April 1
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19, NKJV)
In Heaven, God has full and complete power. It is God’s Kingdom. The earth may have been created by God, but it has been influenced by Satan. Here on earth, things are “under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). When you are conceived into this world, Satan can attack you. He can manipulate your world view. Evil can endanger you. Wickedness can be sent your way. As Christians, we “are of God” (1 John 5:19). This won’t stop us from being tempted and harassed by evil forces. Even when you do the right things, evil can be right behind you. Even if you are righteous, wicked people can go after you. This world is a spiritually and physically dangerous place. It’s all too easy to be caught off guard, emotionally blinded, or deceived by worldliness.
When I came to my office one dark winter day, a woman was waiting just outside. I could tell she had been crying. Her eyes were red. Her face was streaked with tears. She looked utterly defeated. I didn’t say anything until I walked over and gave her a hug. I asked her to come in my office. I parked a box of Kleenex next to her. She took two and continued in her tears. Over the next hour, she poured out her sorrow. Her husband had admitted to an affair. A woman from his work had lured him away. A marriage of eighteen years was breaking apart.
During the next few weeks, we began to sort out the truth from the lies. Her husband moved out. The wife begged for counseling. He would do no such thing. After a month, the truth began to settle in the heart of the woman…. her husband was not coming back. She and the kids had lost him. He didn’t want to make the marriage work. I remember her looking straight at me and saying, “It’s not fair, Pastor Dave! I was faithful to him! I raised the kids doing the best job I could. He came to church with me every Sunday! How could this happen?” This suffering wife was exposed to the kind of evil that shreds marriages and destroys lives. She couldn’t understand what she had done wrong. She couldn’t fix what went awry. She couldn’t go back in time and make things right.
Yes, the husband had cheated. Yes, he abandoned his family. However, this wife had forgotten a very important part of living in this world. None of us is free from suffering at the hand of the evil one. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been faithful. It doesn’t matter how good you have been. Evil lurks in this world. Until we are in heaven, we are never safe from suffering and betrayal brought on by sinful actions. You can’t always trust the people and things of this world. God is the only one who is trustworthy. Only God will be faithful.
Being a faithful Christian doesn’t prevent evil from coming your way. On the contrary, Satan knows you are faithful and has put his target on your back. If there is any way to cause you suffering, he will find it. Here in this world, Satan has some power. “The world lies under the sway” of his wicked plans. The Heavenly Father will influence things. His angels will watch over your life. However, Satan will attempt to shake your faith, tear away your calm, and separate you from the Holy Spirit. Satan will send his minions to take away things you hold dear and cause suffering where he will. The prophet Job experienced these exact things at the hand of Satan (Job 1). What makes you think Satan won’t go after you as well?
You might be trustworthy, but that won’t stop another from betraying you. Judas betrayed Jesus! You might be born with a beautiful body and good looks. Don’t be surprised when some people want to manipulate or abuse your natural gifts. Inheriting lots of money or power won’t keep you from being used or from losing you faith. Being honest won’t stop others from being dishonest in return. This world is not fair. There are places and people that are wicked. There are evil ones who will abuse an innocent child. There are leaders who will abuse their authority. As long as you are on this earth, you will never be immune from the influences of evil.
Jesus warned his followers with these words: “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16, ESV). This world is under the sway of evil forces. Be careful who you trust. Don’t let the evil taint your heart and soul. Don’t let the wickedness of others cause you to respond in kind. Trust in God. God will warn you of spiritual darkness. Rely heavily on God’s Spirit. This will keep you connected to your heavenly home. On the last night of His life, Jesus gave another warning to his disciples. He said in the garden, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41, ESV). You will be tempted. Trials will come. Suffering may be thrown your way unfairly. In the end, your faith needs to rise to the occasion. Your trust in God must be stronger than the pull of this world. Satan’s’ judgment day is coming. Your salvation is as well.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12, ESV)
When I came to my office one dark winter day, a woman was waiting just outside. I could tell she had been crying. Her eyes were red. Her face was streaked with tears. She looked utterly defeated. I didn’t say anything until I walked over and gave her a hug. I asked her to come in my office. I parked a box of Kleenex next to her. She took two and continued in her tears. Over the next hour, she poured out her sorrow. Her husband had admitted to an affair. A woman from his work had lured him away. A marriage of eighteen years was breaking apart.
During the next few weeks, we began to sort out the truth from the lies. Her husband moved out. The wife begged for counseling. He would do no such thing. After a month, the truth began to settle in the heart of the woman…. her husband was not coming back. She and the kids had lost him. He didn’t want to make the marriage work. I remember her looking straight at me and saying, “It’s not fair, Pastor Dave! I was faithful to him! I raised the kids doing the best job I could. He came to church with me every Sunday! How could this happen?” This suffering wife was exposed to the kind of evil that shreds marriages and destroys lives. She couldn’t understand what she had done wrong. She couldn’t fix what went awry. She couldn’t go back in time and make things right.
Yes, the husband had cheated. Yes, he abandoned his family. However, this wife had forgotten a very important part of living in this world. None of us is free from suffering at the hand of the evil one. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been faithful. It doesn’t matter how good you have been. Evil lurks in this world. Until we are in heaven, we are never safe from suffering and betrayal brought on by sinful actions. You can’t always trust the people and things of this world. God is the only one who is trustworthy. Only God will be faithful.
Being a faithful Christian doesn’t prevent evil from coming your way. On the contrary, Satan knows you are faithful and has put his target on your back. If there is any way to cause you suffering, he will find it. Here in this world, Satan has some power. “The world lies under the sway” of his wicked plans. The Heavenly Father will influence things. His angels will watch over your life. However, Satan will attempt to shake your faith, tear away your calm, and separate you from the Holy Spirit. Satan will send his minions to take away things you hold dear and cause suffering where he will. The prophet Job experienced these exact things at the hand of Satan (Job 1). What makes you think Satan won’t go after you as well?
You might be trustworthy, but that won’t stop another from betraying you. Judas betrayed Jesus! You might be born with a beautiful body and good looks. Don’t be surprised when some people want to manipulate or abuse your natural gifts. Inheriting lots of money or power won’t keep you from being used or from losing you faith. Being honest won’t stop others from being dishonest in return. This world is not fair. There are places and people that are wicked. There are evil ones who will abuse an innocent child. There are leaders who will abuse their authority. As long as you are on this earth, you will never be immune from the influences of evil.
Jesus warned his followers with these words: “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16, ESV). This world is under the sway of evil forces. Be careful who you trust. Don’t let the evil taint your heart and soul. Don’t let the wickedness of others cause you to respond in kind. Trust in God. God will warn you of spiritual darkness. Rely heavily on God’s Spirit. This will keep you connected to your heavenly home. On the last night of His life, Jesus gave another warning to his disciples. He said in the garden, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41, ESV). You will be tempted. Trials will come. Suffering may be thrown your way unfairly. In the end, your faith needs to rise to the occasion. Your trust in God must be stronger than the pull of this world. Satan’s’ judgment day is coming. Your salvation is as well.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12, ESV)
April 4
“… as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20, ESV)
In the movie, “Saving Private Ryan”, a former soldier walked around a cemetery filled with his friends who had died in battle. He was a survivor. A part of him felt the guilt of outliving his best friends from his military days. Then, he looked at his wife and said, “Please tell me I have been a good man.” He wanted to be sure his being saved was worth it. He wanted confirmation that these soldiers in the cemetery had not died in vain.
When faced with uncertainty or death, you might be tempted to do the same. You might look back on your life and wonder what you could have done differently or if your life meant something to this world. You might wonder if you made the right choices. You might regret the decisions that brought sorrow or shame. In those last moments, ready your soul to face God. Judgment Day is coming. Your life will be examined. Your choices will be weighed by the Almighty. How will you fare? What will be your fate?
One Sunday morning, I approached the sanctuary, getting ready to lead worship. The organist was playing the prelude. People were being seated. The choir was in place. I sent in the acolyte to light the candles. As I stood at the door at the back of a sanctuary, one of the older men in the congregation turned toward me. Our eyes met. He smiled and nodded. I nodded in return. That small action by him gave me further courage to get up in that pulpit and offer up a faithful sermon to our God in Christ.
Two years later, that older gentleman lay dying in the hospital. I went to see him. When I walked into his room, I could see he was weak. Cancer had run its course. He was lying in bed with little energy. He had two days to live. Knowing his fate, he looked up at me as I walked in. A smile came across his face. But a shadow also loomed there. His eyes were not their normal fiery bright. They were dimmed. Death was coming for him. We both knew it. Surprised no family was in the room (they were always there beside him), I asked how he was doing. He told me that he didn’t have long. Then, he looked up and said, “Pastor, I’m afraid. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” I held his hand. I reminded him of his faith, of the love he had for his church, of his commitment to Christ. We talked about Jesus’ resurrection. We talked about being faithful in his death as much as he was in life. I asked him to have courage and to trust in God’s power over death. We prayed a powerful prayer together. During the prayer, I asked him to recommit himself to God’s plan for his final days. When I left, I could see his weakness, but the fire had come back to those eyes. He was ready to face his death. He would hold on tightly to faith in Jesus all the way.
The Apostle Paul wrote the scripture for today while under arrest by the Roman Government. His faith in Jesus Christ brought that arrest. His trial was looming. The potential for his death was real. How many days did he have left? What would happen in the next few months? As these questions came to Paul’s mind, he wrote the scripture above to the Philippian church. In looking ahead to the looming trials to come, Paul “hoped that he would not be ashamed” (Philippians 1:20). He was “full of courage” that he was close to God in Christ. He knew one way or another, no matter what happened, “Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death”. As Paul faced the last few days of his life, he had courage that his faith would be strong. He had courage to face the unknown, knowing that Jesus was his Savior. Jesus had been raised from the dead, so could he. If anything, Paul wanted his last days and death to be a testament to his faith in Jesus Christ.
If you died this week to the coronavirus, what would be your legacy? Are you ready to face your Maker? What regrets would you have? Would you have the courage to face the unknown? The Apostle Paul faced his final days “with full courage” knowing that Jesus was his Savior. He knew death was not the end. Paul’s soul was made right by the grace and mercy of God. Now, facing death, he was at peace. In a short time, he was going to be in Heaven.
Your choices and decisions in life will follow you into your last days. They will affect how you feel when you are dying. If you have unresolved guilt and unrepentant sins, they will follow you into your last moments, causing fear and regret. Those regrets will also haunt you unto Judgment Day. Be careful what you do in your life. If you have been faithful, you will feel full of courage to face the unknown. If you have regrets and sins still looming, you will be full of doubt and remorse. God wants you to deal with all your fears and misgivings today, so you will have “full courage” in your final days to be faithful in death as in life.
If you have any regrets, make them right. If you have any sins that are unresolved, seek forgiveness and grace. If you need to get something off your chest, get it done. If you need to rekindle your faith, do it now. If you need a stronger faith, search scripture for ways to build it up. If you have doubts, resolve them. If you have fears, find courage in Jesus Christ. If you feel lost, find God again. There is no reason to face the end of your life will misgivings or in dread. Let your last legacy be one of a faith that would not quit, even in the face of death.
When faced with uncertainty or death, you might be tempted to do the same. You might look back on your life and wonder what you could have done differently or if your life meant something to this world. You might wonder if you made the right choices. You might regret the decisions that brought sorrow or shame. In those last moments, ready your soul to face God. Judgment Day is coming. Your life will be examined. Your choices will be weighed by the Almighty. How will you fare? What will be your fate?
One Sunday morning, I approached the sanctuary, getting ready to lead worship. The organist was playing the prelude. People were being seated. The choir was in place. I sent in the acolyte to light the candles. As I stood at the door at the back of a sanctuary, one of the older men in the congregation turned toward me. Our eyes met. He smiled and nodded. I nodded in return. That small action by him gave me further courage to get up in that pulpit and offer up a faithful sermon to our God in Christ.
Two years later, that older gentleman lay dying in the hospital. I went to see him. When I walked into his room, I could see he was weak. Cancer had run its course. He was lying in bed with little energy. He had two days to live. Knowing his fate, he looked up at me as I walked in. A smile came across his face. But a shadow also loomed there. His eyes were not their normal fiery bright. They were dimmed. Death was coming for him. We both knew it. Surprised no family was in the room (they were always there beside him), I asked how he was doing. He told me that he didn’t have long. Then, he looked up and said, “Pastor, I’m afraid. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” I held his hand. I reminded him of his faith, of the love he had for his church, of his commitment to Christ. We talked about Jesus’ resurrection. We talked about being faithful in his death as much as he was in life. I asked him to have courage and to trust in God’s power over death. We prayed a powerful prayer together. During the prayer, I asked him to recommit himself to God’s plan for his final days. When I left, I could see his weakness, but the fire had come back to those eyes. He was ready to face his death. He would hold on tightly to faith in Jesus all the way.
