W. Spencer Perry

“So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9 NLT “The Servant’s Primary Goal” Underlines: “It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us.” “…making our first priority… ‘to be well pleasing to Him.’” “Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval; if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor.” “Any goal we have that diverts us… from the central goal of  being ‘approved to God’ (1 Timothy 2:15) may result in our rejection…” “I must learn to relate everything to the primary goal.” “My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life.” “MY WORTH TO GOD PUBLICLY IS MEASURED BY WHAT I REALLY AM IN MY PRIVATE LIFE.” Notes: - our goal - please Him - but are we too worried about pleasing/impressing others, or too worried about their rejection and not Gods - what is your goal?? There is nothing higher or more important than ...

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT “The Master Will Judge” Underlines: “Live constantly reminding yourself  of the judgement seat of Christ…” “Tolerating a wrong attitude toward another person causes you to follow the spirit of the devil…” “Bring it immediately into the light and confess…” “The deadliest attitude of the Pharisees that we exhibit today is not hypocrisy but that which comes from unconsciously living a lie.” Notes: - what lie are we living - the acceptance of the sin of judging others  - wages or sin is death; a penalty of sin is acceptance of it  Who are you judging? Has the acceptance of that sin hardened your heart and you are not even aware of it. That is the penalty. The Holy Spirit is the only power to reveal and break the pattern.  Bob Marley sums this one up in “Judge Not”: “  Don't you look at me so smug ...

“As they followed, they were afraid.” Mark 10:32 Title - “The Discipline of Dismay” Underlines “It was a delight to forsake everything else and throw ourselves before Him in a fearless statement of love. But now we are not quite so sure, Jesus is far ahead of us and is beginning to seem different and unfamiliar.” “But when the darkness of dismay comes, endure…” Notes - when you feel you have lost touch with Jesus, keep following, ENDURE The disiciples and people alive on this time could see Jesus. Could physically follow Him. As His mission / ministry was coming to a head, people were confused. “Why is He saying He must die.” “Isn’t He going to be a conquering general leading armies to rule in Jerusalem.” When we feel dismayed and like we don’t understand what His will for us is, just continue to follow. I would rather follow then to stop and be left behind. It will all become clear in His time. 

“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey.” Romans 6:16 NLT Todays Title - “Yielding” Underlines  “…I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be.” “Remember what lust is - ‘I must have it now,’ whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.” “You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life.” “Liberty” “It is easy to sign ‘He will break every fetter,’ while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself.” Notes - are you a slave to yourself? - yielding to something gives it control over you - whether it be lust, greed, Jesus…. - if we yield to Him, He will make a way to fulfill our hearts desire. To fulfill our needs We do lust after things. The “I wants” in life. The focus on that can dominate your life and you find yourself trapped by it. If we were to trust in Jesus and be yoked to Him, He will provide for us. And provide what we ...

“‘For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.’” John 3:16 NLT Today’ title - “God’s Total Surrender to Us” Underlines: “When I think of my salvation experience, I think of being delivered from sin and gaining personal holiness. But salvation is so much more! It means that the Spirit of God has brought me into intimate contact with the true Person of God Himself.” “We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ.” “In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us - totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him.” Notes: - so we will not worry about the old life or “could have beens”, they are inconsequential.  - don’t be in a one way relationship. John 3:16. He surrendered Himself to die for us - how do you r...

“Then Peter began to speak up. ‘We’ve given up everything to follow you,’ he said.” Mark 10:28 NLT Todays title - “Total Surrender” Underlines: “Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result.” “Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain. We have become so self-centered…” “Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.” “If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender.” Notes: - God will meet our needs.  - We go to God to clean us and make us holy hut never really trust Him to take care of the real stuff of life - “I’ve got this God.” “A personal sovereign preference” Who is your king? Yourself, or Jesus? The truth is that we may want to believe it is Jesus but we are fearful to trust Him with everything. Fearful that “things will change.” I think that is why He told the rich man to sell everything and ...

