April 1
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11 NIV84)
The words of Philippians 2: 5-11, are known to be very old, possibly the first known "hymn" of the New Testament era church. Despite the fact that these words don't rhyme or sound like a song, it is believed by scholars that they do form a "hymn" from the church of the first century. This "hymn" tells of Jesus, why he did what he did; and about us, what we are to do because of Him. The hymn states that “Jesus emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Later in this "hymn" we are told, ”He humbled himself” (Philippians 2:8). Jesus was not in search of kingly power or rule, nor was he particularly desirous to die as an example to all. He was a humble person. Not a shy person, but a humble one, one who acted in every way as a servant. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, served the communion meal to his followers, broke bread with the sinners and common folk, and visited the sick. He didn’t mind if the people were dirty and unwashed. He didn’t hold back if they had sickness. He was sent by the Heavenly Father to be their servant. He healed and helped, loved and taught. He still serves us. No matter how ugly, or sick, or dirty, or bad we may look, Christ still comes to us.
However, in today’s world, there are few who want to be servants like Him. Leaders are exalted and servants are overlooked. Power players and stars are idolized, while the faithful worker is bypassed. The rich are envied and the poor are shunted aside. Those with power are given special treatment, while those who show true love are maligned. Everyone, it seems, wants to be at the top; some at all costs. Who wants to serve anybody in this world anymore? You?
In a resume, a person may expound on what diplomas and education one has received, or what experience one has obtained. I've yet to see a resume where a person is proud of being a servant to others; maybe an achiever, but not a servant. People are known to say: “You have to sell yourself”, not "You have to humble yourself” like Jesus in the scripture above. In many companies, its the man or woman who neglects his or her family that gets ahead. It is "out of fashion" to be a servant.
In our schools, there is pressure to be part of the “IN” group, on this or that team, or friends with this or that person. Snap Chat, Facebook, and other social media press people to be "liked", not to emulate service to others. Peer pressures push one to strive to be among the best, not with the least. In the school halls, you may hear, “Don’t talk to him, he’s a loser”, “You have to really be a cheerleader to be anything”, or, “Here drink this, you’ll fit in”. It’s difficult for a young person to grow up to be a servant.
Wives, whose husbands already make good money, are going to work, while their newborn children are going off to the day care centers. Who wants to be a stay-at-home mother or father with children anymore? What father would spend time with his child and ignore a “Big game”? A recent article I read stated: "What woman today would want to be "tied down" with a child in today's world?" Serving others, raising children, giving of one's self to others, just doesn't compute.
In Philippians 2:5-11, being a servant is half of what it means to be like Christ. Being obedient to God the Father is the other half of the faithful equation. One may think that Christ was obedient to Himself. He was, in reality, obedient unto death to God the Father. He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing that his death was near, but remained obedient unto death. Sadly, obedience to God these days is often downplayed. Obedience to one’s country, to one’s job, to one’s team, to one’s diet or exercise schedule, all seem to be promoted in this world. Obedience to God the Father just isn’t so "popular" anymore. Some think that they can wait until they are old or sick or dying to begin being obedient to God (if ever).
Jesus, first, humbled himself and took the form of a servant, and second, was obedient to God the Father unto death on the cross. Because of these two things, being a perfect servant and being in perfect obedience, "God has highly exalted Jesus, making his name above every name" (Philippians 2:9). Every knee should bow and every tongue confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord” to the Glory of God the Father. (Philippians 4:10) For all Jesus gave of himself, his humbling and his obedience, Jesus is exalted by the Father in Heaven. It doesn't matter what the world today promotes, God the Father celebrates the service and obedience of HIS Son. God the Father celebrates when we are obedient and when we empty ourselves in humility and serve others.
In the history of the church, people have died because they were willing to call Jesus Christ their Lord. These humble servants lived in obedience to God in Christ. In 155 A.D., Polycarp of Smyrna was a great leader of the church, but hated by authorities. He dared to worship Jesus Christ as Lord. One day during prayer, Polycarp had a dream that he would be burned alive. Three days later, authorities caught him while in prayer, and set him on an ass and lead him into the city. He was ridiculed. The religious leaders pulled him aside, and said to him “Now what harm is there in saying “Lord Caesar” and in offering incense to him and saving yourself?” Polycarp answered, “Eighty-six years I have served Jesus the Christ, and he has done me no wrong, how then can I blaspheme my king who saves me?” “Curse the Christ!”, the authorities said to him. He replied: “NO”. The people built a bonfire around Polycarp, but the fire did not singe him as if he was protected by God. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were sparred from fire in the book of Daniel, so was Polycarp spared. Unable to burn him to death, they killed him with a spear. Polycarp served dozens of churches. He was obedient to God. Jesus was his Lord. The world hated him for it all.
The persecution and laughter and derision never ends when you believe Jesus Christ is Lord, when you obey God the Father and serve God Almighty. I know personally of people in the Middle East, Africa, and China who suffer for belief in these things. In El Salvador during the 1980's and 1990's, the Roman Catholic Church organized and united to reject the suffering of the poor. They spoke out against drug dealers and war. The faithful suffered the same fate as Jesus: persecution. The Roman Catholic Church has reported that more than a dozen priests, a bishop, and five nuns have been murdered. Since 1982, half of the churches have had no leader. In Guatemala, a hundred priests and nuns have been expelled or forced to leave the country by threat. Sixty parishes are without priests. Ten Roman Catholic colleges have been destroyed or closed, three convents and seminaries have been bombed, and countless faithful members have been kidnapped, murdered or have simply disappeared. Do you believe in being a servant anymore? Would you still want to obey Christ with such threats abounding? Will God hear from your lips that “Jesus is Lord”? Will you be "liked" or be faithful?
April 2
“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images. He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down ...he purified Judah and Jerusalem.... Finally, he returned to Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purified the land and the Temple, Josiah appointed [leaders] to repair the Temple of the Lord his God.”
(2 Chronicles 34:1–8 (abridged) NLT)
A man came home from the hospital. When taken to the Emergency Room three days prior, he had lots of problems. They found he had a small stroke. They found problems with his heart rhythm and diabetes. The doctors did the best they could to help the stroke. He began therapy. They taught him how to check his blood sugar and inject insulin. Then, the doctors gave him a warning that he should watch what he eats, how much he eats, and watch his blood sugar throughout the day. The doctors gave him a list of foods he should and shouldn't eat.
When the man walked in the door back home, he and his wife went immediately to the kitchen. They began to clean out the cupboards and the refrigerator. No sugar cookies. No more cakes with icing. The Crispy Cream donuts would have to go. By the time they were done, half a bag of food was taken out to the garbage can, and another half bag was to go to the local food pantry. The man turned to his wife after taking out the garbage bag and said, "What a waste of perfectly good food!" She responded, "You are more important than that food. I find it much harder to live without you. If I have to clean out the refrigerator and cupboards in order to help you live, I'll do whatever it takes."
In your spiritual life, you will find that there are moments when you will have to go through your spiritual life and throw some things out that are bad for you as well. You know that nagging guilt because of a past sin? It will have to be taken to God and cleaned up. You know that nasty habit you have that God has a problem with? That will have to go as well. Do you have bad thoughts about yourself as a person? Time to deal with it. Every so often, you need to take a spiritual inventory, keeping what is spiritually good, and getting rid of those things that don't belong in heart , mind, or soul. Do you have periods of doubt in faith? The book of James says doubt can make you spiritually weaker and drive you to indecision (James 1:6). Is there anger in your heart about a situation you can't change or fix? God says, "Don't let the sun go down still angry." (Ephesians 4:26) You will have to get rid of that anger, giving it over to God. Are there thoughts in your mind that crop up but shouldn't be there? Does Satan put thoughts in your head that manipulate you or deceive you? Do you lie to yourself about something? With all these issues, you may need to let something go, give something up, and cleanse your mind and Spirit from the mess.
Imagine if you never cleaned your house? How would you like living there? How about if you never brushed your teeth? How would you feel talking to people? Stop bathing for a few weeks, and see how you smell! Cleansing is good for the body as well as good for the heart and soul.
In the Old Testament book of Second Chronicles, chapter thirty-four, King Josiah came into power. One of the first things he did was to tear down the places of idol worship and dismantle the altars to other gods. He felt that if the country continued to worship these idols, God would not bless the land. Scripture says here that Josiah purged the evil places where carved poles of idols were set up. He cut to pieces the altars set up to burn incense to other gods. He smashed the idols used to worship foreign gods. By doing these things, he began to purify the land.
When you dirty your mind with addictive pornography or you mess up your life with music and media that promote violence, hatred, envy, jealousy, adultery, and more... there comes a time when spiritually you will become unclean before God. In those times of life, you need to purify, to cleanse, to clean up your spiritual life. Just as people go about opening up the windows and doing spring cleaning after a long cold winter, you may need to open your heart up to God, confess your sins to God, admit your guilt and failings, tell another you are sorry, and generally purify and cleanse your spiritual life. If you've become judgmental toward another or think you are better than others spiritually, you may have to humble yourself and cleanse your heart from bitterness. From time to time in your life this is a healthy habit for you not only physically but spiritually.
Josiah did this spiritual cleaning throughout the land of Judah and then in Jerusalem. He knew that the land was full of impurities, full of people who worshiped other gods, full of sinfulness. He knew it was time to cleanse the land. After tearing down the idols, Josiah moved his attention to the Temple. He had it rebuilt and blessed. He asked for God to come to that holy place again, and dwell with the people in the sanctuary. Josiah knew it had to be done. Usually, before a wound will heal, you've got to first clean out the wound. A spiritual wound is no different.
John had some new friends in school. With those friends came a new stash. He had a hidden stash of drugs in his bedroom that he bought from one of his new friends. His parents, of course, did not know about his new friends let alone the stash. He kept the stash for himself, to use when his parents were away, to take with him to parties. At one party he attended, most of the people were using drugs. The police came and broke up the party. He was arrested for underage drinking, but he had dumped the drugs before he was caught. On the drive home from the police station, John's father said, "OK, I think its about time you come clean. What have you been doing? And who were you doing it with?" John lied through his teeth. He'd never told his father anything true, whatsoever.
So many of us have our stash of something. It might be in a closet. It might be on the computer. It might be hidden in our mind, or buried in our thoughts. We have hidden thoughts, a hidden past, a hidden fear, a hidden sin. God wants you to come clean. God wants you to throw away those things that you know HE doesn't want in your life and to cleanse your life from things that are no good for your body, mind, or soul. Are you going to come clean? Are you going to hold on to your hidden sin?" Josiah found that the only way to live with himself was to purify the land. The only way God would come back to his life was to get rid of those things that were against God. If you find that your life is off-track, or your prayers are just falling flat, or your time with God is not blessing you, maybe its because there's something in your life you have to clean up first: a mess that needs some tending to. Do you need to come clean about something? God is waiting. Isn't it about time?
April 3
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)
There can be times in life when we think there is no way out for us. We can look at a situation and it looks hopeless. Some years ago, an unemployed worker from Germany who was thirty-one years old read a pamphlet at an optometrist's office about AIDS that told all about the disease. The man determined from the enclosed list that had all of the symptoms. He had messed around with drugs in his life, and was convinced by the pamphlet that he had AIDS. He didn't want his wife and kids to suffer with the disease. He knew that based on the time he was infected, they would be too. He didn't want anyone to know he had caused the destruction of his family. He didn't want to be ostracized from his friends and ridiculed by his neighbors because of the deadly disease, so he told no one about his diagnosis. He worried himself silly about the future. One night, when everyone in the family was asleep peacefully, he strangled his wife and 4 year old daughter. He suffocated his two year old son. He then killed himself. Later, police found out that the man did not even have AIDS. If only he would have taken that blood test. The man thought his only way out was to kill himself and his family. There was another way. He didn't see it.
There is a verse from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians that talks about finding a way out in tough times in life. Verse thirteen from the scripture reading above is that verse. For this meditation, I will concentrate on only that one verse. Why? Because I believe this one verse is so important that an entire sermon can easily be built around its meaning and intention.
I Corinthians 10:13 begins with these words... "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man." Paul, in talking to the people in the church at Corinth, wanted them to know that everyone is tempted in some way in life. Temptations are a part of the life of human beings. Some think God tempts us, but the book of James tells us that God never tempts anyone (James 1:13). But while God does not tempt us, the devil does tempt us. In Matthew 4, Jesus is tempted by the Devil in the wilderness to give up on God the Father in Heaven and to serve the Devil. As Jesus was tempted, so are we. Every human being is tempted. Usually you are tempted by those things you want most. When Jesus was in the wilderness with no food or water, the devil was sure to offer Jesus food to tempt him. Maybe you are tempted by the lures of money. Maybe by the trappings of illicit sex or drugs, maybe by success or power. Maybe your pride or ambition or jealousy is what tempts you. Temptations are a part of our world. A dangerous part. You see, when you are tempted, and yousuccumb to those temptations, the consequences can really cost you.
But God has not given you over to the Devil to be tempted beyond your strength. God looks out for you. In verse thirteen above, it goes on to say that "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." Though you are tempted, though there are temptations in all of life, though those temptations can cost you dearly if you succumb to them, though Satan loves to tempt you, you are not as a person of real faith given over to temptation. God is faithful. God looks out for you. God will not let you be tempted beyond your strength. God will help you endure, make it through. God will provide for you a way.
Now, I want you to read this verse very closely. It says that God will not let "You be tempted beyond your strength." Who is YOU? It's not just anybody. Paul was writing to the Corinthian church. Those who are in a relationship with God will be the ones that God keeps an eye on. The faithful are the ones who God will be watching over. They are the ones to whom Paul speaks in this verse. They are the ones who will not be tempted beyond their strength. God will, in the moment of temptation, give the truly faithful a way out.
God cares when faithful people are tempted by evil. God knows our pain and hurt. God knows that inside of us there is this fight to do what is right and to be lured by all those nice goodies of this world. God cares when we are tempted. Jesus knew what it was like to be tempted. He knew the suffering of the mind caused by the cares of this world. Thankfully, God gives you a way out of temptation always. When temptation comes upon you, God will be there with the way of escape, that way out.
What does it mean that God will give you a way of escape when you are tempted? It doesn't mean that when things get tough in life God will give you a way out so that you never have to face hard decisions. You will still have to deal with problems and realities and mistakes. God will help you to face those failures, make amends, and work things out. Though this may be difficult, God will make it right. God's way out may not be easier on your pride or easy to do. It is just God's way to do it right.
I am reminded of the Pastor who made too many appointments and had too much work for the week. Time came to prepare for the sermon. He said to himself, "I'll trust that the Lord will bring me through." He went to sleep without studying, without opening one book. The next day, his sermon was disjointed and rambling. Even his wife said, "Honey, what was wrong?" The pastor was upset and prayed to God, "God, I trusted in you. i relied on you. I asked for you to make it happen." For days, he was upset with God. Then one afternoon, his child came home from school with a bad grade. The father was disappointed and asked why she did so poorly. After hearing her excuses, he shouted at her, "You should've studied." At that moment, a great light came on in his head. It was as if a light bulb was turned on in there. He grew quiet, because he knew it was God saying to him, "You, pastor, should have studied." Though God provides a way out when you are tempted, he does not help you to shirk your responsibilities. You must still do what is right in HIS eyes.
In those moments of temptation, if you are one of his faithful ones, expect that God is working out a way for you to make it through. In those difficult moments in life, God already has a plan. All you need to do is see His plan and act upon it. Through prayer and study, through knowing God and God's ways, through talking to other faithful people, you will be able to see which way to go. God will show it to you. When life gets tough, when temptations arise, when there are difficulties abounding, look for God's hand and way. Expect HIM to be working for you. Why? Isn't it yet obvious how HE loves you?
A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, "I should have one of the parachutes, because I have a wife and four children." So he took one and jumped. The computer whiz said, "I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me." So he took one and jumped. The minister turned to the Boy Scout and with a sad smile said, are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute and I'll go down with the plane." The Boy Scout said, "Relax, Reverend. the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!"
When you are in dangerous, threatening, frightening, humbling, or hurting situations in life: SEEK GOD. When these come, God will always provide a way through the mess. When you are tempted to fall away, to fall flat on your face and fail, HE will be there. No, that doesn't mean God will always make sure there are enough parachutes on board, or make sure someone forgets and takes a knapsack. What it does mean is that whoever is of God will always be given a way to make it, even if death. With Jesus came a way out of sin, it's called forgiveness. With Jesus came a way out of death, it's called heaven. With Jesus came a way out of worldliness, it's called righteousness. God always provides a path. Can you see it today?
April 4
“Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he (Jesus) was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.” (Mark 15:43–47 NIV)
There once was this turntable bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day, the bridge sat perpendicular with train tracks, allowing ships to pass freely on both sides. But at certain times each day a train would come along, and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river allowing the train to cross. A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place before the train crossed.
One evening, as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day, he looked off into the distance through the dimming twilight and caught sight of the signals. Then, he heard the train in the distance. He waited until the train was within a prescribed distance when he was to turn the bridge into position. At the precise time, he turned the bridge, but to his horror, found that the locking control malfunctioned. If the bridge was not locked into position securely, it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train came onto it. This would cause the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This last train was a passenger carrier with many people aboard. He left the shack, and hurried across to the other side of the river where there was a lever he could use to operate the lock manually.
After running across the bridge to reach the far lock, he could hear the rumble of the train coming closer. He took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man's strength. Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack he heard a sound that made his blood run cold: "Daddy, where are you?" His four year old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run, run!" but the train was too close, and the little boy's legs would not make it across the bridge in time The man almost lifted the lever to run and snatch up his son, and carry him to safety, but he realized he could not get back to the lever in time. Either the people on the train or his little son must die. He took just a moment to make his decision. The train sped swiftly and safely on it's way, and no one aboard was aware of the tiny, broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the rushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of a sobbing man still clinging tightly to the lever long after the train had passed. They didn't see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked to tell his wife how he had sacrificed her son.
Now if you can comprehend the feelings which went through this switchman's heart, you can understand the feeling of our Heavenly Father when he sacrificed his Son to bridge the gap between you and eternal life. How does He feel when you speed along through life without giving a thought to what was done for you through his Son, Jesus Christ? Can there be any wonder that God the Father caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His only Son died? The Heavenly Father sent Jesus to be a bridge for you between life and heaven, a bridge to cross from faithless to faithful. He sent Jesus to make a difference in this world, but this Son of God was killed by the hands of men.
Throughout history, we see over and over how innocent people get killed. In Iraq, innocent Kurds were killed in order to get control of their territories. In ISIS-held lands, Yazidis were killed off or sold into slavery. In Bosnia, Moslems were killed in ethnic cleansing. In Africa, a warlord kept UN food on the docks while innocent people starved to death. Throughout history, innocents have suffered and died. Their memories fade with time for us... but not for God the Father. His only begotten Son, Jesus, was sent as an innocent ambassador to teach us how to be faithful. For this, he was put to death. He is numbered among the innocents who have suffered and died in our world. Jesus was even placed in a tomb that was not his own. How is it that the greatest gift to humankind did not even have a tomb? We are told in the gospel of Mark above that after Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body of Jesus. He took Jesus’ body and buried him in a family tomb. Joseph wanted Jesus to be buried as a good man, in hallowed ground.
Just this week, I read again of the unmarked graves of 1500 people in Northern Iraq who were murdered to silence their voices. Just like Jesus, there are people with unmarked graves, buried to hide the murders, buried because they were forgotten by others, buried in unmarked graves. Each week it seems, we have another body that is found, a child who disappeared, a woman never came home from work, and bones are discovered. Our world is not safe for the innocent.
You are a faithful Christian! Your job is like that of Joseph. You must watch over innocent people and seek the truth if they are abused, neglected, or murdered. You do not look past the poor, the needy, the destitute. You remember what they did to Christ, and desire to watch over the innocents of our world. You strive to be just and righteous as an example to your Lord.
Not far from where I grew up, construction workers were digging up an area for a water expansion project. As the backhoe was digging a ditch for piping, the workers noticed something come up in the bucket. They stopped the machine and went to examine. There, they found a coffin. The lid had been nailed shut. Inside, was a man who was now only a skeleton. What was in the coffin shocked them. They saw on the inside top of the coffin, on the nailed cover, that there were claw marks. The man had been buried alive. Many believe the man was knocked unconscious by a thief or enemy, then buried in the box, nailed in, and covered with dirt before he could wake up. The killers thought the man’s coffin would never be found and opened. They were wrong. God knew he was there. Nobody knows the name of that poor man, except God. God knows who tried to cover up the man’s death. God knows who tried to seal the coffin and hide the evidence. God's eyes don’t miss anything.
When Joseph sealed the tomb of Jesus, there were some who thought... "Well that’s the end of the Jesus problem." They were wrong. God knew where Jesus was laid. God knew which tomb held the Son. God was not about to let Him lay in that tomb forever. God was going to roll that stone away.
Everything that evil people do in secret, God knows. I also know that God gets even one way or another. When people pronounced Jesus would die, God made it so He would not die forever. God will have the last word. Don’t begin to think you can ever hide your sin, cover it up, or bury it. It will come back to haunt you. You must come to God, and seek repentance. God will not stand for you to hurt others or yourself. If you cause unrighteous suffering or death, God will turn against you. God always watches over the innocents, the hurting, the truthful, the honest, the faithful. God keeps a record of right and wrong.
The tomb was not the end of Jesus’ life, because God the Father was with Him. And just as God will right the wrong of Jesus’ death, so God will right the wrongs in your life, and in the lives of innocent people everywhere. God requires you to speak the truth, to look out for the needy, to watch over especially the innocent of our world. God will want you to care for those who need Him or need justice. Joseph of Arimathea took care of Jesus' body after death. God will take care of yours, too. In the meantime, who will God require you take care of? What soul will he send you to care for today? How can you pray for, help, or watch over an innocent person today?
April 5
“Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.”
(Matthew 23:1–7 RSV)
If you read through chapter 23 of Matthew in its entirety, you will find that over and over the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus day were condemned by our Lord. Jesus calls them "hypocrites" no less than six times in the chapter (verses 13,15,23, 25, 27,29). He also calls them "blind guides” in verse sixteen, and “blind men” several times. Their being blind or blind guides suggests that they do not know how to lead God's people. He railed against them further calling them serpents, a bunch of snakes, and hell-bound all in verse thirty-three of this chapter. You might think that the Pharisees and scribes were overly bad people based on these figures. They were not. They were very religious people. It's just that they failed to do one major thing. They failed to live out God’s word in their daily lives. In Jesus' word they did not put into "practice what they preached."
Matthew 23 begins with Jesus saying to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat." Based on the book of Exodus, Moses seat was the place of judgment in the Jewish community. It was the place where Moses judged court cases. From that seat, Moses helped teach the people about God's will and judge cases of conflict between God's people. In Jesus' day, the Pharisees and scribes had essentially taken Moses' place on the judgment seat. They were to decide fairly according to God's word, just as Moses did centuries before. They were religious leaders of Jesus' era. In Jesus' eyes, their purpose was to lead the people to follow God. That is what they were supposed to do, but they did not do it well. Oh yes, they were religious, but Jesus went on to say this about them: "practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach but do not practice." (Matthew 23:3) The Pharisees and scribes did preach, but they themselves did not practice what they preached.
Not practicing what you preach is common to all generations.
In 1989, in Harlingen Texas, Dan Henderson was on the city desk when a man dropped by the office and said that he was from Cleveland, Ohio. His name was Don Richards. He was visiting the Valley. He was crusading there and everywhere "to encourage more motorists to use their safety belts." He said that his wife had been killed in a comparatively minor car accident because she did not have her lap strap buckled. Mr. Richards said, 'You newspaper people should do more to encourage the proper use of seat belts." One year later, the newspaper received word from Cleveland that Crusader Don Richards was himself involved in a head-on car crash on a rural road. His head went through the windshield and he died. State Police say he was not wearing his seat belt.
In Jesus' day, the scribes and Pharisees had a bad reputation among many of the people. Jesus tells us here in this scripture some of the ways they too didn't practice what they would preach.... " They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men …. and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues…" (Matthew 23:4-7) By these words, Jesus suggested that the religious leaders and people of the day wanted to be seen as religious people in the community, but they were not willing to do what a godly person would do. They told other people to follow the law and do what it required, even if that burden was heavy, even if the sentence was harsh. When it came to their own sin, they were overly lenient. They were not required to do many difficult things. In a sense, they looked good but did not practice that goodness. They looked holy, but really were not. They acted religious but they did not practice what they preached. They were, as Jesus called them: hypocrites.
The book of Proverbs has a very important verse we all should memorize: "Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." (Proverbs 26:12) The Pharisees really thought they were religious in their own eyes. They were wrong, weren't they? It was so obvious to Jesus, why couldn't they see it? What kind of people were those Pharisees and scribes to be blind to their own hypocrisy? Yet you and I are probably guilty of the same. So often, you and I don't even see our own failings. Do you realize when you don't practice what you preach?
There are many people who exhibit hypocrisy. After worship, a father told me it was terrible that people don't help the homeless. He said, and I quote, "What's wrong with those people who don't help the poor?" I happen to know that same father didn't even notice it when his own child needed psychological help. The same woman who might complain about a neighbor who wastes her money might be found with forty or more pairs of shoes. The father who gets angry at his son for hanging around friends who are a bad influence may forget when he and his friends were detained by police for bad behavior. A man was overheard complaining about the amount of time his family spent in front of the television and computer. His children watched too many cartoons and neglected their schoolwork. His wife watched too many soap operas and was on Facebook all day long. His solution was told to the family, "As soon as the baseball season's over, I'm going to pull the plugs on the TV and computers."
This meditation might be for the man who said that God was important, but was never at church to show others who he believes in. It might be for the woman who said, “I love you”, but doesn’t show it. It might be for the mother who calls herself a Christian, but spends more time each week shopping than doing anything for God. It might be for the young person who sings in church on Sunday, but abuses alcohol on Wednesday.
Today, I want you to consider just who Jesus intended this scripture for. Be careful, you might find that this meditation wasn’t only for someone else. It was for you. Why is that?
April 6
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak...”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1–7 RSV)
The family just witnessed their precious mother die. I was the Chaplain on duty at the time. It was a tough moment. I tried to comfort them in Christian love. She was only 37. Cancer killed her. She left two children behind, both girls less than ten years old. They didn't understand what was happening. The father cried non-stop while I was in the room. He was numb. While we were trying to cope with that young mother's death, an old uncle walked into the room. He was a little too boisterous, and I knew he was going to say something wrong. He did. He turned to the man who just lost his wife and said, "Everybody's got to die sometime, right?" I cringed. Yes, he was right. Everybody has to die sometime, but you don't tell that to a man who just lost his wife!! Bad timing.
In my ministry, there have been a hundreds of moments when people said something or did something at the wrong time. In each situation, it messed everything up. The wedding of two young people, I will never forget. As pastor, I enjoyed the festivities before their wedding. The two loved each other. They were good kids. They had their whole lives ahead of them. It was a special day - one I know now they'd never forget. During the rehearsal, I found out that one set of parents was divorced. The mother didn't want the father invited to the wedding. At the rehearsal, the tension was palpable. The mother chastised the father during the rehearsal a number of times. At one point, she said, "He shouldn't be here. He deserted us. He fooled around on me. He's a sad example of a father."
This feud between the divorced parents put a damper on the whole wedding. The bride and groom couldn't enjoy the day, both worrying when a fight would break out. The mother was right. The father had fooled around on her. She was right: he was a bad example for a father. Still, there's a time to say that and a time to shut up. The wedding was the absolutely wrong time for her to remind us all of this. She ultimately ruined the wedding.
Some people don't understand that there's a time to do things and a time not to do them. There's a time to say something and a time to keep your mouth closed. The Old Testament long ago recognized this fact. In Ecclesiastes, we find some famous words to support it: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Everything has a season or a right time. There is a time to do things and a time not to do them. Our scripture lists some of the times of life. It begins with the boundaries in life: "There is a time to be born, and a time to die;" (Ecclesiastes 3:2) There is “a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;” Farmers have long known this one. There is ...” a time to kill, and a time to heal;” (Ecclesiastes 3:3). In Hebrew this verse can also be interpreted as ”There is a time to destroy and a time to heal.” There is "a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance… a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.." (Ecclesiastes 3:4-5) Ultimately, each and every one of these verses is clear that timing is everything and that timing is crucial to many things in life. If your timing is off, things might not go so well for you.
In the list of times and seasons here in Ecclesiastes 3, one timing is key for me today. There is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;” (Ecclesiastes 3:7) It's hard to know when to keep silent and when to speak. Quiet people never say enough. They hold things inside. They miss opportunities to say the right thing to someone who needs to hear it. You never quite know what they think. Wonderful ideas are held back when they should be shared. When it comes to talking of Christ, many quiet people never say anything to a neighbor or friend about what they believe. When a wrong is being done, they will not speak up or defend what is right. On the other hand, there are noisy people! They may love to hear themselves talk. They don't know when to shut up! They might talk in church, speak out of turn, or be the ones who talk all during a movie at the theater! They will be the ones who butt in on conversations or dominate them. They might talk about God all the time "ad nauseum", seeming overly self-righteous. All these quiet and boisterous people should remember that there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak.
But this verse is even more important for everyone. When you are in a fight with your spouse, it’s not the time to talk about what you want for Christmas! In the midst of an interview for a new job, don't grumble about all your previous employers. When you just had your first accident with your parents car, it probably is the wrong time to ask your parents about taking a road trip with your friends for spring break! And when you just brought home a report card full of bad grades, its probably not a good time to ask for a higher allowance. Even such phrases as "I love you" or "I'm sorry" can be said at the wrong time (or the wrong way at the right time!)! Many of us could benefit from taking Ecclesiastes 3:7 to heart. There’s a time to speak and a time to just be quiet (even when in a relationship with God!).
Do you do things and say things at the right time? Romans 5:6 says that "at the right time, Jesus died for the ungodly." Even Jesus was doing things at the perfect time. There is a right time for everything under heaven as these verses speak. You've got to know when that right time is to say or do something. Are you impatient? Do you act impulsively? Or do you wait too long and procrastinate? Through prayer, you will know when it’s the right time for what God wants. If you listen to Him, the answers are there. Wait for God's time to be right.
One day, while in prayer, I thought of a friend. I didn't know why this her name popped into my head. The more I thought about her, the less I found myself able to pray. Finally, I gave up praying and knew God wanted me to do something. I went to the phone and called this woman from my church just to check on her. Only a minute into the call, she said, "You know, I just got some bad news. I was kind of upset. I feel like talking." We talked for an hour. Later, she told me how that phone call came at the perfect time. So often, God does that for me. At the right time, God plants a bug in my ear and things just fall into place. When you follow God's timing, you are given the right situation to accomplish just what is needed.
If there is anything in these verses for you to hold onto, please remember God's timing. There is a time for everything under heaven. Find the right time, God's time, for something to be done. God always has a right time for everything. If there is something bothering you today, something that has you hurt or anxious or angry, give it to God. In God’s time, things will be made right.
Time goes by so quickly. Time slips through our fingers. God's timing can also slip away if you fail to act upon it. Choose your time wisely. What needs your attention today? Is God waiting for something from you? Is it time to make something right? Is it time to change things? Timing is everything.
April 7
“You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them; that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out. And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them... I am the Lord your God, who have separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean.... You shall be holy to me; for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” (Leviticus 20:22–26 RSV)
In the book of Leviticus, we have various priestly laws. Though they are called priestly laws, priests were not the only ones required by God to follow these laws. Both priests and people had to keep these commands. They were given by God to Moses according to tradition. These laws were and are central to the Jewish faith from ancient days until today. Jesus practiced these laws, trusting in God's commandments.
Nestled in these laws in Leviticus is a demand of God I want to highlight today. In Leviticus 20, Moses tells the people that whether they are in the promised land or the wilderness, wherever they are, they are to fulfill this command of God: "You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them … you shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I hated them." (Leviticus 20:22-23) God here requires that the Israelites NOT follow the ungodly morals, ethics, and ways of the unfaithful in the places where they live. They are to follow God's commands and customs; follow God’s rules and God’s law.
The Israelites were thus required to be different from those who lived by other worldly traditions and methods. They had to live God's way. As the scripture says later.... "I am the LORD your God, who have separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean… You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine." (Leviticus 20:24-26) Essentially, to be truly faithful, you cannot follow other gods, other religious traditions, and ungodly customs. God made the faithful a holy people. They are to follow God's ways before the ways of this world; holy to God alone.
To understand these verses, you need to know what it means to be holy. In our scripture, the word for "holy" in Hebrew is. . ."kadosh". "Kadosh" comes from the root "kadash" meaning set apart and separate. To be holy, "kadosh", means to be set apart for Godly reasons, "kadash". For example, an altar is set apart for worship; it is thus holy, separate, "kadosh". If you think about it, YOU can even be "kadosh", holy, set apart for God's work. It is no surprise to me that the Hebrew word for sanctuary is "kedesh", which means a place set apart for worship, a holy place to seek God.
Whenever you find in our Bible the word holy, it means set apart, different, set aside for God's use. There are no exceptions to this meaning of "holy" in our Bible. To be holy, you too must be set apart, different, Godly. Our scripture for today makes this clear when in two places God tells the people to be separate from the people around them who are not holy. It says," I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples," and also…"You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine." When God wants something to be holy, He sets it apart, expects it to be special and different from everything else. That includes you. You can be holy, set apart for God’s purpose.
You might be thinking. "I’m not holy. Do I look holy? I’m not good enough to be holy!" If you are thinking these things today, you better reconsider. You see, the scripture doesn’t say YOU PICK who and what is holy. GOD PICKS what is holy and set apart for His work. Notice, God says here in our verses... “I have separated you from other people so that you should be mine.” God has called you in a special way and has set you apart to be holy. It is up to you to show forth the holiness God has put around and within you.
When God calls us and we offer ourselves to Him, he sets us aside as holy, special, sacred, set apart from everything else in creation. He guards us with angels, talks with us in prayer, marks us for heaven. We are forever special to God. Exodus 33:17 even tells us that when you accept God's will and ways, God will then know your name. God will know where you are and who you are. But all these promises hinge on your following the command in Leviticus 20, our scripture for today.
If you read the command in Leviticus, it is clear that to follow God's command, you must remain different from those who are not of God. You are not, as our scripture says, "to be like the other people" in the world. It tells us clearly in verse 23 that. . . . "you shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting out before you." Sadly, churches and church people today are more worldly than holy. The church has become a product of our world. I know churches that are more interested in making good investments than caring for the homeless. I know churches that are more concerned with getting the membership numbers up than concerned with their members living faithfully. There are some churches whose youth programs consist only of pizza parties, lock-ins, and camps, but during those events there is seldom a discussion of true faith. So too, sports programs in churches have always been popular. But how many times have those sports teams prayed together or shared the faith with those at the games? In all too many churches, programs have replaced the gospel. In so many cases, the church is like the world in most every way. It is not holy.
Do you act just like everyone else? Are others able to discern whether or not you are a Christian? How often I have talked about members of my church only to be told, "I never knew they went to church much. Never saw them as the churchgoing type." You are to be different, special, holy. Can others see this in you?
The world will teach you to climb over others in the ladder of success. It will teach you to do whatever it takes to get whatever you need. It will tell you that you deserve more, better, faster. In some cases our world is saying work is more important than your family. In the world, success is more important than compassion; power is more important than peace; money is much more important than love. OK, that's what our world says. Doesn't God say something different? Are you worldly or godly, secular or holy?
A number of years ago, a fifth grade teacher was accused and found guilty of violating the First Amendment by our U.S. Supreme Court. This teacher did not keep the "Separation of Church and State" clause because he put a Bible on his desk at school. Our country preaches to us that we must adhere to the ways of this world. Sometimes, in order to be a Christian, you will act differently, live differently than the world (I hope and pray!). Jesus knew this, and said, "I am not of this world."(John 8:23) You are different, special, holy, separate from the ways of this world, set aside for God's glory.
God wants you to be holy. At some time in your life, God will call you to stand up against an ungodly world. Will you change your life to follow God’s ways? Today, God is giving you a chance to remain holy, to become holy, or to be holy. God is wanting to see how you will answer that call.
April 8
“And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me; my radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in a deep sleep with my face to the ground. And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, give heed to the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.” (Daniel 10:7–12 RSV)
One of the beatitudes in our Bible states, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”(Matthew 5:5) Upon hearing this verse, a confirmand once asked me, “Who is meek?” That was a good question.
If we look at the beatitude "Blessed are the meek…", the greek word used in this sentence for "meek" is "Praus". This word means to be meek, humble, gentle, considerate or unassuming. People who are gentle with others are meek. Those who are prideful are the antithesis of meek people, for they are humble. Meek Christians don’t look out for themselves, they look out for others. The meek person will do the right thing even if it costs him or her dignity or honor. People who are meek seek to do God’s will even if uncomfortable. Meek people consider the needs of others, looking out for the poor or disadvantaged. They reach out to help the marginalized. They notice the young girl who can't dance and the kid who’s too shy to join the game. People who are meek not only bless others, they are blessed by God.
In the book of Daniel, we hear about the prophet Daniel and his stand for the truth. Daniel would not bow down before the idol of Nebuchadnezzar. He would not eat what the king wanted him to eat. He worshiped a God who was all but forbidden in the empire. Because Daniel was so steadfast and strong-willed, you might see him as a self-serving kind of guy. In fact, Daniel was meek. He was humble.
One day, as Daniel was praying, he saw a vision of someone like an angel. Daniel was afraid of the powerful figure. The men with Daniel went and hid themselves. Daniel bowed, giving respect to the angel. As he knelt before the angel, the Angel touched him, and said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you ...Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” (Daniel 10:12) The angel then spoke of all that would happen in the future of God’s people.
