of Jesus and to give you comfort and peace.
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 23, 2023 10:51:54 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY-FIVE
GIVING—WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)
In the Old Testament God commanded the Israelites to give their firstfruits—their best—to him. They brought 10 percent of their money for the priests (called a tithe—meaning, a “tenth”). They gave to God the best and first of their animals, their land, and their crops. These tithes and offerings reminded them that all that they have they have received from God. God had given them their abilities, their land, and their harvest. They could easily begin thinking that a successful harvest was a result of their intelligence, their hard work, and their good ideas. But it was all God’s blessing!
Tithing requires an attitude of thankfulness and generosity. The act of giving can’t be separated from the attitude of giving. “ ‘The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?’ says the LORD. ‘I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.… Stop bringing meaningless offerings!’ ” (Isaiah 1:11, 13). We can’t just go through the motions of giving. “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). God desires our hearts, not only our stuff.
Jesus reminds us why God commanded tithes and offerings in the first place: to honor God and to acknowledge his blessings. Jesus teaches that the amount of money isn’t important; rather, it’s about acknowledging that all things come from God. We should use everything he has given us to honor him and bless others. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). We should say, “Wow, God, everything comes from you, so how can I use everything to honor you?”
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 24, 2023 6:04:33 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY-SIX
SERVICE—BEING ABOUT MORE THAN YOURSELF
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3–4)
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as an act of service. Jesus, our God and King, chose to wash his disciples’ nasty, dirty, calloused feet that probably didn’t have nicely clipped toenails. This humiliating task was reserved for lowly servants. The disciples were appalled. Yet Jesus persisted. He showed love and a servant’s heart. He defined what Christian leadership is. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14–15).
Serving isn’t just for people who like to clean up messes. It is for everyone. God asks that we go out of our way to help others, meet others’ needs, and put others first. Our natural self-centeredness makes it painful and difficult to serve others—especially people we don’t like. We want to look good. We want to get something in return for our kindness. Yet nothing should take priority over loving God and loving people.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5–8).
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 25, 2023 6:16:01 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY-SEVEN
FELLOWSHIP—TAKING FRIENDSHIP UP A NOTCH
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Christians spend time together to grow in their walk with God and encourage each other. Christians call this “fellowship.” God created us to have healthy relationships with each other, not to face things alone.
That’s why God made the church, also called the body of Christ (read 1 Corinthians 12:12–31). We work better together and stay stronger together. We remind each other to have faith when life is confusing and it’s hard to keep going. We share what we are learning to help each other. As the body is made up of many members, so also is the church. We don’t all have the same abilities and gifts. Each of us uniquely contributes to the body of Christ. “If the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?” (1 Corinthians 12:16–17).
We need each other. We should be excited about others’ abilities and gifts—especially when they differ from our own. We shouldn’t be jealous, wishing to be different than we are. “In fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:18–19). For example, God made some of us to teach, some of us to organize, some of us to lead music, and some to build up. We can’t grow in our Christian faith all alone. You need others, and others need you! Each person has a part to play!
We need to build friendships with non-Christians. But we also need Christian friends to strengthen our faith, challenge us, build us up, pray with us, struggle with us, and worship God with us. We need friends to confront us and tell us the gospel.
Think about the friends you have right now. How do they encourage you and teach you about God? How do they challenge you in your faith and help you grow stronger? How can you pray with them and for them?
Seek fellowship with friends from school, family, a church small group, a mentor, a pastor. In the body of Christ you are able to share your struggles, to pray together, and to learn about God together.
“You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). We can’t live the Christian life on our own—thank God that we aren’t meant to!
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 26, 2023 4:37:50 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY-EIGHT
EVANGELISM—IT’S FOR EVERYONE
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19–20)
Evangelism is sharing the good news about Jesus forgiving our sins and giving us eternal life. Evangelism isn’t just for pastors. God says all his people get to do this important job!
Before you break out in a sweat, worrying about how to talk about Jesus with someone, be assured that God is the one who saves. You don’t save or give someone eternal life! God has given you an awesome role to play in what he is doing. You get to share about him, but he is the one who saves. The Holy Spirit will change hearts, just like he changed your heart when you became a Christian. You share the good news about Jesus, but the results are up to God. “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:7).
You can evangelize as you share your own story, study the Bible with others, or eat a meal with friends. God uses every story. You might think your story is boring, but God’s faithfulness is never boring. Other people need to hear about your faith and about God’s faithfulness.
Before the crucifixion Peter was terrified of people finding out he was a follower of Jesus. He denied even knowing Christ. Jesus is faithful. He didn’t give up on Peter when Peter was weak. He reestablished Peter as a leader. Peter didn’t stay scared and quiet. By God’s grace his past failures didn’t define him. The Holy Spirit gave him incredible courage to preach about Jesus and shepherd the church. (To find out more, read the book of Acts!)
God has given you his Holy Spirit too. He is going to use you in his amazing story. It’s a story of turning the broken and ugly into the perfect and complete. God our Redeemer is the author of the best story ever, and we have a part to play in it!
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 27, 2023 5:06:06 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY-NINE
A WORK IN PROGRESS
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:17–18)
Jesus comes to us. He calls us to follow him.
The choice that Adam and Eve made to disobey God, we make in our own ways again and again. We choose to sin, to place ourselves above God. But God chooses us in Jesus Christ. Jesus takes his holiness and puts it over us, covering our sin and shame so that we can have life with him. “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4–5).
When we start to follow Jesus, we don’t instantly live a perfect life. We don’t return to the garden of Eden. In this world we still struggle and battle with sin. But the Lord doesn’t leave us on our own to deal with sin and death. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). He grows us, changes us, and gives us purpose.
Right now we are a work in progress—and it’s an important process! “And we all … are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Our eternity is secure with God.
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 28, 2023 4:39:14 GMT -8
DAY FORTY
WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:4–7)
God pursues you like a shepherd searching for his lost sheep! He will not settle until he has found you. And then he will celebrate reestablishing a relationship with you.
Think about the person you feel the closest to. Think about the time and effort that goes into that relationship. Relationships can grow and strengthen or fade and break. To grow relationships requires quality time, openness, and encouragement. All the sacrifice and effort are worth it when you can know each other’s thoughts just by a glance. It’s worth it to have memories and fun things to look forward to together. It’s worth it to be able to be unguarded about your thoughts and struggles. It’s worth it when you realize the other person’s good qualities are affecting and changing you.
Your relationship with the Lord also requires quality time and dedication. And it’s more than worth it!
You have now spent forty days getting to know God better, asking hard questions, praying, and studying the Bible! Now you have the opportunity to decide what’s next. Like all relationships, you can choose whether to keep investing time and effort in your relationship with God or not.
God isn’t a friend who might not call back. He won’t abandon you. He is your good shepherd, who leads and protects you. He has laid down his life for you. Learn to recognize his voice. These forty days are just the beginning of a life with God!
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 29, 2023 3:58:32 GMT -8
This one is a wrap. 40 days went by fast.  |
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