The Apostle Paul wrote the scripture for today while under arrest by the Roman Government. His faith in Jesus Christ brought that arrest. His trial was looming. The potential for his death was real. How many days did he have left? What would happen in the next few months? As these questions came to Paul’s mind, he wrote the scripture above to the Philippian church. In looking ahead to the looming trials to come, Paul “hoped that he would not be ashamed” (Philippians 1:20). He was “full of courage” that he was close to God in Christ. He knew one way or another, no matter what happened, “Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death”. As Paul faced the last few days of his life, he had courage that his faith would be strong. He had courage to face the unknown, knowing that Jesus was his Savior. Jesus had been raised from the dead, so could he. If anything, Paul wanted his last days and death to be a testament to his faith in Jesus Christ.
If you died this week to the coronavirus, what would be your legacy? Are you ready to face your Maker? What regrets would you have? Would you have the courage to face the unknown? The Apostle Paul faced his final days “with full courage” knowing that Jesus was his Savior. He knew death was not the end. Paul’s soul was made right by the grace and mercy of God. Now, facing death, he was at peace. In a short time, he was going to be in Heaven.
Your choices and decisions in life will follow you into your last days. They will affect how you feel when you are dying. If you have unresolved guilt and unrepentant sins, they will follow you into your last moments, causing fear and regret. Those regrets will also haunt you unto Judgment Day. Be careful what you do in your life. If you have been faithful, you will feel full of courage to face the unknown. If you have regrets and sins still looming, you will be full of doubt and remorse. God wants you to deal with all your fears and misgivings today, so you will have “full courage” in your final days to be faithful in death as in life.
If you have any regrets, make them right. If you have any sins that are unresolved, seek forgiveness and grace. If you need to get something off your chest, get it done. If you need to rekindle your faith, do it now. If you need a stronger faith, search scripture for ways to build it up. If you have doubts, resolve them. If you have fears, find courage in Jesus Christ. If you feel lost, find God again. There is no reason to face the end of your life will misgivings or in dread. Let your last legacy be one of a faith that would not quit, even in the face of death.
April 7
“And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.” (Isaiah 29:13, NLT)
A young mother got up during the night to feed her newborn infant. The child was still not sleeping through the night. For several weeks, Charlene woke to the shrill sound of a child needing nourishment. Each night she would take the child gently out of bed, sit in the rocking chair, and breastfeed the child. Taking care of two young children along with the infant made her very tired. The weeks without a full night’s sleep kept Charlene foggy each day and irritable with her family.
One morning, Charlene woke to an odd sound. It sounded like a melody. She followed the sound, going toward the baby’s crib. There, she found her three-year-old daughter and her husband singing to her newborn son. When Charlene asked them why they were singing, the girl said that the baby needed a friend and mommy needs to sleep. Her husband just smiled and wrapped her in his arms. Over the next few minutes, Charlene came out of her morning haze to realize that the whole family was trying to give mom a break. The daughter realized that mom was so tired, she was going through the motions. Her husband just wanted to give her a few more uninterrupted moments of slumber. Charlene took the next few minutes to cherish how beautiful these moments were to her family. With tears in her eyes, she hugged her daughter thanking her for giving mommy extra sleep. She gave her husband her brightest smile. Throughout the day, Charlene spent extra time with all three children. She didn’t want to sleep-walk through these very important days in her family’s life. She vowed to herself that she would be less irritable and more loving.
It's not just tired and weary mothers with newborns who can be found inattentive and indifferent. Any one of us can be caught in a rut. Have you ever had a period in your spiritual life, when you were just through the motions? I believe every one of us will experience going through life in a spiritual haze. Do you ever say the Lord’s Prayer in worship out of rote, in monotone, without even pausing to consider the beauty of its words?
I remember visiting a church during late December. The congregation was hosting their annual Christmas program with special music, lots of lights, the retelling of the Christmas story, with candle-lighting and Christmas carols. It was a magical service. After the service, I overheard a member of the church spouting how many hours it took to prepare for the program. She mentioned how hard it was for the children to rehearse, the difficulties in putting up the lights, and all the many preparations that had to be done each year to prepare. She finally remarked, “I’m so glad this is over. Now, I can get back to preparing for Christmas dinner.” The woman didn’t see this program in its beauty. She didn’t realize how much it had touched my soul. She was going through the motions with this service. She missed its spiritual impact.
When your spiritual life gets in a rut, your spiritual life will be affected. The hymns won’t touch your heart meaningfully. The worship of God will feel habitual and rehearsed. Your participation will become robotic. You will overlook God’s presence. Your spiritual life will lack meaning and direction. Your prayer time will become flat and boring. Worship will seem monotonous. Some might end up sleeping through worship. That won’t count the number who are spiritually asleep at the wheel. Be careful when this happens. Like Charlene went through the motions in caring for the amazing miracle of her newborn, you might find yourself spiritually numb and miss the awesome presence of the Almighty.
In the days of the prophet Isaiah, the people of Israel and Judah had fallen away from God. They began to place more emphasis on military alliances than God’s power. Their commitment to God waned. Their prayers became ritualized. They “honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from God” (Isaiah 29:13). Their worship became more focused on “man-made rules”. Their religious actions became mere formalities. They functioned like drones, saying words that were more rote than heart-felt. Not long after Isaiah challenged the people of God for this spiritual malaise, sinfulness and war and famine overtook the land. What began as a spiritual rut ended up in the destruction of the Temple.
Don’t overlook the dangers of taking things for granted. Watch out for spiritual ruts. When you go through the motions in your spiritual life, you will often fail to see what God is doing. As you go through the motions, you may not realize the miracles happening right in front of you or perceive the beauty of the moment. If your prayers become rote, your time with God is wasted. As our scripture for today warns, people who only honor God with their lips have lost the connection with God in their heart. Then, all manner of things is liable to fall apart.
If you are caught in a spiritual rut, do something different in your spiritual life. If you normally pray at night, pray while taking a walk. If your worship feels practiced, take notes, join the choir, start a new Bible Study program, or visit a revival service. If the mass feels like ritual, do something special in your church. If your prayers seem forced, find a new person to pray with or read a devotional beforehand. If you haven’t read the Bible lately, pick one up and spend just a few minutes reading something from the gospels or join an online Bible Study group. Read a few meditations from this web site. Speak with your pastor or priest. Go do a new mission. Find someone in need. Donate your time to a good cause. Take time for your soul to catch up with your body. All in all, time spent bringing new life to your relationship with God can become a lifesaver!
One morning, Charlene woke to an odd sound. It sounded like a melody. She followed the sound, going toward the baby’s crib. There, she found her three-year-old daughter and her husband singing to her newborn son. When Charlene asked them why they were singing, the girl said that the baby needed a friend and mommy needs to sleep. Her husband just smiled and wrapped her in his arms. Over the next few minutes, Charlene came out of her morning haze to realize that the whole family was trying to give mom a break. The daughter realized that mom was so tired, she was going through the motions. Her husband just wanted to give her a few more uninterrupted moments of slumber. Charlene took the next few minutes to cherish how beautiful these moments were to her family. With tears in her eyes, she hugged her daughter thanking her for giving mommy extra sleep. She gave her husband her brightest smile. Throughout the day, Charlene spent extra time with all three children. She didn’t want to sleep-walk through these very important days in her family’s life. She vowed to herself that she would be less irritable and more loving.
It's not just tired and weary mothers with newborns who can be found inattentive and indifferent. Any one of us can be caught in a rut. Have you ever had a period in your spiritual life, when you were just through the motions? I believe every one of us will experience going through life in a spiritual haze. Do you ever say the Lord’s Prayer in worship out of rote, in monotone, without even pausing to consider the beauty of its words?
I remember visiting a church during late December. The congregation was hosting their annual Christmas program with special music, lots of lights, the retelling of the Christmas story, with candle-lighting and Christmas carols. It was a magical service. After the service, I overheard a member of the church spouting how many hours it took to prepare for the program. She mentioned how hard it was for the children to rehearse, the difficulties in putting up the lights, and all the many preparations that had to be done each year to prepare. She finally remarked, “I’m so glad this is over. Now, I can get back to preparing for Christmas dinner.” The woman didn’t see this program in its beauty. She didn’t realize how much it had touched my soul. She was going through the motions with this service. She missed its spiritual impact.
When your spiritual life gets in a rut, your spiritual life will be affected. The hymns won’t touch your heart meaningfully. The worship of God will feel habitual and rehearsed. Your participation will become robotic. You will overlook God’s presence. Your spiritual life will lack meaning and direction. Your prayer time will become flat and boring. Worship will seem monotonous. Some might end up sleeping through worship. That won’t count the number who are spiritually asleep at the wheel. Be careful when this happens. Like Charlene went through the motions in caring for the amazing miracle of her newborn, you might find yourself spiritually numb and miss the awesome presence of the Almighty.
In the days of the prophet Isaiah, the people of Israel and Judah had fallen away from God. They began to place more emphasis on military alliances than God’s power. Their commitment to God waned. Their prayers became ritualized. They “honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from God” (Isaiah 29:13). Their worship became more focused on “man-made rules”. Their religious actions became mere formalities. They functioned like drones, saying words that were more rote than heart-felt. Not long after Isaiah challenged the people of God for this spiritual malaise, sinfulness and war and famine overtook the land. What began as a spiritual rut ended up in the destruction of the Temple.
Don’t overlook the dangers of taking things for granted. Watch out for spiritual ruts. When you go through the motions in your spiritual life, you will often fail to see what God is doing. As you go through the motions, you may not realize the miracles happening right in front of you or perceive the beauty of the moment. If your prayers become rote, your time with God is wasted. As our scripture for today warns, people who only honor God with their lips have lost the connection with God in their heart. Then, all manner of things is liable to fall apart.
If you are caught in a spiritual rut, do something different in your spiritual life. If you normally pray at night, pray while taking a walk. If your worship feels practiced, take notes, join the choir, start a new Bible Study program, or visit a revival service. If the mass feels like ritual, do something special in your church. If your prayers seem forced, find a new person to pray with or read a devotional beforehand. If you haven’t read the Bible lately, pick one up and spend just a few minutes reading something from the gospels or join an online Bible Study group. Read a few meditations from this web site. Speak with your pastor or priest. Go do a new mission. Find someone in need. Donate your time to a good cause. Take time for your soul to catch up with your body. All in all, time spent bringing new life to your relationship with God can become a lifesaver!
April 10
“The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are reckoned as earthen pots, the work of a potter’s hands!” (Lamentations 4:2, RSV)
“In spite of, or perhaps to compensate for, our struggles with self-esteem, the vast majority of us pastors rate our relational and leadership skills well above average. One recent Leadership survey of pastors found that over 80 percent of us believe we have above-average preaching skills. In a related survey sent to laypeople, over 60 percent of our parishioners said our messages weren’t so hot—average or below average!
Obviously, something is out of line. By definition, at least half of us are below average. The problem is, it’s always the other guy.
Why do we overrate ourselves?” (Larry Osborne, The Burden of Potential, p. 18)
While some overvalue their worth to this world, there are others who don’t feel worthy at all. Knowing what you are worth to others is informative. Knowing what you are worth to God is priceless.
The biblical book of Lamentations was written at a time when God’s people were suffering greatly. The Israelites lost in battle to the Assyrians. The Judeans lost everything to the Babylonians. Before these terrible times, prophets had attempted to correct the sin of the people. The people of Israel refused to listen. They thought they were so important that they formed military alliances and ceased to seek God’s protection for their nation. They treated the poor as worthless. They considered themselves superior because of their wisdom and accomplishments. While Israel and Judah were consumed with inflated egos, God had a different perspective. God knew that if they continued down this road of self-centeredness and self-destruction, there would be no end to their sin. God caused war and famine to consume the holy land. God humbled His people. God wanted a return to holiness among the faithful.
During this time of suffering, Lamentations 4:2 was written. It is the scripture for today. In this revealing verse, you can see the perspective of the conquering armies. They considered Israel a broken vessel, worthless for anything but a trash heap. Israel was hurting terribly. “The temple is destroyed, mothers desert their young (Lamentations 4:3, 4), people die of hunger (Lamentations 4:5), the punishment is prolonged (Lamentations 4:6), the princes are unrecognized in the streets (Lamentations 4:7, 8), cannibalism prevails even among compassionate women (v. 10), and the city [Jerusalem] that was considered impregnable has fallen (v. 12).” (p. 1033, Believer’s Bible Commentary). Everything went wrong for the Israelites. The invading armies considered the people of God as “earthen pots”, weak and liable to be broken (Lamentation 4:2). God had a different view. While watching the suffering of the people, faith began to come alive again. That faith was genuine and pure, meaningful and beautiful. So, while the conquering armies considered the Jews as fragile vessels, God considered them “precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold”.
