Tag: Kaitlyn Hamilton

Shifting Our Perspective

Acts 1-3

Devotion by Kaitlyn Hamilton (Michigan – and Indiana)

One of my close friends in high school, while dealing with the loss of someone she knew, asked me the question, “Is it a bad thing that I’m concerned about his soul for eternity?”  This question, this concern, about a soul’s place in eternity is something that many people often consider when faced with the loss of someone they know.  This is great and all, but there’s one big problem with this – for many people, this is the only time they seriously consider what is going to happen to people in the grand scheme of eternity.  Do you spend significant time considering the number of people around you who you know aren’t part of the church?  But, it’s not enough just to consider it; once we realize the large quantity of people that we care about who are currently on the path of destruction for eternity, we should be ready to do something about it.

In reading Acts 2, we see that Peter recognized what was at stake.  The same person, who earlier, was too afraid to be associated with Jesus for fear of his life, takes a stand before a large crowd of people, including a group who were mocking them saying, “They are full of sweet wine.” (Acts 2:13)  Peter chose to shift his perspective away from the thoughts of the world, of what this crowd could do to him if they disliked his message, of what these same people did to Jesus only 53 days earlier.  Instead, he shifted his perspective towards that of God’s will, focused on the message these people needed to hear.  In Acts 2:22-24, instead of focusing on how to keep peace with all the men who Peter knew, instead of trying to remain on agreeable terms as friends, Peter was willing to stand up for his faith, was willing to tell the Jews gathered in Jerusalem the truth of what their actions did.  The Messiah that they had been watching for all their lives and the lives of all their parents and grandparents and all their ancestors before them, they had put to death, they had crucified.  Can you imagine having the courage to stand before just one person and telling them that their actions, their sins, were the reason that an innocent man was put to death?  But, Peter didn’t just tell one person, he told a huge crowd – a crowd that should they be angry enough could easily turn into a mob and kill him.  This choice to tell everyone the truth about Jesus, the Messiah, and what they had done to him, took courage that comes only from shifting your perspective away from the worries of this world to that of the hope and peace that come from God.

What would happen if we all shifted our perspective like Peter did?  If we all chose to focus on God’s will for our life instead of the fears that try to stop us from seeking him?

What would happen if we were willing to all stand up for our faith to everyone we know?

What would happen if we let everyone know that we were Christians and weren’t willing to budge on any of our morals?

What type of revival would we see if we did all this?  

Peter saw a revival that day of 3,000 people.  Imagine just how big of a revival we would see if we all chose to stand up together and proclaim our faith.  It’s not going to be easy.  It means going against your human nature.  It’s not going to be automatic.  It won’t be a switch being flipped overnight.  But, it will change you and the world.  So, I encourage you to start shifting your perspective today, to start recognizing what is at stake, and to start standing up for your faith today!

Reflection Questions

  1. What could it look like for you to stand up for your faith today, and the rest of this week, month, year, life?
  2. What fears do you think Peter might have had to overcome that day? What fears do you currently have about boldly proclaiming your faith? How might Peter respond to you if you could discuss with him about your fears? How do you think Jesus, or Jesus’ Father, would respond if you were to tell them about these fears? Go ahead, tell them and pray about it.
  3. What “Helper” was assisting Peter? (Hint: it wasn’t wine.) What benefits does this Helper provide? Do you use the same Helper?
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Equal

Old Testament: Job 38-39

Poetry: Psalm 47

*New Testament: Philemon 1


Lots of times it feels like people are just trying to find something that makes them better than others, whether it is the color of their skin, their ethnicity, their gender, etc.  You can always find someone who is trying to prove how much better they are.  They may be trying to use it as a reason for being better at their job, having better opportunities, or anything else.  But, these differences don’t matter, if you are in Christ.


Philemon 15-16 says, “For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”  Onesimus was Philemon’s slave.  Philemon could have easily held it over Onesimus as a reason why he was better than him.  But, Paul tells Philemon that he should receive Onesimus not as a slave, but as a brother.  Paul is saying that there is no reason for Philemon to try to prove he is better than Onesimus, anymore.  They should now be equals, as brothers in the family of God.