Did you notice what that angel said to Daniel? “Daniel since the first day you sought to gain understanding and humbled yourself before God, your prayers were heard.” I have been asked, “Pastor Dave, does God hear my prayers?” Well this verse answers that question. If you, like Daniel, seek to gain understanding of God and humble yourself before God, your prayers will be heard. God looks out for those who seek Him and are humble before Him. They are meek. They show consideration and respect for others and ultimate consideration and respect before God. God notices faithful people like Daniel.
Think about it. God sent an angel to Daniel. God knew where Daniel lived. He knew Daniel was meek and humble. God knew Daniel wanted to be faithful. God knew all these things. How is it with millions of people on this earth at the time, God knew Daniel? How is it that the angel knew Daniel’s name? God knows the names of those who desire Him. God knows who seeks Him. God knows who stands up for Him. God knows who is meek. God knows where the faithful live.
Meekness characterizes those who serve the Lord, but not the unfaithful. Some people are overly concerned with who gets the credit. They want to look better than others. They shout to be heard. They like the spotlight. They gather "likes" and "followers" on social media. The prophet Daniel was like none of these. His purpose was to give God the glory. His hope was to be faithful through the tests of this life so that others may know God more completely. It is no surprise that God knew his name. It is not shocking to me that an angel visited him. I see it as God’s blessing that because Daniel was meek and humble, because Daniel wanted to understand God, because Daniel remained steadfast in faith during troubled times, God would know where he lived.
Are you meek, or do you like to get the glory? Do you like the praise of others, or do you like the praise of God? If you are meek, others may not know your name, but God will. Others may not see your true greatness, but God will bless your life for all those acts of godly love.
I once knew of a woman who visited a hospital each week. For years she visited those with cancer. Then, one day, she did not show up. The hospital administrator called the volunteer office to ask where she was, as patients were asking for her. The volunteer office knew the woman well, but they didn’t know her name or address! Weeks later, the hospital discovered that the woman had died from cancer herself. In memory of her great devotion, they named the cancer wing after her. In that hospital is a plaque dedicated to her with a sign that reads, “For complete devotion to helping others, for a humbleness that set her apart, for years of serving the sick and dying, she is remembered.” Even when the hospital staff didn’t know her, God knew her. She was an example to God. She was meek. She sought to know God. God knew where she lived.
Today, remember that God is to get the glory for your works of faith. You just be faithful. God will be true. Be meek and humble before Him, seek Him, and HE will remember your name. .... always and forever.
April 9
“After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves..... Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town. .......He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” .....[Jesus said] "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”” (Luke 10:1–20 RSV abridged)
Among many Christians is the belief that Jesus had only twelve disciples. In fact, there were many disciples of Jesus. While it is true that the twelve disciples were the closest to Him, Jesus had many disciples who followed Him and listened to His teaching. In Luke, chapter 10, for example, we find Jesus sending out seventy of his disciples into the country two by two. You may wonder why Jesus sent these seventy disciples out in pairs. You can cover twice as much territory if you send each one in a different direction or to a different town. It might seem more efficient to send the seventy on separate missions, but Jesus knew better. He knew that His followers needed companions of the faith on their journey. God created you to work and live best in company with others. You may think you can be happy doing everything in life by yourself, but that is a lie. In the book of Genesis, Adam was lonely without another person to share the creation. God made Eve as a helpmate for him.
You only need to live a short time to understand that everybody needs someone to be there, to share the journey of life, to have company during the trials and tribulations and joys of life. A philosopher once said, "No man is an island unto himself" It is true. We all need someone beside us. In the history of war, when someone was to be tortured, that person was often put into solitary confinement. They were not allowed to socialize with another person. They were deprived of human contact. The very process itself seems inhumane. Don't you realize that you were created to work beside other people of God?
Some have suggested that when you have Christ living in your heart, you are never alone. God will always be with you. That's true. However, we all desire a faithful friend beside us, supporting us. God made us that way. You need a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. It's not that God can't do this for you. It's that God will always send someone to help you through life when the need is great, someone to stand beside you and with you. That person may be a friend, a spouse, a child. It can change at different times of your life.
If you think that you can best worship alone, pray alone, be faithful only while alone, you don't know much about the spiritual life. You always will need others to be with you, even if they aren't. The apostle Paul shared his missions with Timothy and Titus and Luke (Acts 16:3). David, son of Jesse, had a best friend, Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:23) who saved his life. Moses had Aaron to help with the chores of leadership (Exodus 4:14ff).
An experiment on babies occurred during the Nazi era of Germany. The researchers cared completely for each child, offering every need except one. The infants were denied human touch. One by one, the children died. They concluded that human beings are social creatures who long for the love of others. We have a basic need to share ourselves and our world with others in God's name. Even Jesus had the disciples!
It was especially important in our scripture reading for today that Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, because of what they would encounter. Serving Jesus was not easy. Jesus said, "Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." (Luke 10:3) He meant that in the world, those who stand up for the faith may at times feel they are being attacked by the wolves of this world. There are unbelievers who hate Christians. There are those who would jail you for speaking about your faith. Some will make fun of you. Some may torment you. Who would want to be alone when all this suffering occurs?
Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, teach, heal, and pass on the faith. With that mission, came a big warning: He told the disciples they may not be welcomed. There might whole towns who might reject the faithful. (Luke 10:10, 13-15) This doesn't sound too comforting, does it? With the odds against them, Jesus still gave the disciples two strengths. First, he sent the disciples together in groups of two. Second, Jesus promised spiritual power. He told the disciples: "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:19,20)Jesus was going to protect His disciples on their way.
You are given missions by God as well. And the same dangers that faced those seventy disciples will face you. There will be those who reject you. There will be those who won't have faith. Satan will challenge you. The odds will be against you. You will have to love your enemies, pray for those who reject you, love those who are difficult to love, and challenge all to believe. There will always be skeptics, who doubt and ridicule your faith. God won't hold you back to protect you like an overprotective parent. God sends you out to share the faith you have. God gives you words to say. God gives you power to heal and to teach, to save and to help. Jesus goes with you on this journey of life. So too,God makes sure that others will be there to walk this faith walk with you. You are given the same promises as those disciples in these pages of the Bible.
When the seventy disciples returned from their mission trip, they shared their stories. To Jesus they said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." (Luke 10:17) With faith, comes the power to overcome evil and change the lives of others.
Gladys Aylward, missionary to China more than fifty years ago, was forced to flee when the Japanese invaded Yangcheng. She could not leave her work behind. With only one assistant, she led more than a hundred orphans over the mountains toward Free China. In the book, The Hidden Price of Greatness, the authors tell what happened: "During Gladys's harrowing journey out of war-torn Yangcheng ... she grappled with despair as never before. After passing a sleepless night, she faced the morning with no hope of reaching safety. A 13-year-old girl in the group reminded her of their much-loved story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea.
"But I am not Moses," Gladys cried in desperation.,
"Of course you aren't," the girl said, "but God is still God!"
It was a frightening number of days before they all made it to safety, but they did make it. When Gladys and the orphans made it through, they proved once again that no matter how inadequate we feel, God is still God. We can trust in Him and His true followers beside us on the journey of faith.
In this world, there will be times of trial and despair. If you are a true Christian, you are called to face these woes and overcome them. Despite great odds, you are given special dispensation by God. God will put others beside you to help carry the load. All you have to do is find them. God will also put special spiritual powers in you to help, to heal, and to save. And finally, Satan will have no power over you, because the Heavenly Father will make sure His son Jesus is with you. God knows you will all have great odds to overcome in your life. But God makes sure you are prepared. So, as you go back into your life today, realize you are not even close to being alone. You have great powers of the Spirit given by God. Together, we will fight evil and share in the power of God's Word.
April 10
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:1–11, RSV)
A group of four year olds were gathered in a Sunday School class in Chattanooga. The teacher looked at the class and asked this question: "Does anyone know what today is?" A little four-year-old girl held up her hand and said, "Yes, today is Palm Sunday." The teacher exclaimed, "That's fantastic, that's wonderful. Now does anyone know what next Sunday is?" The same little girl held up her hand and said, "Yes, next Sunday is Easter Sunday. Once again the teacher said "That's fantastic. Now, does anyone know what makes next Sunday Easter?" The same little girl responded and said, "Yes, next Sunday is Easter because Jesus rose from the grave" and before the teacher could congratulate her, she kept on talking and said, "but if he sees his shadow ... he has to go back in for seven weeks."(- Ben Haden)
Sometimes, kids don’t relate to the words we say or why we say them. Children hear about things in the Bible , but misinterpret them. Even adults can make mistakes, miss the point, fail to understand.
When the women came to the tomb on Easter morning, they wanted to anoint Jesus’ dead body for burial. Jesus had died just before a holy day, so they had to wait until the holy time was over to anoint his dead body. It was against the Jewish religion to anoint a dead body on a holy day, so, the women waited until early on Sunday morning, Easter morning. They came to the tomb, bringing their spices. When they got there, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. When they went in to investigate, they found the tomb empty. No Jesus. What happened? They didn’t understand? Where was he taken? Why was he taken? Just at the moment when they were looking for Jesus in the tomb, two men (probably two angels) appeared. The angels said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Jesus is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you that he must be handed over to sinners, crucified and rise on the third day? Don’t you remember?"
The women didn’t understand. They came to anoint a dead body, but Jesus wasn’t there. They came to see a dead Savior, but He was alive. They came to see a closed tomb, but they got an open tomb. They came to mourn. They learned to celebrate. Jesus was risen!
At first the women didn’t figure they’d see Jesus alive. They figured he was dead. Sometimes, we are so used to death, we forget about resurrection, about life after death. We can become so focused on the fear of dying that we forget that our hope is to die and go to heaven to be with our Lord. As the angels said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
Libby Weifenbach lost her son Logan on March 26th, 2000. He was killed in a car accident. Libby and her husband Marti mourned terribly their precious son’s death. Then, someone passed them a book to read called “Hello from Heaven”. The book suggested that maybe the couple consider asking for God to send signs that Logan was with Him and that they’d see him again some day. If Logan was in heaven with God, surely God would want Logan’s parents to know, right?
Some of the family friends thought they were crazy when they asked God to show them signs that Logan was with God. But then, Libby wrote: “Our first answered prayer came on February 18th, 2001. Marti hadn’t attended church since Logan’s death, but he said he felt a strong desire to go to church that particular morning. He parked in his usual place, and then suddenly decided to drive to the other side of the building. As he got out of his car and started walking to the front door, he saw a nametag lying on the ground. He almost walked past it when he realized the name “Logan” was printed on the tag. Now, if our son’s name had been Chris or Jim, this might not have meant so much to us, but Logan is not a name we hear every day.”
“The second answer to prayer”, she writes, “came in November 2002. In September, Marti and I had released a balloon in Logan’s memory at the annual Compassionate Friends balloon release. On a Sunday evening in late November, we received a call from Jim Moore of Ozark, Missouri. He had found our balloon! This caught us by surprise as we only signed our name to the note attached to the balloon. He had searched the internet for a way to get in contact with us. Mr. Moore mailed the balloon back to us along with a letter and a map. In the letter, he wrote that he photocopied our original note to Logan and released it in a new balloon. As kind as this gesture was, it was the map that really shook our world. Mr. Moore marked on the map exactly where he and his wife found the balloon. We were shocked to discover than it landed in Christian County, MO on Logan Ridge Road.”
The angel said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Libby and Marti didn’t find Logan in the cemetery but alive with the Lord. Sometimes, we don’t understand the Easter story. We don’t understand why people might think a dead loved one is with God even now. The women came to the tomb looking for a dead prophet. Instead, they found a resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Why come looking for the living among the dead? Jesus had been raised from the dead.
In Bucharest, a Romanian woman fainted when she opened her front door and found her husband standing there. The Romanian weekly, "Tinerama" says it all started when a man named Neagu choked on a fish bone, stopped breathing and collapsed. The family doctor, knowing Neagu's heart condition, didn't think twice about proclaiming the 71-year-old dead of a heart attack. But three days later, gravediggers at the cemetery heard someone knock on wood. They opened Neagu's coffin to find him surrounded by wilted flowers but very much alive. When Neagu arrived home his wife, fearing he was a ghost, barred him from spending nights at home. It took Neagu three weeks to convince the authorities to cancel his death certificate from their registers. (Servant, September 1991, p. 9)
It often seems normal for us to consider a person dead and buried, but we have to be convinced over and over that a man is alive again. So it is with Jesus. Even long ago, there were those who didn’t believe Jesus could be alive. Some even paid sums of money to try and hatch the idea that the disciples came and took Jesus’ body away (Matthew 28:11-15). That’s easier to believe than Jesus rose from the dead, right? Why is it so hard to understand, or believe that Jesus can be living? We think nothing of putting a dead kernel or seed into the ground, knowing it will become alive again. Why is it hard for us to believe that God couldn’t bring life to another type of dead body? God created the sprouting seed, why couldn’t he bring life to a child of God?
My hope today is that you look for signs of the living God... not among the tombs, but in your life. If God is alive, and surely God is, you will see signs of God around you. If Jesus is your Savior and you have committed yourself to Him, you will certainly see signs of his life since he is alive. He can come to you, speak to you, have a place for you in His kingdom. Remember the empty tomb. Listen to the angels. “Jesus is risen. He is not here.” He goes before you. That’s the real Easter message. That’s our hope. That’s God’s power.
April 11
“Six days you are to gather it (manna), but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.” Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” So the people rested on the seventh day.” (Exodus 16:26–30 NIV84)
Let's you and me take some time today for a little heart to heart talk. Would you see it as a problem if people broke the sixth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill", once or twice a month or more? You'd probably look at me like I was crazy! Who would dare break that commandment all the time? I've set you up. You wouldn't think about killing or stealing or committing adultery every month, right? Breaking those commandments would have terrible consequences, right? But in our world, many people break the fourth commandment and do not think a thing of it. The fourth commandment is “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” If you are like most people in America, you've probably broken this commandment in the past month. Ignoring this commandment, some public schools have programs seven days a week with sports tournaments and class functions on Saturdays and Sundays. There are employers who want their workers on the job or on call seven days a week during peak seasons. More and more, our world is filled with business and busy-ness. God gets the "left-overs" of our time and commitment.
From schools to the workplace, people encourage us to break this fourth commandment. We've gotten so used to it in our world, that we don't even feel the guilt of working on the Sabbath. If people got used to killing, this would be a despicable world of violence and death. God doesn’t want that to happen. Still, if people get used to breaking the Sabbath law, this will also be a maddening world of stressed, irritable, and miserable people who don't make time for God. God doesn't want that to happen either. When you haven’t taken time to be with God, when your body isn’t given its due rest; you are prone to make rash mistakes. You will lose objectivity. You will not be able to focus on the priorities of life. It will alter your values.
The book of Exodus contains the history of the Israelites in the wilderness on the way to the promised land. Being led by Moses, the people were hungry in the desert. God provided quail for them to eat. Manna would appear each morning for the people to make bread. Moses gave the people specific instructions about these gifts of food from God. There was more than enough for everyone to eat, so each person was to gather as much as he or she needed (Exodus 16:4). Each day, they did this, except on the sixth day. On the sixth day, they were to gather twice as much. Do you know the reason why? The scripture said, “the seventh day was the sabbath day to the LORD. You will not find any [manna] on the ground [that day]. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.” (Exodus 16:26,27) God required that the people take a day of holy rest each week. It was called the sabbath day. On that day, they were not to do work. They were to ponder holy issues and worship our all-powerful God.
Despite the fact that God gave them enough to eat each day, the Israelites didn’t follow God's rules. They broke the fourth commandment and did not keep the sabbath holy. The scripture tells us, “Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather [the manna], but they found none." (Exodus 16:27) Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out. So everyone rested on the sabbath day.” (Exodus 16:27-30) God was upset that HIS people even attempted to break the sabbath. God made the commandment of the sabbath for a reason. God created you and me and knows that we need holy time each week. HE knows we need to give up work one day a week, or we might become workaholics. We have to make a conscious choice to follow God on the sabbath day, not to follow the boss or to live for money. It’s a day when we show the world that God rules over all of our lives. It is a day we give up for God. We get six days to work; God gets one day to keep us holy and rested and faithful.
If you met Tina, you’d like her right off. She was a lady who loved her family. She was forthright, honest, lovable and gifted. She was also a hard worker who helped to support her family. Tina was married to Mike. Both had been married for five years when Mike’s employer cut his position and demoted him in an effort to save money. To make ends meet, the couple decided that Tina would work more hours and Mike took on a second part-time job on the weekends. It seemed logical, but the plan was deadly. On their days off, Mike or Tina would watch their two young children. They had less and less time to spend with each other. Before all the extra work, the couple would spend Saturday together on a project and spend Sunday morning at worship in church. That happened no more. With all the work and the family, they had no time for God or for down time. On the rare Sundays without work, they’d sleep in. After months of hectic days, the stress kicked in and the two fought more. Tina began to wonder why Mike was never home. She missed their Saturday night dates. But they had to make ends meet, right? Two years later, Mike divorced Tina. The kids practically lived in day care. Mike and Tina were both were very unhappy with their lives.
Tina came to me for counseling after the divorce. She couldn't understand what had gone wrong. She thought it was good for her and Mike to make ends meet by working extra hours and days. She thought they could have worked through it. After listening for a good while, I told her she was breaking the fourth commandment. She failed to set aside holy and personal time in her life. Work had replaced her happiness. Stress had replaced Mike. She, at first, was angry with my diagnosis. She thought the problem was stress. I told her to quit buying expensive things, cut back to six or five days of work, and take time for her and God. Reluctantly, she made some changes. She started to take time off from work and began going to church again. At first, she felt guilty taking time off. It felt wrong. In time, Tina finally began to feel the stress easing as she met with God each week. She began to feel peace again. She felt better about herself. She was able to observe how neglecting the sabbath cost her a marriage, added much stress to her life, and took a great toll on her kids. All her problems were not traced back to Mike’s loss of income. The problems went back to the decision to replace God’s time with work time.
When we break the fourth commandment by failing to take a day to relax and to give to God, we lose perspective. Studies of those who work seven days a week in Russia found high levels of alcoholism and family problems. Those who worked too much had a higher rate of suicide. Being a workaholic is as deadly as being an alcoholic. Yes, our world sometimes tells you that working all the time is commendable and good. Our world encourages people to work and spend, work and spend. But who does this help? It certainly doesn’t help us in our relationship with God. It adds stress to our families. It takes a toll on any marriage. Sadly, many people in our world don't understand this connection between the fourth commandment and one's life. Just like those Israelites who went out on the seventh day to get extra manna, we think it can't hurt to work an extra day a week to make a little extra money or get a little extra done. But what we jeopardize is our relationship with God, inner peace, and objectivity.
I don’t care who you are or how strong you are. I don’t care how much you like your job or how your work needs you. Follow the command of God to take a sabbath rest or you will pay for it. God gave you a good thing in this commandment; time to rest, relax, be holy. A Sabbath rest can give you time to think, to reflect on what life is about, to smell the roses. God knows you need a holy sabbath rest, or you’ll never, ever find peace in your life.
You may be good enough to remember not to kill or not to steal. But do you follow the fourth commandment and observe the Sabbath? Out of respect for God, do you take a holy rest each week? As a person recently wrote, “Sabbath helps me to remember that life is not all about me. Sabbath shows me the larger picture. Observing the Sabbath rest helps me to lighten up and breathe. It reminds me that I am much more than my work, that I am unconditionally loved and held by the grace of God.” Accept the gift of sabbath God gives you. Sabbath rest restores the clarity needed for true faith. Do you give God one day a week? Do you set aside time for God? You CANNOT be a faithful Christian without this.
April 12
““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” He said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me.”” (Luke 22:31–34 RSV)
Hours before Jesus died, He met with his disciples in the Upper Room. He shared a last supper and communion with them. He warned that one of the disciples was going to betray Him. He talked about his body and blood in a way that was frightening. The disciples for the most part couldn’t believe Jesus was near to death. Peter, the strong-willed disciple, was told that Satan was trying to damage Peter's faith. What was Peter’s reply? “Lord I am ready to go with you to prison or death.”. Jesus knew the truth. Peter’s faith was not strong enough spiritually. Jesus turned to Peter and said the truth, “Before the rooster crows today, you will have denied me three times.”
I’m sure Peter’s first thoughts were, “Jesus, I just said I would die for you! How could I ever deny you, let alone do it three times? I would never do that!" Peter was deceived. He was lying to himself. He thought his faith was stronger than it was. He thought he was ready for what Satan had to throw his way. Truthfully, Peter melted when challenged in the faith. He failed Jesus. He failed the disciples. He denied Jesus three times.
Sometimes, you lie to yourself about how you really feel. You make brave promises. You make statements you know deep in your heart are not true. Jesus knew Peter was going to lie. God knows when you and I will do it too!
The story is told of a peevish old fellow who bearded a train, occupied the best seat, and then tried to reserve still another for himself by placing his luggage upon it. Just before the crowded vehicle started, a teenage boy came running up and jumped aboard. "This car is full," said the man irritably; "that seat next to me is reserved for a friend of mine who has put his bag there." The youth paid no attention but sat down saying, "All right, I'll stay here until he comes." He placed the suitcase upon his knees while the elderly man glared at him in vain. Of course, the "friend" didn't appear, and soon the train began to move. As it glided past the platform, the young man stood up tossed the bag through the open window remarking, "Apparently your friend has missed the train. We mustn't let him lose his luggage too!" With a horrified expression on his face, the old gentleman began to fume and sputter. The lie had cost him his possessions!
We lie to others for a variety of reasons... to look good, to gain favor, to manipulate, to cover up our insecurities, because of fear or ignorance, to be liked or loved. But a lie is a lie is a lie. Some people can look in a mirror and think to themselves, “I look thinner"..... but they know they its not true! They can say to themselves, “I can stop drinking or smoking whenever I want” and know it's just a dream. How well do you lie to yourself? What conditions would have you, like Peter, lie to Jesus? Do you understand the connection between lying and denying Jesus?
One afternoon the members of a health club assembled for a meeting on nutrition and exercise. The dietitian leading the discussion asked each member in turn to describe his or her daily routine. The first participant admitted to a number of excesses, including overeating. Others joined in agreement. But one seriously overweight member reported, "I eat healthfully and moderately, I drink moderately and I exercise frequently."
"I see," said the dietitian. "Are you sure you have nothing else to tell us?"
"Well, yes," said the man. "I also lie extensively."
That comment probably brought some laughter, but it underlines an important truth: what we do in secret will become evident in public. This is true spiritually as well as physically. As proper eating and exercise habits normally result in a healthy physical body, so proper spiritual nourishment normally results in a healthy spiritual life. Lie to yourself, and it will be only a matter of time before it bites you back. Peter experienced this. When he denied Jesus three times that night and then the rooster crowed, it is said in scripture that Jesus looked at Peter in that exact moment. The "look" of Jesus made Peter ran away in tears knowing his failure, his lie. The very next time Jesus saw Peter after HIS resurrection, Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter really loved Jesus (John 21). Why? Because Peter had denied him three times. Both men knew the depth of the lies.
I don’t care who you are or how much you know or read the Bible; there will be times you fail God by lying to yourself about the fact that you WILL fail God. Romans 3:23 states that plainly:"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Lies are a big part of that. Lies will come from your mind and mouth. Lies will separate you from God's truth. Lies culminated in Jesus' death. Lies always come back to haunt you. The lying must end for God to live powerfully in you.
Just when you really come to the understanding that you are capable of failing like Peter..... you must be reminded... Jesus died on the cross for you, even though you are a liar. He died to save you from your own sin. Peter lied about his relationship with Jesus. You have lied to save face. God deserves better. Jesus looked so sadly upon Peter's lies (Luke 22:61). Imagine what HE thinks of your lies. Repent of your lies. Love God in Christ more! What lies need to be attacked today? What truth needs to be told? Have you been failing Jesus or denying HIM?
April 13
“When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?”” (Mark 14:17–19 NIV84)
A young man was to visit his grandparents after school. They lived a few miles away, and he was planning on walking there after school to stay for dinner. Jacob loved to go there for dinner. His grandmother made the best rolls, from scratch! The whole house smelled like fresh bread. Also, his grandfather promised to take him fishing at the creek after dinner when the fish were surely biting! All week, Jacob was looking forward to that day. Then, the day came! The classes dragged by as his excitement grew. Finally, the bell rang and off he ran for his grandparents home!
When he got there, the house smelled wonderful. As he talked to his grandparents, he noticed that his grandmother's eyes were red. What was wrong? Throughout the afternoon and the meal, it looked as if grandmother was smiling and crying at the same time. She looked sad. He though to himself, "I wonder what grandpa did this time?" "Maybe grandma is sick! Oh no!" "I wonder if they are going to lose their home or something! This could be bad!" He didn't say anything. Finally, he grabbed his fishing pole and set out for the creek with grandpa. On the way, he said to his grandfather, "What happened to Grandma? Did you say something that hurt her feelings again, Grandpa? Is she sick? Is she going to be OK?" After a dozen questions, Grandpa turned to the boy and said, "Jacob, her heart is broken. She is so sad!"
Jacob replied, "We have to fix it!"
His grandfather answered, "It's hard to fix a broken heart!"
"Who did it, Grandpa? You?" the boy asked.
"No, you did, Jacob! She found out you had taken some of the money from our cookie jar a few weeks back."
At that point, Jacob gulped. He had forgotten all about sneaking a few dollars out of the cookie jar. Now, he wished he could give it back. He wished he was not the one who broke grandma's heart.
So often, we seek to blame others. We don't even see how we make God sad! Jesus once cautioned his followers by saying, "Judge not, lest ye be judged." (Matthew 7:1) He knew that people often played both judge and jury! Jesus also said," Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. " (Matthew 7:3-5) Jesus knew that often we look for faults in others, missing our own failures.
In the scripture for today, Jesus spent his last day with his disciples. He explained that one of the twelve would betray him. The response from the disciples was classic. They all said, "Surely, it isn't me!" "Surely, it isn't me!" We always think it must be someone else who is the problem. Why is it that we can't see when we are part of the problem?
A couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position. Each one thought the other was wrong. Each one wanted the other to pay. As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the wife sarcastically
asked, "Relatives of yours?"
"Yep," the husband replied, "In-laws,"
It is so hard for us to perceive that we are not perfect! When Jesus questioned his own disciples that day, the men he taught for three years, the disciples whom God was relying on for the future church, they all were in denial about what was happening. They could only claim innocence by saying, "Surely it isn't me!"
We've all failed or fallen away from Jesus! Jesus confirmed this with his disciples on another occasion saying, "What you do unto the least of these, you do it unto me." (Matthew 25:40) When we sin against another person, when we think evil thoughts, when we display hate and anger, God feels that pain. Jesus died to free you from sin, and yet, how have you sinned against your Lord by hurting another? Surely, you haven't, have you?
One Sunday night, a husband and wife got into an argument. Their young children had heard these arguments before. The two were constantly bickering, complaining, yelling and arguing, so much so that the neighbors would talk about it. After a long drawn out shouting match between the two, mom stormed off to the bedroom, and dad opened up a beer and sat drinking in front of the TV. There was quiet for a few minutes. Then, little Melissa, only six years old came out of her bedroom. She tiptoed into the front room, and laid herself in daddy's lap. Her eyes were filled with little tears. Daddy didn't notice at first, but then he asked, "Honey, what's wrong? How can daddy help?"
She turned to him and said, "Daddy, why do you hate mommy?"
"What!!!" he said! "I don't hate mommy!"
"Well," the little girl said, "you swear at her and yell at her. I thought you hated her. Shame on you."
And just as he felt terrible seeing the tears and hearing what his daughter said, she cut his heart out with her next words: "And do you hate Jesus, too? I heard you swear at him! Do you hate Mommy and Jesus?"
The man carried his little girl into the room by his wife. Then, the husband knelt in front of his wife and said, "Please forgive me, sweetheart. I had no idea I sounded so hateful!" The three of them hugged and cried. Later that night, the husband was again on his knees asking Jesus to forgive him, too!
Why is it we just don't realize how we hurt Christ? Like the disciples, we think, "Surely, its not me who is letting Jesus down." Think again. In your life, you've probably broken the heart of Jesus.... a number of times. Your sin took Him to the cross.
All the disciples at one time fled from Jesus, abandoning HIM. We have too, haven't we? Face up to your weakness, so that you can find spiritual strength. The disciples fled from Jesus the night he was betrayed. However, the eleven didn't fail Jesus later in life. They learned from their weak moments, became strong in Spirit and faithful to the end. On this day, realize that Jesus loves you very much... and the last thing you want to do is fail Him. Tonight, tomorrow, this week.... I hope you find yourself ready to admit your true heart to Jesus, to ask for forgiveness, and to acknowledge that your sins sent Jesus to suffer and die on the cross. He died to save you.... and me.
April 14
“This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:58–66 NIV84)
"Taking Offense"
As Jesus taught in a Synagogue in Capernaum, he gave the words in our scripture above. They are found in the Gospel of John. He told the people, including his disciples, that the bread and wine so familiar in communion were signs of his body and blood and that to participate in communion, in the body and blood of Christ, a person could see Heaven. The disciples had difficulty understanding about communion, just like they had difficulty understanding how Jesus' body and blood would bring life. At the time, Jesus was alive and teaching, and His disciples were growing. He was famous in the northern parts of Israel. He healed many. Hundreds wanted to be near him or just touch his robe. The disciples could not understand how Jesus could talk about his body and blood, or life or death, at the height of his ministry. Once, Jesus mentioned in his teachings that he would soon be killed and would rise from the dead. Peter said Jesus was wrong. Jesus rebuked Peter, essentially telling Peter to quit listening to Satan. (Mark 8:31-33) Jesus wanted his disciples to know that the world hated him. He was going to be put to death. His sacrifice in body and blood would bring life and healing.
Following Jesus' discourse about his body and blood in John 6, some of his followers grumbled and complained. Jesus noticed the disciples were upset about his preaching so Jesus said to the them, "Does this offend you?" Jesus lost followers because they took offense at what He said. Jesus didn't lie. He told the truth, but many took offense at him (John 6:66). A number of Rabbis and Pharisees and Scribes took offense at Jesus' words and sought "an opportunity" to kill Him (John 7:1). Jesus knew that sometimes, people get offended easily, even if with the truth.
People take offense today at the smallest things. In our politically correct world, people are looking to fight and argue and kill over the smallest thing. If you say something offensive, even innocently, a friend gets upset. If you tell your spouse the truth, he or she might be angry with you for days just because you said what he or she didn't want to hear. A teacher in Florida told a student who scored poorly on a test that he might not make it into college. The child's parents got that teacher fired for "hurting their child's feelings and making him feel he was never going to amount to anything." At a school in Indiana, a teacher who read her Bible during her lunch break lost her job because someone took offense at what she was reading. It didn't matter that she was a good teacher; the parent of a student was an atheist and took offense at the Bible in her hands. A young black man was killed in Ferguson by a police officer, and thousands of people marched in the streets for the officer to be killed or jailed for life. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I guess that is trumped when people take offense!
All over the world, people take offense and want someone to pay for it. There is no thought of the truth or of sin or the hypocrisy of political correctness. What about the Bible's correctness? Jesus' question to his disciples applies to all of us today, "Do you take offense at this?" Sometimes, churches and the faithful suffer because someone took offense against someone else. Jesus didn't want his disciples to take offense with the truth. He doesn't want you to do it either.
Near the end of our scripture reading, it says that many were so offended at Jesus' teaching that they "no longer followed Jesus" (John 6:66 How's that for a verse!). Even though Jesus spoke the truth, these people didn't want to hear the truth... the truth made them angry... the truth isn't what they wanted to hear. Why be offended by what is right or what is the truth? Ah, but it happens all the time. The offended gave up on Jesus. Faithful disciples aren't offended by the truth. Evil people spin the truth or distort the truth. Evil people are offended when someone speaks the truth. Satan is the "Father of Lies" not a spartan for truth. Satan even took offense at God and left Heaven and came to earth as an evil angel. Those who are not right with God have been doing the same ever since. They take offense. They get upset and respond with vengeance and hate and threats. They may walk away from a good thing.
Recently, a person wrote a short article called, "The Devil's Advocates". In that article, it mentions the names of Satan's best workers. I quote: "Satan has planted many of his best agents among us. Let's expose a few of them: First is the Chronic Complainer. He is silent only when the church is idle or doing nothing, because for everything else there will be a complaint. His assistant is the Avid Adviser... No matter how hard you try or how well you do, he will always be glad to tell you how you could have done better. There is Satan's Sergeant whose name is the Church Jumper. He is always sure that somewhere is a perfect church were everyone and everything is in complete harmony. Then, there's Satan's lieutenant. His name is Ever Offended. Disagree with him and he'll take his toys and go home."
This article teases that when a person is offended, they will take their toys and go home. In our scripture for today, that's exactly what some of the followers of Jesus did. They didn't like what they heard, so they left Jesus. The twelve disciples remained with Jesus. You must learn not to get easily offended. If the truth or a sermon or a person in church offends you, you might find that it is not the person offending you that is the problem, but Satan trying to play games with you. Satan would love for you to take your toys and go home, never to return to worship again. If you get offended, it might be that you don't want to see the truth. It may be that you don't want to stick around where others might be upset with you, even if that is precisely what God needs from you.
I've seen marriages where one person got offended, and that was the end of love in that home. I've seen beautiful lives wrecked because someone was offended and got even. Jesus knew there was no hope for the disciples who were offended so easily that they could not even see the truth. I hope you know better. I hope Jesus isn't saying to you, "Are you offended?" when He is doing something in your life. Do you take offense with the truth? What do you do when the world takes offense with God or with you?
April 15
“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 NIV84)
Psalm 33 gives us comforting words: "For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does." (Psalm 33:4 NIV) God is faithful in all that His actions no matter what happens. You can trust that when you are doing His work, God notices. God cares. Even when everything is going wrong in your life, even when troubles seem stacked against you, God wants to be with faithful people like you and me.
After the battle of Bull Run, an officer saw that Stonewall Jackson had received a painful wound in the fight. He asked, "General, how is it that you can keep so cool and appear so utterly insensible to danger, in such a storm of shells and bullets as rained about you when your hand was hit?"
"Captain," answered Jackson, in a grave and reverential manner, "my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." Then, after a pause he added, "That is the way all men should live, and then all the world would be brave." (Sword of the Lord, (sermon on Heb.9:27), 2-3-89, p.1)
Stonewall Jackson had the comforting belief that no matter what terrible battles he faced in life, God would be beside him. God is faithful. God can be trusted to care for us in battle or in bed!
You may not take notice the importance of a word in our Bible: Faithful. Faithful means to be full of faith: full of faith, not empty....full of faith, not doubting.... full of faith and trust. You can believe in someone who is faithful. They will be true. They can be trusted. They will not let you down. A faithful dog is always obedient. A faithful friend is there when you are in need. A faithful employee is always on time at work. A faithful spouse never would cheat on you.
If you are faithful, others can count on you. You will be loyal and trustworthy in all that you do. If you are faithful to God, even God can count on you doing what is good and right and just. Faithfulness lends itself to trust. In the Greek language used in the original New Testament, the word for faith and the word for trust are the same. So, when your Bible reads that someone had faith, that meant they could be trusted. When you are faithful, you are trustworthy.
Great leaders throughout the Bible were known as faithful men and women. Moses and Abraham were called faithful by God. Timothy, the apostle, was called "faithful in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 4:17). Jesus was called "faithful" to the end (Philippians 2:8). Fullness of faith separates those who want to be children of God from those who are truly born of righteousness.
The reason that you are called to be faith-full is that throughout scripture, one of the great qualities of God's character is faithfulness. God is never called faithless. God never doubts His power or will. The scriptures are full of powerful sayings that God will be faithful to you. Deuteronomy mentions: "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands." (Deuteronomy 7:9-10) The Psalms tells us "the LORD loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones." (Psalm 37:28 NIV) Though your friends or family members may fail you, God remains faithful.
In the scripture above, the apostle Paul asked the Thessalonian church to pray for his ministry. He urged them to pray for those who heard the gospel. Paul wanted so badly for people to believe in Jesus. In reality, Paul knew that not all would listen to God's Word and believe. Not all would have faith. Not all can trust in God. Paul tells the people "pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith" (2 Thessalonians 3:2). Paul knew that each time he preached of God's deeds, some would grow in faith and some would not. A few would become faith-full. It is still this way today.
On a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother, who was looking out the window at home, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and began to swim toward his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer driving past, heard her screams. Grabbing the gun from his truck and running to the mother's side, he took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. On his arms were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. A newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. Then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "Look at my arms, too! I have huge scars on my arms. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. We all have scars from a suffering in the past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. Some may have been caused by friends who weren't very faithful. Some may have been caused by people who said they were Christian, but didn't act like it. But, some wounds are because God refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He held on to you. The scripture teaches that God loves you, and that God is faithful to you. If you have Christ in your life, you have become a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. You may foolishly wade into dangerous situations. That's when the tug-of-war begins. If you have the scars of God's faithful love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ... let you go.
The scripture for today is clear. Not everyone has faith, but God is faithful. God can be trusted. You can lean on God, for He will not fail you. He may force you to grow. He may have to catch you when you fall, but HE will forever be faith-full.
April 16
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. ... Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.' A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" (John 20:19–29 (abridged) NIV84)
That first Easter, little did the world know what was planned. Jesus, who was crucified, was placed in a tomb on a Friday, only to be missing from that tomb on Easter Sunday. He was risen from the dead. A miracle! God raised him up from the dead to new life. The tomb could not hold him. Death was not the end of Jesus. He was alive again.
The scripture for today shows Jesus coming to the disciples after his resurrection. All of the disciples were overjoyed at seeing Jesus. Thomas, however, did not believe in Jesus' resurrection. Thomas doubted Jesus was alive. He heard the accounts, but felt they were idle fantasies. Thomas said, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20:25)
When the Bastille, a castle-like prison in Paris, was to be destroyed in 1789, there was one convict who would not leave his cell. He had been there for many years, a prisoner in the gloomy dungeon. He begged to be left in his cell. He didn't believe he was to be a free man. People are like that. We get so used to a certain way of life that we don't' believe it when something extraordinary happens. Like Thomas, many don't believe the stories told about God's wonderful acts. They have difficulty trusting God's power or miracles. Evidence of God's grace is understood as superstition or tall tales by these doubters.
What about you? Do you believe God has the power to do miracles? Do you believe God has the ability to resurrect or to bring life? Do you believe that God is limited by our ideas of science? Do you ever wonder if God is even out there? Do you believe or not?
A man who lived on Long Island, New York, bought a high quality barometer. When it was delivered to his home, the arrow appeared to be stuck, pointing to the section entitled "Hurricane". The day was beautiful, the sea calm. This was not hurricane weather. According to the noted Bible teacher and author E. Schuyler English who told this story, the man shook the barometer, but the indicator stayed the same. Frustrated, the man sat down at his desk and wrote a scathing letter to the store where he had bought the barometer. The following morning on the way to his office in New York City, he mailed the letter. Later that day, a hurricane struck the East Coast. That evening the man returned to Long Island to find that his barometer was missing--and so was his house. There are times when we don't believe the indications, when we don't trust what we are told, or when we lack faith in what we can't understand.
The disciple, Thomas, was one such doubter. He didn't see Jesus alive, so he didn't believe the accounts. But Jesus was going to make an example of Thomas. The scripture tells us that a week after the resurrection; all the disciples, including Thomas, were in a locked room. Out of nowhere, Jesus appeared and stood in front of the disciples. Knowing what Thomas had said, Jesus instructed him: "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:27) Surely, Thomas saw the wounds on Jesus' hands where the nails left their mark. How could he not see the scar where they pierced Jesus' side to make sure he was dead? Thomas could doubt no longer. He replied, "My Lord and my God!" To make the point, Jesus told Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)
Jesus knew there would be many others who would doubt. The resurrected Jesus will not appear to all those who doubt his existence. He came to hundreds in that first week after his resurrection. We are told that over 500 people saw him on one occasion alone (1 Corinthians 15:6). There weren't a few select ones to see Jesus right after he was raised from the dead, many saw him. Disciples and followers shared these appearances... some believed.. and some didn't.
Are you the kind of person who won't believe something unless you see it for yourself? Are you the kind of person who doubts everything unless you are proven wrong? Are you one of those with a scientific mind who can't understand miracles, faith, or resurrection? Then, this story of Thomas should make you rethink what you believe. If Thomas would not have seen Jesus personally, he would have doubted. He would never have understood God's plan for the resurrection of Jesus and your resurrection. As Jesus showed Thomas all that resurrection meant, God is showing you. God wants you to believe. God wants you to trust that Jesus is resurrected. God wants you to believe in His power over life and death. Will you trust in God?
Dr. Helen Roseveare, missionary to Zaire (formerly the Belgian Congo), told the following story: "A mother at our mission station died after giving birth to a premature baby. We tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle we had was beyond repair. So during devotions that morning we asked the children to pray for the baby and for her little sister who was now an orphan. One of the girls responded, 'Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the sister so she won't feel so lonely.' That afternoon a large parcel arrived from England. Eagerly the children watched as we opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle! Immediately the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to delve deeper, exclaiming. 'If God sent that, I'm sure He also sent a doll.' And she was right! The Heavenly Father knew in advance of the child's sincere requests, and five months before, He had led a lades group to include both of those specific articles." Now some of you might think it is childish to believe in such things. Some of you might doubt that God had a hand in sending the needed things at the right time. But I've seen this over and over in ministry. When there was a need, God provided. When the faithful had a great need, God made plans.
On that first Easter, God provided a way for us to heaven, through His power of resurrection. As Thomas found out, Jesus was raised from the dead. But Jesus will not be the only one raised from the dead. Those who believe and follow in the footsteps of Jesus can hope in a blessed eternal life. So, celebrate every Easter day. Say out loud: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him (and does not doubt) shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
April 17
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.” (Joel 2:28–32 NIV84)
"Dreaming in God's Spirit"
The wife of Pontius Pilate had a God-induced dream (Matthew 27:19) . In her dream, God sent a message of Jesus' innocence. The dream seemed so real and clear that Pilate's wife sent a message to her husband to stay out of the trial of Jesus. Pilate failed to listen to his wife or her God-induced dream and went down in history as the man who condemned Jesus to death.
God-induced dreams and visions are not uncommon. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God sent dreams or visions to a good number of people. These dreams or visions displayed God's direction, power, or influence. King Nebuchadnezzar had dreams of the future that the prophet Daniel needed to interpret. Jacob's son had dreams as recorded in Genesis that ultimately saved the family of Jacob from starvation! Ezekiel's visions were made to correct the sin of wayward Judah and Israel. Joseph's dream in Matthew saved Jesus' life! Peter's vision written about in the book of Acts opened up the faith to Gentiles! There are dozens and dozens of dreams and visions in scripture that came from God. It was even a vision that caused me to go into ministry (some day I'll share that with you)! In crucial moments, God will reach out through dreams or visions!
In the 1500's, a friend of Martin Luther promised to pray for the Reformer every day. The man followed through as promised. He prayed for Luther each morning as he got up and each evening before falling asleep. Then, one night, the man had a dream in which there was a huge field of wheat and it was ready for harvest. A storm was approaching, and the field needed to be harvested before hail damaged the crop. But in that field, there was only one person harvesting everything. He'd never do it in time!!! In his dream, the man ran to help, and saw that the only one harvesting was Martin Luther! The very next day, the man went to Luther and said, "I'm done praying for you only, Martin Luther. Starting today, I going to work with you side by side." He was a great help to Luther and his ministry for many years, and helped many others to find Christ!
Simple everyday dreams are different from visions. Sleep-induced dreams can come and go in the day as in daydreams or in night during sleep. Sleep-induced dreams can be far from real. I once talked to a man who dreamed he could fly, who woke up with a bloody nose because he jumped out of his bed during the dream! But, in God-induced dreams, there's often a message conveyed from God. Through prayer or the with the help of faithful friends, you can determine what God is saying in these dreams. God-induced visions are like dreams, but they occur when a person is awake or semi-conscious. It is not unusual for a person to have a God-induced vision when praying, thinking, or maybe just out for a walk. Through God-induced dreams and visions, God will share needed information or direction. You should always take seriously these messages.
Let me tell you about a God-induced vision I had years ago. I was walking around a church that had a cemetery. With each step, I was praying. After doing this for about ten minutes, my mind began reeling and I felt different. As I walked past a tombstone, the etched letters on the tombstone changed. The God-induced vision had begun. I stopped walking. Still feeling a God-induced vision, I stooped to look at the tombstone right in front of me. As I watched it, the name on it changed. The words transformed to read: "Here lies ####### Church" (the name is withheld here for reasons God has demanded, though it was originally on the tombstone in this vision!). I immediately snapped out of the vision and found myself standing there and praying. What does this vision say to you? You don't know anything about that Church, but I am sure you will see what God is saying. (And yes, I did preach about this vision to that church out of respect for what God wanted me to convey and as a warning from God.)
In the Old Testament book of Joel, we are given a prophecy through a God-induced vision. Many believe it foretells of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the faithful. Joel wrote this.... “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. … I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, … before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; … there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls." (Joel 2:28-32 abridged) The prophet Joel predicted a day when people would have dreams and visions caused by the Spirit of God. The Heavenly Father would speak through HIS Spirit to the people in that time. God would cause them to see things... be changed.... be saved. The God-induced visions and dreams would be sent by God to prepare the people for the day of judgment and deliverance.
Not all dreams are sent by God. Not all visions are sent by God. But there are people who will be given God-induced dreams and visions during important periods of life. You may receive God-induced dreams and visions in order to save yourself or others, change your ways, or follow God's will. It's crucial for you to trust God-induced dreams and visions when they occur. Leave the possibility open that God may reach out to you through these dreams and visions. God is sometimes not able to reach you in one way, so HE may choose another. No matter how God reaches out to you, just understand what a gift it is that God wants to communicate with you! Out of all the divine work in the universe, God has time for you! God wants to speak to you! God loves you that much!
April 18
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:5–10, NIV84)
A woman and her husband were having problems in their marriage. They tried to work it out. They tried counseling. Differences in their understandings kept them from making changes in their lives. He was a workaholic. She was passive-aggressive. He loved his job. She seemed to love her children more than her husband. He liked receiving accolades at work for the great job he was doing. But his working too much took a toll on his private life. His wife often had to take care of the children alone. Many times the husband and wife would set up a date, only to have the husband cancel out at the last minute due to some work-related crisis. The children were getting used to daddy making promises but not keeping them. One evening, the man came home from work to an unusual sight. All his belongings were in boxes in the front yard. As the rain poured down upon his stuff in the yard, he ran to gather it together and put it in the car. Attached to one of the boxes was a note. The note read, "If you would have loved us, you would have remembered that you had promised to take us to see uncle Bob in the hospital. By the way, Bob died tonight. Oh, and since we can't count on you to be there for us, we won't be taking care of things for you. We sure hope you forgive us like we've forgiven you. Signed: Carolyn."
Carolyn and the kids sent daddy a message in all this. That message was, "If you loved us, you wouldn't forget us... if you cared about us, you wouldn't break promises to us.... if you need us, why don't you show us." When people are hurt, they will often give us an "if statement". "If statements" ask us to prove something. If you love me, show it. If you work late, I'll give you a raise. If you pay for this, we'll do that. All these "if statements" beg for proof, require a response, and demand action. "If" is a word that is conditional. "If you do this, I will do that" implies a condition. "If" is a word that implies a test of sorts. If one person does something, then the other will respond. If the person doesn't do something, nothing will be done. "If" is a big word. It implies a challenge, a condition, and a test. It requires you to show your true colors. By responding to an "if statement", you prove what you value, what you consider important, what you hold most dear.
In our scripture from 1 John above, the word "if" dominates the passage. Four out of the six verses begin with the word "if'. The "if statements" in our scripture ask us to prove our love for God. In these verses, John says, "If we claim to have fellowship with God yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:6-7) These "if statements" beg us to choose what is most important ... are we going to walk in the light, be truthful, be faithful, or not? John goes on to say, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make God out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives." (1 John 1 8,10) This second grouping of "if statements" challenge us to realize that we all sin. We all fail God. We all make mistakes. None of us is perfect. If you realize that you fail, hopefully you will realize that you need God's grace.
Sometimes, "if statements" are used in scripture as God's way to challenge us, to cause us to prove our faith. Over one thousand times in scripture, the word "if" is used by God to make us prove our faith to Him. Jesus said, "If you follow my teachings, you are truly my disciple." (John 8:31) Joshua said, "If you don't want to believe in God, choose this day which of the gods you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord God." (Joshua 24:15) God said through Jeremiah, "If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow , and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land God gave your forefathers for ever and ever." (Jeremiah 7:5-7) In each of these places along with many others in scripture, God begs for us to prove our faith using "if statements". God wants to see that our faith is not just a ritual, that our commitment isn't just a bunch of words, that our love is real.
There comes a time in every life when we must ask "if questions". God asks "if questions" and makes "if statements", shouldn't we? Before you get married, you should find out "if" your date truly loves you. When your daughter is going to parties, you should know "if" you can trust her. You should know "if" you can trust your employer or supervisor. When a friend tells you about a rumor, you should know "if" you can trust what that friend tells you. "If statements and questions" are important in life. They help you to prove what is true, and right. They show who are your faithful friends, who you can trust, and on whom you can rely.
Promises are often couched in an "if statement" as well. In the scripture for today, God promises that if we confess our sins, God will forgive us (1 John 1:9). God won't forgive us if we don't repent and confess our failures. Periodically, God and others will wait and see if we desire to right a wrong. Only then will God and others help. This is how God sees if you are faithful, if you are true. There may be moments that your spouse or friend wonders if you care, if you notice, if you love. Then, you must prove yourself to be trustworthy.
Recently, a woman's young son died. She realized how she may have failed him and wrote the following words: "If I only knew it was be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would have tucked you in more tightly and prayed the Lord, your soul to keep. If I only knew it was the last time that I saw you walk out the door, I would have given you a hug and kiss and called you back for one more. If I only knew it was to be the last time I'd hear your voice, I would have video taped each action and word, so I could play them back day after day. If I only knew it was to be the last time I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming, you would know I do. I would have remembered to tell you over and over until I was hoarse. But now is too late now, of course. If I only knew it was to be the last time I would be there to share your day, I wouldn't have let that one slip away. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike. Today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight."
God and others might want to know today... IF they can count on you. Remember the "if statements" in our scripture for today. There might come a time when God and others might ask them of you. What "if statements" or "if questions" would you like answered today? IF God called you to go home today to Heaven, what would you regret most?
April 19
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1–5 RSV)
Did you ever know a teenager who could make full use of a remote control? Make no mistake, they control your viewing pleasure! You are watching TV, and "click", you are watching something different on another station. "That was boring," your teen complains. After watching another show for ten minutes, "click." Just when you are getting into it, your teen says, "That is so dumb!", and "click" goes the remote. You are watching something new. Over the next hour of your life, it goes like this…. "That's stupid!" "Click (new channel)." "There must be something better on"… "click." "Oh, it's 7:30", "click!" "I wonder what music is playing"… "click". The show has to please your teen, or "click" goes the remote. She has to be entertained.
In many churches it is the same. Too often, so-called Christians feel the need to be entertained by the church or they will leave and go somewhere else to get their entertainment. They want you to cater to them, or "click", they're out of here. One Sunday, I led the service where new members joined the church. During their confession of faith, I told the congregation that the candidates for new members must be a part of a group in the church or they could not join. I mentioned that each member of the church is called by God to certain ministries of the church (1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12), and we must help them find where God needs them. After worship, a member of that congregation told me about two visitors sitting behind him when I mentioned that requirement. The visitors' complained saying: "I can't believe the pastor wants people to do something. Here I thought worshiping was enough. We're not joining this church." These people were church shopping. They were looking for a church that they liked, that was friendly, and that didn't require too much of them, and in which they could have their needs met. If the church didn't match that criteria, then, "click," and they're out of there.
Churches are filled with people who are in the pews on Sunday looking to be entertained, or looking to have their needs met. If the church, the pastor, or the worship style don't meet their needs, it's "click," and they're gone. If the pastor isn't entertaining enough, they look for a new pastor and a new church. In congregations, you may hear how the members love the pastor as long as his or her sermons are entertaining enough. If the service is full of too much ritual, or the sermon isn't comfortable and "nice", "poof", they're gone to find another place to entertain them. You may think I am being facetious, but this happens all the time. For some churches, this is their method of operation. Most large congregations look for a pastor whose sermons are entertaining and enjoyable. They want a pastor who is well-known, much-loved, funny, and good looking. I thought Pastors needed to be Biblically and theologically strong, with a passion for God's word, and filled with God's Spirit? Sadly, most congregations want a good looking entertainer who is steeped in jokes and funny stories to fill the pulpit on Sunday.
The scripture reading above looks at the reasons we are in a church. It also directs us to examine what a pastor is to work toward. Paul was a veteran pastor. Timothy was a new pastor. Paul wanted Timothy to remember what church leadership was really all about….
"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching." (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
It doesn't say that Timothy is to "please" his congregation, or sound "nice" to them. Nowhere is Timothy told to be a good entertainer, a polished preacher, or a published writer. Instead, Timothy is commanded to..."preach the word, convince, rebuke, exhort and be unfailing in patience and in teaching." There is no talk of being "nice" to people or being a "fun guy". He is not called to be enjoyable and make things easy for the faithful. His primary call is to preach, teach, and live out God's call.
In at least a dozen churches I know well, pastors were forced to leave. In some of those churches, the people charged that the pastors weren't "nice enough". In one church, they got rid of the pastor for urging the congregation to give too much money or time to missions. Several churches claimed the pastors weren't "warm" or had "favorites". All the churches said in one way or another that the pastor was "no fun". Timothy was called primarily to preach, teach, correct and exhort. He was not called to be pleasing or enjoyable. Today, church goers have a kind of "code" with which to judge pastors. If the pastor isn't nice, "click", he's gone. If the pastor isn't over 40 and under 55, then "click,", he or she is gone. If the pastor doesn't work 70 hours a week, "click," he or she's gone. If the pastor isn't at my house for a meal, I'm not going to accept him. If she doesn't stop by once a year, let's get rid of her. In each situation, the love that is shown to a pastor is conditional. The demands given to pastors today are unfaithful to scripture. All this is against our scripture for today. All this goes against God's call to ministry.
You can take this notion further and talk about any relationship. If a husband isn't happy enough with a wife, "click," and she's out of his life and a divorce ensues. If you are loyal to a company and work hard, but a cheaper replacement can be found for your job, "click," and you're gone. If a youth doesn't like what mom or dad says, on go the headphones or out the door they go, and "click," you just got turned off. If you aren't a democrat or a republican, "click", you just got "unfriended". "Click", "Click", "Click", as fast as people can change a channel by remote, people will tune in and tune out God or you. It's a very selfish existence. God doesn't want self-centered people but God-centered people.
In the final verses for today, the condemnation of selfish believers rings clear. Just read...
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:3-5)
Paul warns Timothy that in days ahead, people will not endure faithful Biblical teaching. Instead, they will desire to "accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires." They will listen to whomever tickles their fancy. They will seek entertainment and self-fulfillment in their faith, though God desires something different. It's a skewed way of living.
What these verses also point to is that if people don't like what God expects of them, "click," and they'll shut out God. They will tune God out like a teenager with a blasting ipod may ignore the voice of a parent. Examine yourself, your life. Do you want to be entertained in worship? How often I have heard someone say that they don't come to worship because it doesn't "do anything for me." Is that what worship is supposed to be about... so that God can supply your needs or wants? Worship comes from the Old English word, "Worthscipe" which means "to attribute worth to something." In true Christian worship, you will always get something out of worship, because God is the center of your attention. Worship is about attributing worth to our Lord and His ministries. You are not called to worship yourself.
Paul was trying to teach Timothy, a budding pastor, that he is not to please people, but work for God. He is to train people in the faith,correct sin, and strive to complete his mission for our Lord. Timothy is not to determine his worth by how "nice" or "entertaining" he is, but to determine his worth by how well he points to God. My prayer is that you are not a fair weather Christian who is around only when God is good and you enjoy your Christian walk. I hope you don't come to this web site to be entertained. If so, please seek God and change your selfish view of faith. Is someone in your life shutting you out because of your true faith? Is your church stuck in "entertainment mode"? Do you see the shallowness of "baby Christians" and long for more (see Hebrews 5:11-14)? Is God just for a cosmic genie who supplies your needs and entertains your life? Will you hear any "clicks" today?
April 20
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”
(Ephesians 5:15–20 RSV)
"Remaining Holy During Difficult Times"
Ephesians chapter 5 was written by the apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus around 50 AD. In this chapter, the apostle Paul warned those Christians that they will be judged righteous or a failure depending on what they do with their lives. Paul warned the Christians there to be careful how they walked (Ephesians 5:1, 15). He was concerned how they acted during "evil days". Paul wanted the people not to get caught up in lusts of the flesh or sexual sins; not to covet things, desiring things of this world. He urged the people not to talk "with filthy or silly talk that is not fitting." (Ephesians 5:1-12) He told them not to be led astray away from the gospel with empty words. All these were warnings for the people in Ephesus who were new to being Christian. They had to learn that following Christ meant living certain ways and avoiding certain tendencies. After all these warnings, Paul summarized what he believed by saying, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15)
The author here, the apostle Paul, had seen evil. He knew what bad times were. He knew what people were capable of doing when they were faced with darkness and sin. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul states that the first century in the Roman Empire was so evil that he was whipped thirty-nine times on five different occasions. He had been beaten with rods, adrift at sea for twenty-four hours, and constantly traveled in danger. He had days filled with hunger and thirst. He barely escaped with his life on several occasions. He suffered because he was a Christian. Despite the dark days, he endured those harsh trials. He didn't become discouraged and cynical. He kept on following God's call, because he had God's Spirit in his heart. Though the days were filled with evil, Paul made the most of his time, overcoming the great toll on his body and his mind.
It's amazing to me how many people call themselves Christians, but they let evil times, tough days, or bad circumstances control them. Too many let darkness or evil come between them and God. Unlike the apostle Paul here in this scripture, they do not keep the faith through the hard times. They let the evil get to them. When things are tough, they get cynical, discouraged, disheartened, upset. They might grow distant or snap at you if their day is particularly difficult. They might talk incessantly about their sickness or pain. A few seek to make everyone around them miserable. God no longer is the focus of their existence.
When tough times come, all of us are to try and follow the will of God. We should not be caught in foolish things. The Apostle Paul in the scripture above claimed that when evil days come, we need not to be doing "foolish things" but to "understand God's will". In the midst of difficult times, foolish people often do foolish things or make foolish mistakes. We hear stories of people who are poor and take up a life of crime, or prostitution, or sell drugs. But it never pays. It always costs them more to do such foolish things. Then there are those who don't like their spouse for some reason or another and go out and try to find someone better. Foolish. How about the person who gambles too much, who eats too much when angry, who smokes cigarettes when he's nervous? How about the person who goes out and buys something whenever he or she feels depressed? Oh the foolish things these people do when they get upset, hurt, angry, or down! As time passes, they look back on their lives and discover how very foolish they were.
One of the common mistakes during difficult times is to drown your misery in alcohol or use drugs to "get away". It's easy but dangerous to run away from your problems. When hurt, you might turn to liquor or to food or something else for comfort. Paul learned to trust in God. He "understood what the will of the Lord was." (Ephesians 5:17). He commanded the Ephesians not resort to drunkenness or alcohol during dark days (Ephesians 5:18). He found no answers with alcohol, only more problems.
In order to make it through dark times, Paul stated that you must "understand what the will of the Lord is". You must find out what God wants you to do in those tough situations in life. Through prayer or conversing with a faithful friend, you can discern what God sees is the best course of action. Thus, you can keep yourself from making mistakes. It might just be that God will put someone close to you who has been through tough times before, someone who can counsel you, someone who can listen. God will reach you or comfort you through them.
The last three verses in our scripture will further help you in tough times. Notice that Paul ends this scripture with sound advice: "be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father." (Ephesians 5:18-20) Notice Paul's "prescription" for keeping holy in tough times. He calls you to first, "be filled with the Spirit." Let God fill you up with His Holy Spirit, filling your life with His presence. Ask God for His Spirit to fill you completely. When it's difficult to figure out what is right and wrong, God's Spirit will help you see more clearly. Second, the scripture teaches you to sing psalms and spiritual songs during dark times. Spiritual songs speak to your heart. Now, I'm not talking about gangster rap, here! I'm not talking about songs that hit the "Top 40" necessarily. I'm speaking about spiritual songs or words that God uses to encourage you. Play them, listen to God speak through them. Finally, Paul's prescription says to give thanks for "always and for everything". Look for the blessings in your day. Give thanks for the little battles won or the beauty of some moment. Watch for God's hand to bring comfort and hope.
Coming from a guy who was beaten, shipwrecked, whipped, chained and much more (the apostle Paul!), he knows what tough times are. If he can give thanks for God's presence in those troubling times, you can too! If he can see God while starving and thirsty, you will also! Remember this scripture and Paul's prescription for evil times in your life. Don't become self-absorbed. Become God-centered and even more an example of true faith.
April 21
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
(1 Peter 4:1–5 NIV84)
G. Campbell Morgan told about a Christian woman who was struggling with an important issue. She was hesitant to give her life fully to Jesus. The woman said to Morgan, "I’m not sure I want to give up the things I like to follow Jesus, but I am determined to be a real Christian." A year later, Morgan was visiting in her town and spoke with her again. "Do you recall," she inquired, "what I said to you when I dedicated my life to Christ?" He told her he did. As she looked at him, the light of God appeared to be on her face. She exclaimed, "But it's been so different, Dr. Morgan! I began to follow Christ, feeling that I would have to give up the sinful pleasures I enjoyed, but now I live every day faithfully because God has made me pleased with the things that please Him!" This woman decided to follow Christ, to let Christ rule in her heart. She thought it would be tough leaving her old ways. What she found was that she grew to desire living faithfully. With Christ, she was more happy, more alive. She knew real peace for the first time ever.
If you talk to those who have truly committed themselves to Christ, you will find that they are more happy, more hopeful, and more joyful. They've gone from sadness to joyfulness, worrisome to hopeful, guilty to free, from humanist to righteous. They left behind sinful ways and the costs associated with living in sin. They walked away from drugs, alcohol, self-righteousness, power, political games, bad relationships, addictions, greediness, and so much more. They became centered on living in Christ. They became new people with a real faith, not cheap imitation of Christians.
A church elder was visiting a man who hadn't come to church for several years. The two were friends. The elder said to his friend, Charlie, "Charlie, why haven't I seen you in church for a couple a years?" Charlie responded, "I've been busy. The farm isn't doing so well. My baler went to heck. Did I tell you about the problems with my son and daughter in law? Shameful." The elder responded, "Sounds like you need God now more than ever, why don't you come to worship and spend time with God for a while?" Charlie came back with another excuse, "With all this going on, I'm tired and to tell you the truth, I sleep in on Sundays." The elder responded, "Charlie, you need to change your life. You need to let God have all your problems and give him all the garbage and you need to make some changes in your life. If you live right on Sunday, and take God with you in here (pointing to his heart), things have a way of workin' out." The two said their goodbyes. Charlie never came back to church again, except on Christmas and Easter, and his problems never got any better. He was never really a happy man. The day Charlie died, the elder was at his casket, said a prayer, and wished that Charlie had started over with Christ at the center of his life instead of somewhere on the outside.
You need to make a decision each day. You either commit yourself to follow Christ in everything you do, or you become a shallow Christian. There is no in-between. God won't stand to have part of your heart or part of your week. If you don't give him all of your life, he won't come into your whole life... and you won't feel true peace.
Peter, the disciple, wrote two letters before he died. They are found in our New Testament. In one of those letters, he wrote to new Christians who made a commitment to Christ and were living faithfully. He told them..."Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:1-2). Peter was convinced that people who were serious about following God were ready to let God rule their bodies, their lives, their everything. He mentions here that those who follow God are thus willing to live this life for the glory of God, not to follow their human desires. He reminded those Christians that non-believers or shallow Christians live unethical lives. Without true faith where God rules the heart, a person's life will fall apart with lusts, selfishness, drunkenness, sexual sins, and the like (1 Peter 4:3). Sinful people follow their own desires rather than following God. Peter saw this as a sign that they were destined for judgment by God and that judgment wouldn't be good (1 Peter 4:5).
Peter also mentions something interesting about these non-Christians. He says, "They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you" (1 Peter 4:4). Essentially, Peter noted that non-believers in his time made fun of Christians for not fooling around, getting into trouble, doing bad things, or having fun living sinful lives. This still happens today.
A young man went to a Billy Graham concert with his girlfriend. He was talked into going. She wanted him to experience being a Christian. He thought she was nuts. That changed as he listened to Billy Graham. His heart was convinced that he needed to have faith in Jesus. So, he went up to the front when the altar call came and prayed to receive Jesus into his heart. As he walked home from the stadium that night, he felt so good inside. He felt light on his feet. He felt that every sin in the whole world had been taken from him, and the weight just left him. The next day, his best friend called him to go out drinking. He said, "No." For the next few months, he began to turn his life around and live more faithfully. He even began to tell others about his faith and God; he felt so good! Three months later, he saw his best friend in a restaurant with a bar attached. The friend was going into the bar. He was going into the restaurant. The friend said, "Hey how about a drink, for old times sake?" The young man said he didn't drink anymore. The best friend turned to him and said, "Oh, too good to drink with me now that you've become a super-Christian! You used to be fun, you know!"
Here, a young man is beginning to live faithfully, and his best friend is busy making fun of his new faith. They did the same thing in in New Testament times. Your friends and family may not be able to accept your true Christian faith. They may make fun of you for living righteously. You may receive "looks" that say display annoyance that you don't go along with the thinking of this world. But don't give up on God. True peace and joy come from living completely in the arms of God. If you are not at peace today, if joy has left you, what is keeping you from the arms of God?
The apostle Paul said, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) Is that strong faith, still in you? Have you compromised your faith? Do you seek to have God fully in your heart? How do people make fun of your faith? Hold onto God tightly, live faithfully, follow willingly the path God in Christ puts before you. In time, you won't regret it.
April 22
“When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “We’re in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. ....So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.”....
“After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, .... they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. ... The Lord’s hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors. When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god.”” (1 Samuel 4:5-7, 10-11; 5:1–7 abridged NIV84)
Do you know how dangerous it was when Martin Luther translated the Bible into German for the first time? He was confined to Wartburg Castle in fear for his life. Those who wanted to take his life did not realize that as they searched for him that God's Word was about to increase like never before in history. Luther's translation of the Bible was completed while he was hidden in the Wartburg Castle! That German Lutheran Bible was translated over and over and over and became the household book in Germany within a century. Luther overcame a great threat to gain great faith.
The apostle Paul also turned his personal tragedy into a faithful victory. He wrote the letters or books of our Bible known as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon from prison. That's right; from prison. The Romans threw him into prison for believing in Jesus Christ. What did Paul do when he was imprisoned and on death row? He wrote to his churches, encouraging them, enlightening them, looking out for them, loving them. He overcame a time of personal upheaval by sharing his faith.
Throughout the Bible and history, God has taken tragedies and turned them into victories. It took commitment and faith on the part of those who had been hurt. They looked for God's hand working despite the pain, and kept faithful with their prayers and thanksgivings throughout. God came through in the end. Look at our scripture reading for today. Here again is illustrated for us a great tragedy wherein God causes a powerful event that ends in victory.
In First Samuel, chapters 4 and 5, the Philistines, (from whom Goliath was a descendant) were at war with the Israelites. The Philistines had powerful armies and had just defeated the Israelites in chapter 3. The Israelites then called for the Ark of the Covenant to be brought forth to bolster the defeated army of God's people. The scripture tells us what happened next...."When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, 'What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?' And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp, the Philistines were afraid…" (1 Samuel 4:5-7)
Even with this fear of the Ark, the Philistines had powerful soldiers who decided to fight more fiercely. In the next days, the Israelites lost numerous times in battle. The scripture says 30,000 lay dead. The Israelites thought the Ark alone could magically help them win the war. Only God helps you in life, not anything else. Consequently, the coveted Ark (the special box wherein resided the Ten Commandments written by God's own hand) was captured by the Philistines in battle. When Eli, one of the leaders of Israel found out, he fell over and died. When his daughter-in-law found out about Eli's death and of the great loss in battle, she gave birth prematurely and died herself. All the people mourned. They thought this was their end. At their darkest hour, they cried to the Lord. In that bleak moment, the Lord heard them and a miracle happened.
The scripture tells us that when the Philistines captured the Ark, they put it into their own temple with a statue of their god Dagon. This was to show that their god was more powerful than the Israelite God. But that very night.... our God did something great. When the Philistines woke up the next day, they went into their temple and found the statue of Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark. The scripture tells us that the Philistines "took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the following morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him." (1 Samuel 5:3-4)
Can you picture it? After a great victory, the Philistines find in their temple... that the statue of their god is lying in front of the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments. Their god statue has lost its head , the arms are broken off, and it appears he is in submission to the Ark. In a sense, this showed the power of our God over the Philistine god Dagon. But God's mighty works did not end there, for "the hand of the LORD was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and He terrified and afflicted them with tumors….. the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic, and He afflicted the men of the city….so that tumors broke out upon them. …and the cry of the city went up to heaven." (1 Samuel 5:6-8, 12 abridged)
In the end, the Philistines sent the Ark back to Israel. They feared our God. Tradition tells us that more Philistines died from the Ark of God being captured than the Israelites had defeated in battle. Out of a great tragedy, God brought forth a powerful victory. Though the Israelites mourned and feared for their safety, God defeated the Philistines without so much as an army. God turned a great defeat into a great victory for Israel. The people were able to live in safety. Within a few years, the Philistines were no longer able to fight against God's people. This scripture is one of many wherein God turns the tables on suffering, mourning, sadness, trouble, and turmoil. God changes certain death into certain victory.
Leading a graveside service, I read aloud from the book of Romans: "All things work for good for those who love God." (Romans 8:28) A good friend of mine had died. I hurt in my heart as I walked away from the cemetery that day. Just before I reached my car, a woman tapped me on the shoulder. She said.... "Pastor, the best thing about that scripture from Romans you read is that it says... 'All things work for good for those who love God Pastor, it doesn't say some things work for good, but all things work for good for those who love God. Even the death of an innocent carpenter worked for good, didn't it?" This woman was helping me to feel the goodness of God in that moment. Without realizing it, she made me see that out of tragedy, God always (not sometimes, but always) brings forth some kind of good to those who truly love God. Those who are willing to hold on to God tighter than holding on to the tragedy, or the hurt, or the pain will experience the goodness of God in some way.
Think about it. The cross was a great tragedy. An innocent man was condemned wrongly. A sinless man was hung on a tree. A man of compassion who taught about love suffered because of such terrible hate. And after they had beaten him, whipped him, spat upon him.... after they drove nails into his hands and feet, after they pierced his side... after his last breath and his muffled cry.... that tragedy became a great victory for our Lord. It took three days... but Jesus was raised to new life. It may take days or weeks or months, but God will do the same thing with tragedies in the lives of those who love Him. He will make your tragedies into different kinds of victories. What does all this say to you today? Is there a tragedy still stealing your joy? What good has come from a loss in your life?
April 23
“Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 NRSV)
"Do You Have a Spiritual Filter?"
In our house, we have a pitcher with a built-in water filter in the refrigerator. You pour tap water into the top of it, and it drains through the filter to the bottom. Any water that comes out the spigot has been purified through that filter. I once saw a man pour water and food coloring into the top of a water filter like ours, but only clear water came out the spigot. I was amazed at its ability to filter out impurities. However, the filter needs attention. It can clog with impurities. After just a few weeks, the water goes through more slowly. After a month or so, the water takes a long time to purify because of all the garbage coming out of my faucet and water lines. I once took a filter apart and was shocked to find hundreds if not thousands of tiny particles of many different sizes. All those impurities would have gone into my body if I didn't use that water filter!
Pastor Ron Hutchcraft wrote about his own experience with a water filter. He said that a water filter made him think about what people allow into their bodies. Without filters, people are actually drinking pieces of dirt. Without spiritual filters, you are doing the same thing. A lot of spiritually and morally impure things pour right into your soul if you do not filter the bad stuff out. It's unfiltered input. It's like drinking dirt. If you belong to Jesus Christ, without a spiritual filter the spiritual dirt is rushing into your soul where the Holy Spirit resides(1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Spiritually dirty messes should never defile God's temple. Your body. Your mind. Your heart is God's temple. Doesn't God live there?
In the scripture for today, God clearly commands us to spiritually filter what's coming into our lives. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, " let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit ". To cleanse yourself, you need to filter out the garbage that you see and hear in life. Without that spiritual filter, your mind and body can become clogged with all sorts of immoral or irreligious thoughts and goals. Garbage like that has no place in God's temple, your body. You need to keep yourself spiritually clean as part of being faithful.
A little girl was watching the TV with her big brother in the room. She watched Big Bird and Bob the Builder and a few other favorite shows. Then, the brother grabbed the remote from her and said it was his turn to watch a TV show. He flipped the channels until he came to a show with a lot of swearing. One person was torturing another person. After just a few moments, the little girl had enough. She walked over to the TV and turned it off. Her brother shouted, "Hey, what gives? Why did you do that?" The little girl replied, "We don't need to watch that, let's play a game together." With that, they left and went outside. Mother, who had been listening, smiled. She thought to herself, "That girl of mine has a good head on her shoulders."
The spiritual filter of that five-year-old girl in whom Jesus lives would not tolerate the TV show. No matter how much her brother liked that show, she needed to do something else instead of watching the torture. That's a model for a Jesus-follower of any age. Have you become so accustomed to violence or anger or resentment on social media that you have grown numb to its effects on your mind and heart?
The Bible says Jesus carried our sins in His body on the tree "that we might die to sins" (1 Peter 2:24). So what business do we have listening to and participating in things that support premarital sex, adultery, occult practices, violence, and disrespect for God or His Son? You can't turn on the TV or watch a web video and then turn off being a "temple" of the Holy Spirit. Do you let the garbage of this world fill your mind and heart and day just because it's wrapped in a package that's funny, or entertaining, or brilliant, or clever, or popular? Satan's no dummy! He comes in under the radar, like a Stealth Bomber, when your guard is down. Without a spiritual filter, you are liable to believe in anything, even "fake news"!
Home from college at semester break, a girl told her mother that she was going to a movie that evening with other college students. The mother knew the movie was not a good one, but one filled with sick humor, sex, violence, and more. Under questioning the daughter admitted that "the movie had some bad parts, but overall it was great."
At that moment, the mother was making a tossed salad. With her daughter looking on, she quietly fished out a small handful of garbage and dumped it into the salad.
Horrified, the girl exclaimed, "Mother, why did you do that?"
Came the reply, "Since you don't mind watching garbage, I thought you wouldn't mind filling your stomach with it, too. So a little garbage from at the movies doesn’t bother you any more? Here eat this. Overall, it will be great!"
It bothers me when people let such junk into their minds and hearts. I'm told that millions of Americans went on the internet to see the burned or decapitated bodies of people killed by ISIS. Why? Will it help you be a better human being? Instead, it will haunt you and eat at your Spirit. Many Christians have pulled back from social media and international media because of the rejection of values and faith that is presented there. In a way, they want to "filter out" these destructive and depressing examples of hatred and violence, along with the constant rejection of God.