Have you ever realized how important your true faith is to God? Jesus died for you. He suffered on a cross to redeem you. Your life is considered precious. To God, your true faith is of great value. It is "worth its weight in fine gold".
Early on in my ministerial career, I met two young men born with a genetic abnormality. Because of this anomaly, they could not walk. They learned to walk on their hands. They couldn’t accomplish many things due to their disability. However, to me they were precious. The last time I saw them, they were celebrating ten straight years without missing a Sunday worship service. They had a very genuine faith. They were highly compassionate and had a lively curiosity about God and the Bible. To a person on the outside, these young men might appear as weak or unable, non-productive workers or genetic mistakes. Not to God and not to me. We saw their genuine and wonderful faith. We saw their real worth. Their lives were an inspiration. Their dedication to worship and prayer and belief, despite their handicaps, puts many to shame.
Sometimes, you may think yourself worth more than you are. Your ego may be inflated. The view of your potential may be overstated. At other times, you may see yourself as worth little, limited in potential, or a failure in certain areas of your life. Rather than over-valuing or undervaluing your worth, view your life from the perspective of God. How precious are you to God? How much potential has God given you?
This world often links your worth with how many dollars you have in a bank or how big of a house you own. Many young women discern the potential of a date by what car he drives. Some people determine the worth of a woman by the cost of the clothes she wears or by the size of her wedding ring. God is not so shallow. God looks in other places to determine your worth to this world. God looks at your character, your heart, your faith, your love, your drive, your commitment. So, where this world might judge you harshly, God might see you as precious. By some standards you might be rich when God considers you poor in spirit. Among some groups, you might be perceived as unintelligent or lacking creativity. How about God? How does God view your worth?
Today is Good Friday. It is the day that true Christians honor Jesus’ death on a cross. Never forget that Jesus went to that cross to redeem your life, to save your soul, and to make a place for you in Heaven. That’s how much worth God gives to you. That’s how much God wants to see you in Heaven. Don’t waste your time comparing yourself to others, valuing yourself by worldly standards, or seeing your worth in relation to your material possessions. God has very different standards. So does Heaven.
Obviously, something is out of line. By definition, at least half of us are below average. The problem is, it’s always the other guy.
Why do we overrate ourselves?” (Larry Osborne, The Burden of Potential, p. 18)
While some overvalue their worth to this world, there are others who don’t feel worthy at all. Knowing what you are worth to others is informative. Knowing what you are worth to God is priceless.
The biblical book of Lamentations was written at a time when God’s people were suffering greatly. The Israelites lost in battle to the Assyrians. The Judeans lost everything to the Babylonians. Before these terrible times, prophets had attempted to correct the sin of the people. The people of Israel refused to listen. They thought they were so important that they formed military alliances and ceased to seek God’s protection for their nation. They treated the poor as worthless. They considered themselves superior because of their wisdom and accomplishments. While Israel and Judah were consumed with inflated egos, God had a different perspective. God knew that if they continued down this road of self-centeredness and self-destruction, there would be no end to their sin. God caused war and famine to consume the holy land. God humbled His people. God wanted a return to holiness among the faithful.
During this time of suffering, Lamentations 4:2 was written. It is the scripture for today. In this revealing verse, you can see the perspective of the conquering armies. They considered Israel a broken vessel, worthless for anything but a trash heap. Israel was hurting terribly. “The temple is destroyed, mothers desert their young (Lamentations 4:3, 4), people die of hunger (Lamentations 4:5), the punishment is prolonged (Lamentations 4:6), the princes are unrecognized in the streets (Lamentations 4:7, 8), cannibalism prevails even among compassionate women (v. 10), and the city [Jerusalem] that was considered impregnable has fallen (v. 12).” (p. 1033, Believer’s Bible Commentary). Everything went wrong for the Israelites. The invading armies considered the people of God as “earthen pots”, weak and liable to be broken (Lamentation 4:2). God had a different view. While watching the suffering of the people, faith began to come alive again. That faith was genuine and pure, meaningful and beautiful. So, while the conquering armies considered the Jews as fragile vessels, God considered them “precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold”.
Have you ever realized how important your true faith is to God? Jesus died for you. He suffered on a cross to redeem you. Your life is considered precious. To God, your true faith is of great value. It is "worth its weight in fine gold".
Early on in my ministerial career, I met two young men born with a genetic abnormality. Because of this anomaly, they could not walk. They learned to walk on their hands. They couldn’t accomplish many things due to their disability. However, to me they were precious. The last time I saw them, they were celebrating ten straight years without missing a Sunday worship service. They had a very genuine faith. They were highly compassionate and had a lively curiosity about God and the Bible. To a person on the outside, these young men might appear as weak or unable, non-productive workers or genetic mistakes. Not to God and not to me. We saw their genuine and wonderful faith. We saw their real worth. Their lives were an inspiration. Their dedication to worship and prayer and belief, despite their handicaps, puts many to shame.
Sometimes, you may think yourself worth more than you are. Your ego may be inflated. The view of your potential may be overstated. At other times, you may see yourself as worth little, limited in potential, or a failure in certain areas of your life. Rather than over-valuing or undervaluing your worth, view your life from the perspective of God. How precious are you to God? How much potential has God given you?
This world often links your worth with how many dollars you have in a bank or how big of a house you own. Many young women discern the potential of a date by what car he drives. Some people determine the worth of a woman by the cost of the clothes she wears or by the size of her wedding ring. God is not so shallow. God looks in other places to determine your worth to this world. God looks at your character, your heart, your faith, your love, your drive, your commitment. So, where this world might judge you harshly, God might see you as precious. By some standards you might be rich when God considers you poor in spirit. Among some groups, you might be perceived as unintelligent or lacking creativity. How about God? How does God view your worth?
Today is Good Friday. It is the day that true Christians honor Jesus’ death on a cross. Never forget that Jesus went to that cross to redeem your life, to save your soul, and to make a place for you in Heaven. That’s how much worth God gives to you. That’s how much God wants to see you in Heaven. Don’t waste your time comparing yourself to others, valuing yourself by worldly standards, or seeing your worth in relation to your material possessions. God has very different standards. So does Heaven.
April 13
“Bear fruits worthy of repentance…” (Luke 3:8, NRSV)
A woman recently shared the following story about her relationship with a magazine ….
“When he proposed to me, I said, “If we get married, I’ll never let you go.” He laughed and said, “Then, hold on tight.” We were on the honeymoon. The idea to jump into the lake from a rock was stupid. He didn’t return to the surface. When I dragged him back to the shore and was doing the CPR, I was crying and screaming, “I won’t let you go!” He heard me. He started breathing. As long as I breathe, I’ll be there for him.”
When this woman promised to never let her husband go, she followed through. When he needed her help while drowning, she saved him.
Do you make promises and then keep them?
Do you act on good advice?
Are you willing to not only say “I love you”, but show it?
Are you known for following through on your commitments?
Can you be trusted to come through when God places a need before you?
On the night before Jesus was crucified, Peter boasted before Jesus and the other disciples, “Lord, I am ready to go with you prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Less than twelve hours later, Peter deserted Jesus only to deny him three times instead of following through on that boast. Even strong-willed Peter did not act appropriately when the time came to fulfill a promise. It's not just what you say that counts with God. It’s what you do. If you just make promises, what good is that? Isn’t keeping promises much better?
A long time ago, my grandfather was speaking to a gentleman who was very hurt. The gentleman mentioned that when his car broke down, he called his best friend. The friend promised to pick him up on the road that night. After waiting two hours, the gentleman walked home. His best friend never came. Upon hearing that story, my grandfather advised, “Words are cheap. Too bad you found that out the hard way.” A best friend can make promises all day long, but those words are cheap until acted upon. Words are cheap until they accomplish something. Words are cheap without follow through.
The average length of time that a normal New Year’s resolution is kept is 10 days, according to a study done by Strava in 2018. By January 11th, most people are done keeping their resolutions. Of the 67% who made a budget for the year, only 1 in 3 stayed with it. Far fewer can be counted on to keep to budgetary restrictions longer than year. The average woman who vows to go on a diet will usually last around five weeks. Though they need to be on a diet for a minimum of 10 weeks in order to change bad eating habits, they usually only last half the time required.
When a person signs a marriage document in the United States, on average those promises will be kept for 8.2 years. Though they made a promise “for better or worse, richer or poorer, til death do us part….”, those promises don’t last for many. I once heard a man refer to his marriage license as “just paper”. After his wife cheated on him in their second year of marriage, he felt the document was worthless.
In our scripture for today, John the Baptist urged his followers to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8). John did not want his followers to be baptized into repentance only to continue in sin. He wanted them to change their ways and follow God with a whole heart. John had seen too many people who were forgiven turn around and continue to sin, revert back to old ways, or slide back into a sinful lifestyle. John knew that for a person to be godly, that person needed to do more than promise to change his or her ways. The truly repentant follower of God needs to make permanent changes, live out their beliefs, and make righteous choices. Making promises to God is a worthless endeavor without the actions to back it up.
There are people who have said “I do” at an altar only to break that promise.
There are Christians who repented at the altar only to repeat sinful ways.
Only true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ will go the extra mile (Matthew 5:41) to keep their promises to God. Only true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ can be counted on to remain true to the Lord when faithful actions are demanded. I hope you are one of the true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ who will be sure to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” when the time comes. We’ll see. God will remember….
“When he proposed to me, I said, “If we get married, I’ll never let you go.” He laughed and said, “Then, hold on tight.” We were on the honeymoon. The idea to jump into the lake from a rock was stupid. He didn’t return to the surface. When I dragged him back to the shore and was doing the CPR, I was crying and screaming, “I won’t let you go!” He heard me. He started breathing. As long as I breathe, I’ll be there for him.”
When this woman promised to never let her husband go, she followed through. When he needed her help while drowning, she saved him.
Do you make promises and then keep them?
Do you act on good advice?
Are you willing to not only say “I love you”, but show it?
Are you known for following through on your commitments?
Can you be trusted to come through when God places a need before you?
On the night before Jesus was crucified, Peter boasted before Jesus and the other disciples, “Lord, I am ready to go with you prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Less than twelve hours later, Peter deserted Jesus only to deny him three times instead of following through on that boast. Even strong-willed Peter did not act appropriately when the time came to fulfill a promise. It's not just what you say that counts with God. It’s what you do. If you just make promises, what good is that? Isn’t keeping promises much better?
A long time ago, my grandfather was speaking to a gentleman who was very hurt. The gentleman mentioned that when his car broke down, he called his best friend. The friend promised to pick him up on the road that night. After waiting two hours, the gentleman walked home. His best friend never came. Upon hearing that story, my grandfather advised, “Words are cheap. Too bad you found that out the hard way.” A best friend can make promises all day long, but those words are cheap until acted upon. Words are cheap until they accomplish something. Words are cheap without follow through.
The average length of time that a normal New Year’s resolution is kept is 10 days, according to a study done by Strava in 2018. By January 11th, most people are done keeping their resolutions. Of the 67% who made a budget for the year, only 1 in 3 stayed with it. Far fewer can be counted on to keep to budgetary restrictions longer than year. The average woman who vows to go on a diet will usually last around five weeks. Though they need to be on a diet for a minimum of 10 weeks in order to change bad eating habits, they usually only last half the time required.
When a person signs a marriage document in the United States, on average those promises will be kept for 8.2 years. Though they made a promise “for better or worse, richer or poorer, til death do us part….”, those promises don’t last for many. I once heard a man refer to his marriage license as “just paper”. After his wife cheated on him in their second year of marriage, he felt the document was worthless.
In our scripture for today, John the Baptist urged his followers to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8). John did not want his followers to be baptized into repentance only to continue in sin. He wanted them to change their ways and follow God with a whole heart. John had seen too many people who were forgiven turn around and continue to sin, revert back to old ways, or slide back into a sinful lifestyle. John knew that for a person to be godly, that person needed to do more than promise to change his or her ways. The truly repentant follower of God needs to make permanent changes, live out their beliefs, and make righteous choices. Making promises to God is a worthless endeavor without the actions to back it up.
There are people who have said “I do” at an altar only to break that promise.
There are Christians who repented at the altar only to repeat sinful ways.
