April 1
“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6, ESV)
In the days of Hosea, the prophet, Israel and Judah had sinned greatly against the Lord. Despite that sin, they continued to worship, sing praises to God, and make their burnt offerings and sacrifices. Though living in sin, the people continued their religious practices. Rather than engendering a love of God, these religious practices just became rituals. The heart of the people was not with God.
Have you ever just “gone through the motions” with God? Has worship ever become a series of rituals rather than a time of communion with God? In the days of Hosea, the Israelites became very good at ritualistic “religious” worship. In our scripture for today, Hosea proclaimed God’s rejection of their ritualism: “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). The ritualistic worship of Israel made them appear righteous. Outwardly, a visitor may conclude they were very pious and faithful. The truth was that the Israelites were simply fulfilling their religious obligations without their heart and soul being involved. Even their sacrifices of burnt offerings did not please God. God could see their hearts were not in the right place. They spent more time making their offerings than learning the knowledge of God. They spent more time looking religious than being faithful.
When your worship of God becomes mere ritual, God will soon reject your “religious-appearing” false-righteousness. God wants a real relationship with you!
After attending church one Sunday morning, a little boy knelt at his bedside that night and prayed, "Dear God, we had a good time at church today--but I wish you had been there!" Though the boy’s prayer is innocent and precious, I fear there is a real spark of truth in his words. After visiting worship, how many visitors might reflect by thinking, “I wish God had been there!”? Let’s be honest, sometimes when you visit a church, it doesn’t feel like God is there. Though the sanctuary might be filled with the singing of hymns and statues of the saints, the worship doesn’t feel holy. It doesn’t feel spiritually uplifting. This may be due to the worshippers just going through the motions, religiously. It may be that they have become ritualistic. Their prayers have become mechanical. Those gathered may not even be contemplating the words of the hymns they sing! They are going through the motions. On the other hand, you yourself may have become a little too ritualistic in your spiritual life. Maybe the church is full of the Spirit, but you have lost the desire to be there. Your heart and soul are just not involved. When you fail to connect with God, is it that your church is having a spiritual problem or are you?
I was at a Worship Committee meeting one evening. After reading the minutes and beginning our work, a member of the committee asked to speak. He began to recount how awful worship had been for the past two months. He complained that the sermons were dry, the hymns were poorly chosen, and the pastor seemed confrontational. After going on and on for a good five minutes, the committee looked at me for a response. They were dreading a confrontation. I felt God telling me to just keep quiet. Then, after a few moments, another member of the committee spoke saying, “Charlie, I was at all these worship services, too, and I enjoyed every single one. I did not feel the sermons were boring but inspirational! I thoroughly enjoyed the hymns. I thought the services were more uplifting than usual!” After hearing this, I could see the Charlie reevaluating himself. I turned to him and said, “Charlie, are you alright? I’m sorry you didn’t get anything out of the recent worship. I hope things turn around for you. We all do.” Instead of a confrontation with the pastor being on the hot seat, members of that committee offered real love. Each approached Charlie over the following weeks and made a point to chat with him and be encouraging. We never did find out why Charlie lashed out. However, it was painfully obvious that it wasn’t the church or pastor with a spiritual problem. Charlie was the one going through the motions in his faith journey. We wanted to help ameliorate that with God’s help.
God doesn’t want you just going through your spiritual life on autopilot. God wants you engaged. When your faith life becomes mere ritual, things need to change. Shake things up in your spiritual life! Find out what is wrong. Seek God’s guidance. Examine your soul. Talk to those who are truly faithful. Try meditating on a new Bible passage or start reading a new devotional book. Sit in a different place in the sanctuary. Join a new group. Start a new mission work. Start some new spiritual habits! Don’t let mere ritual ever define your relationship with God.
When your passion for Jesus goes missing, it won’t be long before you will be numb to all of God’s wonderful actions around you! God forbid that ever happens to you! Life is too short to waste it in a ritualistic funk!
Have you ever just “gone through the motions” with God? Has worship ever become a series of rituals rather than a time of communion with God? In the days of Hosea, the Israelites became very good at ritualistic “religious” worship. In our scripture for today, Hosea proclaimed God’s rejection of their ritualism: “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). The ritualistic worship of Israel made them appear righteous. Outwardly, a visitor may conclude they were very pious and faithful. The truth was that the Israelites were simply fulfilling their religious obligations without their heart and soul being involved. Even their sacrifices of burnt offerings did not please God. God could see their hearts were not in the right place. They spent more time making their offerings than learning the knowledge of God. They spent more time looking religious than being faithful.
When your worship of God becomes mere ritual, God will soon reject your “religious-appearing” false-righteousness. God wants a real relationship with you!
After attending church one Sunday morning, a little boy knelt at his bedside that night and prayed, "Dear God, we had a good time at church today--but I wish you had been there!" Though the boy’s prayer is innocent and precious, I fear there is a real spark of truth in his words. After visiting worship, how many visitors might reflect by thinking, “I wish God had been there!”? Let’s be honest, sometimes when you visit a church, it doesn’t feel like God is there. Though the sanctuary might be filled with the singing of hymns and statues of the saints, the worship doesn’t feel holy. It doesn’t feel spiritually uplifting. This may be due to the worshippers just going through the motions, religiously. It may be that they have become ritualistic. Their prayers have become mechanical. Those gathered may not even be contemplating the words of the hymns they sing! They are going through the motions. On the other hand, you yourself may have become a little too ritualistic in your spiritual life. Maybe the church is full of the Spirit, but you have lost the desire to be there. Your heart and soul are just not involved. When you fail to connect with God, is it that your church is having a spiritual problem or are you?
I was at a Worship Committee meeting one evening. After reading the minutes and beginning our work, a member of the committee asked to speak. He began to recount how awful worship had been for the past two months. He complained that the sermons were dry, the hymns were poorly chosen, and the pastor seemed confrontational. After going on and on for a good five minutes, the committee looked at me for a response. They were dreading a confrontation. I felt God telling me to just keep quiet. Then, after a few moments, another member of the committee spoke saying, “Charlie, I was at all these worship services, too, and I enjoyed every single one. I did not feel the sermons were boring but inspirational! I thoroughly enjoyed the hymns. I thought the services were more uplifting than usual!” After hearing this, I could see the Charlie reevaluating himself. I turned to him and said, “Charlie, are you alright? I’m sorry you didn’t get anything out of the recent worship. I hope things turn around for you. We all do.” Instead of a confrontation with the pastor being on the hot seat, members of that committee offered real love. Each approached Charlie over the following weeks and made a point to chat with him and be encouraging. We never did find out why Charlie lashed out. However, it was painfully obvious that it wasn’t the church or pastor with a spiritual problem. Charlie was the one going through the motions in his faith journey. We wanted to help ameliorate that with God’s help.
God doesn’t want you just going through your spiritual life on autopilot. God wants you engaged. When your faith life becomes mere ritual, things need to change. Shake things up in your spiritual life! Find out what is wrong. Seek God’s guidance. Examine your soul. Talk to those who are truly faithful. Try meditating on a new Bible passage or start reading a new devotional book. Sit in a different place in the sanctuary. Join a new group. Start a new mission work. Start some new spiritual habits! Don’t let mere ritual ever define your relationship with God.
When your passion for Jesus goes missing, it won’t be long before you will be numb to all of God’s wonderful actions around you! God forbid that ever happens to you! Life is too short to waste it in a ritualistic funk!
April 3
“Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” (John 20:8–9, RSV)
“Dr. Seamands tells of a Muslim who became a Christian in Africa. Some of his friends asked him, 'Why have you become a Christian?' He answered, 'Well, its like this. Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions, and you didn't know which way to go, and there at the fork in the road were two men, one dead and one alive--which one would you ask which way to go?'" (Warren Webster, April 1980, HIS, p. 13).
Christianity rests on the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead. After seeing the resurrected Jesus, the disciples were convinced of it. When the two followers of Jesus saw Him alive on the road to Emmaus, they told others about it. When Paul met the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, it changed Paul into an apostle. 1 Corinthians 15:6 tells us that five hundred people all saw the resurrected Lord at one time. They were amazed by this news so much so that word spread throughout the Mediterranean. The fact that Jesus was raised from the dead surprised many of Jesus’ followers and detractors in New Testament times. It still surprises people today. It is proof that there is life after death. It is proof that God has a hand in what will happen to you after you breathe your last breath.
Our scripture for today tells of that first Easter, the day it was discovered that Jesus had been risen from the dead. The gospel of John notes that some women and two disciples came to the empty tomb early on Easter morning. They found the tomb empty. Near the tomb, Jesus Himself explained to Mary Magdalene that His body was not taken during the previous night. Jesus was risen from the dead. As others also witnessed Jesus alive again, it became obvious to all the faithful that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead. Our scripture notes that it was God’s plan for Jesus, that He “must rise from the dead” (John 20:9). The resurrection was crucial to God’s plan, crucial for the faithful, necessary to understand that God is not only Lord of this life but of eternal life.
There are three huge gates that lead into the Cathedral of Milan. Over one gate there is an inscription in marble under a beautiful flower bouquet that says, "The things that please are temporary." Over the second gate, there is a cross with this inscription: "The things that disturb us are temporary." However, over the central gate, there is a big inscription saying, "Eternal are the important ones." It was important for those who designed the Cathedral to make sure people understood that our faith does not just deal with temporal, earthly matters. Our faith is grounded in the eternal. It is fueled by the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Some people are so enamored with earthly sciences and philosophies that they refuse to consider that life might be eternal, that some things are not limited by human understanding, that God is not limited by what humans can see and feel and comprehend. I have met all too many scientists and atheists who could not wrap their heads around a concept such as eternal life. Despite having theories and an understanding of subatomic particles which can not be felt or observed by human senses, they refused to believe in what they could not deduce or scientifically prove or scientifically experience. They did not realize that life is more than we know. There is more to life than what you can comprehend. God is greater than that.
From many studies and experiences, it has been proven over and over that people have near death experiences. Those who die and have been resuscitated have reported over and over leaving their bodies and existing on another realm. Despite the thousands and thousands of examples, scientists cannot control this experience and therefore explain it can’t exist. I remember the history when people said airplanes could not fly, atoms could not blow up entire cities, and anyone going over sixty miles an hour would suffocate! These beliefs were held by the scientists of the day. They were wrong. I remember when doctors explained that eating fats was bad and eating carbs was good. Their explanation was incorrect. I remember when scientists proclaimed that DDT and Agent Orange were safe. They too were wrong. I could go on and on throughout history to explain when and how science and scientists and doctors and philosophers and great worldly voices were wrong on so many subjects. They all based their beliefs on “science”. Yet, when people proclaimed Jesus was resurrected, most scientists and atheists still proclaim this as “myth” and “wishful thinking”. They look upon people who believe in eternal life as deluded and backward. However, we KNOW different. We know the stories of Jesus’ resurrection. There are many pieces of evidence that show Jesus is alive even now. There are people who have visited heaven through near-death experiences and have come back to share what they have learned. There are people who have seen visions of the dead who are alive and in ghostly form and even interacted with them. Yet so many do not believe it is possible that Jesus was raised from the dead to eternal life. Why?
It was God’s plan that Jesus “must rise from the dead”. God’s plan includes eternal life. God’s hope is for you to live in Heaven with Jesus. As we move into Easter Sunday weekend, I want you to appreciate again that there is more to life than the years you live in your human body. There will be an eternity. The dead are waiting their Day of Judgment. God is not done with you the moment you die. There is much more to come.
I have seen people who spent months and years planning for retirement, but do not take the time to plan for Eternity. How about you? Do you have plans to retire to Heaven? When Jesus rose from the dead, it was God’s statement to all humankind. There is more to life than a beating heart or a thinking brain. Intelligent life exists outside our earthly existence. There is eternal life.
Around you right now are many things you cannot see nor perceive. Angels may be near you in this moment without your knowing. The apparition of a loved one who is passed might be trying to reach out to you. Evil spirits may be taunting you even now. Jesus may be visiting your home, looking for you. There is so much that goes on in the metaphysical that we cannot perceive nor comprehend.
Today, take the time to realize that Jesus was raised from the dead. He died and was raised to be a sign unto you. He died and was raised to save your soul. He died and was raised to tell you there is so much more to life than this world. There is an eternity. It is waiting for you. Let God bring a little bit of Heaven into your life in this moment. Spend this weekend looking for the eternal. Let your soul rejoice in the knowledge that an Almighty God has placed you on HIS list of priorities. The day is coming when you will become fully aware of that fact!
Christianity rests on the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead. After seeing the resurrected Jesus, the disciples were convinced of it. When the two followers of Jesus saw Him alive on the road to Emmaus, they told others about it. When Paul met the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, it changed Paul into an apostle. 1 Corinthians 15:6 tells us that five hundred people all saw the resurrected Lord at one time. They were amazed by this news so much so that word spread throughout the Mediterranean. The fact that Jesus was raised from the dead surprised many of Jesus’ followers and detractors in New Testament times. It still surprises people today. It is proof that there is life after death. It is proof that God has a hand in what will happen to you after you breathe your last breath.
Our scripture for today tells of that first Easter, the day it was discovered that Jesus had been risen from the dead. The gospel of John notes that some women and two disciples came to the empty tomb early on Easter morning. They found the tomb empty. Near the tomb, Jesus Himself explained to Mary Magdalene that His body was not taken during the previous night. Jesus was risen from the dead. As others also witnessed Jesus alive again, it became obvious to all the faithful that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead. Our scripture notes that it was God’s plan for Jesus, that He “must rise from the dead” (John 20:9). The resurrection was crucial to God’s plan, crucial for the faithful, necessary to understand that God is not only Lord of this life but of eternal life.
There are three huge gates that lead into the Cathedral of Milan. Over one gate there is an inscription in marble under a beautiful flower bouquet that says, "The things that please are temporary." Over the second gate, there is a cross with this inscription: "The things that disturb us are temporary." However, over the central gate, there is a big inscription saying, "Eternal are the important ones." It was important for those who designed the Cathedral to make sure people understood that our faith does not just deal with temporal, earthly matters. Our faith is grounded in the eternal. It is fueled by the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Some people are so enamored with earthly sciences and philosophies that they refuse to consider that life might be eternal, that some things are not limited by human understanding, that God is not limited by what humans can see and feel and comprehend. I have met all too many scientists and atheists who could not wrap their heads around a concept such as eternal life. Despite having theories and an understanding of subatomic particles which can not be felt or observed by human senses, they refused to believe in what they could not deduce or scientifically prove or scientifically experience. They did not realize that life is more than we know. There is more to life than what you can comprehend. God is greater than that.
From many studies and experiences, it has been proven over and over that people have near death experiences. Those who die and have been resuscitated have reported over and over leaving their bodies and existing on another realm. Despite the thousands and thousands of examples, scientists cannot control this experience and therefore explain it can’t exist. I remember the history when people said airplanes could not fly, atoms could not blow up entire cities, and anyone going over sixty miles an hour would suffocate! These beliefs were held by the scientists of the day. They were wrong. I remember when doctors explained that eating fats was bad and eating carbs was good. Their explanation was incorrect. I remember when scientists proclaimed that DDT and Agent Orange were safe. They too were wrong. I could go on and on throughout history to explain when and how science and scientists and doctors and philosophers and great worldly voices were wrong on so many subjects. They all based their beliefs on “science”. Yet, when people proclaimed Jesus was resurrected, most scientists and atheists still proclaim this as “myth” and “wishful thinking”. They look upon people who believe in eternal life as deluded and backward. However, we KNOW different. We know the stories of Jesus’ resurrection. There are many pieces of evidence that show Jesus is alive even now. There are people who have visited heaven through near-death experiences and have come back to share what they have learned. There are people who have seen visions of the dead who are alive and in ghostly form and even interacted with them. Yet so many do not believe it is possible that Jesus was raised from the dead to eternal life. Why?
It was God’s plan that Jesus “must rise from the dead”. God’s plan includes eternal life. God’s hope is for you to live in Heaven with Jesus. As we move into Easter Sunday weekend, I want you to appreciate again that there is more to life than the years you live in your human body. There will be an eternity. The dead are waiting their Day of Judgment. God is not done with you the moment you die. There is much more to come.
