August 1
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:9–10, ESV)
Last week, the St. Vincent de Paul store where my wife is manager decided to follow her lead and have the store set up a tent at the EAA Fly-in in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She and I came up with the idea of having the store sell things at the airshow that people could use at a fair price with a large majority of the proceeds going to help the needy. We both have always been excited about the prospect of raising funds to help the needy as well as promote mission outreach among people. It is surprising how many people looked for the blue tent of the store at the airshow. Sometimes, they bought items they needed. Sometimes, they came just to talk to someone. A few talked about mission work. Many left feeling good about the outreach.
The purpose of the tent full of Thrift Store buys was to be not only a mission program for the needy, but also a mission outreach to the people at the airshow. People came from 74 countries to the fly-in. There were also at least six mission outreach booths on the grounds, with several mission aviation groups and hundreds of missionaries represented. Several of these mission groups encourage pilots and crews to donate their time to get Bibles and food and medicines and doctors and more to remote places in the world. Some people in faraway places first heard the gospel due to these types of mission groups!
One day at the airshow tent, a man came up to Laura holding some soap and a towel. He said to her, “the soap and towel cost $3, but I only have $2. Would you take that?” Laura found out that the man was from one of the mission groups and had not showered in days. He flew to the show directly from the mission field! Laura gave him the towel and the soap at no charge and told him to come back if he needed anything else. On another day, an old soldier was brought into the tent. He had hurt his ankle and couldn't put on his socks. Somebody brought him to the tent for help. Laura noticed that his socks didn’t fit well and got him a new pair of socks. She knelt down and put on the socks and his shoes for him. She got him a cane to help him walk. With tears, he left the tent with much thanks.
If you look at the past three paragraphs, you can see that missionaries come in all forms. There are those who share the gospel in word and those who share the gospel through deeds. There are missionary pilots getting Bibles to remote ranges. There are people who volunteered at the tent at EAA to help those in need at the fly-in. There were those who bought things at the tent knowing the money would help pay for utilities or medical expenses or food for a needy family. There were missionaries who came to the tent to share the shade and tell stories about where God had sent them. There were volunteers and store employees who made sure any needy person got help, and any funds raised went to St. Vincent de Paul missions. There are so many ways to do missions in our world! What is your favorite?
In our scripture for today, the apostle Paul received a vision. In it, he was called to bring the gospel to Macedonia in Asia Minor (Macedonia in New Testament times was located in present day Greece, Albanian, and Serbian lands). Paul traveled west from Phrygia and Galatia through to Macedonia. He taught the gospel as he went. According to the scripture, upon receiving the vision, Paul left “immediately” to go to Macedonia. He wanted them to hear the gospel knowing, “God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:10). Paul and Silas and Timothy traveled together to begin their new missionary journey. Paul didn’t delay because the call to mission work seemed urgent. The people needed “help” (Acts 16:9).
Mission work is not easy. Like Paul, you may have to travel to distant places and leave your home. Like the missionary at the airshow who hadn’t showered for days, you may not have the basic necessities of life at times. Missionary work can be difficult, but it is always a great blessing to God and to all the church. It brings the gospel to people hungry for God’s word. It brings hope to people who may not have it. It eases suffering and offers help.
To end my meditation for today, I found the story about a letter to the famous missionary, David Livingstone. Dr. Livingstone spent most of his life planting missions and doing mission work in central and southern Africa. No matter how remote the terrain or people, Livingstone did what he could to reach them with the gospel and acts of love and sharing. A group wanted to send a few extra missionaries to assist Livingstone. They wrote him a letter asking, “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you.”
Livingstone’s reply was priceless, “If you have men who will come ONLY if they know there is a good road, I don't want them."
What kinds of mission work do you do? When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone who needed it? Will you find ways to do unique mission work to help where you can? Will you support missions even when it is difficult? Do you trust God enough to act "immediately" when God has a need?
The purpose of the tent full of Thrift Store buys was to be not only a mission program for the needy, but also a mission outreach to the people at the airshow. People came from 74 countries to the fly-in. There were also at least six mission outreach booths on the grounds, with several mission aviation groups and hundreds of missionaries represented. Several of these mission groups encourage pilots and crews to donate their time to get Bibles and food and medicines and doctors and more to remote places in the world. Some people in faraway places first heard the gospel due to these types of mission groups!
One day at the airshow tent, a man came up to Laura holding some soap and a towel. He said to her, “the soap and towel cost $3, but I only have $2. Would you take that?” Laura found out that the man was from one of the mission groups and had not showered in days. He flew to the show directly from the mission field! Laura gave him the towel and the soap at no charge and told him to come back if he needed anything else. On another day, an old soldier was brought into the tent. He had hurt his ankle and couldn't put on his socks. Somebody brought him to the tent for help. Laura noticed that his socks didn’t fit well and got him a new pair of socks. She knelt down and put on the socks and his shoes for him. She got him a cane to help him walk. With tears, he left the tent with much thanks.
If you look at the past three paragraphs, you can see that missionaries come in all forms. There are those who share the gospel in word and those who share the gospel through deeds. There are missionary pilots getting Bibles to remote ranges. There are people who volunteered at the tent at EAA to help those in need at the fly-in. There were those who bought things at the tent knowing the money would help pay for utilities or medical expenses or food for a needy family. There were missionaries who came to the tent to share the shade and tell stories about where God had sent them. There were volunteers and store employees who made sure any needy person got help, and any funds raised went to St. Vincent de Paul missions. There are so many ways to do missions in our world! What is your favorite?
In our scripture for today, the apostle Paul received a vision. In it, he was called to bring the gospel to Macedonia in Asia Minor (Macedonia in New Testament times was located in present day Greece, Albanian, and Serbian lands). Paul traveled west from Phrygia and Galatia through to Macedonia. He taught the gospel as he went. According to the scripture, upon receiving the vision, Paul left “immediately” to go to Macedonia. He wanted them to hear the gospel knowing, “God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:10). Paul and Silas and Timothy traveled together to begin their new missionary journey. Paul didn’t delay because the call to mission work seemed urgent. The people needed “help” (Acts 16:9).
Mission work is not easy. Like Paul, you may have to travel to distant places and leave your home. Like the missionary at the airshow who hadn’t showered for days, you may not have the basic necessities of life at times. Missionary work can be difficult, but it is always a great blessing to God and to all the church. It brings the gospel to people hungry for God’s word. It brings hope to people who may not have it. It eases suffering and offers help.
To end my meditation for today, I found the story about a letter to the famous missionary, David Livingstone. Dr. Livingstone spent most of his life planting missions and doing mission work in central and southern Africa. No matter how remote the terrain or people, Livingstone did what he could to reach them with the gospel and acts of love and sharing. A group wanted to send a few extra missionaries to assist Livingstone. They wrote him a letter asking, “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you.”
Livingstone’s reply was priceless, “If you have men who will come ONLY if they know there is a good road, I don't want them."
What kinds of mission work do you do? When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone who needed it? Will you find ways to do unique mission work to help where you can? Will you support missions even when it is difficult? Do you trust God enough to act "immediately" when God has a need?
August 3
“And taking the twelve, he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished.” (Luke 18:31, RSV)
There are moments in life when you must realize that God’s plans are not always immediate. God looks at humankind through a long lens, through generations and generations, influences people and situations looking ahead thousands of years. You and I may look ahead for the next few days or months and see obstacles and tensions and worries and fears and hope and possibility. God sees far ahead. Never forget that you are part of God’s plan for the next thousand years. Don’t get stuck in "today". Don’t let the fears of today worry you. Trust in God and God’s plans!
In 1963, Randy and Hope were looking forward to the day when their son would be born. He was the second child of the family. The days were hopeful. As the months passed, the wife wondered what God was going to do with her child, her boy. However, that was not to be. In the end of the first trimester, there were complications with the pregnancy. Despite great effort, the child died in the womb. For years, the woman wondered what would have happened if that child grew up. Would he have been a president? Would he have made them proud?
Thirty years later, a new family moved in to a house a few blocks away from Randy and Hope. The new family joined the church where Randy and Hope attended. The two families became close friends and developed a wonderful relationship. Randy and Hope watched out for the children whenever the parents (Cindy and Carl) needed sitters. After five years of wonderful friendship and many happy memories, Hope was praying one day when she felt that familiar ache in her heart. She remembered the boy she had lost. Tears came to her eyes. Just then, God spoke to her almost audibly. It was that clear to her mind. God told her how he had heard her cries. Hope didn’t know what to make of the prayer. Then, later in the day when she watched over Cindy and Carl’s children, Hope found out that the family was celebrating a birthday. Hope found out that Carl turned thirty. Later at the party, as all enjoyed some cake, Hope found out that Carl was born in 1963. At that point, Hope’s heart leapt. God had given her a new son and grandchildren in Carl and Cindy and their kids. For decades, they were very close. Hope called Carl and Cindy her adopted children. On the day Randy died, Dave and Cindy held Hope’s hands. They looked out for her the rest of her life as well.
Sometimes, we don’t know God’s plans. God might send a friend to comfort you when you most need it. God might look ahead and plan for you to be at a certain place at a certain time to answer a prayer. After suffering a loss, God might have planned decades ago to make sure you were cared for. Long before a child was orphaned by parents who died in a car crash, God planted the seed about adoption in the mind of a woman who had no children. In a desperate moment after the death of a beloved Pastor, the church found a new pastor who just happened to be moving their direction. We see the short view. God has a long lens and plans far in advance.
Our scripture for today proves this point. After months and months of ministry and healings and miracles, Jesus announced to his disciples his intent to go to Jerusalem. In Luke 18:31, Jesus announced his reason for going to the holy city: “everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished.” Isaiah wrote his prophecies about the messiah more than six hundred years before Jesus was born (Isaiah 53). Hundreds of years before Jesus came into the world, Micah the prophet predicted the birth of the messiah would occur in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Centuries before Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph, God made sure Jesus came from the lineage of King David (Matthew 1). God was planning all along for Jesus to accomplish what his ancestors and the prophets predicted. For hundreds and thousands of years, God was planning when and how Jesus would come to Jerusalem. God was setting the scene for the Messiah to change the world.
You are a part of God’s long-term plan to save humanity. God brought you into this world for many reasons. Some you know. Some you do not. Don’t let momentary setbacks and problems cloud your spirit! God has hopes for your life. You were born for a reason. You were placed in the perfect time and place for God to do something special with your life. Some of us may not even realize the importance of your place in this world. Though you may not see with God’s eyes, just enjoy that fact that you are part of God’s plans, a sign of God’s grace!