Only true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ will go the extra mile (Matthew 5:41) to keep their promises to God. Only true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ can be counted on to remain true to the Lord when faithful actions are demanded. I hope you are one of the true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ who will be sure to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” when the time comes. We’ll see. God will remember….
April 15
“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.” (2 Peter 1:5–7, NLT)
During the 1980’s, many studies were done to examine the differences in cultures and teaching methods. Researchers wanted to know the best models for teaching, to understand the cultural differences involved in raising children, and to look at alternative models for schooling. “In 1986, a group of researchers published a study of Japanese mothers and mothers in Minneapolis. The mothers were asked to rank the most important things that a child needs to succeed academically. The answers tell a lot about the difference in our two cultures today. The mothers in Minneapolis chose "ability." The mothers in Japan said "effort." (Richard H. Finan, State Senator from Ohio)
I find it interesting that this study displayed a great difference in what it takes to succeed in learning. American mothers thought a child’s abilities determined what they could learn. To the Japanese mothers, a child’s willingness to devote effort to education provided the greatest learning achievements. Since that time, American schools have degraded, many blaming the lack of ability in children as the reason for failure in education. Japanese children continue to outpace American children in many areas, including mathematics, chemistry, science, and more. To learn, a Japanese child is taught that one’s best effort is supremely important. That is probably why they succeed so well.
How much effort do you utilize in the most important areas of your life? Has your effort and devotion to God’s work increased or decreased with time? How much effort are you willing to devote to prayer and faith? According to the Japanese teaching model, the effort you put into something is directly proportional to what you will get out of it.
In the 1840's, a young man who was an earnest Christian found employment in a pawnshop. His hours at work were long, but he was determined to use the job to make ends meet until he could begin a greater work for God. Although he disliked the work at the pawnshop, he did it faithfully "as unto the Lord" To prepare himself for a life of Christian service, he wrote on a scrap of paper the following resolutions: "I do promise God that I will rise early every morning to have a few minutes - not less than five - in private prayer. I will endeavor to conduct myself as a humble, meek, and zealous follower of Jesus, and by serious witness and warning I will try to lead others to think of the needs of their immortal souls. I hereby vow to read no less than four chapters in God's Word every day. I will cultivate a spirit of self-denial and will yield myself a prisoner of love to the Redeemer of the world."
That young man from the pawnshop was none other than William Booth, who later led thousands to Christ. The Salvation Army, which he founded, stands as a monument to his faithfulness in preparing himself each morning to serve the Lord. Booth was convinced that his many hours of effort in service to God made a great difference in his spiritual life.
How much effort are you willing to devote to God? How much effort do you utilize in the pursuit of God’s ways? Are there missions that need your devotion? Are there places in your life needing more conscious effort on your part?
A woman laid in bed at night pondering her situation. In the previous twenty-four hours, one child was sick and the other was going through his “terrible twos”. She was responsible for an aging parent. Added to these obligations, her part-time job was highly stressful. As Jenny lay in bed completely worn out, she realized that she was stressed and upset. Her stomach was constantly upset. She was irritable and resentful toward her husband. She didn’t like the way her life had become. After a short cry, she vowed to change some things. First on her list was to wake up before everyone else in the morning to spend time reading a devotional her mother had given her. She also resolved herself to read the accompanying scripture passages that went with the devotional. She would also devote two full minutes or prayer each day giving thanks for everything that came to mind.
A month after she initiated this new plan for her life, Jenny took stock. Looking back, she realized that she was a much more peaceful person when she prayed in the morning. She laughed more. She smiled more. She saw more of the good in life. She still had a stressful life, but Jenny was able to handle things more effectively when she began her day making an effort to connect with God.
In the scripture for today, Peter taught his fellow Christians some important aspects of a faithful life. In 2 Peter 1:5-7 he listed that faith, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, and love all were better when “every effort was made to respond to God’s promises” (2 Peter 1:5). Every aspect of the spiritual life can benefit greatly when done with dedicated effort.
Do you need to make an effort with a certain someone in your life? Do you need to make a concerted effort to set aside more quiet time? How might you devote yourself more effectively to God this week? These are all good questions that deserve an answer.
I find it interesting that this study displayed a great difference in what it takes to succeed in learning. American mothers thought a child’s abilities determined what they could learn. To the Japanese mothers, a child’s willingness to devote effort to education provided the greatest learning achievements. Since that time, American schools have degraded, many blaming the lack of ability in children as the reason for failure in education. Japanese children continue to outpace American children in many areas, including mathematics, chemistry, science, and more. To learn, a Japanese child is taught that one’s best effort is supremely important. That is probably why they succeed so well.
How much effort do you utilize in the most important areas of your life? Has your effort and devotion to God’s work increased or decreased with time? How much effort are you willing to devote to prayer and faith? According to the Japanese teaching model, the effort you put into something is directly proportional to what you will get out of it.
In the 1840's, a young man who was an earnest Christian found employment in a pawnshop. His hours at work were long, but he was determined to use the job to make ends meet until he could begin a greater work for God. Although he disliked the work at the pawnshop, he did it faithfully "as unto the Lord" To prepare himself for a life of Christian service, he wrote on a scrap of paper the following resolutions: "I do promise God that I will rise early every morning to have a few minutes - not less than five - in private prayer. I will endeavor to conduct myself as a humble, meek, and zealous follower of Jesus, and by serious witness and warning I will try to lead others to think of the needs of their immortal souls. I hereby vow to read no less than four chapters in God's Word every day. I will cultivate a spirit of self-denial and will yield myself a prisoner of love to the Redeemer of the world."
That young man from the pawnshop was none other than William Booth, who later led thousands to Christ. The Salvation Army, which he founded, stands as a monument to his faithfulness in preparing himself each morning to serve the Lord. Booth was convinced that his many hours of effort in service to God made a great difference in his spiritual life.
How much effort are you willing to devote to God? How much effort do you utilize in the pursuit of God’s ways? Are there missions that need your devotion? Are there places in your life needing more conscious effort on your part?
A woman laid in bed at night pondering her situation. In the previous twenty-four hours, one child was sick and the other was going through his “terrible twos”. She was responsible for an aging parent. Added to these obligations, her part-time job was highly stressful. As Jenny lay in bed completely worn out, she realized that she was stressed and upset. Her stomach was constantly upset. She was irritable and resentful toward her husband. She didn’t like the way her life had become. After a short cry, she vowed to change some things. First on her list was to wake up before everyone else in the morning to spend time reading a devotional her mother had given her. She also resolved herself to read the accompanying scripture passages that went with the devotional. She would also devote two full minutes or prayer each day giving thanks for everything that came to mind.
A month after she initiated this new plan for her life, Jenny took stock. Looking back, she realized that she was a much more peaceful person when she prayed in the morning. She laughed more. She smiled more. She saw more of the good in life. She still had a stressful life, but Jenny was able to handle things more effectively when she began her day making an effort to connect with God.
In the scripture for today, Peter taught his fellow Christians some important aspects of a faithful life. In 2 Peter 1:5-7 he listed that faith, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, and love all were better when “every effort was made to respond to God’s promises” (2 Peter 1:5). Every aspect of the spiritual life can benefit greatly when done with dedicated effort.
Do you need to make an effort with a certain someone in your life? Do you need to make a concerted effort to set aside more quiet time? How might you devote yourself more effectively to God this week? These are all good questions that deserve an answer.
April 17
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”” (Psalm 91:1–2, NIV)
“Fortress of the Orsini was built by Pope Nicholas III Orsini. It stands on the drop of a cliff and it is a masterpiece of architectural acrobatics. It was originally constructed in 14th century and then completely renovated in 1552. It's also one of the most important and self-sufficient strongholds of Tuscany. It had cisterns to collect rainwater, could produce energy from wind. Inside, mill-wheels could work grains and saltpeter, the first to feed the soldiers and the second to obtain the powders needed to manufacture ammunition. This mighty fortress could also provide refuge for all the inhabitants of the city of Sorano.” (ancientpages.com, July 11, 2016)
The Fortress of the Orsini was a place of safety, a place to retreat when war loomed or invaders arrived. In the 1400’s, the fortress was attacked for four years straight, but kept the soldiers outside its walls. The people of Sorano were well protected throughout the siege.
Throughout much of history, a fortress was a place of safety and security. Some had walls ten and twenty feet thick or more! In a world full of invaders and marauders, the fortress was very important for those who found rest within its safe walls. It was one of the few places in life where one felt secure.
After the walls of Jerusalem were destroyed by invading Babylonian armies, the people of the city were left without the security of the city walls. During this period of Judean history, the people suffered greatly. Arabs, Ashdodites, and Ammonites regularly attacked the Jews and kept the people in poverty (Nehemiah 4:7). Fields were burned to keep the Jews hungry and impoverished. When the walls of the city were rebuilt and the Temple erected again, the people found protection behind the city walls and in the presence of God’s House. In ancient times, the walls of a city and walls of a fortress brought hope and security, safety and peace to a land.
Psalm 91 begins with a description of a person who “dwells in the shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1). That faithful person will find “rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. Being aligned with God brings great comfort. Like the walls of a fortress, God is a perfect “refuge” (Psalm 91:2). However, God is only a fortress and refuge if you fully trust in the Almighty (Psalm 91:2). Putting full trust in God gives you a security that others do not have. Enclosed in the arms of God, you can find peace and safety. You are watched over. You are protected. The walls of Fortress Orsini protected the city of Sorano for decades. God’s arms can protect you forever.
As you ponder all these words of this psalm, I want you to make a connection. Notice that when a person trusts God, God becomes a refuge and fortress. Only then can one find “rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. If you feel ill-at-rest, full of anxiety and worry, ask yourself if you truly trust God. Ponder if you have a true faith. Only one who fully trusts God will ever feel a rest in body and soul.
A family was driving home when their car was t-boned at an intersection. The car was seriously damaged on the passenger side, where the mother was seated. Everyone ended up with only a few bumps and bruises. However, the mother was affected psychologically. She quit driving. When her husband drove, she would hold on to the front dash, always braced for another accident. When the family drove past the site of the accident, the mother’s knuckles would turn white as she gripped the dash tightly.
As they drove past the site of the accident one day, the husband asked his wife, “Don’t you trust me?”
“Yes, I do,” she replied.
He then asked, “Then, why are you so afraid when I drive?”
After a few moments, she said, “What makes you think I’m afraid?”
The wife had no idea that fear still occupied her mind. She was not aware that she gripped the dashboard fearing another accident. She had no idea of the fear that gripped her subconscious. She thought to herself that she trusted her husband, but her innate fear caused untold suffering. Her muscles ached from grasping the dashboard so tightly. After a half-hour drive to visit relatives, the wife’s jaw ached from being clenched for so long. Down deep, she did not trust her husband’s driving. Down deep, she feared another accident. Unable to trust that God had helped her before and could help her again, she lived in constant fear while in her vehicle.
You cannot find rest for your soul if you live in fear. If you do not fully trust God, you can never feel the peace that God can bring to the trusting soul. Without true faith, you can never experience real rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Is there something keeping you from fully trusting God today?
Trust God when dark doubts assail thee, Trust Him when thy strength is small,
Trust Him when to simply trust Him… Seems the hardest thing of all.
Trust Him, He is ever faithful, Trust Him, for his will is best,
Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus……Is the only place of rest.
The Fortress of the Orsini was a place of safety, a place to retreat when war loomed or invaders arrived. In the 1400’s, the fortress was attacked for four years straight, but kept the soldiers outside its walls. The people of Sorano were well protected throughout the siege.
Throughout much of history, a fortress was a place of safety and security. Some had walls ten and twenty feet thick or more! In a world full of invaders and marauders, the fortress was very important for those who found rest within its safe walls. It was one of the few places in life where one felt secure.
After the walls of Jerusalem were destroyed by invading Babylonian armies, the people of the city were left without the security of the city walls. During this period of Judean history, the people suffered greatly. Arabs, Ashdodites, and Ammonites regularly attacked the Jews and kept the people in poverty (Nehemiah 4:7). Fields were burned to keep the Jews hungry and impoverished. When the walls of the city were rebuilt and the Temple erected again, the people found protection behind the city walls and in the presence of God’s House. In ancient times, the walls of a city and walls of a fortress brought hope and security, safety and peace to a land.
Psalm 91 begins with a description of a person who “dwells in the shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1). That faithful person will find “rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. Being aligned with God brings great comfort. Like the walls of a fortress, God is a perfect “refuge” (Psalm 91:2). However, God is only a fortress and refuge if you fully trust in the Almighty (Psalm 91:2). Putting full trust in God gives you a security that others do not have. Enclosed in the arms of God, you can find peace and safety. You are watched over. You are protected. The walls of Fortress Orsini protected the city of Sorano for decades. God’s arms can protect you forever.
As you ponder all these words of this psalm, I want you to make a connection. Notice that when a person trusts God, God becomes a refuge and fortress. Only then can one find “rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. If you feel ill-at-rest, full of anxiety and worry, ask yourself if you truly trust God. Ponder if you have a true faith. Only one who fully trusts God will ever feel a rest in body and soul.
A family was driving home when their car was t-boned at an intersection. The car was seriously damaged on the passenger side, where the mother was seated. Everyone ended up with only a few bumps and bruises. However, the mother was affected psychologically. She quit driving. When her husband drove, she would hold on to the front dash, always braced for another accident. When the family drove past the site of the accident, the mother’s knuckles would turn white as she gripped the dash tightly.
As they drove past the site of the accident one day, the husband asked his wife, “Don’t you trust me?”
“Yes, I do,” she replied.
He then asked, “Then, why are you so afraid when I drive?”
After a few moments, she said, “What makes you think I’m afraid?”
The wife had no idea that fear still occupied her mind. She was not aware that she gripped the dashboard fearing another accident. She had no idea of the fear that gripped her subconscious. She thought to herself that she trusted her husband, but her innate fear caused untold suffering. Her muscles ached from grasping the dashboard so tightly. After a half-hour drive to visit relatives, the wife’s jaw ached from being clenched for so long. Down deep, she did not trust her husband’s driving. Down deep, she feared another accident. Unable to trust that God had helped her before and could help her again, she lived in constant fear while in her vehicle.
You cannot find rest for your soul if you live in fear. If you do not fully trust God, you can never feel the peace that God can bring to the trusting soul. Without true faith, you can never experience real rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Is there something keeping you from fully trusting God today?
Trust God when dark doubts assail thee, Trust Him when thy strength is small,
Trust Him when to simply trust Him… Seems the hardest thing of all.
Trust Him, He is ever faithful, Trust Him, for his will is best,
Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus……Is the only place of rest.
April 19
“He [Pontius Pilate] took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”” (John 19:9–10, NLT)
Sometimes, we demand answers from God when we don’t even understand the questions.
In the middle of an argument, the husband said to his wife, “Why do you hate me?” She just stared back at him. Her eyes bored into him. She was very upset and was not going to demean herself with an answer, or so she thought. What the husband did not understand at that moment was that his wife was lashing out at him because she assumed that he had cheated on her. For days, she yelled at him for the smallest things, found ways to nitpick, and started arguments just to make him angry. What she did not perceive was that he had not cheated on her. When the wife heard some gossip that her husband had shared a meal an unknown woman at an intimate restaurant, she was livid. What she failed to grasp was that he was there to meet his brother’s future wife. His brother was stationed overseas and had flown his new fiancé home to surprise the family. The two were at a surprise luncheon arranged by the brother overseas. It ended up causing a major argument between husband and wife.
Out of frustration, this husband asked his wife, “Why do you hate me?”. That was not the right question. What may have cleared things up was if he asked, “Is your anger directed at me because I had lunch with a woman you don’t know?” Of course, the husband didn’t even know to ask the right question. He wasn’t privy to his wife’s gossip. The wife didn’t like the way her supposedly cheating husband questioned her. She was so emotional by that point; she couldn’t even comprehend her husband wasn’t guilty and deserving of hate.
When you don’t understand your situation in life, you may be asking the wrong questions. Even when you have a good idea of what is going on, your question may be inappropriate. It is highly possible if you ask a misleading question that your purpose might be misunderstood. You might be uninformed. You might be suffering from blind ambition and not even see your predicament. There are many ways a person can ask the wrong question or look for the wrong answers.
A friend once asked Isidor I. Rabi, a Nobel prize winner in science, how he became a scientist. Rabi replied that every day after school his mother would talk to him about his school day. She wasn't so much interested in what he had learned that day, but she always inquired, "Did you ask a good question today?"
"Asking good questions," Rabi said, "made me become a scientist."
Are you asking God the right questions or the wrong ones? Do you understand what is going on in your life well enough to seek the right answers to your questions? There are so many ways that questions and answers can be misguided. Take for example, Pontius Pilate. This Roman Governor questioned Jesus in the scripture for today. He asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” Without knowing, Pilate had asked the wrong question. Jesus was sent from God the Father. He was on a mission from Heaven. Jesus could have answered that he was born in Bethlehem or that his hometown was Nazareth. This wouldn’t have helped his case. Pilate was being “informed” by Jewish leaders who sought to crucify Jesus. To do this, they needed the stamp of approval from the Roman Governor, Pilate. Because Pilate was unable to understand the complexities of the Jewish religion and Jesus’ mission and the Jewish view of Biblical Authority, there was no way for Jesus to answer Pilate correctly. Any answer Jesus gave would probably be misunderstood and misused. In response, “Jesus gave no answer” (John 19:9).
You may find yourself in need of answers in your life. These answers could be crucial. However, if you ask God the wrong questions or don’t understand your situation in life, don’t be surprised if you wind up clueless. Even if you ask the right question, God might give you an unexpected answer or an answer you don’t have the spiritual capacity to comprehend. Then, it might seem like God is being evasive or not answering your prayers when in fact, you don’t even understand what is the right question. You may not even know a good answer when you hear one!
If God doesn’t seem to be answering your prayers, seek to ask different questions. Look for ways to communicate with God differently. Open yourself up to new possibilities and other spiritual options. You might be surprised what God is saying when you think God is being silent.
Jesus’ answer to Pilate may seem like no answer. Jesus said nothing. Sometimes, silence is a way for God to answer a question that is wrong or lacking in some way. It certainly was true for Jesus in the scripture for today. Is it also true for you in this moment of your life?
Are you asking the right questions?
Would you be open to the right answers?
Are you even listening to what God is saying or purposefully not saying?
In the middle of an argument, the husband said to his wife, “Why do you hate me?” She just stared back at him. Her eyes bored into him. She was very upset and was not going to demean herself with an answer, or so she thought. What the husband did not understand at that moment was that his wife was lashing out at him because she assumed that he had cheated on her. For days, she yelled at him for the smallest things, found ways to nitpick, and started arguments just to make him angry. What she did not perceive was that he had not cheated on her. When the wife heard some gossip that her husband had shared a meal an unknown woman at an intimate restaurant, she was livid. What she failed to grasp was that he was there to meet his brother’s future wife. His brother was stationed overseas and had flown his new fiancé home to surprise the family. The two were at a surprise luncheon arranged by the brother overseas. It ended up causing a major argument between husband and wife.
Out of frustration, this husband asked his wife, “Why do you hate me?”. That was not the right question. What may have cleared things up was if he asked, “Is your anger directed at me because I had lunch with a woman you don’t know?” Of course, the husband didn’t even know to ask the right question. He wasn’t privy to his wife’s gossip. The wife didn’t like the way her supposedly cheating husband questioned her. She was so emotional by that point; she couldn’t even comprehend her husband wasn’t guilty and deserving of hate.
When you don’t understand your situation in life, you may be asking the wrong questions. Even when you have a good idea of what is going on, your question may be inappropriate. It is highly possible if you ask a misleading question that your purpose might be misunderstood. You might be uninformed. You might be suffering from blind ambition and not even see your predicament. There are many ways a person can ask the wrong question or look for the wrong answers.
A friend once asked Isidor I. Rabi, a Nobel prize winner in science, how he became a scientist. Rabi replied that every day after school his mother would talk to him about his school day. She wasn't so much interested in what he had learned that day, but she always inquired, "Did you ask a good question today?"
"Asking good questions," Rabi said, "made me become a scientist."
Are you asking God the right questions or the wrong ones? Do you understand what is going on in your life well enough to seek the right answers to your questions? There are so many ways that questions and answers can be misguided. Take for example, Pontius Pilate. This Roman Governor questioned Jesus in the scripture for today. He asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” Without knowing, Pilate had asked the wrong question. Jesus was sent from God the Father. He was on a mission from Heaven. Jesus could have answered that he was born in Bethlehem or that his hometown was Nazareth. This wouldn’t have helped his case. Pilate was being “informed” by Jewish leaders who sought to crucify Jesus. To do this, they needed the stamp of approval from the Roman Governor, Pilate. Because Pilate was unable to understand the complexities of the Jewish religion and Jesus’ mission and the Jewish view of Biblical Authority, there was no way for Jesus to answer Pilate correctly. Any answer Jesus gave would probably be misunderstood and misused. In response, “Jesus gave no answer” (John 19:9).
You may find yourself in need of answers in your life. These answers could be crucial. However, if you ask God the wrong questions or don’t understand your situation in life, don’t be surprised if you wind up clueless. Even if you ask the right question, God might give you an unexpected answer or an answer you don’t have the spiritual capacity to comprehend. Then, it might seem like God is being evasive or not answering your prayers when in fact, you don’t even understand what is the right question. You may not even know a good answer when you hear one!
If God doesn’t seem to be answering your prayers, seek to ask different questions. Look for ways to communicate with God differently. Open yourself up to new possibilities and other spiritual options. You might be surprised what God is saying when you think God is being silent.
Jesus’ answer to Pilate may seem like no answer. Jesus said nothing. Sometimes, silence is a way for God to answer a question that is wrong or lacking in some way. It certainly was true for Jesus in the scripture for today. Is it also true for you in this moment of your life?
Are you asking the right questions?
Would you be open to the right answers?
Are you even listening to what God is saying or purposefully not saying?
April 21
“You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s….’” (Deuteronomy 1:17, ESV)
“In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India.
So, one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned. "If Christians have caste differences also," he said, "I might as well remain a Hindu." That usher's prejudice not only betrayed Jesus but also turned a person away from trusting Him as Savior.” (Our Daily Bread, March 6, 1994)
Throughout history, there have been many times when people have shown a distinct bias, prejudice, or deference. Sometimes, this has to do with a person’s skin color, how wealthy a person is, or how much power a person can wield. I believe today there is more prejudice than I have ever experienced in my lifetime. A good many feminists in education teach that women are superior to men. Many Black Lives Matter leaders believe black people deserve more influence than whites. White Nationalists make hiring preferences to white people. Black politicians and leaders in South Africa took over the land of any white landowner, without compensation, because of the color of their skin. Blacks in China are being persecuted for their skin color. Some Bernie Sanders followers believe Trump followers should be relegated to the gulags. Christians are often jailed and persecuted in Socialist and Communist countries. Many Roman Catholics, Baptists, and Evangelicals believe that those outside their denomination are either inferior or incapable of going to heaven. I could go on and on. Human beings are known for putting people in categories and groups. However, this is not how God wants our world to operate.
God told the Israelites in the days of Moses that they should never “be partial in judgment”. The words of the verse for today even list this impartiality as a commandment, beginning with “thou shalt not…” (Deuteronomy 1:17). God prefers that you don’t judge people by their skin color or predilection. Instead, you should “hear the small and the great alike”. A person’s wealth or impoverishment does not determine their worthiness in God’s eyes. Why should your eyes see any difference?
A mother overheard her college-age daughter crying in her room. The girl was brokenhearted due to a recent breakup with her boyfriend. The mother hated to see her daughter so shaken up. After a few hours of tears, the mother finally broached the subject with her daughter, saying, “Sweetie, are you Ok?” The girl replied, “Mom, he was everything to me. He was nice. He was wealthy. He had a big trust fund, did you know that?”
The mother was shocked at her daughter’s response. The girl did not state that she felt unloved at the breakup. Instead, she was grieving over the wealthy lifestyle she would never have with the boy she was dating. One has to wonder if the girl was purposefully dating boys, depending upon their wealth or status.
When I was in my second church, a situation came up in which I had to do a wedding across state lines. I researched what was involved. Then, I asked another pastor what was usually done in cases such as this. The pastor told me to contact a member of his congregation. I did just that. The member told me to meet him at the courthouse at a certain time. I followed his lead. At that meeting, the member got me a special dispensation by the county to conduct the service. I thanked the member greatly for the opportunity. Then, he told me, “I think it’s shameful that the county leadership will take my word over yours in order to determine whether or not you should conduct a wedding!”
Too often in our world, decisions are not made according to God’s rules, but according to human biases and partialities. The feelings and importance of one group is placed over another. The word of a person is not given worth because of its truth or honor, but because of the person’s skin or wealth or status or political affiliation. God does not operate with such sinful measures.
How well do you follow the scripture from Deuteronomy 1:17? How impartial are you in your judgments? God cares about how you honor and respect others. God demands you deal fairly, according to His expectations.