I have seen people who spent months and years planning for retirement, but do not take the time to plan for Eternity. How about you? Do you have plans to retire to Heaven? When Jesus rose from the dead, it was God’s statement to all humankind. There is more to life than a beating heart or a thinking brain. Intelligent life exists outside our earthly existence. There is eternal life.
Around you right now are many things you cannot see nor perceive. Angels may be near you in this moment without your knowing. The apparition of a loved one who is passed might be trying to reach out to you. Evil spirits may be taunting you even now. Jesus may be visiting your home, looking for you. There is so much that goes on in the metaphysical that we cannot perceive nor comprehend.
Today, take the time to realize that Jesus was raised from the dead. He died and was raised to be a sign unto you. He died and was raised to save your soul. He died and was raised to tell you there is so much more to life than this world. There is an eternity. It is waiting for you. Let God bring a little bit of Heaven into your life in this moment. Spend this weekend looking for the eternal. Let your soul rejoice in the knowledge that an Almighty God has placed you on HIS list of priorities. The day is coming when you will become fully aware of that fact!
April 5
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13, NLT)
All Christians are taught that Jesus took our sins to the cross. They were nailed there with Him. Forgiveness can be had at the foot of the cross. One has only to come to the cross and remember the loving sacrifice of Jesus to find real forgiveness and healing.
“Jungle Aviation and Radio Service (JAARS), the flying department of Wycliffe Bible Translators--had flown thousands of hours over a 25-year span without one fatal accident before April 7, 1972. On that day, a Piper Aztec lost its right engine and crashed in Papua New Guinea, killing all seven persons aboard. The Aztec had just rolled out of the Wycliffe maintenance hangar the day before following a 100-hour inspection. The chief mechanic was stunned when he heard the news of the crash. Reviewing in his mind each step he had performed in inspecting that right engine, he suddenly recoiled in horror. He remembered that he had been interrupted while tightening a fuel line and had never returned to finish the job! That faulty connection had allowed raw fuel to spray out and catch fire while the Aztec was in flight. The mechanic's guilt at being responsible for the deaths of his companions crushed him. For days he did not know what to do. The other mechanics tried to help him, as did his own family. But when the family of Doug Hunt, the pilot who was killed in the accident, was preparing to return to their home in New Zealand, the mechanic knew he had to see them, talk with them and beg their forgiveness. He could barely get out the words as he sobbed in their presence. "That hand there," he said, looking at his right hand, "took Doug's life." Glennis Hunt, Doug's widow, embraced him. "Glennis sat by me and held the hand that took her husband's life," he later wrote, "and another JAARS pilot sat on my other side with a demonstration of love, comfort, and forgiveness. That was the most significant first step in the healing process." (Max Lucado, God Came Near, p. 101).
You will never find healing for body and soul without leaning on the forgiveness earned by Jesus on the cross. As a Christian, forgiveness is meant to be part of our spiritual DNA. It is crucial to not only feel and experience but to offer in grace. One of the greatest failures among Christians is an inability to forgive. Some cannot forgive the hurt caused by another. Some refuse to let go of a past mistake. Some refuse to forgive themselves. Insecure people often can’t find the heart to forgive their own failures. Critical people won’t forgive the mistakes of others. Prideful people refuse to admit their own culpability or see their own responsibility. Vengeful people will not forgive out of spite. Angry people can’t see past their own pain to enable forgiveness and grace. Even among Christians, forgiveness can be hard to find, despite what Jesus did on that cross. What a sad commentary!
To be a true follower of Jesus, you need to learn to harness the healing power of forgiveness. It can heal relationships, disarm insecurities, and calm fears. It can bring hope to a dire situation and ease a burdened soul.
“A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had. For one month they planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box. The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month. After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!"” (www.Bible.org).
The scripture for today is not only a reminder for Christians. It is a command. Christians aren’t supposed to be critical of another’s failures, they are to “make allowance for their faults” (Colossians 3:13). You aren’t to forgive only friends and family but “anyone who offends you” (Colossians 3:13). The final sentence in the scripture for today brings the message home by saying “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you MUST forgive others” (Colossians 3:13). These words form a command. Forgiveness MUST be found in the heart and mind of a true Christian. Forgiveness MUST occur when others fail you. Forgiveness MUST be a part of every Christian’s attitude. Forgiveness isn’t an option for you. It is a command.
Look at the people in the Bible who could not deal with forgiveness. In the book of Genesis, Cain killed Abel. There is no record of Cain ever asking for forgiveness. So great was Cain’s sin that he was a marked man the rest of his life. No reconciliation with God or his family is ever recorded in the Bible. King Saul sinned greatly against the Lord by visiting the witch of Endor. Rather than ask for forgiveness, Saul ignored his own failure. He never received forgiveness for this act. It wrecked his leadership in Israel. It destroyed his relationship with God. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. After Jesus’ crucifixion, Judas could not live with his guilt. Rather than finding forgiveness, he committed suicide. Confession and forgiveness could have helped each of these men greatly. Instead, the forgiveness never occurred. Because of that, death and destruction and depression and loneliness and fear haunted each of them.
I have seen people who lived with sins and failures and insecurities and guilt and pain that went unforgiven. In every case, the person suffered greatly. In some of these cases, the result was death. Forgiveness is such a great healer. It brings hope and peace. It can bring joy to a hurting soul. It is a powerful weapon against the evils of this world. Sadly, despite its great power, too few people utilize forgiveness and grace.
How about with you? Is there an area of your life or a relationship that needs some forgiveness and grace? Are you holding back the forgiveness earned by Jesus at the cross? Are you failing to forgive yourself or another? Are you unwilling to let go of a hurt or shame? Forgiveness is a game-changer. It is a powerful weapon given by the grace of God to the faithful. Find use for forgiveness in your spiritual arsenal. Without it, corruption and death and destruction and illness and fear and insecurities will spread through this earth like a pandemic of evil. Yeah, forgiveness has that kind of power over evil. So, use it, share it, offer it, live it!
“Jungle Aviation and Radio Service (JAARS), the flying department of Wycliffe Bible Translators--had flown thousands of hours over a 25-year span without one fatal accident before April 7, 1972. On that day, a Piper Aztec lost its right engine and crashed in Papua New Guinea, killing all seven persons aboard. The Aztec had just rolled out of the Wycliffe maintenance hangar the day before following a 100-hour inspection. The chief mechanic was stunned when he heard the news of the crash. Reviewing in his mind each step he had performed in inspecting that right engine, he suddenly recoiled in horror. He remembered that he had been interrupted while tightening a fuel line and had never returned to finish the job! That faulty connection had allowed raw fuel to spray out and catch fire while the Aztec was in flight. The mechanic's guilt at being responsible for the deaths of his companions crushed him. For days he did not know what to do. The other mechanics tried to help him, as did his own family. But when the family of Doug Hunt, the pilot who was killed in the accident, was preparing to return to their home in New Zealand, the mechanic knew he had to see them, talk with them and beg their forgiveness. He could barely get out the words as he sobbed in their presence. "That hand there," he said, looking at his right hand, "took Doug's life." Glennis Hunt, Doug's widow, embraced him. "Glennis sat by me and held the hand that took her husband's life," he later wrote, "and another JAARS pilot sat on my other side with a demonstration of love, comfort, and forgiveness. That was the most significant first step in the healing process." (Max Lucado, God Came Near, p. 101).
You will never find healing for body and soul without leaning on the forgiveness earned by Jesus on the cross. As a Christian, forgiveness is meant to be part of our spiritual DNA. It is crucial to not only feel and experience but to offer in grace. One of the greatest failures among Christians is an inability to forgive. Some cannot forgive the hurt caused by another. Some refuse to let go of a past mistake. Some refuse to forgive themselves. Insecure people often can’t find the heart to forgive their own failures. Critical people won’t forgive the mistakes of others. Prideful people refuse to admit their own culpability or see their own responsibility. Vengeful people will not forgive out of spite. Angry people can’t see past their own pain to enable forgiveness and grace. Even among Christians, forgiveness can be hard to find, despite what Jesus did on that cross. What a sad commentary!
To be a true follower of Jesus, you need to learn to harness the healing power of forgiveness. It can heal relationships, disarm insecurities, and calm fears. It can bring hope to a dire situation and ease a burdened soul.
“A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had. For one month they planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box. The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month. After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!"” (www.Bible.org).
The scripture for today is not only a reminder for Christians. It is a command. Christians aren’t supposed to be critical of another’s failures, they are to “make allowance for their faults” (Colossians 3:13). You aren’t to forgive only friends and family but “anyone who offends you” (Colossians 3:13). The final sentence in the scripture for today brings the message home by saying “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you MUST forgive others” (Colossians 3:13). These words form a command. Forgiveness MUST be found in the heart and mind of a true Christian. Forgiveness MUST occur when others fail you. Forgiveness MUST be a part of every Christian’s attitude. Forgiveness isn’t an option for you. It is a command.
Look at the people in the Bible who could not deal with forgiveness. In the book of Genesis, Cain killed Abel. There is no record of Cain ever asking for forgiveness. So great was Cain’s sin that he was a marked man the rest of his life. No reconciliation with God or his family is ever recorded in the Bible. King Saul sinned greatly against the Lord by visiting the witch of Endor. Rather than ask for forgiveness, Saul ignored his own failure. He never received forgiveness for this act. It wrecked his leadership in Israel. It destroyed his relationship with God. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. After Jesus’ crucifixion, Judas could not live with his guilt. Rather than finding forgiveness, he committed suicide. Confession and forgiveness could have helped each of these men greatly. Instead, the forgiveness never occurred. Because of that, death and destruction and depression and loneliness and fear haunted each of them.
I have seen people who lived with sins and failures and insecurities and guilt and pain that went unforgiven. In every case, the person suffered greatly. In some of these cases, the result was death. Forgiveness is such a great healer. It brings hope and peace. It can bring joy to a hurting soul. It is a powerful weapon against the evils of this world. Sadly, despite its great power, too few people utilize forgiveness and grace.
How about with you? Is there an area of your life or a relationship that needs some forgiveness and grace? Are you holding back the forgiveness earned by Jesus at the cross? Are you failing to forgive yourself or another? Are you unwilling to let go of a hurt or shame? Forgiveness is a game-changer. It is a powerful weapon given by the grace of God to the faithful. Find use for forgiveness in your spiritual arsenal. Without it, corruption and death and destruction and illness and fear and insecurities will spread through this earth like a pandemic of evil. Yeah, forgiveness has that kind of power over evil. So, use it, share it, offer it, live it!
April 7
“King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of the temple of the LORD. The king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me.” Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me.”” (Jeremiah 38:14–15, ESV)
This scripture for today comes in the middle of a meeting of two very important people at a very crucial time in the history of Judah and Israel. King Zedekiah was in a difficult situation, with the army of Babylon in a threatening position. During these tense days, Zedekiah sent for the great prophet of his day, Jeremiah. Though Zedekiah had previously rejected Jeremiah’s prophesies and even threatened his life, the king knew that the time had come to listen to what the great prophet had to say. Fearing a looming war with the Babylonians, Zedekiah sent word to Jeremiah to meet at the Temple in Jerusalem.
The two great leaders met “at the third entrance of the temple of the Lord” (Jeremiah 38:14). There, the king began to ask Jeremiah for a message from God. The King desired that Jeremiah “hide nothing”. The King wanted the truth. He desired advice directly from God. In response, Jeremiah told Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not surely put me to death?” Then, Jeremiah chastised the king by saying that even with good “counsel”, the king would not heed the words anyway. After much pleading and promises of safety by the king, Jeremiah went on to give his advice. Jeremiah declared, “Thus says the Lord…..” (Jeremiah 38:17). With these words, Jeremiah delivered God’s direction to the king about the judgment that was coming. Because King Zedekiah had failed to listen to Jeremiah’s advice from God for so long, the king was unable to stop the destruction by the army of Babylon. Not long after, war did come. The king’s sons were all killed, and the king’s eyes were gouged out (Jeremiah 39). The city of Jerusalem was then utterly destroyed.
It is very important that you heed good advice. Jeremiah had been urging King Zedekiah to follow the word of God over and over and over again. Only when it was too late to change his fate did the king finally decide to heed the advice from Jeremiah. Day after day for months and years, Jeremiah had tried to convince the king to change his ways, but the king would not listen. This resulted not only in his own disfigurement but in the death of his sons and of thousands and thousands of people in Judah and Israel. Good advice heeded earlier would have saved Judah and Israel. When it was ignored, and the wrong advice followed, the result was inevitable suffering and death.
Good advice could have saved king Zedekiah. If it had been heeded, it would have saved Israel. God tried through the prophets to change Judah and Israel’s ways. They would not listen. Instead, the people followed the voices of those who told the leadership what they wanted to hear. Because Jeremiah’s advice was not easy to accept, the king took the easy route and listened to the politicians and military. He ignored Jeremiah. All Israel and Judah suffered the consequences.
Good advice is sometimes difficult to hear or accept. It may mean you have to change your ways. Good advice might make you uncomfortable. The truth is often uncomfortable, especially when you have been living a lie. Do you tend to heed good advice or listen to people who tell you what you want to hear? Do you look to God for direction in how to live or follow your own desires and instincts?
On a bright and warm summer day, Jamie gathered with his friends at the city’s biggest park. They spent hours throwing frisbees, playing music, and generally having a good time. As the sun was setting, the boys decided to go cruising. They also decided to stop at one boy’s home and sneak some alcohol to take with them. With almost a liter of whiskey siphoned into a mason jar, the boys cruised main street while sneaking sips of the alcohol with each passing hour. Now and then, they parked together and stole a few big gulps of the brew. They laughed among themselves at their antics.
Then, after midnight, two of the drivers decided to race each other for the last ounce of the whiskey. Jamie was not thrilled at the idea. He felt both drivers were drunk. He said something but was immediately shouted down. The youth all piled into the cars for the race. A half mile down the road, Jamie’s car veered off the road and into a tree. Jamie barely survived the accident. One friend never made it home that night.
Jamie told me the story of that night. He confided to me, “I never should have gotten in that car. I tried to tell them. I wanted them to listen. Not only did they not listen to me, but I was also so stupid to hop into the car with a drunk driver and then idiotic to do it when they were going to race. I wish to hell I would have listened to my gut. I knew something was going to happen. I knew it!”
I believe God was telling Jamie not only to warn the drivers but to NOT get into that car for the race. Jamie went to church every week. He knew God. He knew right from wrong. He had a very faithful family. He was raised right. However, Jamie’s friends would not listen to good advice. AND, Jamie ignored that voice from God shouting from his soul. Bad advice in the form of peer pressure or threats or manipulation or promises can sometimes be difficult to reject. Good advice when you are inebriated or fearful or insecure or too trusting can be hard to swallow. Even when you are a faithful person, you may find yourself following bad advice. God only wants you to follow good advice. God will only give you the best kind of advice.
When you are in a difficult position, remember to ask God for advice. Don’t be too afraid or insecure to follow through on that advice. When a faithful person sent by God gives you important direction, heed it! Don’t just learn the word of God, make sure to follow God’s voice and good advice when it comes your way. Yes, it may be hard to figure out good advice from bad. Still, your life and the lives of those around you may depend on you knowing which way God needs you to go and whose words are best followed. That is why prayer is so important. That is why faithful friends are worth their weight in gold!
Max Lucado wrote in his book, Eye of the Storm, the following bits of wisdom for Christians who need some good advice:
Love God more than you fear hell.
Once a week, let a child take you on a walk.
Make major decisions in a cemetery.
When no one is watching, live as if someone is.
Succeed at home first.
Don’t spend tomorrow’s money today.
Pray twice as much as you fret.
Listen twice as much as you speak.
Only harbor a grudge where God does.
Never outgrow your love of sunsets.
God has forgiven you; you’d be wise to do the same.
When you can’t trace God’s hand, trust His heart.
Toot your own horn and the notes will be flat.
The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number.
Live your Christianity.
