Jimmy Gunn

All In

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day three)

³³ So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

Does this sound familiar? We recently finished a study on stewardship where we took a deep look at how God wants us to view our possessions. Here, in Matthew, Jesus is pointing that out again. I do not think that Jesus meant that we cannot be a disciple if we own anything. His point is more on our hearts. Considering this verse in terms of stewardship, we do not truly own anything here on this earth anyway. Everything belongs to God, and He has given us all we have to be good stewards and use well. So, when we hold too tightly to our possessions, they stand in the way of us following God with our whole hearts. Jesus’ point in this passage is that we cannot be half-in on following Him. Ask the Lord today to search your heart and reveal if there is anything standing in the way of you being fully invested in your relationship with Him.

On a side note, today is Day 4 of VBS! Thank you for praying for this week and all that God is doing. We have had an increase in both kids and volunteers this year and God is at work! Tonight, the kids will learn about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Tomorrow, our lesson is on God’s plan for forgiveness. Please continue to pray for the kids (and leaders!) to hear what they need to hear and that God would move in their hearts as they hear the Good News!

Chain Reaction

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:16-20 (day three)

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

It is an incredible and awe-inspiring thing to look back through Church history and see how God spread the Gospel to all nations. I am so grateful for the obedience of all the men and women who have gone before me that spread the Gospel and took to heart what Jesus commanded to make more disciples. We are part of a chain reaction to this moment in history when Jesus said, “Go.” There had been moments before this where the number of Jesus’ followers had grown, but this is really where Jesus opens the gates wide and tells the disciples to begin. From there, generations of believers were told of His goodness and salvation and then learned of Jesus’ command to spread it. And here we are, some two thousand years later, as another generation of believers continuing to follow this command. It’s amazing!

This past Sunday, we celebrated all that the Lord has done through the missions groups during this past year. During our evening celebration, we heard another generation of believers (our first through fifth grade RAs and GAs) proclaiming the Good News and taking to heart the command that Jesus gave to us. We also heard of accounts from all over the world where more disciples were made this year. It was all still part of that chain reaction of the first disciples making more disciples. I hope you were there with us and that you were encouraged to “Go!” It was an incredible Sunday. Now it’s our turn. Who are you telling? Where are you going? Are you sharing the Gospel and following Jesus’ command for us to “Go”?

Remember

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day three)

¹ The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

In the moments of my life that I have felt the most anxious or worrisome, I can recognize that these are the moments that I have lost sight of the fact that God is, always and forever, sitting on His throne and ruling over this world. It was (and still is) in these moments that the Lord gently reminds me through his Word that there is nothing to fear (Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 93; Colossians 1:16-17; Ephesians 1:11; and Joshua 1:9 to name a few).

Psalm 93 reminds us that God has ruled from the beginning of time, and that His reign will be forevermore. In a world that is chaotic and uncertain (like the waves of the sea), He is our stay. He is the anchor that holds fast. We end our fantastic study of Psalms with this reminder: in the midst of an uncertain world, God is steadily in control and will be forevermore. May we be reminded of that all the more and never forget who sits on the throne!

Overcomer

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 46:1-11 (day three)

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.

² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

³Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. (vv. 1-3)

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Even in the Old Testament, it was clear to God’s people that things would not always be easy. Evil and calamity are ever present (until the Lord makes all things new again) because sin broke what God made. But, right alongside the evil and calamity is the ever-present reassurance that evil, fear, calamity, shame, hopelessness, guilt, grave, and pain do not win. The Psalmists point this out with the first lines of the Psalm. God is always there even when things around us take a turn for the worse.

Jesus then reminds us of the same thing in the New Testament. His words bring a heaviness that reminds us of the fallen nature of this world, but He doesn’t leave it there. “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” What a good reminder from our Savior! He lifts us from the depths of despair to the knowledge that He has won.

Today, as the world reminds you of how calamitous and fallen it is, may you take refuge in the Lord, trusting that He has overcome. Though everything should change and the world should shake to its core, may you trust in the Solid Rock of God today. He has overcome!

High/Low

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 77:1-20 (day three)

¹²I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds. (ESV)

One of my favorite things that we do with our kids, almost daily, is a game called “High/Low.” It is a time we set aside during dinner or a car ride to talk about the highs and the lows of each of our days. Each family member is given the spotlight to talk about his or her day. There are times that the highs flow freely and we have trouble coming up with lows. That is allowed (and welcomed!). But there are also days where highs are hard to come by, but lows abound. It is on these “low” days that we take a moment to help our kids find the highs of the day by reminding them to look for how they saw God that day. It may be as simple or easy as saying, “My high today is that I am alive.” Or, “My high today is that we are all sitting here at dinner eating together.”

The point of this time is for us to praise God with our kids for His goodness in our days. It is also a time for us to praise God in the lows and to remind them that God is there with us during both the highs and the lows. Often, we just do not look for Him or see His work right away. The reminder is for them (and me!) to not dwell in the lows but to lift our eyes up to see how God is moving even in the low times. This verse in Psalm 77:12 reminds us to do just that. Remember what God has done and what He continues to do. When we do that, even our lowest days may be seen in a new light.

What are your highs and lows for today?

