Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 16:7
"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Intro to Devotions: This week we heard about how God used Baranabas’ ability to see the potential in Paul, when everyone else saw his as a risk. We will look at how God did this in 5 other people throughout Scripture.
Day 1 – Moses – Read Exodus 4:1-17
Dig In: Why is it difficult to see ourselves as God sees us? How does comparing ourselves to others rather than to God’s view lead to insecurity?
Take Root: Moses seems to argue with God over his choosing him to be used to free the Israelites from captivity. Moses saw himself much differently than how God saw him. God saw the potential in Moses and even equips him to carry out the mission before him. Reminder: Moses, on his own, was not able to accomplish what God called him to do. It was God, through Moses, that freed Israel.
Cultivate: What will it take for us to reject our broken view of our selves and embrace God’s view of us? When left to our own agenda, strength, and ability, we are a risk to the Kingdom of God advancing. But when our agenda, strength, and ability is put under the authority of God our potential is exponentially expanded!
Journal: Merriam-Webster’s simple definition of “potential” is: capable of becoming real. Take a moment to think, pray, and write down the name of someone in your life in whom you see potential. Perhaps that person is your child, or a sibling, or a friend or coworker. Place a date beside their name and begin to pray that God would lead you to take the necessary risk to invest in their life.
Day 2 – David - Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Dig In: Why is the nation of Israel not doing well under King Saul? Why did Israel want a King? What was Samuel looking for when he was trying to figure out who to anoint?
Take Root: It is obvious from this passage that Jesse had several sons who “looked the part” of being a King. We even see how Samuel was looking at the appearance of the sons. God makes it clear that he is not looking at the person who “looks the part”, but is looking for someone who will use this position to honor Him. God saw the potential in David.
Cultivate: How should this help us look past the outer appearance (dress, race, past, etc.) of others and seek to see the true person? Why is it more important to seek to honor God with how we treat others than trying to accomplish our own agenda?
Journal: One of the dictionary definitions of “invest” is: to furnish with power or authority. Look back at the name you wrote down in the first journal entry. Write down three ways that you believe you could help furnish them with power to increase their capability of becoming real. How can you help them begin to utilize their potential?
Day 3 – Gideon – Judges 6:1-24
Dig In: When you watch the news these days, how do you feel? When you have gone through “rough patches” in your life, how has that affected your willingness to serve God?
Take Root: Gideon is a great example of someone who could not possibly see himself that God would use to defeat anything based on his understanding of his current situation. How could God use someone like him when all they were experiencing was defeat and he was the least among the weakest family? His confidence changed when he accepted that not only was God calling him to this task, but God was also promising his presence and power to accomplish it!
Cultivate: What will it take for you to see beyond your current situation and self-doubt and embrace that God is with you and will give you the strength to accomplish His will? Who are some people in your life that can be like Barnabas and remind you of your position as a child of the living God?
Day 4 – Mary – Read Luke 1:26-38
Dig In: How did culture see Mary? What would Mary’s friends, family, and neighbors have expected of her and her role as a teenage girl? How did God see her? What did God trust her to do?
Take Root: In this passage we see the beginning of the greatest man to ever walk the earth. We love to hear the Christmas story and find great comfort in its purpose. God’s view of Mary and trusting her with this great and challenging task of carrying Jesus in her womb, raising Him, and then seeing him crucified adds to the majesty of God’s design. God saw the potential in Mary.
Cultivate: What limitations do we place on ourselves that have been dictated by others in our lives? We see in the life of Mary that God is not limited by the culturally placed stigmas or expectations. What is God calling and preparing you to do? Are you willing to trust Him more that fear other’s response to what it would take to be obedient to God? Because of God’s call and provision, Mary was….
Day 5 – Peter – Read Matthew 16: 13-20 and John 21:15-19
Dig In: Why is the phrase, “Pride comes before the fall” true? How does pride give us a distorted view of ourselves?
Take Root: We see, in the life of Peter, that he was someone who acted before he thought about what he should do (walking on water, cutting off the ear of the centurion, denying Jesus three times). The passages we have read today are bookends of how Jesus saw Peter. From being ordained the leader of the early church to being re-instated by Jesus allowing him to commit to “feeding his sheep”. Peter could have seen his denials as a disqualification to do God’s work, but God saw the potential in him and thought otherwise.
Cultivate: How have the mistakes and sins in our lives undermined our view of ourselves and allowed us to see ourselves as risks rather than potential vessels for God? Why does God’s grace discredit that kind of thinking?
Cultivating the Soil:
We can all probably understand how, in Acts 9, it was difficult for the believers to trust Saul’s conversion story. Barnabus was only one person. How do you think he gathered the courage to support Saul and tell his story before the apostles?
How do you think Barnabus earned the TRUST of the apostles that was discussed in the sermon?
Had someone invested in Barnabus’ life or seen his potential? Who?
Which of the following areas was Barnabus called on to exhibit in his relationship to Saul: time, praise, help, partnership, grace, challenge? How big was the risk he had to take to introduce Saul as a true believer?
Do you want to be that kind of person?
Small Group Questions:
So how did the ‘Son of Encouragement’ become the ‘Go to Guy’ for the apostles?
Look back at the events Barnabus was involved in. What were the results of his involvement in the long run? Was it just about being an encourager? Was he a cheerleader on the sidelines? In Acts 11:19-24, what happened largely because of Barnabus’ investment?
How do you think Barnabus was able to develop a vision for investment in others? Was this a natural bent of his? Were encouragement and exhortation just his spiritual gifts?
It’s easy to stand back when we see someone fail and cast judgement. How could you turn that judgement into an opportunity to see potential and to choose to invest in their future? Will you see and act?