It's not to be taken lightly when God gives a command that says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Guarding your heart is scripture's way of saying you need a spiritual filter to protect your faith and health. You can only listen to enough morally wrong things before it affects you. Like soldiers who grow immune to death after a lengthy battle, you may grow immune to sinfulness if you see it all day long every day. If a friend swears all the time, do you think you won't start swearing as well? If you steal a few times, won't it be easier to steal one more time? If you do what is popular or acceptable to the world, how long until you become just like the world? Is Facebook where you decide on what is right and wrong? Would God want you eating Twinkies with ice cream as your soul source of nutrition?(:P) Where will you draw the line with sinful living within and around you?
A spiritual filter is necessary to a spiritual life. If you don't want to get garbage into the Holy Spirit's house (your body is a temple to God! 1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 2 Corinthians 6:16), filter what you let come in. You wouldn't knowingly let your mouth drink dirt! In like manner, don't let your soul do it either!
April 24
“So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.....He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:5,10–15 ESV)
In Jerusalem in the middle of the first century, there was a terrible drought. Many Christians were suffering with hunger and thirst. Due to the persecution by Jews at the time, the Christians were not being helped. The apostle Paul thought it shameful that Christians anywhere should suffer hardship while others had more than enough to share. Paul went to Macedonia in Greece and began to raise funds to help the Christians suffering in Jerusalem and surrounding areas of Judah. Then, he went to the church in Corinth and sought funds to help the faithful Christians in Jerusalem.
Paul said in this letter to the people of Corinth when he asked them for money to help the needy in Jerusalem: “I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine” (2 Corinthians 8:8). Paul had already collected money from other Christians in other cities, now he wanted the rich Corinthians to give as well. Paul saw this as a test of their godly love. If this wealthy church in Corinth would not share, they were not very faithful. Paul mentioned to the Christians in Corinth these words.... “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11). What Paul meant by these words is that God gives those who are well off more than enough to help those in need. Our job as Christians is to share with those in need. That brings thanksgiving to God.
In 2 Corinthians 9:12, Paul mentions that any gifts that were given to these people in Jerusalem would supply the "needs of the saints". Paul makes clear that the faithful Christians in Jerusalem were needy, due to the drought. They needed food and water and provisions. The Corinthians had more than enough to share. One thing that Paul tried to get across to the Corinthians was that the people in Jerusalem had legitimate needs: not wants, but needs. It is one thing to want something. It's wholly different to need it. I know many children who want a certain video game, a computer, a toy, a doll, a dress, a gaming system, a baseball card and such. They want it... maybe even badly. But do they need it? To want something is to desire it. To need it makes it a necessity for living. You might want a new dress as you look in a window at the mall, but you know there are needy friends who would love to have a necessity. You might want a new car, but there are those who need someone to care for them.
In our world, people can get wants and needs mixed up. My Great Aunt used to tell me that during the depression, there was a man who was hated in the neighborhood. Nobody liked him. When he walked down the street, people would walk across the street from him. When he said "Hello!", they would ignore him. I once asked, "Auntie, why didn't people like him?" She told me that he would get his paycheck, then go to the neighborhood bar and spend half his paycheck on beer. But at home, his wife and four kids constantly went hungry. People would have to sneak the wife and kids food so they wouldn't starve. He drank his paycheck. This man did not know the difference between wants and needs. He might want to drink, but his family needed food.
Several years ago, a pastor wrote about a visit with a needy boy in the congregation. The two were going shopping. Members of the congregation had collected some money to give to the boy and his family. The pastor decided to make a morning of it by taking the boy to a local K-Mart where the boy could spend the money collected. As they walked into the store, the pastor immediately headed to the toy section. As he got to the aisles of toys, the boy could hardly believe all the rows upon rows of games and playthings that he could never own. The boy looked and touched many toys, oohing and aahing the whole time. Finally after twenty minutes, the pastor said, "Now Tommy, can you pick out a toy to take home?" Tommy looked up at him and said, "No sir." The pastor said, "Why, not? Is it because there are too many toys to choose from?" "Oh, no!" said Tommy. "I was just hoping to get a pair of mittens for my sister, and a pair of shoes for my mom." Tommy knew that all those toys were nice, but what the family really needed were mittens and shoes. Wants are one thing. Needs are another.
The apostle Paul was hoping that the Corinthian Church would give up some of their wants to supply the needs of the hurting in Jerusalem. Paul believed that sharing with those in need was a gift to God. Those gifts prove your faith. If you would rather spend your time, money and effort on your own wants while the needs of others is not met, it is hard for you to truly be Christian. Paul even said the giving of gifts to those in need is a test that God gives to those who have plenty (2 Corinthians 9:8). We are to share what we have been given.
In our world, there are other ways that wants and needs are mixed up. Many think they really need something, but they only want it. Some youth feel that they really need Tommy Hilfiger shirts or pants or jackets to fit in at school. Friends and advertisements might suggest to them that they won't really fit in without designer clothes. Are designer clothes what you really need? A person may also think they need one thing, when they really need another. For example, a mother may think she really needs to have good educational toys for her child to grow up intellectually challenged. That may be true. It may not. What the child needs most is time with its mother. The child needs love more than things; the child needs nurturing more than purchasing.
In your life, don't get wants and needs mixed up. Paul made clear to the Corinthians that the church in Jerusalem had legitimate needs. Paul was quick to tell the Corinthians to share what they had with those who had need. In your life, I hope you share your time, your talents, your treasure, your love, your wisdom with those who need these things. I, too, hope that you truly know what you need today. Some people today will pray for "things", when God sees they really need love. Some will pray for others not knowing that they are the ones who truly need God. Some will pray for forgiveness, but what they really need to do is make right a wrong that was done. Some will go to a counselor for help, when what they really need is to come to God. God gives generously.
So, what do you want today? What do you need today?
April 25
“And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. .... But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land; and when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the boat; after hoisting it up, they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they should run on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven. As we were violently storm-tossed, they began next day to throw the cargo overboard; and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackle of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many a day, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. ... As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, 'Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food; it will give you strength, since not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.' And when he had said this, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all two hundred and seventy-six persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.” (Acts 27:1-2, 14-20, 33–38 RSV)
When riding on my bike or in the car, every now and then I will see a sign that says, "Danger Ahead" or "Dangerous Intersection Ahead". My first response is to be a bit more alert and watch out for the dangers that lie ahead. But it's not just the Department of Transportation that makes signs in our world. God also creates signs for the faithful to see. These signs direct you in the way you should go or the path you should take. The signs may be warning signs or direction signs. They may signal you to repent or to change something. One way or another, it is best to heed the road signs when driving. The same goes with God's signs. You better heed them, too.
Our scripture for the meditation today speaks about signs Paul received from God as he traveled by boat to Rome. These signs from God helped Paul, protecting him during his journey. Though Paul was a prisoner during this time, he was arrested for true faith. As such, God was watching over him closely.
Chapter 27 of Acts introduces us to the area that Paul was sailing. Paul was being taken to Rome to stand trial for being a Christian. Throughout the early parts of the journey by boat in the Eastern Mediterranean, there were several incidents where the winds were wrong, and storms loomed close. These formed the first sign for Paul that something was wrong. Paul told the ship's officers: "'Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.' But the centurion (who had to guard Paul and take him to Rome to face trial ) paid more attention to the captain and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said." (Acts 27:10,11)
A majority of the crew voted to sail for a harbor of Crete and weather out the storms. The author of the book of Acts states that as they neared Crete "a tempestuous wind, called a northeaster, struck down from the land; and when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the boat; after hoisting it up, they took measures to under-gird the ship…" (Acts 27:14-17) The soldiers and sailors were afraid of running aground. In sailing books, the waters where Paul said these words (near the Syrtis) are described as full of dangerous sandbanks and rocks that could hang up a ship. In a storm, these reefs could tear a ship apart. Now, remember, Paul warned the Centurion and the sailors not to sail....but they didn't listen. The sailors and soldiers voted to continue...but look at the situation they fell into: "The boat was violently storm-tossed, they began next day to throw the cargo overboard; and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackle of the ship, and when neither sun nor stars appeared for many a day, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned." (Acts 27:17-20)
After throwing the cargo and tackle overboard to lighten the boat, not wanting to run aground, the sailors feared the worst. Then Paul spoke again...."…you should have listened to me, and should not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. I now bid you take heart; for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. for this very night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and lo, God has granted you all those who sail with you. ' So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we shall have to run on some island." (Acts 27:21-26)
Paul had been given a word by God that he was to complete his mission to Rome. He was not to die at sea. God sent an angel to confirm this to Paul. God was watching out for Paul and those who traveled with him. God gave Paul the signs and instructions needed for all to be safe. Did the sailors finally listen to Paul and trust in God's guidance? You bet. The story goes on to say that on the fourteenth day of the trip, the ship neared land. Some of the sailors were so frightened that they tried to lower a lifeboat to get to safety. Seeing this, Paul said.... "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it go. " (Acts 27:31-32) Paul then offered food to the people and warned them to eat as they were soon to run aground.
The soldiers, sailors, and passengers now believed in Paul's words. They trusted him. They knew he could understand God's signs put along the way. On the fourteenth day of the storm, they ran aground on a beach on a small island. Everything was happening as God intended. But there was one hitch. When a boat with prisoners goes down, usually all prisoners are killed lest they escape . When word got out about this plan, the soldier who guarded Paul kept the other soldiers from killing all the prisoners aboard the ship. Thus, all two hundred plus people aboard went safe ashore just as Paul had foretold, just as God had promised.
In the end, Paul's life was saved through God's warning signs. The centurion didn't want Paul killed because Paul had seen the signs and saved all aboard. The centurion, by the end of the trip, was convinced that Paul knew the signs God gave. I believe that all the people on the ship trusted that Paul could foresee the signs of danger and deliverance.
When you are called by God, when you are close to God and know a lot about God, you too will see signs, even warning signs, that God puts along the way to guide you. It is my contention from this scripture and others like it, that God intends for you to heed the signs God gives you along the way. Trust that God's signs will point you in the right direction or to do the right thing. After reading this scripture, don't you see that you are better off to follow God's signs? Because the sailors and guards heeded the signs God was giving Paul, every person on that ship was saved. That's how God's signs work. They are always reliable, true, and trustworthy. They protect and save and help and warn.
Throughout the scripture reading today, the only person who could foresee what was to happen was Paul. Only he could perceive the signs. The sailors and prisoners had to trust Paul. They couldn't see God's signs or angel. That's often true in this world. The church is gifted with a few faithful people who see what God has planned. These faithful ones look for warning signs and are led by the guiding hand of God. Worldly people may visit a lady with crystal balls to get insight. Other worldly ones read horoscopes or want their palms "read" to get direction for their lives. You must rely on God's word, on prayer, and on God's signs to point you in the right direction. When you are in need of guidance, in need of direction, go to someone who knows God and God's word. Or, look to God to guide you directly if you have a strong relationship with Him. God never fails to give directions or signs. He gave them to Abraham, to Moses, to the prophets, to the kings of Israel and Judah, to Paul, to the disciples, to Jesus. Will he ever fail to give them to those who trust in HIS word? Never.
April 26
“While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.” (Exodus 17:8–13 NLT)
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left; and he was hungry. He decided to ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept
pay for a kindness." He said...... "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man grew equally.
Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for a consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, Dr. Kelly gave special attention to her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. When the young lady received the envelope with the costs for her hospital stay, she hesitated to open it. She was convinced it would take the rest of her life to pay for everything. Fearing, she looked at the bill, and something caught her attention on the side of the invoice. She read these words: "Paid in full with one glass of milk." Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly. Thinking back to that day long ago, tears of joy flooded her eyes as her heart prayed: "Thank You, God!"
When you are strong enough or generous enough for others to lean on, it makes a difference in our world. In fact, Jesus said that you should be able to tell who is His disciple, by the way he or she exhibits a love of others (see John 13:34-35). You are defined by the way you watch over others. Your faith is also exhibited by how well you lean on others. You'll see what I mean in the scripture for today.
During the time of Exodus, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness traveling to the promised land, they ran into a group of Amalekites. The Amalekites were known as desert pirates. They attacked God's people. Moses led the Israelites against the Amalekites in battle, and the scripture tells us something interesting about that fight. When Moses raised his arms and staff on the hill overlooking the field, the Israelites did well. When his arms grew tired and fell, the battle went poorly. Realizing that the people needed to see Moses arms and staff lifted up in the battle, Aaron and Hur helped hold Moses' arms and staff upright to bring hope and victory to the people.
Now, if you only see this scripture as a war story, you'll miss something very important. Look closely. Notice how the people received hope from Moses' upraised arms and staff? When Moses grew tired, the men found him a rock to sit on, but he kept his arms aloft. When his arms grew weary, men were there at Moses' side to help keep those hopeful arms of blessing raised during the battle.
I once listened to a woman pastor preaching this scripture. She taught me something I will not forget. She taught that Moses needed those men to hold up his arms in battle. Moses needed those who brought him a rock to sit on to make it through that fight. Only with help could the people be blessed in their fight. She went on to say that we all (especially Pastors and missionaries) need help to carry on the fight for faith. You need those who will stand with you, strengthen you when you are weak, hold you up when you are tired. You need to lean on others of the faith. Others in faith need to lean on you as well. It is my belief that God puts people around you to lean on when you get weak, when you are failing, when you are alone, when you sin, when you are afraid, when you fight your spiritual battles. I don't care how strong you are, some day you will rely on another, you will be at the mercy of another, you will owe someone, you will be saved by someone. God will put someone there for you to lean on. As a person of true faith, your work is not to compete with other people of God, but to lean on others in the faith, holding each other up, helping to bring the best out of the situation. God gave Aaron and Hur for Moses to lean upon. God will give you someone, too.
In our world, there tends to be competition in business. People will step over you in the ladder of success. If you do well, others might hope that you fail. In many schools, groups, and organizations, at the workplace, and even in churches, it may be "dog eat dog". People are so quick to fight with each other, to take sides, to look a person up and down for flaws. When we look in scripture, faithful ones displayed different tendencies. You could lean on them. You could trust them. You could count on them. My hope is for you to be one of those others can lean on. When the fires of adversity come, you will be the one to hold them up. Or maybe, you will be the one leaning on another whom God puts there for you.
Examine yourself today. Who needs to rely on you? Can you trust God enough to lean on Him, even when your world falls apart? I know you can lean on God. I've done it. I am also thrilled when others can lean upon you. They can, right?
April 27
“Moses said to the Lord, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.' The Lord said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.' Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, 'What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.'”
(Exodus 4:10–17 NIV84)
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know," the son continued, 'he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to be around those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. You may find it easier to look away rather than look to someone who is disfigured, to stare at someone who is handicapped, to make fun of someone who is palsied, or to ignore someone who is different.
God has it so that in our world there are those who are handicapped. It's not that God enjoys it when people to suffer debilitating traumas to the body. Rather, God wants you to remember that in this world no one is perfect. Human bodies are susceptible to illness and deformity. Your attitude to these handicaps shows others and God what is true faithfulness. If you treat handicapped people as equals, not lesser, not taking advantage of their weakness, you do what God desires. If you see handicapped people as just different people and not as invalids or cripples; if you treat them with dignity, not as a number or as something dirty; if you show them respect and not ignore them, you will be treating them as God had planned.
In our scripture reading for this morning, we hear about God calling Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. Now, you might figure that Moses would have been overjoyed to lead hundreds of thousands of people out of bondage and slavery to freedom. That was not the case. Moses was afraid and hesitant to go to Egypt. When God asked him to help, Moses replied, "I am not eloquent. I am slow of speech and tongue" (Exodus 4:10). It is believed by these verses that Moses may have had a speech impediment, or he may have stuttered, or he was palsied on part of his face. All these would make speaking difficult. Thus, Moses had a handicap.
Notice how Moses initially uses his handicap as an excuse. When God wanted something done, Moses used his difficulty speaking as an excuse to get out of the mission to Egypt. Sometimes, you or other handicapped people do this. We all use excuses not to do what God wants us to do. We use our problems or handicaps as a crutch to fail in life. When desired, we throw up that handicap or personal fault as an excuse so we don't have to do what needs to be done. God would not let Moses get by with this. At one point, God even grew upset with Moses for making such excuses. The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say" (Exodus 4:11-12). Then, Moses even suggested God send someone else (Exodus 4:13)! Not letting Moses off the hook, God called Aaron to help Moses speak before Pharaoh. God would not let Moses' handicap stop him from accomplishing something big God had planned.
At this point, you might be asking yourself, "I didn't know that any of the people in the Bible were handicapped!" Actually, there were a number who were handicapped, and their handicaps are mentioned. Moses had a speech impediment, Saul and Elijah had frequent depressions, and Paul had physical ailments (Luke the physician even traveled with him!). No one in the Bible was perfect or had perfect circumstances. Every one, Jesus included, had challenges to overcome. You might want to make an excuse out of your handicap or weakness or disability. Don't do it. God has great things planned for you.
One huge problem in our world today is that we are so busy, we think we don't have time to help those with handicaps around us. It takes longer for a person on crutches to walk. It takes longer for a person who stutters to speak a sentence. It takes more time for a person in a wheelchair to negotiate in a building even with handicapped elevators. Do you lack patience with those who have handicaps? Do you despise the extra time it takes for them to complete tasks? Do you overlook the needs of others or fail to provide for them? God doesn't do any of this. God provides for your weakness. God makes the time for your disabilities. God is patient with you and others who have challenges.
Twenty some years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going .a bit too fast in his sleek, black, twelve cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was just repainted. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted out, but a brick sailed out and WHOMP! -- it smashed into the Jag's shiny black side door! SCREECH... !!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car.
He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my Jag! That brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money! Why did you throw it?"
"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, twelve cylinder Jaguar XKE -- a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention.
Sometimes, God must get your attention when you overlook those with handicaps around you. You can be so self-concerned that you ignore those who are limited in mobility, in speech, in the ability to process simple actions. In our fast paced world, you may believe that you don't have time, the energy, or the love that it takes to help those who aren't nimble enough, quick enough, or strong enough to complete things rapidly. You may be in such a hurry, you park in those handicapped places conveniently placed close to where you want to go. You may be so self-absorbed, you fail to notice the lady with a cane who is standing on the bus when there are no seats left. You may be so unaware that you don't' notice a person who won't speak because she is ashamed of her stuttering. To truly care and love those who are handicapped, you can't make fun of them. You can't overlook them. You can't single them out or ignore them. You have to respect them. You may have to encourage them when they make excuses for themselves. You will have to plan for their weakness. God puts people with handicaps in your life to make you slow down, to show you how imperfect you are, to see if you will accommodate those who are a little slower due to disease, infirmity, or weakness.
God uses those with handicaps. God accepts your handicaps and works with them. God freed the Israelites from bondage in Egypt using a man with handicaps. God shows you all the time that its not handicaps that cause your failures. Often, its an attitude toward the handicap that causes failure. Handicaps can be overcome or helped. Handicaps may cause weakness, but they also force you to see things differently. A handicap didn't stop Moses from completing his mission. It won't stop you either; not when God has a plan and a purpose for you. That weakness you have might prove some day to be a strength that God uses to overcome a great burden for you and someone else. This happened to Moses. How might God use your weakness today?
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV84)
April 28
“Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:19–22 RSV)
So often in our world, we do not listen for direction. We are so busy doing the talking, doing the work, driving the car, ferrying the kids, fixing the house, finishing the project, earning the money, and so much more, that we don't have time to listen. We don't take time to listen to God, to a spouse, to a friend in need, to a child, or to someone in trouble.
In 2007, a grandfather and grandmother invited their grandson to stay with them. They knew young Joe was good at football. In fact, he was all-conference. They were proud of him, went to all his games, and did what they could to help him attend football camp. But when Joe stayed with his grandparents for a week that summer, he seemed different. He was upset at how he played, how he looked, at his social life. They tried to talk to him. One night, they talked about how he felt a failure. The grandmother said, "Joe, don't take life so hard. Let's not talk about those negative thoughts. Let's focus on the positive." Joe couldn't see the positive. Two weeks later, this all-conference football player, the guy who was nominated for homecoming king, took his life. His grandparents said to me when I found out, "Why didn't we let him talk it out? Why didn't we just listen to what he was saying." In fact, the very night he died, he visited three friends and even told one that if something happened to him, the friend should get his favorite poster. None of the friends really heard what Joe was saying. He was giving away his possessions because he didn't want to live anymore. They missed the meaning behind his words. They didn't do what was needed to save him.
When we don't listen, it is easy to miss important clues right in front of us. Our scripture for today bears these very important words, "Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every one be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger" (James 1:19). This scripture clarifies the importance of listening; whether its listening in prayer, listening to God's call, listening to a child, listening to a spouse, listening to a friend in need, or listening to another person when they are angry. Listening is an all-important skill in any relationship and should be seen as a necessity. A wise person once noted, God gave us two ears and only one mouth. This is a sign that God desires we spend twice as much time listening as we do talking. Are you a talker? Do you listen well?
In counseling, I"ve found listening to be a common weakness in many marriages. Like the husband who is focused on something else while his wife speaks, saying, "Uh, huh", "Uh, huh", but isn't hearing a word she is saying. How about the parent who is so busy on the phone that she doesn't hear the child asking for permission? Listening failures are often seen when a spouse is composing an answer or defense before the other is finished speaking. We are all guilty of failing to listen to someone or even God.
I find that two of the most difficult times to listen is when you are upset or someone is angry at you. It is even more important that we follow James' command in these situations. James warns us to be quick to hear, and slow to speak, but also slow to anger. In seminary, I was taught that whenever I get uptight or angry while talking with someone in church, I should take a deep breath, say a short prayer, and shut up and listen for a while. Its sound advice for any person in any situation, especially when problems arise. It's so easy to get emotional, figuring someone is undermining you. You may seek vengeance when your anger gets the best of you. Red hot anger never helps us hear better, does it? James added: "for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." (James 1:20)
This scripture goes beyond calling us to listen and hold back our anger. Immediately after cautioning all who believe to follow those commands, James states, "But be doers of the word and not hearers only." James thus insists that along with listening, you need to do what is needed to help any situation where God wills it. There is a strong criticism against just listening when accomplishing something is required. To explain, James said... "If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (James 2:15-17) If you listen to the needs of others and turn your back on them, what value is your faith or your listening? You see, God gives us the ability to hear needs in this world, to hear his voice calling us to do what is right to help where we can. If we do not listen to God or those who are in need, and do not do what we can, we lose our relationship with God. It's that simple.
On January 17, 1994, a blizzard hit Louisville, Kentucky. There were drifts to two feet deep and the city had been all but shut down, paralyzed by the unexpected blast of winter. At 9:00 that morning, Barbara Schmitt got a phone call. Her three year old daughter, Michelle, was in line for a liver transplant, and the call was for Barbara to get Michelle to Omaha, Nebraska within twelve hours for the transplant. Barbara told the medical worker that the airport was 17 miles away, the roads were not plowed, and there were cars and semis skidding all over the roads. The medical worker said that she had to figure out a way to get to Omaha, no matter what it took, or the liver would be given to someone else. Barbara wanted to get angry, but she didn't have the time or the effort to do it. Michelle was getting more sick each hour, so Barbara knew she had to do something. A call to a special agency in Louisville showed that they had a jet and two pilots standing by at the airport, thank goodness. But how would Barbara and Michelle get to the airport?
Barbara called a local radio station and asked for help. They spread the word. People who listened to the show started offering what they could. Fifty volunteers cleared a nearby church parking lot for the helicopter to land. People volunteered transportation. A nearby fire department sent trucks to light up the landing spot. Hundreds gathered in support. Everything went off perfectly and Michelle's transplant was a success, but it was only because people were listening to the pleas for help, because Barbara would not let herself be caught up in anger because of unforeseen problems, and because people cared about doing something where they could. A child was blessed that day because of the faithful following of our scripture from James.
It is not easy for you to follow this scripture. When you are tired, when you upset with another person, when problems rise, its difficult to listen. It's a lot easier to be angry. When time gets short and work fills your day, it takes effort to listen: but listen you must. When difficulties arise, when argumentative people cross your path, do not let your anger control you. You must resist this temptation, remaining "quick to hear and slow to speak and slow to anger". So too, you need to find out what you can do in these circumstances. How can you help?
Are you a listener or a talker? Do you hear what others are really saying? Do you take the time to listen, or do you tend to assume what another is going to say? Will you act on what you hear? Saving grace demands it.
April 29
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7–10 NIV84)
The longer I'm a pastor, the more I see God use things and people and events to really prove a point. In a way, you could say that God sometimes has a way of turning tables on people and teaching us great things in doing it.
Steven was a man's man. He made fun of men who didn't push the limits. When he went out drinking, he would drink other men under the table. When he hunted, he used the biggest and most powerful guns. He worked hard, and he played hard. He was also hard to live with. He treated his wife as if she were property. He didn't think twice about saying, "Hey woman, go get me a beer, and make it snappy." But wouldn't you know it. Five years after Steve married Pam, they had a beautiful baby girl. Now, that little girl has him wrapped around her finger. And, Steve is not in the bars anymore. And you should see how Steve treats Pam. That little girl changed everything. God sure has a way of turning tables on people!
In early 1700, the French philosopher Voltaire predicted that Christianity would be swept from existence within 100 years. Yet just 50 years after he died in 1779, the German Bible Society had occupied Voltaire's house and was using his printing press to produce stacks of Bibles. It makes you wonder if God wasn't turning the tables on Voltaire!
During World War II, Adolf Hitler erected a massive stone structure in Monte Carlo. It was to be a radio station from which to broadcast Nazi propaganda into North Africa. Today from that very building, Trans World Radio beams the gospel of Christ's redeeming love all across Europe and into Russia and Africa. God even has a way of turning the tables on evil.
Is God great at turning the tables on people? Absolutely. God often does things in this world to teach, to show His power, and uses events that turn everything upside down to teach His lesson. I mean, think about it. Pharoah made Moses' mother get rid of her son by sending him across the water of the Nile River. Then a few years later, Moses split the water of the Red Sea to get rid of the Egyptian army! Oh, and get this. In the book of Numbers, the greatest prophet of the day wouldn't speak God's truth, so God used a donkey to tell the truth to the prophet! And how about this.... When Jesus was born, Herod tried to kill Jesus because he didn't want Jesus to be the next King of the Jews, but when Jesus was crucified, they hung a sign over His head which said in several languages that Jesus was "King of the Jews." Throughout scripture, God turns the tables on people and things. It's almost as if God is challenging the way we think about things. It's almost as if God is twisting reality on evil and making fun of it!
In Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church, he spoke about a challenge he was facing. In these verses, Paul mentioned that he had a great difficulty with a thorn in the flesh. Now, this thorn in the flesh may have been based on a personality conflict. It may have been brought on by an illness. It may be a weakness someone used against Paul. It may be a speech impediment or a physical flaw of which Paul was ashamed. It may depression or a problematic bodily issue that someone took advantage of. We were never told about what or who that thorn was for Paul, but we do know that somebody was giving Paul a hard time about his problem. Paul even mentions in this scripture that someone was "tormenting" him about it (2 Corinthians 12:7). Somebody connected to Satan was using this thorn to tease, hassle, or threaten, or coerce him.
Now, I'm sure you've met a person who can torment you about a personal weakness or problem. Maybe it's that Mother-in-law who constantly points out your weaknesses. Maybe it's that person at school who teases you. How about the neighbor who has a critical eye? You might just be married to someone who can torment you! A "tormentor" is the kind of person who makes your skin crawl or keeps you on your toes. The tormentor in this scripture caused Paul to suffer spiritually and emotionally. Paul begged God three times to get rid of his problem, but God did not. However, God did do something about Paul's situation.
God purposefully did not take the problem away from Paul so that Paul would keep from being conceited (2 Corinthians 12:7). You know, people who have it good can get awful conceited. If you are born with money, if you are born with good looks, if you are naturally bright, or blessed with rich parents or a good job, sometimes you can get conceited and think you are better than others. If you are conceited, God may put problems in your life to humble you. Sometimes God puts thorns in the flesh to turn the tables on you. This malady makes you rethink who you are. The thorns force you to get off of your high horse.
In upstate New York, a woman decided to throw a party among her elite friends with the proceeds going toward a local literacy program. All the high society types were invited, among them the mayor, city aldermen, and even a local celebrity. Costs for the dinner were $100 a plate at a very posh restaurant. During the dinner, models showed off new clothes styles for formal dinner wear. All profits were to go to the program. As the models were walking around, one of the waitresses stared at one of the dresses and accidentally spilled a little coffee at the head table. She quickly tried to apologize, saying, "I'm very sorry, maam". The woman in charge turned to the waitress and in a demeaning way stated, "Young lady, it is not appropriate to call the mayor's wife, `Maam'. What is wrong with you? Can't you read?" At that moment, several guests glared at the woman. She had forgotten that the waiters and waitresses at that charity dinner were from the literacy center. None of them could read. I certainly hope that little mistake humbled the conceited woman. One has to wonder if God didn't create that little incident to remind the woman who she was there that night to impress. God does have a way of turning the tables to expose hypocrisy.
When that thorn in your life just won't go away, it may not be because you are conceited like Paul. It may be for another reason. Paul mentioned in these verses that God sometimes leaves a problem or a person in your life so that God's grace and power are "made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9) God's strength shines through best when you are weakened. God can "turn the tables" on you so that the problem you have becomes your greatest learning opportunity or greatest strength.
Oscar Cervantes is a dramatic example of Christ's power to turn our weaknesses into strengths. His story displays how God can turn the tables on you to accomplish great things. As a child, Oscar got into trouble. As he grew older, he was jailed seventeen times for brutal crimes. Prison psychiatrists said he was beyond help. Some believed he was so hardened a criminal that he should never be allowed out in public again. They were proven wrong by God's grace. During a brief interval of freedom, Oscar met an elderly man who told him about Jesus. Oscar placed his trust in the Lord and was changed into a kind, caring man. Shortly afterward, he started a prison ministry. Chaplain H. C. Warwick described it this way: "The third Saturday night of each month was 'Oscar Night' at Soledad Prison. Inmates came to hear Oscar and they sang gospel songs with fervor; they sat intently for over 2 hours; they came freely to the chapel altar. What professionals had failed to do for Oscar in years of counseling, Christ did in a moment of conversion." Did you notice how God turned the prisoner into a prison ministry leader? The screw-up became the teacher! God has the greatest ability to turn the tables on you.
I've seen this so many times in life. Christian couples who've lost a child have been the best pastors to others who've lost a child to death. Christian women who've been raped and overcome that tragedy have become great counselors for rape victims. Having come through depression, pain, or sorrow (or other terrible thorns of life) with a stronger faith, can make you the best kind of pastor for someone going through your type of trauma.
When that thorn in the flesh digs deep, when that person torments you again, remember Paul. God didn't take away Paul's problem and pain, because that trial was going to teach Paul how to be a better Christian. Paul concluded the scripture for today acknowledging that his greatest lessons he learned in life became his greatest teachers. He said "for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I become strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). God's strength will be made perfect when you are weak. God's strength is more able to be seen when you are hurting. God's love is made clear when your heart is broken. You know its true, don't you? God is good at turning the tables on you in life. He even uses your weaknesses to grow some of your greatest strengths. Remember that when the trial comes, life gets thorny, or a problem just won't go away. It might be that God is teaching you something or making you better.
April 30
“It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking upon the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, 'Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?' So David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her. ... Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, 'I am with child.' So David sent word to Joab, 'Send me Uriah the Hittite.' .... Then David said to Uriah, 'Go down to your house, and wash your feet.' And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, 'Uriah did not go down to his house,' David said to Uriah, 'Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?' Uriah said to David, 'The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.' Then David said to Uriah, 'Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.' So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day, and the next. And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house. In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, 'Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.'” (2 Samuel 11:2–15, RSV)
People make mistakes. It happens. You can't be perfect all the time. You can make big mistakes. You can make small mistakes. You can fail to remember a needed item. You might forget to return the milk to the refrigerator. Some mistakes are small enough to be overlooked. Some mistakes are bigger and require more than just an apology but some kind of restitution. Huge mistakes, like accidentally putting the car into forward when you thought you put in reverse upon leaving the garage, can cost a lot of money. Forgetting to put a sign saying, "wet cement" by the mailbox might bother the mailman who now is ankle deep in concrete. Failing to fix the broken door in an airplane once caused a midair accident. Mistakes happen. People fail. Problems occur.
I love reading the bulletin bloopers that come across my desk. They are filled with mistakes put into bulletins and just slipped past the secretary or the pastor. Like the bulletin announcement about the Easter breakfast that read.... "The pastor would appreciate if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning." In another bulletin was stated: "This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar." How about the information in the bulletin, which was supposed to say, "Ushers will seat latecomers". Instead, it said, "Ushers will eat latecomers." One Church sign accidentally included this wisdom: "Don't let worry kill you. Let the Church help." Or the church sign that said in error: "Thursday night-Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow."
Mistakes are part of life. You should expect them to occur. The problem is not that mistakes might happen to you. The problem is what will you do when they happen? Some people believe they are too perfect. Some don't like to admit when they are wrong. There are those who don't notice their mistake or sin. There are people who blame others instead of repenting for their errors. Mistakes should make us straighten up and fly right. Instead, most people just try to cover up their mistakes, their sins, or their failures. Usually, that is the worse thing you can do.
You've probably heard the adage, "Two wrongs don't make a right." If a person is wrong about something, he or she might be tempted to create another wrong to make it right. When a woman gets pregnant before marriage, you have a mistake. She will have a tough time raising a child alone. But if the woman marries the father only because she is pregnant, she is making a second mistake. Will that make the first mistake better or worse?
A man lost his license due to drunken driving. A month after losing his license, he drove to the store to get some supplies. Though driving on a suspended license, he figured it was just a few blocks. On the way to the store, a policeman caught him rolling through a red light. The man was so upset about his being caught with a suspended license, that he tried to elude the police officer and drove through the country at high speeds trying to escape. In the end, an accident totaled his $25,000 car and he spent six months in jail. If he would have just stopped and admitted to his mistake, he'd have been given a $300 ticket. That's it. Because he used a mistake to try and cover another mistake, he is spending months in jail.
In our scripture for today, one of the most famous and decorated men of the Old Testament made a mistake, a sin. Instead of coming clean, he tried to cover up this sin with another sin. Two deaths were the result of his cover up. An innocent man died, and a child died. God placed the blame at David's feet.
In the book of Second Samuel, David is sitting on top of the world. He is leader of a vast and successful army. He is a respected figure in the land. At the pinnacle of his accomplishments, he was put in a difficult situation. One spring day, David went up to his roof to look over the city. His roof was very high compared to the others in the area. From his roof, he could look down on the whole city. As he looked, he saw a beautiful woman. David sent for her, and though he knew she was married, he had sex with her anyway.... mistake number one. He should have just confessed and dealt with the consequences. But no, he made another mistake by trying to cover it up.
When David discovered Bathsheba was pregnant, he didn't want to tarnish his reputation. Instead, he tried to cover up his sin. He called for her husband, a soldier named Uriah, to come to town. David attempted to get Uriah to sleep with his wife, thus covering up the pregnancy, but Uriah was a soldier who felt his duty more important. Uriah stayed on duty instead of going home and having sex with his wife.
Failing to cover up the pregnancy, David made mistake number three. He sent Uriah back to the war, and arranged for his death. This was another huge mistake. After Uriah was killed in battle, David then married Bathsheba. He figured that her pregnancy and his adultery and murder would be hidden. But God knew everything. David had made mistake upon mistake upon mistake to cover up the first mistake.
God was angry. God told Nathan, the prophet what David had done. Nathan confronted David. Not only did David have to admit his mistake of adultery, he had to suffer the consequences of the murder. David paid dearly for these mistakes, even watching the child die for his sin. Why did he cover it up? Why did he use one mistake to cover another?
It is my belief that many of us at some time or other care more about our image or reputation than about what is right. We don't like to look stupid. We like others to think we are perfect or that we don't fail. The fact is we all fail. Even the scripture tells us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). One of the greatest errors in life is when we cover up our sins and failures just to look good. How does it help to have one mistake cover another? Wouldn't it be better to admit to one mistake than make two or more mistakes while trying to cover things up? Not to some people. How about to you?
A young woman was at a party with a lot of underage drinking. She was seventeen and it was illegal for her to be at that party. Still, she was determined to have fun with her friends. Drinking a few beers, she was feeling pretty full of herself. Then, a knock came at the door. When the boy who lived at the house opened the door, police in blue uniforms shouted for everyone to stay where they were. The young woman thought to herself... "What would my dad do if I got arrested for underage drinking? He'd kill me!" So, she made a mistake to try and cover her mistake. She saw a window and jumped through it to try and escape the house. What she didn't know was that outside the window was a dog's kennel. Twelve stitches were required to fix the gashes made by the dog next door in whose kennel she broke headfirst.
She now lives with her scars and her mistakes are visible to all.
It's usually better just to admit when you are wrong, but some people just don't like to do that. All King David had to do was admit his adultery with Bathsheba, but he wouldn't do that. He immediately sought for a way to get out of his predicament. This ended up with two people dead and his personal history forever stained. Many think they can cover up sins that God doesn't want covered up. It proves to be their undoing. You can't cover up your mistakes from God. You think God doesn't know when you are covering up a mistake by making another? Sometimes, its better just to admit when you're wrong... if you are adult enough to face it.
Mistakes happen in life. What you do with a mistake shows how righteous you are before God. Facing your mistakes shows your level of humility and the maturity of your faith. If you choose to make a mistake to try and cover your mistake, you will find yourself in more hot water in your life. We all make mistakes. It's what you do when that happens that shows if God and justice mean anything to you. Do you have something to say now? Is there something you'd like to pray about at this moment?