The two great leaders met “at the third entrance of the temple of the Lord” (Jeremiah 38:14). There, the king began to ask Jeremiah for a message from God. The King desired that Jeremiah “hide nothing”. The King wanted the truth. He desired advice directly from God. In response, Jeremiah told Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not surely put me to death?” Then, Jeremiah chastised the king by saying that even with good “counsel”, the king would not heed the words anyway. After much pleading and promises of safety by the king, Jeremiah went on to give his advice. Jeremiah declared, “Thus says the Lord…..” (Jeremiah 38:17). With these words, Jeremiah delivered God’s direction to the king about the judgment that was coming. Because King Zedekiah had failed to listen to Jeremiah’s advice from God for so long, the king was unable to stop the destruction by the army of Babylon. Not long after, war did come. The king’s sons were all killed, and the king’s eyes were gouged out (Jeremiah 39). The city of Jerusalem was then utterly destroyed.
It is very important that you heed good advice. Jeremiah had been urging King Zedekiah to follow the word of God over and over and over again. Only when it was too late to change his fate did the king finally decide to heed the advice from Jeremiah. Day after day for months and years, Jeremiah had tried to convince the king to change his ways, but the king would not listen. This resulted not only in his own disfigurement but in the death of his sons and of thousands and thousands of people in Judah and Israel. Good advice heeded earlier would have saved Judah and Israel. When it was ignored, and the wrong advice followed, the result was inevitable suffering and death.
Good advice could have saved king Zedekiah. If it had been heeded, it would have saved Israel. God tried through the prophets to change Judah and Israel’s ways. They would not listen. Instead, the people followed the voices of those who told the leadership what they wanted to hear. Because Jeremiah’s advice was not easy to accept, the king took the easy route and listened to the politicians and military. He ignored Jeremiah. All Israel and Judah suffered the consequences.
Good advice is sometimes difficult to hear or accept. It may mean you have to change your ways. Good advice might make you uncomfortable. The truth is often uncomfortable, especially when you have been living a lie. Do you tend to heed good advice or listen to people who tell you what you want to hear? Do you look to God for direction in how to live or follow your own desires and instincts?
On a bright and warm summer day, Jamie gathered with his friends at the city’s biggest park. They spent hours throwing frisbees, playing music, and generally having a good time. As the sun was setting, the boys decided to go cruising. They also decided to stop at one boy’s home and sneak some alcohol to take with them. With almost a liter of whiskey siphoned into a mason jar, the boys cruised main street while sneaking sips of the alcohol with each passing hour. Now and then, they parked together and stole a few big gulps of the brew. They laughed among themselves at their antics.
Then, after midnight, two of the drivers decided to race each other for the last ounce of the whiskey. Jamie was not thrilled at the idea. He felt both drivers were drunk. He said something but was immediately shouted down. The youth all piled into the cars for the race. A half mile down the road, Jamie’s car veered off the road and into a tree. Jamie barely survived the accident. One friend never made it home that night.
Jamie told me the story of that night. He confided to me, “I never should have gotten in that car. I tried to tell them. I wanted them to listen. Not only did they not listen to me, but I was also so stupid to hop into the car with a drunk driver and then idiotic to do it when they were going to race. I wish to hell I would have listened to my gut. I knew something was going to happen. I knew it!”
I believe God was telling Jamie not only to warn the drivers but to NOT get into that car for the race. Jamie went to church every week. He knew God. He knew right from wrong. He had a very faithful family. He was raised right. However, Jamie’s friends would not listen to good advice. AND, Jamie ignored that voice from God shouting from his soul. Bad advice in the form of peer pressure or threats or manipulation or promises can sometimes be difficult to reject. Good advice when you are inebriated or fearful or insecure or too trusting can be hard to swallow. Even when you are a faithful person, you may find yourself following bad advice. God only wants you to follow good advice. God will only give you the best kind of advice.
When you are in a difficult position, remember to ask God for advice. Don’t be too afraid or insecure to follow through on that advice. When a faithful person sent by God gives you important direction, heed it! Don’t just learn the word of God, make sure to follow God’s voice and good advice when it comes your way. Yes, it may be hard to figure out good advice from bad. Still, your life and the lives of those around you may depend on you knowing which way God needs you to go and whose words are best followed. That is why prayer is so important. That is why faithful friends are worth their weight in gold!
Max Lucado wrote in his book, Eye of the Storm, the following bits of wisdom for Christians who need some good advice:
Love God more than you fear hell.
Once a week, let a child take you on a walk.
Make major decisions in a cemetery.
When no one is watching, live as if someone is.
Succeed at home first.
Don’t spend tomorrow’s money today.
Pray twice as much as you fret.
Listen twice as much as you speak.
Only harbor a grudge where God does.
Never outgrow your love of sunsets.
God has forgiven you; you’d be wise to do the same.
When you can’t trace God’s hand, trust His heart.
Toot your own horn and the notes will be flat.
The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number.
Live your Christianity.
April 9
“Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”
(Mark 8:25, ESV)
(Mark 8:25, ESV)
Every now and then, things in life become hazy. You are not sure which direction to go. You know something needs to change in your life, but you don’t know what. Those days can be extremely frustrating. It might feel like you are just spinning your wheels. You might feel lost. Your life may be off track. Inside heart and soul, things do not feel right. It seems like you are treading water, waiting for the right direction to make itself clear. Even in your spiritual life, the right path to take may not be obvious. You may be unsure which choice to make or direction to take. What you may need is for God to bring some clarity to your situation. You may need Jesus to open your eyes so to see what you are really missing.
In the scripture for today, Jesus heals a blind man from the city of Bethsaida. Jesus “laid His hands on the man”, and the man’s “sight was restored”. This verse in the Bible makes the claim that the blind man now could “see everything clearly” (Mark 8:25). Upon hearing this miracle story in the Bible, a church member once told me that it was nice that Jesus helped blind people but did not feel that this scripture applied to people who could see. I told him that there are many kinds of sight in the world. You can see things with your eyes, your heart, your soul, your feelings, and within your spirit. In fact, spiritual in-sight can be crucial in saving a life! As amazing as having a blind person see, a spiritually blind person receiving the clarity of spiritual insight from God can completely change that person’s life. It will change their perspective. It affects their values and choices and hopes and dreams.
For a long time, Sally lived with a man who treated her poorly. He was verbally abusive and was vicious in his personal attacks. The longer Sally stayed with him, the more it affected her self-esteem and destroyed her feelings of self-worth. A friend told me years later that Sally was “just a shadow of her former self”. When I met Sally, she was very quiet. She would tear up quickly upon hearing loud noises. She would never dare ask for help. She seldom dressed up to go out. She was very angry at herself if she made a mistake.
One evening, after a Bible Study for adults, Sally stayed afterward to “have a chat”. Though knowing me for months, this was the first time she opened up to me. She had recently left an abusive relationship and was trying to rebuild her life again. We talked for two hours! At the end of that time, we prayed together. I felt God reaching out to her, powerfully.
During the months after that night, Sally blossomed. She began to open up. She began to smile more often. She even shared some of past with a few others. I could feel the Holy Spirit telling me that Sally had turned the page on her abusive past. She was letting go of the self-loathing and allowing herself to feel the joy in Christ. It was a beautiful thing to behold. Six months after opening up to me, Sally spoke to me in confidence. As we stood in a corner of the church building, she whispered, “Pastor, I can see now how much of my life I messed up. There were so many lies I listened to and told myself. Jesus has freed me from that mess. I am a new person. Do you know what I mean?” Oh, I knew exactly what she was talking about. I have seen it many times before. A person blinded by the past is redeemed. By the grace of God, that person comes alive again to the awesome love of Jesus!
Like Sally, there are many who may have “eyes that see” but are blind to their mistakes or failures. They do not perceive how they are being self-destructive or overly critical. They do not realize the sin that has imprisoned them or the anger that has taken hold. I have known people who were blind to a spouse’s unfaithfulness, unable to see the damage from a sinful habit, or incapable at comprehending how they were being manipulated. Too many are blind to something that is damaging their relationship with God. For all those who are blind to their sin, lost in their addictions, or unable to discern their way, Jesus is ready to bring insight. Jesus wants them to be free of those things that damage heart and soul.
I wonder if you are blind to something in your life. You may have the eyes to see the sunset, but do you have the spiritual insight to perceive when something is wrong in your soul?
Many cultures have a concept called the “eye of the soul”. Others talk about the “eyes being a window to the soul”. Your soul needs to “see” the truth, perceive spiritual insight, and be open to the metaphysical. Many have eyes to the soul that have been closed for a long time. Let the eyes to your soul be opened. See what God sees. Let the Holy Spirit bring clarity to your choices and past.
Jesus did not only heal one blind man from Bethsaida. He continues to heal the blindness of each of us today. If you find yourself trying to figure out something in your life, let Jesus open your spiritual eyes and soul to the possibilities and the truth. You will be blind without it.
In the scripture for today, Jesus heals a blind man from the city of Bethsaida. Jesus “laid His hands on the man”, and the man’s “sight was restored”. This verse in the Bible makes the claim that the blind man now could “see everything clearly” (Mark 8:25). Upon hearing this miracle story in the Bible, a church member once told me that it was nice that Jesus helped blind people but did not feel that this scripture applied to people who could see. I told him that there are many kinds of sight in the world. You can see things with your eyes, your heart, your soul, your feelings, and within your spirit. In fact, spiritual in-sight can be crucial in saving a life! As amazing as having a blind person see, a spiritually blind person receiving the clarity of spiritual insight from God can completely change that person’s life. It will change their perspective. It affects their values and choices and hopes and dreams.
For a long time, Sally lived with a man who treated her poorly. He was verbally abusive and was vicious in his personal attacks. The longer Sally stayed with him, the more it affected her self-esteem and destroyed her feelings of self-worth. A friend told me years later that Sally was “just a shadow of her former self”. When I met Sally, she was very quiet. She would tear up quickly upon hearing loud noises. She would never dare ask for help. She seldom dressed up to go out. She was very angry at herself if she made a mistake.
One evening, after a Bible Study for adults, Sally stayed afterward to “have a chat”. Though knowing me for months, this was the first time she opened up to me. She had recently left an abusive relationship and was trying to rebuild her life again. We talked for two hours! At the end of that time, we prayed together. I felt God reaching out to her, powerfully.
During the months after that night, Sally blossomed. She began to open up. She began to smile more often. She even shared some of past with a few others. I could feel the Holy Spirit telling me that Sally had turned the page on her abusive past. She was letting go of the self-loathing and allowing herself to feel the joy in Christ. It was a beautiful thing to behold. Six months after opening up to me, Sally spoke to me in confidence. As we stood in a corner of the church building, she whispered, “Pastor, I can see now how much of my life I messed up. There were so many lies I listened to and told myself. Jesus has freed me from that mess. I am a new person. Do you know what I mean?” Oh, I knew exactly what she was talking about. I have seen it many times before. A person blinded by the past is redeemed. By the grace of God, that person comes alive again to the awesome love of Jesus!
Like Sally, there are many who may have “eyes that see” but are blind to their mistakes or failures. They do not perceive how they are being self-destructive or overly critical. They do not realize the sin that has imprisoned them or the anger that has taken hold. I have known people who were blind to a spouse’s unfaithfulness, unable to see the damage from a sinful habit, or incapable at comprehending how they were being manipulated. Too many are blind to something that is damaging their relationship with God. For all those who are blind to their sin, lost in their addictions, or unable to discern their way, Jesus is ready to bring insight. Jesus wants them to be free of those things that damage heart and soul.
I wonder if you are blind to something in your life. You may have the eyes to see the sunset, but do you have the spiritual insight to perceive when something is wrong in your soul?
Many cultures have a concept called the “eye of the soul”. Others talk about the “eyes being a window to the soul”. Your soul needs to “see” the truth, perceive spiritual insight, and be open to the metaphysical. Many have eyes to the soul that have been closed for a long time. Let the eyes to your soul be opened. See what God sees. Let the Holy Spirit bring clarity to your choices and past.
Jesus did not only heal one blind man from Bethsaida. He continues to heal the blindness of each of us today. If you find yourself trying to figure out something in your life, let Jesus open your spiritual eyes and soul to the possibilities and the truth. You will be blind without it.
April 11
“But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” (1 Corinthians 2:14, NLT)
WARNING: TODAY'S MEDITATION REQUIRES MORE THOUGHT THAN NORMAL. YOU MUST PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER ITS MEANING. NO SHALLOW UNDERSTANDING OF THESE WORDS WILL BENEFIT YOU. PREPARE YOURSELF TO MEDITATE DEEPLY ON ITS MEANING.
A pastor and atheist sat next to each other at a symposium. After a comment made by the presenter, the atheist leaned over and told the pastor that the presenter was unrealistic. At the next break, the two began a conversation. In it, the atheist presented his argument that there was no God. After a while, the pastor asked the atheist if he believed in the theory of evolution, the measured mass of the electron, the new discovery of the Higgs-Boson at Cern Institute in Switzerland, and String Theory. The atheist responded, “I absolutely believe in them!” The pastor then said, “So you believe in things you can’t see because someone told you they were true.” The atheist nodded. The pastor said, “All these scientific principles are based on beliefs. Why don’t you belief in God?” The atheist responded that you can’t see God. The pastor answered, “When was the last time you saw a Higgs-Boson particle and yet you believe in it!” The atheist spoke sharply, saying, “I believe what science tells me!” The pastor said, “Scientists in the early 1900’s believed a man couldn’t fly a heavier-than-air craft. Scientists believed the Titanic to be unsinkable. Scientists believed for years that nuclear power was unfeasible.” The atheist looked at the pastor with incredulity and responded, “I just believe them. They know what they are talking about.” The pastor said, “I believe Moses and Jesus knew what they were talking about. You live in your reality. I live in mine.”
Reality is different for different people. Your view of reality can change radically over a period of time. Sometimes, an unexplained occurrence will shake up your view of reality. The death of a loved one, a spiritual conversion, or an accident can alter your view of the world. Teachers and priests and rabbis and imams and propaganda can all shape your understanding. They affect your reality. Those who don’t believe in God cannot perceive a reality where God is in charge. Those who do believe in God will often defend their belief that God is in control. A shallow Christian may not understand spiritual things very well. A clergyman who is highly steeped in religious training may not accept differing theological views outside "accepted" denominational teaching. There are Christians who do not believe Jesus was a Jew! Let’s be honest here, your reality about God may not be the same as another person in the pew. However, you do have an understanding of God in your reality. You believe God is alive and active in this world. This makes you different from all those who cannot accept God or who refuse to believe Jesus is the Christ.
In our scripture for today, the Apostle Paul acknowledged that a Christian view of the world is different from those who don’t accept God at all or have a shallow faith. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that “people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Whether atheistic or shallow in faith, people who lack spiritual depth cannot understand God’s reality. They have beliefs that differ from God’s view of the world. In fact, those who are not spiritual may even consider those who pray to God or who say they feel God’s direction as “foolish” (1 Corinthians 2:14). It is impossible for those who are non-believers to understand reality from God’s point of view, especially when they do not “understand what the Spirit means” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
When explaining why a parent needs to discipline a child, the child will often not accept or be willing to understand why a parent is doing it. The child may even think the parent is being cruel or judgmental. Without an adequate understanding, the child can’t accept the reality that the parent lives with every day. This translates to many areas of life. An armchair quarterback can’t really understand what is going through the mind of a quarterback in the Super Bowl with one minute left in the game. A spectator at an air show cannot begin to perceive all that is going through the mind of a pilot who is performing. A man may not be able to truly understand what its like to bear a child. A woman may not understand what it is like to be influenced by testosterone. On and on, people often may not understand reality from another’s point of view. And, those who do not know God can’t understand God’s reality from their own point of view.
“A golfer who had been playing badly went to a psychiatrist who told him to relax by playing a round of golf without a ball. “Do everything you would normally do, but use an imaginary ball,” advised the psychiatrist.” The golfer tried it the next day. He stepped up on the first tee, imagined he got a 260-yard drive, made a fine approach shot to the green, then putted for a par. The round went splendidly and as he approached the 18th hole, he met another golfer playing the same way—no ball.
The other golfer had seen the same psychiatrist. They decided to play the last hole together and bet $10 on the outcome. The first golfer swung at his imaginary ball and announced that it had gone 280 yards right down the middle of the fairway. The second golfer matched his drive. The first fellow then took out his 5-iron and after swinging at his imaginary ball, he exclaimed, “Look at that shot! It went right over the pin and the reverse spin on it brought it right back into the hole! I win.”
“No you don’t,” said the second golfer. “You hit my ball.””
(“Bits and Pieces”, February 1990, p. 16).