In 1963, Randy and Hope were looking forward to the day when their son would be born. He was the second child of the family. The days were hopeful. As the months passed, the wife wondered what God was going to do with her child, her boy. However, that was not to be. In the end of the first trimester, there were complications with the pregnancy. Despite great effort, the child died in the womb. For years, the woman wondered what would have happened if that child grew up. Would he have been a president? Would he have made them proud?
Thirty years later, a new family moved in to a house a few blocks away from Randy and Hope. The new family joined the church where Randy and Hope attended. The two families became close friends and developed a wonderful relationship. Randy and Hope watched out for the children whenever the parents (Cindy and Carl) needed sitters. After five years of wonderful friendship and many happy memories, Hope was praying one day when she felt that familiar ache in her heart. She remembered the boy she had lost. Tears came to her eyes. Just then, God spoke to her almost audibly. It was that clear to her mind. God told her how he had heard her cries. Hope didn’t know what to make of the prayer. Then, later in the day when she watched over Cindy and Carl’s children, Hope found out that the family was celebrating a birthday. Hope found out that Carl turned thirty. Later at the party, as all enjoyed some cake, Hope found out that Carl was born in 1963. At that point, Hope’s heart leapt. God had given her a new son and grandchildren in Carl and Cindy and their kids. For decades, they were very close. Hope called Carl and Cindy her adopted children. On the day Randy died, Dave and Cindy held Hope’s hands. They looked out for her the rest of her life as well.
Sometimes, we don’t know God’s plans. God might send a friend to comfort you when you most need it. God might look ahead and plan for you to be at a certain place at a certain time to answer a prayer. After suffering a loss, God might have planned decades ago to make sure you were cared for. Long before a child was orphaned by parents who died in a car crash, God planted the seed about adoption in the mind of a woman who had no children. In a desperate moment after the death of a beloved Pastor, the church found a new pastor who just happened to be moving their direction. We see the short view. God has a long lens and plans far in advance.
Our scripture for today proves this point. After months and months of ministry and healings and miracles, Jesus announced to his disciples his intent to go to Jerusalem. In Luke 18:31, Jesus announced his reason for going to the holy city: “everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished.” Isaiah wrote his prophecies about the messiah more than six hundred years before Jesus was born (Isaiah 53). Hundreds of years before Jesus came into the world, Micah the prophet predicted the birth of the messiah would occur in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Centuries before Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph, God made sure Jesus came from the lineage of King David (Matthew 1). God was planning all along for Jesus to accomplish what his ancestors and the prophets predicted. For hundreds and thousands of years, God was planning when and how Jesus would come to Jerusalem. God was setting the scene for the Messiah to change the world.
You are a part of God’s long-term plan to save humanity. God brought you into this world for many reasons. Some you know. Some you do not. Don’t let momentary setbacks and problems cloud your spirit! God has hopes for your life. You were born for a reason. You were placed in the perfect time and place for God to do something special with your life. Some of us may not even realize the importance of your place in this world. Though you may not see with God’s eyes, just enjoy that fact that you are part of God’s plans, a sign of God’s grace!
August 5
“Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.” But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.”
(Luke 18:31–34, NLT)
(Luke 18:31–34, NLT)
When the couple saw the dog at the shelter, they had to adopt her. She was a beautiful, loving mixed-breed. She loved to cuddle, even though she weighed seventy-five pounds! She thought she was a lap dog! Many hours were spent by husband and wife, playing and cuddling with Sadie.
Five months after bringing Sadie home from the shelter, Karen found out she was pregnant with her first child. It was an exciting time. She and her husband were excited. Sadie enjoyed the extra food that Karen craved during those first two trimesters. Sadie also loved laying with Karen when she had morning sickness or when her feet hurt. Karen and Sadie grew incredibly close.
One day while cuddling, Sadie started crying. Karen was worried that the dog was sick. She spent extra time with Sadie, hoping the dog would feel better. Every time Karen and Sadie cuddled, the dog howled and seemed antsy. Karen thought that maybe Sadie was hearing the baby’s heartbeat and didn’t understand. One morning, after Sadie acted up exceedingly, Karen called her mother to help her take Sadie to the vet. When Karen’s mother arrived, she noticed Sadie’s nervousness. Wondering about the change in Sadie’s behavior, Karen’s mother asked her daughter how she felt. Karen was weak and had an upset stomach. Instead of taking Sadie to the Veterinarian, her mother convinced Karen to go to the hospital. There, they found out that Karen was bleeding internally. Emergency surgery saved Karen’s and her child’s life. The doctor was shocked that it was the family dog that who noticed the symptoms. Sadie may have saved Karen’s life. The doctor was convinced that the dog had surely saved the baby’s life.
The entire time Karen was sick, she had no idea of the seriousness. She thought something was wrong with her dog when in fact something was wrong with her. She was concerned with Sadie when she needed to be concerned with her baby’s life and her own future! Sometimes, you may not realize what is happening around you. You may misunderstand a situation. You may fail to notice warning signs. While worried about one thing, you may miss something else. When emotional, you might overlook an important task or lash out without understanding the entire picture. Let’s be honest, there are many times when we think we know what is going on around us when we do not.
The disciples were in the same situation with Jesus. They knew Jesus was the Messiah, come to save Israel. What they didn’t understand was that the Messiah had to go up to Jerusalem and face the cross. When Jesus suggested they “go up to Jerusalem”, the disciples didn’t understand why (Luke 18:31). When Jesus said that the “Son of Man would be handed over to the Romans, mocked, and treated shamefully”, they didn’t understand that Jesus was talking about Himself and His own future (Luke 18:32). Of the disciples, the scripture states revealingly, “the significance of His (Jesus’) words was hidden from them” ,and “they failed to grasp what He (Jesus) was talking about” (Luke 18:34). Jesus was being candid with His disciples, but they did not understand His reasoning. Only later, after the crucifixion, did the disciples fully comprehend what Jesus meant in the scripture for today.
Hindsight can be very revealing. It can often tell you when you missed something, didn’t understand, or were clueless. Life can indeed be an enigma. The motives and plans of people and God can be veiled or hidden. It can be hard to discern the truth or the right path to follow.
Like the disciples, you may not fully comprehend what Jesus or God are saying to you today. Prayer and meditation can help you discern God’s voice. Counseling and Bible Study can help illuminate your way (Psalm 119:105). However, it is also important that you realize how you may not see the bigger picture at times. Rather than blindly going on your way or following your own passions, it may be crucial that you listen for God’s voice and determine what God is saying to you. Your future might even depend on it.
Five months after bringing Sadie home from the shelter, Karen found out she was pregnant with her first child. It was an exciting time. She and her husband were excited. Sadie enjoyed the extra food that Karen craved during those first two trimesters. Sadie also loved laying with Karen when she had morning sickness or when her feet hurt. Karen and Sadie grew incredibly close.
One day while cuddling, Sadie started crying. Karen was worried that the dog was sick. She spent extra time with Sadie, hoping the dog would feel better. Every time Karen and Sadie cuddled, the dog howled and seemed antsy. Karen thought that maybe Sadie was hearing the baby’s heartbeat and didn’t understand. One morning, after Sadie acted up exceedingly, Karen called her mother to help her take Sadie to the vet. When Karen’s mother arrived, she noticed Sadie’s nervousness. Wondering about the change in Sadie’s behavior, Karen’s mother asked her daughter how she felt. Karen was weak and had an upset stomach. Instead of taking Sadie to the Veterinarian, her mother convinced Karen to go to the hospital. There, they found out that Karen was bleeding internally. Emergency surgery saved Karen’s and her child’s life. The doctor was shocked that it was the family dog that who noticed the symptoms. Sadie may have saved Karen’s life. The doctor was convinced that the dog had surely saved the baby’s life.
The entire time Karen was sick, she had no idea of the seriousness. She thought something was wrong with her dog when in fact something was wrong with her. She was concerned with Sadie when she needed to be concerned with her baby’s life and her own future! Sometimes, you may not realize what is happening around you. You may misunderstand a situation. You may fail to notice warning signs. While worried about one thing, you may miss something else. When emotional, you might overlook an important task or lash out without understanding the entire picture. Let’s be honest, there are many times when we think we know what is going on around us when we do not.
The disciples were in the same situation with Jesus. They knew Jesus was the Messiah, come to save Israel. What they didn’t understand was that the Messiah had to go up to Jerusalem and face the cross. When Jesus suggested they “go up to Jerusalem”, the disciples didn’t understand why (Luke 18:31). When Jesus said that the “Son of Man would be handed over to the Romans, mocked, and treated shamefully”, they didn’t understand that Jesus was talking about Himself and His own future (Luke 18:32). Of the disciples, the scripture states revealingly, “the significance of His (Jesus’) words was hidden from them” ,and “they failed to grasp what He (Jesus) was talking about” (Luke 18:34). Jesus was being candid with His disciples, but they did not understand His reasoning. Only later, after the crucifixion, did the disciples fully comprehend what Jesus meant in the scripture for today.
Hindsight can be very revealing. It can often tell you when you missed something, didn’t understand, or were clueless. Life can indeed be an enigma. The motives and plans of people and God can be veiled or hidden. It can be hard to discern the truth or the right path to follow.
Like the disciples, you may not fully comprehend what Jesus or God are saying to you today. Prayer and meditation can help you discern God’s voice. Counseling and Bible Study can help illuminate your way (Psalm 119:105). However, it is also important that you realize how you may not see the bigger picture at times. Rather than blindly going on your way or following your own passions, it may be crucial that you listen for God’s voice and determine what God is saying to you. Your future might even depend on it.
August 7
“But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:17–18, NKJV)
A gospel group was to sing at my church. It was a quartet of voices with two men and two women. They were well-known for their renditions of old gospel hymns and newer spiritual songs. Their harmony was such that you could listen to them and be transported away to a quiet meadow or an old chapel as they sang. They didn’t want you to get up and sing with them as much as quietly sing along while reminiscing of days when you and God were very close. I can’t remember the name of the group any longer, but I can tell you a story they told me. It relates perfectly to our scripture for today.
The day before the gospel group was to sing at our church, they tested their instruments and amplifiers and speakers. They found that one of the guitar amplifiers had blown a fuse. They couldn’t find its replacement for several hours. Then, as they packed their small trailer with their equipment and some stage props, one member of the group heard a hiss. Upon finding that the trailer had a flat tire, they had to unload the trailer, fix the flat, and then load it all over again. They usually had everything packed away in about ninety minutes. That day, it took them over nine hours and they never did get a chance to rehearse together. When they arrived at the church, they looked tired which was unusual. I asked if they were doing well, and they replied, “Pastor, I swear to God that Satan did everything he could to wreck this engagement. Though we’ve seen this many times before, I promise you that the group is all prayed up and ready to go!”