Galatians 3:26-29 says, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”  This doesn’t just apply to Philemon’s and Onesimus’ case; it applies to all of us.  Once we are baptized into Christ, there is no one better than another.  We are all part of the family of God and so are equal.


1 Corinthians 12:21-25 says, “And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you; or again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”  Now that we are in Christ, we cannot be arguing over who is better or more needed.  We are all equals and necessary to do God’s work.  As equals, then, work to raise each other up so that others will not feel lesser and will instead feel equal, putting them before yourself.

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Reflection Questions

  1. Are you a part of the body of Christ? If so, how does that affect how you view yourself and others?
  2. Is there any part of the body that you have been viewing incorrectly – as “less than” yourself?
  3. This week, how can you demonstrate care for others in the body of Christ?
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Why We Don’t (or Don’t Need to) Fear

Old Testament: Job 35-37

*Poetry: Psalm 46

New Testament: Philemon Intro, see below


Throughout the Bible, the phrases “do not be afraid” and “do not fear” are repeated over and over.  This phrase is first used in Genesis 15:1, which says, “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.’”  The last time the Bible says this is in Revelation 2:10, which says, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”


In Psalm 46, we are given the reason why we should not fear.  Verse 1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46 says this is the reason we will not fear.  When God is our refuge and strength, nothing can defeat us.  As nothing is stronger than God, when our strength is God, nothing can overpower us.  Therefore, we should not fear anything.  Verses 2-3 continue to tell us that there is no reason to fear, even if the earth should change, the mountains fall into the sea, the oceans roar, and/or the mountains shake.


Further on in the psalm, it says, “The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.”  If you didn’t have enough reason to not fear from verse 1, these 3 verses give you even more reasons.  The God who is our stronghold has brought about desolations on the earth against those who have opposed Him.  He has stopped wars and defeated men and their weapons over and over again.  Therefore, there is no longer any reason to fear.  We need to trust in God as our refuge, strength, and stronghold.

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Reflection Questions

  1. What are your top five fears?
  2. How often does fear interfere with what you think God wants you to be doing or thinking?
  3. It’s easy to say, “Do not fear.” But harder to do. What are some practical daily steps you can take to help your brain overcome fear?
  4. How is God greater than all the things we fear?

Introduction to Philemon

The book of Philemon is Paul’s shortest letter that is included in our Bible.  Paul wrote it while in prison to his dear friend and fellow Christian, Philemon.

Philemon’s slave, Onesimus, had run away, had come to Paul, and had helped Paul while he was in chains for the gospel.  While there, Onesimus became a believer.  This book is Paul’s letter to Philemon urging him to accept Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a dear brother in Christ; asking that Philemon welcome Onesimus “as you would welcome me.”

This book shows Paul’s mastery of persuasion.  He started by praising Philemon, then laid out a logical argument for kindly accepting Onesimus back, followed by an emotional argument.  Ending with “Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.”  Not only was Paul an amazing missionary, he was a master strategist.

-Steve Mattison

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Hide and Seek

Old Testament: Job 32-34

Poetry: Psalm 45

New Testament: Titus 3

Have you ever played Hide and Seek before?  In Hide and Seek, everyone tries to hide from one person, the seeker.  These players try to choose a spot that they will be the least likely to be found in, which normally ends up being in a dark or shadowed place, where it is harder to see clearly.  The seeker goes around trying to find everyone that is hiding.  They don’t know where anybody is hiding, but they may have guesses as they hear noises, see movement, etc.  But, have you ever considered playing Hide and Seek where the seeker just always knows exactly where you hid, no matter how creative it is?  


Real life is like that many times.  People choose to commit sins and try to hide them in the dark.  Everyone has times in their lives that they try to hide in the darkness and keep their sins to themselves, hoping nobody will ever know.  But, Job tells us that there is somebody who will always know.  Job 34:21-22 says, “For His eyes are upon the ways of  man, And He sees all his steps. There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.”  There is no place we could ever hide our sins that God will not see.  God can see into every dark and shadowed place that you try to play Hide and Seek in.


