DNOW Devo Day 1 Put On Compassionate Hearts By Mark Cole Watch this video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaxvk5gbx-s Compassion starts in our hearts, but it is really experienced when our heart prompts us to act. Even when it may not make sense to others even when it may actually cost us or set us back. This video shows that very thing. Philippians 2:1-4 English Standard Version (ESV) 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Bottom line.whatever you have experienced because of the GREAT love and sacrifice of Jesus, focus ALL of your mind, heart, effort, energy and opportunities to help others experience the same. The same word used for compassionate in Colossians 3:12 is used in the Philippians 2. Compassionate and comfort from love are used interchangeably (as words/phrases that say the same thing). God calls us to be about the things He is about! Compassion is not simply feeling sorry for someone or just helping out. It is always rooted in love and a desire for others to experience relief, comfort & encouragement. Compassionate hearts lead to compassionate hands. Practically speaking; compassion is both felt and shown. Look back to the example of Jesus and the cross, He did not simply have a sad heart that we were lost in sin. His compassion resulted in His action & ultimately His sacrifice on the cross. As our eyes are on Jesus, we will see the hurts of those around us and naturally seek (in compassion) to help; with our words, time, & our efforts to meet needs and give comfort from love. What might this look like in your everyday life? How has someone shown you compassion in your life? Who is someone in your school/team/neighborhood that you can show compassion (comfort from love) to this week? How can you specifically show compassion to them this week?
DNOW Devo Day 2 Put On Kindness By Alex Hosse Kevin Berthia is in an iconic picture of the Golden Gate Bridge where he is standing on the edge talking to a police officer. After years of struggling with difficult circumstances and depression, Kevin was ready to end it all. It took 92 minutes of kindness for Officer Briggs to talk to Kevin and give him hope. Though it took years of battling depression after that, Kevin credits that conversation and a later meeting with Officer Briggs for saving his life. Kevin Berthia has now overcome his depression and is a suicide prevention advocate. Romans 2:3-4 (ESV) 3 Do you suppose, O man you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Paul is speaking to people who believe they are covered by God s kindness even though they judge others for doing things they also do themselves. They have continued to do things they know are wrong because they think God will be kind and forgive them but they do not extend this kindness to others. Paul is trying to get the point across to them that God s kindness isn t so you can live however you want to live without fear. Instead, God s kindness is meant to lead to a change in the person because of the kindness they ve been shown. As Christians we don t repent so that we can only earn grace. We repent because of God s grace and kindness to us when we didn t deserve it. When we see this kindness from God, it draws us to Him. Reminders of what God has done for us should help us to remain focused on Him. In the same way God shows us kindness, we re to be kind to others. God isn t kind to us because we deserve His kindness. And we aren t called to be kind only to people that we think deserve our kindness. You don t always know the circumstances of the people around you at school, on sports teams, or even at church, but you always have the opportunity to be kind. It doesn t have to be as dramatic as being on the edge of a bridge to make a difference in someone s life. Being kind to others opens opportunities with people that might not otherwise be possible. When you see God s kindness, it should move you towards being more like God. How can you be like God today and show kindness to someone that you know needs it? Think of a specific person. Don t be generic! How does God s kindness to you impact your desire to be kind to others? What is a practical way to be kind to people that are not easy to show kindness?
DNOW Devo Day 3 Put On Humility By RoRo Spradlin When you think of the word humility what comes to mind? When the attributes found in Colossians 3:12 were being assigned to each student pastor for Post- D Now Devotions, it was only natural that I should get humility. I have no doubt that I m more humble (and good looking) than the other 3 student pastors. Although you know that I m kidding here (if you don t know it I m kidding), humility and its opposites selfishness and pride are distractions with which all of us struggle. It s not that difficult to struggle with selfishness in our me-centered culture. The great theologian Toby Keith said it best when he said, I wanna talk about me, wanna talk about I, wanna talk about number one oh my, me, my, what I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see. I like talking about you, you, you usually, but occasionally, I wanna talk about me. We like focusing on me, but as Christians we re called to focus on Christ first and foremost then to focus on others. Philippians 2:3-8 (ESV) 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,a 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Jesus models humility in that He willingly took on a lower position/rank by becoming a man. He willfully left heaven so that you and I might be able to have a relationship with God. I want to encourage you to follow the example of Christ and the words of Paul today, this week and throughout your life. Consider others above yourself. I heard someone define humility in this way: humility is not thinking less of yourself; it s thinking of yourself less. As a child of the King, holy and dearly loved, put on the humility of Christ. The reality is that everyone struggles with pride and selfishness. How important is humility in the life of a follower of Christ? What does surrendering to God look like in this area? Are there currently any pride and selfishness issues in your life that need to be addressed? What are some ways you could put on humility and stop being distracted by selfishness?