Throughout my years of ministry, being closely attuned to God’s Spirit, I have seen many times when the faithful were plagued by spiritual forces of the satanic persuasion. Satan loves to trip people up, shake them down, throw up roadblocks, and hinder their progress. When Job from our Bible was wealthy and life was going wonderfully, Satan attacked Job’s heath, then his family , then his income and work (See Job 1:13-2:8 for examples). In 1 Chronicles 21, the scripture states that Satan “stood up against Israel” and “incited David” to make a mistake that would cost him time and lives. Satan loves to throw things in your way. He brings discouragement, difficulties, and challenges your way. Akin to what he did to Jesus (Matthew 4), Satan will tempt you to make mistakes or do the wrong things. How will you handle it when Satan throws up problems your way?
In our scripture reading for today, the apostle Paul wrote that he desired deeply to visit the church in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:17). He was “eager” to see them and find out how God had blessed them. Each time, Paul and his companions got ready to visit that church, Satan “hindered them” (1 Thessalonians 2:18). Satan didn’t cause Paul problems one or two times, but “time and again” (1 Thessalonians 2:17). Things got so difficult that God had to step in and straighten a few things out (1 Thessalonians 2:16).
Satan loves to drain your spiritual strengths and attack your well-designed plans. He will cause problems in your church as well as issues that bother your soul. He will attempt “time and again” to make people argumentative and manipulate people for evil. You might feel like attacking a person in your church who is causing problems without even realizing that its actually Satan behind all the machinations. It may take you a short while to realize it, but Satan may want to heed your progress or steal your joy.
In the next few days, let God’s Spirit in you discern if Satan is throwing up roadblocks in your life. When he plays games, don’t let it wreck your peace. God will take care of things in due time. You just be faithful and keep up God’s work, praying for spiritual strength and insight. This will drive Satan crazy and make our Lord proud (see Job 1).
The day before the gospel group was to sing at our church, they tested their instruments and amplifiers and speakers. They found that one of the guitar amplifiers had blown a fuse. They couldn’t find its replacement for several hours. Then, as they packed their small trailer with their equipment and some stage props, one member of the group heard a hiss. Upon finding that the trailer had a flat tire, they had to unload the trailer, fix the flat, and then load it all over again. They usually had everything packed away in about ninety minutes. That day, it took them over nine hours and they never did get a chance to rehearse together. When they arrived at the church, they looked tired which was unusual. I asked if they were doing well, and they replied, “Pastor, I swear to God that Satan did everything he could to wreck this engagement. Though we’ve seen this many times before, I promise you that the group is all prayed up and ready to go!”
Throughout my years of ministry, being closely attuned to God’s Spirit, I have seen many times when the faithful were plagued by spiritual forces of the satanic persuasion. Satan loves to trip people up, shake them down, throw up roadblocks, and hinder their progress. When Job from our Bible was wealthy and life was going wonderfully, Satan attacked Job’s heath, then his family , then his income and work (See Job 1:13-2:8 for examples). In 1 Chronicles 21, the scripture states that Satan “stood up against Israel” and “incited David” to make a mistake that would cost him time and lives. Satan loves to throw things in your way. He brings discouragement, difficulties, and challenges your way. Akin to what he did to Jesus (Matthew 4), Satan will tempt you to make mistakes or do the wrong things. How will you handle it when Satan throws up problems your way?
In our scripture reading for today, the apostle Paul wrote that he desired deeply to visit the church in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:17). He was “eager” to see them and find out how God had blessed them. Each time, Paul and his companions got ready to visit that church, Satan “hindered them” (1 Thessalonians 2:18). Satan didn’t cause Paul problems one or two times, but “time and again” (1 Thessalonians 2:17). Things got so difficult that God had to step in and straighten a few things out (1 Thessalonians 2:16).
Satan loves to drain your spiritual strengths and attack your well-designed plans. He will cause problems in your church as well as issues that bother your soul. He will attempt “time and again” to make people argumentative and manipulate people for evil. You might feel like attacking a person in your church who is causing problems without even realizing that its actually Satan behind all the machinations. It may take you a short while to realize it, but Satan may want to heed your progress or steal your joy.
In the next few days, let God’s Spirit in you discern if Satan is throwing up roadblocks in your life. When he plays games, don’t let it wreck your peace. God will take care of things in due time. You just be faithful and keep up God’s work, praying for spiritual strength and insight. This will drive Satan crazy and make our Lord proud (see Job 1).
August 8
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1–2, RSV)
Last year, I visited a liberal church. I could tell by the bulletin that the church was liberal because all the language was politically correct, and words were changed in the hymns so that titles like King and Master were removed. In that service, the scriptures were altered. The pronoun "He" was disallowed when speaking about God. I was not surprised by the changes, though I can’t agree with all the mutations that were done to worship to make it politically correct. During that service, I felt that poor biblical knowledge was expressed by the pastor before she gave the prayer. She said that God “always hears your prayers, no matter what.” I knew immediately that this was not Biblical. Scriptures like that above explicitly state that sinful living caused God to ignore the spiritual life of the unholy in Isaiah’s day. Their sinful lives forced God to stop listening to their prayers.
There are many scriptures that state how God will stop listening to the prayers of those who live sinful lives and are wicked (Isaiah 42:20, Jeremiah 14:12, Ezekiel 8:18, Zechariah 7:13, etc). Until they repent, their prayers are blocked from God’s merciful ears. Their prayer time will be worthless. The reason why is simple. By refusing to correct their sins over and over, they have cut their ties and relationship to God Almighty. If they want God’s ear again, they must repent and atone for their sins.
Theodora was nineteen when she got pregnant. Her boyfriend came from a wealthy family, but he was always rebellious. Still, Theodora thought Thomas loved her unconditionally. She was certain he would stick by her throughout the pregnancy. Thomas married her, and they began their married life together. However, Thomas was not happy with a domestic life. He didn’t like being limited to work and family. He felt forced into it by Theodora’s pregnancy. Inwardly, he resented her.
For five years, they stayed together. Then, after an argument, Thomas left. He fought the conditions of divorce. He skipped out on alimony payments and child support. He ignored his child’s health insurance needs. He didn’t help with the purchase of clothing, toiletries, necessities, even food. Whenever Theodora wanted something, Thomas argued with her, then stopped answering her calls, then skipped town and changed addresses to deprive her of any financial support. After years of heartache from Thomas, Theodora decided to shoulder all the responsibility for their child. When Theodora remarried, that helped alleviate some of the financial burden.
Fifteen years later, Thomas tried contacting Theodora. She refused any contact. She refused to talk to him. She felt he had abandoned her and their son. She wanted nothing to do with him. Years later, Thomas died, never having even known how successful his own son had become. His son was a gifted businessman who was highly adept with technology.
For abandoning her and their child, Theodora separated ties with Thomas. She bore no real love for him after his terrible treatment of the family. She wanted to love him. She wanted him involved with their son, but he wrecked their relationship with his abandonment.
God also has limits to the amount of abandonment and sin HE will allow. To the soul that is not willing to repent from sin, God will have less and less respect. If you choose to live in sin, God will be forced to end the relationship until something serious changes. During that time, God will cease to listen to the prayers of those who have abandoned their love for God and chosen to live in sin.
God wants to offer grace and love, forgiveness and peace. However, when a person chooses a sinful life, the relationship with God suffers. Soon, God’s ears become dull to the prayers of the sinful soul. Don’t be one of those to whom God has closed the door of opportunity. When you sin, come clean and confess quickly. Make amends when you do wrong. Don’t let sin drive a wedge between you and your Lord. Otherwise, on the day you need God’s ear, you may not have it. In a time of trouble, God’s face will be hidden from you (Isaiah 59:2).
There are many scriptures that state how God will stop listening to the prayers of those who live sinful lives and are wicked (Isaiah 42:20, Jeremiah 14:12, Ezekiel 8:18, Zechariah 7:13, etc). Until they repent, their prayers are blocked from God’s merciful ears. Their prayer time will be worthless. The reason why is simple. By refusing to correct their sins over and over, they have cut their ties and relationship to God Almighty. If they want God’s ear again, they must repent and atone for their sins.
Theodora was nineteen when she got pregnant. Her boyfriend came from a wealthy family, but he was always rebellious. Still, Theodora thought Thomas loved her unconditionally. She was certain he would stick by her throughout the pregnancy. Thomas married her, and they began their married life together. However, Thomas was not happy with a domestic life. He didn’t like being limited to work and family. He felt forced into it by Theodora’s pregnancy. Inwardly, he resented her.
For five years, they stayed together. Then, after an argument, Thomas left. He fought the conditions of divorce. He skipped out on alimony payments and child support. He ignored his child’s health insurance needs. He didn’t help with the purchase of clothing, toiletries, necessities, even food. Whenever Theodora wanted something, Thomas argued with her, then stopped answering her calls, then skipped town and changed addresses to deprive her of any financial support. After years of heartache from Thomas, Theodora decided to shoulder all the responsibility for their child. When Theodora remarried, that helped alleviate some of the financial burden.
Fifteen years later, Thomas tried contacting Theodora. She refused any contact. She refused to talk to him. She felt he had abandoned her and their son. She wanted nothing to do with him. Years later, Thomas died, never having even known how successful his own son had become. His son was a gifted businessman who was highly adept with technology.
For abandoning her and their child, Theodora separated ties with Thomas. She bore no real love for him after his terrible treatment of the family. She wanted to love him. She wanted him involved with their son, but he wrecked their relationship with his abandonment.
God also has limits to the amount of abandonment and sin HE will allow. To the soul that is not willing to repent from sin, God will have less and less respect. If you choose to live in sin, God will be forced to end the relationship until something serious changes. During that time, God will cease to listen to the prayers of those who have abandoned their love for God and chosen to live in sin.
God wants to offer grace and love, forgiveness and peace. However, when a person chooses a sinful life, the relationship with God suffers. Soon, God’s ears become dull to the prayers of the sinful soul. Don’t be one of those to whom God has closed the door of opportunity. When you sin, come clean and confess quickly. Make amends when you do wrong. Don’t let sin drive a wedge between you and your Lord. Otherwise, on the day you need God’s ear, you may not have it. In a time of trouble, God’s face will be hidden from you (Isaiah 59:2).
