IN NAME ONLY
- Key Verse
- "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham." (Matthew 3:8-9)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
God desires that His children experience all of the beauty and joy of being His. Don't settle for being labeled a "Christian." Strive to live and look like His Son.
Reflections
All three of our kids have been brought into our family through adoption, and it is likely that nothing has had a greater impact on my understanding of God than being an adoptive dad. Malachi was 18 months when we brought him home from Ethiopia. As soon as his language began developing, one of the most repeated questions from him became, "Are we having breakfast in the morning?" We suspect that question comes from an embedded memory of going hungry on more than one occasion during his first 18 months. This is still a daily question from Malachi, but we simply reassure him that he is ours now, not just in name, but in all that is available to him as a Butler if he will simply trust us . . . and waffles are likely to follow.
Many of the Israelites at the time that Jesus arrived on the scene were content to call themselves "children of Abraham," but were failing to experience any of the joys associated with turning from the ways of "the orphanage" (i.e. idolatry, legalism, religiosity, etc.) and embracing their heavenly heritage. Consequently, John rebuked, reminding them that God had much more in store for them than merely a name. He wanted them to look like Him, but it would require trusting Him. You see, repentance is first of all an act of trust. It is trusting that God is good and loving when He says, "Don't go that way! Come this way!" and believing that He withholds no good thing from those who walk with Him (see Psalm 84:11).
He wants this for you, too. Rest in knowing that if you have trusted him as Savior, You are God's adopted child, but don't miss out on the blessings of all that comes with the name. Turn from the orphanage of your sins and seek to become like Him. The fruit of repentance is peace and joy in fellowship with an infinitely good God. Not only will He give you "breakfast," but you get to enjoy it in His presence.
Discussion Questions
1. What "fruit of repentance" have you experienced in the last year? Celebrate and thank your Father for His grace in your life.
2. What are the things in your life that keep you from trusting the goodness of God when He says, "Don't go that way! Come this way!"? Confess those areas to God and ask for His grace to trust Him more.
3. In this new year, what areas of your life do you believe the Lord is calling you to surrender more fully to Him and repent of? Contemplate what fruit awaits on the other side of that repentance and ask the Spirit of God to transform your heart for His glory and your eternal joy.
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
MATTHEW 1-5 (JANUARY 2-6)
Read Matthew 5:13-16.
What is salt used for? (seasoning, preserving & healing)
What is light used for?
How can you be like salt and light?
Activity: Pour a small amount of oil in a saucepan and heat it up. Then pour in popcorn kernels. Be sure to keep the pan moving so as not to burn the popcorn. Once all kernels have popped, split the popcorn between the paper sacks. Put salt into only bag and shake it up. Then have a taste test of the two bags.
Can you distinctly tell which one has salt on it? How? This is just how God wants us to be. Our lives should clearly reflect that we love and serve Him.
Next, get a flashlight and a dark towel and go into a room without windows (i.e. bathroom or closet). Turn off the light. Talk about the darkness and how it feels. Then turn on the flashlight. Talk about what the flashlight did to the room. Then cover it with the towel and refer back to verse 15. What does God want us to do with the truth of Jesus in our lives?
To shine your light, take some salted popcorn to your neighbors and invite them to church!
Lamp
January 4, 2012 05:05 AM
"The fruit of repentance is peace! And joy of fellowship with an infinitely good God!" What a great reminder to take with me into the world today! Thank you! Lamp
Mitch
January 4, 2012 06:04 AM
Can't wait for the book of Selah's stories but glad I don't have to wait for reflections like your post today. Thank you for serving faithfully and leading well.
Tsigereda
January 4, 2012 06:18 AM
Thanks for this wanderful word this morning.It gives me hope knowing God's love is perfect that he made us all in to his childeren,children always in his presence....I love it.
Ashley Marie Eckstein
January 4, 2012 06:30 AM
Wes, it's true, if you would only publish a book about Selah, you could pay for college...maybe even college for all 3 kids! ;) Thanks for your devotional this morning. I loved the parallel of how Malachi just needed to trust that because he's in the Butler family he will be fed and cared for to how since WE are in God's family we just need to trust Him for good things.
eric
January 4, 2012 06:37 AM
Thanks for sharing about Malachi. I can sympathize with this. I have often expected the result of my former life to define my reality rather than trust in the constant provision of the Father as His adopted son. However, as I fall more in love with Him through Jesus, I more often trust that the "Breakfast" will show up as well. What a joy!! Thanks for being a friend and for the encouragement today!