“…I obeyed that vision from Heaven.” Acts 26:19 NLT  Todays title - “Obedience to the ‘Heavenly Vision’” Underlines: “We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth.” “We can not bring the vision to fulfillment through our own efforts, but must live under its inspiration until it fulfills itself.” “It is at the risk of our own soul’s welfare that we get caught up in practical busy-work, only to miss the fulfillment of the vision.” “The only way God plants His saints is through the whirlwind of His storms.” My only note was this - we lose our way through lack of spiritual growth.  I think what this devotional is also telling us is that we lose our way by busying ourselves with what we believe to be God’s work or what He wants us to do. We want to dictate to God where we will be planted. But as Chambers notes, we are only planted through God storms. So we must be patient, we must endure and we must stay focused on Him. If we can do that, then He will reveal to us...

Getting caught up after spring break road trip with the family. Not much quiet time, but a heck of a lot of fun and family time.  “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Getting caught up on the devotional so these thoughts maybe more succinct. The day is titled “Being an Example of His Message.”  Here is what I underlined: “…our lives must be a holy example…” “…crushed into submission to God’s purpose…” “The purpose of Pentecost was…to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh…” “…liberty…Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you.” Notes I wrote at the bottom: - we are workers for God but also heirs - crushed into submission - incarnation of what you preach, God’s message in the flesh I like the word incarnation. Spanish word for meat / flesh is carne. We...

“‘Do you also want to go away?’” John 6:67 The title is “Turning Back or Walking with Jesus?” There were many who turned away from Jesus. Not into a life of sin, just away from Him. There are many of us who have not turned away but we may not be really walking with Him. Chamber said, “Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness.” I think many of us accept the salvation then take it upon ourselves to do the work of God. We don’t consult Him. We maybe just assume we are doing what He wants us to do. He wants oneness. He wants relationship. Chambers says that He wants to be a fellow laborer in the field.  If your faith, your walk with God is in a valley right now, stop and take an assessment. Are you truly walking with Him. A...

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:37-39‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Chambers verse today was just verse 37 - “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” The NLT translates as - “overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us.” We are more than conquerors. We have overwhelming victory through Christ. And in all the hardship, tribulation, and persecution, that can never be taken away. “… nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 NLT If that doesn’t fire you up and give you the confidence to take on whatever life throws at you, then your trust, hope and faith are off center. You are digging dow...

“In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.”  2 Corinthians 6:4 NLT The previous verse says that they live in such a way that one will stumble because of them. If that and the quotes verse regarding “patiently enduring hardship” are signs of a true minister of the Gospel, then I have some work to do! Chambers correlated this back to his discussion on drudgery. The day to day grind. It can drain us and leave our enthusiasm for anything low. Defeated. This is when we draw deep on the grace of God. Chambers say: “The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God in the long run is steady perseverance, even when the work cannot be seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God.” Remember that God values us all and all our work is important to Him. If your calling and day to day life is not “impressive or noticeable” to others - press on! H...

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Chambers spends 2 days in this verse. The titles are: “Is this true of me?” and “Is He really my Lord?” The “truth” that Chambers is relaying is that we find our own lives “dear to us.” That any idea of service is guided by our common sense and a little bit of Christian emotion. This means that we are most likely hindering our surrender to Jesus. We have logically rationalized all we need to do for Him, that fits into our schedule and abilities, and checked that box. Chambers says, “You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God.” “Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing...

“Feed my sheep.” John 21:17 Chambers takes a third and final day to finish his commentary on this verse. It is about “His Commission to Us” Jesus wants Peter to love others and care for them. He didn’t tell him to preach or study, He gave Peter a job. Feed my sheep.  We need to study the word and we need teachers of the word. When it comes to gathering up His flock, bringing others into a relationship with Jesus, we need to just love and care for people.  I met a missionary and he told me his strategy into the hearts and homes of Afghan refugees. He would walk around the apartment complex and pray. Then when he met someone he would simply be kind and gracious and give them a bag of rice. Days or so later back at the same property he may bump into the same person, visit for a bit then offer up another bag of rice. The third time he would bring that person a sewing machine. Not once does he mention Jesus or the Bible. But this show of love has made some ask him “why do you do th...