August 9
“Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11, NRSV)
A soldier in Afghanistan made the news several years ago for being shot by a sniper. What was not reported was that the man was shot in the back. What was also not reported was the decision the soldier had made on that very hot day. His team was scheduled to do a lengthy hike in rough terrain. To help with the hike, the soldier removed the armor plate that was in his vest pack on his back. It would save a few pounds for the day’s patrol. Wouldn’t you know that was the place the sniper chose to shoot. The soldier had special armor on his head, chest, his torso, his knees, and parts of his arms. He was shot where he was most vulnerable; in the back, where the plate had been removed.
While reading the scripture for today, I thought about that soldier. The scripture for today comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. There in the last chapter, Paul mentions that while in spiritual warfare, the faithful should put on spiritual armor “to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11). Paul also includes how much armor to put on. He wanted the followers of Christ to “put on the whole armor of God.” They shouldn’t wear some armor but all of it. A few bits of spiritual armor aren't enough. To fight against demonic forces, you need “the whole armor of God.” Otherwise, like the soldier in the story above, you will be vulnerable in the heat of battle.
Spiritual battle is more difficult than people realize. The devil is fully aware of your weaknesses. The sniper did not know that the soldier failed to include his rear armor. Satan, however, knows when you are not prepared for battle. Satan knows when you are lacking armor from God. If you want to stand up for Jesus, your need to put on all your spiritual defenses. You need to be fully equipped for spiritual battles. Otherwise, you will be defenseless in the day that the devil tempts or tests you. And, the devil is known for attacking a person’s weaknesses.
Matthew chapter four contains the account of Satan’s temptations of Jesus. I want you to notice all the ways Satan attacked Jesus. First, Satan attacked Jesus at the beginning of His ministry. Satan didn’t wait until Jesus had years of spiritual training under His belt. Satan attacked right away. Satan attacked right after Jesus’ baptism. Also, notice what Satan used against Jesus. He knew Jesus had been fasting, so Satan tempted Jesus with food. Satan didn’t attack Jesus on the first day of the fast, but the last day of the fast. Satan knew that’s when Jesus was most vulnerable. Being that Jesus was alone in the wilderness, Satan also attacked His loneliness. Satan offered Jesus an entire kingdom of followers in exchange for His loyalty. Jesus refused. He stayed faithful. Jesus was ready for Satan’s attacks and aptly defended Himself. How capable are you at defending yourself against evil forces?
Ephesians chapter six includes a list of some of the spiritual armor that you need for spiritual battles. Those pieces of armor include truthfulness and righteousness (Ephesians 6:14). You also need a soul at peace (Ephesians 6:15). You need to be in the saving graces of God (Ephesians 6:17). You will need to be armed with a strong faith (Ephesians 6:16). You will need to know God’s word, the Bible, very well (Ephesians 6:17). The Holy Spirit needs to be in your soul. A good prayer life will round out your armor nicely (Ephesians 6:18).
As you look back upon the words of the last paragraph, how well armored are you for spiritual battle? Do you speak the truth to yourself and others? Is your soul at peace or are you insecure, angry, bitter, or resentful? Have you accepted God’s salvation? Are you filled with God’s Spirit? Do you pray regularly and with passion? Do you have a faith that won’t quit, no matter what? Is your relationship with God deep and strong? Trust me when I say that spiritual battles will test your spirit. I just hope you have all your spiritual armor ready to go when the time comes to defend God and the faith.
While reading the scripture for today, I thought about that soldier. The scripture for today comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. There in the last chapter, Paul mentions that while in spiritual warfare, the faithful should put on spiritual armor “to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11). Paul also includes how much armor to put on. He wanted the followers of Christ to “put on the whole armor of God.” They shouldn’t wear some armor but all of it. A few bits of spiritual armor aren't enough. To fight against demonic forces, you need “the whole armor of God.” Otherwise, like the soldier in the story above, you will be vulnerable in the heat of battle.
Spiritual battle is more difficult than people realize. The devil is fully aware of your weaknesses. The sniper did not know that the soldier failed to include his rear armor. Satan, however, knows when you are not prepared for battle. Satan knows when you are lacking armor from God. If you want to stand up for Jesus, your need to put on all your spiritual defenses. You need to be fully equipped for spiritual battles. Otherwise, you will be defenseless in the day that the devil tempts or tests you. And, the devil is known for attacking a person’s weaknesses.
Matthew chapter four contains the account of Satan’s temptations of Jesus. I want you to notice all the ways Satan attacked Jesus. First, Satan attacked Jesus at the beginning of His ministry. Satan didn’t wait until Jesus had years of spiritual training under His belt. Satan attacked right away. Satan attacked right after Jesus’ baptism. Also, notice what Satan used against Jesus. He knew Jesus had been fasting, so Satan tempted Jesus with food. Satan didn’t attack Jesus on the first day of the fast, but the last day of the fast. Satan knew that’s when Jesus was most vulnerable. Being that Jesus was alone in the wilderness, Satan also attacked His loneliness. Satan offered Jesus an entire kingdom of followers in exchange for His loyalty. Jesus refused. He stayed faithful. Jesus was ready for Satan’s attacks and aptly defended Himself. How capable are you at defending yourself against evil forces?
Ephesians chapter six includes a list of some of the spiritual armor that you need for spiritual battles. Those pieces of armor include truthfulness and righteousness (Ephesians 6:14). You also need a soul at peace (Ephesians 6:15). You need to be in the saving graces of God (Ephesians 6:17). You will need to be armed with a strong faith (Ephesians 6:16). You will need to know God’s word, the Bible, very well (Ephesians 6:17). The Holy Spirit needs to be in your soul. A good prayer life will round out your armor nicely (Ephesians 6:18).
As you look back upon the words of the last paragraph, how well armored are you for spiritual battle? Do you speak the truth to yourself and others? Is your soul at peace or are you insecure, angry, bitter, or resentful? Have you accepted God’s salvation? Are you filled with God’s Spirit? Do you pray regularly and with passion? Do you have a faith that won’t quit, no matter what? Is your relationship with God deep and strong? Trust me when I say that spiritual battles will test your spirit. I just hope you have all your spiritual armor ready to go when the time comes to defend God and the faith.
August 10
““Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4, RSV)
With tears, she reached over to her best friend. Her best friend gathered Martha into her arms and rocked her as Martha sobbed with tears of grief and sadness. Martha had lost the love of her life. Her best friend, Janey, was there to comfort her. The two had been best friends for years. But, they were more. God put them together as kids in a great church. Throughout their lives, they were lucky enough to be members of that same church. Now, when Martha lost her husband, Janey and the whole congregation were there for her. She would not be alone. The Men’s Group at the church would check on Martha, taking care of her house for a while, fixing whatever was broken. The Women’s Group at church made a meal for the funeral, sent members to bring food for Martha, and watched for her at every chance. Martha was not alone in her suffering. She had lost her husband, but her church family surrounded and cared for her. Through them, God’s love kept coming through over and over.
It is a special ministry to care for those who mourn. It takes courage to sit with the grieving when they can’t even form words or can’t speak without tears. What you may not realize is that God gives a special blessing to those who reach out to the grieving. God wants to bring comfort to the faithful who mourn. By helping those who have lost a loved one, you are part of that blessing that God gives. God will work through you. God’s blessing will sweeten your actions and words.
God has a special place in His heart for those who grieve the loss of a loved one. God desires to comfort them. Jesus made this perfectly clear in the scripture for today. In Matthew chapter five, among the Beatitudes, Jesus gave a blessing upon “those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4). He promised that they would “be comforted.” What I find most interesting is the original Greek word chosen for “comforted” in this verse. It is directly related to the word in the Gospel of John used to describe the work of the Holy Spirit, “Comforter” or “Counselor” or “Helper” depending on your version of the Bible (John 14:26). Did you know that Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would also be a comfort and help to you when you need it?
There are so many ways God comforts the faithful. Through friends, family, God’s people, and the Holy Spirit, God brings comfort to the hurting soul. God desires to reach out to you when life hits you hard. God desires to enfold His everlasting arms around you. And sometimes, God uses faithful people like you as His arms. When you hold the one in mourning, encircling them with loving arms while they shed tears of grief, you might just be the one God has chosen to send to help. You might be the one to whom Jesus referred to as the one who brings comfort. God’s Spirit might be working through you in that moment. You might even feel heavenly help as you offer that shoulder for another to cry upon it.
When Tony heard that his best friend Tina’s mother had just passed away several hours before, he didn’t even think. He grabbed his jacket and went to her house. Both had gone to grade school and middle school together. Now they were seniors in high school. They always looked out for one another. She lived one block down. He ran the whole way, stopping outside the front door. For a moment, he began to ask himself what he was doing. Why was he there? What was he going to say? What could he do? He pushed all that aside, then knocked and walked in.
Upon entering, he saw the family. Everywhere there was sadness, long faces, tears, hurtful looks. There were maybe twenty people there, but he couldn’t find Tina. He searched every room in the house, before seeing her alone out back. As he walked out the back door of the house, he saw her slumped over on a swing, slowly rocking back and forth. She looked pitiful. She looked drawn and beaten. He sat on the swing next to her and just said, “Tina, I’m so sorry about your mom.” She looked up with teary eyes and recognized the voice. She smiled a sad smile, then pushed her swing to his and grabbed him tight. He held her for more than twenty minutes. He didn’t know what to say, so he just said, “I’m so sorry” maybe seven times in that twenty minutes. Tina didn’t hear him anyway. She just felt his arms. She was glad for his presence. She was no longer alone. Tony didn’t know it then, but he saved her life that day. She was feeling like there was nothing to live for. Then, she saw Tony. She felt his arms. She felt the comfort. She began to heal.
God was with Tony in that moment, though Tony didn’t realize it until much later. Ten years later, when Tony needed it, Tina helped him through a rough patch. She gave comfort back to him while he started anew in a rehab program. She and her husband stood up for Tony when he accepted Christ. They visited him in the rehab center when many others did not. Isn’t it funny how God’s comfort has a way of being there in the best of ways for the faithful?
God is not only Judge and Redeemer and Savior and Lord and Master. God is the Great Comforter. If you are faithful, God will be there to comfort you. God may also work through you as you bring comfort to others. When was the last time you gave comfort to another? When was the last time you let someone sent by God comfort you?
It is a special ministry to care for those who mourn. It takes courage to sit with the grieving when they can’t even form words or can’t speak without tears. What you may not realize is that God gives a special blessing to those who reach out to the grieving. God wants to bring comfort to the faithful who mourn. By helping those who have lost a loved one, you are part of that blessing that God gives. God will work through you. God’s blessing will sweeten your actions and words.
