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Today’s devotional is the last until mid-August. I am grateful for a few weeks’ vacation. I am especially grateful to you for your participation in these devotions.

Last week, I changed the tires on my car. My winter tires were nearing the end of their life, so I kept them on during Spring. Now it was time to replace them with four all-season tires and rims I already had.

Those of us who have changed tires know the routine. Gather the necessary tools: the jack, sockets, lug nuts, torsion wrench, and of course the replacement tires. Place the jack under the car to take the weight. Slightly undo the lug nuts. Raise the car. Remove the lug nuts. Remove the wheel. Position the new wheel. Line-up the lug nuts. Screw them finger tight. Tighten them so that the wheel sits flat against the drum. Lower the car. Repeat the process three times.

Today I invite us to return to the basics of our devotional life. Like the practice of changing car tires, we develop routines for deepening our walk with Jesus. The tools are different, of course: we don’t use wrenches, sockets, or car jacks. We deepen our walk with Jesus through prayer, the study of Scripture, fellowship with other Christians, worship, remembering what God has done, sharing Christ with others, leaning on the promises of God, confessing our sin, being generous, exercising the gifts God has given us, expecting and anticipating the coming again of Jesus, and, above all, displaying the way of the cross and the power of the resurrection.

Consider 1 Thessalonians 1:8. Paul writes that the faith of the Christians in Thessalonica had become known everywhere. Their lives had become examples of Christlikeness. So, Paul says, “we do not need to say anything about it.”

It’s amazing, isn’t it? These Christians were growing in their devotion and there was nothing more to say. They had come to faith in Jesus and had been so wonderfully transformed that it was natural and inevitable that they apply the basics of devotion in their lives. And there was nothing more that could be said!

This summer let’s make it our goal to deepen our lives for Jesus. Let’s remain faithful in the basics, as I’ve listed them. Let’s keep the routines of these spiritual disciplines. Let’s remember the “tools” God has given us. And may our lives become such glorious displays of Christlikeness that all that people can say is “Wow! There’s nothing more to be said! These Christians shine with the very presence of Jesus.”

It was time to replace the tires. It’s time to grow in our walk with Jesus. There’s nothing more to be said.

Thanks for being part of these devotions. May you know the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit this summer.

視頻大意翻譯(video Chinese translation):

上週我幫車子換了輪胎。我知道冬季的輪胎已經快報銷了，因此把他們保留到春天。但現在是換成四季胎和輪轂的時候了。

我們這些換過輪胎的人都知道這個程序。拿齊必要的工具，包括千斤頂、套筒、凸耳螺絲母、扳手，當然還有更換的輪胎。將千斤頂放頂在車下以減輕重量。稍微解開車輪凸耳螺絲母。用千斤頂升起汽車、拆下凸耳螺絲母、拆下輪子、放上新輪胎、對好凸耳螺絲母、用手指擰緊它們、然後按對角線順序擰緊幾圈、使車輪平放在滾筒上、放下車，然後重複這程序三次。

今天的靈修是直到八月中旬前的最後一次。我很感恩能有幾周的假期。所以，今天我邀請我們回到靈修生活的基礎。就像更換汽車輪胎一樣，我們制定了加深與耶穌同行的例行程序。當然，工具不同：我們不用扳手、套筒或汽車千斤頂。我們透過禱告、研讀聖經、與其他基督徒相交、敬拜、記住神所做的事、與他人分享基督、依靠神的應許、承認我們的罪、慷慨、使用神賜我們的恩賜、期盼和期待耶穌的再來，以及最重要的是，展示十字架的道路和復活的大能。

為了幫助我們，思想帖撒羅尼迦前書1：8。保羅寫道，帖撒羅尼迦基督徒的信仰已經廣為人知，他們的生命已經成為基督樣式的榜樣。所以，保羅說，“不用我們說甚麼話。” 想一想，這太神奇了，不是嗎？這些基督徒的虔誠與日俱增，沒有什麼可說的了。他們信了耶穌，並被奇妙地改變了，他們在生活中應用這樣的委身奉獻是自然和不可避免的。沒有什麼可說的了！

今年夏天，讓我們把為耶穌深化我們的生命作為我們的目標。讓我們忠實於根基，正如我列出的那些。讓我們保持這些屬靈操練的例行公事。讓我們記住神賜給我們的 “工具”。因此，願我們的生命成為基督樣式榮耀的展示，以至於人們所能做的或說就是：”哇！沒什麼好說的了！這些基督徒因耶穌的同在而發光。”

該是換輪胎的時候了。是時候在與耶穌同行中成長了。沒有什麼可說的了。

讓我們禱告.

謝謝你們分享這些靈修。今夏，願你知道神、父、子、聖靈的祝福與你同在。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum