BIG5 Devotional PDFs

BIGBIG WISDOM IN 5 MINUTES

In today’s verses, Jesus instructs His followers to not swear oaths of any kind, but to simply “letyour ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No…”. This command builds on older laws and on God’scommandments (see Leviticus 19:12 and Exodus 20:7). How we use our words has always beenimportant to God, but Jesus goes even further than the old law. Jesus tells us not only to keep theoaths we make, but also to not swear any oaths at all—to not swear in the name of heaven orearth by the holy city, or even on your own head. Why do you think Jesus goes this far? What do you learn about God from what Jesus says?

WEEK ONE: A NEW KIND OF RESOLUTION

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DAY ONEREAD

REFLECT

DAY TWO

READ

REFLECT

Matthew 5:33-37

Luke 6:43-45

Words reflect our character and, if you follow God, His character too. As people who follow Jesus,we strive to reflect God’s truth, justice, mercy and grace in our own character as well as with ourwords. Do you often find yourself saying, “I promise” or “I swear,” even about things you haven’tconsidered carefully? How can you better demonstrate God’s character with your words?


Jesus teaches that making an oath or a promise simply isn’t necessary when you just do what yousay you’ll do. He calls us to be wise with our words and careful with our commitments. Throughoutthe Bible (including today’s verses), we learn that we must rely on God, not ourselves, to guide usin wisdom. How is Jesus calling you to be wiser with words and more careful with commitments? What stepscan you take today to be known as a person whose word is good?

WEEK ONE: A NEW KIND OF RESOLUTION


DAY THREEREAD

REFLECT

DAY FOURREVIEW

REFLECT

Proverbs 3:5-6

Matthew 5:33-37. Consider whether it speaks to you differently, now that you’ve spent a few daysreflecting on words andcharacter.

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution in January, only to find that it is a distant memory byMarch? For many of us, this is a pattern that plays out year after year, sometimes with the exactsame resolution each time! Jesus has a better way. As we make commitments of any kind, let’sresolve to let our “Yes” or “No” be enough. Have you prayed over your resolutions and commitments? Are they pleasing to God andconsistent with a godly character? If so, say “Yes” or “No” with confidence. As you depend onJesus, He will empower you to follow through!


Peter had to learn it the hard way: commitment isn’t easy. When he promised Jesus he wouldstand by Him, even to death, he believed it! But Jesus sees right into our hearts. He predicted thatPeter would deny knowing Jesus that very night, three times in fact. And as we learn when weread, that is exactly what happened. Peter was grieving over how quickly his passionatecommitment dissolved in the face of fear. What parts of this story resonate with you? Do you find yourself thinking poorly of Peter oridentifying with him?

WEEK TWO: Let Your "YES" be "YES"


DAY ONEREAD

REFLECT

DAY TWOREAD

REFLECT

John 13:33-38

John 21:15-19

Fortunately, Peter’s denial of Jesus isn’t the end of the story. Peter later received a chance forredemption, affirming his love for Jesus three times! He turned out to be one of the boldest, mostcourageous preachers of the gospel the world has ever known. What do you learn about Jesus through how he treats Peter in today’s passage? How has Jesusbeen gracious to you when your commitment has faltered?


Peter’s journey reflects the truth that real commitment—to Jesus, to your spouse, to a career, toanything—is not always easy. The passion that we feel when we boldly declare, “I would die forthis!” can quickly fade as circumstances change, love isn't reciprocated, or the newness wearsoff. Like Peter, our commitment can be limited by our feelings in any given situation. Do you tend to act based on how you feel about something, or based on how Jesus feels aboutyou? If you’re a person who regularly steps away from commitments, how might God be callingyou to make a change?

WEEK TWO: Let Your "YES" be "YES"


DAY THREEREVIEW

REFLECT

DAY FOURREAD

REFLECT

Peter’s story in John 13:33-38 and John 21:15-19

1 Peter 1:3-9

What is a Christ follower to do when our commitments no longer match up with our feelings? Ourtheme this month gives us a big clue: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes.’” Our passage today reveals a moremature Peter, who taught others to glorify God through all kinds of trials. If you’ve made a godly,prayerful commitment, follow through. Keep saying “Yes” to that commitment unless and untilGod Himself calls you out of it. You can trust that if God has called you to it, He will carry youthrough it. Feelings are fickle, circumstances fleeting, but your “Yes” to God can remain firm. What tools has God given you to determine His will in your life? What’s one change you can maketoday to grow nearer to God?