God has a special place in His heart for those who grieve the loss of a loved one. God desires to comfort them. Jesus made this perfectly clear in the scripture for today. In Matthew chapter five, among the Beatitudes, Jesus gave a blessing upon “those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4). He promised that they would “be comforted.” What I find most interesting is the original Greek word chosen for “comforted” in this verse. It is directly related to the word in the Gospel of John used to describe the work of the Holy Spirit, “Comforter” or “Counselor” or “Helper” depending on your version of the Bible (John 14:26). Did you know that Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would also be a comfort and help to you when you need it?
There are so many ways God comforts the faithful. Through friends, family, God’s people, and the Holy Spirit, God brings comfort to the hurting soul. God desires to reach out to you when life hits you hard. God desires to enfold His everlasting arms around you. And sometimes, God uses faithful people like you as His arms. When you hold the one in mourning, encircling them with loving arms while they shed tears of grief, you might just be the one God has chosen to send to help. You might be the one to whom Jesus referred to as the one who brings comfort. God’s Spirit might be working through you in that moment. You might even feel heavenly help as you offer that shoulder for another to cry upon it.
When Tony heard that his best friend Tina’s mother had just passed away several hours before, he didn’t even think. He grabbed his jacket and went to her house. Both had gone to grade school and middle school together. Now they were seniors in high school. They always looked out for one another. She lived one block down. He ran the whole way, stopping outside the front door. For a moment, he began to ask himself what he was doing. Why was he there? What was he going to say? What could he do? He pushed all that aside, then knocked and walked in.
Upon entering, he saw the family. Everywhere there was sadness, long faces, tears, hurtful looks. There were maybe twenty people there, but he couldn’t find Tina. He searched every room in the house, before seeing her alone out back. As he walked out the back door of the house, he saw her slumped over on a swing, slowly rocking back and forth. She looked pitiful. She looked drawn and beaten. He sat on the swing next to her and just said, “Tina, I’m so sorry about your mom.” She looked up with teary eyes and recognized the voice. She smiled a sad smile, then pushed her swing to his and grabbed him tight. He held her for more than twenty minutes. He didn’t know what to say, so he just said, “I’m so sorry” maybe seven times in that twenty minutes. Tina didn’t hear him anyway. She just felt his arms. She was glad for his presence. She was no longer alone. Tony didn’t know it then, but he saved her life that day. She was feeling like there was nothing to live for. Then, she saw Tony. She felt his arms. She felt the comfort. She began to heal.
God was with Tony in that moment, though Tony didn’t realize it until much later. Ten years later, when Tony needed it, Tina helped him through a rough patch. She gave comfort back to him while he started anew in a rehab program. She and her husband stood up for Tony when he accepted Christ. They visited him in the rehab center when many others did not. Isn’t it funny how God’s comfort has a way of being there in the best of ways for the faithful?
God is not only Judge and Redeemer and Savior and Lord and Master. God is the Great Comforter. If you are faithful, God will be there to comfort you. God may also work through you as you bring comfort to others. When was the last time you gave comfort to another? When was the last time you let someone sent by God comfort you?
August 11
“So they said to him [John the Baptist], “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.””
(John 1:22–23, ESV)
(John 1:22–23, ESV)
This year, the Pope was forced to deal with a variety of serious crimes among the clergy. Just this past month, I've read about a few. The Pope accepted the resignation of an Archbishop in Australia who did not report the crime of a priest who abused two altar servers. The Pope also had to face the results of a mess concerning a Chilean priest who was brought up on charges of sexual abuse. A Cardinal from New Jersey also was forced to step down over charges of sexual abuse. The accusations and crimes among the faithful are not limited to the Roman Catholic Church. Last month, a Southern Baptist youth pastor from South Carolina was accused of sexually assaulting between two and four girls in his congregation. A pastor from Nolensville Road Baptist Church in Tennessee was accused of sexually molesting multiple boys from his congregation over twenty years. A priest in California was found guilty of stealing more than $300,000 from his congregation. In June, a New Jersey pastor was found guilty of money-laundering. The list goes on and on. Church leaders, people who represent God, are found to be crooks. It tarnishes the entire church and diminishes the message of the gospel.
However, the sins of church leadership and religious people in general is not new. It has happened since the beginning of time. Human beings are fallible and sinful. They can make poor decisions and allow sin to take hold. They are liable, as are all Christians, to the temptations of this world. You may be a faithful child of God, but you also face your spiritual battles and weaknesses. Rather than criticizing the whole church as bad, which it is not, we should focus on doing right by God in all situations. We should make things right, straighten things out.
John the Baptist was asked in our scripture for today, “Who are you?” (John 1:22). The religious leaders wanted to know what caused John to preach and teach along the Jordan and in the wilderness area surrounding the river. Many people were going to John to hear him speak and to be baptized. John talked about a baptism of repentance (Luke 3:3). He preached about repenting from one’s sins. He wanted people to reject sinful living. John saw that even among the faithful, there was crookedness and deceit. When asked about his ministry, John replied in our scripture for today that he wished to “make straight the way of the Lord” (John 1:23). In quoting the prophet Isaiah, John had a belief that the faithful in his time had become crooked with sin. Following Isaiah’s lead, John wanted to “make straight” the sinful way of the people. He spoke out against the sins of the Jewish leadership. Ultimately, he was beheaded for his outspoken preaching against the sins of the elite of Jerusalem (Matthew 14:10).
Throughout history, there have been many movements to straighten out the sinful ways of the church or synagogue, temple or leadership. Today, the Roman Catholic Church is attempting to correct the abuses of its past, by straightening out the messes hidden by former and present leadership. Every denomination and group is coming to realize that sexual and financial sins are more common than once believed. Hidden sins are coming to light. Like John the Baptist, there are leaders and people whom God has called to straighten out the messes and return the faithful to the right course.
I believe that you are probably one of those who has been called to “make straight the way of the Lord.” In some way, I believe God wants you to keep yourself and others on the narrow path that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13). Our job is not just to stop sin, but to help return others to faithfulness. You are not judge and jury. You need to save those who are lost in sin. Some of them may not even realize how lost they are presently.
Today, see what needs spiritual fixing. Determine what sin may be tempting you and get rid of it. Seek repentance from God. Talk to God about what you can do to make sure the faithful are on the right path. Is there someone who needs your help to straighten things out?
However, the sins of church leadership and religious people in general is not new. It has happened since the beginning of time. Human beings are fallible and sinful. They can make poor decisions and allow sin to take hold. They are liable, as are all Christians, to the temptations of this world. You may be a faithful child of God, but you also face your spiritual battles and weaknesses. Rather than criticizing the whole church as bad, which it is not, we should focus on doing right by God in all situations. We should make things right, straighten things out.
John the Baptist was asked in our scripture for today, “Who are you?” (John 1:22). The religious leaders wanted to know what caused John to preach and teach along the Jordan and in the wilderness area surrounding the river. Many people were going to John to hear him speak and to be baptized. John talked about a baptism of repentance (Luke 3:3). He preached about repenting from one’s sins. He wanted people to reject sinful living. John saw that even among the faithful, there was crookedness and deceit. When asked about his ministry, John replied in our scripture for today that he wished to “make straight the way of the Lord” (John 1:23). In quoting the prophet Isaiah, John had a belief that the faithful in his time had become crooked with sin. Following Isaiah’s lead, John wanted to “make straight” the sinful way of the people. He spoke out against the sins of the Jewish leadership. Ultimately, he was beheaded for his outspoken preaching against the sins of the elite of Jerusalem (Matthew 14:10).
Throughout history, there have been many movements to straighten out the sinful ways of the church or synagogue, temple or leadership. Today, the Roman Catholic Church is attempting to correct the abuses of its past, by straightening out the messes hidden by former and present leadership. Every denomination and group is coming to realize that sexual and financial sins are more common than once believed. Hidden sins are coming to light. Like John the Baptist, there are leaders and people whom God has called to straighten out the messes and return the faithful to the right course.
I believe that you are probably one of those who has been called to “make straight the way of the Lord.” In some way, I believe God wants you to keep yourself and others on the narrow path that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13). Our job is not just to stop sin, but to help return others to faithfulness. You are not judge and jury. You need to save those who are lost in sin. Some of them may not even realize how lost they are presently.
Today, see what needs spiritual fixing. Determine what sin may be tempting you and get rid of it. Seek repentance from God. Talk to God about what you can do to make sure the faithful are on the right path. Is there someone who needs your help to straighten things out?
August 12
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1–4, NIV)
When I was a teenager, I wanted a telescope. For years, I wanted to see what lay beyond the bounds of earth. For my 10th wedding anniversary, I asked my wife for a telescope so that I could peer through it and discover all those things I longed to see. After she bought it for me, I remember looking through that telescope and seeing Saturn’s rings for the first time. I remember discovering the moons of Saturn. I remember finding the Sea of Tranquility on the moon, where the first astronauts stepped. Spotting my first nebula, I was amazed at the wisps of gases. When I spied my first distant spiral galaxy, I was awestruck. There was so much to discovery right above my head!
For millennia, humankind has looked to the stars for meaning and guidance. The heavens have inspired poets and philosophers. Inventors and dreamers like DaVinci and Galileo envisioned great meaning in the night sky. Ancient soldiers and sailors used the night sky and the sun to determine geographic location and time progression. Early humans used the position of the sun to determine the seasons and times for planting and harvesting. Even the first humans, we used the heavens to explain things. We saw the regular passing of the sun and moon and stars as signs of the orderliness of the universe. Earliest man could see that someone gave the sun and stars an order. Ancient man could not perceive of the order in the skies as anything but God-inspired. Early astronomers and cosmologists believed the heavens to be loaded with signs of God’s plans. As they searched the skies, they sought out “the mind of God” as Einstein declared. Omens were determined in the stars. Special occasions were foretold in the movements of planets and stars. Even in the twentieth century, physicists used the sun’s color and makeup to explain nuclear energy. Scientists for thousands and thousands of years made a distinct connection between the heavens and God and order and discovery and meaning.
Our scripture for today explains how the heavens display God’s handiwork. Even now, the heavens are “declaring God’s handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). The heavens “pour forth speech” “night after night”. The heavens are telling us that God has the power to do great things such as inspiring the night sky. Celestial events “proclaim the work of God’s hands”, “revealing God’s knowledge” (Psalm 19:2). Not limited by human language, they are telling us so much. Mathematics, physics, cosmology, and many other sciences have been inspired by the rhythm of the sun and stars. Generations saw the skies as an example of the power of God’s greatness. Can you believe God not only set the universe in motion, but that God knows little old you?
