Did you realize that we're already past 1/3 of the way through the year? It's crazy how fast its gone, but it has been an amazing year so far. I appreciate all of your support and engagement. I hope that you will continue to engage and read the devotions that God lays on my heart throughout the rest of the year.
For this month, the month of May, we will be going through a series called Be Like a Lemon. I hope this series gets you in the summery mood. I wanted it to be in June, but I have a whole different series that I have in mind for both June and July. It's going to be a 2 part series. I'm very excited about it. We're going to take this month though, and learn how we can understand how to be more like Christ through thinking about a lemon.
The 4 points of this series are:
Stand out Like a Lemon - 5/06
Smell Like a Lemon - 5/12
Taste Like a Lemon - 5/19
Be Beneficial Like a Lemon - 5/26
I hope you follow along this month. Have amazing weekend!
Photo by Han Lahandoe on Unsplash
Lemons stand out from other foods because of their bright color and odd shape. God created it to be that way. Likewise, God calls us to stand out from the world.
God doesn’t ask us to be different from the world for no reason. We’re told, in Romans, that if we stop trying to fit in with the world and let God work in us, we’ll be able to understand His will more easily. God also desires for us, as His children, to act like Him, which includes being merciful and set apart – things not valued in the world. Furthermore, Paul encourages us to be a light to a crooked world.
Six ways we can be more like a lemon are: One, let God renew our mind. The Bible tells us outright that instead of trying to be like the world, we must surrender to God. We have to surrender our mind for renewing and our life for transformation. Two, stay loyal and faithful to God. Human nature prompts the desire to be into whatever new trend is out there and then move on when commitment is asked for; however, we need to act as the new creation we’ve been transformed into. Being loyal and committed to God is a major part of this. Three, serve others. The life Jesus encourages us to live is different than the way of life the world promotes. For example, Jesus said that to be great you must serve others. Four, love everyone. Jesus again challenges us by stating that people who don’t know God love those who love them, but that we can stand out by loving everyone, including our enemies. Five, not attach ourselves to values or things of the world. What we talk about with others, what motivates us, and what we think about most are great measures to determine what we’re attached to. Six, meditate on the Bible. The Psalmist gives us the best recommendation of what we can do to avoid being like the world: focus on God’s Word.
Here’s how not to stand out like a lemon: Try to make the world love you – Since Satan is the ruler of this world, the world can’t love you if you’re following God. Focus on how people treat you – God calls you to lead a life focusing on how you treat others, not the other way around. Hate someone – Hate and violence are what the world does best, choose love and grace instead.
God’s Guidance:
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Luke 6:32 (NIV) – ““If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.”
Luke 6:35-36 (NIV) – “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV) – “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.””
Philippians 2:15 (NIV) – “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”
Psalms 78:8 (NIV) – “They would not be like their ancestors— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.”
Mark 10:42-45 (NIV) – “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
1 John 2:15-17 (NIV) – “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
Psalms 1:1-2 (NIV) – “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
1 John 3:13-15 (NIV) – “Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
John 14:30 (ESV) – “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,”
Application:
1. Evaluate whether people would link you more to the things and values of the world or to God and what He values
2. Ask God to reveal opportunities to you where you can serve others this week
3. Replace a habit that doesn’t bring glory to God with meditating on the Bible
Strength Point:
We can’t be a light for Jesus when we’re too immersed in the darkness of the world.
Song of the Week:
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for being different than what’s in the world. You are good, You are light, You are unconditional love, You are perfect. I’m sorry for trying to fit in with the world, instead of letting You make me to be more like You. Teach my heart, Lord, to be okay with standing out in this world. Remind me that You desire for me to be a light in the darkness and peace in the chaos. You’ve called me to be joy in the suffering, hope in the trauma, _ in the _. I yearn to be these things, so that I might lead others to You and bring You glory. Move within me, so that what others think or say about me matters less and less to me. Thank You for always being patient with me, God. I want to be more like You! I love You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for being different than what’s in the world. You are good, You are light, You are unconditional love, You are perfect. Help my friend stop trying to fit in with the world. Instead, I pray that they’d let You make them to be more like You. Teach my friend’s heart, Lord, to be okay with standing out in this world. Remind them that You desire for them to be a light in the darkness and peace in the chaos. You’ve called my friend to be joy in the suffering, hope in the trauma, a gentle hand in the cruelty of sin. Create a desire for them to be these things, so that they might lead others to You and bring You glory. Move within my friend, so that what others think or say about them matters less and less to them. Thank You for always being patient with us, God. We want to be more like You! I love You, Lord! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
Happy Asian-American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Celebrate with us throughout the month. This article about AAPI Heritage Month shares resources to become more educated about the struggles Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders endure and the amazing impacts they’ve made on all of our lives.
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