“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 2:19).

This benediction from Peter also presents a challenge, or perhaps even a command—to grow. When we are saved, we are immediately gifted with the fruit of the Spirit and one or more gifts of the Spirit; but with this command to grow, we should know that we always have room for improvement. In fact, Paul says it like this: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

This work in us is a continuing work—the work of growth. It is not work that saves us (just for clarification). It is a work that helps us to grow in our relationship with our Lord and Savior. So how does this growth occur? The best answer is that it occurs through intentional practice and the counsel of the Holy Spirit. You might call it training, or discipleship. If you have ever been involved in sports, dance, music, gymnastics, etc., you know that the best way to improve is to practice, and not just any old practice, but practice that has been designed by experts in the field, proven over time, to produce the right kinds of results. There have been many good books written on this subject over the past many years. You might find them listed under spiritual disciplines, or spiritual practices. I’d be happy to recommend a few if you want to contact me.

Besides the main ways that we access God’s grace—reading our Bible, prayer, worship including participating in the sacraments, preaching, and fellowship with other believers—there are many other practices, or spiritual disciplines. Many of these practices have been subjects of previous devotions. The practice we are learning about in this devotion is confession.

What is confession exactly? Confession means to admit or acknowledge. There are three areas of confession that if we regularly practice will help us to grow in our knowledge of Jesus—going back to our key verse in 2 Peter.

I pray that this practice of daily confession in these three areas will stimulate your growth and walk with Christ as it is doing for me. Reflecting on our opening passage: “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” recognize that we are first saved by grace, and then we grow. The reward for our growth is eternal life but with the added benefit of knowing Christ. Not just knowledge about Him but actually knowing our Lord and Savior in a very real and personal way. And this is my prayer for each of us. And finally, gratitude and praise for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:

“To You be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:19b).

In Christ,

Judy

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37).

I have been known to express my joy when all my chicks (my sons and their families) are together with me, like a hen with all her chicks under her wings. What a beautiful passage, spoken by Jesus, to his beloved Jerusalem. Despite the unwillingness of the people of Israel, despite their unfaithfulness, Jesus longs for them. Likewise, He longs to cover us with His love, just like a hen covers her chicks under her wings.

An ancient Near Eastern custom involved covering someone with the corner of a garment. In Hebrew, the word for “corner or edge of a garment” can also be translated as a “bird’s wing.” Our Tuesday Bible study recently finished a study of the book of Ruth, where this practice appears. In Ruth 3:4, Naomi tells Ruth to go to Boaz at night: “But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go, uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” Ruth obeys, and in Ruth 3:9 she says to Boaz, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings (the corner of your garment) over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

This custom was meant to symbolize that Ruth was asking for marriage; in other words, she was asking Boaz, as her nearest male relative (known at that time as a guardian-redeemer), to covenant with her for protection and provision under the marriage contract. This custom is a picture of the relationship of Jesus as Redeemer with His Church. The church is the Bride of Christ, and as believers, we are members of the church. In seeking this covenantal relationship with Jesus, we are asking for that same covering of salvation, protection, and protection. As believers, like Ruth, we seek this beautiful relationship, and Jesus longs for it. In fact, earlier in the Book of Ruth, verse 2:12, Boaz tells Ruth, “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and may a full reward be given to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”

What is important to note about this relationship is our willingness to seek and to receive Jesus. He is ready, willing, even longing for us to accept His gift of salvation, the covering of His wings; but we must take the step of receiving this gift. When you are sad, feeling lost and alone, know that Jesus longs for you to rest, relax, and seek relief under the wings of His protection. As King David wrote and modeled: “I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings” (Psalm 61:4).

In Christ,

Judy

“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

“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).

Does anyone else get a little confused by these commands? We know the first one means love your neighbor well, so does that imply that we should love ourselves well, as well? Yet David writes: “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain” (Psalm 118:36). Proverbs counsels against selfishness “An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels” (Proverbs 18:1), and Paul preaches against selfish ambition in several of his letters. Jesus preached “… to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me’” (Luke 9:23).