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11 NIV84)
The words of Philippians 2: 5-11, are known to be very old, possibly the first known "hymn" of the New Testament era church. Despite the fact that these words don't rhyme or sound like a song, it is believed by scholars that they do form a "hymn" from the church of the first century. This "hymn" tells of Jesus, why he did what he did; and about us, what we are to do because of Him. The hymn states that “Jesus emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Later in this "hymn" we are told, ”He humbled himself” (Philippians 2:8). Jesus was not in search of kingly power or rule, nor was he particularly desirous to die as an example to all. He was a humble person. Not a shy person, but a humble one, one who acted in every way as a servant. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, served the communion meal to his followers, broke bread with the sinners and common folk, and visited the sick. He didn’t mind if the people were dirty and unwashed. He didn’t hold back if they had sickness. He was sent by the Heavenly Father to be their servant. He healed and helped, loved and taught. He still serves us. No matter how ugly, or sick, or dirty, or bad we may look, Christ still comes to us.
However, in today’s world, there are few who want to be servants like Him. Leaders are exalted and servants are overlooked. Power players and stars are idolized, while the faithful worker is bypassed. The rich are envied and the poor are shunted aside. Those with power are given special treatment, while those who show true love are maligned. Everyone, it seems, wants to be at the top; some at all costs. Who wants to serve anybody in this world anymore? You?
In a resume, a person may expound on what diplomas and education one has received, or what experience one has obtained. I've yet to see a resume where a person is proud of being a servant to others; maybe an achiever, but not a servant. People are known to say: “You have to sell yourself”, not "You have to humble yourself” like Jesus in the scripture above. In many companies, its the man or woman who neglects his or her family that gets ahead. It is "out of fashion" to be a servant.
In our schools, there is pressure to be part of the “IN” group, on this or that team, or friends with this or that person. Snap Chat, Facebook, and other social media press people to be "liked", not to emulate service to others. Peer pressures push one to strive to be among the best, not with the least. In the school halls, you may hear, “Don’t talk to him, he’s a loser”, “You have to really be a cheerleader to be anything”, or, “Here drink this, you’ll fit in”. It’s difficult for a young person to grow up to be a servant.
Wives, whose husbands already make good money, are going to work, while their newborn children are going off to the day care centers. Who wants to be a stay-at-home mother or father with children anymore? What father would spend time with his child and ignore a “Big game”? A recent article I read stated: "What woman today would want to be "tied down" with a child in today's world?" Serving others, raising children, giving of one's self to others, just doesn't compute.
In Philippians 2:5-11, being a servant is half of what it means to be like Christ. Being obedient to God the Father is the other half of the faithful equation. One may think that Christ was obedient to Himself. He was, in reality, obedient unto death to God the Father. He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing that his death was near, but remained obedient unto death. Sadly, obedience to God these days is often downplayed. Obedience to one’s country, to one’s job, to one’s team, to one’s diet or exercise schedule, all seem to be promoted in this world. Obedience to God the Father just isn’t so "popular" anymore. Some think that they can wait until they are old or sick or dying to begin being obedient to God (if ever).
Jesus, first, humbled himself and took the form of a servant, and second, was obedient to God the Father unto death on the cross. Because of these two things, being a perfect servant and being in perfect obedience, "God has highly exalted Jesus, making his name above every name" (Philippians 2:9). Every knee should bow and every tongue confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord” to the Glory of God the Father. (Philippians 4:10) For all Jesus gave of himself, his humbling and his obedience, Jesus is exalted by the Father in Heaven. It doesn't matter what the world today promotes, God the Father celebrates the service and obedience of HIS Son. God the Father celebrates when we are obedient and when we empty ourselves in humility and serve others.
In the history of the church, people have died because they were willing to call Jesus Christ their Lord. These humble servants lived in obedience to God in Christ. In 155 A.D., Polycarp of Smyrna was a great leader of the church, but hated by authorities. He dared to worship Jesus Christ as Lord. One day during prayer, Polycarp had a dream that he would be burned alive. Three days later, authorities caught him while in prayer, and set him on an ass and lead him into the city. He was ridiculed. The religious leaders pulled him aside, and said to him “Now what harm is there in saying “Lord Caesar” and in offering incense to him and saving yourself?” Polycarp answered, “Eighty-six years I have served Jesus the Christ, and he has done me no wrong, how then can I blaspheme my king who saves me?” “Curse the Christ!”, the authorities said to him. He replied: “NO”. The people built a bonfire around Polycarp, but the fire did not singe him as if he was protected by God. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were sparred from fire in the book of Daniel, so was Polycarp spared. Unable to burn him to death, they killed him with a spear. Polycarp served dozens of churches. He was obedient to God. Jesus was his Lord. The world hated him for it all.
The persecution and laughter and derision never ends when you believe Jesus Christ is Lord, when you obey God the Father and serve God Almighty. I know personally of people in the Middle East, Africa, and China who suffer for belief in these things. In El Salvador during the 1980's and 1990's, the Roman Catholic Church organized and united to reject the suffering of the poor. They spoke out against drug dealers and war. The faithful suffered the same fate as Jesus: persecution. The Roman Catholic Church has reported that more than a dozen priests, a bishop, and five nuns have been murdered. Since 1982, half of the churches have had no leader. In Guatemala, a hundred priests and nuns have been expelled or forced to leave the country by threat. Sixty parishes are without priests. Ten Roman Catholic colleges have been destroyed or closed, three convents and seminaries have been bombed, and countless faithful members have been kidnapped, murdered or have simply disappeared. Do you believe in being a servant anymore? Would you still want to obey Christ with such threats abounding? Will God hear from your lips that “Jesus is Lord”? Will you be "liked" or be faithful?
April 2
“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images. He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down ...he purified Judah and Jerusalem.... Finally, he returned to Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purified the land and the Temple, Josiah appointed [leaders] to repair the Temple of the Lord his God.”
(2 Chronicles 34:1–8 (abridged) NLT)
A man came home from the hospital. When taken to the Emergency Room three days prior, he had lots of problems. They found he had a small stroke. They found problems with his heart rhythm and diabetes. The doctors did the best they could to help the stroke. He began therapy. They taught him how to check his blood sugar and inject insulin. Then, the doctors gave him a warning that he should watch what he eats, how much he eats, and watch his blood sugar throughout the day. The doctors gave him a list of foods he should and shouldn't eat.
When the man walked in the door back home, he and his wife went immediately to the kitchen. They began to clean out the cupboards and the refrigerator. No sugar cookies. No more cakes with icing. The Crispy Cream donuts would have to go. By the time they were done, half a bag of food was taken out to the garbage can, and another half bag was to go to the local food pantry. The man turned to his wife after taking out the garbage bag and said, "What a waste of perfectly good food!" She responded, "You are more important than that food. I find it much harder to live without you. If I have to clean out the refrigerator and cupboards in order to help you live, I'll do whatever it takes."
In your spiritual life, you will find that there are moments when you will have to go through your spiritual life and throw some things out that are bad for you as well. You know that nagging guilt because of a past sin? It will have to be taken to God and cleaned up. You know that nasty habit you have that God has a problem with? That will have to go as well. Do you have bad thoughts about yourself as a person? Time to deal with it. Every so often, you need to take a spiritual inventory, keeping what is spiritually good, and getting rid of those things that don't belong in heart , mind, or soul. Do you have periods of doubt in faith? The book of James says doubt can make you spiritually weaker and drive you to indecision (James 1:6). Is there anger in your heart about a situation you can't change or fix? God says, "Don't let the sun go down still angry." (Ephesians 4:26) You will have to get rid of that anger, giving it over to God. Are there thoughts in your mind that crop up but shouldn't be there? Does Satan put thoughts in your head that manipulate you or deceive you? Do you lie to yourself about something? With all these issues, you may need to let something go, give something up, and cleanse your mind and Spirit from the mess.
Imagine if you never cleaned your house? How would you like living there? How about if you never brushed your teeth? How would you feel talking to people? Stop bathing for a few weeks, and see how you smell! Cleansing is good for the body as well as good for the heart and soul.
In the Old Testament book of Second Chronicles, chapter thirty-four, King Josiah came into power. One of the first things he did was to tear down the places of idol worship and dismantle the altars to other gods. He felt that if the country continued to worship these idols, God would not bless the land. Scripture says here that Josiah purged the evil places where carved poles of idols were set up. He cut to pieces the altars set up to burn incense to other gods. He smashed the idols used to worship foreign gods. By doing these things, he began to purify the land.
When you dirty your mind with addictive pornography or you mess up your life with music and media that promote violence, hatred, envy, jealousy, adultery, and more... there comes a time when spiritually you will become unclean before God. In those times of life, you need to purify, to cleanse, to clean up your spiritual life. Just as people go about opening up the windows and doing spring cleaning after a long cold winter, you may need to open your heart up to God, confess your sins to God, admit your guilt and failings, tell another you are sorry, and generally purify and cleanse your spiritual life. If you've become judgmental toward another or think you are better than others spiritually, you may have to humble yourself and cleanse your heart from bitterness. From time to time in your life this is a healthy habit for you not only physically but spiritually.
Josiah did this spiritual cleaning throughout the land of Judah and then in Jerusalem. He knew that the land was full of impurities, full of people who worshiped other gods, full of sinfulness. He knew it was time to cleanse the land. After tearing down the idols, Josiah moved his attention to the Temple. He had it rebuilt and blessed. He asked for God to come to that holy place again, and dwell with the people in the sanctuary. Josiah knew it had to be done. Usually, before a wound will heal, you've got to first clean out the wound. A spiritual wound is no different.
John had some new friends in school. With those friends came a new stash. He had a hidden stash of drugs in his bedroom that he bought from one of his new friends. His parents, of course, did not know about his new friends let alone the stash. He kept the stash for himself, to use when his parents were away, to take with him to parties. At one party he attended, most of the people were using drugs. The police came and broke up the party. He was arrested for underage drinking, but he had dumped the drugs before he was caught. On the drive home from the police station, John's father said, "OK, I think its about time you come clean. What have you been doing? And who were you doing it with?" John lied through his teeth. He'd never told his father anything true, whatsoever.
So many of us have our stash of something. It might be in a closet. It might be on the computer. It might be hidden in our mind, or buried in our thoughts. We have hidden thoughts, a hidden past, a hidden fear, a hidden sin. God wants you to come clean. God wants you to throw away those things that you know HE doesn't want in your life and to cleanse your life from things that are no good for your body, mind, or soul. Are you going to come clean? Are you going to hold on to your hidden sin?" Josiah found that the only way to live with himself was to purify the land. The only way God would come back to his life was to get rid of those things that were against God. If you find that your life is off-track, or your prayers are just falling flat, or your time with God is not blessing you, maybe its because there's something in your life you have to clean up first: a mess that needs some tending to. Do you need to come clean about something? God is waiting. Isn't it about time?
April 3
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)
There can be times in life when we think there is no way out for us. We can look at a situation and it looks hopeless. Some years ago, an unemployed worker from Germany who was thirty-one years old read a pamphlet at an optometrist's office about AIDS that told all about the disease. The man determined from the enclosed list that had all of the symptoms. He had messed around with drugs in his life, and was convinced by the pamphlet that he had AIDS. He didn't want his wife and kids to suffer with the disease. He knew that based on the time he was infected, they would be too. He didn't want anyone to know he had caused the destruction of his family. He didn't want to be ostracized from his friends and ridiculed by his neighbors because of the deadly disease, so he told no one about his diagnosis. He worried himself silly about the future. One night, when everyone in the family was asleep peacefully, he strangled his wife and 4 year old daughter. He suffocated his two year old son. He then killed himself. Later, police found out that the man did not even have AIDS. If only he would have taken that blood test. The man thought his only way out was to kill himself and his family. There was another way. He didn't see it.
There is a verse from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians that talks about finding a way out in tough times in life. Verse thirteen from the scripture reading above is that verse. For this meditation, I will concentrate on only that one verse. Why? Because I believe this one verse is so important that an entire sermon can easily be built around its meaning and intention.
I Corinthians 10:13 begins with these words... "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man." Paul, in talking to the people in the church at Corinth, wanted them to know that everyone is tempted in some way in life. Temptations are a part of the life of human beings. Some think God tempts us, but the book of James tells us that God never tempts anyone (James 1:13). But while God does not tempt us, the devil does tempt us. In Matthew 4, Jesus is tempted by the Devil in the wilderness to give up on God the Father in Heaven and to serve the Devil. As Jesus was tempted, so are we. Every human being is tempted. Usually you are tempted by those things you want most. When Jesus was in the wilderness with no food or water, the devil was sure to offer Jesus food to tempt him. Maybe you are tempted by the lures of money. Maybe by the trappings of illicit sex or drugs, maybe by success or power. Maybe your pride or ambition or jealousy is what tempts you. Temptations are a part of our world. A dangerous part. You see, when you are tempted, and yousuccumb to those temptations, the consequences can really cost you.
But God has not given you over to the Devil to be tempted beyond your strength. God looks out for you. In verse thirteen above, it goes on to say that "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." Though you are tempted, though there are temptations in all of life, though those temptations can cost you dearly if you succumb to them, though Satan loves to tempt you, you are not as a person of real faith given over to temptation. God is faithful. God looks out for you. God will not let you be tempted beyond your strength. God will help you endure, make it through. God will provide for you a way.
Now, I want you to read this verse very closely. It says that God will not let "You be tempted beyond your strength." Who is YOU? It's not just anybody. Paul was writing to the Corinthian church. Those who are in a relationship with God will be the ones that God keeps an eye on. The faithful are the ones who God will be watching over. They are the ones to whom Paul speaks in this verse. They are the ones who will not be tempted beyond their strength. God will, in the moment of temptation, give the truly faithful a way out.
God cares when faithful people are tempted by evil. God knows our pain and hurt. God knows that inside of us there is this fight to do what is right and to be lured by all those nice goodies of this world. God cares when we are tempted. Jesus knew what it was like to be tempted. He knew the suffering of the mind caused by the cares of this world. Thankfully, God gives you a way out of temptation always. When temptation comes upon you, God will be there with the way of escape, that way out.
What does it mean that God will give you a way of escape when you are tempted? It doesn't mean that when things get tough in life God will give you a way out so that you never have to face hard decisions. You will still have to deal with problems and realities and mistakes. God will help you to face those failures, make amends, and work things out. Though this may be difficult, God will make it right. God's way out may not be easier on your pride or easy to do. It is just God's way to do it right.
I am reminded of the Pastor who made too many appointments and had too much work for the week. Time came to prepare for the sermon. He said to himself, "I'll trust that the Lord will bring me through." He went to sleep without studying, without opening one book. The next day, his sermon was disjointed and rambling. Even his wife said, "Honey, what was wrong?" The pastor was upset and prayed to God, "God, I trusted in you. i relied on you. I asked for you to make it happen." For days, he was upset with God. Then one afternoon, his child came home from school with a bad grade. The father was disappointed and asked why she did so poorly. After hearing her excuses, he shouted at her, "You should've studied." At that moment, a great light came on in his head. It was as if a light bulb was turned on in there. He grew quiet, because he knew it was God saying to him, "You, pastor, should have studied." Though God provides a way out when you are tempted, he does not help you to shirk your responsibilities. You must still do what is right in HIS eyes.
In those moments of temptation, if you are one of his faithful ones, expect that God is working out a way for you to make it through. In those difficult moments in life, God already has a plan. All you need to do is see His plan and act upon it. Through prayer and study, through knowing God and God's ways, through talking to other faithful people, you will be able to see which way to go. God will show it to you. When life gets tough, when temptations arise, when there are difficulties abounding, look for God's hand and way. Expect HIM to be working for you. Why? Isn't it yet obvious how HE loves you?
A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, "I should have one of the parachutes, because I have a wife and four children." So he took one and jumped. The computer whiz said, "I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me." So he took one and jumped. The minister turned to the Boy Scout and with a sad smile said, are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute and I'll go down with the plane." The Boy Scout said, "Relax, Reverend. the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!"
When you are in dangerous, threatening, frightening, humbling, or hurting situations in life: SEEK GOD. When these come, God will always provide a way through the mess. When you are tempted to fall away, to fall flat on your face and fail, HE will be there. No, that doesn't mean God will always make sure there are enough parachutes on board, or make sure someone forgets and takes a knapsack. What it does mean is that whoever is of God will always be given a way to make it, even if death. With Jesus came a way out of sin, it's called forgiveness. With Jesus came a way out of death, it's called heaven. With Jesus came a way out of worldliness, it's called righteousness. God always provides a path. Can you see it today?
April 4
“Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he (Jesus) was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.” (Mark 15:43–47 NIV)
There once was this turntable bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day, the bridge sat perpendicular with train tracks, allowing ships to pass freely on both sides. But at certain times each day a train would come along, and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river allowing the train to cross. A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place before the train crossed.
One evening, as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day, he looked off into the distance through the dimming twilight and caught sight of the signals. Then, he heard the train in the distance. He waited until the train was within a prescribed distance when he was to turn the bridge into position. At the precise time, he turned the bridge, but to his horror, found that the locking control malfunctioned. If the bridge was not locked into position securely, it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train came onto it. This would cause the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This last train was a passenger carrier with many people aboard. He left the shack, and hurried across to the other side of the river where there was a lever he could use to operate the lock manually.
After running across the bridge to reach the far lock, he could hear the rumble of the train coming closer. He took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man's strength. Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack he heard a sound that made his blood run cold: "Daddy, where are you?" His four year old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run, run!" but the train was too close, and the little boy's legs would not make it across the bridge in time The man almost lifted the lever to run and snatch up his son, and carry him to safety, but he realized he could not get back to the lever in time. Either the people on the train or his little son must die. He took just a moment to make his decision. The train sped swiftly and safely on it's way, and no one aboard was aware of the tiny, broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the rushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of a sobbing man still clinging tightly to the lever long after the train had passed. They didn't see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked to tell his wife how he had sacrificed her son.
Now if you can comprehend the feelings which went through this switchman's heart, you can understand the feeling of our Heavenly Father when he sacrificed his Son to bridge the gap between you and eternal life. How does He feel when you speed along through life without giving a thought to what was done for you through his Son, Jesus Christ? Can there be any wonder that God the Father caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His only Son died? The Heavenly Father sent Jesus to be a bridge for you between life and heaven, a bridge to cross from faithless to faithful. He sent Jesus to make a difference in this world, but this Son of God was killed by the hands of men.
Throughout history, we see over and over how innocent people get killed. In Iraq, innocent Kurds were killed in order to get control of their territories. In ISIS-held lands, Yazidis were killed off or sold into slavery. In Bosnia, Moslems were killed in ethnic cleansing. In Africa, a warlord kept UN food on the docks while innocent people starved to death. Throughout history, innocents have suffered and died. Their memories fade with time for us... but not for God the Father. His only begotten Son, Jesus, was sent as an innocent ambassador to teach us how to be faithful. For this, he was put to death. He is numbered among the innocents who have suffered and died in our world. Jesus was even placed in a tomb that was not his own. How is it that the greatest gift to humankind did not even have a tomb? We are told in the gospel of Mark above that after Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body of Jesus. He took Jesus’ body and buried him in a family tomb. Joseph wanted Jesus to be buried as a good man, in hallowed ground.
Just this week, I read again of the unmarked graves of 1500 people in Northern Iraq who were murdered to silence their voices. Just like Jesus, there are people with unmarked graves, buried to hide the murders, buried because they were forgotten by others, buried in unmarked graves. Each week it seems, we have another body that is found, a child who disappeared, a woman never came home from work, and bones are discovered. Our world is not safe for the innocent.
You are a faithful Christian! Your job is like that of Joseph. You must watch over innocent people and seek the truth if they are abused, neglected, or murdered. You do not look past the poor, the needy, the destitute. You remember what they did to Christ, and desire to watch over the innocents of our world. You strive to be just and righteous as an example to your Lord.
Not far from where I grew up, construction workers were digging up an area for a water expansion project. As the backhoe was digging a ditch for piping, the workers noticed something come up in the bucket. They stopped the machine and went to examine. There, they found a coffin. The lid had been nailed shut. Inside, was a man who was now only a skeleton. What was in the coffin shocked them. They saw on the inside top of the coffin, on the nailed cover, that there were claw marks. The man had been buried alive. Many believe the man was knocked unconscious by a thief or enemy, then buried in the box, nailed in, and covered with dirt before he could wake up. The killers thought the man’s coffin would never be found and opened. They were wrong. God knew he was there. Nobody knows the name of that poor man, except God. God knows who tried to cover up the man’s death. God knows who tried to seal the coffin and hide the evidence. God's eyes don’t miss anything.
When Joseph sealed the tomb of Jesus, there were some who thought... "Well that’s the end of the Jesus problem." They were wrong. God knew where Jesus was laid. God knew which tomb held the Son. God was not about to let Him lay in that tomb forever. God was going to roll that stone away.
Everything that evil people do in secret, God knows. I also know that God gets even one way or another. When people pronounced Jesus would die, God made it so He would not die forever. God will have the last word. Don’t begin to think you can ever hide your sin, cover it up, or bury it. It will come back to haunt you. You must come to God, and seek repentance. God will not stand for you to hurt others or yourself. If you cause unrighteous suffering or death, God will turn against you. God always watches over the innocents, the hurting, the truthful, the honest, the faithful. God keeps a record of right and wrong.
The tomb was not the end of Jesus’ life, because God the Father was with Him. And just as God will right the wrong of Jesus’ death, so God will right the wrongs in your life, and in the lives of innocent people everywhere. God requires you to speak the truth, to look out for the needy, to watch over especially the innocent of our world. God will want you to care for those who need Him or need justice. Joseph of Arimathea took care of Jesus' body after death. God will take care of yours, too. In the meantime, who will God require you take care of? What soul will he send you to care for today? How can you pray for, help, or watch over an innocent person today?
April 5
“Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.”
(Matthew 23:1–7 RSV)
If you read through chapter 23 of Matthew in its entirety, you will find that over and over the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus day were condemned by our Lord. Jesus calls them "hypocrites" no less than six times in the chapter (verses 13,15,23, 25, 27,29). He also calls them "blind guides” in verse sixteen, and “blind men” several times. Their being blind or blind guides suggests that they do not know how to lead God's people. He railed against them further calling them serpents, a bunch of snakes, and hell-bound all in verse thirty-three of this chapter. You might think that the Pharisees and scribes were overly bad people based on these figures. They were not. They were very religious people. It's just that they failed to do one major thing. They failed to live out God’s word in their daily lives. In Jesus' word they did not put into "practice what they preached."
Matthew 23 begins with Jesus saying to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat." Based on the book of Exodus, Moses seat was the place of judgment in the Jewish community. It was the place where Moses judged court cases. From that seat, Moses helped teach the people about God's will and judge cases of conflict between God's people. In Jesus' day, the Pharisees and scribes had essentially taken Moses' place on the judgment seat. They were to decide fairly according to God's word, just as Moses did centuries before. They were religious leaders of Jesus' era. In Jesus' eyes, their purpose was to lead the people to follow God. That is what they were supposed to do, but they did not do it well. Oh yes, they were religious, but Jesus went on to say this about them: "practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach but do not practice." (Matthew 23:3) The Pharisees and scribes did preach, but they themselves did not practice what they preached.
Not practicing what you preach is common to all generations.
In 1989, in Harlingen Texas, Dan Henderson was on the city desk when a man dropped by the office and said that he was from Cleveland, Ohio. His name was Don Richards. He was visiting the Valley. He was crusading there and everywhere "to encourage more motorists to use their safety belts." He said that his wife had been killed in a comparatively minor car accident because she did not have her lap strap buckled. Mr. Richards said, 'You newspaper people should do more to encourage the proper use of seat belts." One year later, the newspaper received word from Cleveland that Crusader Don Richards was himself involved in a head-on car crash on a rural road. His head went through the windshield and he died. State Police say he was not wearing his seat belt.
In Jesus' day, the scribes and Pharisees had a bad reputation among many of the people. Jesus tells us here in this scripture some of the ways they too didn't practice what they would preach.... " They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men …. and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues…" (Matthew 23:4-7) By these words, Jesus suggested that the religious leaders and people of the day wanted to be seen as religious people in the community, but they were not willing to do what a godly person would do. They told other people to follow the law and do what it required, even if that burden was heavy, even if the sentence was harsh. When it came to their own sin, they were overly lenient. They were not required to do many difficult things. In a sense, they looked good but did not practice that goodness. They looked holy, but really were not. They acted religious but they did not practice what they preached. They were, as Jesus called them: hypocrites.
The book of Proverbs has a very important verse we all should memorize: "Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." (Proverbs 26:12) The Pharisees really thought they were religious in their own eyes. They were wrong, weren't they? It was so obvious to Jesus, why couldn't they see it? What kind of people were those Pharisees and scribes to be blind to their own hypocrisy? Yet you and I are probably guilty of the same. So often, you and I don't even see our own failings. Do you realize when you don't practice what you preach?
There are many people who exhibit hypocrisy. After worship, a father told me it was terrible that people don't help the homeless. He said, and I quote, "What's wrong with those people who don't help the poor?" I happen to know that same father didn't even notice it when his own child needed psychological help. The same woman who might complain about a neighbor who wastes her money might be found with forty or more pairs of shoes. The father who gets angry at his son for hanging around friends who are a bad influence may forget when he and his friends were detained by police for bad behavior. A man was overheard complaining about the amount of time his family spent in front of the television and computer. His children watched too many cartoons and neglected their schoolwork. His wife watched too many soap operas and was on Facebook all day long. His solution was told to the family, "As soon as the baseball season's over, I'm going to pull the plugs on the TV and computers."
This meditation might be for the man who said that God was important, but was never at church to show others who he believes in. It might be for the woman who said, “I love you”, but doesn’t show it. It might be for the mother who calls herself a Christian, but spends more time each week shopping than doing anything for God. It might be for the young person who sings in church on Sunday, but abuses alcohol on Wednesday.
Today, I want you to consider just who Jesus intended this scripture for. Be careful, you might find that this meditation wasn’t only for someone else. It was for you. Why is that?
April 6
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak...”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1–7 RSV)
The family just witnessed their precious mother die. I was the Chaplain on duty at the time. It was a tough moment. I tried to comfort them in Christian love. She was only 37. Cancer killed her. She left two children behind, both girls less than ten years old. They didn't understand what was happening. The father cried non-stop while I was in the room. He was numb. While we were trying to cope with that young mother's death, an old uncle walked into the room. He was a little too boisterous, and I knew he was going to say something wrong. He did. He turned to the man who just lost his wife and said, "Everybody's got to die sometime, right?" I cringed. Yes, he was right. Everybody has to die sometime, but you don't tell that to a man who just lost his wife!! Bad timing.
In my ministry, there have been a hundreds of moments when people said something or did something at the wrong time. In each situation, it messed everything up. The wedding of two young people, I will never forget. As pastor, I enjoyed the festivities before their wedding. The two loved each other. They were good kids. They had their whole lives ahead of them. It was a special day - one I know now they'd never forget. During the rehearsal, I found out that one set of parents was divorced. The mother didn't want the father invited to the wedding. At the rehearsal, the tension was palpable. The mother chastised the father during the rehearsal a number of times. At one point, she said, "He shouldn't be here. He deserted us. He fooled around on me. He's a sad example of a father."
This feud between the divorced parents put a damper on the whole wedding. The bride and groom couldn't enjoy the day, both worrying when a fight would break out. The mother was right. The father had fooled around on her. She was right: he was a bad example for a father. Still, there's a time to say that and a time to shut up. The wedding was the absolutely wrong time for her to remind us all of this. She ultimately ruined the wedding.
Some people don't understand that there's a time to do things and a time not to do them. There's a time to say something and a time to keep your mouth closed. The Old Testament long ago recognized this fact. In Ecclesiastes, we find some famous words to support it: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Everything has a season or a right time. There is a time to do things and a time not to do them. Our scripture lists some of the times of life. It begins with the boundaries in life: "There is a time to be born, and a time to die;" (Ecclesiastes 3:2) There is “a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;” Farmers have long known this one. There is ...” a time to kill, and a time to heal;” (Ecclesiastes 3:3). In Hebrew this verse can also be interpreted as ”There is a time to destroy and a time to heal.” There is "a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance… a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.." (Ecclesiastes 3:4-5) Ultimately, each and every one of these verses is clear that timing is everything and that timing is crucial to many things in life. If your timing is off, things might not go so well for you.
In the list of times and seasons here in Ecclesiastes 3, one timing is key for me today. There is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;” (Ecclesiastes 3:7) It's hard to know when to keep silent and when to speak. Quiet people never say enough. They hold things inside. They miss opportunities to say the right thing to someone who needs to hear it. You never quite know what they think. Wonderful ideas are held back when they should be shared. When it comes to talking of Christ, many quiet people never say anything to a neighbor or friend about what they believe. When a wrong is being done, they will not speak up or defend what is right. On the other hand, there are noisy people! They may love to hear themselves talk. They don't know when to shut up! They might talk in church, speak out of turn, or be the ones who talk all during a movie at the theater! They will be the ones who butt in on conversations or dominate them. They might talk about God all the time "ad nauseum", seeming overly self-righteous. All these quiet and boisterous people should remember that there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak.
But this verse is even more important for everyone. When you are in a fight with your spouse, it’s not the time to talk about what you want for Christmas! In the midst of an interview for a new job, don't grumble about all your previous employers. When you just had your first accident with your parents car, it probably is the wrong time to ask your parents about taking a road trip with your friends for spring break! And when you just brought home a report card full of bad grades, its probably not a good time to ask for a higher allowance. Even such phrases as "I love you" or "I'm sorry" can be said at the wrong time (or the wrong way at the right time!)! Many of us could benefit from taking Ecclesiastes 3:7 to heart. There’s a time to speak and a time to just be quiet (even when in a relationship with God!).
Do you do things and say things at the right time? Romans 5:6 says that "at the right time, Jesus died for the ungodly." Even Jesus was doing things at the perfect time. There is a right time for everything under heaven as these verses speak. You've got to know when that right time is to say or do something. Are you impatient? Do you act impulsively? Or do you wait too long and procrastinate? Through prayer, you will know when it’s the right time for what God wants. If you listen to Him, the answers are there. Wait for God's time to be right.
One day, while in prayer, I thought of a friend. I didn't know why this her name popped into my head. The more I thought about her, the less I found myself able to pray. Finally, I gave up praying and knew God wanted me to do something. I went to the phone and called this woman from my church just to check on her. Only a minute into the call, she said, "You know, I just got some bad news. I was kind of upset. I feel like talking." We talked for an hour. Later, she told me how that phone call came at the perfect time. So often, God does that for me. At the right time, God plants a bug in my ear and things just fall into place. When you follow God's timing, you are given the right situation to accomplish just what is needed.
If there is anything in these verses for you to hold onto, please remember God's timing. There is a time for everything under heaven. Find the right time, God's time, for something to be done. God always has a right time for everything. If there is something bothering you today, something that has you hurt or anxious or angry, give it to God. In God’s time, things will be made right.
Time goes by so quickly. Time slips through our fingers. God's timing can also slip away if you fail to act upon it. Choose your time wisely. What needs your attention today? Is God waiting for something from you? Is it time to make something right? Is it time to change things? Timing is everything.
April 7
“You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them; that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out. And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them... I am the Lord your God, who have separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean.... You shall be holy to me; for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” (Leviticus 20:22–26 RSV)
In the book of Leviticus, we have various priestly laws. Though they are called priestly laws, priests were not the only ones required by God to follow these laws. Both priests and people had to keep these commands. They were given by God to Moses according to tradition. These laws were and are central to the Jewish faith from ancient days until today. Jesus practiced these laws, trusting in God's commandments.
Nestled in these laws in Leviticus is a demand of God I want to highlight today. In Leviticus 20, Moses tells the people that whether they are in the promised land or the wilderness, wherever they are, they are to fulfill this command of God: "You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them … you shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I hated them." (Leviticus 20:22-23) God here requires that the Israelites NOT follow the ungodly morals, ethics, and ways of the unfaithful in the places where they live. They are to follow God's commands and customs; follow God’s rules and God’s law.
The Israelites were thus required to be different from those who lived by other worldly traditions and methods. They had to live God's way. As the scripture says later.... "I am the LORD your God, who have separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean… You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine." (Leviticus 20:24-26) Essentially, to be truly faithful, you cannot follow other gods, other religious traditions, and ungodly customs. God made the faithful a holy people. They are to follow God's ways before the ways of this world; holy to God alone.
To understand these verses, you need to know what it means to be holy. In our scripture, the word for "holy" in Hebrew is. . ."kadosh". "Kadosh" comes from the root "kadash" meaning set apart and separate. To be holy, "kadosh", means to be set apart for Godly reasons, "kadash". For example, an altar is set apart for worship; it is thus holy, separate, "kadosh". If you think about it, YOU can even be "kadosh", holy, set apart for God's work. It is no surprise to me that the Hebrew word for sanctuary is "kedesh", which means a place set apart for worship, a holy place to seek God.
Whenever you find in our Bible the word holy, it means set apart, different, set aside for God's use. There are no exceptions to this meaning of "holy" in our Bible. To be holy, you too must be set apart, different, Godly. Our scripture for today makes this clear when in two places God tells the people to be separate from the people around them who are not holy. It says," I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples," and also…"You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine." When God wants something to be holy, He sets it apart, expects it to be special and different from everything else. That includes you. You can be holy, set apart for God’s purpose.
You might be thinking. "I’m not holy. Do I look holy? I’m not good enough to be holy!" If you are thinking these things today, you better reconsider. You see, the scripture doesn’t say YOU PICK who and what is holy. GOD PICKS what is holy and set apart for His work. Notice, God says here in our verses... “I have separated you from other people so that you should be mine.” God has called you in a special way and has set you apart to be holy. It is up to you to show forth the holiness God has put around and within you.
When God calls us and we offer ourselves to Him, he sets us aside as holy, special, sacred, set apart from everything else in creation. He guards us with angels, talks with us in prayer, marks us for heaven. We are forever special to God. Exodus 33:17 even tells us that when you accept God's will and ways, God will then know your name. God will know where you are and who you are. But all these promises hinge on your following the command in Leviticus 20, our scripture for today.
If you read the command in Leviticus, it is clear that to follow God's command, you must remain different from those who are not of God. You are not, as our scripture says, "to be like the other people" in the world. It tells us clearly in verse 23 that. . . . "you shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting out before you." Sadly, churches and church people today are more worldly than holy. The church has become a product of our world. I know churches that are more interested in making good investments than caring for the homeless. I know churches that are more concerned with getting the membership numbers up than concerned with their members living faithfully. There are some churches whose youth programs consist only of pizza parties, lock-ins, and camps, but during those events there is seldom a discussion of true faith. So too, sports programs in churches have always been popular. But how many times have those sports teams prayed together or shared the faith with those at the games? In all too many churches, programs have replaced the gospel. In so many cases, the church is like the world in most every way. It is not holy.
Do you act just like everyone else? Are others able to discern whether or not you are a Christian? How often I have talked about members of my church only to be told, "I never knew they went to church much. Never saw them as the churchgoing type." You are to be different, special, holy. Can others see this in you?
The world will teach you to climb over others in the ladder of success. It will teach you to do whatever it takes to get whatever you need. It will tell you that you deserve more, better, faster. In some cases our world is saying work is more important than your family. In the world, success is more important than compassion; power is more important than peace; money is much more important than love. OK, that's what our world says. Doesn't God say something different? Are you worldly or godly, secular or holy?
A number of years ago, a fifth grade teacher was accused and found guilty of violating the First Amendment by our U.S. Supreme Court. This teacher did not keep the "Separation of Church and State" clause because he put a Bible on his desk at school. Our country preaches to us that we must adhere to the ways of this world. Sometimes, in order to be a Christian, you will act differently, live differently than the world (I hope and pray!). Jesus knew this, and said, "I am not of this world."(John 8:23) You are different, special, holy, separate from the ways of this world, set aside for God's glory.
God wants you to be holy. At some time in your life, God will call you to stand up against an ungodly world. Will you change your life to follow God’s ways? Today, God is giving you a chance to remain holy, to become holy, or to be holy. God is wanting to see how you will answer that call.
April 8
“And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me; my radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in a deep sleep with my face to the ground. And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, give heed to the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.” (Daniel 10:7–12 RSV)
One of the beatitudes in our Bible states, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”(Matthew 5:5) Upon hearing this verse, a confirmand once asked me, “Who is meek?” That was a good question.
If we look at the beatitude "Blessed are the meek…", the greek word used in this sentence for "meek" is "Praus". This word means to be meek, humble, gentle, considerate or unassuming. People who are gentle with others are meek. Those who are prideful are the antithesis of meek people, for they are humble. Meek Christians don’t look out for themselves, they look out for others. The meek person will do the right thing even if it costs him or her dignity or honor. People who are meek seek to do God’s will even if uncomfortable. Meek people consider the needs of others, looking out for the poor or disadvantaged. They reach out to help the marginalized. They notice the young girl who can't dance and the kid who’s too shy to join the game. People who are meek not only bless others, they are blessed by God.
In the book of Daniel, we hear about the prophet Daniel and his stand for the truth. Daniel would not bow down before the idol of Nebuchadnezzar. He would not eat what the king wanted him to eat. He worshiped a God who was all but forbidden in the empire. Because Daniel was so steadfast and strong-willed, you might see him as a self-serving kind of guy. In fact, Daniel was meek. He was humble.
One day, as Daniel was praying, he saw a vision of someone like an angel. Daniel was afraid of the powerful figure. The men with Daniel went and hid themselves. Daniel bowed, giving respect to the angel. As he knelt before the angel, the Angel touched him, and said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you ...Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” (Daniel 10:12) The angel then spoke of all that would happen in the future of God’s people.
Did you notice what that angel said to Daniel? “Daniel since the first day you sought to gain understanding and humbled yourself before God, your prayers were heard.” I have been asked, “Pastor Dave, does God hear my prayers?” Well this verse answers that question. If you, like Daniel, seek to gain understanding of God and humble yourself before God, your prayers will be heard. God looks out for those who seek Him and are humble before Him. They are meek. They show consideration and respect for others and ultimate consideration and respect before God. God notices faithful people like Daniel.
Think about it. God sent an angel to Daniel. God knew where Daniel lived. He knew Daniel was meek and humble. God knew Daniel wanted to be faithful. God knew all these things. How is it with millions of people on this earth at the time, God knew Daniel? How is it that the angel knew Daniel’s name? God knows the names of those who desire Him. God knows who seeks Him. God knows who stands up for Him. God knows who is meek. God knows where the faithful live.
Meekness characterizes those who serve the Lord, but not the unfaithful. Some people are overly concerned with who gets the credit. They want to look better than others. They shout to be heard. They like the spotlight. They gather "likes" and "followers" on social media. The prophet Daniel was like none of these. His purpose was to give God the glory. His hope was to be faithful through the tests of this life so that others may know God more completely. It is no surprise that God knew his name. It is not shocking to me that an angel visited him. I see it as God’s blessing that because Daniel was meek and humble, because Daniel wanted to understand God, because Daniel remained steadfast in faith during troubled times, God would know where he lived.
Are you meek, or do you like to get the glory? Do you like the praise of others, or do you like the praise of God? If you are meek, others may not know your name, but God will. Others may not see your true greatness, but God will bless your life for all those acts of godly love.
I once knew of a woman who visited a hospital each week. For years she visited those with cancer. Then, one day, she did not show up. The hospital administrator called the volunteer office to ask where she was, as patients were asking for her. The volunteer office knew the woman well, but they didn’t know her name or address! Weeks later, the hospital discovered that the woman had died from cancer herself. In memory of her great devotion, they named the cancer wing after her. In that hospital is a plaque dedicated to her with a sign that reads, “For complete devotion to helping others, for a humbleness that set her apart, for years of serving the sick and dying, she is remembered.” Even when the hospital staff didn’t know her, God knew her. She was an example to God. She was meek. She sought to know God. God knew where she lived.
Today, remember that God is to get the glory for your works of faith. You just be faithful. God will be true. Be meek and humble before Him, seek Him, and HE will remember your name. .... always and forever.
April 9
“After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves..... Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town. .......He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” .....[Jesus said] "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”” (Luke 10:1–20 RSV abridged)
Among many Christians is the belief that Jesus had only twelve disciples. In fact, there were many disciples of Jesus. While it is true that the twelve disciples were the closest to Him, Jesus had many disciples who followed Him and listened to His teaching. In Luke, chapter 10, for example, we find Jesus sending out seventy of his disciples into the country two by two. You may wonder why Jesus sent these seventy disciples out in pairs. You can cover twice as much territory if you send each one in a different direction or to a different town. It might seem more efficient to send the seventy on separate missions, but Jesus knew better. He knew that His followers needed companions of the faith on their journey. God created you to work and live best in company with others. You may think you can be happy doing everything in life by yourself, but that is a lie. In the book of Genesis, Adam was lonely without another person to share the creation. God made Eve as a helpmate for him.
You only need to live a short time to understand that everybody needs someone to be there, to share the journey of life, to have company during the trials and tribulations and joys of life. A philosopher once said, "No man is an island unto himself" It is true. We all need someone beside us. In the history of war, when someone was to be tortured, that person was often put into solitary confinement. They were not allowed to socialize with another person. They were deprived of human contact. The very process itself seems inhumane. Don't you realize that you were created to work beside other people of God?
Some have suggested that when you have Christ living in your heart, you are never alone. God will always be with you. That's true. However, we all desire a faithful friend beside us, supporting us. God made us that way. You need a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. It's not that God can't do this for you. It's that God will always send someone to help you through life when the need is great, someone to stand beside you and with you. That person may be a friend, a spouse, a child. It can change at different times of your life.
If you think that you can best worship alone, pray alone, be faithful only while alone, you don't know much about the spiritual life. You always will need others to be with you, even if they aren't. The apostle Paul shared his missions with Timothy and Titus and Luke (Acts 16:3). David, son of Jesse, had a best friend, Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:23) who saved his life. Moses had Aaron to help with the chores of leadership (Exodus 4:14ff).
An experiment on babies occurred during the Nazi era of Germany. The researchers cared completely for each child, offering every need except one. The infants were denied human touch. One by one, the children died. They concluded that human beings are social creatures who long for the love of others. We have a basic need to share ourselves and our world with others in God's name. Even Jesus had the disciples!
It was especially important in our scripture reading for today that Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, because of what they would encounter. Serving Jesus was not easy. Jesus said, "Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." (Luke 10:3) He meant that in the world, those who stand up for the faith may at times feel they are being attacked by the wolves of this world. There are unbelievers who hate Christians. There are those who would jail you for speaking about your faith. Some will make fun of you. Some may torment you. Who would want to be alone when all this suffering occurs?
Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, teach, heal, and pass on the faith. With that mission, came a big warning: He told the disciples they may not be welcomed. There might whole towns who might reject the faithful. (Luke 10:10, 13-15) This doesn't sound too comforting, does it? With the odds against them, Jesus still gave the disciples two strengths. First, he sent the disciples together in groups of two. Second, Jesus promised spiritual power. He told the disciples: "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:19,20)Jesus was going to protect His disciples on their way.
You are given missions by God as well. And the same dangers that faced those seventy disciples will face you. There will be those who reject you. There will be those who won't have faith. Satan will challenge you. The odds will be against you. You will have to love your enemies, pray for those who reject you, love those who are difficult to love, and challenge all to believe. There will always be skeptics, who doubt and ridicule your faith. God won't hold you back to protect you like an overprotective parent. God sends you out to share the faith you have. God gives you words to say. God gives you power to heal and to teach, to save and to help. Jesus goes with you on this journey of life. So too,God makes sure that others will be there to walk this faith walk with you. You are given the same promises as those disciples in these pages of the Bible.
When the seventy disciples returned from their mission trip, they shared their stories. To Jesus they said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." (Luke 10:17) With faith, comes the power to overcome evil and change the lives of others.
Gladys Aylward, missionary to China more than fifty years ago, was forced to flee when the Japanese invaded Yangcheng. She could not leave her work behind. With only one assistant, she led more than a hundred orphans over the mountains toward Free China. In the book, The Hidden Price of Greatness, the authors tell what happened: "During Gladys's harrowing journey out of war-torn Yangcheng ... she grappled with despair as never before. After passing a sleepless night, she faced the morning with no hope of reaching safety. A 13-year-old girl in the group reminded her of their much-loved story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea.
"But I am not Moses," Gladys cried in desperation.,
"Of course you aren't," the girl said, "but God is still God!"
It was a frightening number of days before they all made it to safety, but they did make it. When Gladys and the orphans made it through, they proved once again that no matter how inadequate we feel, God is still God. We can trust in Him and His true followers beside us on the journey of faith.
In this world, there will be times of trial and despair. If you are a true Christian, you are called to face these woes and overcome them. Despite great odds, you are given special dispensation by God. God will put others beside you to help carry the load. All you have to do is find them. God will also put special spiritual powers in you to help, to heal, and to save. And finally, Satan will have no power over you, because the Heavenly Father will make sure His son Jesus is with you. God knows you will all have great odds to overcome in your life. But God makes sure you are prepared. So, as you go back into your life today, realize you are not even close to being alone. You have great powers of the Spirit given by God. Together, we will fight evil and share in the power of God's Word.
April 10
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:1–11, RSV)
A group of four year olds were gathered in a Sunday School class in Chattanooga. The teacher looked at the class and asked this question: "Does anyone know what today is?" A little four-year-old girl held up her hand and said, "Yes, today is Palm Sunday." The teacher exclaimed, "That's fantastic, that's wonderful. Now does anyone know what next Sunday is?" The same little girl held up her hand and said, "Yes, next Sunday is Easter Sunday. Once again the teacher said "That's fantastic. Now, does anyone know what makes next Sunday Easter?" The same little girl responded and said, "Yes, next Sunday is Easter because Jesus rose from the grave" and before the teacher could congratulate her, she kept on talking and said, "but if he sees his shadow ... he has to go back in for seven weeks."(- Ben Haden)
Sometimes, kids don’t relate to the words we say or why we say them. Children hear about things in the Bible , but misinterpret them. Even adults can make mistakes, miss the point, fail to understand.
When the women came to the tomb on Easter morning, they wanted to anoint Jesus’ dead body for burial. Jesus had died just before a holy day, so they had to wait until the holy time was over to anoint his dead body. It was against the Jewish religion to anoint a dead body on a holy day, so, the women waited until early on Sunday morning, Easter morning. They came to the tomb, bringing their spices. When they got there, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. When they went in to investigate, they found the tomb empty. No Jesus. What happened? They didn’t understand? Where was he taken? Why was he taken? Just at the moment when they were looking for Jesus in the tomb, two men (probably two angels) appeared. The angels said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Jesus is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you that he must be handed over to sinners, crucified and rise on the third day? Don’t you remember?"
The women didn’t understand. They came to anoint a dead body, but Jesus wasn’t there. They came to see a dead Savior, but He was alive. They came to see a closed tomb, but they got an open tomb. They came to mourn. They learned to celebrate. Jesus was risen!
At first the women didn’t figure they’d see Jesus alive. They figured he was dead. Sometimes, we are so used to death, we forget about resurrection, about life after death. We can become so focused on the fear of dying that we forget that our hope is to die and go to heaven to be with our Lord. As the angels said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
Libby Weifenbach lost her son Logan on March 26th, 2000. He was killed in a car accident. Libby and her husband Marti mourned terribly their precious son’s death. Then, someone passed them a book to read called “Hello from Heaven”. The book suggested that maybe the couple consider asking for God to send signs that Logan was with Him and that they’d see him again some day. If Logan was in heaven with God, surely God would want Logan’s parents to know, right?
Some of the family friends thought they were crazy when they asked God to show them signs that Logan was with God. But then, Libby wrote: “Our first answered prayer came on February 18th, 2001. Marti hadn’t attended church since Logan’s death, but he said he felt a strong desire to go to church that particular morning. He parked in his usual place, and then suddenly decided to drive to the other side of the building. As he got out of his car and started walking to the front door, he saw a nametag lying on the ground. He almost walked past it when he realized the name “Logan” was printed on the tag. Now, if our son’s name had been Chris or Jim, this might not have meant so much to us, but Logan is not a name we hear every day.”
“The second answer to prayer”, she writes, “came in November 2002. In September, Marti and I had released a balloon in Logan’s memory at the annual Compassionate Friends balloon release. On a Sunday evening in late November, we received a call from Jim Moore of Ozark, Missouri. He had found our balloon! This caught us by surprise as we only signed our name to the note attached to the balloon. He had searched the internet for a way to get in contact with us. Mr. Moore mailed the balloon back to us along with a letter and a map. In the letter, he wrote that he photocopied our original note to Logan and released it in a new balloon. As kind as this gesture was, it was the map that really shook our world. Mr. Moore marked on the map exactly where he and his wife found the balloon. We were shocked to discover than it landed in Christian County, MO on Logan Ridge Road.”
The angel said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Libby and Marti didn’t find Logan in the cemetery but alive with the Lord. Sometimes, we don’t understand the Easter story. We don’t understand why people might think a dead loved one is with God even now. The women came to the tomb looking for a dead prophet. Instead, they found a resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Why come looking for the living among the dead? Jesus had been raised from the dead.
In Bucharest, a Romanian woman fainted when she opened her front door and found her husband standing there. The Romanian weekly, "Tinerama" says it all started when a man named Neagu choked on a fish bone, stopped breathing and collapsed. The family doctor, knowing Neagu's heart condition, didn't think twice about proclaiming the 71-year-old dead of a heart attack. But three days later, gravediggers at the cemetery heard someone knock on wood. They opened Neagu's coffin to find him surrounded by wilted flowers but very much alive. When Neagu arrived home his wife, fearing he was a ghost, barred him from spending nights at home. It took Neagu three weeks to convince the authorities to cancel his death certificate from their registers. (Servant, September 1991, p. 9)
It often seems normal for us to consider a person dead and buried, but we have to be convinced over and over that a man is alive again. So it is with Jesus. Even long ago, there were those who didn’t believe Jesus could be alive. Some even paid sums of money to try and hatch the idea that the disciples came and took Jesus’ body away (Matthew 28:11-15). That’s easier to believe than Jesus rose from the dead, right? Why is it so hard to understand, or believe that Jesus can be living? We think nothing of putting a dead kernel or seed into the ground, knowing it will become alive again. Why is it hard for us to believe that God couldn’t bring life to another type of dead body? God created the sprouting seed, why couldn’t he bring life to a child of God?
My hope today is that you look for signs of the living God... not among the tombs, but in your life. If God is alive, and surely God is, you will see signs of God around you. If Jesus is your Savior and you have committed yourself to Him, you will certainly see signs of his life since he is alive. He can come to you, speak to you, have a place for you in His kingdom. Remember the empty tomb. Listen to the angels. “Jesus is risen. He is not here.” He goes before you. That’s the real Easter message. That’s our hope. That’s God’s power.
April 11
“Six days you are to gather it (manna), but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.” Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” So the people rested on the seventh day.” (Exodus 16:26–30 NIV84)
Let's you and me take some time today for a little heart to heart talk. Would you see it as a problem if people broke the sixth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill", once or twice a month or more? You'd probably look at me like I was crazy! Who would dare break that commandment all the time? I've set you up. You wouldn't think about killing or stealing or committing adultery every month, right? Breaking those commandments would have terrible consequences, right? But in our world, many people break the fourth commandment and do not think a thing of it. The fourth commandment is “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” If you are like most people in America, you've probably broken this commandment in the past month. Ignoring this commandment, some public schools have programs seven days a week with sports tournaments and class functions on Saturdays and Sundays. There are employers who want their workers on the job or on call seven days a week during peak seasons. More and more, our world is filled with business and busy-ness. God gets the "left-overs" of our time and commitment.
From schools to the workplace, people encourage us to break this fourth commandment. We've gotten so used to it in our world, that we don't even feel the guilt of working on the Sabbath. If people got used to killing, this would be a despicable world of violence and death. God doesn’t want that to happen. Still, if people get used to breaking the Sabbath law, this will also be a maddening world of stressed, irritable, and miserable people who don't make time for God. God doesn't want that to happen either. When you haven’t taken time to be with God, when your body isn’t given its due rest; you are prone to make rash mistakes. You will lose objectivity. You will not be able to focus on the priorities of life. It will alter your values.
The book of Exodus contains the history of the Israelites in the wilderness on the way to the promised land. Being led by Moses, the people were hungry in the desert. God provided quail for them to eat. Manna would appear each morning for the people to make bread. Moses gave the people specific instructions about these gifts of food from God. There was more than enough for everyone to eat, so each person was to gather as much as he or she needed (Exodus 16:4). Each day, they did this, except on the sixth day. On the sixth day, they were to gather twice as much. Do you know the reason why? The scripture said, “the seventh day was the sabbath day to the LORD. You will not find any [manna] on the ground [that day]. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.” (Exodus 16:26,27) God required that the people take a day of holy rest each week. It was called the sabbath day. On that day, they were not to do work. They were to ponder holy issues and worship our all-powerful God.
Despite the fact that God gave them enough to eat each day, the Israelites didn’t follow God's rules. They broke the fourth commandment and did not keep the sabbath holy. The scripture tells us, “Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather [the manna], but they found none." (Exodus 16:27) Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out. So everyone rested on the sabbath day.” (Exodus 16:27-30) God was upset that HIS people even attempted to break the sabbath. God made the commandment of the sabbath for a reason. God created you and me and knows that we need holy time each week. HE knows we need to give up work one day a week, or we might become workaholics. We have to make a conscious choice to follow God on the sabbath day, not to follow the boss or to live for money. It’s a day when we show the world that God rules over all of our lives. It is a day we give up for God. We get six days to work; God gets one day to keep us holy and rested and faithful.
If you met Tina, you’d like her right off. She was a lady who loved her family. She was forthright, honest, lovable and gifted. She was also a hard worker who helped to support her family. Tina was married to Mike. Both had been married for five years when Mike’s employer cut his position and demoted him in an effort to save money. To make ends meet, the couple decided that Tina would work more hours and Mike took on a second part-time job on the weekends. It seemed logical, but the plan was deadly. On their days off, Mike or Tina would watch their two young children. They had less and less time to spend with each other. Before all the extra work, the couple would spend Saturday together on a project and spend Sunday morning at worship in church. That happened no more. With all the work and the family, they had no time for God or for down time. On the rare Sundays without work, they’d sleep in. After months of hectic days, the stress kicked in and the two fought more. Tina began to wonder why Mike was never home. She missed their Saturday night dates. But they had to make ends meet, right? Two years later, Mike divorced Tina. The kids practically lived in day care. Mike and Tina were both were very unhappy with their lives.
Tina came to me for counseling after the divorce. She couldn't understand what had gone wrong. She thought it was good for her and Mike to make ends meet by working extra hours and days. She thought they could have worked through it. After listening for a good while, I told her she was breaking the fourth commandment. She failed to set aside holy and personal time in her life. Work had replaced her happiness. Stress had replaced Mike. She, at first, was angry with my diagnosis. She thought the problem was stress. I told her to quit buying expensive things, cut back to six or five days of work, and take time for her and God. Reluctantly, she made some changes. She started to take time off from work and began going to church again. At first, she felt guilty taking time off. It felt wrong. In time, Tina finally began to feel the stress easing as she met with God each week. She began to feel peace again. She felt better about herself. She was able to observe how neglecting the sabbath cost her a marriage, added much stress to her life, and took a great toll on her kids. All her problems were not traced back to Mike’s loss of income. The problems went back to the decision to replace God’s time with work time.
When we break the fourth commandment by failing to take a day to relax and to give to God, we lose perspective. Studies of those who work seven days a week in Russia found high levels of alcoholism and family problems. Those who worked too much had a higher rate of suicide. Being a workaholic is as deadly as being an alcoholic. Yes, our world sometimes tells you that working all the time is commendable and good. Our world encourages people to work and spend, work and spend. But who does this help? It certainly doesn’t help us in our relationship with God. It adds stress to our families. It takes a toll on any marriage. Sadly, many people in our world don't understand this connection between the fourth commandment and one's life. Just like those Israelites who went out on the seventh day to get extra manna, we think it can't hurt to work an extra day a week to make a little extra money or get a little extra done. But what we jeopardize is our relationship with God, inner peace, and objectivity.
I don’t care who you are or how strong you are. I don’t care how much you like your job or how your work needs you. Follow the command of God to take a sabbath rest or you will pay for it. God gave you a good thing in this commandment; time to rest, relax, be holy. A Sabbath rest can give you time to think, to reflect on what life is about, to smell the roses. God knows you need a holy sabbath rest, or you’ll never, ever find peace in your life.
You may be good enough to remember not to kill or not to steal. But do you follow the fourth commandment and observe the Sabbath? Out of respect for God, do you take a holy rest each week? As a person recently wrote, “Sabbath helps me to remember that life is not all about me. Sabbath shows me the larger picture. Observing the Sabbath rest helps me to lighten up and breathe. It reminds me that I am much more than my work, that I am unconditionally loved and held by the grace of God.” Accept the gift of sabbath God gives you. Sabbath rest restores the clarity needed for true faith. Do you give God one day a week? Do you set aside time for God? You CANNOT be a faithful Christian without this.
April 12
““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” He said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me.”” (Luke 22:31–34 RSV)
Hours before Jesus died, He met with his disciples in the Upper Room. He shared a last supper and communion with them. He warned that one of the disciples was going to betray Him. He talked about his body and blood in a way that was frightening. The disciples for the most part couldn’t believe Jesus was near to death. Peter, the strong-willed disciple, was told that Satan was trying to damage Peter's faith. What was Peter’s reply? “Lord I am ready to go with you to prison or death.”. Jesus knew the truth. Peter’s faith was not strong enough spiritually. Jesus turned to Peter and said the truth, “Before the rooster crows today, you will have denied me three times.”
I’m sure Peter’s first thoughts were, “Jesus, I just said I would die for you! How could I ever deny you, let alone do it three times? I would never do that!" Peter was deceived. He was lying to himself. He thought his faith was stronger than it was. He thought he was ready for what Satan had to throw his way. Truthfully, Peter melted when challenged in the faith. He failed Jesus. He failed the disciples. He denied Jesus three times.
Sometimes, you lie to yourself about how you really feel. You make brave promises. You make statements you know deep in your heart are not true. Jesus knew Peter was going to lie. God knows when you and I will do it too!
The story is told of a peevish old fellow who bearded a train, occupied the best seat, and then tried to reserve still another for himself by placing his luggage upon it. Just before the crowded vehicle started, a teenage boy came running up and jumped aboard. "This car is full," said the man irritably; "that seat next to me is reserved for a friend of mine who has put his bag there." The youth paid no attention but sat down saying, "All right, I'll stay here until he comes." He placed the suitcase upon his knees while the elderly man glared at him in vain. Of course, the "friend" didn't appear, and soon the train began to move. As it glided past the platform, the young man stood up tossed the bag through the open window remarking, "Apparently your friend has missed the train. We mustn't let him lose his luggage too!" With a horrified expression on his face, the old gentleman began to fume and sputter. The lie had cost him his possessions!
We lie to others for a variety of reasons... to look good, to gain favor, to manipulate, to cover up our insecurities, because of fear or ignorance, to be liked or loved. But a lie is a lie is a lie. Some people can look in a mirror and think to themselves, “I look thinner"..... but they know they its not true! They can say to themselves, “I can stop drinking or smoking whenever I want” and know it's just a dream. How well do you lie to yourself? What conditions would have you, like Peter, lie to Jesus? Do you understand the connection between lying and denying Jesus?
One afternoon the members of a health club assembled for a meeting on nutrition and exercise. The dietitian leading the discussion asked each member in turn to describe his or her daily routine. The first participant admitted to a number of excesses, including overeating. Others joined in agreement. But one seriously overweight member reported, "I eat healthfully and moderately, I drink moderately and I exercise frequently."
"I see," said the dietitian. "Are you sure you have nothing else to tell us?"
"Well, yes," said the man. "I also lie extensively."
That comment probably brought some laughter, but it underlines an important truth: what we do in secret will become evident in public. This is true spiritually as well as physically. As proper eating and exercise habits normally result in a healthy physical body, so proper spiritual nourishment normally results in a healthy spiritual life. Lie to yourself, and it will be only a matter of time before it bites you back. Peter experienced this. When he denied Jesus three times that night and then the rooster crowed, it is said in scripture that Jesus looked at Peter in that exact moment. The "look" of Jesus made Peter ran away in tears knowing his failure, his lie. The very next time Jesus saw Peter after HIS resurrection, Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter really loved Jesus (John 21). Why? Because Peter had denied him three times. Both men knew the depth of the lies.
I don’t care who you are or how much you know or read the Bible; there will be times you fail God by lying to yourself about the fact that you WILL fail God. Romans 3:23 states that plainly:"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Lies are a big part of that. Lies will come from your mind and mouth. Lies will separate you from God's truth. Lies culminated in Jesus' death. Lies always come back to haunt you. The lying must end for God to live powerfully in you.
Just when you really come to the understanding that you are capable of failing like Peter..... you must be reminded... Jesus died on the cross for you, even though you are a liar. He died to save you from your own sin. Peter lied about his relationship with Jesus. You have lied to save face. God deserves better. Jesus looked so sadly upon Peter's lies (Luke 22:61). Imagine what HE thinks of your lies. Repent of your lies. Love God in Christ more! What lies need to be attacked today? What truth needs to be told? Have you been failing Jesus or denying HIM?
April 13
“When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?”” (Mark 14:17–19 NIV84)
A young man was to visit his grandparents after school. They lived a few miles away, and he was planning on walking there after school to stay for dinner. Jacob loved to go there for dinner. His grandmother made the best rolls, from scratch! The whole house smelled like fresh bread. Also, his grandfather promised to take him fishing at the creek after dinner when the fish were surely biting! All week, Jacob was looking forward to that day. Then, the day came! The classes dragged by as his excitement grew. Finally, the bell rang and off he ran for his grandparents home!
When he got there, the house smelled wonderful. As he talked to his grandparents, he noticed that his grandmother's eyes were red. What was wrong? Throughout the afternoon and the meal, it looked as if grandmother was smiling and crying at the same time. She looked sad. He though to himself, "I wonder what grandpa did this time?" "Maybe grandma is sick! Oh no!" "I wonder if they are going to lose their home or something! This could be bad!" He didn't say anything. Finally, he grabbed his fishing pole and set out for the creek with grandpa. On the way, he said to his grandfather, "What happened to Grandma? Did you say something that hurt her feelings again, Grandpa? Is she sick? Is she going to be OK?" After a dozen questions, Grandpa turned to the boy and said, "Jacob, her heart is broken. She is so sad!"
Jacob replied, "We have to fix it!"
His grandfather answered, "It's hard to fix a broken heart!"
"Who did it, Grandpa? You?" the boy asked.
"No, you did, Jacob! She found out you had taken some of the money from our cookie jar a few weeks back."
At that point, Jacob gulped. He had forgotten all about sneaking a few dollars out of the cookie jar. Now, he wished he could give it back. He wished he was not the one who broke grandma's heart.
So often, we seek to blame others. We don't even see how we make God sad! Jesus once cautioned his followers by saying, "Judge not, lest ye be judged." (Matthew 7:1) He knew that people often played both judge and jury! Jesus also said," Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. " (Matthew 7:3-5) Jesus knew that often we look for faults in others, missing our own failures.
In the scripture for today, Jesus spent his last day with his disciples. He explained that one of the twelve would betray him. The response from the disciples was classic. They all said, "Surely, it isn't me!" "Surely, it isn't me!" We always think it must be someone else who is the problem. Why is it that we can't see when we are part of the problem?
A couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position. Each one thought the other was wrong. Each one wanted the other to pay. As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the wife sarcastically
asked, "Relatives of yours?"
"Yep," the husband replied, "In-laws,"
It is so hard for us to perceive that we are not perfect! When Jesus questioned his own disciples that day, the men he taught for three years, the disciples whom God was relying on for the future church, they all were in denial about what was happening. They could only claim innocence by saying, "Surely it isn't me!"
We've all failed or fallen away from Jesus! Jesus confirmed this with his disciples on another occasion saying, "What you do unto the least of these, you do it unto me." (Matthew 25:40) When we sin against another person, when we think evil thoughts, when we display hate and anger, God feels that pain. Jesus died to free you from sin, and yet, how have you sinned against your Lord by hurting another? Surely, you haven't, have you?
One Sunday night, a husband and wife got into an argument. Their young children had heard these arguments before. The two were constantly bickering, complaining, yelling and arguing, so much so that the neighbors would talk about it. After a long drawn out shouting match between the two, mom stormed off to the bedroom, and dad opened up a beer and sat drinking in front of the TV. There was quiet for a few minutes. Then, little Melissa, only six years old came out of her bedroom. She tiptoed into the front room, and laid herself in daddy's lap. Her eyes were filled with little tears. Daddy didn't notice at first, but then he asked, "Honey, what's wrong? How can daddy help?"
She turned to him and said, "Daddy, why do you hate mommy?"
"What!!!" he said! "I don't hate mommy!"
"Well," the little girl said, "you swear at her and yell at her. I thought you hated her. Shame on you."
And just as he felt terrible seeing the tears and hearing what his daughter said, she cut his heart out with her next words: "And do you hate Jesus, too? I heard you swear at him! Do you hate Mommy and Jesus?"
The man carried his little girl into the room by his wife. Then, the husband knelt in front of his wife and said, "Please forgive me, sweetheart. I had no idea I sounded so hateful!" The three of them hugged and cried. Later that night, the husband was again on his knees asking Jesus to forgive him, too!
Why is it we just don't realize how we hurt Christ? Like the disciples, we think, "Surely, its not me who is letting Jesus down." Think again. In your life, you've probably broken the heart of Jesus.... a number of times. Your sin took Him to the cross.
All the disciples at one time fled from Jesus, abandoning HIM. We have too, haven't we? Face up to your weakness, so that you can find spiritual strength. The disciples fled from Jesus the night he was betrayed. However, the eleven didn't fail Jesus later in life. They learned from their weak moments, became strong in Spirit and faithful to the end. On this day, realize that Jesus loves you very much... and the last thing you want to do is fail Him. Tonight, tomorrow, this week.... I hope you find yourself ready to admit your true heart to Jesus, to ask for forgiveness, and to acknowledge that your sins sent Jesus to suffer and die on the cross. He died to save you.... and me.
April 14
“This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:58–66 NIV84)
"Taking Offense"
As Jesus taught in a Synagogue in Capernaum, he gave the words in our scripture above. They are found in the Gospel of John. He told the people, including his disciples, that the bread and wine so familiar in communion were signs of his body and blood and that to participate in communion, in the body and blood of Christ, a person could see Heaven. The disciples had difficulty understanding about communion, just like they had difficulty understanding how Jesus' body and blood would bring life. At the time, Jesus was alive and teaching, and His disciples were growing. He was famous in the northern parts of Israel. He healed many. Hundreds wanted to be near him or just touch his robe. The disciples could not understand how Jesus could talk about his body and blood, or life or death, at the height of his ministry. Once, Jesus mentioned in his teachings that he would soon be killed and would rise from the dead. Peter said Jesus was wrong. Jesus rebuked Peter, essentially telling Peter to quit listening to Satan. (Mark 8:31-33) Jesus wanted his disciples to know that the world hated him. He was going to be put to death. His sacrifice in body and blood would bring life and healing.
Following Jesus' discourse about his body and blood in John 6, some of his followers grumbled and complained. Jesus noticed the disciples were upset about his preaching so Jesus said to the them, "Does this offend you?" Jesus lost followers because they took offense at what He said. Jesus didn't lie. He told the truth, but many took offense at him (John 6:66). A number of Rabbis and Pharisees and Scribes took offense at Jesus' words and sought "an opportunity" to kill Him (John 7:1). Jesus knew that sometimes, people get offended easily, even if with the truth.
People take offense today at the smallest things. In our politically correct world, people are looking to fight and argue and kill over the smallest thing. If you say something offensive, even innocently, a friend gets upset. If you tell your spouse the truth, he or she might be angry with you for days just because you said what he or she didn't want to hear. A teacher in Florida told a student who scored poorly on a test that he might not make it into college. The child's parents got that teacher fired for "hurting their child's feelings and making him feel he was never going to amount to anything." At a school in Indiana, a teacher who read her Bible during her lunch break lost her job because someone took offense at what she was reading. It didn't matter that she was a good teacher; the parent of a student was an atheist and took offense at the Bible in her hands. A young black man was killed in Ferguson by a police officer, and thousands of people marched in the streets for the officer to be killed or jailed for life. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I guess that is trumped when people take offense!
All over the world, people take offense and want someone to pay for it. There is no thought of the truth or of sin or the hypocrisy of political correctness. What about the Bible's correctness? Jesus' question to his disciples applies to all of us today, "Do you take offense at this?" Sometimes, churches and the faithful suffer because someone took offense against someone else. Jesus didn't want his disciples to take offense with the truth. He doesn't want you to do it either.
Near the end of our scripture reading, it says that many were so offended at Jesus' teaching that they "no longer followed Jesus" (John 6:66 How's that for a verse!). Even though Jesus spoke the truth, these people didn't want to hear the truth... the truth made them angry... the truth isn't what they wanted to hear. Why be offended by what is right or what is the truth? Ah, but it happens all the time. The offended gave up on Jesus. Faithful disciples aren't offended by the truth. Evil people spin the truth or distort the truth. Evil people are offended when someone speaks the truth. Satan is the "Father of Lies" not a spartan for truth. Satan even took offense at God and left Heaven and came to earth as an evil angel. Those who are not right with God have been doing the same ever since. They take offense. They get upset and respond with vengeance and hate and threats. They may walk away from a good thing.
Recently, a person wrote a short article called, "The Devil's Advocates". In that article, it mentions the names of Satan's best workers. I quote: "Satan has planted many of his best agents among us. Let's expose a few of them: First is the Chronic Complainer. He is silent only when the church is idle or doing nothing, because for everything else there will be a complaint. His assistant is the Avid Adviser... No matter how hard you try or how well you do, he will always be glad to tell you how you could have done better. There is Satan's Sergeant whose name is the Church Jumper. He is always sure that somewhere is a perfect church were everyone and everything is in complete harmony. Then, there's Satan's lieutenant. His name is Ever Offended. Disagree with him and he'll take his toys and go home."
This article teases that when a person is offended, they will take their toys and go home. In our scripture for today, that's exactly what some of the followers of Jesus did. They didn't like what they heard, so they left Jesus. The twelve disciples remained with Jesus. You must learn not to get easily offended. If the truth or a sermon or a person in church offends you, you might find that it is not the person offending you that is the problem, but Satan trying to play games with you. Satan would love for you to take your toys and go home, never to return to worship again. If you get offended, it might be that you don't want to see the truth. It may be that you don't want to stick around where others might be upset with you, even if that is precisely what God needs from you.
I've seen marriages where one person got offended, and that was the end of love in that home. I've seen beautiful lives wrecked because someone was offended and got even. Jesus knew there was no hope for the disciples who were offended so easily that they could not even see the truth. I hope you know better. I hope Jesus isn't saying to you, "Are you offended?" when He is doing something in your life. Do you take offense with the truth? What do you do when the world takes offense with God or with you?
April 15
“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 NIV84)
Psalm 33 gives us comforting words: "For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does." (Psalm 33:4 NIV) God is faithful in all that His actions no matter what happens. You can trust that when you are doing His work, God notices. God cares. Even when everything is going wrong in your life, even when troubles seem stacked against you, God wants to be with faithful people like you and me.
After the battle of Bull Run, an officer saw that Stonewall Jackson had received a painful wound in the fight. He asked, "General, how is it that you can keep so cool and appear so utterly insensible to danger, in such a storm of shells and bullets as rained about you when your hand was hit?"
"Captain," answered Jackson, in a grave and reverential manner, "my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." Then, after a pause he added, "That is the way all men should live, and then all the world would be brave." (Sword of the Lord, (sermon on Heb.9:27), 2-3-89, p.1)
Stonewall Jackson had the comforting belief that no matter what terrible battles he faced in life, God would be beside him. God is faithful. God can be trusted to care for us in battle or in bed!
You may not take notice the importance of a word in our Bible: Faithful. Faithful means to be full of faith: full of faith, not empty....full of faith, not doubting.... full of faith and trust. You can believe in someone who is faithful. They will be true. They can be trusted. They will not let you down. A faithful dog is always obedient. A faithful friend is there when you are in need. A faithful employee is always on time at work. A faithful spouse never would cheat on you.
If you are faithful, others can count on you. You will be loyal and trustworthy in all that you do. If you are faithful to God, even God can count on you doing what is good and right and just. Faithfulness lends itself to trust. In the Greek language used in the original New Testament, the word for faith and the word for trust are the same. So, when your Bible reads that someone had faith, that meant they could be trusted. When you are faithful, you are trustworthy.
Great leaders throughout the Bible were known as faithful men and women. Moses and Abraham were called faithful by God. Timothy, the apostle, was called "faithful in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 4:17). Jesus was called "faithful" to the end (Philippians 2:8). Fullness of faith separates those who want to be children of God from those who are truly born of righteousness.
The reason that you are called to be faith-full is that throughout scripture, one of the great qualities of God's character is faithfulness. God is never called faithless. God never doubts His power or will. The scriptures are full of powerful sayings that God will be faithful to you. Deuteronomy mentions: "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands." (Deuteronomy 7:9-10) The Psalms tells us "the LORD loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones." (Psalm 37:28 NIV) Though your friends or family members may fail you, God remains faithful.
In the scripture above, the apostle Paul asked the Thessalonian church to pray for his ministry. He urged them to pray for those who heard the gospel. Paul wanted so badly for people to believe in Jesus. In reality, Paul knew that not all would listen to God's Word and believe. Not all would have faith. Not all can trust in God. Paul tells the people "pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith" (2 Thessalonians 3:2). Paul knew that each time he preached of God's deeds, some would grow in faith and some would not. A few would become faith-full. It is still this way today.
On a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother, who was looking out the window at home, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and began to swim toward his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer driving past, heard her screams. Grabbing the gun from his truck and running to the mother's side, he took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. On his arms were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. A newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. Then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "Look at my arms, too! I have huge scars on my arms. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. We all have scars from a suffering in the past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. Some may have been caused by friends who weren't very faithful. Some may have been caused by people who said they were Christian, but didn't act like it. But, some wounds are because God refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He held on to you. The scripture teaches that God loves you, and that God is faithful to you. If you have Christ in your life, you have become a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. You may foolishly wade into dangerous situations. That's when the tug-of-war begins. If you have the scars of God's faithful love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ... let you go.
The scripture for today is clear. Not everyone has faith, but God is faithful. God can be trusted. You can lean on God, for He will not fail you. He may force you to grow. He may have to catch you when you fall, but HE will forever be faith-full.
April 16
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. ... Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.' A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" (John 20:19–29 (abridged) NIV84)
That first Easter, little did the world know what was planned. Jesus, who was crucified, was placed in a tomb on a Friday, only to be missing from that tomb on Easter Sunday. He was risen from the dead. A miracle! God raised him up from the dead to new life. The tomb could not hold him. Death was not the end of Jesus. He was alive again.