Sadly, as more and more people bury themselves in their cell phones, they have forgotten to look up to the heavens to see the glory of God. As atheistic scientists explained away what God has done, they make the masses believe that the heavens ordered themselves, as if anything with order in the world came about by itself. More and more, God’s speech from the heavens has been drowned out by the humanistic ramblings of self-proclaimed geniuses. They are so smart that they can explain how a black hole works without even seeing one. They explain away great cosmic forces as if they came out of nowhere. Believe me, God’s heavens are still proclaiming God’s glory. It’s just that prideful humans have explained away God’s work, taking credit for something God created.
Don’t listen to the voices of self-absorbed people who believe they have the answers to explain everything. Two hundred years ago, people made fun of those who believed in human flight. They laughed at the thought of obtaining energy from the sun. They abused those who believed in a man going to the moon. Humans are so small-minded. Even scientists and physicists have their limitations. They may be able to explain how the heavens work, but God created the work to begin with.
As a few scientists today keep explaining away God’s handiwork, just remember that God is speaking to you even now from the heavens. The night sky is God’s display for you. God is telling you something from every star and every traveling orb. God made the earth for us to live in. God gave us the heavens to display his creative power. God loved us enough to arrange the wonders of the night sky. God wants you to experience His love “day after day” and “night after night”. Every now and then, put down your cell phone and look up to the heavens and discover God's creation all over again!
For millennia, humankind has looked to the stars for meaning and guidance. The heavens have inspired poets and philosophers. Inventors and dreamers like DaVinci and Galileo envisioned great meaning in the night sky. Ancient soldiers and sailors used the night sky and the sun to determine geographic location and time progression. Early humans used the position of the sun to determine the seasons and times for planting and harvesting. Even the first humans, we used the heavens to explain things. We saw the regular passing of the sun and moon and stars as signs of the orderliness of the universe. Earliest man could see that someone gave the sun and stars an order. Ancient man could not perceive of the order in the skies as anything but God-inspired. Early astronomers and cosmologists believed the heavens to be loaded with signs of God’s plans. As they searched the skies, they sought out “the mind of God” as Einstein declared. Omens were determined in the stars. Special occasions were foretold in the movements of planets and stars. Even in the twentieth century, physicists used the sun’s color and makeup to explain nuclear energy. Scientists for thousands and thousands of years made a distinct connection between the heavens and God and order and discovery and meaning.
Our scripture for today explains how the heavens display God’s handiwork. Even now, the heavens are “declaring God’s handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). The heavens “pour forth speech” “night after night”. The heavens are telling us that God has the power to do great things such as inspiring the night sky. Celestial events “proclaim the work of God’s hands”, “revealing God’s knowledge” (Psalm 19:2). Not limited by human language, they are telling us so much. Mathematics, physics, cosmology, and many other sciences have been inspired by the rhythm of the sun and stars. Generations saw the skies as an example of the power of God’s greatness. Can you believe God not only set the universe in motion, but that God knows little old you?
Sadly, as more and more people bury themselves in their cell phones, they have forgotten to look up to the heavens to see the glory of God. As atheistic scientists explained away what God has done, they make the masses believe that the heavens ordered themselves, as if anything with order in the world came about by itself. More and more, God’s speech from the heavens has been drowned out by the humanistic ramblings of self-proclaimed geniuses. They are so smart that they can explain how a black hole works without even seeing one. They explain away great cosmic forces as if they came out of nowhere. Believe me, God’s heavens are still proclaiming God’s glory. It’s just that prideful humans have explained away God’s work, taking credit for something God created.
Don’t listen to the voices of self-absorbed people who believe they have the answers to explain everything. Two hundred years ago, people made fun of those who believed in human flight. They laughed at the thought of obtaining energy from the sun. They abused those who believed in a man going to the moon. Humans are so small-minded. Even scientists and physicists have their limitations. They may be able to explain how the heavens work, but God created the work to begin with.
As a few scientists today keep explaining away God’s handiwork, just remember that God is speaking to you even now from the heavens. The night sky is God’s display for you. God is telling you something from every star and every traveling orb. God made the earth for us to live in. God gave us the heavens to display his creative power. God loved us enough to arrange the wonders of the night sky. God wants you to experience His love “day after day” and “night after night”. Every now and then, put down your cell phone and look up to the heavens and discover God's creation all over again!
August 13
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
(1 Peter 2:11, ESV)
(1 Peter 2:11, ESV)
When Peter wrote the words above, he was speaking to Christians as if they were exiles from Egypt. He saw Christians as people who do not belong to this world. They belong to God. Thus, their lives on the earth are as “sojourners” or travelers. Their soul belongs in Heaven with God, but travels through this world in order to be a sign of God’s Kingdom. You are like the exiles of Egypt who traveled in the wilderness but didn’t belong there. You were destined for the Promised Land.
As you sojourn or travel through your life, realize that you may not feel like you belong at times. The world has different ideas of right and wrong. Those outside of faith and living in sin will make you feel as if you are wasting your life. They will make fun of your righteousness, your faith, or your holy attitude. They follow the “passions of the flesh” (1 Peter 2:11). You follow the word of God. Their goals and aims in life will be different from yours. Your faithfulness may make you feel like an alien in this world, someone that doesn’t belong. Heaven is your home. This world won’t ever make you feel truly at home.
As you sojourn through this life, you will need to “abstain from the passions of the flesh”, as the above scripture contends. This verse from Peter makes clear that passions of the flesh “wage war against your soul.” Your fleshly, or earthly, body will crave for things you don’t need. It will hunger for things that are wrong. It will push you to desire what can destroy you. Your soul, ensconced in the grace of God, will fight this pull of the flesh. Your sinful desires and bodily cravings will pressure your heart and mind. Peter, in the scripture above, urged the faithful to “abstain” or reject these cravings. To embrace these cravings will destroy you from the inside out.
Jon’s mother used to say he had a “death wish”. As a child, he was brash and acted out. As he grew older, his acting out became more brazen. In high school, he used to drink alcohol and race his car on the freeway late at night. He would date girls, but only for a short while until they realized that Jon was a bad influence. He was always taking chances, pushing the envelope, playing dangerous games. On a dare, Jon took cocaine and attempted to climb the city water tower. He ended up in the hospital with a broken leg when he fell on the way back down. After high school, he attached himself to dangerous people and rushed headlong into dangerous pursuits. When he laid dying from internal injuries due to a barroom brawl, the EMT asked Jon why he got into the fight. His response defined his life: “I aim to live life to the fullest and take advantage of every opportunity to do what I want when I want to.” He died at a young age.
The scripture for today warns you to abstain from following the “passions” of your body. Your body may crave excitement, drugs, sex, food, and more. Your body can desire foods that can kill you, thrills that can be dangerous, and mind-altering drugs that might amuse you for a short while. The problem with allowing your cravings and lusts and passions to control your actions is that often the body will crave what is not good for it. The only remedy you have is to listen to your soul. Your soul, when it is filled with God’s Spirit, will help you fight what demons your body craves. Your soul is God’s antidote to throwing your life away by following your desires until they haunt you.
Last year, I saw a picture of a married couple lying beside their minivan. Police had found them in the minivan passed out and barely breathing. They had taken a large dose of opioids and their bodies had gone catatonic. The police had to administer emergency shots of anti-opioid medicine to save their lives. What was shocking was that their two young children were in baby seats in the back of the minivan. The parents almost died, leaving their children locked in their baby seats! The children were removed from the home. The parents risked killing themselves and their children for a momentary high! It doesn’t sound reasonable does it? That’s because when you listen to the cravings of addiction, your body can talk you into the worst of things. Without a soul connected to God, you won’t be able to stop the cravings. Who knows what you could lose?
Let’s be honest. There is a war going on in your body, mind, and soul. Your body wants things that are not good for you. Your mind plays games to get you to succumb to its cravings. Your only real hope in this world is to allow God into your soul to help you fight the war. Is it no wonder that Alcoholics Anonymous lists as their first step in recovery the need to reach out to a “higher power”? God in the soul keeps you grounded. God in your soul reminds you what is truly right and wrong. Your body and mind and cravings will lie to you. God will not.
As you sojourn or travel through your life, realize that you may not feel like you belong at times. The world has different ideas of right and wrong. Those outside of faith and living in sin will make you feel as if you are wasting your life. They will make fun of your righteousness, your faith, or your holy attitude. They follow the “passions of the flesh” (1 Peter 2:11). You follow the word of God. Their goals and aims in life will be different from yours. Your faithfulness may make you feel like an alien in this world, someone that doesn’t belong. Heaven is your home. This world won’t ever make you feel truly at home.
As you sojourn through this life, you will need to “abstain from the passions of the flesh”, as the above scripture contends. This verse from Peter makes clear that passions of the flesh “wage war against your soul.” Your fleshly, or earthly, body will crave for things you don’t need. It will hunger for things that are wrong. It will push you to desire what can destroy you. Your soul, ensconced in the grace of God, will fight this pull of the flesh. Your sinful desires and bodily cravings will pressure your heart and mind. Peter, in the scripture above, urged the faithful to “abstain” or reject these cravings. To embrace these cravings will destroy you from the inside out.
Jon’s mother used to say he had a “death wish”. As a child, he was brash and acted out. As he grew older, his acting out became more brazen. In high school, he used to drink alcohol and race his car on the freeway late at night. He would date girls, but only for a short while until they realized that Jon was a bad influence. He was always taking chances, pushing the envelope, playing dangerous games. On a dare, Jon took cocaine and attempted to climb the city water tower. He ended up in the hospital with a broken leg when he fell on the way back down. After high school, he attached himself to dangerous people and rushed headlong into dangerous pursuits. When he laid dying from internal injuries due to a barroom brawl, the EMT asked Jon why he got into the fight. His response defined his life: “I aim to live life to the fullest and take advantage of every opportunity to do what I want when I want to.” He died at a young age.
The scripture for today warns you to abstain from following the “passions” of your body. Your body may crave excitement, drugs, sex, food, and more. Your body can desire foods that can kill you, thrills that can be dangerous, and mind-altering drugs that might amuse you for a short while. The problem with allowing your cravings and lusts and passions to control your actions is that often the body will crave what is not good for it. The only remedy you have is to listen to your soul. Your soul, when it is filled with God’s Spirit, will help you fight what demons your body craves. Your soul is God’s antidote to throwing your life away by following your desires until they haunt you.