So, one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned. "If Christians have caste differences also," he said, "I might as well remain a Hindu." That usher's prejudice not only betrayed Jesus but also turned a person away from trusting Him as Savior.” (Our Daily Bread, March 6, 1994)
Throughout history, there have been many times when people have shown a distinct bias, prejudice, or deference. Sometimes, this has to do with a person’s skin color, how wealthy a person is, or how much power a person can wield. I believe today there is more prejudice than I have ever experienced in my lifetime. A good many feminists in education teach that women are superior to men. Many Black Lives Matter leaders believe black people deserve more influence than whites. White Nationalists make hiring preferences to white people. Black politicians and leaders in South Africa took over the land of any white landowner, without compensation, because of the color of their skin. Blacks in China are being persecuted for their skin color. Some Bernie Sanders followers believe Trump followers should be relegated to the gulags. Christians are often jailed and persecuted in Socialist and Communist countries. Many Roman Catholics, Baptists, and Evangelicals believe that those outside their denomination are either inferior or incapable of going to heaven. I could go on and on. Human beings are known for putting people in categories and groups. However, this is not how God wants our world to operate.
God told the Israelites in the days of Moses that they should never “be partial in judgment”. The words of the verse for today even list this impartiality as a commandment, beginning with “thou shalt not…” (Deuteronomy 1:17). God prefers that you don’t judge people by their skin color or predilection. Instead, you should “hear the small and the great alike”. A person’s wealth or impoverishment does not determine their worthiness in God’s eyes. Why should your eyes see any difference?
A mother overheard her college-age daughter crying in her room. The girl was brokenhearted due to a recent breakup with her boyfriend. The mother hated to see her daughter so shaken up. After a few hours of tears, the mother finally broached the subject with her daughter, saying, “Sweetie, are you Ok?” The girl replied, “Mom, he was everything to me. He was nice. He was wealthy. He had a big trust fund, did you know that?”
The mother was shocked at her daughter’s response. The girl did not state that she felt unloved at the breakup. Instead, she was grieving over the wealthy lifestyle she would never have with the boy she was dating. One has to wonder if the girl was purposefully dating boys, depending upon their wealth or status.
When I was in my second church, a situation came up in which I had to do a wedding across state lines. I researched what was involved. Then, I asked another pastor what was usually done in cases such as this. The pastor told me to contact a member of his congregation. I did just that. The member told me to meet him at the courthouse at a certain time. I followed his lead. At that meeting, the member got me a special dispensation by the county to conduct the service. I thanked the member greatly for the opportunity. Then, he told me, “I think it’s shameful that the county leadership will take my word over yours in order to determine whether or not you should conduct a wedding!”
Too often in our world, decisions are not made according to God’s rules, but according to human biases and partialities. The feelings and importance of one group is placed over another. The word of a person is not given worth because of its truth or honor, but because of the person’s skin or wealth or status or political affiliation. God does not operate with such sinful measures.
How well do you follow the scripture from Deuteronomy 1:17? How impartial are you in your judgments? God cares about how you honor and respect others. God demands you deal fairly, according to His expectations.
April 23
“And he [Moses] said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”” (Exodus 34:9, ESV)
If you fail to look more deeply at some verses of the Bible, you might miss the little gems that are present. The scripture above is an example. As I read this verse, a word caught my eye. This usually happens when God wants me to ponder something and then pass it on to you!
As I read Exodus 34:9, it hit me that God wanted to travel “in the midst” of the people of Israel. God didn’t enjoy being on the edge of the camp in the wilderness. God didn’t prefer to lead in front of the people. God wanted to be in the midst of them. When I looked up this word, “midst”, in the original Hebrew, I was met with an interesting little tidbit. The Hebrew word for “midst” means “in the center of” or “among”. God didn’t want to travel with the Israelites through the wilderness unless HE was in the center of the people, in the center of their lives, not in the periphery of their existence. God wants the same place in your life.
How well does God fit into the center of your daily activities? Is being holy at the center of your purpose in life or something you do only on Sunday morning? When you make a decision, is God in the midst of your deliberations or relegated to the back of your mind unless big problems arise? Is prayer limited to a few moments before a meal and at bedtime or do you “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Do you only enjoy worship God on Sundays or at Christmastime? God wants to be “in the midst” of your day, central to your life.
Craig Etheridge wrote for Discipleship.org some similar thoughts on this subject. I want you to ponder them today…
“Imagine over 2 million Jewish slaves wandering in the wilderness. For 400 years they were enslaved in Egypt, providing the hard labor force to support the luxurious lifestyle of its citizens. God had heard their cries and brought them out by His own power under the direction of Moses. Next, they were wandering, waiting on the Lord to bring them into the land He promised them. When the people settled in an area, God gave specific instructions on how to make camp. Certain tribes were to camp on the north and south, others on the east and west. The center of camp was reserved for the tabernacle — a portable structure where the people gathered to worship the Lord. God was at the center.
That is the way God wanted it then, and that is the way He wants it today. You were designed for the purpose of knowing Jesus Christ and making Him the center of your life. You may ask, “What do you mean, make Jesus the center of my life?” It means you acknowledge Jesus as the ultimate authority in your life and you voluntarily yield the control of your life to Him.”
While at work one day, Christina received a text that a friend had died in a car accident. The news made it hard for her to function at work. She checked her cell phone every five minutes for news. Friends commented on the accident. Pictures of the wreckage were exchanged. Thoughts were passed back and forth between friends. Throughout the rest of her workday, Christina’s cell phone vibrated constantly as news and comments and tweets and posts poured in. By the end of her shift, she was a mess. Her hands were shaking. Her mind was jumbled. The grief was overwhelming.
As Christina arrived at home, the texts continued. The messages came one after another. The pouring out of hurt and pain and emotions among her group of friends left Christina’s heart broken. The accident shook up Christina’s world. That night, she could not sleep. She tossed and turned for hours. She could hear her cell vibrating on her nightstand next to her bed. Sometimes, she would take the phone to read the texts and posts and tweets. Sometimes, she just let the phone collect the messages.
As the sun began to come up the next morning, Christina had a revelation. As she lay there in bed, tears of emotion and grief forming in her eyes, she looked back on the past twenty-four hours. Her life had been turned upside down, and what did she do? She sought comfort through the texts and messages and tweets and Facebook posts of friends online. Not once did she look to God for help! She said a quick prayer the day before for the family of the friend who died in the accident, but that was all the communication she had with God! Immediately, Christina closed her eyes and began to pray. She asked God’s forgiveness for her keeping HIM at a distance during this trying time. She asked for God’s help for her friends. She asked the Heavenly Father to send His Holy Spirit into her heart and soul to bring her some peace. She talked to God for an hour until she left for work. Throughout that day, Christina continued to talk to God. What surprised her most was that her friends online were falling apart while she was not. She felt close to God, strengthened by God’s presence, and was able to help others to work through their grief.
God is not going to be a great source of peace and strength in your life if you keep HIM relegated to the periphery of your life. God wants to be at the center of your world. When you keep God at the center of your thoughts and actions, you will be surprised at the peace and strength God can give. The emotional roller-coasters will fade away. Your values and abilities will change. Your life will be blessed in ways you never thought possible.
How can you bring God to the center of your life today?
As I read Exodus 34:9, it hit me that God wanted to travel “in the midst” of the people of Israel. God didn’t enjoy being on the edge of the camp in the wilderness. God didn’t prefer to lead in front of the people. God wanted to be in the midst of them. When I looked up this word, “midst”, in the original Hebrew, I was met with an interesting little tidbit. The Hebrew word for “midst” means “in the center of” or “among”. God didn’t want to travel with the Israelites through the wilderness unless HE was in the center of the people, in the center of their lives, not in the periphery of their existence. God wants the same place in your life.
How well does God fit into the center of your daily activities? Is being holy at the center of your purpose in life or something you do only on Sunday morning? When you make a decision, is God in the midst of your deliberations or relegated to the back of your mind unless big problems arise? Is prayer limited to a few moments before a meal and at bedtime or do you “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Do you only enjoy worship God on Sundays or at Christmastime? God wants to be “in the midst” of your day, central to your life.
Craig Etheridge wrote for Discipleship.org some similar thoughts on this subject. I want you to ponder them today…
“Imagine over 2 million Jewish slaves wandering in the wilderness. For 400 years they were enslaved in Egypt, providing the hard labor force to support the luxurious lifestyle of its citizens. God had heard their cries and brought them out by His own power under the direction of Moses. Next, they were wandering, waiting on the Lord to bring them into the land He promised them. When the people settled in an area, God gave specific instructions on how to make camp. Certain tribes were to camp on the north and south, others on the east and west. The center of camp was reserved for the tabernacle — a portable structure where the people gathered to worship the Lord. God was at the center.
That is the way God wanted it then, and that is the way He wants it today. You were designed for the purpose of knowing Jesus Christ and making Him the center of your life. You may ask, “What do you mean, make Jesus the center of my life?” It means you acknowledge Jesus as the ultimate authority in your life and you voluntarily yield the control of your life to Him.”
While at work one day, Christina received a text that a friend had died in a car accident. The news made it hard for her to function at work. She checked her cell phone every five minutes for news. Friends commented on the accident. Pictures of the wreckage were exchanged. Thoughts were passed back and forth between friends. Throughout the rest of her workday, Christina’s cell phone vibrated constantly as news and comments and tweets and posts poured in. By the end of her shift, she was a mess. Her hands were shaking. Her mind was jumbled. The grief was overwhelming.
As Christina arrived at home, the texts continued. The messages came one after another. The pouring out of hurt and pain and emotions among her group of friends left Christina’s heart broken. The accident shook up Christina’s world. That night, she could not sleep. She tossed and turned for hours. She could hear her cell vibrating on her nightstand next to her bed. Sometimes, she would take the phone to read the texts and posts and tweets. Sometimes, she just let the phone collect the messages.
As the sun began to come up the next morning, Christina had a revelation. As she lay there in bed, tears of emotion and grief forming in her eyes, she looked back on the past twenty-four hours. Her life had been turned upside down, and what did she do? She sought comfort through the texts and messages and tweets and Facebook posts of friends online. Not once did she look to God for help! She said a quick prayer the day before for the family of the friend who died in the accident, but that was all the communication she had with God! Immediately, Christina closed her eyes and began to pray. She asked God’s forgiveness for her keeping HIM at a distance during this trying time. She asked for God’s help for her friends. She asked the Heavenly Father to send His Holy Spirit into her heart and soul to bring her some peace. She talked to God for an hour until she left for work. Throughout that day, Christina continued to talk to God. What surprised her most was that her friends online were falling apart while she was not. She felt close to God, strengthened by God’s presence, and was able to help others to work through their grief.
God is not going to be a great source of peace and strength in your life if you keep HIM relegated to the periphery of your life. God wants to be at the center of your world. When you keep God at the center of your thoughts and actions, you will be surprised at the peace and strength God can give. The emotional roller-coasters will fade away. Your values and abilities will change. Your life will be blessed in ways you never thought possible.
How can you bring God to the center of your life today?
April 25
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.”
(2 Corinthians 5:16, NIV84)
(2 Corinthians 5:16, NIV84)
Do you look at life from a humanistic point of view? Do you regard people from a worldly perspective? Do you determine the worth of people in your life based on human needs or human standards? If so, this scripture will challenge your whole way of thinking!
“Syndicated columnist and author Mona Charen had a very personal wake-up call when it came to making family her top priority. A few weeks after she and her husband had adopted their infant son, Jonathan, she went to get him from his crib. No matter how she tried to engage with him, he seemed utterly indifferent to her. But when the nanny arrived, who worked five mornings a week, he positively lit up.” (Marcia Segelstein, ncregister.com)
Because of this interaction, Mona changed a lot of things in her life. She cut back her work hours and spent more time nurturing her family. She began to question things like feminism. She found worth in being with her family. Love meant something different. Her whole view of lift endured a titanic shift in meaning. Before having her children, work was the center of her life. After having her three children, she began to reevaluate what was most important in life.
Today, I want you to examine your life in the same way. I want you to take a step back and reevaluate what you consider most important. Are there some worldly points of view that have influenced how you relate to your world? Do you realize all the ways that ideologies affect your view of life? If you are a modern feminist, you might view motherhood as a step down in worth. If you are a humanist, you might consider religion to be a step toward barbarism. If you are influenced by communism, you may consider faith to be “a spiritual opiate” or simplistic point of view. If you are a shallow Christian, you might consider yourself “religious” instead of faithful to God. All in all, your world may be shaped by human philosophies, ideologies, political ideas, and worldly standards. Instead, how about making God’s ways the central operating tenet of all your beliefs?