The scripture for today shows Jesus coming to the disciples after his resurrection. All of the disciples were overjoyed at seeing Jesus. Thomas, however, did not believe in Jesus' resurrection. Thomas doubted Jesus was alive. He heard the accounts, but felt they were idle fantasies. Thomas said, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20:25)
When the Bastille, a castle-like prison in Paris, was to be destroyed in 1789, there was one convict who would not leave his cell. He had been there for many years, a prisoner in the gloomy dungeon. He begged to be left in his cell. He didn't believe he was to be a free man. People are like that. We get so used to a certain way of life that we don't' believe it when something extraordinary happens. Like Thomas, many don't believe the stories told about God's wonderful acts. They have difficulty trusting God's power or miracles. Evidence of God's grace is understood as superstition or tall tales by these doubters.
What about you? Do you believe God has the power to do miracles? Do you believe God has the ability to resurrect or to bring life? Do you believe that God is limited by our ideas of science? Do you ever wonder if God is even out there? Do you believe or not?
A man who lived on Long Island, New York, bought a high quality barometer. When it was delivered to his home, the arrow appeared to be stuck, pointing to the section entitled "Hurricane". The day was beautiful, the sea calm. This was not hurricane weather. According to the noted Bible teacher and author E. Schuyler English who told this story, the man shook the barometer, but the indicator stayed the same. Frustrated, the man sat down at his desk and wrote a scathing letter to the store where he had bought the barometer. The following morning on the way to his office in New York City, he mailed the letter. Later that day, a hurricane struck the East Coast. That evening the man returned to Long Island to find that his barometer was missing--and so was his house. There are times when we don't believe the indications, when we don't trust what we are told, or when we lack faith in what we can't understand.
The disciple, Thomas, was one such doubter. He didn't see Jesus alive, so he didn't believe the accounts. But Jesus was going to make an example of Thomas. The scripture tells us that a week after the resurrection; all the disciples, including Thomas, were in a locked room. Out of nowhere, Jesus appeared and stood in front of the disciples. Knowing what Thomas had said, Jesus instructed him: "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:27) Surely, Thomas saw the wounds on Jesus' hands where the nails left their mark. How could he not see the scar where they pierced Jesus' side to make sure he was dead? Thomas could doubt no longer. He replied, "My Lord and my God!" To make the point, Jesus told Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)
Jesus knew there would be many others who would doubt. The resurrected Jesus will not appear to all those who doubt his existence. He came to hundreds in that first week after his resurrection. We are told that over 500 people saw him on one occasion alone (1 Corinthians 15:6). There weren't a few select ones to see Jesus right after he was raised from the dead, many saw him. Disciples and followers shared these appearances... some believed.. and some didn't.
Are you the kind of person who won't believe something unless you see it for yourself? Are you the kind of person who doubts everything unless you are proven wrong? Are you one of those with a scientific mind who can't understand miracles, faith, or resurrection? Then, this story of Thomas should make you rethink what you believe. If Thomas would not have seen Jesus personally, he would have doubted. He would never have understood God's plan for the resurrection of Jesus and your resurrection. As Jesus showed Thomas all that resurrection meant, God is showing you. God wants you to believe. God wants you to trust that Jesus is resurrected. God wants you to believe in His power over life and death. Will you trust in God?
Dr. Helen Roseveare, missionary to Zaire (formerly the Belgian Congo), told the following story: "A mother at our mission station died after giving birth to a premature baby. We tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle we had was beyond repair. So during devotions that morning we asked the children to pray for the baby and for her little sister who was now an orphan. One of the girls responded, 'Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the sister so she won't feel so lonely.' That afternoon a large parcel arrived from England. Eagerly the children watched as we opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle! Immediately the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to delve deeper, exclaiming. 'If God sent that, I'm sure He also sent a doll.' And she was right! The Heavenly Father knew in advance of the child's sincere requests, and five months before, He had led a lades group to include both of those specific articles." Now some of you might think it is childish to believe in such things. Some of you might doubt that God had a hand in sending the needed things at the right time. But I've seen this over and over in ministry. When there was a need, God provided. When the faithful had a great need, God made plans.
On that first Easter, God provided a way for us to heaven, through His power of resurrection. As Thomas found out, Jesus was raised from the dead. But Jesus will not be the only one raised from the dead. Those who believe and follow in the footsteps of Jesus can hope in a blessed eternal life. So, celebrate every Easter day. Say out loud: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him (and does not doubt) shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
April 17
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.” (Joel 2:28–32 NIV84)
"Dreaming in God's Spirit"
The wife of Pontius Pilate had a God-induced dream (Matthew 27:19) . In her dream, God sent a message of Jesus' innocence. The dream seemed so real and clear that Pilate's wife sent a message to her husband to stay out of the trial of Jesus. Pilate failed to listen to his wife or her God-induced dream and went down in history as the man who condemned Jesus to death.
God-induced dreams and visions are not uncommon. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God sent dreams or visions to a good number of people. These dreams or visions displayed God's direction, power, or influence. King Nebuchadnezzar had dreams of the future that the prophet Daniel needed to interpret. Jacob's son had dreams as recorded in Genesis that ultimately saved the family of Jacob from starvation! Ezekiel's visions were made to correct the sin of wayward Judah and Israel. Joseph's dream in Matthew saved Jesus' life! Peter's vision written about in the book of Acts opened up the faith to Gentiles! There are dozens and dozens of dreams and visions in scripture that came from God. It was even a vision that caused me to go into ministry (some day I'll share that with you)! In crucial moments, God will reach out through dreams or visions!
In the 1500's, a friend of Martin Luther promised to pray for the Reformer every day. The man followed through as promised. He prayed for Luther each morning as he got up and each evening before falling asleep. Then, one night, the man had a dream in which there was a huge field of wheat and it was ready for harvest. A storm was approaching, and the field needed to be harvested before hail damaged the crop. But in that field, there was only one person harvesting everything. He'd never do it in time!!! In his dream, the man ran to help, and saw that the only one harvesting was Martin Luther! The very next day, the man went to Luther and said, "I'm done praying for you only, Martin Luther. Starting today, I going to work with you side by side." He was a great help to Luther and his ministry for many years, and helped many others to find Christ!
Simple everyday dreams are different from visions. Sleep-induced dreams can come and go in the day as in daydreams or in night during sleep. Sleep-induced dreams can be far from real. I once talked to a man who dreamed he could fly, who woke up with a bloody nose because he jumped out of his bed during the dream! But, in God-induced dreams, there's often a message conveyed from God. Through prayer or the with the help of faithful friends, you can determine what God is saying in these dreams. God-induced visions are like dreams, but they occur when a person is awake or semi-conscious. It is not unusual for a person to have a God-induced vision when praying, thinking, or maybe just out for a walk. Through God-induced dreams and visions, God will share needed information or direction. You should always take seriously these messages.
Let me tell you about a God-induced vision I had years ago. I was walking around a church that had a cemetery. With each step, I was praying. After doing this for about ten minutes, my mind began reeling and I felt different. As I walked past a tombstone, the etched letters on the tombstone changed. The God-induced vision had begun. I stopped walking. Still feeling a God-induced vision, I stooped to look at the tombstone right in front of me. As I watched it, the name on it changed. The words transformed to read: "Here lies ####### Church" (the name is withheld here for reasons God has demanded, though it was originally on the tombstone in this vision!). I immediately snapped out of the vision and found myself standing there and praying. What does this vision say to you? You don't know anything about that Church, but I am sure you will see what God is saying. (And yes, I did preach about this vision to that church out of respect for what God wanted me to convey and as a warning from God.)
In the Old Testament book of Joel, we are given a prophecy through a God-induced vision. Many believe it foretells of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the faithful. Joel wrote this.... “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. … I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, … before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; … there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls." (Joel 2:28-32 abridged) The prophet Joel predicted a day when people would have dreams and visions caused by the Spirit of God. The Heavenly Father would speak through HIS Spirit to the people in that time. God would cause them to see things... be changed.... be saved. The God-induced visions and dreams would be sent by God to prepare the people for the day of judgment and deliverance.
Not all dreams are sent by God. Not all visions are sent by God. But there are people who will be given God-induced dreams and visions during important periods of life. You may receive God-induced dreams and visions in order to save yourself or others, change your ways, or follow God's will. It's crucial for you to trust God-induced dreams and visions when they occur. Leave the possibility open that God may reach out to you through these dreams and visions. God is sometimes not able to reach you in one way, so HE may choose another. No matter how God reaches out to you, just understand what a gift it is that God wants to communicate with you! Out of all the divine work in the universe, God has time for you! God wants to speak to you! God loves you that much!
April 18
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:5–10, NIV84)
A woman and her husband were having problems in their marriage. They tried to work it out. They tried counseling. Differences in their understandings kept them from making changes in their lives. He was a workaholic. She was passive-aggressive. He loved his job. She seemed to love her children more than her husband. He liked receiving accolades at work for the great job he was doing. But his working too much took a toll on his private life. His wife often had to take care of the children alone. Many times the husband and wife would set up a date, only to have the husband cancel out at the last minute due to some work-related crisis. The children were getting used to daddy making promises but not keeping them. One evening, the man came home from work to an unusual sight. All his belongings were in boxes in the front yard. As the rain poured down upon his stuff in the yard, he ran to gather it together and put it in the car. Attached to one of the boxes was a note. The note read, "If you would have loved us, you would have remembered that you had promised to take us to see uncle Bob in the hospital. By the way, Bob died tonight. Oh, and since we can't count on you to be there for us, we won't be taking care of things for you. We sure hope you forgive us like we've forgiven you. Signed: Carolyn."
Carolyn and the kids sent daddy a message in all this. That message was, "If you loved us, you wouldn't forget us... if you cared about us, you wouldn't break promises to us.... if you need us, why don't you show us." When people are hurt, they will often give us an "if statement". "If statements" ask us to prove something. If you love me, show it. If you work late, I'll give you a raise. If you pay for this, we'll do that. All these "if statements" beg for proof, require a response, and demand action. "If" is a word that is conditional. "If you do this, I will do that" implies a condition. "If" is a word that implies a test of sorts. If one person does something, then the other will respond. If the person doesn't do something, nothing will be done. "If" is a big word. It implies a challenge, a condition, and a test. It requires you to show your true colors. By responding to an "if statement", you prove what you value, what you consider important, what you hold most dear.
In our scripture from 1 John above, the word "if" dominates the passage. Four out of the six verses begin with the word "if'. The "if statements" in our scripture ask us to prove our love for God. In these verses, John says, "If we claim to have fellowship with God yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:6-7) These "if statements" beg us to choose what is most important ... are we going to walk in the light, be truthful, be faithful, or not? John goes on to say, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make God out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives." (1 John 1 8,10) This second grouping of "if statements" challenge us to realize that we all sin. We all fail God. We all make mistakes. None of us is perfect. If you realize that you fail, hopefully you will realize that you need God's grace.
Sometimes, "if statements" are used in scripture as God's way to challenge us, to cause us to prove our faith. Over one thousand times in scripture, the word "if" is used by God to make us prove our faith to Him. Jesus said, "If you follow my teachings, you are truly my disciple." (John 8:31) Joshua said, "If you don't want to believe in God, choose this day which of the gods you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord God." (Joshua 24:15) God said through Jeremiah, "If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow , and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land God gave your forefathers for ever and ever." (Jeremiah 7:5-7) In each of these places along with many others in scripture, God begs for us to prove our faith using "if statements". God wants to see that our faith is not just a ritual, that our commitment isn't just a bunch of words, that our love is real.
There comes a time in every life when we must ask "if questions". God asks "if questions" and makes "if statements", shouldn't we? Before you get married, you should find out "if" your date truly loves you. When your daughter is going to parties, you should know "if" you can trust her. You should know "if" you can trust your employer or supervisor. When a friend tells you about a rumor, you should know "if" you can trust what that friend tells you. "If statements and questions" are important in life. They help you to prove what is true, and right. They show who are your faithful friends, who you can trust, and on whom you can rely.
Promises are often couched in an "if statement" as well. In the scripture for today, God promises that if we confess our sins, God will forgive us (1 John 1:9). God won't forgive us if we don't repent and confess our failures. Periodically, God and others will wait and see if we desire to right a wrong. Only then will God and others help. This is how God sees if you are faithful, if you are true. There may be moments that your spouse or friend wonders if you care, if you notice, if you love. Then, you must prove yourself to be trustworthy.
Recently, a woman's young son died. She realized how she may have failed him and wrote the following words: "If I only knew it was be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would have tucked you in more tightly and prayed the Lord, your soul to keep. If I only knew it was the last time that I saw you walk out the door, I would have given you a hug and kiss and called you back for one more. If I only knew it was to be the last time I'd hear your voice, I would have video taped each action and word, so I could play them back day after day. If I only knew it was to be the last time I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming, you would know I do. I would have remembered to tell you over and over until I was hoarse. But now is too late now, of course. If I only knew it was to be the last time I would be there to share your day, I wouldn't have let that one slip away. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike. Today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight."
God and others might want to know today... IF they can count on you. Remember the "if statements" in our scripture for today. There might come a time when God and others might ask them of you. What "if statements" or "if questions" would you like answered today? IF God called you to go home today to Heaven, what would you regret most?
April 19
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1–5 RSV)
Did you ever know a teenager who could make full use of a remote control? Make no mistake, they control your viewing pleasure! You are watching TV, and "click", you are watching something different on another station. "That was boring," your teen complains. After watching another show for ten minutes, "click." Just when you are getting into it, your teen says, "That is so dumb!", and "click" goes the remote. You are watching something new. Over the next hour of your life, it goes like this…. "That's stupid!" "Click (new channel)." "There must be something better on"… "click." "Oh, it's 7:30", "click!" "I wonder what music is playing"… "click". The show has to please your teen, or "click" goes the remote. She has to be entertained.
In many churches it is the same. Too often, so-called Christians feel the need to be entertained by the church or they will leave and go somewhere else to get their entertainment. They want you to cater to them, or "click", they're out of here. One Sunday, I led the service where new members joined the church. During their confession of faith, I told the congregation that the candidates for new members must be a part of a group in the church or they could not join. I mentioned that each member of the church is called by God to certain ministries of the church (1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12), and we must help them find where God needs them. After worship, a member of that congregation told me about two visitors sitting behind him when I mentioned that requirement. The visitors' complained saying: "I can't believe the pastor wants people to do something. Here I thought worshiping was enough. We're not joining this church." These people were church shopping. They were looking for a church that they liked, that was friendly, and that didn't require too much of them, and in which they could have their needs met. If the church didn't match that criteria, then, "click," and they're out of there.
Churches are filled with people who are in the pews on Sunday looking to be entertained, or looking to have their needs met. If the church, the pastor, or the worship style don't meet their needs, it's "click," and they're gone. If the pastor isn't entertaining enough, they look for a new pastor and a new church. In congregations, you may hear how the members love the pastor as long as his or her sermons are entertaining enough. If the service is full of too much ritual, or the sermon isn't comfortable and "nice", "poof", they're gone to find another place to entertain them. You may think I am being facetious, but this happens all the time. For some churches, this is their method of operation. Most large congregations look for a pastor whose sermons are entertaining and enjoyable. They want a pastor who is well-known, much-loved, funny, and good looking. I thought Pastors needed to be Biblically and theologically strong, with a passion for God's word, and filled with God's Spirit? Sadly, most congregations want a good looking entertainer who is steeped in jokes and funny stories to fill the pulpit on Sunday.
The scripture reading above looks at the reasons we are in a church. It also directs us to examine what a pastor is to work toward. Paul was a veteran pastor. Timothy was a new pastor. Paul wanted Timothy to remember what church leadership was really all about….
"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching." (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
It doesn't say that Timothy is to "please" his congregation, or sound "nice" to them. Nowhere is Timothy told to be a good entertainer, a polished preacher, or a published writer. Instead, Timothy is commanded to..."preach the word, convince, rebuke, exhort and be unfailing in patience and in teaching." There is no talk of being "nice" to people or being a "fun guy". He is not called to be enjoyable and make things easy for the faithful. His primary call is to preach, teach, and live out God's call.
In at least a dozen churches I know well, pastors were forced to leave. In some of those churches, the people charged that the pastors weren't "nice enough". In one church, they got rid of the pastor for urging the congregation to give too much money or time to missions. Several churches claimed the pastors weren't "warm" or had "favorites". All the churches said in one way or another that the pastor was "no fun". Timothy was called primarily to preach, teach, correct and exhort. He was not called to be pleasing or enjoyable. Today, church goers have a kind of "code" with which to judge pastors. If the pastor isn't nice, "click", he's gone. If the pastor isn't over 40 and under 55, then "click,", he or she is gone. If the pastor doesn't work 70 hours a week, "click," he or she's gone. If the pastor isn't at my house for a meal, I'm not going to accept him. If she doesn't stop by once a year, let's get rid of her. In each situation, the love that is shown to a pastor is conditional. The demands given to pastors today are unfaithful to scripture. All this is against our scripture for today. All this goes against God's call to ministry.
You can take this notion further and talk about any relationship. If a husband isn't happy enough with a wife, "click," and she's out of his life and a divorce ensues. If you are loyal to a company and work hard, but a cheaper replacement can be found for your job, "click," and you're gone. If a youth doesn't like what mom or dad says, on go the headphones or out the door they go, and "click," you just got turned off. If you aren't a democrat or a republican, "click", you just got "unfriended". "Click", "Click", "Click", as fast as people can change a channel by remote, people will tune in and tune out God or you. It's a very selfish existence. God doesn't want self-centered people but God-centered people.
In the final verses for today, the condemnation of selfish believers rings clear. Just read...
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:3-5)
Paul warns Timothy that in days ahead, people will not endure faithful Biblical teaching. Instead, they will desire to "accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires." They will listen to whomever tickles their fancy. They will seek entertainment and self-fulfillment in their faith, though God desires something different. It's a skewed way of living.
What these verses also point to is that if people don't like what God expects of them, "click," and they'll shut out God. They will tune God out like a teenager with a blasting ipod may ignore the voice of a parent. Examine yourself, your life. Do you want to be entertained in worship? How often I have heard someone say that they don't come to worship because it doesn't "do anything for me." Is that what worship is supposed to be about... so that God can supply your needs or wants? Worship comes from the Old English word, "Worthscipe" which means "to attribute worth to something." In true Christian worship, you will always get something out of worship, because God is the center of your attention. Worship is about attributing worth to our Lord and His ministries. You are not called to worship yourself.
Paul was trying to teach Timothy, a budding pastor, that he is not to please people, but work for God. He is to train people in the faith,correct sin, and strive to complete his mission for our Lord. Timothy is not to determine his worth by how "nice" or "entertaining" he is, but to determine his worth by how well he points to God. My prayer is that you are not a fair weather Christian who is around only when God is good and you enjoy your Christian walk. I hope you don't come to this web site to be entertained. If so, please seek God and change your selfish view of faith. Is someone in your life shutting you out because of your true faith? Is your church stuck in "entertainment mode"? Do you see the shallowness of "baby Christians" and long for more (see Hebrews 5:11-14)? Is God just for a cosmic genie who supplies your needs and entertains your life? Will you hear any "clicks" today?
April 20
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”
(Ephesians 5:15–20 RSV)
"Remaining Holy During Difficult Times"
Ephesians chapter 5 was written by the apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus around 50 AD. In this chapter, the apostle Paul warned those Christians that they will be judged righteous or a failure depending on what they do with their lives. Paul warned the Christians there to be careful how they walked (Ephesians 5:1, 15). He was concerned how they acted during "evil days". Paul wanted the people not to get caught up in lusts of the flesh or sexual sins; not to covet things, desiring things of this world. He urged the people not to talk "with filthy or silly talk that is not fitting." (Ephesians 5:1-12) He told them not to be led astray away from the gospel with empty words. All these were warnings for the people in Ephesus who were new to being Christian. They had to learn that following Christ meant living certain ways and avoiding certain tendencies. After all these warnings, Paul summarized what he believed by saying, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15)
The author here, the apostle Paul, had seen evil. He knew what bad times were. He knew what people were capable of doing when they were faced with darkness and sin. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul states that the first century in the Roman Empire was so evil that he was whipped thirty-nine times on five different occasions. He had been beaten with rods, adrift at sea for twenty-four hours, and constantly traveled in danger. He had days filled with hunger and thirst. He barely escaped with his life on several occasions. He suffered because he was a Christian. Despite the dark days, he endured those harsh trials. He didn't become discouraged and cynical. He kept on following God's call, because he had God's Spirit in his heart. Though the days were filled with evil, Paul made the most of his time, overcoming the great toll on his body and his mind.
It's amazing to me how many people call themselves Christians, but they let evil times, tough days, or bad circumstances control them. Too many let darkness or evil come between them and God. Unlike the apostle Paul here in this scripture, they do not keep the faith through the hard times. They let the evil get to them. When things are tough, they get cynical, discouraged, disheartened, upset. They might grow distant or snap at you if their day is particularly difficult. They might talk incessantly about their sickness or pain. A few seek to make everyone around them miserable. God no longer is the focus of their existence.
When tough times come, all of us are to try and follow the will of God. We should not be caught in foolish things. The Apostle Paul in the scripture above claimed that when evil days come, we need not to be doing "foolish things" but to "understand God's will". In the midst of difficult times, foolish people often do foolish things or make foolish mistakes. We hear stories of people who are poor and take up a life of crime, or prostitution, or sell drugs. But it never pays. It always costs them more to do such foolish things. Then there are those who don't like their spouse for some reason or another and go out and try to find someone better. Foolish. How about the person who gambles too much, who eats too much when angry, who smokes cigarettes when he's nervous? How about the person who goes out and buys something whenever he or she feels depressed? Oh the foolish things these people do when they get upset, hurt, angry, or down! As time passes, they look back on their lives and discover how very foolish they were.
One of the common mistakes during difficult times is to drown your misery in alcohol or use drugs to "get away". It's easy but dangerous to run away from your problems. When hurt, you might turn to liquor or to food or something else for comfort. Paul learned to trust in God. He "understood what the will of the Lord was." (Ephesians 5:17). He commanded the Ephesians not resort to drunkenness or alcohol during dark days (Ephesians 5:18). He found no answers with alcohol, only more problems.
In order to make it through dark times, Paul stated that you must "understand what the will of the Lord is". You must find out what God wants you to do in those tough situations in life. Through prayer or conversing with a faithful friend, you can discern what God sees is the best course of action. Thus, you can keep yourself from making mistakes. It might just be that God will put someone close to you who has been through tough times before, someone who can counsel you, someone who can listen. God will reach you or comfort you through them.
The last three verses in our scripture will further help you in tough times. Notice that Paul ends this scripture with sound advice: "be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father." (Ephesians 5:18-20) Notice Paul's "prescription" for keeping holy in tough times. He calls you to first, "be filled with the Spirit." Let God fill you up with His Holy Spirit, filling your life with His presence. Ask God for His Spirit to fill you completely. When it's difficult to figure out what is right and wrong, God's Spirit will help you see more clearly. Second, the scripture teaches you to sing psalms and spiritual songs during dark times. Spiritual songs speak to your heart. Now, I'm not talking about gangster rap, here! I'm not talking about songs that hit the "Top 40" necessarily. I'm speaking about spiritual songs or words that God uses to encourage you. Play them, listen to God speak through them. Finally, Paul's prescription says to give thanks for "always and for everything". Look for the blessings in your day. Give thanks for the little battles won or the beauty of some moment. Watch for God's hand to bring comfort and hope.
Coming from a guy who was beaten, shipwrecked, whipped, chained and much more (the apostle Paul!), he knows what tough times are. If he can give thanks for God's presence in those troubling times, you can too! If he can see God while starving and thirsty, you will also! Remember this scripture and Paul's prescription for evil times in your life. Don't become self-absorbed. Become God-centered and even more an example of true faith.
April 21
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
(1 Peter 4:1–5 NIV84)
G. Campbell Morgan told about a Christian woman who was struggling with an important issue. She was hesitant to give her life fully to Jesus. The woman said to Morgan, "I’m not sure I want to give up the things I like to follow Jesus, but I am determined to be a real Christian." A year later, Morgan was visiting in her town and spoke with her again. "Do you recall," she inquired, "what I said to you when I dedicated my life to Christ?" He told her he did. As she looked at him, the light of God appeared to be on her face. She exclaimed, "But it's been so different, Dr. Morgan! I began to follow Christ, feeling that I would have to give up the sinful pleasures I enjoyed, but now I live every day faithfully because God has made me pleased with the things that please Him!" This woman decided to follow Christ, to let Christ rule in her heart. She thought it would be tough leaving her old ways. What she found was that she grew to desire living faithfully. With Christ, she was more happy, more alive. She knew real peace for the first time ever.
If you talk to those who have truly committed themselves to Christ, you will find that they are more happy, more hopeful, and more joyful. They've gone from sadness to joyfulness, worrisome to hopeful, guilty to free, from humanist to righteous. They left behind sinful ways and the costs associated with living in sin. They walked away from drugs, alcohol, self-righteousness, power, political games, bad relationships, addictions, greediness, and so much more. They became centered on living in Christ. They became new people with a real faith, not cheap imitation of Christians.
A church elder was visiting a man who hadn't come to church for several years. The two were friends. The elder said to his friend, Charlie, "Charlie, why haven't I seen you in church for a couple a years?" Charlie responded, "I've been busy. The farm isn't doing so well. My baler went to heck. Did I tell you about the problems with my son and daughter in law? Shameful." The elder responded, "Sounds like you need God now more than ever, why don't you come to worship and spend time with God for a while?" Charlie came back with another excuse, "With all this going on, I'm tired and to tell you the truth, I sleep in on Sundays." The elder responded, "Charlie, you need to change your life. You need to let God have all your problems and give him all the garbage and you need to make some changes in your life. If you live right on Sunday, and take God with you in here (pointing to his heart), things have a way of workin' out." The two said their goodbyes. Charlie never came back to church again, except on Christmas and Easter, and his problems never got any better. He was never really a happy man. The day Charlie died, the elder was at his casket, said a prayer, and wished that Charlie had started over with Christ at the center of his life instead of somewhere on the outside.
You need to make a decision each day. You either commit yourself to follow Christ in everything you do, or you become a shallow Christian. There is no in-between. God won't stand to have part of your heart or part of your week. If you don't give him all of your life, he won't come into your whole life... and you won't feel true peace.
Peter, the disciple, wrote two letters before he died. They are found in our New Testament. In one of those letters, he wrote to new Christians who made a commitment to Christ and were living faithfully. He told them..."Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:1-2). Peter was convinced that people who were serious about following God were ready to let God rule their bodies, their lives, their everything. He mentions here that those who follow God are thus willing to live this life for the glory of God, not to follow their human desires. He reminded those Christians that non-believers or shallow Christians live unethical lives. Without true faith where God rules the heart, a person's life will fall apart with lusts, selfishness, drunkenness, sexual sins, and the like (1 Peter 4:3). Sinful people follow their own desires rather than following God. Peter saw this as a sign that they were destined for judgment by God and that judgment wouldn't be good (1 Peter 4:5).
Peter also mentions something interesting about these non-Christians. He says, "They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you" (1 Peter 4:4). Essentially, Peter noted that non-believers in his time made fun of Christians for not fooling around, getting into trouble, doing bad things, or having fun living sinful lives. This still happens today.
A young man went to a Billy Graham concert with his girlfriend. He was talked into going. She wanted him to experience being a Christian. He thought she was nuts. That changed as he listened to Billy Graham. His heart was convinced that he needed to have faith in Jesus. So, he went up to the front when the altar call came and prayed to receive Jesus into his heart. As he walked home from the stadium that night, he felt so good inside. He felt light on his feet. He felt that every sin in the whole world had been taken from him, and the weight just left him. The next day, his best friend called him to go out drinking. He said, "No." For the next few months, he began to turn his life around and live more faithfully. He even began to tell others about his faith and God; he felt so good! Three months later, he saw his best friend in a restaurant with a bar attached. The friend was going into the bar. He was going into the restaurant. The friend said, "Hey how about a drink, for old times sake?" The young man said he didn't drink anymore. The best friend turned to him and said, "Oh, too good to drink with me now that you've become a super-Christian! You used to be fun, you know!"
Here, a young man is beginning to live faithfully, and his best friend is busy making fun of his new faith. They did the same thing in in New Testament times. Your friends and family may not be able to accept your true Christian faith. They may make fun of you for living righteously. You may receive "looks" that say display annoyance that you don't go along with the thinking of this world. But don't give up on God. True peace and joy come from living completely in the arms of God. If you are not at peace today, if joy has left you, what is keeping you from the arms of God?
The apostle Paul said, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) Is that strong faith, still in you? Have you compromised your faith? Do you seek to have God fully in your heart? How do people make fun of your faith? Hold onto God tightly, live faithfully, follow willingly the path God in Christ puts before you. In time, you won't regret it.
April 22
“When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “We’re in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. ....So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.”....
“After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, .... they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. ... The Lord’s hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors. When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god.”” (1 Samuel 4:5-7, 10-11; 5:1–7 abridged NIV84)
Do you know how dangerous it was when Martin Luther translated the Bible into German for the first time? He was confined to Wartburg Castle in fear for his life. Those who wanted to take his life did not realize that as they searched for him that God's Word was about to increase like never before in history. Luther's translation of the Bible was completed while he was hidden in the Wartburg Castle! That German Lutheran Bible was translated over and over and over and became the household book in Germany within a century. Luther overcame a great threat to gain great faith.
The apostle Paul also turned his personal tragedy into a faithful victory. He wrote the letters or books of our Bible known as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon from prison. That's right; from prison. The Romans threw him into prison for believing in Jesus Christ. What did Paul do when he was imprisoned and on death row? He wrote to his churches, encouraging them, enlightening them, looking out for them, loving them. He overcame a time of personal upheaval by sharing his faith.
Throughout the Bible and history, God has taken tragedies and turned them into victories. It took commitment and faith on the part of those who had been hurt. They looked for God's hand working despite the pain, and kept faithful with their prayers and thanksgivings throughout. God came through in the end. Look at our scripture reading for today. Here again is illustrated for us a great tragedy wherein God causes a powerful event that ends in victory.
In First Samuel, chapters 4 and 5, the Philistines, (from whom Goliath was a descendant) were at war with the Israelites. The Philistines had powerful armies and had just defeated the Israelites in chapter 3. The Israelites then called for the Ark of the Covenant to be brought forth to bolster the defeated army of God's people. The scripture tells us what happened next...."When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, 'What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?' And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp, the Philistines were afraid…" (1 Samuel 4:5-7)
Even with this fear of the Ark, the Philistines had powerful soldiers who decided to fight more fiercely. In the next days, the Israelites lost numerous times in battle. The scripture says 30,000 lay dead. The Israelites thought the Ark alone could magically help them win the war. Only God helps you in life, not anything else. Consequently, the coveted Ark (the special box wherein resided the Ten Commandments written by God's own hand) was captured by the Philistines in battle. When Eli, one of the leaders of Israel found out, he fell over and died. When his daughter-in-law found out about Eli's death and of the great loss in battle, she gave birth prematurely and died herself. All the people mourned. They thought this was their end. At their darkest hour, they cried to the Lord. In that bleak moment, the Lord heard them and a miracle happened.
The scripture tells us that when the Philistines captured the Ark, they put it into their own temple with a statue of their god Dagon. This was to show that their god was more powerful than the Israelite God. But that very night.... our God did something great. When the Philistines woke up the next day, they went into their temple and found the statue of Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark. The scripture tells us that the Philistines "took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the following morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him." (1 Samuel 5:3-4)
Can you picture it? After a great victory, the Philistines find in their temple... that the statue of their god is lying in front of the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments. Their god statue has lost its head , the arms are broken off, and it appears he is in submission to the Ark. In a sense, this showed the power of our God over the Philistine god Dagon. But God's mighty works did not end there, for "the hand of the LORD was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and He terrified and afflicted them with tumors….. the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic, and He afflicted the men of the city….so that tumors broke out upon them. …and the cry of the city went up to heaven." (1 Samuel 5:6-8, 12 abridged)
In the end, the Philistines sent the Ark back to Israel. They feared our God. Tradition tells us that more Philistines died from the Ark of God being captured than the Israelites had defeated in battle. Out of a great tragedy, God brought forth a powerful victory. Though the Israelites mourned and feared for their safety, God defeated the Philistines without so much as an army. God turned a great defeat into a great victory for Israel. The people were able to live in safety. Within a few years, the Philistines were no longer able to fight against God's people. This scripture is one of many wherein God turns the tables on suffering, mourning, sadness, trouble, and turmoil. God changes certain death into certain victory.
Leading a graveside service, I read aloud from the book of Romans: "All things work for good for those who love God." (Romans 8:28) A good friend of mine had died. I hurt in my heart as I walked away from the cemetery that day. Just before I reached my car, a woman tapped me on the shoulder. She said.... "Pastor, the best thing about that scripture from Romans you read is that it says... 'All things work for good for those who love God Pastor, it doesn't say some things work for good, but all things work for good for those who love God. Even the death of an innocent carpenter worked for good, didn't it?" This woman was helping me to feel the goodness of God in that moment. Without realizing it, she made me see that out of tragedy, God always (not sometimes, but always) brings forth some kind of good to those who truly love God. Those who are willing to hold on to God tighter than holding on to the tragedy, or the hurt, or the pain will experience the goodness of God in some way.
Think about it. The cross was a great tragedy. An innocent man was condemned wrongly. A sinless man was hung on a tree. A man of compassion who taught about love suffered because of such terrible hate. And after they had beaten him, whipped him, spat upon him.... after they drove nails into his hands and feet, after they pierced his side... after his last breath and his muffled cry.... that tragedy became a great victory for our Lord. It took three days... but Jesus was raised to new life. It may take days or weeks or months, but God will do the same thing with tragedies in the lives of those who love Him. He will make your tragedies into different kinds of victories. What does all this say to you today? Is there a tragedy still stealing your joy? What good has come from a loss in your life?
April 23
“Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 NRSV)
"Do You Have a Spiritual Filter?"
In our house, we have a pitcher with a built-in water filter in the refrigerator. You pour tap water into the top of it, and it drains through the filter to the bottom. Any water that comes out the spigot has been purified through that filter. I once saw a man pour water and food coloring into the top of a water filter like ours, but only clear water came out the spigot. I was amazed at its ability to filter out impurities. However, the filter needs attention. It can clog with impurities. After just a few weeks, the water goes through more slowly. After a month or so, the water takes a long time to purify because of all the garbage coming out of my faucet and water lines. I once took a filter apart and was shocked to find hundreds if not thousands of tiny particles of many different sizes. All those impurities would have gone into my body if I didn't use that water filter!
Pastor Ron Hutchcraft wrote about his own experience with a water filter. He said that a water filter made him think about what people allow into their bodies. Without filters, people are actually drinking pieces of dirt. Without spiritual filters, you are doing the same thing. A lot of spiritually and morally impure things pour right into your soul if you do not filter the bad stuff out. It's unfiltered input. It's like drinking dirt. If you belong to Jesus Christ, without a spiritual filter the spiritual dirt is rushing into your soul where the Holy Spirit resides(1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Spiritually dirty messes should never defile God's temple. Your body. Your mind. Your heart is God's temple. Doesn't God live there?
In the scripture for today, God clearly commands us to spiritually filter what's coming into our lives. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, " let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit ". To cleanse yourself, you need to filter out the garbage that you see and hear in life. Without that spiritual filter, your mind and body can become clogged with all sorts of immoral or irreligious thoughts and goals. Garbage like that has no place in God's temple, your body. You need to keep yourself spiritually clean as part of being faithful.
A little girl was watching the TV with her big brother in the room. She watched Big Bird and Bob the Builder and a few other favorite shows. Then, the brother grabbed the remote from her and said it was his turn to watch a TV show. He flipped the channels until he came to a show with a lot of swearing. One person was torturing another person. After just a few moments, the little girl had enough. She walked over to the TV and turned it off. Her brother shouted, "Hey, what gives? Why did you do that?" The little girl replied, "We don't need to watch that, let's play a game together." With that, they left and went outside. Mother, who had been listening, smiled. She thought to herself, "That girl of mine has a good head on her shoulders."
The spiritual filter of that five-year-old girl in whom Jesus lives would not tolerate the TV show. No matter how much her brother liked that show, she needed to do something else instead of watching the torture. That's a model for a Jesus-follower of any age. Have you become so accustomed to violence or anger or resentment on social media that you have grown numb to its effects on your mind and heart?
The Bible says Jesus carried our sins in His body on the tree "that we might die to sins" (1 Peter 2:24). So what business do we have listening to and participating in things that support premarital sex, adultery, occult practices, violence, and disrespect for God or His Son? You can't turn on the TV or watch a web video and then turn off being a "temple" of the Holy Spirit. Do you let the garbage of this world fill your mind and heart and day just because it's wrapped in a package that's funny, or entertaining, or brilliant, or clever, or popular? Satan's no dummy! He comes in under the radar, like a Stealth Bomber, when your guard is down. Without a spiritual filter, you are liable to believe in anything, even "fake news"!
Home from college at semester break, a girl told her mother that she was going to a movie that evening with other college students. The mother knew the movie was not a good one, but one filled with sick humor, sex, violence, and more. Under questioning the daughter admitted that "the movie had some bad parts, but overall it was great."
At that moment, the mother was making a tossed salad. With her daughter looking on, she quietly fished out a small handful of garbage and dumped it into the salad.
Horrified, the girl exclaimed, "Mother, why did you do that?"
Came the reply, "Since you don't mind watching garbage, I thought you wouldn't mind filling your stomach with it, too. So a little garbage from at the movies doesn’t bother you any more? Here eat this. Overall, it will be great!"
It bothers me when people let such junk into their minds and hearts. I'm told that millions of Americans went on the internet to see the burned or decapitated bodies of people killed by ISIS. Why? Will it help you be a better human being? Instead, it will haunt you and eat at your Spirit. Many Christians have pulled back from social media and international media because of the rejection of values and faith that is presented there. In a way, they want to "filter out" these destructive and depressing examples of hatred and violence, along with the constant rejection of God.