Last year, I saw a picture of a married couple lying beside their minivan. Police had found them in the minivan passed out and barely breathing. They had taken a large dose of opioids and their bodies had gone catatonic. The police had to administer emergency shots of anti-opioid medicine to save their lives. What was shocking was that their two young children were in baby seats in the back of the minivan. The parents almost died, leaving their children locked in their baby seats! The children were removed from the home. The parents risked killing themselves and their children for a momentary high! It doesn’t sound reasonable does it? That’s because when you listen to the cravings of addiction, your body can talk you into the worst of things. Without a soul connected to God, you won’t be able to stop the cravings. Who knows what you could lose?
Let’s be honest. There is a war going on in your body, mind, and soul. Your body wants things that are not good for you. Your mind plays games to get you to succumb to its cravings. Your only real hope in this world is to allow God into your soul to help you fight the war. Is it no wonder that Alcoholics Anonymous lists as their first step in recovery the need to reach out to a “higher power”? God in the soul keeps you grounded. God in your soul reminds you what is truly right and wrong. Your body and mind and cravings will lie to you. God will not.
August 14
“When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” (Genesis 9:14–16, NLT)
The above scripture quotes God’s promise after the flood destroyed so much life upon the earth. Though God cleansed the earth from much evil of mankind during the flood, God also saw the destruction and damage to creation. It affected God deeply. As a promise never to flood the earth again, God put the rainbow in the sky. It was to be a sign of God’s covenantal promise to never again flood the earth. It was also a reminder of the sin of humankind in the days of Noah.
I want to focus your thoughts today on something special I see in this scripture. Notice in Genesis 19:14, God declares that the rainbow “will appear in the clouds”. God determined that when the clouds were present, rainbows would appear. The clouds would have been signs of a coming storm. The rainbow would be God’s promise of no flood to appear in that storm. With the clouds, God sends rainbows. The rainbows would light up the sky when clouds threaten an impending storm. The rainbows were a sign of the “eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth” (Genesis 9:16). God would “never again” use floodwaters to “destroy all life” (Genesis 9:15).
According to this scripture, when clouds threaten, God’s rainbow brings hope in His covenantal promise. When the threat of a storm appears in the sky, God wants humanity to feel hope with the rainbow. The rainbow was to bring comfort when clouds appear. God often works this way. When something threatens the faithful, God wants to bring hope. When the dark clouds of suffering and anguish hit, God wants to remind you that He keeps His promises and He protects you.
“It was Christmas Eve 1875 and Ira Sankey was traveling on a Delaware River steamboat when he was recognized by some of the passengers. His picture had been in the newspaper because he was the song leader for the famous evangelist D.L. Moody. They asked him to sing one of his own hymns, but Sankey demurred, saying that he preferred to sing William B. Bradbury's hymn, "Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us." As he sang, one of the stanzas began, "We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way."
When he finished, a man stepped from the shadows and asked, "Did you ever serve in the Union Army?"
"Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, "from the spring of 1860."
"Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?"
"Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, very much surprised.
"So did I, but I was serving in the Confederate army. When I saw you standing at your post, I thought to myself, 'That fellow will never get away alive.' I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow, completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you. At that instant, just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to heaven and began to sing...'Let him sing his song to the end,' I said to myself, 'I can shoot him afterwards. He's my victim at all events, and my bullet cannot miss him.' But the song you sang then was the song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: 'We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way.' Those words stirred up many memories. I began to think of my childhood and my God-fearing mother. She had many times sung that song to me. When you had finished your song, it was impossible for me to take aim again. I thought, 'The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.' And my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side." (Story from K. Hughes, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, p.69)
There are so many ways God protects you. Often, you may not even know it. Sometimes, you need a reminder. The rainbow serves to remind humankind of all the threatening dangers that can be just around the corner. It also shouts out that God is in control. God keeps His promises. God protects your life.
Today, celebrate the fact that God watches over you. Praise God in your prayers for His faithfulness to His promises. No matter where you are, no matter how threatening the storms in your life may get, God has a covenant with you.
I want to focus your thoughts today on something special I see in this scripture. Notice in Genesis 19:14, God declares that the rainbow “will appear in the clouds”. God determined that when the clouds were present, rainbows would appear. The clouds would have been signs of a coming storm. The rainbow would be God’s promise of no flood to appear in that storm. With the clouds, God sends rainbows. The rainbows would light up the sky when clouds threaten an impending storm. The rainbows were a sign of the “eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth” (Genesis 9:16). God would “never again” use floodwaters to “destroy all life” (Genesis 9:15).
According to this scripture, when clouds threaten, God’s rainbow brings hope in His covenantal promise. When the threat of a storm appears in the sky, God wants humanity to feel hope with the rainbow. The rainbow was to bring comfort when clouds appear. God often works this way. When something threatens the faithful, God wants to bring hope. When the dark clouds of suffering and anguish hit, God wants to remind you that He keeps His promises and He protects you.
“It was Christmas Eve 1875 and Ira Sankey was traveling on a Delaware River steamboat when he was recognized by some of the passengers. His picture had been in the newspaper because he was the song leader for the famous evangelist D.L. Moody. They asked him to sing one of his own hymns, but Sankey demurred, saying that he preferred to sing William B. Bradbury's hymn, "Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us." As he sang, one of the stanzas began, "We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way."
When he finished, a man stepped from the shadows and asked, "Did you ever serve in the Union Army?"
"Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, "from the spring of 1860."
"Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?"
"Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, very much surprised.
"So did I, but I was serving in the Confederate army. When I saw you standing at your post, I thought to myself, 'That fellow will never get away alive.' I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow, completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you. At that instant, just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to heaven and began to sing...'Let him sing his song to the end,' I said to myself, 'I can shoot him afterwards. He's my victim at all events, and my bullet cannot miss him.' But the song you sang then was the song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: 'We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way.' Those words stirred up many memories. I began to think of my childhood and my God-fearing mother. She had many times sung that song to me. When you had finished your song, it was impossible for me to take aim again. I thought, 'The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.' And my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side." (Story from K. Hughes, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, p.69)
There are so many ways God protects you. Often, you may not even know it. Sometimes, you need a reminder. The rainbow serves to remind humankind of all the threatening dangers that can be just around the corner. It also shouts out that God is in control. God keeps His promises. God protects your life.
Today, celebrate the fact that God watches over you. Praise God in your prayers for His faithfulness to His promises. No matter where you are, no matter how threatening the storms in your life may get, God has a covenant with you.
August 16
“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3–4, NIV)
In the scripture above, Jesus is speaking of Himself in a parable. He is the “gatekeeper”, who watches over the sheep. His followers are the sheep. The scripture mentions that the sheep in the parable are led by the gatekeeper shepherd who calls to them. The sheep trust the gatekeeper. They “listen to HIS voice” (John 10:3). They “know HIS voice” (John 10:4). Like sheep in real life, the sheep in this parable not only know the voice of their trusted shepherd, but they listen to His voice and His commands as He leads them.
As I was pondering the meaning of this parable, I began to think about Jesus’ voice. Do you know HIS voice? Do you listen to His commands? I want you to consider these two questions today. If Jesus is your divine Shepherd, you need to not only know His voice, but heed His commands.
I was visiting an older woman at her home twelve years ago. I stopped in to check on her husband who was home recovering from surgery. After a short visit and prayer, I began to leave. I knew the man was tired and sore, so I didn’t want to overstay my welcome. Leaving his bedside, I started toward the door I came in. The wife escorted me, then stopped me by a window. She asked me a simple question, “Pastor, I’d like to ask you a question, and I hope you won’t find me an embarrassment.” Her words intrigued me. I stopped and faced her. She was looking out a large window facing south. There was melting snow outside. The sun was bright. She said to me, “I had a dream last night. Jesus was speaking to me from out there, by the swing set.” She looked up to me and tried to discern my reaction to her words.
“What did He say to you?” I responded.
She was taken back by my reply. I think she suspected I’d try to tell her that dreams are just dreams or that her mind was just playing tricks with her. She could tell by my question that there was something important to her dream. This lady was not known to be a dreamer or to make up stories. She was a serious person with a deep faith. I’m not going to tell you all that she said. The dream was for her. However, I do want to tell you that even though she had never before seen the man in her dream who spoke to her by the swing set, she knew it was Jesus. She knew it through His voice, His presence, His words.
If Jesus spoke to you today, would you recognize His voice? Would you know He was speaking to you? In a dream, I too have spoken with Jesus. I recognized Him quickly. Even today, I can’t tell you about any other dream I’ve ever had. Only that one. I usually don’t remember my dreams. But I remember that one dream about Jesus from thirty-five years ago in great detail. I remember Jesus’ face, His eyes, His words. His presence in that dream changed the direction of my life.
I believe that when God speaks to people, they somehow recognize that voice. Even the unfaithful in the Bible recognized Jesus’ voice when He spoke. When Jesus spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus, Saul recognized His voice immediately. When Samuel heard God’s voice, Eli the prophet helped him to recognize it (1 Samuel 3). When God spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai, Moses learned God’s voice (Exodus 4). Thereafter, Moses consistently recognized God’s voice during and after the exodus from Egypt. Even the demons recognized Jesus’ holy voice and respected it (Mark 5:7, Acts 19:15). Faithful and unfaithful alike recognize Jesus’ voice. However, the faithful not only know Jesus’ voice, they listen and follow His commands.
Don’t be surprised if you recognize Jesus’ voice speaking to you. Don’t be surprised if God speaks to you through visions or dreams. Learn to recognize God’s voice responding to your prayers or whispering to your mind. If you are one of the sheep of God’s fold, you should learn to recognize and follow the voice of the Great Shepherd!
As I was pondering the meaning of this parable, I began to think about Jesus’ voice. Do you know HIS voice? Do you listen to His commands? I want you to consider these two questions today. If Jesus is your divine Shepherd, you need to not only know His voice, but heed His commands.
I was visiting an older woman at her home twelve years ago. I stopped in to check on her husband who was home recovering from surgery. After a short visit and prayer, I began to leave. I knew the man was tired and sore, so I didn’t want to overstay my welcome. Leaving his bedside, I started toward the door I came in. The wife escorted me, then stopped me by a window. She asked me a simple question, “Pastor, I’d like to ask you a question, and I hope you won’t find me an embarrassment.” Her words intrigued me. I stopped and faced her. She was looking out a large window facing south. There was melting snow outside. The sun was bright. She said to me, “I had a dream last night. Jesus was speaking to me from out there, by the swing set.” She looked up to me and tried to discern my reaction to her words.