In this humorous story, each player had a different view of reality. Because of this, one did not fully understand the perspective of the other, until it was explained. I believe God is constantly attempting to explain reality to those in our world. Through the Bible, God has revealed Himself and His perspective over and over. Those who read the Bible can begin to understand God and faith and life and other concepts to some degree. I also believe when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, the depth of one’s understanding becomes more aligned with that of God. The closer you get to God, the more you see life from God’s perspective. The closer you get to God, the more that evil and sin become apparent. The more you understand the heart of God, the more it will increase your faith.
I believe that those who do not know God only know a portion about the real world. As Paul explained in the scripture for today, those who are not spiritual will lack a knowledge of how the world works. I have seen this over and over. My hope for you is that you will grow deeper in your understanding of God and God’s ways. I pray you will grow spiritually. I pray you realize what is happening around you from God’s point of view. Without a solid connection with God, there is so much you will be missing!
How deeply spiritual are you? Is your view of reality shaped more by earthly thinking or godly direction? Do you know what is really going on in current events? Who might benefit from twisting your view of reality right now?
A pastor and atheist sat next to each other at a symposium. After a comment made by the presenter, the atheist leaned over and told the pastor that the presenter was unrealistic. At the next break, the two began a conversation. In it, the atheist presented his argument that there was no God. After a while, the pastor asked the atheist if he believed in the theory of evolution, the measured mass of the electron, the new discovery of the Higgs-Boson at Cern Institute in Switzerland, and String Theory. The atheist responded, “I absolutely believe in them!” The pastor then said, “So you believe in things you can’t see because someone told you they were true.” The atheist nodded. The pastor said, “All these scientific principles are based on beliefs. Why don’t you belief in God?” The atheist responded that you can’t see God. The pastor answered, “When was the last time you saw a Higgs-Boson particle and yet you believe in it!” The atheist spoke sharply, saying, “I believe what science tells me!” The pastor said, “Scientists in the early 1900’s believed a man couldn’t fly a heavier-than-air craft. Scientists believed the Titanic to be unsinkable. Scientists believed for years that nuclear power was unfeasible.” The atheist looked at the pastor with incredulity and responded, “I just believe them. They know what they are talking about.” The pastor said, “I believe Moses and Jesus knew what they were talking about. You live in your reality. I live in mine.”
Reality is different for different people. Your view of reality can change radically over a period of time. Sometimes, an unexplained occurrence will shake up your view of reality. The death of a loved one, a spiritual conversion, or an accident can alter your view of the world. Teachers and priests and rabbis and imams and propaganda can all shape your understanding. They affect your reality. Those who don’t believe in God cannot perceive a reality where God is in charge. Those who do believe in God will often defend their belief that God is in control. A shallow Christian may not understand spiritual things very well. A clergyman who is highly steeped in religious training may not accept differing theological views outside "accepted" denominational teaching. There are Christians who do not believe Jesus was a Jew! Let’s be honest here, your reality about God may not be the same as another person in the pew. However, you do have an understanding of God in your reality. You believe God is alive and active in this world. This makes you different from all those who cannot accept God or who refuse to believe Jesus is the Christ.
In our scripture for today, the Apostle Paul acknowledged that a Christian view of the world is different from those who don’t accept God at all or have a shallow faith. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that “people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Whether atheistic or shallow in faith, people who lack spiritual depth cannot understand God’s reality. They have beliefs that differ from God’s view of the world. In fact, those who are not spiritual may even consider those who pray to God or who say they feel God’s direction as “foolish” (1 Corinthians 2:14). It is impossible for those who are non-believers to understand reality from God’s point of view, especially when they do not “understand what the Spirit means” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
When explaining why a parent needs to discipline a child, the child will often not accept or be willing to understand why a parent is doing it. The child may even think the parent is being cruel or judgmental. Without an adequate understanding, the child can’t accept the reality that the parent lives with every day. This translates to many areas of life. An armchair quarterback can’t really understand what is going through the mind of a quarterback in the Super Bowl with one minute left in the game. A spectator at an air show cannot begin to perceive all that is going through the mind of a pilot who is performing. A man may not be able to truly understand what its like to bear a child. A woman may not understand what it is like to be influenced by testosterone. On and on, people often may not understand reality from another’s point of view. And, those who do not know God can’t understand God’s reality from their own point of view.
“A golfer who had been playing badly went to a psychiatrist who told him to relax by playing a round of golf without a ball. “Do everything you would normally do, but use an imaginary ball,” advised the psychiatrist.” The golfer tried it the next day. He stepped up on the first tee, imagined he got a 260-yard drive, made a fine approach shot to the green, then putted for a par. The round went splendidly and as he approached the 18th hole, he met another golfer playing the same way—no ball.
The other golfer had seen the same psychiatrist. They decided to play the last hole together and bet $10 on the outcome. The first golfer swung at his imaginary ball and announced that it had gone 280 yards right down the middle of the fairway. The second golfer matched his drive. The first fellow then took out his 5-iron and after swinging at his imaginary ball, he exclaimed, “Look at that shot! It went right over the pin and the reverse spin on it brought it right back into the hole! I win.”
“No you don’t,” said the second golfer. “You hit my ball.””
(“Bits and Pieces”, February 1990, p. 16).
In this humorous story, each player had a different view of reality. Because of this, one did not fully understand the perspective of the other, until it was explained. I believe God is constantly attempting to explain reality to those in our world. Through the Bible, God has revealed Himself and His perspective over and over. Those who read the Bible can begin to understand God and faith and life and other concepts to some degree. I also believe when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, the depth of one’s understanding becomes more aligned with that of God. The closer you get to God, the more you see life from God’s perspective. The closer you get to God, the more that evil and sin become apparent. The more you understand the heart of God, the more it will increase your faith.
I believe that those who do not know God only know a portion about the real world. As Paul explained in the scripture for today, those who are not spiritual will lack a knowledge of how the world works. I have seen this over and over. My hope for you is that you will grow deeper in your understanding of God and God’s ways. I pray you will grow spiritually. I pray you realize what is happening around you from God’s point of view. Without a solid connection with God, there is so much you will be missing!
How deeply spiritual are you? Is your view of reality shaped more by earthly thinking or godly direction? Do you know what is really going on in current events? Who might benefit from twisting your view of reality right now?
April 13
“Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return.” (Jeremiah 8:5, ESV)
A soldier from World War 1 came to believe in Christ while serving in the military. When he returned home, finishing his active duty, he was worried that he might backslide. His pastor, Donald Grey Barnhouse, encouraged him to confess to ten friends that he was Christian. Let them see his love for Jesus. Determined to remain faithful to Jesus, the soldier endeavored to tell ten friends back home about his belief in Jesus.
“The soldier went home. Almost immediately—in fact, while he was still on the platform of the suburban station at the end of his return trip—he met a girl whom he had known socially. She was delighted to see him and asked how he was doing. He told her, “The greatest thing that could possibly happen to me has happened.”
“You’re engaged to be married,” she exclaimed.
“No,” he told her. “It’s even better than that. I’ve taken the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior.”
The girls’ expression froze. She mumbled a few polite words and went on her way. A short time later the new Christian met a young man whom he had known before going into the service. “It’s good to see you back,” he declared. “We’ll have some great parties now that you’ve returned.”
“I’ve just become a Christian,” the soldier said. He was thinking, That’s two! Again, it was a case of a frozen smile and a quick change of conversation.
After this the same circumstances were repeated with a young couple and with two more old friends. By this time word had got around, and soon some of his friends stopped seeing him. He had become peculiar, religious, and—who knows!—they may even have called him crazy! What had he done? Nothing but confess Christ. The same confession that had aligned him with Christ had separated him from those who did not want Jesus Christ as Savior and who, in fact, did not even want to hear about Him.” (Christ’s Call To Discipleship, J.M. Boice, pp. 122-23).
Here, the soldier was worried about backsliding. What he did not realize was that all his old friends had already cooled in their relationship with Christ. Instead of falling back into bad habits, the soldier wanted to believe in Jesus all the more. He committed himself to be a faithful follower of Jesus AND to help all his family and friends see how wonderful it was to have Jesus as a Savior. He never did lose that love for God.
The soldier was wise to consider he might be the one to backslide, to fall back into old sinful habits, to cool in his relationship with Christ Jesus. Many people do it. Passion in one’s relationship with God requires a person to be willing to stand by the Lord through thick and thin. Like in marriage, the faithful Christian is not one to give up on the relationship with Jesus nor fail in keeping promises to God. Yet with faith as with marriage, some people do not keep their word nor cherish the relationship.
In the sixth century B.C., the prophet Jeremiah saw changes in the relationship between Israel and Judah and Jerusalem and God. More and more, the chosen people had fallen into sin. They stopped worshipping God at the Temple. They dabbled with other religions and paid homage to other gods. The kings were becoming more worldly, wholly trusting in allies and military relationships during those days. What happened to their trust in God? The chosen people were backsliding in their relationship with God. They were no longer faithful.
During these dark days, God asked the prophet Jeremiah “Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding?” (Jeremiah 8:5). God was tired of the deceit and unfaithfulness of those in Israel and Judah. Rather than repent and return to God when they failed to honor God, they just slipped further away from a holy life. God lamented their rejection. Soon after God spoke these words, a terrible series of events culminated in the destruction of the city and Temple of Jerusalem. Their backsliding culminated in suffering and exile and death.
It's a terrible thing when you have to watch someone slide backward in life. When an alcoholic goes back off the wagon, back to drinking, it’s hard to watch. You know what is coming. When an addict starts using opioids again, when a person goes back to old bad habits, when an abuser starts hitting again, it’s a God-awful thing to see unfold. We are living in a time when our whole country is backsliding. Like in the days of Jeremiah, our country is turning away from God and enjoying a life of sin. God has blessed this country in great and wonderful ways, and yet we have rejected those blessings and turned to other pursuits. It is often difficult for me to watch the news and witness the atrocities.
Anyone is capable of backsliding in their relationship with God. Even you. Will you be one of the few to keep faithful when others are falling away? When friends disregard and demean your faith, will you continue to hold onto your passion for Christ? I really do hope so. I have found that those who fall away from the faith often end up miserable. There is a hole in their heart where God used to be. They are not happy or content with what they have. They don’t have a deep and lasting joy in life. Many grow depressed and irritable. Many turn to drugs and alcohol. Many self-destruct. I don’t want you to live that life.
When it seems like the whole world is backsliding, just remember that you are still close to God. You are precious to God. Your faith is a beautiful thing. People need to see your passion and love of Jesus. They need to learn the truth about God and the lies of this world. My prayer is that you remain honest to God. I hope you never lose that fire of passion in your soul. I want you to look forward to that day when you see our Lord in heaven and He will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Do you sense God reaching out for you even now, even in this moment?
“The soldier went home. Almost immediately—in fact, while he was still on the platform of the suburban station at the end of his return trip—he met a girl whom he had known socially. She was delighted to see him and asked how he was doing. He told her, “The greatest thing that could possibly happen to me has happened.”
“You’re engaged to be married,” she exclaimed.
“No,” he told her. “It’s even better than that. I’ve taken the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior.”
The girls’ expression froze. She mumbled a few polite words and went on her way. A short time later the new Christian met a young man whom he had known before going into the service. “It’s good to see you back,” he declared. “We’ll have some great parties now that you’ve returned.”
“I’ve just become a Christian,” the soldier said. He was thinking, That’s two! Again, it was a case of a frozen smile and a quick change of conversation.
After this the same circumstances were repeated with a young couple and with two more old friends. By this time word had got around, and soon some of his friends stopped seeing him. He had become peculiar, religious, and—who knows!—they may even have called him crazy! What had he done? Nothing but confess Christ. The same confession that had aligned him with Christ had separated him from those who did not want Jesus Christ as Savior and who, in fact, did not even want to hear about Him.” (Christ’s Call To Discipleship, J.M. Boice, pp. 122-23).
Here, the soldier was worried about backsliding. What he did not realize was that all his old friends had already cooled in their relationship with Christ. Instead of falling back into bad habits, the soldier wanted to believe in Jesus all the more. He committed himself to be a faithful follower of Jesus AND to help all his family and friends see how wonderful it was to have Jesus as a Savior. He never did lose that love for God.
The soldier was wise to consider he might be the one to backslide, to fall back into old sinful habits, to cool in his relationship with Christ Jesus. Many people do it. Passion in one’s relationship with God requires a person to be willing to stand by the Lord through thick and thin. Like in marriage, the faithful Christian is not one to give up on the relationship with Jesus nor fail in keeping promises to God. Yet with faith as with marriage, some people do not keep their word nor cherish the relationship.
In the sixth century B.C., the prophet Jeremiah saw changes in the relationship between Israel and Judah and Jerusalem and God. More and more, the chosen people had fallen into sin. They stopped worshipping God at the Temple. They dabbled with other religions and paid homage to other gods. The kings were becoming more worldly, wholly trusting in allies and military relationships during those days. What happened to their trust in God? The chosen people were backsliding in their relationship with God. They were no longer faithful.
During these dark days, God asked the prophet Jeremiah “Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding?” (Jeremiah 8:5). God was tired of the deceit and unfaithfulness of those in Israel and Judah. Rather than repent and return to God when they failed to honor God, they just slipped further away from a holy life. God lamented their rejection. Soon after God spoke these words, a terrible series of events culminated in the destruction of the city and Temple of Jerusalem. Their backsliding culminated in suffering and exile and death.
It's a terrible thing when you have to watch someone slide backward in life. When an alcoholic goes back off the wagon, back to drinking, it’s hard to watch. You know what is coming. When an addict starts using opioids again, when a person goes back to old bad habits, when an abuser starts hitting again, it’s a God-awful thing to see unfold. We are living in a time when our whole country is backsliding. Like in the days of Jeremiah, our country is turning away from God and enjoying a life of sin. God has blessed this country in great and wonderful ways, and yet we have rejected those blessings and turned to other pursuits. It is often difficult for me to watch the news and witness the atrocities.
Anyone is capable of backsliding in their relationship with God. Even you. Will you be one of the few to keep faithful when others are falling away? When friends disregard and demean your faith, will you continue to hold onto your passion for Christ? I really do hope so. I have found that those who fall away from the faith often end up miserable. There is a hole in their heart where God used to be. They are not happy or content with what they have. They don’t have a deep and lasting joy in life. Many grow depressed and irritable. Many turn to drugs and alcohol. Many self-destruct. I don’t want you to live that life.
When it seems like the whole world is backsliding, just remember that you are still close to God. You are precious to God. Your faith is a beautiful thing. People need to see your passion and love of Jesus. They need to learn the truth about God and the lies of this world. My prayer is that you remain honest to God. I hope you never lose that fire of passion in your soul. I want you to look forward to that day when you see our Lord in heaven and He will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Do you sense God reaching out for you even now, even in this moment?
April 15
“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” (2 Timothy 3:5, NLT)
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Paul listed a number of things that will be signs of faithlessness. He told Timothy that these signs will increase in the last days, producing a great amount of “stress” (2 Timothy 3:1). He mentioned in the third chapter of 2 Timothy that people will become “lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, disobedient to their parents, unholy, inhuman, haters of good, lovers of pleasure”, etc. Then, Paul wrote one final thing about those who reject God. It is found in the verse for today: “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly…” (2 Timothy 3:5). In essence, Paul was warning Timothy that these fallen people may outwardly act in religious ways, but they do not do it for God. They will not even have a real relationship with God.
Several versions of the Bible describe these false believers as “having the form of religion but denying the power of it” (RSV). The ESV version of the Bible explains these fallen as “having the appearance of godliness but denying its power”. All taken, these versions of the Bible all describe people who don’t know God but act self-righteous. They don’t respect God but respect money and power and selfish ways of living. I find it remarkably interesting that the more these people reject God, the more that “stress” becomes a concern. Did you ever notice this connection between people who reject faith and living in stress?
In a January of 2011 article on an American Psychiatric Association study, R.A. Clay reported the findings from a “Stress Survey in America”. For the author, the results revealed that stress “is becoming a public health crisis”. He found that 49% of the people surveyed had fears about work. 86% of children interviewed felt their parents had stress that affected them. The authors found a significant connection between increased stress in children and weight gain. More than 60% of adults worried constantly about issues with the family, money, work, and the economy. Since then, things have only gotten worse with several huge upheavals appearing in the world including: the Coronavirus Pandemic, problems with gender issues, increased inner-city violence, rioting and looting in the major cities, and much more.
