KICKSTART DEVOTIONAL
EVERY WEEKDAY AT 11 AM CST ON FACEBOOK LIVE
VISIT AND SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
On every Mission Discovery trip, we begin the morning together in God’s word. One speaker is chosen to give the word of the day so that everyone else can meditate on the Scripture. Our hope is that volunteers engage in group discussions throughout the day and in their small groups.
Since the way ministry is being done has shifted, our goal is to serve by creating resources that will help others focus on God throughout the day, and influence family and small group discussion.
Join us every weekday as we explore God’s word together. We will have speakers from all over the US and the world. Here is today’s Kickstart Devotional.
Video: Stu Chapman // Word Power
Social Media Image for Small Groups
https://www.missiondiscovery.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2020-04-08%20Stu%20Chapman%20Word%20Power_0.png?itok=2Rk7u4lr
Word Power
Hello everyone. Hey, my name is Stu Chapman and I’m coming to you from deep in the heart of Texas in my temporary office, my 11 year old’s room. These are definitely weird times. I’ve had the privilege of going on two different trips with Mission Discovery to Guatemala where I was able to witness the amazing hospitality of the Guatemalan people and see what God is doing through Mission Discovery and some of their key partners.
This morning I just wanted to offer some words of encouragement. I think that our words are incredibly important especially during times like we’re in now. Before we jump into all this, I need you to know that I have four kids, and I feel like I’m raising four barbarians. They’re all wild and they say some really crazy words. In fact, they make up their own words. I have an entire folder on my phone dedicated to weird things that they’ve said.
For example, we were in the house one day and one of my kids says something about a ding dong maker. What is a ding dong maker? It took me a while to realize he was talking about the doorbell. This same kid was talking about his snack robe. What’s a snack robe? It took me a while to realize that he was talking about his baby bib. We had a kid who said, “I really want to go eat at water booger.” What a burger, we’re in Texas. It’s a big deal.
We were on this hike and another kid points down on the ground at this trail. He says, “Dad Dad Dad look skeetles.” I run over there expecting to see an open bag of candy. But he was talking about Beatles. Beatles is what he meant to say. These words, they make me laugh, and I love how words have so much power. The power to build us up, to change our day, and to change our perspective.
Words like thank you, or I’m sorry, or I’m here for you, or you rock. I think these are powerful encouraging words to hear and as I look around I know I’m not the only one who could use some encouraging words. We have a virus without a vaccine. We have a surge of unemployment. There are entire industries facing an uncertain future. There’s high school seniors and college seniors who aren’t sure if they’re going to be able to walk the stage at graduation.
I think it’s safe to say that we could all use some words of encouragement. And, I’m of the opinion that no words are more powerful or more encouraging than the words of Jesus. And so what I’m gonna do is, I’m going to read a couple of verses from John 16. And to set the stage, this is right before Jesus is to be arrested and essentially put up on the cross, and Jesus knew what was coming. But his friends and his disciples, they did not.
And on this particular day Jesus is with his closest friends, the disciples and they’ve just enjoyed a stellar meal. And so now they’re kicking back and they’re just talking like good friends do but Jesus starts dropping hints that he would be going away soon, and that he isn’t going to be around much longer. And his disciples, they’re obviously confused. They’re puzzled. They’re perplexed and like “what do you mean we’re not going to see you anymore?”
And as Jesus continued to explain what he means, his disciples get the picture. Jesus came from God the Father and he would soon be returning to God the Father. But check this out. Jesus says something incredibly relevant. He looks at his boys and he says in John 16:32:
“But a time is coming and has come when you will be scattered each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my father is with me.”.
The disciples will be all scattered in their own homes. When he saying this. Obviously he’s not talking about COVID 19 virus, and that’s why they’re scattered in their homes like we are. But it was because of some of the same issues or some of the same emotions that we’re feeling today. Jesus was dropping hints that the disciples would be scattered in their own homes hiding in fear after he would be arrested. They would be hiding in fear of facing their own torture, or their own persecution.
Knowing what they would be facing, Jesus looks them square in the eyes and he says something beautiful. He says something comforting. He says something encouraging. He looks at them and he says in John 16:33: “I have told you these things so that in me, yo may have peace in this world. You will have trouble but take heart. I have overcome the world.”
He’s saying yes, it’s going to be difficult. But even though it will be difficult, peace may be found in me. I think that’s fantastic. Knowing that they will face scary days, he’s saying, “Hey, in me you may have peace.”
Now, I don’t know your story. I don’t know the road that you’re currently walking. Maybe you just lost your job. Maybe you’ve had a decline in revenue. Maybe you have family or friends that are sick. Maybe you have family on lockdown in a nursing home and you’re no longer able to visit.
