LIVINGChrist’s CallingLIVINGChrist’s Calling

Devotions for MenKing James Version

What does it mean to live a life in Jesus that is Against the Grain?

Each short devotion gives a glimpse of the many ways Jesus demonstrated an overwhelming love for us, often in violation of the culture of the day. Through reflection and prayer, let the Holy Spirit guide you to live a life that goes against the grain of normal expectations. Let him draw you closer to the heart of your Savior. When you share compassion, love, and care to those around you, you’re reflecting Jesus’ love, care, and compassion for you.

Begin living in the joy of Christ’s calling, boldly embracing a life that’s Against the Grain!

LIVINGChrist’s Calling

# AGT19SCKJ 699243ISBN 978-1-947699-24-3

9 781947 699243

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LIVINGChrist’s CallingLIVINGChrist’s Calling

Tim Wesemann

Devotions for MenKing James Version

The vision of CTA is to see Christians highly effective

in their ministry so that Christ’s Kingdomis strengthened and expanded.

Tim WesemannCopyright © 2019 CTA, Inc.

1625 Larkin Williams Rd. Fenton, MO 63026www.CTAinc.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of CTA, Inc.

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN 978-1-947699-24-3PRINTED IN THAILAND

LIVINGChrist’s Calling

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. 1 Peter 2:21

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A Carpenter’s CallingThey were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Matthew 13:54–55

A carpenter such as Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, knew that planing against your wood’s grain made for a jagged finish. A carpenter’s son, Jesus learned how to smooth the wood as he followed in his father’s footsteps, as expected. But Jesus had another calling, unexpected to others, from his heavenly Father.

In his youth, Jesus learned and lived the Scriptures, which he came to fulfill. And yet in fulfilling them, his ministry went against the grain of the religious leaders of that day, shredding their nerves and all the assumptions of those waiting for the promised Messiah. What, after all, would a common carpenter know about God’s plan of salvation?

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Heavenly Father, teach me your will for my day and life. Show me . . .

When have you felt God calling you in an unexpected direction?

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IDIOMS Search: Against the Grain

Idiom meaning: something done outside the normal or expected; living contrary to one’s natural inclination

See also: 1 Peter 2:21–24; John 17:14–19

God’s perfect creation, broken by sin, needed a Savior to redeem and restore it. And so, all of the Bible points to Jesus Christ. God’s saving plan went against the grain of human expectations as he called his own Son to die and be that Redeemer, Savior. And now, against our expectations, Jesus calls out to us, “Follow me!”

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The Grain of Eden’s TreeWhen the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.. Genesis 3:6

Day three. God said, “Let there be . . .” vegetation, plants, trees. It was good. Perfect, in fact. As was life for Adam and Eve in Eden’s paradise.

But God declared one tree off-limits. If Adam and Eve went out on a limb and ate from that tree, death and all the other consequences of sin would destroy their perfect lives in God’s perfect creation. You wouldn’t expect them to go against the grain of God’s will, biting at the tempting offer of the snake-oil salesman Satan. Why ruin perfect? But they did.

We see the punishment and exile we expect. Surprisingly, God then went against the grain of our expectations—but

not against his nature. Though people proved undeserving, God said, “Let there be hope” through his promise of an offspring, who would crush Satan’s power—renewing hope, forgiving sin, and restoring paradise. (See Genesis 3:15.) The promised Savior. Your Savior from sin and death—Jesus.

Thank you, Creator, for your gifts of a Savior, hope, forgiveness, undeserved love . . .

If you could have perfection in one aspect of your life, what would you choose? When is the last time you thought about or shared with someone the promise of heaven’s perfection? In heaven, what will your perfect relationship with Jesus be like?

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The Grain of the Manger For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luke 2:11–12

« The promised Messiah lies in a manger of wood stained by drooling animals.

« The world’s Savior naps on a bedding of hay.

« The King of kings is wrapped in swaddling cloth easily snagged by rough wood.

« Immanuel—God with us—is surrounded by the stench of animal dung and our sin.

This reality goes against the grain of our expectations. The Son of God leaves the glory of heaven’s perfect surroundings to be born of the Virgin Mary. He comes to live in this world’s

more-than-imperfect surroundings where we live, work, worship, and play.

That’s our against-the-grain God. He comes into the messes we’ve made, fully aware of the stench of our sin. Immanuel—God with us—is with us. Here, now, always. He is Christ the Lord.

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Jesus, your humble birth brings good news of great joy into my life! Today I . . .

As a forgiven and free son of God, how can you improve the sin-stained messes where you live, work, and worship? How might you rely on God’s grace and guidance in these situations?

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The Grain of Christ’s Cross For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

A foster parent recalled taking her son to church. His first question was “Who’s the man on the wood?”

Instinctively, we all have difficulty, uncertainty, approaching the cross.

But once there, we realize the enormity of the love our heavenly Father and his sacrificial Son have for us. We close our eyes and see what Jesus went through—the nails, the beatings, the blood, the ridicule, the final breath. Jesus took our past, present, and future sins upon himself, along with the Father’s punishment we very well deserved.

Jesus experienced hell, so we can

experience heaven. He takes our sin so that we can be forgiven. He covers our imperfect lives, so we can be perfect in the sight of God. He rose, conquering death. He lives, assuring us that one day we, too, shall rise.

A Savior like that cuts across the grain of our expectations. We would expect to be on that cross. The sin is ours. But instead we find Jesus there, offering full and free forgiveness through his death.

Jesus, at your cross I’m humbled, overwhelmed, and filled with gratitude because . . .

Are you struggling with sin and guilt? The Holy Spirit calls you to repentance, offering you forgiveness through Jesus’ perfect life and sacrifice. Go boldly to the cross. Confess your sin. See there your sin-forgiving, life-restoring Savior. Receive his full forgiveness and his promise to remember your sins no more!

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The Grain of Heaven’s Tree Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14

If William Tyndale hadn’t gone against the grain, we might be reading the Bible in Latin. If Galileo hadn’t, we still might believe the world is flat. If Rosa Parks . . . If Susan B. Anthony . . .

And if God, in love, hadn’t sent his sinless Son as a perfect sacrifice for our sins, we wouldn’t have forgiveness, hope, or a tree of life.

Originally, God created a tree of life in Eden (Genesis 2:9). And at the end of the Bible, we read about heaven’s tree of life (Revelation 22:14). From Eden’s perfect paradise to heaven’s perfect paradise—with a lot of sin between. From a tree of life to a tree of

life, with a cross-shaped tree of death in the middle of it all.

With faith in Jesus and that life-giving tree in the middle, we turn our backs on the sin of Eden and the sins that try to drag us down today. Instead, we walk in eternal life as our heavenly Father cuts across the grain with unending grace in the name of our Savior.

Jesus, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Keep my faith focused on . . .

Consider reading John 3:16; John 14:1–6; Romans 5:6–8; and Romans 6:1–8 alongside these devotions, praying that the Holy Spirit will teach you and grow your faith as you read and study. You may want to highlight them on your electronic device or print them out to keep them front and center in the coming weeks.

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