Kevin Johnson - Evan Almighty Devotional

INVERT YOUTH SPECIALTIES

Evan ALMIGHTY DEVOTIONAL
Copyright 2007 by Universal

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ePub Edition June 2009 ISBN: 0-310-86186-1

Youth Specialties resources, 300 S. Pierce St., El Cajon, CA 92020 are published by Zondervan, 5300 Patterson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Johnson, Kevin (Kevin Walter)
Evan Almighty devotional / Kevin Johnson and Universal Studios.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-310-28415-4
1. Christian lifeBiblical teaching. 2. Devotional literature. 3. Evan Almighty (Motion picture) I. Universal City Studios. II. Title.
BS680.C47J63 2007
242.63dc22

2007032195

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

07 08 09 10 11 12 13 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

TO LYN

Because you have been crazed about doing good
together since the day we met.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1
ACT JUSTLY/LOVE MERCY/WALK HUMBLY

He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

Look around. Theres no shortage of people telling you exactly what to dohow to live your life, where to part with your time and money, how to steer clear of bad choices.

While some adults might fret about voices that entice you to do wrong, its likely that scads of people repeatedly encourage you to do good. There are teachers who require you to volunteer and serve if you expect to pass class. Benefit concerts move you to donate to a world of worthwhile causes. Your parents no doubt set high expectations of how you should treat people when theyre watchingand when theyre not. Friends and peersat least some of them, some of the timebudge you to make good decisions. And youth workers and pastors cheer you on whether you do a single, small, kind act or sign up for long, sweaty service trips.

This book is about doing all kinds of good. So what gives this message a twist thats distinct from everything else youve heard? First, its inspired by a Universal Studios comedy, Evan Almighty. You might be stunned that a Hollywood blockbuster starring Steve Carell could alter your life, but this one could do exactly that.

Second, while many people point you toward doing good, they dont always explain why its such an amazing idea. This book delivers straight-up reasons why acting for good doesnt need to be something you have to do. It can be something you want to do.

And last, this book stretches you to be kind in epic proportions. That sounds big. Bold. It is. Youll find out, however, that changing the world isnt just about giving an hour here and there or even sacrificing dozens of hours on a summer service project, as excellent as those ideas are. Its all about real, everyday actionssimple, small, kind acts, changing the world every chance you get, right where you are, right now, making a difference in the world within your reach.

GOING AROUND DOING GOOD

Humans ache to make the world a better place, even if our idea of what that entails starts and stops with padding our own nests. But maybe you have a bigger, better dream. You might want to halt global warming. To usher in world peace. To solve poverty, the AIDS crisis, slavery, or sex trafficking. You might want to ensure that people all around the globe enjoy an eternal destiny with God.

Those are awesome dreams. But for many people, theyre all intention with no action. Big dreams amount to nothing more than a hazy vapor if we neglect the chance to act with love and kindness here and now.

God has dreams for you that stretch to the end of the planet and that span as long as you live and breathe. Yet his dreams for you never ignore right where you are, right now. God wants you living every day leaving a wake of helpfulness rather than hurt. He wants you to waft into peoples lives like a fresh breeze. He packs every moment with opportunities to do good for your family, strangers seated next to you at school, and neighbors down the block and around your community.

More than a few thousand years ago the Old Testament prophet Micah wrote down Gods dream for you: He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

God doesnt shy away from explaining his plan for your life. Of all those voices telling you how to live, Gods booms the loudest. He says he wants you to act with justice and fairness. To freely and willingly show kindness to others. To devote yourself to depending on him and going wherever he leads you.

Why bother with all that? Because love and kindness is what God does. That word for mercy in Micah 6:8 is hesed , a Hebrew term that sums up Gods total lovea kindness that seeks our best even when we dont deserve it. Its a relentless, extravagant love that never stops.

Its easy to see this drive to do good in the life of Jesus. Look at Acts 10:37-38, where his close friend Peter explains what Jesus said and did all over his homeland: You know what has happened all through the province of Judea how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him (TNIV). Even if you know a ton about what Jesus said and did, you might be surprised that the Bible describes a major part of his mission as he went around doing good.

The New Testament invites you to let Gods passion for doing good become your own. As the apostle Paul tells some early followers, May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, TNIV).

God will never tell you to act justly and love mercy to earn his affection, because he already cares for you with a nonstop love. His dream is simplethat you would develop a rhythm of life where you share with others the same care he showers on you.

When you imitate Gods goodness, youre engaged in authentic faith. As you pass along his care, you yourself feel more and more of Gods compassion. And whenever you do an act of kindness, you make someones life better.