“He said to him a third time, ‘. . . Do you love Me?’” John 21:17 Chambers stays in this verse today to address - “Have You Felt the Pain Inflicted by the Lord?” In the full context of the verse, it says that Peter was hurt when Jesus asked Him the third time. But his response is key - “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Chambers says, “Peter began to see how very much he did love Jesus, and there was no need to say ‘Look at this or that as proof of my love.’” The Word of God and those piercing questions from God reveal the “true me to myself.” Peter realized that he did deep down love Jesus and was ready to do what we He asked. He realized that Jesus knew his heart and knew that he loves Him. He did not feel the need to prove it to Jesus, just to respond in submission and love. 

“‘Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus asked, ‘Do you finally believe?’” John 16:30-31 NLT In verse 32 Jesus tells them that they will be scattered and will leave Jesus alone. As Chambers discusses this section of scripture he writes,  “Many Christian workers have left Jesus Christ alone and yet tried to serve Him out of a sense of duty, or because they sense a need as a resell of their own discernment. . . Our soul has gotten out of intimate contact with Gos by leaning on our own religious understanding.” I do think a lot about this. Chambers discusses that this isn’t a deliberate sin with punishment attached, but that one is not having the relationship with God that He intends. So what do we do? “We need to rely on the resurrection life of Jesus on a much deeper level than we do now. We should get in the habit of continually seeking His counsel on everything, instead of making our own ...

“Where then do you get that living water?” John 4:11 The impoverished ministry of Jesus “The well is deep.” Chambers discusses the well as the depths of human nature and life. And for example, in a deep well of hurt, we deny that Jesus has the power to calm a troubled heart. Most of the time we are looking down into our wells and searching for the water that will help us, but the living water comes from above. Chambers says,  “We will come to Jesus for Him to be our comforter and sympathizer, but we refrain from approaching Him as our Almighty God.” “We struggle to reach the bottom of our own well, trying to get water for ourselves… The well of your incompleteness runs deep, but make the effort to look away from yourself and to look toward Him.”  Clearly tying in with yesterday’s devotional - do you really believe He is Almighty. That means capable of anything. Over all. All powerful. Yet when we need Him the most we limit Him, maybe not consciously, and are telling Him that t...

“‘But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,’ she said, ‘and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?’” John 4:11 NLT Devotional title - Our misgivings about Jesus. The verse comes from the story where Jesus asks the Samaritan woman for a drink of water from the well. She was caught off guard because Jews did not associate with Samaritans. In verse 10 Jesus says “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” Another title would be - Our misgivings of Jesus and rationalization of our circumstance  Here are some great quotes. Some inner monologue Christians have: “We think His ideals are lofty and impress us, but we believe He is not in touch with reality - that what He says cannot actually be done.” “While we talk of our dealings with Him, others ask us, ‘Where are you going to get enough money to live? How will you live and who will take care of you?’ Or our misgivings begin within...

“I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.” 2 Corinthians 12:15 NLT Todays devotional, titled - The Destitution of Service - focuses on the same verse as yesterday.  Chambers starts with this comment, “Natural human love expects something in return.” Tit for tat. Score keeping. Scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours…. Christ never had a relationship like that. He would love if we didn’t treat our relationships this way. Especially marriage. Love and devotion to someone should not require anything in return. The act is the expression of love.  Chambers says of Paul in reference to the sacrificial service and life of Jesus, “And Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s. He did not care how high the cost was to himself - he would gladly pay it. It was a joyful thing to Paul.  That is where Christians start squirming in their seats a little bit. Wanting to keep Jesus and service in one box and...