Deeper Still by phil mccallum

Press the arrow to listen to Jared Anderson’s song “All I Want”.

Scripture
² His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
³ Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
⁵ A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
⁶ Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
⁷ He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. (Psalm 112:2-7, New King James Version)

Observation
There is something off-putting about the word “righteous.” Just the sound of it is holier-than-thou. But nestled in Psalm 112, the word “righteous” is a comforting word to anyone in need. Righteousness is teamed up with smiling-words like “gracious”, “compassion”, and “generosity.”

Righteousness is not a lemon-sucking word. The real kind of righteousness is sweetness. It touches the things that matter most to God. He delights in graciousness, because he is a God of grace. He delights when we show undeserved kindness to others. Compassion is why he sent Jesus and he delights when we too choose to get involved in the problem and not just to feel about it. Generosity is seen in everything God touches from an apple tree to a samon spawn. He wants us to give like he does.

Application
Righteousness should be the thing that people desire most from us. What does my righteousness feel like to others? Does it feel all polyester and starched collar? If it does, then my righteousness is not God’s kind. But when it feel as comforting as a down-filled pillow and a velour snuggle blanket, then my righteousness begins to reflect God’s righteousness. Gracious, compassionate, and generous. Let those be adjectives used to describe some of my reactions in life.

Prayer
Father, please soften the edges of my discipleship. I’m often well intentioned, but I sometimes confuse being “right” with “righteousness.” Make me ever wise to the ways that are right and let your nature bleed out through everything that I do. Amen.

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Press the arrow to listen to Desperation Band play “Amazed” while reading today’s devotion on victory through worship.

Scripture
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:1-5

Observation
Worship is the secret of living a life in victory over sin, because it is as we look into Christ that we see the new and improved model of ourselves.

We are hidden in Christ who is in God. There is something new under plastic wrap, boxed in styrofoam of what we will become. When we worship we don’t have to imagine what it would be like to live a life resentment free, lust free, greed free, or corruption free. We don’t have to imagine it because we can see this the new as now in Christ.

The trumpeting victory call is that I don’t have to wait until tomorrow for all things new, I can live tomorrow today. Worship is a telescope that zooms the future into the present so I can start living like heaven today. In worship we are to be looking not just at Christ but also at ourselves. Christ we worship and of ourselves we wonder at the miracle of new creation.

Life at ground level is often discouraging because our greatest enemy is not the devil but ourselves. Worship lifts us up to see better things. Worship gives us permission to play dead to live a new life. We do not need to capitulate to evil as if sin were inevitable. There are better things ahead.

Application
Self-worship is as depressing as meditating on a junk yard. Those who worship Christ have the opportunity of change for they can see themselves in him and live with a better goal in mind.

Prayer
Father, today as I worship Christ give me a glimpse of what I will yet be. Amen.

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Worship as you read this devotion by pressing the arrow.
Song: Twila Paris Daughter of Grace

Scripture
Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.  And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 2:24-29

Observation
Expectations are a disability. People have expectations of us and we try to achieve them. Even when we are not working we are fretting about ways to live up to expectations or escape from them. Even more disabling, we have expectations of ourselves. Those are the hardest to live up to. They are often hitched to old family mottos, echoing words from parents or teacher from years gone by, or a dream that has held us for ransom all of our lives. Of course, the most demanding expectations of all are those God has for our lives. Those none of us can achieve.

The Bible word for expectations is “the law”. Paul did not mean by “the law” simply the words Moses wrote; the phrase means any attempt to use the law to gain God’s approval. The law was not given to save us but to reveal that we need a savior. The law is a babysitter we endure until daddy comes home with grace.

Most of us spend our whole lives either trying to live up to expectations or by running away from them. Either way, we still feel this tug inside that what we are is not good enough and that we need to work harder to get there. We become tense, driven, compulsive, striving, stressed, impatient, dissatisfied, and discontented. The bottom line problem is that we are working for acceptance rather than from acceptance.  We imagine that some achievement out there somewhere will give us the resting place we are searching for. Until then we are restless searching for it.

Application
When I really follow Christ I am set free from expectations. I don’t need a babysitter any more; I have a Father who rejoices over me. What would happen in my life if I stopped measuring my days in terms of either “getting there” or “slipping away” and rested in the acceptance of God that I am “already there”. My ministry would be marked with security, grace, kindness, patience, endurance with joy and more. Everything changes when we work from acceptance rather than for acceptance. God has no expectations for me when it comes to receiving his love. Sure there is potential he calls me to develop, but the first order question is already solved: I am loved. Now I must work from the security of that. Maybe the reason I’ve been allowed to live up to expectations so long is to bring me to this point of releasing them into the acceptance of the Lord.

Prayer
Father, it is a lightheaded feeling to stand in you presence without expectations. There is constantly a sense that we should be doing something or doing more to please you, yet your smile and emanating love tell me that all of that is a waste of time. You simply want me to be with you, just as the disciples were with Jesus. I accept your acceptance. That is the core of faith. Today, I chose to work from that. Amen.

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Scripture
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 4:10

Observation
It isn’t easy to know what pleases God and what offends him because not all of God’s judgments come immediately. Because consequences can often be delayed we can skip along with the notion that God is okay with whatever we do.

But not so. If we know anything about the way God works, he takes his time. He lets the sins of the wicked reach their “full measure” before taking action. He told Abraham it would be a wait of over 400 years before he would deal with his enemies. Some bad guys never get their comeuppance because not all rewards and punishments come in this life.

It is not enough to be led by a life of consequences because they don’t come quickly enough. This is why we have the Bible. This is why we have the Holy Spirit. It sounds simple but the moment by moment inquiry of the Lord to know what pleases him is often forgotten.

Application
I need to be careful to determine what pleases the Lord. If I want a life with his favor I need to have the upward glance with just about everything.

Prayer
Father, help me to pray reflexively this prayer, “What would please you?” Amen.

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Scripture
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:18-19

Observation
It is popular to say, “I’m not under the law because I don’t live by the Old Testament but by the New!” But Jesus never said any such thing.

The preachers of his day focused all of their attention on protecting their reputation. They feared public shame lest they be seen to break one of the commandments. So they built little rules around the big commands of God so that they would not be in danger of breaking the biggees. For example, the law said not to work on the Sabbath. So the Pharisees made a rule against picking out lice from their hair on Saturday, because that would qualify as hunting which everyone knew was another form of work. There were many other “rule-ettes” just as clever.

Look at how Jesus handled the law. Every time in the Sermon on the Mount that mentioned a law he did not protect reputation, instead Jesus guarded his heart. So the law against murder became a look at resentment in the heart. The law against adultery became a look at lust in the heart.

Application
Here’s the lesson for me…for us: all of the Old Testament law is still standing to bring me to reflect how my heart attitude can be adjusted into something more useful to the Holy Spirit. What is out the window is using obedience to the law as a way to impress God. But the law still stands. It is up to me to go beyond the black and white of God’s rules and to use it like a color chart to spot the grays of my own heart.

Best of all, I admit I cannot change myself, but Jesus can. He is not searching for more commitment from me. What he wants is my surrender and Jesus will do the rest.

Prayer
Lord, here is my heart. Trying to reach it and change it is like scratching my back. I need help from another and you are the only one. Help me in pressured times when all eyes are on me not to become a neo-pharisee and to use the law as a mirror to improve my appearance. Instead, keep me looking at the internals not the externals. For what impresses me and others doesn’t interest you. Help me to remember how interested you are in what no one else can see but you. Amen.

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