Scripture:

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Isaiah 40:30-31 reminds us that even the young and the strong get weary, but God never does; He never grows weary or faint; He never tires.   Many things wear on us, drag us down: the struggles of life, difficulties, health issues, relational issues, worry, and anxiety.   For most of us, this is not a mystery, but here in this portion today we are reminded that life does not have to be done alone, in our own strength; the burdens of life do not have to be carried by us; we don't have to muscle it out, try harder; we just need to yoke ourselves with Him, stop trying to do it on our own, bring Christ in, allow Him to pull the load, carry the burden.   Three things, probably more, that yokes do:

• They allow the strength of the two under it to lighten the burden.
• They allow the stronger, more experienced of the two to take the lead.
• Every decision and direction is made together. 

Today our God-Shot is twofold: first, that we would remind ourselves that we don't have to muscle it out, and second, that doing life with Christ will always reduce our burdens, increase our strength, and lead us on the right paths.

1. What have you been muscling out that you need to lay under the yoke of Christ?
2. What have you labored to hold on to that Christ really needs to carry?
3. What area have you been trying to take your own path, that you need to surrender to Him?

Lord, we are all guilty of it, trying to muscle it out, do it on our own, take the reins and go our own way, but life with you, life surrendered to your leading, is so much better. Help us to always yoke ourselves with you, be sensitive to your leading, feel the weights of our burdens lift in your presence.   Today I pray for those who are struggling, weighted down by responsibility and life's troubles, and ask that you lighten their load, that they get under your yoke, that they see relief and clear paths in Jesus' name. Amen!

Scripture:

Luke 7:39-47

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”  40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”  So he said, “Teacher, say it.”   41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”  43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Truth is, the world will always remind you of the person you used to be. People see your past, the wrongs you’ve done and the life you lived, but they miss the overflow of change, the deep-rooted surrender of your life to Christ. You can hear it in the Pharisee’s words: “This man, if He were a prophet, would have known what manner of woman this is.” But Jesus didn’t miss it. Just like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son, who waited with open arms for his son’s return, Jesus recognized the overflow of change and a heart surrendered to Him. Her display of love was not the means of earning her forgiveness; it was the overflow and evidence of having received it. When we understand the depth from which we have been saved, and what forgiveness, grace, and mercy have done in our lives, we will spare no expense to be at the feet of Jesus. 

Today's God-Shot is more of a question, a call to action.   What was the  Overwhelming Evidence of Change in your life? What is your overflow, the thing you cling to that Christ did for you when He saved you? How does that impact your life today and the way you serve?   Write that down, make it a point of memory, remind yourself that it is your life completely surrendered to Him that changes everything. 

Lord, O' that we would always be living out of the overflow of change, that our hearts would be completely surrendered to you, that your living would change as a result of what you have done, that we would love much because we have been forgiven much, and that you would change the lens through which we see others, with greater eyes of grace and mercy, that we would, like the Word says, see the best in others, love them even in their condition, expecting they too would come to live in the overflow of change, in Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:
Matthew 8:2-3
2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

You might miss it if you didn't know the historical context. Leprosy was incurable in Jesus' day. It was viewed not just as a medical condition but as a spiritual curse or a sign of divine judgment. Lepers were forced to live outside city walls and cry out "Unclean!" so that people knew they were coming. People would shout "Leper!" and run if they were anywhere near one. Lepers were kept from their loved ones and friends, and they became outcasts.

So when Jesus said, "I am willing!" He was building a bridge to a place no one else was willing to go, and doing what no one else was willing to do, whatever it took to make this man whole again. This was big. It wasn't just a cultural difference; it was an incurable situation, just not for Jesus.

So, with that in mind, what are you willing to do to bring Jesus to people that no one else would give the time of day? Are you willing to be a bridge builder in places no one else would go, and take Jesus there?

Today our God-Shot is that we would be willing to do whatever it takes to touch the lives of those who need to know Jesus. Will you be willing to break cultural, social, and comfort boundaries to do it? There is a world out there that needs what Jesus has given you, so that you can bring it to others and they will come to know Him.

1. Will you be the bridge for Jesus? Will you be willing to do what it takes to see people reached?

Lord, cause us to be willing to get uncomfortable, uncomfortable enough to share our faith with others and to bring Jesus to lost people, those whom no one else will reach. Let us be the bridges. Give us opportunities to reach the lost and change the outcome. Let us be your hands and feet. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

John 4:4,25-26

4 But He needed to go through Samaria.

25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

When I read this portion, I am reminded that He came for the "Whosoevers," the "Outcasts," the "Not So Likely," the "You never would have thought's," the "Broken," the "Lost."   This speaks of the great plan of God: "That none should perish."   See, I was lost, beyond lost, and Christ came into the darkness and rescued me, so I know how I fit into this picture, and I have never been the same since; my encounter with Him has changed my life. 

Let me expose some things about this portion and why I chose these verses.  In Jesus day, Jews would walk a 17-mile stretch referred to as the Jerusalem-to-Jericho road to avoid going through Samaria because they disliked them, so when it says, "He needed to go through Samaria."  This isn't because He needed a shorter route; He intended to meet this woman. Up until now, Jesus had not outright told anyone that He was the Christ, but He told this woman.  Christ came where no Jew would go to meet a woman that no one cared about, to reveal Himself to her, to give her life; let that sink in.    Because of this encounter and her witness the whole town of unreached "whosoevers" were saved and believed in Christ.   This is a reminder that Christ will spare no length, no barrier, to reach you and the ones you love with the message of salvation; let that sink in.

Today our God-Shot is to remember that it was because of His great love for you that He spared no cost to reach you, gave His life for you, and endured the cross, that there is no depth to which He won't go to bring life to those who are lost, hurting, broken, outcast, unlikely, because John 3:16 reminds us that He came for the whosoevers.

Father, I pray for those who have no heard the good news, that you would help us reach them, to share the good news that saved us, the spread the word that none should perish, that everyone would have the opportunity to know you and the life you bring, I pray in Jesus' name, use us, let us be part of your plan to save this world, every day put us in Jesus, put us in. Amen

Scripture:

Luke 5:5-6

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 

Something to catch this morning, a reason perhaps, a reason for our exhaustion at times.  We see it in this story with our friend Peter.  It is in his words: exhaustion and frustration: "We have toiled all night and caught nothing."  I am going to pause for a moment, and you should too, to allow that to sink in.   How many times have we been frustrated with things that we were doing, even things for Him, but were doing them, listen: without Him? Whether or not we do it without Him, it is that process of doing it alone that is exhausting and frustrating; we might even accomplish it, but in the end our self-reliance wears us out.   Remember Paul's words in (Philippians 4:13): "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."  That is what Peter discovered: "Your way is better, Lord."   All things through Christ, this means I need Him. Check it out: IN ALL THINGS.

Today our God-Shot asks the question:   What have you been doing without Him, and what has the process looked like? Can you see how it has worn you down, frustrated and discouraged you?   Today is your opportunity, like Peter, to say, "Lord, your way is better; at your word I will do it."  Now is our opportunity to listen for His voice, heed His direction, and reap the abundance that comes out of that obedience. 

Q: What will be your "Lord, at your word I will do it" moment?

Lord, your way is better; your thoughts are higher; there is nothing beyond your reach, beyond your comprehension. Forgive us when we have tried to do anything without you; teach us to be near, teach us to plan with you that our plans may be fruitful and that they may glorify you in the mighty name of Jesus, amen!