“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

Today’s featured photo, by Ray White, shows various groups of people walking on a foggy shore. Although the people are only a few feet apart from one another, each person is walking towards an unclear future with unique life experiences and perspectives, as well as individual hardships and obstacles to overcome. 

Today’s featured scripture, written by Paul the Apostle, reminds us to value others. Valuing others means realizing that each person in life reacts and responds to life’s circumstances based on past experiences, perspectives, and circumstances. What is difficult for you may not be difficult for me.  My perspective does not lessen your perspective and vice versa. God loves me, God loves you, and God loves every other person on Earth. God’s grace is offered to every person, no matter how they differ from me or you.

This week I have challenged you to examine your coachability, your words, and your actions.  Today I encourage you to examine your heart. Christ teaches us to value others above ourselves. How do you view others who are different from you? How do you interact with others who have a different experience or perspective than you? Are your words and actions a reflection of Christ in your heart?

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for loving me. Help me to reflect Christ in my interactions with others. May I value others above myself, even when my perspectives and experiences differ from theirs. Guide my thoughts as I strive to be more like Your son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene.” 2 Timothy 2:16-17

This week as I have talked about being coachable, I have also discussed being changed by God’s teachings. Today let’s examine our “chatter.” Read below The Message version of 2 Timothy 2:16-17.

“Stay clear of pious talk, that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul.”

Recently, my son overheard a Christian talking about him to another Christian in a public place.  The discussion came across as judgemental and pious. Plainly speaking, the discussion was gossip. As a result, I have become very aware of my walk, reflecting my talk. I have been convicted of times that I share “prayer concerns” with others in a manner that is actually glorified gossip. 

Today, examine yourself. Do your words glorify God? Are the words you use also reflected in the actions you display? Does your walk match your talk? Are you displaying Christ to others or are you like today’s featured picture, abstract and vague? 

Let’s pray: Dear God, Make me aware of the power of my words and actions. Forgive me for times when my words or actions have not been Christ-like. May my walk match my talk and may I reflect Your presence in my life in all that I say and do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

This week I have encouraged you to examine your coachable spirit. Today I challenge you to examine your response to God’s coaching. How do you respond to God’s guidance and direction? Are you affected by His message for you?

The Bible study our Sunday school class is doing is titled First & Second Thessalonians – A World Changing Faith by Levi Lusko. In the first video, Lusko stepped on our toes when he said, “Sunday doesn’t change anything until it changes Monday.” So I ask you, has the message you received on Sunday changed your Monday? Are you applying each day of the week the coaching God delivers to you on Sunday? Of course, Sunday isn’t the only day God is teaching you. What about the lessons you learn through daily prayer and devotion? The Holy Spirit speaks to us each time we read God’s message in the Bible. Take a few moments today to examine your response to God’s coaching in your life. Are you correctly handling the word of truth? Just as the sand in today’s featured photo has been changed by the ocean, I too want to be affected, shaped, and molded by God. I want to be changed by God’s presence in my life.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for being the Master Coach. Continue to coach me to be the best I can be. May I respond to Your coaching in a manner that glorifies You. May my response on Mondays reflect the lessons You teach me on Sundays. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly or the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” Psalm 1:1-6

I love learning. I like hearing new insights and taking notes. However, do I allow God’s words to teach and train me? At the baseball field, I often hear coaches telling pitchers to follow through. Do I follow through? When I hear God’s words and take notes about it, do I then follow through? Am I changed by His word? Do I apply His message in my words and actions.

I want to be coachable/capable of being easily taught and trained to do something better. I want to be a tree which yields fruit and whose leaves do not wither. I want to prosper for God. What about you? Are you presenting yourself to God as coachable? Are you ready to learn and apply His word today? Are you following through? God wants us to not only hear His word and read His word, but to also learn and grow from His word. He wants us to be changed by His word. As a result, we should follow through by living our lives in a way that exemplifies His word.

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, open my eyes and ears to Your words for me today. May I be humble and yielding to Your message and may I apply Your word in the way I live out my life each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

My son has played baseball since he was 4. He loves baseball. He is passionate about baseball. As a young boy, he sometimes thought he knew everything there was to know about baseball. As he was growing and learning as a young player I often reminded him that it is important to remain coachable-capable of being easily taught and trained to do something better.

Today, I encourage you to reflect. Does God view you as coachable? Are you humble? Do you allow God to teach and train you to do something better? 

If you are worshiping in a corporate worship service today, be mindful of the way you approach the service. Are you participating with an open mind and willing spirit? Are your eyes, ears, and heart wide open and ready to receive the message God has for you? Are your hands and feet ready to respond to His message as you leave the service? Are you ready for the game of life He has set before you?

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, and heart to the message You have for me today. May I be willing to listen and then respond to You as You coach me to be more like Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Click here to watch today’s See You Saturday video.

“It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips. When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge. Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed. You were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬-‭25‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Today’s Rethink Church Photo-A-Day word is carried. What a perfect word for Good Friday. Today we remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Click here to read or watch a short video explaining why this Friday is called good.

Click here to read the scripture that tells of the crucifixion of Jesus. Today I encourage you to spend some time mourning the death of Christ. Reflect on the reality that Jesus suffered and carried your sins to the cross. What does that mean for you? Do you live your daily life in a way that exhibits your appreciation for this gift from Jesus? Have you shared the gift of Christ with someone else?

Dear God, Thank You for Good Friday. Thank You for sacrificing Your only Son for me to have eternal life. Keep the image of the draped cross in my mind today so I may experience a small portion of Your grief. May all that I say and do today reflect the love of the cross. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.