In Matthew 6, Jesus stated emphatically, “No one can serve two masters…. You cannot serve both God and worldly wealth… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:24, 33, NIV84). With these words, Jesus displayed his view that the world is ultimately divided into two groups. You either serve God or you serve worldly riches. If you serve God, you will “seek first” God’s Kingdom, God’s righteousness, to pursue God’s ideals. If you serve worldly wealth (mammon), you will pursue earthly riches and ideals. Your life will revolve around money, worldly philosophies, earthly promotion, and humanistic goals. At various points in your spiritual life, you will have to reevaluate which side you are on, which point of view is your guiding light.
In the scripture for today, Paul continued this discussion of two worldviews. In 2 Corinthians 5:16, he explained to the church in Corinth that Christians should “regard no one from a worldly point of view”. Regarding people from a worldly point of view might mean you see the worth of people according to worldly standards. If a person is wealthy, that person is “successful”. If a person has status, he or she is to be given preferential treatment. If people do not see the world as you see it, they are stupid or worthless. A worldly perspective touches every area of your life. If you are a worldly boss, you will see employees according to the money they can make for you instead of fellow humans who can benefit our world. If you are a worldly citizen, you might determine the worth of people according to how they vote, how they make purchases, whether they believe in gun control, or which parties or groups they support. God’s point of view is based on a whole different set of beliefs and is usually in conflict with worldly points of view.
A friend of mine went to nursing school to help people. She got her nursing degree at the tender age of twenty-two and sought a place of employment. Being taught feminism and liberal points of view at college, she was excited to find an opening at a local abortion clinic. Being near the top of her class in college, she was hired after a short interview.
My friend worked at that clinic for two years, then began having problems. After seeing late-term abortions performed routinely, she could see for herself how the babies writhed and suffered from the pain of the abortion procedure. Wanting to become a mother someday, she became more and more disgusted by the overt carelessness with life that abortion doctors displayed daily. The writhing fetuses did nothing to their hearts. The tears of mothers upon realizing that they had chosen to stop the beating heart of a baby was taught as just “a release of hormones with the end of pregnancy”. The cold clinical detachment of the abortion clinic caused my friend to have nightmares and anxiety attacks. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She left that world and the death behind.
Today, my friend is a strong proponent for the right to life. She believes that people too easily throw away not only the lives of unborn children, but they also throw away people with problems. When she had to choose between worldly views of the worth of human beings and God’s view of life, she chose God. Everything changed for her after that. Today, there are no more nightmares. She is more loving and compassionate. She is more willing to forgive and be forgiven.
A worldly point of view and godly point of view will always conflict with each other. By your values and choices, commitments, and words, you will display for the world which point of view is the ultimate rule of your life. So, if someone spent some time with you today, which point of view would they think rules your world? Does God see a worldly point of view in any aspect of your life? Which area of your life might that be?
When a worldly point of view invades your thinking, it will often result in problems for your heart and soul. My friend, who used to be an abortion nurse, had nightmares and anxiety problems. When a worldly point of view controls you, it will make you ill-at-ease. When you finally take on a godly point of view, a peace in mind and heart will be the end result. It may take a while, but the peace will come…. If the heart and mind are in a right place.
“Syndicated columnist and author Mona Charen had a very personal wake-up call when it came to making family her top priority. A few weeks after she and her husband had adopted their infant son, Jonathan, she went to get him from his crib. No matter how she tried to engage with him, he seemed utterly indifferent to her. But when the nanny arrived, who worked five mornings a week, he positively lit up.” (Marcia Segelstein, ncregister.com)
Because of this interaction, Mona changed a lot of things in her life. She cut back her work hours and spent more time nurturing her family. She began to question things like feminism. She found worth in being with her family. Love meant something different. Her whole view of lift endured a titanic shift in meaning. Before having her children, work was the center of her life. After having her three children, she began to reevaluate what was most important in life.
Today, I want you to examine your life in the same way. I want you to take a step back and reevaluate what you consider most important. Are there some worldly points of view that have influenced how you relate to your world? Do you realize all the ways that ideologies affect your view of life? If you are a modern feminist, you might view motherhood as a step down in worth. If you are a humanist, you might consider religion to be a step toward barbarism. If you are influenced by communism, you may consider faith to be “a spiritual opiate” or simplistic point of view. If you are a shallow Christian, you might consider yourself “religious” instead of faithful to God. All in all, your world may be shaped by human philosophies, ideologies, political ideas, and worldly standards. Instead, how about making God’s ways the central operating tenet of all your beliefs?
In Matthew 6, Jesus stated emphatically, “No one can serve two masters…. You cannot serve both God and worldly wealth… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:24, 33, NIV84). With these words, Jesus displayed his view that the world is ultimately divided into two groups. You either serve God or you serve worldly riches. If you serve God, you will “seek first” God’s Kingdom, God’s righteousness, to pursue God’s ideals. If you serve worldly wealth (mammon), you will pursue earthly riches and ideals. Your life will revolve around money, worldly philosophies, earthly promotion, and humanistic goals. At various points in your spiritual life, you will have to reevaluate which side you are on, which point of view is your guiding light.
In the scripture for today, Paul continued this discussion of two worldviews. In 2 Corinthians 5:16, he explained to the church in Corinth that Christians should “regard no one from a worldly point of view”. Regarding people from a worldly point of view might mean you see the worth of people according to worldly standards. If a person is wealthy, that person is “successful”. If a person has status, he or she is to be given preferential treatment. If people do not see the world as you see it, they are stupid or worthless. A worldly perspective touches every area of your life. If you are a worldly boss, you will see employees according to the money they can make for you instead of fellow humans who can benefit our world. If you are a worldly citizen, you might determine the worth of people according to how they vote, how they make purchases, whether they believe in gun control, or which parties or groups they support. God’s point of view is based on a whole different set of beliefs and is usually in conflict with worldly points of view.
A friend of mine went to nursing school to help people. She got her nursing degree at the tender age of twenty-two and sought a place of employment. Being taught feminism and liberal points of view at college, she was excited to find an opening at a local abortion clinic. Being near the top of her class in college, she was hired after a short interview.
My friend worked at that clinic for two years, then began having problems. After seeing late-term abortions performed routinely, she could see for herself how the babies writhed and suffered from the pain of the abortion procedure. Wanting to become a mother someday, she became more and more disgusted by the overt carelessness with life that abortion doctors displayed daily. The writhing fetuses did nothing to their hearts. The tears of mothers upon realizing that they had chosen to stop the beating heart of a baby was taught as just “a release of hormones with the end of pregnancy”. The cold clinical detachment of the abortion clinic caused my friend to have nightmares and anxiety attacks. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She left that world and the death behind.
Today, my friend is a strong proponent for the right to life. She believes that people too easily throw away not only the lives of unborn children, but they also throw away people with problems. When she had to choose between worldly views of the worth of human beings and God’s view of life, she chose God. Everything changed for her after that. Today, there are no more nightmares. She is more loving and compassionate. She is more willing to forgive and be forgiven.
A worldly point of view and godly point of view will always conflict with each other. By your values and choices, commitments, and words, you will display for the world which point of view is the ultimate rule of your life. So, if someone spent some time with you today, which point of view would they think rules your world? Does God see a worldly point of view in any aspect of your life? Which area of your life might that be?
When a worldly point of view invades your thinking, it will often result in problems for your heart and soul. My friend, who used to be an abortion nurse, had nightmares and anxiety problems. When a worldly point of view controls you, it will make you ill-at-ease. When you finally take on a godly point of view, a peace in mind and heart will be the end result. It may take a while, but the peace will come…. If the heart and mind are in a right place.
April 27
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
(Psalm 121:1–2, ESV)
(Psalm 121:1–2, ESV)
Recently, I read an article in which a Bible scholar was reevaluating these two verses of the Bible. He saw a different meaning to this scripture. After reading his words, I am convinced that when you read this scripture for today, your modern perspective will make it difficult to envision the original intent of these words. Because of that, you may miss this scripture’s original meaning.
Usually, when a modern American reads the verses above, they envision a person traveling or lost in the hills of Judea. When the fear of being lost or alone sets in, the person might say, “From where does my help come?”(Psalm 121:1). You might assume that when you are lost, your help “comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:2). However, the author of an article I read viewed the entire context of these verses in a different light. When these verses were originally written, the hills and mountains contained a different spiritual context. To the author, this scripture takes on a completely different meaning if you understand the original situation in its original setting.
In the long-ago days of the prophet Jeremiah, the hills and mountains in and around Judea were known to be places from which people erected altars and totems to the gods. In these “high places”, people worshiped heathen and foreign deities. Just as the Temple of Jerusalem was built on the temple “mount” or high place, many of the ancient fertility cults and heathen gods were worshiped on hills or mountains. The Greek Parthenon, celebrating the goddess Athena, was built on a hill. The Greeks considered Mt. Olympus as a holy place, being home to the Greek gods. It was built on the highest mountain in ancient Greece. One of the larger places of worship for Baal was at “The Two-Horned” Hill, near ancient Carthage. The Asherah totems were often built on hills and other “high places” in ancient Israel. 1 Kings 14:23 notes this fact: “… they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree..”. In ancient Israel, the hills and high places were known for having idols and altars and totems dedicated to various heathen gods.
So, when Psalm 121 was written, in all probability it was written to mean something different than a casual Bible reader may assume. It was a statement AGAINST the ancient practice of worshiping idols on the hills of Israel and Judah. When the author of Psalm 121 wrote while “lifting his eyes to the hills”, he was reflecting on the fact that the hills contained idols and symbols of heathen worship. In response, the faithful author of Psalm 121 questioned this idol worship by writing, “From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). His help DID NOT COME from the idols on the hills. It came from our powerful God who made heaven and earth. The scripture for today is a reminder to look to God when you need help, not to idols or other things that the world places as mighty or worthy. Your ultimate salvation and protection will not come from the high places of this world. Instead, it comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Don’t be caught up in the worldly practice of seeking help from the idols of this world.
Recently, during the shutdowns following the COVID pandemic, I overhead a number of people talking about vaccines as the ultimate remedy. They are hoping for the day when the vaccine can save them from the illness. Many today view medicines as the ultimate source for one’s salvation. Yes, a medicine can keep you alive, but can it save your soul? Can a medicine introduce you to God or keep you filled with a true peace? Many have chosen anti-depressants to save them from negative feelings and suicidal thoughts. Some see these medicines as a salvation when it is really God who has the power to save a person.
Those on anti-depressants may be lulled into the belief that human beings were created with a need for these medicines. Sadly, many scientists believe that depression may be triggered by a lack of sunshine (and the subsequent loss of Vitamin D), through destructive farming methods and the overproduction of crops (where vital nutrients in the soil get depleted), or by adding chemicals that affect hormone levels and body chemistry (chemicals like BGH, DDT, phenoxy herbicides and paraquat, and pesticides). An anti-depressant can help a person in clinical depression but is not a salvation. Hydroxychloroquine can help one who has a Coronavirus, but it cannot make you a better human being. A medical procedure like open heart bypass may save your life, but it will not help you to have a heart of gold or live a beautiful life.
There are thousands of idols common in modern society. People worship these things every day.
Medicines may be one common idol. Political power, money, wealth, and big government can be other idols. Pride, envy and jealousy can be worshiped. A depressed person might welcome sadness, even revel in it. A bully might find enjoyment in hurting others. Narcissists commonly enjoy putting themselves and their efforts in the limelight. Selfishness can be all-consuming. Tree-huggers and environmentalists may worship ecology and nature. A mother may worship her children. A man may live for his business. An addict might kill for another hit. Feminists may worship the feminine. Citizens may idolize their leaders. Young people may idolize sports figures or celebrities. An alcoholic might steal for her next drink. A Christian may worship a building or an icon. There are so many idols in the modern-day world. They may not be worshiped on “high places”, but they are worshiped all the same.
There is a way to determine if you worship a modern-day idol. It involves asking one question: “Is there any one thing that is more important to you in this very moment than God?” If you ask yourself this question repeatedly throughout your life, you will discover if you “commit idolatry” (Exodus 20:4-5). Ask this question of yourself right now. Ask it again when you have had a great day or are successful at something. Ask it when you are failing or depressed. By questioning your motives, you will find if your help indeed “comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).
Usually, when a modern American reads the verses above, they envision a person traveling or lost in the hills of Judea. When the fear of being lost or alone sets in, the person might say, “From where does my help come?”(Psalm 121:1). You might assume that when you are lost, your help “comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:2). However, the author of an article I read viewed the entire context of these verses in a different light. When these verses were originally written, the hills and mountains contained a different spiritual context. To the author, this scripture takes on a completely different meaning if you understand the original situation in its original setting.