I don’t want to focus this meditation on the stress that is increasing in the world. Though I see this as a sign of the moral decay in America and the world, I want to focus this meditation on the verse above. This scripture notes that a common theme of faithfulness that caused stress were people who “acted religious” or who had “a form of religion” but denied its power. In essence, they acted self-righteous but did not show respect for God. How can you act religious or righteous at all without God? Oh, it is possible. Did you know that atheists sometimes gather for “religious” type services in which they praise humanity and human achievement? Did you know that at some student gatherings on college campuses, they gather in the chapel to listen to radical speakers who preach atheism and racial justice and expound on social issues of the day? I find it interesting that in a place set aside for religious gatherings (a chapel), they worship social justice issues. Instead of saying “Amen”, you might hear them yell other chants. Instead of hearing a sermon on the Bible, you will hear them preaching about the latest social media driven fads. If an alien came from another planet, that alien might assume that those gathered in the chapel were worshipping humanity in a godlike fashion. It is a form of self-deification.
Edward Gibbon wrote the amazing historical book, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. In that book, he found five main causes to the decline of the Romans:
1. The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society.
2. Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace.
3. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.
4. The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people.
5. The decay of religion-faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people. (from Bible.org)
The last cause of the fall of the Roman Empire intrigues me because I see it happening among Christians today. It relates directly to Paul’s description of the fallen human beings in the scripture for today. It describes the Romans’ faith as one of “decay” in which faith morphs into “mere form”. Faith had no real meaning for the Romans by the end of their empire. Their faith had lost its passion and viability and vitality. It meant little to nothing. Is the same thing not happening in America today?
It is no surprise to me that stress has increased greatly in America, even in the whole world. As people set aside faith for worldly pursuits, problems increase. Stress multiplies. A relationship with God becomes passé. Worship becomes ritual. The Bible is treated as “just another book”. Jesus is treated as “just another Jew from the first century”. Schools won’t talk about faith issues. Parents don’t want to bring up their children to experience a faithful life. The 10 commandments become as Ted Turner insisted, “10 voluntary initiatives”. Others have called the 10 commandments the “10 Suggestions”. Do you see how religion has become for many a “mere form” with little impact?
If your faith ever devolves into “mere form”, I fear for you. Stress will inevitably overtake you. Worldly issues will dominate your life. Fears will begin to creep in. As faith in God slips away, you will no longer be protected by God and His angels. The peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) will elude you. Life will become a series of events with little eternal meaning. Human powers, no longer respecting God, will seek to control and dominate one another and you. Wars and human suffering will grow exponentially. You will suffer in their wake. The Roman Empire fell in part because faith in God left the heart of the people. I hope America does not share the same fate. I hope you do not become just one more of those who hold the “mere form” of a belief in God. Ever.
Several versions of the Bible describe these false believers as “having the form of religion but denying the power of it” (RSV). The ESV version of the Bible explains these fallen as “having the appearance of godliness but denying its power”. All taken, these versions of the Bible all describe people who don’t know God but act self-righteous. They don’t respect God but respect money and power and selfish ways of living. I find it remarkably interesting that the more these people reject God, the more that “stress” becomes a concern. Did you ever notice this connection between people who reject faith and living in stress?
In a January of 2011 article on an American Psychiatric Association study, R.A. Clay reported the findings from a “Stress Survey in America”. For the author, the results revealed that stress “is becoming a public health crisis”. He found that 49% of the people surveyed had fears about work. 86% of children interviewed felt their parents had stress that affected them. The authors found a significant connection between increased stress in children and weight gain. More than 60% of adults worried constantly about issues with the family, money, work, and the economy. Since then, things have only gotten worse with several huge upheavals appearing in the world including: the Coronavirus Pandemic, problems with gender issues, increased inner-city violence, rioting and looting in the major cities, and much more.
I don’t want to focus this meditation on the stress that is increasing in the world. Though I see this as a sign of the moral decay in America and the world, I want to focus this meditation on the verse above. This scripture notes that a common theme of faithfulness that caused stress were people who “acted religious” or who had “a form of religion” but denied its power. In essence, they acted self-righteous but did not show respect for God. How can you act religious or righteous at all without God? Oh, it is possible. Did you know that atheists sometimes gather for “religious” type services in which they praise humanity and human achievement? Did you know that at some student gatherings on college campuses, they gather in the chapel to listen to radical speakers who preach atheism and racial justice and expound on social issues of the day? I find it interesting that in a place set aside for religious gatherings (a chapel), they worship social justice issues. Instead of saying “Amen”, you might hear them yell other chants. Instead of hearing a sermon on the Bible, you will hear them preaching about the latest social media driven fads. If an alien came from another planet, that alien might assume that those gathered in the chapel were worshipping humanity in a godlike fashion. It is a form of self-deification.
Edward Gibbon wrote the amazing historical book, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. In that book, he found five main causes to the decline of the Romans:
1. The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society.
2. Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace.
3. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.
4. The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people.
5. The decay of religion-faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people. (from Bible.org)
The last cause of the fall of the Roman Empire intrigues me because I see it happening among Christians today. It relates directly to Paul’s description of the fallen human beings in the scripture for today. It describes the Romans’ faith as one of “decay” in which faith morphs into “mere form”. Faith had no real meaning for the Romans by the end of their empire. Their faith had lost its passion and viability and vitality. It meant little to nothing. Is the same thing not happening in America today?
It is no surprise to me that stress has increased greatly in America, even in the whole world. As people set aside faith for worldly pursuits, problems increase. Stress multiplies. A relationship with God becomes passé. Worship becomes ritual. The Bible is treated as “just another book”. Jesus is treated as “just another Jew from the first century”. Schools won’t talk about faith issues. Parents don’t want to bring up their children to experience a faithful life. The 10 commandments become as Ted Turner insisted, “10 voluntary initiatives”. Others have called the 10 commandments the “10 Suggestions”. Do you see how religion has become for many a “mere form” with little impact?
If your faith ever devolves into “mere form”, I fear for you. Stress will inevitably overtake you. Worldly issues will dominate your life. Fears will begin to creep in. As faith in God slips away, you will no longer be protected by God and His angels. The peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) will elude you. Life will become a series of events with little eternal meaning. Human powers, no longer respecting God, will seek to control and dominate one another and you. Wars and human suffering will grow exponentially. You will suffer in their wake. The Roman Empire fell in part because faith in God left the heart of the people. I hope America does not share the same fate. I hope you do not become just one more of those who hold the “mere form” of a belief in God. Ever.
April 17
“When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.” (Matthew 9:23–25, NRSV)
Noise affects human behavior. In one experiment carried out by psychologists, a student leaving a library intentionally dropped an armload of books. In 50% of the cases, a passerby stopped to help the student pick up the books. Then the experimenters brought out a lawn mower without a muffler and started it near where a student would again intentionally drop the books. This time, only about 10% of the people who passed stopped to help. It was clear that behavior changed because of the earsplitting sound of the nearby lawn mower.
In experiments in Los Angeles, researchers found that children who lived in neighborhoods near the airport could not complete certain tasks undertaken when jets were landing and taking off as easily as children who lived in quiet neighborhoods. Some studies of prison conditions have shown that the high level of noise causes more complaints by prisoners than the food or other prison conditions do.
Noise and commotion do something to human beings. As shown in the studies and experiments above, noise can affect your concentration, disrupt your grasp of your surroundings, and even play havoc with your faith. When there is a bunch of commotion, the body can release stress hormones. When noise drones on, a person may become irritable or edgy. Noise and commotion can hamper our spiritual abilities as well. It can inhibit your prayers and interrupt your thoughts. It can distract your mind and deaden your spiritual awareness.
In our scripture reading for today, Jesus waited to heal a young girl until the noise-makers were removed from the scene of the healing. Jesus came to the house of a leader from the synagogue to see a child who was dying. A commotion was going on as people gathered believing the child was already dead. In those days, there were paid musicians and mourners who would come to a house when a death occurred. They would gather among the family and raise up laments in both word and song. These people would perform rituals meant to help the grieving. Upon entering the house, the scripture tells us that the mourners were making a “commotion” (Matthew 9:23). Jesus told the mourners to leave, saying, “the girl is not dead, but sleeping”. She was probably in a coma. Her shallow breathing may have mistakenly caused the mourners to believe she was dead. With her heartbeat slowed due to her barely breathing, they probably were convinced that the girl was no longer alive. As her skin turned pale or maybe even blue, they thought all the signs were there to say she was dead. Jesus knew better. He got rid of the commotion, then proceeded to heal the young girl.
For a long time, I considered this healing of this young girl as just another example of Jesus’ power over life. Because of that, I ignored the addendum to the story from Matthew 9:25. There, before Jesus healed the girl, he forced the crowd to go outside. Once peace surrounded Him, Jesus brought the girl out of her coma, healing her completely. This is the only example in the scriptures of Jesus wanting to end a commotion before a healing that I can recall.
It makes sense that Jesus wanted quiet before the healing. Spiritual strength and power are often hampered by noise and commotion. That’s why Jesus urged his followers to “go into a closet and close the door” (Matthew 6:6) when they prayed. He knew that prayer is often enhanced by quiet and solitude. In quiet peace, God’s “still small voice” is easier to hear, and God’s direction is more easily discerned.
When your life becomes chaotic and your schedule filled, it may be difficult to form a decent connection with God. Your prayer life will be affected. You may not feel at ease. You may lose your perspective. You might miss God’s cues. Commotion may stir up your emotions or occupy your thoughts until you can’t concentrate on your conversation with God. I remember may times leaving my busy office to walk around the church cemetery alone to pray. I remember how refreshed I felt after a hectic day to sit in my chair in the dark with no distractions and just let my soul catch up with my body. We are told in scripture that Jesus periodically went off to a lonely place alone to pray. Quiet time with God has healing power. Commotion and noise and busy-ness are impediments to a powerful spiritual life.
When your life gets a little hectic, when emotions are flying, when you are surrounded by noise, take the time to find a place of quiet to re-center your soul. When life is filled with clamor and racket, steel away to a quiet place to pray. I’ve known pastors who went for walks to pray. Many men have used man-caves to be their quiet place to pray. For centuries, women enjoyed their quiet time in a sewing room to settle their soul. You need a quiet place. You will need quiet time. If you want a deep connection with God or need healing, get rid of the commotion, and sidle up to the Savior for a while!
In experiments in Los Angeles, researchers found that children who lived in neighborhoods near the airport could not complete certain tasks undertaken when jets were landing and taking off as easily as children who lived in quiet neighborhoods. Some studies of prison conditions have shown that the high level of noise causes more complaints by prisoners than the food or other prison conditions do.
Noise and commotion do something to human beings. As shown in the studies and experiments above, noise can affect your concentration, disrupt your grasp of your surroundings, and even play havoc with your faith. When there is a bunch of commotion, the body can release stress hormones. When noise drones on, a person may become irritable or edgy. Noise and commotion can hamper our spiritual abilities as well. It can inhibit your prayers and interrupt your thoughts. It can distract your mind and deaden your spiritual awareness.
In our scripture reading for today, Jesus waited to heal a young girl until the noise-makers were removed from the scene of the healing. Jesus came to the house of a leader from the synagogue to see a child who was dying. A commotion was going on as people gathered believing the child was already dead. In those days, there were paid musicians and mourners who would come to a house when a death occurred. They would gather among the family and raise up laments in both word and song. These people would perform rituals meant to help the grieving. Upon entering the house, the scripture tells us that the mourners were making a “commotion” (Matthew 9:23). Jesus told the mourners to leave, saying, “the girl is not dead, but sleeping”. She was probably in a coma. Her shallow breathing may have mistakenly caused the mourners to believe she was dead. With her heartbeat slowed due to her barely breathing, they probably were convinced that the girl was no longer alive. As her skin turned pale or maybe even blue, they thought all the signs were there to say she was dead. Jesus knew better. He got rid of the commotion, then proceeded to heal the young girl.
For a long time, I considered this healing of this young girl as just another example of Jesus’ power over life. Because of that, I ignored the addendum to the story from Matthew 9:25. There, before Jesus healed the girl, he forced the crowd to go outside. Once peace surrounded Him, Jesus brought the girl out of her coma, healing her completely. This is the only example in the scriptures of Jesus wanting to end a commotion before a healing that I can recall.
It makes sense that Jesus wanted quiet before the healing. Spiritual strength and power are often hampered by noise and commotion. That’s why Jesus urged his followers to “go into a closet and close the door” (Matthew 6:6) when they prayed. He knew that prayer is often enhanced by quiet and solitude. In quiet peace, God’s “still small voice” is easier to hear, and God’s direction is more easily discerned.
When your life becomes chaotic and your schedule filled, it may be difficult to form a decent connection with God. Your prayer life will be affected. You may not feel at ease. You may lose your perspective. You might miss God’s cues. Commotion may stir up your emotions or occupy your thoughts until you can’t concentrate on your conversation with God. I remember may times leaving my busy office to walk around the church cemetery alone to pray. I remember how refreshed I felt after a hectic day to sit in my chair in the dark with no distractions and just let my soul catch up with my body. We are told in scripture that Jesus periodically went off to a lonely place alone to pray. Quiet time with God has healing power. Commotion and noise and busy-ness are impediments to a powerful spiritual life.
When your life gets a little hectic, when emotions are flying, when you are surrounded by noise, take the time to find a place of quiet to re-center your soul. When life is filled with clamor and racket, steel away to a quiet place to pray. I’ve known pastors who went for walks to pray. Many men have used man-caves to be their quiet place to pray. For centuries, women enjoyed their quiet time in a sewing room to settle their soul. You need a quiet place. You will need quiet time. If you want a deep connection with God or need healing, get rid of the commotion, and sidle up to the Savior for a while!
April 19
“Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7, NLT)
A man was once boasting to an acquaintance, “We have a whole roomful of furniture from France that goes back to Louis the 14th.”
“That’s nothing,” replied the other. “We’ve got a whole house full of furniture from Sears that goes back to Harry on the first.”
When people mention debts in church, usually it’s from the Lord’s Prayer: “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…”. This meditation is not about the “sins” type of debts. Its about abusing your financial picture. What is shocking to me is that people do not realize the damage that debts can do to mind, heart, and soul. Companies love to push debt upon consumers. They get the cash up front from the sales. In many cases, the banks love to push debt upon consumers, because they reap the benefit of interest rates long term. Beware the acquisition of debts. They suck the very life out of your heart and soul. In almost every case, debts can be minimized, and larger purchases bought through the generous use of personal savings.
“Personal debt in the U.S. is increasing at the rate of $1000 per second and consumer installment debt has mushroomed to a point where it takes approximately $1 out of every $4 that consumers earn after taxes to keep up the payments—not including the home mortgage. For over 250,000 Americans, the burden of debt is so great that he/she declares bankruptcy. There are even more serious consequences of this financial tension created by debt: 56% of all divorces are a result of financial tension in the home.” (Howard Dayton in “Homemade”, June 1986)
You would think that people would be wary of incurring large debts due to the inherent dangers. If I said to a married couple that they have a 50% chance of damaging their marriage if they did something, most people would simply avoid it. Sadly, this does not seem to apply to debts. Many couples are too eager to enter into debt. All too many begin their marriage in debt as the costs for wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions tops $33,900 on average in 2019. Why do human beings rush into debt? Why do they not “save for a rainy day”? Over 3000 years ago, the Bible even warned followers of God to avoid debts altogether.
In our scripture reading for today, the Bible delivers words of wisdom concerning debts. Our scripture in Proverbs contains two interesting tidbits: “the rich rule over the poor” and “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Taken at face value, both speak about the importance of not becoming poor, especially through your own “borrowing”. When you borrow money, the person or bank expecting a return on that investment becomes the one you owe. You now work for that person from whom you borrowed or from the bank you asked for a loan. Until that loan is repaid, you are indebted to that person or institution.