Active

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 113:1-9 (day three)

⁵Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
⁶who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth? (vv. 5-6, ESV)

This Psalm reminds us that the Lord our God takes a vested interest in the happenings of this world. While He is seated on His heavenly throne, He is not sitting back simply ignoring the things He has created. He is taking part in and watching over that which He made. His involvement is much more than just watching. He lifts up the poor and needy, brings comfort, provides, protects, guards, blesses, makes new ways where there are not ways, performs miracles, maintains His Creation, and so much more. This list could be exhaustive, and we will have all of eternity to praise and thank Him for these things and so much more!

Our God is a hands-on, caring God and there is no other like Him. I hope that brings you joy this week. How have you seen Him taking an active role or part in your life? He is there! Take time today to take note of God being active in your life and praise Him all the more for it!

Tell It

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 96:1-13 (day three)

²Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day. (ESV)

When we read this Psalm as a directive for all nations to sing and worship the Lord, we understand the significance of verse two a little more. Here, David is reminding all peoples to sing of the salvation that comes from the Lord (not just Israel). Our praise and worship should start with a thankful expression of the salvation that God has given to all people. David is highlighting the Gospel here in the Old Testament!

I’ve heard Pastor Byron remind us all many times before that the best way for us to share the good news of Jesus is to tell of the difference that Jesus has made in our lives. How are you different because of Jesus? What muck and junk has Jesus saved you from? What has salvation meant to you as a follower of Christ? These answers are what we praise Him for! We worship and praise God because He gave His Son for us so we could be with Him, even though we do not deserve it.

There is somebody out there today that needs to hear your salvation story. They need to hear how God has rescued you from the pit of destruction and has given you new life. Bless the Lord’s name today and every day because of the salvation you have been given, and tell of His salvation as often as you can!

In the Word

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 119:1–16 (day three)

⁷I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. (ESV)

What is your response to the Lord when you read His Word? It is easy to read the Word of God, if we are not careful, and not really “read” it. We might read the words on the page, but we might be preoccupied with other thoughts and feelings that cloud our understanding. I know I have struggled with this at times. On the other hand, we may miss all that God has in His Word because we simply do not spend the time in it that we should. Our understanding of His truth and Word is stunted with lack of time with Him in it.

Whatever the reasons that may get in the way of your reading and understanding, let me encourage you today. The good news is that God promises to help us understand His Word when we spend time with Him in reading it (Psalm 119:18, 130; James 1:5). Then, when we understand His Word, it gives us reason to praise! The more we understand about God through His Word, the more it causes us to praise Him. Worship is a byproduct of understanding God’s grace, love, mercy, and compassion, and we grow in that understanding by spending time in His Word. If you are struggling in your praise of the Lord, dive into His Word and ask Him to remind you of who He is!

Troubles

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 62:1-12 (day three)

¹I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.

What do you do when trouble comes your way?

What defines trouble for you? Is it big things that shake your spirit such as a cancer diagnosis or an international crisis? Is trouble for you small things like being overly critical of something or someone because you didn’t get enough sleep, or a disappointment in your day? No matter how we define trouble, trouble will come. The temptation to react and handle things on our own will be there constantly and consistently throughout each day. There is always an urge to handle troubles on our own, rather than letting God handle them.

Often, it is easier to go to God with our bigger troubles and let Him take care of those. But that is not how God wants us to operate. The Bible is full of examples and exhortations to let God have all our cares, worries, and troubles. But we struggle with this. We struggle with letting Him have control over the big and the small troubles. Here in Psalm 62, the Psalmist reminds us to find rest in the Lord. If God is strong enough and big enough to handle our biggest troubles, isn’t He more than strong enough and big enough to handle our small troubles, also?

So, when trouble comes your way today, what will you do? Will you trust God and give it to Him, or will you try to handle (name your small or big trouble here) when it arises? I pray you find rest in Him today with the big and the small things.

Waiting Game

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 37:1-40 (day three)

³⁴Wait for the Lord and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

I love baseball. I love everything about it: The smells of grass and dirt, the sounds of a ball hitting a bat or mitt, the minutiae of stats, the stratagem of plays. I could go on and on and bore you with the history and stats that I know by heart. I also know that the game of baseball has a lot of waiting. I often hear that baseball is a boring sport, and I understand these feelings. But over my many years of playing and coaching, I have learned how to navigate the “waiting” during a baseball game. As a player, I learned to fill my time waiting by quizzing myself on what I would do if the ball came my way. I learned to watch the other players to see what they did well that I could learn from. As a coach, I have learned to engage with the kids to help them engage in the game. All this is to say that in the game of baseball, there is a lot of waiting. But there is much to do while you wait for your next opportunity. I often tell the kids I coach, that baseball is only boring if we don’t know what to do while we wait. Then, I try to coach them on what to do while they wait.

Waiting for God can feel like that sometimes. It can be hard to wait for His timing and to wait for what He has in store for us. Our timing is not His. In Psalm 37, David reminds us that there is much to do while we wait for the Lord’s timing. We are to keep God’s way. We are to follow Him and to stay steady on His path. We are to adhere to Him and His Word in all that we do.

If you find yourself having trouble waiting on the Lord today, ask Him to teach you to wait well. I know that He will.