DNOW Devo Day 4 Put On Meekness (Gentleness) By Rich Mayfield The word meekness from Colossians 3:12 is not a word we usually use very often in conversation. Meekness means humble and patient in face of a challenge. It doesn t mean bashful or scared, but has a planned value to it. Regardless of what the meek are facing, they are determined to stay humble and patient. James 3:13 (ESV) 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. James connects meekness with wisdom, which is the knowledge of what is right coupled with action. James said that we should do our good works in meekness. In other words, even though there is evil all around us, we should be determined and steadfast in our meekness no matter what it is we are trying to do. This shows our growing in the wisdom of God. Meekness, in other translations of the Bible, is associated with the word gentleness. We don t exactly live in a gentle world. Think about it. What are the distractions you face every day that keep you from focusing on Christ? More most of us they are not gentle, quiet distractions. They are so often loud, abrupt and bold. We like this in our music, our movies, our jokes, and even in the personalities of others. So, in such a non-meek, non-gentle world, how do we know how to put on meekness and gentleness? Born of a lowly virgin in a stable, traveling through the countryside ministering to the least of the people, dying on a criminal s cross, and being buried in and rising from a normal grave, Jesus did not live loudly and abruptly. He modeled meekness and gentleness. He loved people. He helped the sick and the grieving. He welcomed little children. Matthew 11:29 (ESV) 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Jesus showed us how to be meek and gentle so that we would be that way in Him and toward others. What about you today? How meek are you? What is one way today that you can put on meekness in the name of Christ? How do you think that others will react to you being meek and gentle in such a loud and abrupt world? How do meekness and gentleness minister to the world?
DNOW Devo Day 5 Put On Patience By Ben Day It almost never fails. My wife and I set a time for us to leave, and when that time comes I am standing by the door ready to go, and she still has one or two things left to do. A minute goes by and I begin to grow tired of waiting. I start to clear my throat and jingle the keys, just so that it is clear that I am ready and waiting on her. Another minute goes by and I call out, Are you almost ready? We need to leave. She comes rushing to the door, picking up her last few things and is ready to leave. We are never more than just a few minutes late, but for some reason my patience often wears thin. I become aggravated and frustrated very quickly. And then I am reminded of this verse 1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV) 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant This is a pretty well known verse that comes from a chapter of the Bible that focuses solely on love. It is probably one that you have heard read before at a wedding, and is often used to speak of the love that a husband and wife have for each other. Apparently I still need to work on that. But what is interesting is that when Paul wrote this passage, he wasn t talking about specifically the way husbands and wives should act, but the way that ALL Christians should act. This verse is found in a letter that Paul wrote to a church that was not acting like a church should. And at the heart of his explanation about how the church should work in unity and each member should use his or her gifts, he says that the most important thing a Christian can do is show love. And one of the ways he describes love is patience. Being patient shows love because you are putting someone else s needs and desires ahead of your own. When you truly love someone, you care more about your relationship with them than you do about your own plans. If we really want to be people that share the love of God with others, we are going to have to learn to be patient. Now I will admit, that s easier said than done. There are many people who will test your patience. There will be times when you will be tempted to get frustrated and angry with that person. But here s the key, consider how patient God is with you. How many times do you disobey and yet he still loves you? When I consider how many times my wife is patient with me and how much love she shows me, those couple of minutes go by much quicker. Understanding how loving and patient God has been to you will help you be patient with others. In what areas of your life do you need to work on patience? Who is someone you can show patience to today? Ask God to give you the ability to show his love to others by the way you are patient with them.