When Serena went off to college, she paid for her tuition with student loans. Then, while in school, she acquired her first credit card. Within six months, she had several thousand dollars of debt on that credit card. After graduation, she got her first job. The day before she began her job, she purchased a new car, telling herself that it was safer to use that car to get back and forth to work. For three years, Serena faithfully paid back her loans. However, in her fourth year of work, she lost her job. For almost a year, she was out of work. Because she had not saved any money, her car was repossessed. She had to take a job half a mile away and walk back and forth to work. The whole while Serena toiled away, she resented the bank for the loss of her car. She was angry at her previous place of employment for her lost job. She even voted as a Socialist because that party advocated for the abolition of student loans. Taken together, everything Serena endured during these first four years of her career was to cover her debts. Rather than buying a cheap car, she chose a new car. Rather than saving money, she had to repay her loans. Rather than choosing a cheaper college with less tuition, she took out student loans to pay for everything at a more expensive private school. Serena was in a debt spiral. Her whole world was revolving around what she owed and what she could not afford. Her own choices and the liberal use of debts controlled most of her thoughts each and every day.
The scripture is absolutely true: “the borrower is servant to the lender”. Serena owed so much money that she could barely keep her head above water financially. When you let debt control your financial picture, it affects so much of your life. It seriously affects your soul.
Did you see how negative Serena became when she was consumed by her debts? Did you see how anger overtook her when she could no longer cover the debts? Rather than see the debts as a mistake, she grew angry that everything didn’t go perfectly for her to pay all her bills with enough to spare. That is the problem with financial debts. So often, they take a terrible toll on your heart and soul. They will cause you to blame the wrong people instead of your own wrong choices. One person described large debts to me this way: “Debts are like vampires. They suck the very life right out of you.” Believe it or not, debts suck the joy out of your very soul. They may even cause you to blame God for your financial mistakes.
During their mid-twenties, John and Theresa got married. He was a construction worker, and she was a teacher. By the time they were in their late twenties, they already owned their own home with only a small mortgage. Even when their children came along, the two had more than enough money to spare. Then, the family began to go on elaborate vacations to Disney World. Later, John and Theresa bought a Time Share in Florida. Throughout their thirties, the two often went out partying. They went out to bars and night clubs. Despite having three children at home, they often went to casinos to gamble and out to eat at restaurants.
Somewhere along the line, the couple began to put more and more debt on their credit cards to pay for their “fun”. By their mid-thirties, the couple had more than three hundred thousand dollars in debt their home and cars and credit cards. That’s when the fights started. That’s when John started drinking heavily. That’s when their marriage began to suffer. By their early forties, John and Theresa divorced. Thereafter, their kids often were forced to choose between the wishes of their parents. Both parents later remarried and had blended families. That further complicated things. Now, the son won’t talk to his father. One daughter won’t speak to her mother.
John and Theresa were brought up in the church. They married at their church. However, neither attends regularly any longer. From beginning to end, debts and poor financial choices put a strain on this family to the point where everything fell apart. Even the souls of each person in the family have been seriously afflicted.
Spirit-killing debt can start with one poor financial decision. Then, it may become easier and easier to borrow money to fix problems. Soon, the debt spiral may consume and destroy. Like a sin may wreak havoc on a family, debts often do the very same thing. God never wanted it that way. God does not want you to be a servant to your lender. You are to serve God alone.
Part of your relationship with God involves the faithful use of money. Jesus noted this in several of his parables (notably the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:15ff). Why is it that Christians do not see this connection between faith and finances? Why do politicians ignore this truth? Sadly, the world has blinded many to this connection. Don’t let it blind you! Be wary of what debts do to the soul. Be careful how you spend your hard-earned money. A faith in God involves your checkbook as much as it does a hymnal.
“That’s nothing,” replied the other. “We’ve got a whole house full of furniture from Sears that goes back to Harry on the first.”
When people mention debts in church, usually it’s from the Lord’s Prayer: “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…”. This meditation is not about the “sins” type of debts. Its about abusing your financial picture. What is shocking to me is that people do not realize the damage that debts can do to mind, heart, and soul. Companies love to push debt upon consumers. They get the cash up front from the sales. In many cases, the banks love to push debt upon consumers, because they reap the benefit of interest rates long term. Beware the acquisition of debts. They suck the very life out of your heart and soul. In almost every case, debts can be minimized, and larger purchases bought through the generous use of personal savings.
“Personal debt in the U.S. is increasing at the rate of $1000 per second and consumer installment debt has mushroomed to a point where it takes approximately $1 out of every $4 that consumers earn after taxes to keep up the payments—not including the home mortgage. For over 250,000 Americans, the burden of debt is so great that he/she declares bankruptcy. There are even more serious consequences of this financial tension created by debt: 56% of all divorces are a result of financial tension in the home.” (Howard Dayton in “Homemade”, June 1986)
You would think that people would be wary of incurring large debts due to the inherent dangers. If I said to a married couple that they have a 50% chance of damaging their marriage if they did something, most people would simply avoid it. Sadly, this does not seem to apply to debts. Many couples are too eager to enter into debt. All too many begin their marriage in debt as the costs for wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions tops $33,900 on average in 2019. Why do human beings rush into debt? Why do they not “save for a rainy day”? Over 3000 years ago, the Bible even warned followers of God to avoid debts altogether.
In our scripture reading for today, the Bible delivers words of wisdom concerning debts. Our scripture in Proverbs contains two interesting tidbits: “the rich rule over the poor” and “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Taken at face value, both speak about the importance of not becoming poor, especially through your own “borrowing”. When you borrow money, the person or bank expecting a return on that investment becomes the one you owe. You now work for that person from whom you borrowed or from the bank you asked for a loan. Until that loan is repaid, you are indebted to that person or institution.
When Serena went off to college, she paid for her tuition with student loans. Then, while in school, she acquired her first credit card. Within six months, she had several thousand dollars of debt on that credit card. After graduation, she got her first job. The day before she began her job, she purchased a new car, telling herself that it was safer to use that car to get back and forth to work. For three years, Serena faithfully paid back her loans. However, in her fourth year of work, she lost her job. For almost a year, she was out of work. Because she had not saved any money, her car was repossessed. She had to take a job half a mile away and walk back and forth to work. The whole while Serena toiled away, she resented the bank for the loss of her car. She was angry at her previous place of employment for her lost job. She even voted as a Socialist because that party advocated for the abolition of student loans. Taken together, everything Serena endured during these first four years of her career was to cover her debts. Rather than buying a cheap car, she chose a new car. Rather than saving money, she had to repay her loans. Rather than choosing a cheaper college with less tuition, she took out student loans to pay for everything at a more expensive private school. Serena was in a debt spiral. Her whole world was revolving around what she owed and what she could not afford. Her own choices and the liberal use of debts controlled most of her thoughts each and every day.
The scripture is absolutely true: “the borrower is servant to the lender”. Serena owed so much money that she could barely keep her head above water financially. When you let debt control your financial picture, it affects so much of your life. It seriously affects your soul.
Did you see how negative Serena became when she was consumed by her debts? Did you see how anger overtook her when she could no longer cover the debts? Rather than see the debts as a mistake, she grew angry that everything didn’t go perfectly for her to pay all her bills with enough to spare. That is the problem with financial debts. So often, they take a terrible toll on your heart and soul. They will cause you to blame the wrong people instead of your own wrong choices. One person described large debts to me this way: “Debts are like vampires. They suck the very life right out of you.” Believe it or not, debts suck the joy out of your very soul. They may even cause you to blame God for your financial mistakes.
During their mid-twenties, John and Theresa got married. He was a construction worker, and she was a teacher. By the time they were in their late twenties, they already owned their own home with only a small mortgage. Even when their children came along, the two had more than enough money to spare. Then, the family began to go on elaborate vacations to Disney World. Later, John and Theresa bought a Time Share in Florida. Throughout their thirties, the two often went out partying. They went out to bars and night clubs. Despite having three children at home, they often went to casinos to gamble and out to eat at restaurants.
Somewhere along the line, the couple began to put more and more debt on their credit cards to pay for their “fun”. By their mid-thirties, the couple had more than three hundred thousand dollars in debt their home and cars and credit cards. That’s when the fights started. That’s when John started drinking heavily. That’s when their marriage began to suffer. By their early forties, John and Theresa divorced. Thereafter, their kids often were forced to choose between the wishes of their parents. Both parents later remarried and had blended families. That further complicated things. Now, the son won’t talk to his father. One daughter won’t speak to her mother.
John and Theresa were brought up in the church. They married at their church. However, neither attends regularly any longer. From beginning to end, debts and poor financial choices put a strain on this family to the point where everything fell apart. Even the souls of each person in the family have been seriously afflicted.
Spirit-killing debt can start with one poor financial decision. Then, it may become easier and easier to borrow money to fix problems. Soon, the debt spiral may consume and destroy. Like a sin may wreak havoc on a family, debts often do the very same thing. God never wanted it that way. God does not want you to be a servant to your lender. You are to serve God alone.
Part of your relationship with God involves the faithful use of money. Jesus noted this in several of his parables (notably the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:15ff). Why is it that Christians do not see this connection between faith and finances? Why do politicians ignore this truth? Sadly, the world has blinded many to this connection. Don’t let it blind you! Be wary of what debts do to the soul. Be careful how you spend your hard-earned money. A faith in God involves your checkbook as much as it does a hymnal.
April 21
“For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Corinthians 8:5–6, ESV)
I find it interesting that many people in the world today think that people either worship no god or one God. Despite the fact that the two of the three of the world’s largest religions are monotheistic (they worship one God, such as in Islam and Christianity), many people worship multiple gods in the world today. What may surprise you is that many Christians even dabble with the worship of multiple gods. Even as the pages of the Old Testament were being recorded, ancient Israel dealt with the problem of its people worshipping multiple gods.
“In the Ancient Near East, the nation of Israel was faced with the problem of the gods of other nations creeping into the theology of Judaism and corrupting the true revelation of God. Baal was the god of rain and exercised a powerful influence over the religion of many pagan cultures and even into the Jewish community. This is so because rain was essential to survival. Rain meant the crops would grow, the animals would have water, and the people would be able to eat. If there was no rain, death prevailed. Such visible realities often carried the spiritual character of the nation of Israel into spiritual adultery, that is, worshipping other gods. The Bible does recognize the existence of other gods, but only as false gods (1 Cor. 8:5; Gal. 4:8) and clearly teaches that there is only one true God (Is. 43:10; 44:6, 8; 45:5, 18, 21, 22; 46:9).” (Bible.org)
A ”god” is someone or something that you worship or attribute ultimate worth to. Some worship gods who have supreme authority over creation such as Hindus, Sikhs, Bahai, Christians, Jews, and Moslems. Some worship animals as the ancient Canaanites worshipped the golden calf. There are people who worship the moon and stars and nature. Wiccan witches recognize gods and goddesses such as Diana the Moon Goddess and the horned Pan. Some Eastern and African religions worship the dead or ancestors. Some Hindu texts recognize thirty-three gods, while others have estimated that Hindus have millions of major and minor gods of all sorts. Beside these recognized deities, many people worship “things”. They have made these “things” into gods by attributing ultimate worth to them such as totem poles and idols and tokens and religious items. You can also worship power or money or control or sex or even an ideology like feminism or socialism. You can even worship other people like idols or celebrities or political figures. In North Korea, there are many portraits of the imperial leader that are revered and celebrated. When you give anything ultimate authority over your life or choices, you worship it.
The scripture for today recognizes that there are many “gods” worshipped by people (1 Corinthians 8:5). However, it also contains a warning that there is ONLY one GOD who has ultimate authority. Our God created “all things”. HE is the one for whom “we exist”. As a further clarification, 1 Corinthians 8:6 lists Jesus Christ as the “one Lord, through whom all things are made and through whom we exist”. Though the scripture is clear that many small-g, “gods”, exist in the minds of people, only ONE GOD (big G) is the author of the universe and is the one who has ultimate authority over your life. The others are false gods or lesser entities compared to our God (Jeremiah 14:22, Psalm 40:4).
The very first commandment of the famous Ten Commandments makes clear that you are to worship only one deity. It commands that “you shall have no other gods before me (Yahweh)” (Exodus 20). So, why would Christians worship other gods? Why would you give things authority over you if God is the ultimate authority? Sadly, for many people, there is a natural tendency to “deify the ordinary”. What does it mean to deify the ordinary? It means that they are constantly tempted to give ordinary things and people god-like qualities. I’ve met Roman Catholics who believed in the powers of their crucifixes and rosaries, giving them god-like powers to heal and answer prayers. I’ve witnessed athletes who believed their success was dependent on a “lucky shirt” or special token. There are protestants who believe that praying in a certain church or certain pew or with a certain pastor holds some kind of magical power to make miracles happen. All these people deify places, things, or earthly tokens. Instead, they should worship the God who has the ultimate authority over the earth.
Be careful you don’t “deify the ordinary”. Avoid that natural tendency to give things and people and groups any ultimate authority in your life. God wants to be the one you respect most, rely on, lean on, and call upon. God wants you to show ultimate respect to HIS authority. When you deify the ordinary, it will always and forever be an affront to God. There is NOTHING from this earth that should be worshipped. God in Jesus has all authority (1 Corinthians 15:24). Today, see if you can find some ways to show God that HE is the one you respect above all others, HE is the voice with ultimate authority, HE is the one deserving your ultimate promises and affection.
“In the Ancient Near East, the nation of Israel was faced with the problem of the gods of other nations creeping into the theology of Judaism and corrupting the true revelation of God. Baal was the god of rain and exercised a powerful influence over the religion of many pagan cultures and even into the Jewish community. This is so because rain was essential to survival. Rain meant the crops would grow, the animals would have water, and the people would be able to eat. If there was no rain, death prevailed. Such visible realities often carried the spiritual character of the nation of Israel into spiritual adultery, that is, worshipping other gods. The Bible does recognize the existence of other gods, but only as false gods (1 Cor. 8:5; Gal. 4:8) and clearly teaches that there is only one true God (Is. 43:10; 44:6, 8; 45:5, 18, 21, 22; 46:9).” (Bible.org)
A ”god” is someone or something that you worship or attribute ultimate worth to. Some worship gods who have supreme authority over creation such as Hindus, Sikhs, Bahai, Christians, Jews, and Moslems. Some worship animals as the ancient Canaanites worshipped the golden calf. There are people who worship the moon and stars and nature. Wiccan witches recognize gods and goddesses such as Diana the Moon Goddess and the horned Pan. Some Eastern and African religions worship the dead or ancestors. Some Hindu texts recognize thirty-three gods, while others have estimated that Hindus have millions of major and minor gods of all sorts. Beside these recognized deities, many people worship “things”. They have made these “things” into gods by attributing ultimate worth to them such as totem poles and idols and tokens and religious items. You can also worship power or money or control or sex or even an ideology like feminism or socialism. You can even worship other people like idols or celebrities or political figures. In North Korea, there are many portraits of the imperial leader that are revered and celebrated. When you give anything ultimate authority over your life or choices, you worship it.
The scripture for today recognizes that there are many “gods” worshipped by people (1 Corinthians 8:5). However, it also contains a warning that there is ONLY one GOD who has ultimate authority. Our God created “all things”. HE is the one for whom “we exist”. As a further clarification, 1 Corinthians 8:6 lists Jesus Christ as the “one Lord, through whom all things are made and through whom we exist”. Though the scripture is clear that many small-g, “gods”, exist in the minds of people, only ONE GOD (big G) is the author of the universe and is the one who has ultimate authority over your life. The others are false gods or lesser entities compared to our God (Jeremiah 14:22, Psalm 40:4).
The very first commandment of the famous Ten Commandments makes clear that you are to worship only one deity. It commands that “you shall have no other gods before me (Yahweh)” (Exodus 20). So, why would Christians worship other gods? Why would you give things authority over you if God is the ultimate authority? Sadly, for many people, there is a natural tendency to “deify the ordinary”. What does it mean to deify the ordinary? It means that they are constantly tempted to give ordinary things and people god-like qualities. I’ve met Roman Catholics who believed in the powers of their crucifixes and rosaries, giving them god-like powers to heal and answer prayers. I’ve witnessed athletes who believed their success was dependent on a “lucky shirt” or special token. There are protestants who believe that praying in a certain church or certain pew or with a certain pastor holds some kind of magical power to make miracles happen. All these people deify places, things, or earthly tokens. Instead, they should worship the God who has the ultimate authority over the earth.