Isaiah 29:15 says, “Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the Lord, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, ‘Who sees us?’ or ‘Who knows us?’”  Hiding what you are doing in the dark will not lead to joy.  In the end, these things will lead to destruction and despair if you do not turn away from them.  Just like you cannot stay hidden forever in Hide and Seek, these deeds you do in the dark cannot stay hidden forever.  If you are hiding your sins in the dark, turn away from them and come into the light.  If you are not hiding anything in the dark, stand firm in the light and don’t let anything draw you into the darkness.


John 3:19-21:  “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Reflection Questions

  1. How much light are you living in right now? How much darkness?
  2. What steps/sins are you trying to hide from God? What works better?
  3. What does it mean to you that God sees everything?
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Who Gets the Credit?

Old Testament: Job 30-31

*Poetry: Psalm 44

New Testament: Titus 2


Most people love to claim credit for themselves on any project that went well.  They may choose to neglect telling others that there was a group working on the project, and instead claim all the credit for themselves.  They may acknowledge the fact that a couple other people helped them, but downplay their contributions to the project.  Very few people are going to say that they were part of a group who did something great and emphasize the other people’s contributions to the project.


In Psalm 44, the psalmist says that they heard from their fathers what God did in the past.  Their fathers could have easily claimed that they did it all with their own skill.  They could have claimed that they drove the people out and possessed the lands by their own power.  But, they didn’t.  Their fathers could have also easily said that God helped them some, but it was still mostly by their own efforts that they did these things.  But, they didn’t.  Instead, they said to the Lord their God, “You with Your own hand drove out the nations;  Then You planted them;  You afflicted the peoples,  Then You spread them abroad.  For by their own sword they did not possess the land,  And their own arm did not save them” (vs 2,3a).  They fully acknowledged that God was the one who did all the work.  Without God, they could not have done any of these things.


God also works in our lives, like He did in the fathers’ of the psalmist.  Most of the time He’s not driving out herds of people before us or possessing lands for us, but He’s still working to do something great in us and for us.  When God does something in your life, do you acknowledge that He did it and that it was not by your own strength?  When people ask about it, do you tell them it was fully by God that these things happened, or do you briefly acknowledge it but claim you did most of it?  We need to acknowledge that God did something great and that it was not by our own power.

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Reflection Questions

  1. Who do you most often give the credit to when something goes right in your life?
  2. For what events of your personal past can you give God glory? What did He do? What did He save you from? How did He show His strength, power and wisdom?
  3. How can you do a better job of giving God the credit and telling others (including children) what He has done for you? How can this help others, including the next generation?
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The Great Search

Old Testament: Job 28 & 29

Poetry: Psalm 43

New Testament: Titus 1


We all consider certain things to be impossible for us, whether or not it is impossible for others.  Some may consider painting a picture that looks nice impossible.  Others may think that building a house is impossible.  But, these things are not impossible for everyone.  We know that there are people we could call to help with these things.


In Job 28:1-11, Job describes a task that may be considered impossible by some people: the search for gold and silver.  Man searches endlessly for this gold and silver, where the birds have not seen it and the lions have not walked.  It seems almost impossible for the man to ever find these treasures he seeks.  Yet, the man keeps searching after it, not giving up.  At the end of this section, we see that the man finds the hidden treasures and brings them forth into the light.  This task wasn’t impossible.  It wasn’t even the hardest task that man could seek to achieve.


In Job 28:12-28, we hear of an even more impossible task for man to try to accomplish: the search for wisdom.  Verses 13-19 show just how impossible this task is.  It is not found in the land of the living, the deep, or the sea.  It is more valuable than gold, silver, onyx, topaz, or any other valuable treasures.  Wisdom cannot be compared to any of these valuables.


If finding any of these treasures is almost impossible, as shown in verses 1-11, how hard must finding wisdom be with its value?  Where can we find wisdom?  Job 28:28 answers this question and says, “‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;  And to depart from evil is understanding.’”  This seemingly impossible task is made possible by the fear of the Lord, with which wisdom is found.


