The Civil War was one of the most devastating wars in the United States where over 500,000 people lost their lives.  The country was divided between North and South, and in the middle of the war, President Lincoln set forth the Emancipation Proclamation establishing that all slaves in the United States were free.  Some say that this single event marked the turning point of the Civil War.  Later, these events would lead to the creation of the 13th Amendment, changing the laws of the nation, and unifying a country.

Jesus also completely changed the playing rules.  Not with the laws of a country, but the laws that governed sin and death.  It was a turning point that gave us the hope of eternal life with Him.

Read Romans 8:1-4.  What makes it possible for us to experience no condemnation?

Have you already fallen into temptation?  Are there areas in your life where you have failed God? Do you still feel guilty? Where/why?

Guilty feelings or not, if you have genuinely turned back to Jesus, you are free.  It’s hard to believe that it is that simple, but it is.

Jesus changed the laws of sin and death not only to overcome temptation, but also to overcome the guilt of failure.  What Jesus did was the turning point for all humanity and yes, you.  Praise God!

If you have ever taken martial arts or self-defense class, you know there are a lot of ways to defend yourself if you need to.  You learn to protect yourself and also how to stop an attacker.  But, as my instructor once said, the best defense is to not be there.  In some conflicts, it is sometimes better to avoid the conflict and run.  The same is true in our spiritual lives as well.

Joseph knew the principle very well.  Read his story in Genesis 39:7-12.  What did Joseph do when faced with temptation?

Potiphar’s wife wanted to have sex with Joseph.  But when temptation came, Joseph resisted because he had made up his mind where he stood.  He could never betray his master and do this great evil and sin against God.  When the temptation continued, he fled.  He didn’t need to wait or think about it.  He ran.

What is your limit?  What lines have you drawn?   Have you made up your mind what your standards are?  What are some of your standards?  Are there temptations that you are resisting, when you should really be running?  In what areas of your life do you need to run?  Set your standard.  If you get too far – Run!

You have probably been in a relationship where the other person wasn’t completely honest with you. Were you able to grow very close to that individual? Why?

Read Psalm 145:18. To what type of person does God draw near?  What does “integrity” mean to you?  This verse presents a picture of God responding to an invitation—your invitation. He promises to draw near  to you when you come to Him with an honest heart—a heart of integrity.

In your view, what is honesty?  How would you rate you honesty with God? Is it OK to ask God questions or admit that you don’t understand something? Why or why not?

God does not expect you to hide how you feel. You can be open with Him because He already knows everything about you. Truthfulness with Him is for your benefit, so you can receive His presence and blessing in your life.  Dishonesty or incomplete honesty creates a barrier between you and God.  He can never be as close to you as He desires without your honesty.

Is there an area of your life where you haven’t been completely truthful with God? Confess that to Him and ask His forgiveness and help.

* This devotion is from the Lifeway KNOWN curriculum Winter ’09 *

Read Hebrews 4:15-16. About whom are these verses written? In the time when the Bible was written, a high priest would act as a liaison between the people and God. How would it feel to depend on another human being for your relationship with God? Would you feel confident in this system? Why or why not?

How does Jesus serve as your high priest?

Because of Christ’s death, believers have a direct line of communication with God. He understands all your weaknesses and He promises to meet you where you are and give you what you need. So you can, and should, come to Him confidently, expecting Him to meet with you and reveal Himself to you.

Describe a time in your life when you approached God and He came through for you. Thank Him for being faithful to you.

God promises to listen to you when you pray and to reveal Himself to you when you seek Him humbly and with your whole heart (Check out Jeremiah 29:12-13 for this promise). With that in mind, ask Him to help you approach Him with confidence in your quiet time. He hears you!

* This devotion is from the Lifeway KNOWN curriculum Winter ’09 *

In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, adventurer Indiana Jones must make it safely through a series of deadly traps in order to complete his quest. Following a cipher, he safely navigates each hazard. When his clue reads, “The penitent man shall pass,” Indy drops to the ground, narrowly missing giant saw blades that slice over his head. Penitent is another word for humble. When you hear the word humble, what’s your first thought or reaction?