These verses preach a denial of self, but not with an end game of denial. In fact, if we are just trying to see how much we can deny ourselves, we are still engaging in self-ish behavior. The goal is not self-denial. The goal is loving God and loving others.

In fact, there are passages that speak of enjoyment of the gifts Gd has given us. Jesus even says that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). How do we properly “enjoy” what we have been given? And what are some of the ways that we prioritize our love for God and for others?

1. Gratitude. All good gifts point toward the Giver. James 1:17 reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” God has made it possible for us to receive gifts of His creation, so we should have a heart of gratitude for His generosity. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16).
2. Trust. When we trust God for His provision, we realize that we don’t have to be greedy or self-serving. “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” (Matthew 6:31-32).
3. Generosity. Generosity is an outcome of gratitude and trust. When we acknowledge that God is the giver of all good gifts and that we can trust Him to provide for each of us, we realize what a blessing it is to be used by Him as a conduit of these good gifts. “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9).
4. Obedience. When we focus on His priorities and align ourselves with His will, everything else falls into place according to His perfect plan. This means not giving in to our sinful desires but instead seeking to please Him in every way. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

All these actions are self-less rather than self-ish because they are focused on God and His glory and not on us. And by pursuing them, we can like John the Baptist, seek with our whole hearts to magnify the Lord. “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

In Christ,

Judy

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).

Continuing our series on Nashville Rescue Mission’s Core Values, now is a suitable time to focus the last one on the list, Culture of Honor. The word “culture” implies a shared set of values or beliefs; therefore, it is a good summing up of the intentional nature of all our core values. In other words, as we live out all our core values (Extravagant Faith, Radical Hospitality, Continuous Improvement, Excellence, and Culture of Honor) we are creating a certain set of expectations around our customs and behaviors—expectations for how we work together as a team.

The word “honor” is somewhat old-fashioned in that in the past you were more likely to hear about those living under a certain code of honor—chivalry or respect. It means high respect and moral integrity. Schools have honor societies, which usually require high grades as well as meeting strict standards of behavior and service. When used as a verb, to honor someone means to regard them with high respect; it also means to fulfill the terms of an agreement. “Honor” is a positive term.

The statement describing the Mission’s Core Value of Culture of Honor reads as follows:

We honor those that have laid the path before us…This is a belief that has us looking forward as we look back. We cannot launch without a launch pad. We cannot build unless we have a solid foundation.

We are building on a legacy that began in 1954 with an idea, a desire to help men who had no place to stay indoors, no sure next meal. Our main purpose was, and continues to be, to offer a cup of cold water in Jesus’ Name, and to offer the Living Water of Jesus Christ. On this foundation, and beginning with two rented rooms and five guests more than 72 years ago, we have expanded to serving men, women, and children on the two campuses that comprise Nashville Rescue Mission today.

…and bless those who labor among us…. Nashville Rescue Mission has grown and evolved to where we are today based on the efforts of our staff over the years. We have much to be thankful for, and we are certainly thankful for the more than 130 men and women plus countless volunteers who are so faithfully serving the Mission today with their gifts and talents and experience.

…. as we embrace the future ahead of us. We are excited to welcome our new CEO, Stephanie Sewell, to lead us forward. While embracing changes in leadership, we pray to remain faithful in both in our personal and Mission roles:

• To the authority of those God places in leadership roles
• To the Word of God
• To share the gospel of Jesus Christ and His saving love and grace
• To carry out the Great Commission to disciple those in our care
• To “love one another”
• To steward the resources of time, talents, and donations of money and all other gifts

So, as we do our best to live out the core value of Culture of Honor, let us do so not only with those in mind who went before us, but also keeping in mind all those who will come after us. Let those who come behind us find us faithful, as in the words to this beautiful hymn: Find us Faithful.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

In Christ,

Judy