In each of our searches for wisdom, we need to do two things.  First, fear the Lord.  In multiple places throughout the Bible, it says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Second, we need to ask God for wisdom.  In James 1:5-6, it says, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”  

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you find valuable? What value do you personally place on wisdom? Job says, “the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.” (Job 28:18b). What would you say the price of wisdom is beyond?
  2. Describe the relationship between God and wisdom? What might Job mean when he says, “God understands the way to it (wisdom) and he alone knows where it dwells…he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.” (Job 28:20, 27)
  3. Where is wisdom NOT found? Where specifically do you search for wisdom?
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Thirsty

Old Testament: Job 25-27

Poetry: Psalm 42

New Testament: Titus Introduction, below


“As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God;”

Psalm 42 starts off with a piece of beautiful imagery.  The writer of the Psalm compares himself to a deer who is thirsting for water.  Deer – like all living creatures – need water to survive.  However, deer may use the plants they eat as a supplement to the water they need, in order to lessen the amount of times they need to find a water source.  Most deer need to drink water daily, especially if they have been running around lots.  By the time a deer chooses to look for water, it is extremely thirsty.


In the comparison of the desire for God and a deer panting for water, we see a deep longing.  To want God as extremely as a deer wants water is incredible.  The author, by writing this, admits that he cannot live without God, just as a deer cannot live without water.  He is not saying that he would like to follow God some of the time when it is convenient, but instead is saying that he needs God every single day of his life.  Do you realize and accept that you need God every moment of your life to survive?  Are you looking for Him in your life as eagerly as a deer searching for a singular water source to get it through the day?


Further on in the Psalm, the author says, “Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him  For the help of His presence.”  He explains that he thirsts for God because of the help of His presence.  The author acknowledges that hoping in God is like a deer being refreshed with a drink of water.  Are you seeking after God and hoping in Him like a deer panting for the water?

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you find yourself longing for God everyday?
  2. When you are thirsty for more of God what do you do, where do you go, what quenches your thirst?
  3. What do you do when your soul is in despair? Where do you find hope?
  4. How can you share God with someone who is thirsty?

Titus Introduction

Paul wrote the book of Titus to his mentee, Titus, Paul’s “true son in our common faith,” whom Paul had left in Crete to strengthen the new churches there and to appoint elders in every town.  Paul detailed the qualifications of an elder in Titus 1:5-9.

Paul reminded all Christians to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return (which Paul also called our blessed hope).  Paul also told Titus to remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, etc.

Finally, in Titus 3:9-11, Paul pointed out that Christians should have unity, where he said, “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.   Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time.  After that, have nothing to do with him.  You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”

-Steve Mattison

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Being Refined

Old Testament: Job 22-24

Poetry: Psalm 41

New Testament: John 21

The process of refining gold or silver is very long and tedious, as they, when mined, are found with many impurities. To get rid of these impurities, these metals are heated to the extreme temperatures of the metal’s melting point. This allows the impurities to rise to the surface of the gold or silver, as the impurities are much less dense than the actual metal. The impurities can then be removed from the metal to the best of the ability of the refiner. After doing so, this process is restarted to continue trying to get rid of even more impurities that remain within the gold or silver.


Throughout the Bible, the testing of people’s faith is constantly compared to the refinement of metals, such as gold or silver. We all face many trials within our lives as we try to live out a life of faith. In James 1:2-4, it says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James tells us all that we must take joy in knowing that our trials and testing of faith produce a good result in us. For these difficult times create endurance, and endurance creates in you perfection and completion. Note that James did not say that we were going to encounter a singular trial to produce endurance, but instead stated that we would encounter various trials to achieve the result of perfection and completion.


Job knew the same thing that James did. He knew that the trials that he was facing were going to bring him forth to be more perfect and complete from his endurance. While we do not know the exact length of time Job suffered, we do know that he must have had great endurance to face all of his trials. In Job 23:10, he said, “But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job knew that he was going through a process of refinement. He was being made more perfect and complete, becoming a piece of gold with fewer impurities. Knowing that he was going through refinement didn’t make any of the trials less for Job, but it did give him hope for the end of them at which he would be a refined person, more like God.