Based on Psalm 25:9, what’s the purpose of humility?

Why is humility often pictured by a person kneeling in prayer? Humility is an attitude that recognizes God is infinitely greater than you are. The truly humble don’t need to put themselves down. Instead, they submit to God and focus on lifting Him up. This means being willing to repent of sin and recognize that God loves you even though you aren’t perfect.

When you approach God humbly, He is able to teach you to do what’s right so you can avoid sin and its destructive consequences.  Take a few moments and confess any sin in your life. Ask God to give you a spirit of humility so He can teach you to do right.

* This devotion is from the Lifeway KNOWN curriculum Winter ’09 *

You’ve seen it a hundred times. A friend starts hanging out with someone new and the more time they spend together, the more similar they become. Their language, mannerisms, and clothing begin to be very similar—they even say the same thing at the same time. And they may not even realize they are doing it.

Who do you act like?

Check out John 15:5. What do you think the word “abide” means?

Abiding happens over a period of time—so does bearing fruit. For a plant to bear fruit, there must be a consistent flow of nutrients. It doesn’t happen overnight, and many things can stunt its growth.

How is this similar to what happens in your walk with Christ?

The more consistent time you spend with God, the more He’s going to rub off on you. You’ll find yourself thinking, acting, and talking more like Him because you’ve grown to know Him and understand more about how He would respond.

Pray that God will help you abide in Him—and that you will become more like Him.

* This devotion is from the Lifeway KNOWN curriculum Winter ’09 *

Begin by asking God to reveal Himself and His truth to you today.

When you are trying to get to know someone, where do you start?
–Check out his or her Internet or gamer profile
–Invite him or her to hang out
–Ask other people about him or her
–Strike up a conversation and ask lots of questions
–Watch to see what he or she does or says

There are lots of ways to get to know someone. The more time you invest in discovering what someone is like,the more you find out and the more accurate your impression will be of that person.

How would you rate your understanding of who God is?

Read Colossians 1:25-27. What is the mystery that is revealed to us through God’s Word?

Skip down to Colossians 2:2. What type of understanding does Scripture promise?

A relationship with God is just like any other relationship. The more time you invest in digging into His Word—the Bible—the more you discover about who He is. Each thing you learn helps you piece together His nature, heart, and desires.

Every bit of knowledge you gain about God helps you develop an intimate relationship with Him. So what are you waiting for? Dig in! It is time well spent.

* This devotion is from the Lifeway KNOWN curriculum Winter ’09 *

Martin Luther lived in Germany in the early 1500s. As a monk, Luther became frustrated with the church’s ignorance of spiritual truth and their focus on status and wealth.

Luther called Christians to realign with the Bible. Because he spoke against church leaders, he was kicked out of the church and lost many of his friends. Still, he clung to his relationship with God as his main focus.

Luther declared, “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.” To what does your heart cling these days?

Read Philippians 3:8-9. Why is what Christ offers you superior to any other use of your time?

What you value determines how you spend your time—hobbies, interests, and aspirations. None of those things is bad in and of itself. Problems arise when those things become more important than your personal relationship with God. If Christ is your Savior and Lord, you should consider Him so valuable that everything else looks like garbage in comparison.

What things in your life have you put before God?  What steps do you need to take to realign your life to make God your heart focus?  Ask God to give you a desire for Him that surpasses your love for anything else in your life.

* This devotion is from the Lifeway KNOWN curriculum Winter ’09 *

We won first place!  Congratulation Mark.  We’ve always said how awesome your work is and how valuable your gifts are to the Kingdom of God.  Now people across the country will see the work you’re doing for the Lord.  Click on the link below to be directed to the LifeWay website to watch our video.  It lists me as the winner only because the video was entered under my account name.  Mark did all of the work.  I’m so grateful to serve alongside teenagers and adult leaders who are “making Christ known.”

Link to contest website: http://www.lifeway.com/known/contest.asp