Be careful you don’t “deify the ordinary”. Avoid that natural tendency to give things and people and groups any ultimate authority in your life. God wants to be the one you respect most, rely on, lean on, and call upon. God wants you to show ultimate respect to HIS authority. When you deify the ordinary, it will always and forever be an affront to God. There is NOTHING from this earth that should be worshipped. God in Jesus has all authority (1 Corinthians 15:24). Today, see if you can find some ways to show God that HE is the one you respect above all others, HE is the voice with ultimate authority, HE is the one deserving your ultimate promises and affection.
April 23
“And all the crowd sought to touch him [Jesus], for power came out from him and healed them all.”
(Luke 6:19, ESV)
(Luke 6:19, ESV)
Touch is an important part of life. After coming home from the hospital following a dangerous surgery, the husband walked into his den and sat on his favorite chair. Within seconds, his wife came and knelt before him and laid her head upon his lap and put her arms around his body. She wanted to lay in his arms and cuddle, but because of the surgery, this was the best she could do. She desired greatly to touch her husband, to hold him, to cherish him. She almost lost him in that surgery.
Seeing his wife’s gentle touch and knowing that tears were probably in her eyes by now, the husband gently placed his hands on her back and just rubbed. He wanted to caress her pain away. He wanted to return her love.
Touch is something we all need. Science tells us that a loving touch can bring healing. Holding the hand of a friend while you pray for her can bring so much calm to her heart. A pat on the back after a job well done can be very affirming. A hug after a difficult day can soothe the beaten soul. The caress of a loving mother brings life to a tiny baby.
“In the thirteenth century, King Frederick II conducted an experiment with fifty infants to determine what language they would speak if never permitted to hear the spoken word. So he assigned foster mothers to bathe and suckle the children but forbade them to fondle pet, or talk to their charges. The experiment failed because all fifty infants died. We learned hundreds of years later that babies who aren’t touched and cuddled often fail to thrive.
The world has recently been exposed to yet another example of neglected and abused children. Mary Carlson, a researcher from Harvard Medical School, observed an overcrowded Romanian orphanage, where row upon row of babies lay neglected in their cribs. The staff was hopelessly overworked, so the babies were rarely touched even at mealtime. What struck Carlson was the silence in the nursery. There was no crying, no babbling, not even a whimper. Upon physical examinations given at age two, Carlson found that the babies had unusually high amounts of a stress hormone in the blood called cortisol, which is known to damage the brain. Growth was stunted, and the children acted half their age.
It isn’t sufficient to feed, clothe, and care for the physical needs of children. It is now clear that touching and nurturance are critical to their survival.” (Dr. James Dobson, Coming Home, pp. 194-195).
Touching and nurturing are critical to all human survival. Children need human touch. Adults crave a loving touch. Whereas a hateful slap may ruin a relationship, a loving touch can brighten a day. Your loving touches can bring a world of healing to those around you.
In the scripture reading from Luke 6:19, Jesus is sought out. The people not only wanted to hear Jesus deliver the gospel, they longed for His touch. Luke expressed the thoughts of many in the crowds with these words: “the whole crowd sought to touch [Jesus], for power came out from him and healed them all”. Jesus’ touch brought healing. The simple act of his placing his hands on someone often unleashed life-giving healing and strength. When Jesus touched a blind man’s eyes, the man could see again (Matthew 9:29). When He touched a man with leprosy, the man was healed (Mark 1:41). When a woman who was sick for twelve years dared touch Jesus in a crowd, she was instantly healed (Luke 8:46). Touching Jesus brought wholeness to body and soul.
Throughout scripture, leaders used touch to bring healing and to exchange God’s Spirit. Jesus often touched those he healed. The Apostles laid their hands upon those they wanted to receive the Holy Spirit. Touch was an important aspect in both Old and New Testament eras. In fact, touch was so important, Jews and Christians were warned NOT to touch evil things or people. Touch can not only convey love and God’s Spirit, but it may also transfer evil. Touch can engender good as well as evil.
Today, consider what your touch does to others. In these days of the Coronavirus, people are told not to touch, not to hold hands, not to shake hands. Sadly, this has led some Christians to stop their loving touches. I want you to realize that there is still a place for loving human touch. When God prompts you, don’t forget to reach out to others. When appropriate before the Lord, a holy touch can bring healing and power to another. Your spiritual touches can transfer God’s Spirit and be a balm to souls. Your gracious touches can bring love and mercy and forgiveness to a very important moment.
Who might need your loving embrace today? Is there someone who needs to hold your hand today? Might some soul nearby need the touch of God’s Spirit flowing through you? Don’t neglect to reach out when God desires it. A holy touch can bring a bit of heaven to a special moment.
Seeing his wife’s gentle touch and knowing that tears were probably in her eyes by now, the husband gently placed his hands on her back and just rubbed. He wanted to caress her pain away. He wanted to return her love.
Touch is something we all need. Science tells us that a loving touch can bring healing. Holding the hand of a friend while you pray for her can bring so much calm to her heart. A pat on the back after a job well done can be very affirming. A hug after a difficult day can soothe the beaten soul. The caress of a loving mother brings life to a tiny baby.
“In the thirteenth century, King Frederick II conducted an experiment with fifty infants to determine what language they would speak if never permitted to hear the spoken word. So he assigned foster mothers to bathe and suckle the children but forbade them to fondle pet, or talk to their charges. The experiment failed because all fifty infants died. We learned hundreds of years later that babies who aren’t touched and cuddled often fail to thrive.
The world has recently been exposed to yet another example of neglected and abused children. Mary Carlson, a researcher from Harvard Medical School, observed an overcrowded Romanian orphanage, where row upon row of babies lay neglected in their cribs. The staff was hopelessly overworked, so the babies were rarely touched even at mealtime. What struck Carlson was the silence in the nursery. There was no crying, no babbling, not even a whimper. Upon physical examinations given at age two, Carlson found that the babies had unusually high amounts of a stress hormone in the blood called cortisol, which is known to damage the brain. Growth was stunted, and the children acted half their age.
It isn’t sufficient to feed, clothe, and care for the physical needs of children. It is now clear that touching and nurturance are critical to their survival.” (Dr. James Dobson, Coming Home, pp. 194-195).
Touching and nurturing are critical to all human survival. Children need human touch. Adults crave a loving touch. Whereas a hateful slap may ruin a relationship, a loving touch can brighten a day. Your loving touches can bring a world of healing to those around you.
In the scripture reading from Luke 6:19, Jesus is sought out. The people not only wanted to hear Jesus deliver the gospel, they longed for His touch. Luke expressed the thoughts of many in the crowds with these words: “the whole crowd sought to touch [Jesus], for power came out from him and healed them all”. Jesus’ touch brought healing. The simple act of his placing his hands on someone often unleashed life-giving healing and strength. When Jesus touched a blind man’s eyes, the man could see again (Matthew 9:29). When He touched a man with leprosy, the man was healed (Mark 1:41). When a woman who was sick for twelve years dared touch Jesus in a crowd, she was instantly healed (Luke 8:46). Touching Jesus brought wholeness to body and soul.
Throughout scripture, leaders used touch to bring healing and to exchange God’s Spirit. Jesus often touched those he healed. The Apostles laid their hands upon those they wanted to receive the Holy Spirit. Touch was an important aspect in both Old and New Testament eras. In fact, touch was so important, Jews and Christians were warned NOT to touch evil things or people. Touch can not only convey love and God’s Spirit, but it may also transfer evil. Touch can engender good as well as evil.
Today, consider what your touch does to others. In these days of the Coronavirus, people are told not to touch, not to hold hands, not to shake hands. Sadly, this has led some Christians to stop their loving touches. I want you to realize that there is still a place for loving human touch. When God prompts you, don’t forget to reach out to others. When appropriate before the Lord, a holy touch can bring healing and power to another. Your spiritual touches can transfer God’s Spirit and be a balm to souls. Your gracious touches can bring love and mercy and forgiveness to a very important moment.
Who might need your loving embrace today? Is there someone who needs to hold your hand today? Might some soul nearby need the touch of God’s Spirit flowing through you? Don’t neglect to reach out when God desires it. A holy touch can bring a bit of heaven to a special moment.
April 25
“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27, NLT)
A retired couple decided that they should walk two miles a day to stay in shape. They chose to walk a mile out on a lonely country road so they would have no choice but to walk back. At the one-mile mark on their first venture, the man asked his wife, “Do you think you can make it back all right, or are you too tired?”
“Oh, no,” she said. “I’m not tired. I can make it fine.”
“Good,” he replied. “I’ll wait here. You go back, get the car and come get me.”
(Joyce Redding in Reader’s Digest, February 1980)
The human body is a wonderful thing, a miraculous creation of God. It can sustain a person through periods of drought, it can adapt to its surroundings, it can fight off illness and disease, and it is highly versatile and suitable for a great variety of work. When you were born, God gave you one body. That body has been with you until this day. It was meant to last you a lifetime. If you treat it well, it will bless you. If you treat it poorly, your health will deteriorate. Genetics will also play a factor, but how well you regulate your health is crucial to the body’s function.
Science regularly proves a connection between good eating, good exercise, and good overall health. Science has demonstrated that there is a connection between a healthy body and a healthy mind. In a document from “American Health” quoted in the November 1985 magazine “Homemade”, there was a clear finding between exercise and the mind. The article reported: “Regular exercise toughens the mind as well as the body. After working out three times a week for six months, one group was found to be 20% fitter. Bonus: they also scored 70% better in a test of complex decision making.” So, the connection between good health and a good mind is clear. How about the connection between good health and a healthy soul?
When writing to the Corinthian church, Paul wrote: “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27, NLT). Paul believed that discipline and training of the body reflected directly on the condition of the soul. Taken in context, Paul believed that discipline of the body related to the health of one’s soul. If your soul is healthy, you will desire to take care of your body and discipline your body as a sign of your respect for God. In several places in the New Testament, Paul mentioned athletes as examples for the spiritually astute. He compared the discipline of the athlete over his or her body to the discipline of the Christian in the spiritual life (i.e., 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Corinthians 4:7). Paul called your body a “temple”, a holy place for God to live. Would you let your “temple”, a gift from God, go to ruin? Would you let it flounder? Would you waste its efficacy or purposefully let it rot away?
I have met good Christians who refused to take care of their body and then ended up unable to do mission work, incapable of attending worship, or suffering for years. All too often, I have heard among these people that they wished they could go back and do some things over. Many neglected their health and shunned good exercise. It came back to bite them later.
Carl was a well-respect and beloved pastor. He would often greet everyone with a smile and a bright “Hello!” His sermons were engaging and informative. When things went bad in a person’s life, Carl was the solid rock many counted on for strength. But Carl had a skewed view of his body. If someone called, day or night, Carl immediately responded, even if he was sick or hurting. When Carl was at a birthday party for his wife, he left to go visit a member in the emergency room of the local hospital. Time and time again, Carl would ignore his own and his family’s needs in order to help others. The longer he was in ministry, the worse it got. Carl would get so busy at church that he would hurriedly eat fast food in lieu of a meal. He would go for weeks never taking a walk. He spent so many nights at work that at times he couldn’t sleep well. He rarely took a real day off.
Fifteen years after Carl began his ministry, his doctor said, “Carl, you are fifty pounds overweight, you don’t exercise, you don’t eat right, and you don’t sleep well. I’m worried.” Later Carl’s wife implored him to go for walks with her each evening. He complained that he didn’t have time. Not long after, Carl had his first heart attack. Then, after recovering, Carl went back to his old ways. He did not follow the physical therapy and did not eat the recommended foods. The second heart attack three years later took Carl’s life. Now who is hearing him preach and being cared for? Nobody. Who now is spiritually caring for his family? Not Carl.
If you neglect your exercise and diet, it will come back to bite you. It will affect your spiritual life. If you allow your body to get diseased due to your own poor habits, your soul will suffer as well. There is a connection between body, mind, and soul. If you ignore any of the three, it will influence the others.
The scripture for today confirms again that the Apostle Paul believed in the spiritual worth of a healthy lifestyle. Do you see it as well? How well do you take care of the beautiful body God has given you? We know the worth of your soul, but your body is an important caretaker of that soul until the day it goes to heaven. So, is there something your body needs to function more effectively? Would you say you have disciplined and nurtured body as well as soul?
“Oh, no,” she said. “I’m not tired. I can make it fine.”
“Good,” he replied. “I’ll wait here. You go back, get the car and come get me.”
(Joyce Redding in Reader’s Digest, February 1980)
The human body is a wonderful thing, a miraculous creation of God. It can sustain a person through periods of drought, it can adapt to its surroundings, it can fight off illness and disease, and it is highly versatile and suitable for a great variety of work. When you were born, God gave you one body. That body has been with you until this day. It was meant to last you a lifetime. If you treat it well, it will bless you. If you treat it poorly, your health will deteriorate. Genetics will also play a factor, but how well you regulate your health is crucial to the body’s function.
Science regularly proves a connection between good eating, good exercise, and good overall health. Science has demonstrated that there is a connection between a healthy body and a healthy mind. In a document from “American Health” quoted in the November 1985 magazine “Homemade”, there was a clear finding between exercise and the mind. The article reported: “Regular exercise toughens the mind as well as the body. After working out three times a week for six months, one group was found to be 20% fitter. Bonus: they also scored 70% better in a test of complex decision making.” So, the connection between good health and a good mind is clear. How about the connection between good health and a healthy soul?
When writing to the Corinthian church, Paul wrote: “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27, NLT). Paul believed that discipline and training of the body reflected directly on the condition of the soul. Taken in context, Paul believed that discipline of the body related to the health of one’s soul. If your soul is healthy, you will desire to take care of your body and discipline your body as a sign of your respect for God. In several places in the New Testament, Paul mentioned athletes as examples for the spiritually astute. He compared the discipline of the athlete over his or her body to the discipline of the Christian in the spiritual life (i.e., 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Corinthians 4:7). Paul called your body a “temple”, a holy place for God to live. Would you let your “temple”, a gift from God, go to ruin? Would you let it flounder? Would you waste its efficacy or purposefully let it rot away?
I have met good Christians who refused to take care of their body and then ended up unable to do mission work, incapable of attending worship, or suffering for years. All too often, I have heard among these people that they wished they could go back and do some things over. Many neglected their health and shunned good exercise. It came back to bite them later.
Carl was a well-respect and beloved pastor. He would often greet everyone with a smile and a bright “Hello!” His sermons were engaging and informative. When things went bad in a person’s life, Carl was the solid rock many counted on for strength. But Carl had a skewed view of his body. If someone called, day or night, Carl immediately responded, even if he was sick or hurting. When Carl was at a birthday party for his wife, he left to go visit a member in the emergency room of the local hospital. Time and time again, Carl would ignore his own and his family’s needs in order to help others. The longer he was in ministry, the worse it got. Carl would get so busy at church that he would hurriedly eat fast food in lieu of a meal. He would go for weeks never taking a walk. He spent so many nights at work that at times he couldn’t sleep well. He rarely took a real day off.
Fifteen years after Carl began his ministry, his doctor said, “Carl, you are fifty pounds overweight, you don’t exercise, you don’t eat right, and you don’t sleep well. I’m worried.” Later Carl’s wife implored him to go for walks with her each evening. He complained that he didn’t have time. Not long after, Carl had his first heart attack. Then, after recovering, Carl went back to his old ways. He did not follow the physical therapy and did not eat the recommended foods. The second heart attack three years later took Carl’s life. Now who is hearing him preach and being cared for? Nobody. Who now is spiritually caring for his family? Not Carl.
If you neglect your exercise and diet, it will come back to bite you. It will affect your spiritual life. If you allow your body to get diseased due to your own poor habits, your soul will suffer as well. There is a connection between body, mind, and soul. If you ignore any of the three, it will influence the others.
The scripture for today confirms again that the Apostle Paul believed in the spiritual worth of a healthy lifestyle. Do you see it as well? How well do you take care of the beautiful body God has given you? We know the worth of your soul, but your body is an important caretaker of that soul until the day it goes to heaven. So, is there something your body needs to function more effectively? Would you say you have disciplined and nurtured body as well as soul?