As any gardener would tell you, pruning is essential for healthy plants. Today’s verses reveal thatpruning is essential in our lives as well: God’s Word tells us that even fruitful Christians needpruning so they can become even more fruitful! What does God’s pruning look like in the believer’slife? God's pruning may come in the form of a conviction that something is just wrong - a clearprompting that our response should be "no." Other times we will find that a door has been shutbecause God has a deeper/bigger plan. Have you ever been surprised by a “No” you received from God and if so, how did you react? What do you now think God was doing through that “No”?

WEEK THREE: Let Your "No" be "No"


DAY ONEREAD

REFLECT

DAY TWOREAD

REFLECT

John 15:1-4

James 1:13-15 and Hebrews 4:15-16

When Jesus teaches us to let our“No” be “No,” He might have been thinking of how often we findways to justify our sin. Something we know is off limits suddenly becomes justified in the face oftemptation. God wants to prune sin (decisions or actions that separate us from Him) from ourlives. God’s pruning allows us to grow more like Jesus, more like the person God wants us to be.All of us, including new believers and lifelong Christians, are sanctified—becoming more Christlike—as we join God by saying “No” to sin. We are equipped to do so through faithful prayer, studyingthe Bible, worship and serving God. And then, when we say “No” to sin, we find that we really canlet our “No” be “No.” Temptation comes and goes, but commitment to God’s pruning steadies usin the face of temptation. What sins are you currently struggling with and how can you invite God into that struggle?


God sometimes says “No” to things that aren’t sinful but that He simply isn’t allowing in our livesright now. If God closes the door on something we desire, our disappointment can be soothed byknowing that God’s “No” is always better than our quick and shortsighted “Yes.” Then, we canhonor our Father by letting His “No” be ours as well. Have you ever been certain that God was calling you to a new job, project or venture, only to havedoors closed in your face? How do you usually react to this kind of pruning, and how would youlike to react?

WEEK THREE: Let Your "No" be "No"


DAY THREEREAD

REFLECT

DAY FOURREVIEW

REFLECT

Proverbs 16:9 and Jeremiah 29:11-13

John 15:1-4

As we continue to ponder this month’s theme of letting our “Yes” be “Yes” and our “No" be “No,”think about how our master Gardener is calling us to join Him as He leads us. When it comes to your choices and commitments, where is He planting you, and where is Hepruning you?


Sometimes we serve with some reservations or even fear, or we discover we don’t always “feellike it,” but that’s exactly where God comes in. If you’re reading this, you’ve said “Yes” to servingGod by serving in MecKidz. God smiles on your willing service, and we at MecKidz are so gratefulfor it! This week we want to encourage you to allow that “Yes” to be “Yes.” Not lukewarm… but abold, whole-hearted shout! What challenges have you experienced in your service to God? How will you invite God into thosechallenges today?

WEEK FOUR: Commitment in service


DAY ONEREAD

REFLECT

DAY TWOREAD

REFLECT

Matthew 5:33-37

John 6:8-13 and John 15:16

Jesus calls all of us who follow Him to also “bear fruit—fruit that will last.” By pouring into the livesof children—leading them, answering their questions and loving them—you are bearing lastingfruit. You can know this is true even if you don’t see the outcome in the short term because our all-sufficient God takes the small portion we offer in service to Him and multiplies it. What difference does it make in your service to know that God multiplies our small offerings?


Today’s verse is a promise God makes to those who prioritize kindness, charity, justice andgenerosity (rather than personal gain), through their service to Him. In your service to childrenthrough MecKidz, there have probably been times when you’ve had to set aside your own comfortor convenience to pursue the larger goals of God. You didn’t do that to receive a blessing, butGod does bless those who step outside of their own self-interest in order to love others. How has God blessed you through serving others, whether through MecKidz or elsewhere? If youhaven’t seen that blessing recently, will you pray for God to reveal it to you?

WEEK FOUR: Commitment in service


DAY THREEREAD

REFLECT

DAY FOURREAD

REFLECT

Isaiah 58:11

Acts 2:42-47

Today’s description of the early church is a beautiful reminder of what Christian community canlook like today. Do you realize that when you serve in MecKidz, you are doing your part to upholdthis vision of community? You are creating a supportive and welcoming place marked by glad andsincere hearts! What part of the description of the early church inspires or challenges you most? Have youthought before about how serving in MecKidz serves the entire Meck community?

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