SO . . . HOW’S YOUR “FLEX” LIFE?
Flexing the knee is a sign of humility, and humility is the required spiritual posture for prayer and devotion. A sound devotional life is sustenance for the soul. You say, “Yeah, but how?”
Want some help? Here’s my advice: Check out the current 5-volume set of “The Chosen: 40 Days with Jesus” devotional series! “Why should I,” you say? [Are you always this snarky?] Well, let me offer a few words of praise, clarification, and guidance for using The Chosen devotionals to deepen your connection with God and His Word.
PRAISE: As a lifetime Bible professor, I give “The Chosen: 40 days with Jesus” devotionals the same 5-star recommendation that I give to the show itself and all OTHER ancillary materials (incl., Bible round tables, Bible Study Guides, Aftershow discussions, message-laden artwork and “Chosen gear”). Like the show itself, these OTHER ancillary materials are the product of a thorough knowledge of God’s word, a personal relationship with Jesus, and very careful reflective thought on the import of God’s Word for our eternal destiny and daily living. For navigating life’s ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies nothing is more crucial than a sound devotional life. The Chosen and its OTHER ancillary materials will help you establish and maintain a sound devotional life!
CLARIFICATION: Careful readers may have noted the all-caps emphasis on the word “OTHER” above. Don’t miss this important point: the episodes of the “show itself” are but ancillary materials; The SHOW is NOT the endgame. So what is the endgame that the show and all OTHER ancillary materials serve? Just this: the Biblical witness to the gospel and all authentic proclamations of it. How so? How does The Chosen serve the gospel and all authentic proclamations of it? First, it serves as “Bible Candy” because it makes people want to READ the Bible cover to cover, instead of merely looking at the front cover on top of a coffee table or nightstand; second, it serves as a visual Bible commentary supplying relevant historical and cultural context for rightly interpreting the Biblical events it narrates; third, it serves as an illustrated sermon by helping us see ourselves in the story and encounter Christ by proxy.
GUIDANCE: To assist you in fulfilling your calling as a reproducing disciple of Christ, may I encourage you to regularly engage with as many as possible of the following:
(1) watch the The Chosen (TC) in its episodic sequence;
(2) Use The Chosen devotionals to structure your daily alone time with God;
(3) Use The Chosen Bible Study Guides to do deeper dives on the biblical themes brought out in each episode;
(4) purchase and wear “Chosen Gear” to draw peoples’ attention to the show and open opportunities to share the gospel. (If you’re shy, don’t worry! You don’t HAVE to say a word. The Chosen gear will point people to the show, and the show will point them to Jesus and the Bible. Simple. Reassuring. Non-threatening. “Street Witnessing”!
(5) Finally, in all of these, do not neglect to explore the fuller biblical context of the passages chosen (pun intended!) for the show, Bible study guides, and daily devotionals (i.e., read passage/s that immediately precede and immediately follow the verses that begin the devotional). From my personal experience, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed, if you do them!” (Jn 13:17).
P.S. [I have intentionally used John 13:17 “out of context” to illustrate the need for exploring the full context of Biblical citations. In this particular case, I have not violated the original intention of the quotation, but I have re-contextualized it. In its biblical context, “these things” refers to the posture of humility and servanthood that should characterize all kingdom citizens, but especially Christian leaders. In my re-contextualized use of Jesus’ charge to The Twelve, “these things” refers to spiritual disciplines and tools for fulfilling God’s calling as reproducing disciples of Christ!] If you are on board with this, “Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37 😉 )
