Kevin's Devotion Corner

Running in Place

2010-03-03T08:03:00.014-05:00

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”

(Phillipians 3:12 – NASB)

How many of us feel as if we were running with full speed ahead towards the goal of complete perfection in this life but as we wearied on the journey it was as if we were no longer progressing, but instead were running in place? This is a common concern among Christians across the board. Does this mean it is all right? Does it mean it should be written off as, “Well, everybody goes through this and it will pass?”

May it never be true. That is the attitude of a sluggard who wished for righteousness to come upon him without all-out seeking for it. Jesus told us, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). He did not say, “sit on the couch after work and wait for righteousness to fall upon you.” The Word of God continually instructs us to Seek the Lord, which implies action not apathy. If we are running in place, it is time we pray to the Lord and seek an answer as to why were are not moving forward.

“What am I doing or not doing today that I was or was not doing when I was pressing on before?” Have we quenched the Holy Spirit? Have we grieved the Holy Spirit? Have we conformed to the pattern of this world and let go of the renewal of our mind (see Romans 12:2)? If so, it is time to make the stand against apathy. This is not just some phase that all Christians go through. It is apathy and there is no better foothold for our adversary than laziness. If we will but put on the Armor of God (see Ephesians 6: 13-17) running in place will no longer pose a threat but instead we will “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phillipians 3:14).

Kevin McKanna
March 2, 2010

Just Wait.

2009-11-17T22:23:00.016-05:00

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
(Psalm 40:1)

Do you ever feel as if the world is falling apart all around you? The stress level is so high that you are going to burst? That your prayers go unanswered for long periods of time? That God seems to move slower than He should? Take heed the words of this song, “Hold fast, help is on the way!” (MercyMe, “Hold Fast”).

Is that not what it is? I like to envision it as this… and I do not think this is a far cry from the truth either. When we cry out Jesus Christ… He simultaneously dispatches companies and battalions of angels to our aid. The Holy Spirit's promptings are louder, if we would but slow down and wait on Him. To wait on the Lord is more than patience, it is to allow our minds to wait (to stop thinking and worrying) and listen for His soft voice that leads the way. Christ sends all of this to help us with all of what we come to Him with. And when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and the angels to guard… we make the decision that pleases God. The pain drifts away which pleases God. The worry dissipates, which pleases God. And if we focus enough, we can feel the smile creeping across the face of Jesus Christ which goes from one ear to the other. It is as if Heaven just got even brighter. And the angels are giving a standing ovation.

So let us learn to be patient and wait for the Lord (see Psalm 46:10) and while we wait realize He has sent them and they are moving at full speed to assist His children just as you would not deny your own child of what they need.

Kevin McKanna
November 9, 2009

it is YOU i have loved all along

2009-11-17T21:55:00.017-05:00

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB)

Have you ever felt like there is a void in your heart? Is there an absence in your thinking? Do you find yourself battling the world’s problems without any assistance and those walls of the Mountain are closing in all around you…again? Do you find yourself reading every self-help book you are able to find yet you are not able to help yourself and it seems no one else can either?

If you have, there is a very simple explanation as to why you feel this way... you need Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the void in that heart. We were all born with it and we try to fill it with material things, accomplishments, promotions, bearing children and of the like. We can spend our entire life trying to fill this void in our hearts with everything except Jesus Christ and we will find when the book of our life comes to a close, we fought and lost the battle. It is very similar when you find your spouse and that void in your heart (which is a different void, a different pining and longing)is filled you realize it is him or her that you had loved all along. When we come to Jesus Christ and He fills that void in our heart with a love that is so magnificent, so awe-inspiring and so undeserving that we become so filled we begin to share it with everyone we know and aim to find more ways to tell others of the Greatness of our Savior. It isn’t that we have loved Jesus Christ all along, but it is that we have longed for Him all along not knowing how to find him through worldly processes. It is more as if when Jesus Christ is hanging on the Cross of our Salvation, we ask, “Why are you doing this? If you truly are who you say you are, then come off of that Cross?” (See Matthew 27:40, Mark 15:29-30 and Luke 23:36-39) As the blood runs from his hands, feet, head and the rest of His body His eyes pierce our eyes and see into our soul as He replies, “I am who I am. And I AM on this cross only because I choose to be. Because it is you I have loved all along!”

Kevin McKanna
September 21, 2009

READ THE BIBLE...FOR A CHANGE

2009-11-17T21:44:00.019-05:00

“We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51)

Many people have exclaimed, "to Read the Bible for a change!" There are even books on the subject, countless ones, actually, with that very title. But what do they mean? Should we stop reading anything else and read just the Bible? Perhaps. But I think it means, “Read the Bible… for a change.”

What is the difference? Well, the difference is, the first simply says, for change in routine, read the Bible or study the Bible, instead of what you normally would do and it ends there. What I propose is to read the Bible to experience a change. Not just a change in literature or authors. Not just a change in routine. And not just a change in topics. No. But a complete change. A change in thinking. A change in perspective. A change from unbelieving to believing. A change from what we desire to what we already have through His Word. Let’s make a change, READ THE BIBLE and be fulfilled.

Kevin McKanna

August 8, 2009

The Lord is My Shepherd

2009-11-17T21:31:00.011-05:00

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me besides quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake... Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalms 23: 1-3, 6 NASB)

In this world-renowned depiction of our Shepherd and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ there are several key representations which are made. First, there is a flock of sheep surrounding Jesus as He walks and leads… this is representative of our daily walk with Christ and that He is always with us. Secondly, the infant which is in His arm, held closely to His chest, is me. This little creature is all of us who have just begun our walk with Christ-all us new believers who have found ourselves attracted to this man and His everlasting and eternal Truth. He is nurturing us with the Word, teaching and maturing our hearts and spiritual condition. And if we look a little closer it can be seen that behind Him, in the middle of the group is a black sheep, this shows that there is no man, woman or child who is so lost that they cannot be saved by Him and His unfathomable Grace and Forgiveness.

It also shows His love for all of us, regardless of what we look like on the outside, and that He is only concerned with what we look like on the inside. In addition, you also see one that is walking, yet looking up at Jesus, as if hanging on at every word Christ has to say… which is an example for all of us Christians to follow… hanging on every word of the Word.

Finally, and one of the most interesting and thought provoking is the group of sheep laying beside still waters. What does this show? First, it represents, quite literally, verse two. Secondly, and most profoundly, it shows this: there are two groups of sheep, (1) the group walking with Christ in their progressing sanctification and (2) the group laying beside restful waters who have been fully sanctified.

The most significant point behind this entire painting is it shows us ourselves, where we are and where we are going, yet it doesn’t show us where we have been, because our past has been forgiven by Him who is leading us.

Kevin McKanna
August 6, 2009