In the long-ago days of the prophet Jeremiah, the hills and mountains in and around Judea were known to be places from which people erected altars and totems to the gods. In these “high places”, people worshiped heathen and foreign deities. Just as the Temple of Jerusalem was built on the temple “mount” or high place, many of the ancient fertility cults and heathen gods were worshiped on hills or mountains. The Greek Parthenon, celebrating the goddess Athena, was built on a hill. The Greeks considered Mt. Olympus as a holy place, being home to the Greek gods. It was built on the highest mountain in ancient Greece. One of the larger places of worship for Baal was at “The Two-Horned” Hill, near ancient Carthage. The Asherah totems were often built on hills and other “high places” in ancient Israel. 1 Kings 14:23 notes this fact: “… they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree..”. In ancient Israel, the hills and high places were known for having idols and altars and totems dedicated to various heathen gods.
So, when Psalm 121 was written, in all probability it was written to mean something different than a casual Bible reader may assume. It was a statement AGAINST the ancient practice of worshiping idols on the hills of Israel and Judah. When the author of Psalm 121 wrote while “lifting his eyes to the hills”, he was reflecting on the fact that the hills contained idols and symbols of heathen worship. In response, the faithful author of Psalm 121 questioned this idol worship by writing, “From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). His help DID NOT COME from the idols on the hills. It came from our powerful God who made heaven and earth. The scripture for today is a reminder to look to God when you need help, not to idols or other things that the world places as mighty or worthy. Your ultimate salvation and protection will not come from the high places of this world. Instead, it comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Don’t be caught up in the worldly practice of seeking help from the idols of this world.
Recently, during the shutdowns following the COVID pandemic, I overhead a number of people talking about vaccines as the ultimate remedy. They are hoping for the day when the vaccine can save them from the illness. Many today view medicines as the ultimate source for one’s salvation. Yes, a medicine can keep you alive, but can it save your soul? Can a medicine introduce you to God or keep you filled with a true peace? Many have chosen anti-depressants to save them from negative feelings and suicidal thoughts. Some see these medicines as a salvation when it is really God who has the power to save a person.
Those on anti-depressants may be lulled into the belief that human beings were created with a need for these medicines. Sadly, many scientists believe that depression may be triggered by a lack of sunshine (and the subsequent loss of Vitamin D), through destructive farming methods and the overproduction of crops (where vital nutrients in the soil get depleted), or by adding chemicals that affect hormone levels and body chemistry (chemicals like BGH, DDT, phenoxy herbicides and paraquat, and pesticides). An anti-depressant can help a person in clinical depression but is not a salvation. Hydroxychloroquine can help one who has a Coronavirus, but it cannot make you a better human being. A medical procedure like open heart bypass may save your life, but it will not help you to have a heart of gold or live a beautiful life.
There are thousands of idols common in modern society. People worship these things every day.
Medicines may be one common idol. Political power, money, wealth, and big government can be other idols. Pride, envy and jealousy can be worshiped. A depressed person might welcome sadness, even revel in it. A bully might find enjoyment in hurting others. Narcissists commonly enjoy putting themselves and their efforts in the limelight. Selfishness can be all-consuming. Tree-huggers and environmentalists may worship ecology and nature. A mother may worship her children. A man may live for his business. An addict might kill for another hit. Feminists may worship the feminine. Citizens may idolize their leaders. Young people may idolize sports figures or celebrities. An alcoholic might steal for her next drink. A Christian may worship a building or an icon. There are so many idols in the modern-day world. They may not be worshiped on “high places”, but they are worshiped all the same.
There is a way to determine if you worship a modern-day idol. It involves asking one question: “Is there any one thing that is more important to you in this very moment than God?” If you ask yourself this question repeatedly throughout your life, you will discover if you “commit idolatry” (Exodus 20:4-5). Ask this question of yourself right now. Ask it again when you have had a great day or are successful at something. Ask it when you are failing or depressed. By questioning your motives, you will find if your help indeed “comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).
April 29
“To you then who believe, he [Jesus] is precious…”” (1 Peter 2:7, NRSV)
A rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, then sells them to collectors or jewelry makers. He knows enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, but he’s no expert. He leaves the appraising of his rocks to other people. As much as he enjoys the work, it doesn’t always pay the bills. He occasionally moonlights, cutting wood to help put bread on the table.
While on a dig twenty years ago, Rob found a rock he described as “purdy and big.” He tried unsuccessfully to sell the specimen, and according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, kept the rock under his bed or in his closet. He guessed the blue chunk could bring as much as $500 dollars, but he would have taken less if something urgent came up like paying his power bill.
That’s how close Rob came to hawking for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found. The blue rock that Rob had abandoned to the darkness of a closet two decades ago—now known as “The Star of David” sapphire—weighs nearly a pound, and could easily sell for $2.75 million. (John MacArthur, Grace to You Newsletter, April 15, 1993)
Rob Cutshaw had no idea, the pretty blue rock hidden inside his closet was worth so much. If he would have known, he would been more careful with that precious gem. In a similar manner, many Christians keep Jesus locked away in heart or limited to a prayer time. Jesus is not seen as the precious gift from God the Father who changes everything.
JJ grew up in church. His parents were lifelong members of their Baptist church. When JJ was young, his parents required him to attend worship on Sundays and many Wednesdays. He was active in Sunday School and an active participant in the youth group. However, when JJ moved away from his hometown twenty years ago, he initially had trouble finding a good church to attend. After a while, he just gave up on his search. When he got married, he joined his wife’s church, but found it stuffy and ritualistic. When kids came along, he enrolled them in Sunday School. For more than a decade, JJ took his wife and children to their church almost every week. He had several close friends in the church. He was close to his pastor.
Just two years ago, JJ’s father and mother died in a car accident. This sudden and traumatic event hit JJ like a ton of rocks. He initially was numb. Then, he became depressed. His wife and young children could see he was struggling. Friends stopped by, but they could not shake JJ out of his funk.
Last fall, JJ’s pastor invited struggling JJ to attend a retreat. At first, JJ did not want to go. He used every excuse in the book to get out of attending. Then, his best friend asked him to drive to the retreat with him. Out of obligation, JJ relented. He was not looking forward to it. He seriously considered bailing at the last minute. His wife remained supremely positive about the retreat. She helped him to keep a good attitude going into it.
On the last day of the weekend retreat, JJ ending up praying alone in the common area late at night. The weekend had shaken him. Repressed emotions bubbled to the surface. Grief at the loss of his parents poured forth. For most of the weekend, JJ hid his weakness. That last night, he just let it out with God. He promised to be a more faithful man. He promised to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.
Since that retreat, JJ has been a different sort of Christian. He is much more optimistic. He has taken on a few missions in his church. He has volunteered to help lead the men’s group. His wife has been thrilled at the changes in her “new husband”. She asked him recently, “What changed?” JJ said simply, “I realized how precious God is, how precious time is, how important you are, how much I need Jesus.”
When I spoke with JJ, he reiterated to me that for the last ten years, he took God and Jesus and faith for granted. He attended worship, but his heart was not in it. When the church celebrated Easter, JJ just went through the motions and sang the familiar songs. The resurrection had no real power in JJ’s consciousness. Jesus was more an historical figure than a personal Savior. God was a distant, powerful figure. That all changed when JJ let the Holy Spirit into his heart, which fired up his soul.
Peter, in the scripture for today, wrote that those who truly believe have figured out that Jesus is “precious” to our world (1 Peter 2:7). True faith makes Jesus present. God’s Holy Spirit brings Jesus to life in the heart and mind and soul. If you don’t really see how precious Jesus is, you might be one of those who is asleep at the spiritual wheel. You might have a ritualistic belief system, but you don’t have a real, enduring, wonderful relationship with the risen Lord Jesus. Until you come to the realization that Jesus is precious to your life and to this world and why it is so, you will never understand the power of this moment and the power of God’s grace. You will be bound up by the cares of this world, a walking mummy of a Christian.
Do you realize Jesus is precious and why? Is your answer given from personal experience?
While on a dig twenty years ago, Rob found a rock he described as “purdy and big.” He tried unsuccessfully to sell the specimen, and according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, kept the rock under his bed or in his closet. He guessed the blue chunk could bring as much as $500 dollars, but he would have taken less if something urgent came up like paying his power bill.
That’s how close Rob came to hawking for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found. The blue rock that Rob had abandoned to the darkness of a closet two decades ago—now known as “The Star of David” sapphire—weighs nearly a pound, and could easily sell for $2.75 million. (John MacArthur, Grace to You Newsletter, April 15, 1993)
Rob Cutshaw had no idea, the pretty blue rock hidden inside his closet was worth so much. If he would have known, he would been more careful with that precious gem. In a similar manner, many Christians keep Jesus locked away in heart or limited to a prayer time. Jesus is not seen as the precious gift from God the Father who changes everything.
JJ grew up in church. His parents were lifelong members of their Baptist church. When JJ was young, his parents required him to attend worship on Sundays and many Wednesdays. He was active in Sunday School and an active participant in the youth group. However, when JJ moved away from his hometown twenty years ago, he initially had trouble finding a good church to attend. After a while, he just gave up on his search. When he got married, he joined his wife’s church, but found it stuffy and ritualistic. When kids came along, he enrolled them in Sunday School. For more than a decade, JJ took his wife and children to their church almost every week. He had several close friends in the church. He was close to his pastor.
Just two years ago, JJ’s father and mother died in a car accident. This sudden and traumatic event hit JJ like a ton of rocks. He initially was numb. Then, he became depressed. His wife and young children could see he was struggling. Friends stopped by, but they could not shake JJ out of his funk.
Last fall, JJ’s pastor invited struggling JJ to attend a retreat. At first, JJ did not want to go. He used every excuse in the book to get out of attending. Then, his best friend asked him to drive to the retreat with him. Out of obligation, JJ relented. He was not looking forward to it. He seriously considered bailing at the last minute. His wife remained supremely positive about the retreat. She helped him to keep a good attitude going into it.
On the last day of the weekend retreat, JJ ending up praying alone in the common area late at night. The weekend had shaken him. Repressed emotions bubbled to the surface. Grief at the loss of his parents poured forth. For most of the weekend, JJ hid his weakness. That last night, he just let it out with God. He promised to be a more faithful man. He promised to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.
Since that retreat, JJ has been a different sort of Christian. He is much more optimistic. He has taken on a few missions in his church. He has volunteered to help lead the men’s group. His wife has been thrilled at the changes in her “new husband”. She asked him recently, “What changed?” JJ said simply, “I realized how precious God is, how precious time is, how important you are, how much I need Jesus.”
When I spoke with JJ, he reiterated to me that for the last ten years, he took God and Jesus and faith for granted. He attended worship, but his heart was not in it. When the church celebrated Easter, JJ just went through the motions and sang the familiar songs. The resurrection had no real power in JJ’s consciousness. Jesus was more an historical figure than a personal Savior. God was a distant, powerful figure. That all changed when JJ let the Holy Spirit into his heart, which fired up his soul.
Peter, in the scripture for today, wrote that those who truly believe have figured out that Jesus is “precious” to our world (1 Peter 2:7). True faith makes Jesus present. God’s Holy Spirit brings Jesus to life in the heart and mind and soul. If you don’t really see how precious Jesus is, you might be one of those who is asleep at the spiritual wheel. You might have a ritualistic belief system, but you don’t have a real, enduring, wonderful relationship with the risen Lord Jesus. Until you come to the realization that Jesus is precious to your life and to this world and why it is so, you will never understand the power of this moment and the power of God’s grace. You will be bound up by the cares of this world, a walking mummy of a Christian.
Do you realize Jesus is precious and why? Is your answer given from personal experience?
October 30
“And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9–10, RSV)
Some things in life are related. If you affect one, it will affect the other. If you change one, you will change the other. There are millions of examples of this. If you change out dead batteries in a toy for new ones, the toy will come to life again. If you move the thermostat setting up two degrees, the house will warm as the furnace kicks in. When you take the fall leaves out of a blocked gutter, the water should be able to flow through it again. In your spiritual life, there are also related elements that affect one another. Our scripture for today shows some of these elements and how they work together to mold a person into a more effective and beloved child of God.
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
October 31
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
When you make a commitment to God through Jesus Christ, you become a Christian. As you live out the promises and obedience given that relationship, you become a faithful and true Christian. The basis for the word "Christian" is Christ, the Messiah. Thus, when you live for Jesus' sake, you become a "Christian" through that relationship with Jesus. An "Serbian" owes a commitment to Serbia. A "Mohammedan" is an ancient term for one who follows Mohammed. A "Christian" owes his or her life to Christ. That relationship should be the center of one's life and form the crux of who you are.
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!