April 27
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18, ESV)
I knelt down before a group of children during morning worship. It was the “Children’s Moment” in the service, when I would invite any children to come up and have a chat with me. In the Children’s Moment, I would talk to the children on their level about godly things such as forgiveness, grace, love, Easter, Christmas, Jesus, miracles, and dozens of other topics. Well, that morning, I asked the children where God was right at this moment. One little girl said, “He’s far, far away.” I asked her why God was so far away. She responded that He was in Heaven and that place was far away from earth. I then proceeded to talk about how God often visited with the Israelites in the wilderness, came to Abram’s tent, appeared with Daniel in the Lion’s Den, and more. I also talked about how Jesus came to earth as a way for God to be close to us. In the end, I told the children that God often comes close to us, that he sends angels to protect us, and that it is possible for him to be in a room while we pray. One child stopped me later to say, “I am going to clean my room today, in case God comes to visit!”
It is not just children who are surprised that God can be nearby. Adults often have a difficult time conceptualizing God coming to visit any one of us. Though Christianity teaches that God is omnipresent, i.e., present everywhere, people just cannot comprehend this kind of power. They often view God as present here, then somewhere else, then moving to another place, but often absent from the normal person. However, the meaning of omnipresence is that God can be in many places or even everywhere at once. God can be near to you in many moments of your life. God may be with you right now. Sometimes, God may be present through the power of the Holy Spirit. God may send an angel to be close. God might see you from Heaven in your room praying. God might visit your dreams as He did with Joseph. God might bring you to Heaven for a moment to be in His presence as was done with John of Patmos who wrote Revelation. God is never far from the faithful.
Our scripture for today confirms the nearness of God. In Psalm 145:18, we are taught that “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him”. When your faith is true (see the second half of this verse), God is near when you need Him. God is present to watch over you. God is able to communicate with you. God knows your situation, feels your pain, recognizes your weaknesses, and offers hope. The book of Romans even says that when we are praying but lack the right words to express what we need, “the Spirit intercedes for us” (Romans 8:26). God knows not only what you see but how you think and what you believe. That’s how close God is to you.
The scripture for today is a reminder that not only is God close to you, but when you call upon the Lord, you will be heard. Your prayers are precious to God. Your needs are known to God.
When the first telegraph systems were built, which could send signals across the ocean or in the next town, people were amazed that they could relay messages so quickly over such vast distances. At one telegraph station, a visitor was shocked when a message was sent from London to New York almost instantaneously. The visitor went on and on about how great modern technology was for all humankind. The telegraph operator turned and said, “Can you imagine how great God is for all humankind? He can speak instantly to the whole universe!”
Today, take the time to celebrate the nearness of God. Talk to God when alone in your room. Whisper to God a message of your love for Him. Offer up prayers for a friend. Hold the hand of someone in need, allowing God to flow through you to that person. Seek God’s advice. Watch for signs of His presence. Trust in His Spirit. Bless the name of Jesus.
It is not just children who are surprised that God can be nearby. Adults often have a difficult time conceptualizing God coming to visit any one of us. Though Christianity teaches that God is omnipresent, i.e., present everywhere, people just cannot comprehend this kind of power. They often view God as present here, then somewhere else, then moving to another place, but often absent from the normal person. However, the meaning of omnipresence is that God can be in many places or even everywhere at once. God can be near to you in many moments of your life. God may be with you right now. Sometimes, God may be present through the power of the Holy Spirit. God may send an angel to be close. God might see you from Heaven in your room praying. God might visit your dreams as He did with Joseph. God might bring you to Heaven for a moment to be in His presence as was done with John of Patmos who wrote Revelation. God is never far from the faithful.
Our scripture for today confirms the nearness of God. In Psalm 145:18, we are taught that “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him”. When your faith is true (see the second half of this verse), God is near when you need Him. God is present to watch over you. God is able to communicate with you. God knows your situation, feels your pain, recognizes your weaknesses, and offers hope. The book of Romans even says that when we are praying but lack the right words to express what we need, “the Spirit intercedes for us” (Romans 8:26). God knows not only what you see but how you think and what you believe. That’s how close God is to you.
The scripture for today is a reminder that not only is God close to you, but when you call upon the Lord, you will be heard. Your prayers are precious to God. Your needs are known to God.
When the first telegraph systems were built, which could send signals across the ocean or in the next town, people were amazed that they could relay messages so quickly over such vast distances. At one telegraph station, a visitor was shocked when a message was sent from London to New York almost instantaneously. The visitor went on and on about how great modern technology was for all humankind. The telegraph operator turned and said, “Can you imagine how great God is for all humankind? He can speak instantly to the whole universe!”
Today, take the time to celebrate the nearness of God. Talk to God when alone in your room. Whisper to God a message of your love for Him. Offer up prayers for a friend. Hold the hand of someone in need, allowing God to flow through you to that person. Seek God’s advice. Watch for signs of His presence. Trust in His Spirit. Bless the name of Jesus.
October 28
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, ESV)
A family had become fed up with the noise and traffic of the city and decided to move to the country and try life in the wide open spaces. Intending to raise cattle, they bought a western ranch. Some friends came to visit a month later and asked them what they had named the ranch. The father said, "Well, I wanted to call it the Flying-W and my wife wanted to call it the Suzy-Q. But one of our sons liked the Bar-J and the other preferred the Lazy-Y. So we compromised and called it the Flying-W, Suzy-Q, Bar-J, Lazy-Y Ranch." Their friend asked, "Well, where are your cattle?" The man replied, "We don't have any. None of them survived the branding." (John C. Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You, p.33 Thomas Nelson Publ. Nashville 1993)
While humorous, the story about the family above reminds us of the danger of trying to please everyone. If you are so caught up in pleasing someone, you will often make the mistakes of throwing caution, reason, or faith aside in order to look good to another person. You will jump through hoops in order to bring joy to another. You might even find yourself neglecting what you should do or what God wants in order to get another person to like you.
Dorothy was not very popular in High School. She was intelligent and witty, but lacked an appeal to the boys. After being teased by some of her friends, she decided to show them. A month later, she spent days flirting with a boy in order to seduce him at a school party. The boy was well liked and popular. She was thrilled. Within just a few dates, they had sex. Her friends were amazed that she "landed such a catch". To keep her boyfriend happy and continue her streak to popularity among her friends, she continued to have sex with her boyfriend. Six months later, she was pregnant and then had an abortion. Seven months later, her boyfriend dumped her for another girl. It was only then that Dorothy realized that she was got into the relationship because of the hassle of her friends. She had sex because that's what she thought would keep her boyfriend happy. She had the abortion to hide everything from her parents and keep them happy. Throughout the entire time, she wasn't even happy! She was doing everything to look good, be popular, be a good girl…. but she regretted it the whole while. To this day, she feels horrible that a child had to suffer and die just so she could learn her lesson.
In the scripture above from Galatians, the apostle Paul wrote about the danger of seeking the "approval of man" (Galatians 1:10). For Paul, "pleasing man" was antithetical to pleasing God. You can't please everyone all the time. You have to choose whom to please. If you are seeking the approval of a person, you can't be spending your time seeking God's approval. It’s a matter a priorities. This is made clear when Paul wrote toward the end of the verse that in "trying to please man, you CAN'T be a servant of Christ". Have you figured this out yet?
I am often surprised by those who try to please others in life. They think it will make them look good, when it often makes them look the opposite to God. Being subject to the "approval" of others makes you subject to them and their moods. Their happiness becomes your delight. Their disappointment becomes your shame. You will suffer at the whim of another. In the end, isn't it all about whom is manipulating whom? Reread this last sentence again!
Don't get caught up in the merry-go-round of people-pleasing. It won't go well. Christ doesn't look kindly upon it either. In the end, you become a stooge, and Christ is made to "play second fiddle" while you learn your lesson. Both you and your Lord deserve better.
While humorous, the story about the family above reminds us of the danger of trying to please everyone. If you are so caught up in pleasing someone, you will often make the mistakes of throwing caution, reason, or faith aside in order to look good to another person. You will jump through hoops in order to bring joy to another. You might even find yourself neglecting what you should do or what God wants in order to get another person to like you.
Dorothy was not very popular in High School. She was intelligent and witty, but lacked an appeal to the boys. After being teased by some of her friends, she decided to show them. A month later, she spent days flirting with a boy in order to seduce him at a school party. The boy was well liked and popular. She was thrilled. Within just a few dates, they had sex. Her friends were amazed that she "landed such a catch". To keep her boyfriend happy and continue her streak to popularity among her friends, she continued to have sex with her boyfriend. Six months later, she was pregnant and then had an abortion. Seven months later, her boyfriend dumped her for another girl. It was only then that Dorothy realized that she was got into the relationship because of the hassle of her friends. She had sex because that's what she thought would keep her boyfriend happy. She had the abortion to hide everything from her parents and keep them happy. Throughout the entire time, she wasn't even happy! She was doing everything to look good, be popular, be a good girl…. but she regretted it the whole while. To this day, she feels horrible that a child had to suffer and die just so she could learn her lesson.
In the scripture above from Galatians, the apostle Paul wrote about the danger of seeking the "approval of man" (Galatians 1:10). For Paul, "pleasing man" was antithetical to pleasing God. You can't please everyone all the time. You have to choose whom to please. If you are seeking the approval of a person, you can't be spending your time seeking God's approval. It’s a matter a priorities. This is made clear when Paul wrote toward the end of the verse that in "trying to please man, you CAN'T be a servant of Christ". Have you figured this out yet?
I am often surprised by those who try to please others in life. They think it will make them look good, when it often makes them look the opposite to God. Being subject to the "approval" of others makes you subject to them and their moods. Their happiness becomes your delight. Their disappointment becomes your shame. You will suffer at the whim of another. In the end, isn't it all about whom is manipulating whom? Reread this last sentence again!
Don't get caught up in the merry-go-round of people-pleasing. It won't go well. Christ doesn't look kindly upon it either. In the end, you become a stooge, and Christ is made to "play second fiddle" while you learn your lesson. Both you and your Lord deserve better.
October 29
“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.” (Proverbs 31:10–11, NKJV)
I have always been a strong advocate for equal rights for all people. I feel that equal work deserves equal pay, no matter who does the work. However, in the last decade or two, I've seen equality slip, not because a lot of people don't believe in equal rights and equal pay. It's slipped because people who don't deserve equal pay demand it. Instead of equal rights, we've ended up with "anti-oriented" groups and "pro-me" groups. Feminists of today often advocate for women's rights instead of human rights. I've seen and heard women advocate that men are the problem of everything bad in the world. Our world is filled with a "victimization attitude", where everyone else is at fault for me not getting what I think I deserve. We've moved away from a selfless love and concern for others to a demand to be heard. We've moved away from unselfish servant-hood to the mantra that people have a right to do what "they want" and to "live their life however they please". Of all the groups of people on this earth, modern worldly attitudes and beliefs have affected women more negatively than any other group.
Marriage rates are the lowest ever. Unwed mothers proliferate. More and more children grow up in poverty. Men don't want responsibility. Women are taught by society to be entitled. Women are taught that they "deserve" equal pay because of a "glass ceiling", even when they are not doing an equal job for that equal pay. Respect for women in society has decreased significantly. Groups like "Men Going Their Own Way" have proliferated, believing that "modern" women are no longer worth marrying and carry too much baggage. Society lies to women, saying they can have it all when that is impossible. Can you imagine the burden of a woman working full time, fully invested in her career, with five kids, a husband, a house, high pay, a college degree, at every PTA meeting, never missing her children's events and present at every high point of development, involved fully in her church and social life, and totally independent??????? I can't say that I know one woman who fits this model, and yet this is what the world teaches women about how to live. It's insanity.
The Bible has a very different view of feminism. It's found in Proverbs 31, an entire chapter of the Bible devoted to defining the perfect woman or wife. It's words show a model woman as a teacher (Proverbs 31:1), one who does "good and not harm" (Proverbs 31:12), a hard worker (Proverbs 31:13,19,24), a wise investor (Proverbs 31:16), strong yet dignified (Proverbs 31:17,25), a giving and caring soul (Proverbs 31:20) who is good for her husband and children (Proverbs 31:10,21,27,28). She is wise and yet kind (Proverbs 31:26). She is a provider. She is trustworthy (Proverbs 31:11). You can count on her. As the scripture above contends, a good wife is not only hard to find, but worth a great deal!
The Biblical view of a woman and wife contrasts greatly to the worldly view of a woman or wife seen today. Women today are taught to be demanding. The world says they should spend their time "demanding" equal pay, "pushing" for abortion and women's rights, "standing up" for themselves and other women, and to "expect" special treatment. Where the Proverbs 31 woman is trustworthy, dignified, and strong, the worldly woman tends to be demanding, pushy, independent to a fault, and concerned more about looks than character. Honestly, how many women do you know who ascribe to a Biblical model and how many fight tooth and nail for a worldly set of values? I have found very few women who care about being a "Biblical woman", and thousands who would rather be a "modern woman" or "raging feminist". The Biblical woman deserves absolute respect. God expects this of you. It's even in print (Proverbs 31:30, 31)! As for the "modern woman", I think she is an impossible, selfish, weak, worldly, and destructive person. Where the Biblical woman will bless those whose lives she touches, the worldly woman usually destroys relationships and values.
The scripture for today says, "Who can find a virtuous wife/woman?". Men are dying to find her. She is disappearing. We need her in the world. You are blessed by her presence in your life. Virtuous women have been some of my greatest teachers, best friends, and most trustworthy of companions. Why don't you let a few of those virtuous "biblical" women in your life know that you appreciate them and God does, too? If you are a woman reading this, I ask one final question: "Is God blessed by your virtuous life?"
Marriage rates are the lowest ever. Unwed mothers proliferate. More and more children grow up in poverty. Men don't want responsibility. Women are taught by society to be entitled. Women are taught that they "deserve" equal pay because of a "glass ceiling", even when they are not doing an equal job for that equal pay. Respect for women in society has decreased significantly. Groups like "Men Going Their Own Way" have proliferated, believing that "modern" women are no longer worth marrying and carry too much baggage. Society lies to women, saying they can have it all when that is impossible. Can you imagine the burden of a woman working full time, fully invested in her career, with five kids, a husband, a house, high pay, a college degree, at every PTA meeting, never missing her children's events and present at every high point of development, involved fully in her church and social life, and totally independent??????? I can't say that I know one woman who fits this model, and yet this is what the world teaches women about how to live. It's insanity.
The Bible has a very different view of feminism. It's found in Proverbs 31, an entire chapter of the Bible devoted to defining the perfect woman or wife. It's words show a model woman as a teacher (Proverbs 31:1), one who does "good and not harm" (Proverbs 31:12), a hard worker (Proverbs 31:13,19,24), a wise investor (Proverbs 31:16), strong yet dignified (Proverbs 31:17,25), a giving and caring soul (Proverbs 31:20) who is good for her husband and children (Proverbs 31:10,21,27,28). She is wise and yet kind (Proverbs 31:26). She is a provider. She is trustworthy (Proverbs 31:11). You can count on her. As the scripture above contends, a good wife is not only hard to find, but worth a great deal!
The Biblical view of a woman and wife contrasts greatly to the worldly view of a woman or wife seen today. Women today are taught to be demanding. The world says they should spend their time "demanding" equal pay, "pushing" for abortion and women's rights, "standing up" for themselves and other women, and to "expect" special treatment. Where the Proverbs 31 woman is trustworthy, dignified, and strong, the worldly woman tends to be demanding, pushy, independent to a fault, and concerned more about looks than character. Honestly, how many women do you know who ascribe to a Biblical model and how many fight tooth and nail for a worldly set of values? I have found very few women who care about being a "Biblical woman", and thousands who would rather be a "modern woman" or "raging feminist". The Biblical woman deserves absolute respect. God expects this of you. It's even in print (Proverbs 31:30, 31)! As for the "modern woman", I think she is an impossible, selfish, weak, worldly, and destructive person. Where the Biblical woman will bless those whose lives she touches, the worldly woman usually destroys relationships and values.
The scripture for today says, "Who can find a virtuous wife/woman?". Men are dying to find her. She is disappearing. We need her in the world. You are blessed by her presence in your life. Virtuous women have been some of my greatest teachers, best friends, and most trustworthy of companions. Why don't you let a few of those virtuous "biblical" women in your life know that you appreciate them and God does, too? If you are a woman reading this, I ask one final question: "Is God blessed by your virtuous life?"
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!