Job is not the only human who has and will face refinement of their faith. Each and every one of us will go through trials that test our faith. In Isaiah 48:10, it says, “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Job was not put in an actual furnace of fire to be refined, and neither will we. But, we will all face the furnace of affliction in a way to refine our faith. Job was confident in the end result of his refinement by suffering. Are you as confident as Job that when the trials come you will stand in the end as a piece of refined gold?

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Reflection Questions

  1. Is there a trial you have emerged from more “refined” than you were before? What did you gain through the difficult process? Can remembering that process and result help give you joy when you encounter the next trial?
  2. Sometimes, rather than being refined in a trial, people just melt, or the impurities seem to multiply. What makes the difference? How can you work towards using difficult times to improve and become more godly?
  3. What role does God take in your refining process?
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Does the Truth Matter?

2 Thessalonians 2

Saturday, September 3

This chapter comes with some very big warnings.  From the very beginning of the chapter to the very end, it is full of warnings not to be deceived.  If this was such a big problem 2000 years ago, how much bigger is it now?  We need to heed all of these warnings because just like the Thessalonians, we also have others trying to deceive us in every step of our lives.


 To be able to keep from being deceived, we must first know the truth.  In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, ‘“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”’  According to these verses, the very first thing we need to do to keep ourselves from being deceived is to hold to Jesus’ teaching.  To do this, we need to first know what Jesus taught and to obey it.  When we hold to the teachings of Jesus, we are really his disciples.  Then, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free.


In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul writes that the Thessalonians were “saved… through belief in the truth.”  The Thessalonians not only knew the truth, they also believed it.  For this reason, they were saved.  We also can be saved when we know the truth and choose to believe in it.  But, if you choose not to believe in the truth, there are serious consequences.


In verse 13, Paul writes, “[S]o that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”  It is a matter of life or death, whether or not you believe in the truth.  If you believe in the truth, you can be saved and have eternal life in the kingdom.  If you do not believe in the truth, however, you will be condemned and will perish.


Verse 15 says, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.”  Paul has told us what our choices are.  The choice to believe in the truth or to not believe in it.  He urges us, then, to stand firm and hold fast to the teachings.  When we hold fast to the teachings, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free.  It’s not a trivial decision!  It is life or death, so choose the truth!

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. How can you be sure you are not being deceived?
  2. How are you following Jesus’ teachings, not the pastor or creeds or traditions, but following Jesus’ teachings?
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Your Reputation Precedes You

2 Thessalonians 1

Friday, September 2

In a small school, the teachers seem to know who most people are, whether it is because of their achievements or their families.  At the beginning of each new school year, they try to figure out if they know you.  However, for them to know who you are, somebody else has had to tell them about you, and whatever they’ve been told is the reputation that you start with, in that class.  It’s great if they had positive things to say about you, but for those who didn’t have great things said about them, it can hurt.


Verse 4 of 2 Thessalonians 1 says, “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.”  Paul is telling the Thessalonians that he tells all the other believers about their great faith.  It is one thing for Paul to go tell the Thessalonians that they are doing really well as they stand firm in their faith, but it is a whole other thing when he goes to tell everyone else about it.


Is your faith so evident that people talk about it with others?  The Thessalonians had faith like that and we should too.  The Thessalonians’ faith was strong enough that the other believers were talking about it among themselves, but what’s even more important is that those who aren’t believers notice our faith.  We need to work to be that light in other people’s lives that they might talk about and wonder about it.


Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  We need to make sure that when we do try to make our faith evident, it isn’t so that we are praised for it.  We need to make sure that God is the one who is getting all the glory for our faith while we try to be a light to others.  When we do this, we will have a reputation that goes before us, just like many students do in a small school, that will bring glory to God.

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. Who do you know who is known for a growing faith and love and perseverance in the midst of trials and persecution? Thank God for them. And, like Paul, you can also tell them that you thank God for them.
  2. What do you think your fellow employees or classmates or teachers at church or school would say about you? What do you think your neighbors would say about you? What do you think the cashier would say about you? Are they right? How did you get this reputation?
  3. What is Paul’s main point in the rest of 2 Thessalonians (verses 5-12)?
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