Playing Grown-up

By Cheri Cowell –

I remember laughter-filled days playing grown-up with my sister under a tree in the front yard or in a make-believe schoolhouse in our bedroom. With just a sheet or a cardboard box we turned any cozy spot into an imaginary scene of what we thought our world would be like as adults. In our game we took turns being the grown-up, which, of course, was the prized role in our drama. Sometimes the interpretation of that role caused arguments our mother needed to referee.

I’m sure all of us have played some form of this childhood game whether it was dress-up, cowboys and Indians, or tea party with our stuffed animals as guests. Still, many of us know adults who have never grown up. If we have to admit it, sometimes our own behavior would not qualify as very grown up. So, how do we know when we have reached the goal of finally growing up? The writer of Hebrews has a few suggestions in today’s passage.

The Jewish Christians were beginning to question whether following Christ was worth the persecution they received. The Hebrew’s author answered their questions by defining maturity. He told them mature Christians eat the solid food of the Word of God, not just the baby milk or easy stuff. He challenged the Jews who were looking for an easier way, one with fewer restraints, to continue to taste of the Holy Spirit. And like our childhood play repeated over and over, through repetition of godly principles the Hebrews (and you and I) could learn to distinguish good from evil.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me become a more mature Christian, able to eat the meat and potatoes of Your Word. I am hungry for that solid food. I’m willing to hear the things that may be difficult but which will allow me to grow up in You.

“There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong” (Hebrews 5:11-14 NLT).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, who writes and speaks on topics of Christian discipleship. Her first book, Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life, is called a biblically grounded no-nonsense approach to decision-making. To order your copy or to learn more about Cheri, visit her website www.CheriCowell.com

God’s Love Game

By Cheri Cowell –

“I love you more than vanilla ice cream with hot fudge,” my friend will say to his daughter, to that she will reply, “and I love you more than kisses from a puppy.” Instead of sharing the usual I love you they share in this lighthearted game. Each time trying to top what the other person has named. Not in a competitive way, but as a playful expression of the depth of love they share. God plays this game with us, too. He gives us a breathtaking sunrise and then whispers in our ear, “See this? I love you more than that.” He sends someone into your life with an unexpected blessing and then whispers again, “I love you more than that.” God’s love is so great there is no way we could have ever comprehended unless He sent Jesus to die so there would be no doubt. Still have a few doubts?

The word used in the Greek for “inner being” means in the secret depths of one’s soul. God longs for us to know Him deeply, intimately, and from the place within our souls we allow very few people to go. To love from this place requires a depth of vulnerability and trust that are difficult for us to give. God knows this so He demonstrated His love and vulnerability to us first in the life and death of Jesus. Everyday He sends us reminders of His love and His desire for communion with us. May we have eyes today to see His call, and hear His whispers, “I love you more than this…”

PRAYER: Thank You God for Your great love expressed in the life and sacrifice of Jesus. Thank You for the work of the Holy Spirit in my life that continually woos me and seeks to draw me closer to You. Help me notice the blessings You put before me today, and to return the favor by responding with my own, “I see that God, and I love You more than ___________.”

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, who writes and speaks on topics of Christian discipleship. In addition to her books and articles, you can learn about her speaking ministry and sign up to receive her daily devotional at www.CheriCowell.com

Intentional Love

By Cheri Cowell –

One of my favorite photos from childhood was taken Easter morning on the front steps of my grandparent’s home. My sister and I are smiling from ear to ear fashioning our new Easter dresses, hats, and gloves. Each year I looked forward to the month of February when my mother and I would travel to the fabric store to pick out the material for my new Easter dress. And of course, I couldn’t have a new dress without new shoes and a hat to match! God applies the same principle to our “new clothes” in Christ.

“Now that we have been cleansed…” Even if I didn’t get new shoes to go with my new Easter dress, I would have, at the very least, cleaned and polished my old shoes to likenew. As Christians we have a new spirit given to us. We have new clothes for our souls, yet many times we act as if we can continue to wear our old shoes. These old shoes have wear patterns in their soles that cause us to walk in a certain way. This scripture reminds us that we need to put on new shoes to go with our new clothes. Those new shoes are for the love-walk we are to have in our lives. Because of His Spirit of Love within us, we can love others with a sincerity that only comes from Him. Therefore, since we can love, we should love intentionally and with intensity. That is what a love walk looks like—intentional and intensely personal.

PRAYER: Thank You for cleansing me of my sins and for giving me Your Spirit of love. Help me become intentional today about loving others with an intensity that equals Your sacrifice.

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22 NIV).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, who writes and speaks on topics of Christian discipleship. In addition to her books and articles, you can learn about her speaking ministry and sign up to receive her daily devotional at www.CheriCowell.com

The Fizz Stopper

By Cheri Cowell –

Recently, I finally decided to tackle the cleaning of the dreaded “kitchen junk drawer.” Most of us have one of these drawers somewhere in our home. It’s the place where all sorts of odds and ends accumulate—the things that don’t belong anywhere else. Well, my drawer had gotten to the point I could no longer fit anything in and still close it. So, I was forced to tackle the job. To my surprise, I found amazing things in that drawer. One such find was a fizz stopper—the gadget that seals a soda bottle after it’s been opened so you don’t lose the carbonation. God sent us a personal fizz stopper.

When Jesus becomes a part of our lives, His Holy Spirit becomes the seal on our soul. He locks in the joy, peace, and contentment that come with His presence. His seal also keeps the air, or Satan, from contaminating our spirit, turning us flat and useless. Often, however, we forget to put the stopper back in after pouring ourselves out for others all week long. When we notice our fizz going flat, that is a sure signal we need time with Jesus who will refill us and seal us once again.

PRAYER: Thank You for sealing me at the moment I invited Jesus to be my Lord. Praise You for sending the Holy Spirit to re-invigorate me when I’ve gone flat and resealing me to His service.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30 NIV).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, who writes and speaks on topics of Christian discipleship. In addition to her books and articles, you can learn about her speaking ministry and sign up to receive her daily devotional at www.CheriCowell.com

The Road Less Traveled

By Cheri Cowell –

Whether we call them New Year’s resolutions or simply think of them as plans for the start of a new year, many of us choose new paths this time of year. When choosing a path forward we can follow the road less traveled, but if we are honest, most of us prefer the path of relative ease. Crowded and filled with familiarity, this road appears to go where we want to go, after-all “everyone” is on it. One look at the commercials this time of year and we know this crowded thoroughfare—buy this product or that and you’ll look younger, feel smarter, reach your dreams. You can have it all, they scream, if only you… Songs are made to glorify this super-highway and books tempt us with stories of its fulfillment. However, once lulled by its smooth surface, we find little truth in its travel brochures. The grass isn’t greener on the other side—weeds still grow there, too.

The lesson is clear: be sure you are not fooled by their flashy advertisements. The road less traveled, the more difficult way is the true path to fulfillment. This familiar passage in Matthew speaks of this narrow way, but separated from the next passage we don’t know how to find this road and will easily fall prey to deceptive advertising. So, what is this big secret? Simple. Look at the fruit. Jesus asks, “Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” The road less traveled might be less crowded, but those who’ve found it will have the life those on the other paths only dream of.

PRAYER: Thank You for being the Gate through which the road less traveled passes. Help me to be aware of false advertising, and to resist the lull of the path of relative ease.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14, 15-20 NIV).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, author of Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life, a great book for those looking for a guide on the road less traveled. Visit her website at http://www.CheriCowell.com

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