It's not to be taken lightly when God gives a command that says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Guarding your heart is scripture's way of saying you need a spiritual filter to protect your faith and health. You can only listen to enough morally wrong things before it affects you. Like soldiers who grow immune to death after a lengthy battle, you may grow immune to sinfulness if you see it all day long every day. If a friend swears all the time, do you think you won't start swearing as well? If you steal a few times, won't it be easier to steal one more time? If you do what is popular or acceptable to the world, how long until you become just like the world? Is Facebook where you decide on what is right and wrong? Would God want you eating Twinkies with ice cream as your soul source of nutrition?(:P) Where will you draw the line with sinful living within and around you?
A spiritual filter is necessary to a spiritual life. If you don't want to get garbage into the Holy Spirit's house (your body is a temple to God! 1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 2 Corinthians 6:16), filter what you let come in. You wouldn't knowingly let your mouth drink dirt! In like manner, don't let your soul do it either!
April 24
“So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.....He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:5,10–15 ESV)
In Jerusalem in the middle of the first century, there was a terrible drought. Many Christians were suffering with hunger and thirst. Due to the persecution by Jews at the time, the Christians were not being helped. The apostle Paul thought it shameful that Christians anywhere should suffer hardship while others had more than enough to share. Paul went to Macedonia in Greece and began to raise funds to help the Christians suffering in Jerusalem and surrounding areas of Judah. Then, he went to the church in Corinth and sought funds to help the faithful Christians in Jerusalem.
Paul said in this letter to the people of Corinth when he asked them for money to help the needy in Jerusalem: “I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine” (2 Corinthians 8:8). Paul had already collected money from other Christians in other cities, now he wanted the rich Corinthians to give as well. Paul saw this as a test of their godly love. If this wealthy church in Corinth would not share, they were not very faithful. Paul mentioned to the Christians in Corinth these words.... “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11). What Paul meant by these words is that God gives those who are well off more than enough to help those in need. Our job as Christians is to share with those in need. That brings thanksgiving to God.
In 2 Corinthians 9:12, Paul mentions that any gifts that were given to these people in Jerusalem would supply the "needs of the saints". Paul makes clear that the faithful Christians in Jerusalem were needy, due to the drought. They needed food and water and provisions. The Corinthians had more than enough to share. One thing that Paul tried to get across to the Corinthians was that the people in Jerusalem had legitimate needs: not wants, but needs. It is one thing to want something. It's wholly different to need it. I know many children who want a certain video game, a computer, a toy, a doll, a dress, a gaming system, a baseball card and such. They want it... maybe even badly. But do they need it? To want something is to desire it. To need it makes it a necessity for living. You might want a new dress as you look in a window at the mall, but you know there are needy friends who would love to have a necessity. You might want a new car, but there are those who need someone to care for them.
In our world, people can get wants and needs mixed up. My Great Aunt used to tell me that during the depression, there was a man who was hated in the neighborhood. Nobody liked him. When he walked down the street, people would walk across the street from him. When he said "Hello!", they would ignore him. I once asked, "Auntie, why didn't people like him?" She told me that he would get his paycheck, then go to the neighborhood bar and spend half his paycheck on beer. But at home, his wife and four kids constantly went hungry. People would have to sneak the wife and kids food so they wouldn't starve. He drank his paycheck. This man did not know the difference between wants and needs. He might want to drink, but his family needed food.
Several years ago, a pastor wrote about a visit with a needy boy in the congregation. The two were going shopping. Members of the congregation had collected some money to give to the boy and his family. The pastor decided to make a morning of it by taking the boy to a local K-Mart where the boy could spend the money collected. As they walked into the store, the pastor immediately headed to the toy section. As he got to the aisles of toys, the boy could hardly believe all the rows upon rows of games and playthings that he could never own. The boy looked and touched many toys, oohing and aahing the whole time. Finally after twenty minutes, the pastor said, "Now Tommy, can you pick out a toy to take home?" Tommy looked up at him and said, "No sir." The pastor said, "Why, not? Is it because there are too many toys to choose from?" "Oh, no!" said Tommy. "I was just hoping to get a pair of mittens for my sister, and a pair of shoes for my mom." Tommy knew that all those toys were nice, but what the family really needed were mittens and shoes. Wants are one thing. Needs are another.
The apostle Paul was hoping that the Corinthian Church would give up some of their wants to supply the needs of the hurting in Jerusalem. Paul believed that sharing with those in need was a gift to God. Those gifts prove your faith. If you would rather spend your time, money and effort on your own wants while the needs of others is not met, it is hard for you to truly be Christian. Paul even said the giving of gifts to those in need is a test that God gives to those who have plenty (2 Corinthians 9:8). We are to share what we have been given.
In our world, there are other ways that wants and needs are mixed up. Many think they really need something, but they only want it. Some youth feel that they really need Tommy Hilfiger shirts or pants or jackets to fit in at school. Friends and advertisements might suggest to them that they won't really fit in without designer clothes. Are designer clothes what you really need? A person may also think they need one thing, when they really need another. For example, a mother may think she really needs to have good educational toys for her child to grow up intellectually challenged. That may be true. It may not. What the child needs most is time with its mother. The child needs love more than things; the child needs nurturing more than purchasing.
In your life, don't get wants and needs mixed up. Paul made clear to the Corinthians that the church in Jerusalem had legitimate needs. Paul was quick to tell the Corinthians to share what they had with those who had need. In your life, I hope you share your time, your talents, your treasure, your love, your wisdom with those who need these things. I, too, hope that you truly know what you need today. Some people today will pray for "things", when God sees they really need love. Some will pray for others not knowing that they are the ones who truly need God. Some will pray for forgiveness, but what they really need to do is make right a wrong that was done. Some will go to a counselor for help, when what they really need is to come to God. God gives generously.
So, what do you want today? What do you need today?
April 25
“And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. .... But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land; and when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the boat; after hoisting it up, they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they should run on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven. As we were violently storm-tossed, they began next day to throw the cargo overboard; and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackle of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many a day, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. ... As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, 'Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food; it will give you strength, since not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.' And when he had said this, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all two hundred and seventy-six persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.” (Acts 27:1-2, 14-20, 33–38 RSV)
When riding on my bike or in the car, every now and then I will see a sign that says, "Danger Ahead" or "Dangerous Intersection Ahead". My first response is to be a bit more alert and watch out for the dangers that lie ahead. But it's not just the Department of Transportation that makes signs in our world. God also creates signs for the faithful to see. These signs direct you in the way you should go or the path you should take. The signs may be warning signs or direction signs. They may signal you to repent or to change something. One way or another, it is best to heed the road signs when driving. The same goes with God's signs. You better heed them, too.
Our scripture for the meditation today speaks about signs Paul received from God as he traveled by boat to Rome. These signs from God helped Paul, protecting him during his journey. Though Paul was a prisoner during this time, he was arrested for true faith. As such, God was watching over him closely.
Chapter 27 of Acts introduces us to the area that Paul was sailing. Paul was being taken to Rome to stand trial for being a Christian. Throughout the early parts of the journey by boat in the Eastern Mediterranean, there were several incidents where the winds were wrong, and storms loomed close. These formed the first sign for Paul that something was wrong. Paul told the ship's officers: "'Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.' But the centurion (who had to guard Paul and take him to Rome to face trial ) paid more attention to the captain and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said." (Acts 27:10,11)
A majority of the crew voted to sail for a harbor of Crete and weather out the storms. The author of the book of Acts states that as they neared Crete "a tempestuous wind, called a northeaster, struck down from the land; and when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the boat; after hoisting it up, they took measures to under-gird the ship…" (Acts 27:14-17) The soldiers and sailors were afraid of running aground. In sailing books, the waters where Paul said these words (near the Syrtis) are described as full of dangerous sandbanks and rocks that could hang up a ship. In a storm, these reefs could tear a ship apart. Now, remember, Paul warned the Centurion and the sailors not to sail....but they didn't listen. The sailors and soldiers voted to continue...but look at the situation they fell into: "The boat was violently storm-tossed, they began next day to throw the cargo overboard; and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackle of the ship, and when neither sun nor stars appeared for many a day, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned." (Acts 27:17-20)
After throwing the cargo and tackle overboard to lighten the boat, not wanting to run aground, the sailors feared the worst. Then Paul spoke again...."…you should have listened to me, and should not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. I now bid you take heart; for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. for this very night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and lo, God has granted you all those who sail with you. ' So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we shall have to run on some island." (Acts 27:21-26)
Paul had been given a word by God that he was to complete his mission to Rome. He was not to die at sea. God sent an angel to confirm this to Paul. God was watching out for Paul and those who traveled with him. God gave Paul the signs and instructions needed for all to be safe. Did the sailors finally listen to Paul and trust in God's guidance? You bet. The story goes on to say that on the fourteenth day of the trip, the ship neared land. Some of the sailors were so frightened that they tried to lower a lifeboat to get to safety. Seeing this, Paul said.... "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it go. " (Acts 27:31-32) Paul then offered food to the people and warned them to eat as they were soon to run aground.
The soldiers, sailors, and passengers now believed in Paul's words. They trusted him. They knew he could understand God's signs put along the way. On the fourteenth day of the storm, they ran aground on a beach on a small island. Everything was happening as God intended. But there was one hitch. When a boat with prisoners goes down, usually all prisoners are killed lest they escape . When word got out about this plan, the soldier who guarded Paul kept the other soldiers from killing all the prisoners aboard the ship. Thus, all two hundred plus people aboard went safe ashore just as Paul had foretold, just as God had promised.
In the end, Paul's life was saved through God's warning signs. The centurion didn't want Paul killed because Paul had seen the signs and saved all aboard. The centurion, by the end of the trip, was convinced that Paul knew the signs God gave. I believe that all the people on the ship trusted that Paul could foresee the signs of danger and deliverance.
When you are called by God, when you are close to God and know a lot about God, you too will see signs, even warning signs, that God puts along the way to guide you. It is my contention from this scripture and others like it, that God intends for you to heed the signs God gives you along the way. Trust that God's signs will point you in the right direction or to do the right thing. After reading this scripture, don't you see that you are better off to follow God's signs? Because the sailors and guards heeded the signs God was giving Paul, every person on that ship was saved. That's how God's signs work. They are always reliable, true, and trustworthy. They protect and save and help and warn.
Throughout the scripture reading today, the only person who could foresee what was to happen was Paul. Only he could perceive the signs. The sailors and prisoners had to trust Paul. They couldn't see God's signs or angel. That's often true in this world. The church is gifted with a few faithful people who see what God has planned. These faithful ones look for warning signs and are led by the guiding hand of God. Worldly people may visit a lady with crystal balls to get insight. Other worldly ones read horoscopes or want their palms "read" to get direction for their lives. You must rely on God's word, on prayer, and on God's signs to point you in the right direction. When you are in need of guidance, in need of direction, go to someone who knows God and God's word. Or, look to God to guide you directly if you have a strong relationship with Him. God never fails to give directions or signs. He gave them to Abraham, to Moses, to the prophets, to the kings of Israel and Judah, to Paul, to the disciples, to Jesus. Will he ever fail to give them to those who trust in HIS word? Never.
April 26
“While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.” (Exodus 17:8–13 NLT)
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left; and he was hungry. He decided to ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept
pay for a kindness." He said...... "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man grew equally.
Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for a consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, Dr. Kelly gave special attention to her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. When the young lady received the envelope with the costs for her hospital stay, she hesitated to open it. She was convinced it would take the rest of her life to pay for everything. Fearing, she looked at the bill, and something caught her attention on the side of the invoice. She read these words: "Paid in full with one glass of milk." Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly. Thinking back to that day long ago, tears of joy flooded her eyes as her heart prayed: "Thank You, God!"
When you are strong enough or generous enough for others to lean on, it makes a difference in our world. In fact, Jesus said that you should be able to tell who is His disciple, by the way he or she exhibits a love of others (see John 13:34-35). You are defined by the way you watch over others. Your faith is also exhibited by how well you lean on others. You'll see what I mean in the scripture for today.
During the time of Exodus, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness traveling to the promised land, they ran into a group of Amalekites. The Amalekites were known as desert pirates. They attacked God's people. Moses led the Israelites against the Amalekites in battle, and the scripture tells us something interesting about that fight. When Moses raised his arms and staff on the hill overlooking the field, the Israelites did well. When his arms grew tired and fell, the battle went poorly. Realizing that the people needed to see Moses arms and staff lifted up in the battle, Aaron and Hur helped hold Moses' arms and staff upright to bring hope and victory to the people.
Now, if you only see this scripture as a war story, you'll miss something very important. Look closely. Notice how the people received hope from Moses' upraised arms and staff? When Moses grew tired, the men found him a rock to sit on, but he kept his arms aloft. When his arms grew weary, men were there at Moses' side to help keep those hopeful arms of blessing raised during the battle.
I once listened to a woman pastor preaching this scripture. She taught me something I will not forget. She taught that Moses needed those men to hold up his arms in battle. Moses needed those who brought him a rock to sit on to make it through that fight. Only with help could the people be blessed in their fight. She went on to say that we all (especially Pastors and missionaries) need help to carry on the fight for faith. You need those who will stand with you, strengthen you when you are weak, hold you up when you are tired. You need to lean on others of the faith. Others in faith need to lean on you as well. It is my belief that God puts people around you to lean on when you get weak, when you are failing, when you are alone, when you sin, when you are afraid, when you fight your spiritual battles. I don't care how strong you are, some day you will rely on another, you will be at the mercy of another, you will owe someone, you will be saved by someone. God will put someone there for you to lean on. As a person of true faith, your work is not to compete with other people of God, but to lean on others in the faith, holding each other up, helping to bring the best out of the situation. God gave Aaron and Hur for Moses to lean upon. God will give you someone, too.
In our world, there tends to be competition in business. People will step over you in the ladder of success. If you do well, others might hope that you fail. In many schools, groups, and organizations, at the workplace, and even in churches, it may be "dog eat dog". People are so quick to fight with each other, to take sides, to look a person up and down for flaws. When we look in scripture, faithful ones displayed different tendencies. You could lean on them. You could trust them. You could count on them. My hope is for you to be one of those others can lean on. When the fires of adversity come, you will be the one to hold them up. Or maybe, you will be the one leaning on another whom God puts there for you.
Examine yourself today. Who needs to rely on you? Can you trust God enough to lean on Him, even when your world falls apart? I know you can lean on God. I've done it. I am also thrilled when others can lean upon you. They can, right?
April 27
“Moses said to the Lord, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.' The Lord said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.' Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, 'What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.'”
(Exodus 4:10–17 NIV84)
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know," the son continued, 'he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to be around those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. You may find it easier to look away rather than look to someone who is disfigured, to stare at someone who is handicapped, to make fun of someone who is palsied, or to ignore someone who is different.
God has it so that in our world there are those who are handicapped. It's not that God enjoys it when people to suffer debilitating traumas to the body. Rather, God wants you to remember that in this world no one is perfect. Human bodies are susceptible to illness and deformity. Your attitude to these handicaps shows others and God what is true faithfulness. If you treat handicapped people as equals, not lesser, not taking advantage of their weakness, you do what God desires. If you see handicapped people as just different people and not as invalids or cripples; if you treat them with dignity, not as a number or as something dirty; if you show them respect and not ignore them, you will be treating them as God had planned.
In our scripture reading for this morning, we hear about God calling Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. Now, you might figure that Moses would have been overjoyed to lead hundreds of thousands of people out of bondage and slavery to freedom. That was not the case. Moses was afraid and hesitant to go to Egypt. When God asked him to help, Moses replied, "I am not eloquent. I am slow of speech and tongue" (Exodus 4:10). It is believed by these verses that Moses may have had a speech impediment, or he may have stuttered, or he was palsied on part of his face. All these would make speaking difficult. Thus, Moses had a handicap.
Notice how Moses initially uses his handicap as an excuse. When God wanted something done, Moses used his difficulty speaking as an excuse to get out of the mission to Egypt. Sometimes, you or other handicapped people do this. We all use excuses not to do what God wants us to do. We use our problems or handicaps as a crutch to fail in life. When desired, we throw up that handicap or personal fault as an excuse so we don't have to do what needs to be done. God would not let Moses get by with this. At one point, God even grew upset with Moses for making such excuses. The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say" (Exodus 4:11-12). Then, Moses even suggested God send someone else (Exodus 4:13)! Not letting Moses off the hook, God called Aaron to help Moses speak before Pharaoh. God would not let Moses' handicap stop him from accomplishing something big God had planned.
At this point, you might be asking yourself, "I didn't know that any of the people in the Bible were handicapped!" Actually, there were a number who were handicapped, and their handicaps are mentioned. Moses had a speech impediment, Saul and Elijah had frequent depressions, and Paul had physical ailments (Luke the physician even traveled with him!). No one in the Bible was perfect or had perfect circumstances. Every one, Jesus included, had challenges to overcome. You might want to make an excuse out of your handicap or weakness or disability. Don't do it. God has great things planned for you.
One huge problem in our world today is that we are so busy, we think we don't have time to help those with handicaps around us. It takes longer for a person on crutches to walk. It takes longer for a person who stutters to speak a sentence. It takes more time for a person in a wheelchair to negotiate in a building even with handicapped elevators. Do you lack patience with those who have handicaps? Do you despise the extra time it takes for them to complete tasks? Do you overlook the needs of others or fail to provide for them? God doesn't do any of this. God provides for your weakness. God makes the time for your disabilities. God is patient with you and others who have challenges.
Twenty some years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going .a bit too fast in his sleek, black, twelve cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was just repainted. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted out, but a brick sailed out and WHOMP! -- it smashed into the Jag's shiny black side door! SCREECH... !!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car.
He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my Jag! That brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money! Why did you throw it?"
"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, twelve cylinder Jaguar XKE -- a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention.
Sometimes, God must get your attention when you overlook those with handicaps around you. You can be so self-concerned that you ignore those who are limited in mobility, in speech, in the ability to process simple actions. In our fast paced world, you may believe that you don't have time, the energy, or the love that it takes to help those who aren't nimble enough, quick enough, or strong enough to complete things rapidly. You may be in such a hurry, you park in those handicapped places conveniently placed close to where you want to go. You may be so self-absorbed, you fail to notice the lady with a cane who is standing on the bus when there are no seats left. You may be so unaware that you don't' notice a person who won't speak because she is ashamed of her stuttering. To truly care and love those who are handicapped, you can't make fun of them. You can't overlook them. You can't single them out or ignore them. You have to respect them. You may have to encourage them when they make excuses for themselves. You will have to plan for their weakness. God puts people with handicaps in your life to make you slow down, to show you how imperfect you are, to see if you will accommodate those who are a little slower due to disease, infirmity, or weakness.
God uses those with handicaps. God accepts your handicaps and works with them. God freed the Israelites from bondage in Egypt using a man with handicaps. God shows you all the time that its not handicaps that cause your failures. Often, its an attitude toward the handicap that causes failure. Handicaps can be overcome or helped. Handicaps may cause weakness, but they also force you to see things differently. A handicap didn't stop Moses from completing his mission. It won't stop you either; not when God has a plan and a purpose for you. That weakness you have might prove some day to be a strength that God uses to overcome a great burden for you and someone else. This happened to Moses. How might God use your weakness today?
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV84)
April 28
“Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:19–22 RSV)
So often in our world, we do not listen for direction. We are so busy doing the talking, doing the work, driving the car, ferrying the kids, fixing the house, finishing the project, earning the money, and so much more, that we don't have time to listen. We don't take time to listen to God, to a spouse, to a friend in need, to a child, or to someone in trouble.
In 2007, a grandfather and grandmother invited their grandson to stay with them. They knew young Joe was good at football. In fact, he was all-conference. They were proud of him, went to all his games, and did what they could to help him attend football camp. But when Joe stayed with his grandparents for a week that summer, he seemed different. He was upset at how he played, how he looked, at his social life. They tried to talk to him. One night, they talked about how he felt a failure. The grandmother said, "Joe, don't take life so hard. Let's not talk about those negative thoughts. Let's focus on the positive." Joe couldn't see the positive. Two weeks later, this all-conference football player, the guy who was nominated for homecoming king, took his life. His grandparents said to me when I found out, "Why didn't we let him talk it out? Why didn't we just listen to what he was saying." In fact, the very night he died, he visited three friends and even told one that if something happened to him, the friend should get his favorite poster. None of the friends really heard what Joe was saying. He was giving away his possessions because he didn't want to live anymore. They missed the meaning behind his words. They didn't do what was needed to save him.
When we don't listen, it is easy to miss important clues right in front of us. Our scripture for today bears these very important words, "Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every one be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger" (James 1:19). This scripture clarifies the importance of listening; whether its listening in prayer, listening to God's call, listening to a child, listening to a spouse, listening to a friend in need, or listening to another person when they are angry. Listening is an all-important skill in any relationship and should be seen as a necessity. A wise person once noted, God gave us two ears and only one mouth. This is a sign that God desires we spend twice as much time listening as we do talking. Are you a talker? Do you listen well?
In counseling, I"ve found listening to be a common weakness in many marriages. Like the husband who is focused on something else while his wife speaks, saying, "Uh, huh", "Uh, huh", but isn't hearing a word she is saying. How about the parent who is so busy on the phone that she doesn't hear the child asking for permission? Listening failures are often seen when a spouse is composing an answer or defense before the other is finished speaking. We are all guilty of failing to listen to someone or even God.
I find that two of the most difficult times to listen is when you are upset or someone is angry at you. It is even more important that we follow James' command in these situations. James warns us to be quick to hear, and slow to speak, but also slow to anger. In seminary, I was taught that whenever I get uptight or angry while talking with someone in church, I should take a deep breath, say a short prayer, and shut up and listen for a while. Its sound advice for any person in any situation, especially when problems arise. It's so easy to get emotional, figuring someone is undermining you. You may seek vengeance when your anger gets the best of you. Red hot anger never helps us hear better, does it? James added: "for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." (James 1:20)
This scripture goes beyond calling us to listen and hold back our anger. Immediately after cautioning all who believe to follow those commands, James states, "But be doers of the word and not hearers only." James thus insists that along with listening, you need to do what is needed to help any situation where God wills it. There is a strong criticism against just listening when accomplishing something is required. To explain, James said... "If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (James 2:15-17) If you listen to the needs of others and turn your back on them, what value is your faith or your listening? You see, God gives us the ability to hear needs in this world, to hear his voice calling us to do what is right to help where we can. If we do not listen to God or those who are in need, and do not do what we can, we lose our relationship with God. It's that simple.
On January 17, 1994, a blizzard hit Louisville, Kentucky. There were drifts to two feet deep and the city had been all but shut down, paralyzed by the unexpected blast of winter. At 9:00 that morning, Barbara Schmitt got a phone call. Her three year old daughter, Michelle, was in line for a liver transplant, and the call was for Barbara to get Michelle to Omaha, Nebraska within twelve hours for the transplant. Barbara told the medical worker that the airport was 17 miles away, the roads were not plowed, and there were cars and semis skidding all over the roads. The medical worker said that she had to figure out a way to get to Omaha, no matter what it took, or the liver would be given to someone else. Barbara wanted to get angry, but she didn't have the time or the effort to do it. Michelle was getting more sick each hour, so Barbara knew she had to do something. A call to a special agency in Louisville showed that they had a jet and two pilots standing by at the airport, thank goodness. But how would Barbara and Michelle get to the airport?
Barbara called a local radio station and asked for help. They spread the word. People who listened to the show started offering what they could. Fifty volunteers cleared a nearby church parking lot for the helicopter to land. People volunteered transportation. A nearby fire department sent trucks to light up the landing spot. Hundreds gathered in support. Everything went off perfectly and Michelle's transplant was a success, but it was only because people were listening to the pleas for help, because Barbara would not let herself be caught up in anger because of unforeseen problems, and because people cared about doing something where they could. A child was blessed that day because of the faithful following of our scripture from James.
It is not easy for you to follow this scripture. When you are tired, when you upset with another person, when problems rise, its difficult to listen. It's a lot easier to be angry. When time gets short and work fills your day, it takes effort to listen: but listen you must. When difficulties arise, when argumentative people cross your path, do not let your anger control you. You must resist this temptation, remaining "quick to hear and slow to speak and slow to anger". So too, you need to find out what you can do in these circumstances. How can you help?
Are you a listener or a talker? Do you hear what others are really saying? Do you take the time to listen, or do you tend to assume what another is going to say? Will you act on what you hear? Saving grace demands it.
April 29
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7–10 NIV84)
The longer I'm a pastor, the more I see God use things and people and events to really prove a point. In a way, you could say that God sometimes has a way of turning tables on people and teaching us great things in doing it.
Steven was a man's man. He made fun of men who didn't push the limits. When he went out drinking, he would drink other men under the table. When he hunted, he used the biggest and most powerful guns. He worked hard, and he played hard. He was also hard to live with. He treated his wife as if she were property. He didn't think twice about saying, "Hey woman, go get me a beer, and make it snappy." But wouldn't you know it. Five years after Steve married Pam, they had a beautiful baby girl. Now, that little girl has him wrapped around her finger. And, Steve is not in the bars anymore. And you should see how Steve treats Pam. That little girl changed everything. God sure has a way of turning tables on people!
In early 1700, the French philosopher Voltaire predicted that Christianity would be swept from existence within 100 years. Yet just 50 years after he died in 1779, the German Bible Society had occupied Voltaire's house and was using his printing press to produce stacks of Bibles. It makes you wonder if God wasn't turning the tables on Voltaire!
During World War II, Adolf Hitler erected a massive stone structure in Monte Carlo. It was to be a radio station from which to broadcast Nazi propaganda into North Africa. Today from that very building, Trans World Radio beams the gospel of Christ's redeeming love all across Europe and into Russia and Africa. God even has a way of turning the tables on evil.
Is God great at turning the tables on people? Absolutely. God often does things in this world to teach, to show His power, and uses events that turn everything upside down to teach His lesson. I mean, think about it. Pharoah made Moses' mother get rid of her son by sending him across the water of the Nile River. Then a few years later, Moses split the water of the Red Sea to get rid of the Egyptian army! Oh, and get this. In the book of Numbers, the greatest prophet of the day wouldn't speak God's truth, so God used a donkey to tell the truth to the prophet! And how about this.... When Jesus was born, Herod tried to kill Jesus because he didn't want Jesus to be the next King of the Jews, but when Jesus was crucified, they hung a sign over His head which said in several languages that Jesus was "King of the Jews." Throughout scripture, God turns the tables on people and things. It's almost as if God is challenging the way we think about things. It's almost as if God is twisting reality on evil and making fun of it!
In Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church, he spoke about a challenge he was facing. In these verses, Paul mentioned that he had a great difficulty with a thorn in the flesh. Now, this thorn in the flesh may have been based on a personality conflict. It may have been brought on by an illness. It may be a weakness someone used against Paul. It may be a speech impediment or a physical flaw of which Paul was ashamed. It may depression or a problematic bodily issue that someone took advantage of. We were never told about what or who that thorn was for Paul, but we do know that somebody was giving Paul a hard time about his problem. Paul even mentions in this scripture that someone was "tormenting" him about it (2 Corinthians 12:7). Somebody connected to Satan was using this thorn to tease, hassle, or threaten, or coerce him.
Now, I'm sure you've met a person who can torment you about a personal weakness or problem. Maybe it's that Mother-in-law who constantly points out your weaknesses. Maybe it's that person at school who teases you. How about the neighbor who has a critical eye? You might just be married to someone who can torment you! A "tormentor" is the kind of person who makes your skin crawl or keeps you on your toes. The tormentor in this scripture caused Paul to suffer spiritually and emotionally. Paul begged God three times to get rid of his problem, but God did not. However, God did do something about Paul's situation.
God purposefully did not take the problem away from Paul so that Paul would keep from being conceited (2 Corinthians 12:7). You know, people who have it good can get awful conceited. If you are born with money, if you are born with good looks, if you are naturally bright, or blessed with rich parents or a good job, sometimes you can get conceited and think you are better than others. If you are conceited, God may put problems in your life to humble you. Sometimes God puts thorns in the flesh to turn the tables on you. This malady makes you rethink who you are. The thorns force you to get off of your high horse.
In upstate New York, a woman decided to throw a party among her elite friends with the proceeds going toward a local literacy program. All the high society types were invited, among them the mayor, city aldermen, and even a local celebrity. Costs for the dinner were $100 a plate at a very posh restaurant. During the dinner, models showed off new clothes styles for formal dinner wear. All profits were to go to the program. As the models were walking around, one of the waitresses stared at one of the dresses and accidentally spilled a little coffee at the head table. She quickly tried to apologize, saying, "I'm very sorry, maam". The woman in charge turned to the waitress and in a demeaning way stated, "Young lady, it is not appropriate to call the mayor's wife, `Maam'. What is wrong with you? Can't you read?" At that moment, several guests glared at the woman. She had forgotten that the waiters and waitresses at that charity dinner were from the literacy center. None of them could read. I certainly hope that little mistake humbled the conceited woman. One has to wonder if God didn't create that little incident to remind the woman who she was there that night to impress. God does have a way of turning the tables to expose hypocrisy.
When that thorn in your life just won't go away, it may not be because you are conceited like Paul. It may be for another reason. Paul mentioned in these verses that God sometimes leaves a problem or a person in your life so that God's grace and power are "made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9) God's strength shines through best when you are weakened. God can "turn the tables" on you so that the problem you have becomes your greatest learning opportunity or greatest strength.
Oscar Cervantes is a dramatic example of Christ's power to turn our weaknesses into strengths. His story displays how God can turn the tables on you to accomplish great things. As a child, Oscar got into trouble. As he grew older, he was jailed seventeen times for brutal crimes. Prison psychiatrists said he was beyond help. Some believed he was so hardened a criminal that he should never be allowed out in public again. They were proven wrong by God's grace. During a brief interval of freedom, Oscar met an elderly man who told him about Jesus. Oscar placed his trust in the Lord and was changed into a kind, caring man. Shortly afterward, he started a prison ministry. Chaplain H. C. Warwick described it this way: "The third Saturday night of each month was 'Oscar Night' at Soledad Prison. Inmates came to hear Oscar and they sang gospel songs with fervor; they sat intently for over 2 hours; they came freely to the chapel altar. What professionals had failed to do for Oscar in years of counseling, Christ did in a moment of conversion." Did you notice how God turned the prisoner into a prison ministry leader? The screw-up became the teacher! God has the greatest ability to turn the tables on you.
I've seen this so many times in life. Christian couples who've lost a child have been the best pastors to others who've lost a child to death. Christian women who've been raped and overcome that tragedy have become great counselors for rape victims. Having come through depression, pain, or sorrow (or other terrible thorns of life) with a stronger faith, can make you the best kind of pastor for someone going through your type of trauma.
When that thorn in the flesh digs deep, when that person torments you again, remember Paul. God didn't take away Paul's problem and pain, because that trial was going to teach Paul how to be a better Christian. Paul concluded the scripture for today acknowledging that his greatest lessons he learned in life became his greatest teachers. He said "for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I become strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). God's strength will be made perfect when you are weak. God's strength is more able to be seen when you are hurting. God's love is made clear when your heart is broken. You know its true, don't you? God is good at turning the tables on you in life. He even uses your weaknesses to grow some of your greatest strengths. Remember that when the trial comes, life gets thorny, or a problem just won't go away. It might be that God is teaching you something or making you better.
April 30
“It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking upon the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, 'Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?' So David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her. ... Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, 'I am with child.' So David sent word to Joab, 'Send me Uriah the Hittite.' .... Then David said to Uriah, 'Go down to your house, and wash your feet.' And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, 'Uriah did not go down to his house,' David said to Uriah, 'Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?' Uriah said to David, 'The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.' Then David said to Uriah, 'Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.' So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day, and the next. And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house. In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, 'Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.'” (2 Samuel 11:2–15, RSV)
People make mistakes. It happens. You can't be perfect all the time. You can make big mistakes. You can make small mistakes. You can fail to remember a needed item. You might forget to return the milk to the refrigerator. Some mistakes are small enough to be overlooked. Some mistakes are bigger and require more than just an apology but some kind of restitution. Huge mistakes, like accidentally putting the car into forward when you thought you put in reverse upon leaving the garage, can cost a lot of money. Forgetting to put a sign saying, "wet cement" by the mailbox might bother the mailman who now is ankle deep in concrete. Failing to fix the broken door in an airplane once caused a midair accident. Mistakes happen. People fail. Problems occur.
I love reading the bulletin bloopers that come across my desk. They are filled with mistakes put into bulletins and just slipped past the secretary or the pastor. Like the bulletin announcement about the Easter breakfast that read.... "The pastor would appreciate if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning." In another bulletin was stated: "This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar." How about the information in the bulletin, which was supposed to say, "Ushers will seat latecomers". Instead, it said, "Ushers will eat latecomers." One Church sign accidentally included this wisdom: "Don't let worry kill you. Let the Church help." Or the church sign that said in error: "Thursday night-Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow."
Mistakes are part of life. You should expect them to occur. The problem is not that mistakes might happen to you. The problem is what will you do when they happen? Some people believe they are too perfect. Some don't like to admit when they are wrong. There are those who don't notice their mistake or sin. There are people who blame others instead of repenting for their errors. Mistakes should make us straighten up and fly right. Instead, most people just try to cover up their mistakes, their sins, or their failures. Usually, that is the worse thing you can do.
You've probably heard the adage, "Two wrongs don't make a right." If a person is wrong about something, he or she might be tempted to create another wrong to make it right. When a woman gets pregnant before marriage, you have a mistake. She will have a tough time raising a child alone. But if the woman marries the father only because she is pregnant, she is making a second mistake. Will that make the first mistake better or worse?
A man lost his license due to drunken driving. A month after losing his license, he drove to the store to get some supplies. Though driving on a suspended license, he figured it was just a few blocks. On the way to the store, a policeman caught him rolling through a red light. The man was so upset about his being caught with a suspended license, that he tried to elude the police officer and drove through the country at high speeds trying to escape. In the end, an accident totaled his $25,000 car and he spent six months in jail. If he would have just stopped and admitted to his mistake, he'd have been given a $300 ticket. That's it. Because he used a mistake to try and cover another mistake, he is spending months in jail.
In our scripture for today, one of the most famous and decorated men of the Old Testament made a mistake, a sin. Instead of coming clean, he tried to cover up this sin with another sin. Two deaths were the result of his cover up. An innocent man died, and a child died. God placed the blame at David's feet.
In the book of Second Samuel, David is sitting on top of the world. He is leader of a vast and successful army. He is a respected figure in the land. At the pinnacle of his accomplishments, he was put in a difficult situation. One spring day, David went up to his roof to look over the city. His roof was very high compared to the others in the area. From his roof, he could look down on the whole city. As he looked, he saw a beautiful woman. David sent for her, and though he knew she was married, he had sex with her anyway.... mistake number one. He should have just confessed and dealt with the consequences. But no, he made another mistake by trying to cover it up.
When David discovered Bathsheba was pregnant, he didn't want to tarnish his reputation. Instead, he tried to cover up his sin. He called for her husband, a soldier named Uriah, to come to town. David attempted to get Uriah to sleep with his wife, thus covering up the pregnancy, but Uriah was a soldier who felt his duty more important. Uriah stayed on duty instead of going home and having sex with his wife.
Failing to cover up the pregnancy, David made mistake number three. He sent Uriah back to the war, and arranged for his death. This was another huge mistake. After Uriah was killed in battle, David then married Bathsheba. He figured that her pregnancy and his adultery and murder would be hidden. But God knew everything. David had made mistake upon mistake upon mistake to cover up the first mistake.
God was angry. God told Nathan, the prophet what David had done. Nathan confronted David. Not only did David have to admit his mistake of adultery, he had to suffer the consequences of the murder. David paid dearly for these mistakes, even watching the child die for his sin. Why did he cover it up? Why did he use one mistake to cover another?
It is my belief that many of us at some time or other care more about our image or reputation than about what is right. We don't like to look stupid. We like others to think we are perfect or that we don't fail. The fact is we all fail. Even the scripture tells us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). One of the greatest errors in life is when we cover up our sins and failures just to look good. How does it help to have one mistake cover another? Wouldn't it be better to admit to one mistake than make two or more mistakes while trying to cover things up? Not to some people. How about to you?
A young woman was at a party with a lot of underage drinking. She was seventeen and it was illegal for her to be at that party. Still, she was determined to have fun with her friends. Drinking a few beers, she was feeling pretty full of herself. Then, a knock came at the door. When the boy who lived at the house opened the door, police in blue uniforms shouted for everyone to stay where they were. The young woman thought to herself... "What would my dad do if I got arrested for underage drinking? He'd kill me!" So, she made a mistake to try and cover her mistake. She saw a window and jumped through it to try and escape the house. What she didn't know was that outside the window was a dog's kennel. Twelve stitches were required to fix the gashes made by the dog next door in whose kennel she broke headfirst.
She now lives with her scars and her mistakes are visible to all.
It's usually better just to admit when you are wrong, but some people just don't like to do that. All King David had to do was admit his adultery with Bathsheba, but he wouldn't do that. He immediately sought for a way to get out of his predicament. This ended up with two people dead and his personal history forever stained. Many think they can cover up sins that God doesn't want covered up. It proves to be their undoing. You can't cover up your mistakes from God. You think God doesn't know when you are covering up a mistake by making another? Sometimes, its better just to admit when you're wrong... if you are adult enough to face it.
Mistakes happen in life. What you do with a mistake shows how righteous you are before God. Facing your mistakes shows your level of humility and the maturity of your faith. If you choose to make a mistake to try and cover your mistake, you will find yourself in more hot water in your life. We all make mistakes. It's what you do when that happens that shows if God and justice mean anything to you. Do you have something to say now? Is there something you'd like to pray about at this moment?