Kris howell
January 4, 2012 06:55 AM
So thankful for your challenge and encouragement in these verses this morning. My goals this year focus on me truly living out the realization that I AM an adopted child of an infinitely good God and truly enjoying the fruit that comes with that instead of the bondage that comes with guilt and shame. ! Ryan and I are thankful to call you and Brandy best friends!
Lesley Johnson
January 4, 2012 07:09 AM
Thanks for the insight Wes, enjoyed your perspective. Miss seeing you!
Jeannie Lewis
January 4, 2012 07:46 AM
This is excellent insight, Wes. I am so thankful to be one of many of God's adopted children. Your devotional will cause me do more self-examination - am I trusting Him? Thanks!
Haley
January 4, 2012 08:19 AM
It's amazing how often I ask God "are we having breakfast in the morning?" in my own ways by not trusting him to come through on a daily basis--even though He has a great track record of providing for me in every way. Thanks for the reminder that I am God's child and all that is needed is for me to trust Him.
Aaron Graft
January 4, 2012 08:35 AM
Great job Wes. My flesh continually wants to forfeit my active participation in the victory Christ has already won. I need daily conviction in this area. Thanks!
Truby
January 4, 2012 08:36 AM
Great words Malachi's dad. We far too often proceed with caution regarding God's will for us. I think it's because we are constantly encouraged to have a "backup plan". We do not like not having control so we try to prepare in case we don't like God's will for us. Thanks for the great reminder to trust in God for everything we are given.
Sue Bohlin
January 4, 2012 09:33 AM
You are so right about Brandy's side-splitting Facebook posts--it's one of the reasons I enjoy FB so much! Have you ever considered that you have a number of things in common with Joseph, Jesus' adoptive earthdaddy, among them that he was outshone by his kids? (And my guess is, that was perfectly okay with him.) I smiled to see the first of 32 references to "kingdom of heaven" this morning, because that's what I thought on Sunday morning when the stage was set with a gorgeous gold and glittery banquet table fit for a King. I thought, "Oh cool! Intro to the Kingdom of Heaven as we dive into the Journey!" Of course, Blake did his usual brilliant thing in another direction, but it still blessed me to look at that table and think about what it means to be invited to the Kingdom. And it was sobering to read how John refused to baptize the Pharisees and Sadducees, because a prideful attitude and mindset can disqualify you from entering the Kingdom. Only trusting in Jesus alone allows us to sit at His table.
Bobbie
January 4, 2012 09:42 AM
Wow! Thanks, Wes, what a powerful word picture! It really struck me in the heart. Thanks for encouraging me to trust HIM more and strive to look like the Son. God bless you and your family!
Paul Rutherford
January 4, 2012 09:53 AM
Wow. A devotional about trust. What a providential reminder for me. I just started reading a book "TrueFaced" this week. It's about trusting God. Sounds like I need to listen up. Thanks for setting a good example of listening, Wes by writing this post.
Lee
January 4, 2012 10:22 AM
Great words of wisdom, Wex! Needed to hear that today! Definitely makes me wonder how many times I doubt "breakfast" when the table is already set.
Brad
January 4, 2012 12:58 PM
Wes - what a great and beautiful message. My wife and I are considering adoption and your story struck me right in the heart! Peace
Grady Butler
January 4, 2012 06:59 PM
Excellent devotional son! The kids never cease to provide great resources for devotional subjects! Proud of you son.
Jen Clouse
January 4, 2012 08:08 PM
You're a good and wise man, my friend. You married well, teach us well, and love well. And snagged yourself some amazing kiddos. LOVE the truth of what you shared. Amen and amen.
Jim Wimberley
January 4, 2012 09:29 PM
Thanking God with you for His presence and your presence on staff and the privilege to serve Christ with you.
Heath
January 4, 2012 10:41 PM
Psalm 89:11, For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. I love this verse, Wes! Thank you for leading me there...this verse made my day.
Jael
January 5, 2012 12:18 PM
I love this devotional!!>...I can assimilate it to the scripture where it speaks about how God provides for even the birds, how much more his own children.
George washington
January 5, 2012 08:33 PM
this is awesome