“What did He say to you?” I responded.
She was taken back by my reply. I think she suspected I’d try to tell her that dreams are just dreams or that her mind was just playing tricks with her. She could tell by my question that there was something important to her dream. This lady was not known to be a dreamer or to make up stories. She was a serious person with a deep faith. I’m not going to tell you all that she said. The dream was for her. However, I do want to tell you that even though she had never before seen the man in her dream who spoke to her by the swing set, she knew it was Jesus. She knew it through His voice, His presence, His words.
If Jesus spoke to you today, would you recognize His voice? Would you know He was speaking to you? In a dream, I too have spoken with Jesus. I recognized Him quickly. Even today, I can’t tell you about any other dream I’ve ever had. Only that one. I usually don’t remember my dreams. But I remember that one dream about Jesus from thirty-five years ago in great detail. I remember Jesus’ face, His eyes, His words. His presence in that dream changed the direction of my life.
I believe that when God speaks to people, they somehow recognize that voice. Even the unfaithful in the Bible recognized Jesus’ voice when He spoke. When Jesus spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus, Saul recognized His voice immediately. When Samuel heard God’s voice, Eli the prophet helped him to recognize it (1 Samuel 3). When God spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai, Moses learned God’s voice (Exodus 4). Thereafter, Moses consistently recognized God’s voice during and after the exodus from Egypt. Even the demons recognized Jesus’ holy voice and respected it (Mark 5:7, Acts 19:15). Faithful and unfaithful alike recognize Jesus’ voice. However, the faithful not only know Jesus’ voice, they listen and follow His commands.
Don’t be surprised if you recognize Jesus’ voice speaking to you. Don’t be surprised if God speaks to you through visions or dreams. Learn to recognize God’s voice responding to your prayers or whispering to your mind. If you are one of the sheep of God’s fold, you should learn to recognize and follow the voice of the Great Shepherd!
August 17
“Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.” (Proverbs 13:10, NLT)
The word “correlation” is defined by the dictionary as “a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things.” When there is a correlation in scripture, there’s a direct connection between those things. In our scripture from Proverbs 13:10 chosen for today, there are two obvious correlations present. They are split by a semi-colon. The first correlation is that pride is related to conflict. The second correlation is between wise people and taking advice. Both correlations are important in your everyday life. They can make the difference between joy and sadness.
“During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union General John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--." A moment later Sedgwick fell to the ground, fatally wounded.” (Today in the Word, August 30, 1993). As a soldier, General Sedgwick should have known better than expose himself in a spot perfect for a sniper. However, his pride got in the way. So overconfident was he that he couldn’t imagine an enemy sniper able to hit him at that distance. Prideful arrogance cost General Sedgwick his life.
Pride has a way of causing problems whenever it appears. A prideful soldier can lose fellow troops due to overconfidence. A prideful politician may fail to see her weaknesses. Pride can make you take stupid chances. It can cause you to be blind to your own needs. According to our scripture for today, “pride leads to conflict”.
Jenny was well-loved in her church. She was a very generous individual, even giving to a fault. However, she had a problem with asking for help. Even when she might fail, Jenny would not ask for support. During the church fall bazaar, Jenny oversaw setup. She was to get all the chairs and tables and decorations up the day before the event. As she went about the task, she and a few friends completed most of the work. As Jenny was getting ready to leave, she noticed that a roaster had not been set out. It was located up high in a cupboard, because it was used only twice a year. The woman Jenny was with offered to help her get out the roaster, but Jenny told her not to bother. Jenny would take care of it, of course.
Three hours late from coming home, Jenny’s husband called the church, but there was no answer. After five hours, Jenny’s husband decided to go over to the church. There, he found Jenny sprawled out on the kitchen floor with a ladder lying next to her. Overreaching, she had tipped over the ladder, with no help from anyone to hold it. Her husband got upset at her for not asking for help. She argued with him, telling him to keep his opinion to himself. She was so mad at her husband for telling her she should have asked for help that she refused to go to the hospital. After spending two days in bed (she wouldn’t let her husband know how much she hurt), she finally went to the emergency room herself. There, the doctors discovered she had a fractured hip. Since she had waited so long for treatment, she ended up in the hospital for several days following surgery. The fall, the fight, the pain… were all caused by her pride. She didn’t want to ask for help, nor respect her husband’s advice.
The second correlation in the scripture for today involves taking advice. There we are taught that “those who are wise take advice”. Like Jenny in the story above, many people do not want someone to tell them what to do. They don’t want to hear advice. They don’t want to display any weakness. In doing so, they often make poor choices.
Those in Jenny’s church offered to help. Jenny didn’t heed their advice. General Sedgwick was warned to duck when on the parapet. He called that advice, “Nonsense”! I have found one more correlation in our scripture for today, a third. I have found that those who are prideful often are not wise. In not taking advice, in causing conflicts, those who are prideful usually will falter one way or another.
As you go about your day today, check your pride. Make sure your pride isn’t a source of conflict in your life. Determine if you are too prideful to accept or even ask for advice. Don’t let pride cause you to be unwise. Don’t let your inability to take advice cause you to make mistakes. Is there any correlation between the scripture for today and your life?
“During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union General John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--." A moment later Sedgwick fell to the ground, fatally wounded.” (Today in the Word, August 30, 1993). As a soldier, General Sedgwick should have known better than expose himself in a spot perfect for a sniper. However, his pride got in the way. So overconfident was he that he couldn’t imagine an enemy sniper able to hit him at that distance. Prideful arrogance cost General Sedgwick his life.
Pride has a way of causing problems whenever it appears. A prideful soldier can lose fellow troops due to overconfidence. A prideful politician may fail to see her weaknesses. Pride can make you take stupid chances. It can cause you to be blind to your own needs. According to our scripture for today, “pride leads to conflict”.
Jenny was well-loved in her church. She was a very generous individual, even giving to a fault. However, she had a problem with asking for help. Even when she might fail, Jenny would not ask for support. During the church fall bazaar, Jenny oversaw setup. She was to get all the chairs and tables and decorations up the day before the event. As she went about the task, she and a few friends completed most of the work. As Jenny was getting ready to leave, she noticed that a roaster had not been set out. It was located up high in a cupboard, because it was used only twice a year. The woman Jenny was with offered to help her get out the roaster, but Jenny told her not to bother. Jenny would take care of it, of course.
Three hours late from coming home, Jenny’s husband called the church, but there was no answer. After five hours, Jenny’s husband decided to go over to the church. There, he found Jenny sprawled out on the kitchen floor with a ladder lying next to her. Overreaching, she had tipped over the ladder, with no help from anyone to hold it. Her husband got upset at her for not asking for help. She argued with him, telling him to keep his opinion to himself. She was so mad at her husband for telling her she should have asked for help that she refused to go to the hospital. After spending two days in bed (she wouldn’t let her husband know how much she hurt), she finally went to the emergency room herself. There, the doctors discovered she had a fractured hip. Since she had waited so long for treatment, she ended up in the hospital for several days following surgery. The fall, the fight, the pain… were all caused by her pride. She didn’t want to ask for help, nor respect her husband’s advice.
The second correlation in the scripture for today involves taking advice. There we are taught that “those who are wise take advice”. Like Jenny in the story above, many people do not want someone to tell them what to do. They don’t want to hear advice. They don’t want to display any weakness. In doing so, they often make poor choices.
Those in Jenny’s church offered to help. Jenny didn’t heed their advice. General Sedgwick was warned to duck when on the parapet. He called that advice, “Nonsense”! I have found one more correlation in our scripture for today, a third. I have found that those who are prideful often are not wise. In not taking advice, in causing conflicts, those who are prideful usually will falter one way or another.
As you go about your day today, check your pride. Make sure your pride isn’t a source of conflict in your life. Determine if you are too prideful to accept or even ask for advice. Don’t let pride cause you to be unwise. Don’t let your inability to take advice cause you to make mistakes. Is there any correlation between the scripture for today and your life?
August 19
“For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:20, RSV)
“In Basel, Switzerland each year the protestant townspeople have a festival in which they all don masks and go through the city doing things and going places they would never consider under normal circumstances. The mask, which veiled their identity emboldened them to do these things. One year, the Salvation Army, concerned about the abandonment of moral standards, put up signs all over the city, which read, “God sees behind the mask.”” ( Dr. Kenneth Gangel, Scofield Memorial Church, May 22, 1983)
Why is it that the people of Basel could be emboldened to do things different simply by wearing a mask? Is it because when people hide behind a mask, they can hide what they really think and feel? I wonder what God thinks of this need to wear masks?
Though in Basel, they wear masks on a special day, and on Halloween many American children and adults wear masks and costumes, many people wear invisible masks all the time. They use facial expressions that hide their real intentions. They hide behind smiles. They hide behind tattoos and gruff exteriors. They hide behind money or security or powerful friends. They hide their feelings, their hate, their joy, their wishes. Are you good at hiding your feelings? Do you have any masks, visible or invisible?
Just after visiting with Nicodemus, who came to see Him in the night, Jesus spoke the scripture above. It may be that Nicodemus’ visit spurred Jesus to consider what people hide from others. Nicodemus was a Jewish leader. At the time when Jesus spoke the words above, Jewish leaders had already spoken out against Jesus’ teachings. In John 2:24, it is inferred that Jesus did not feel safe around the Jewish authorities. Seeing the sinfulness in the Temple, Jesus had overturned the tables of the money-changers. In response, I’m sure he felt threatened. Nicodemus then came to Jesus at night. In the process, Jesus mentioned in the scripture above that “every one who does evil hates the light”, hates to be “exposed” (John 3:20). Jesus wasn’t speaking about Nicodemus directly, but the Jewish authorities who were friends and associates to Nicodemus might have been Jesus’ intended targets. Jesus knew the sinful Jewish authorities hid their spiritual, moral, and ethical crimes. Nicodemus’ visit at night spurred Jesus to preach about what evil lurks in the night, hidden from view.
If you visit a car dealership in Missouri, you might just bump into a salesman named Denny. Denny used to be active in his church. Denny used to have a good marriage and loving family. Denny was well-liked until it was discovered that he had had several affairs. When his sin was exposed, his marriage ended in divorce, and he was forced to move out. Today, many of Denny’s friends don’t know that he was married or has children. He keeps a lid on that. Denny doesn’t want people to know. He no longer attends church. He buys opioids on the street and uses them regularly. He has had many one-night stands. He has a problem controlling his drinking. Denny’s life has devolved into one sin after another. Nobody really knows the extent of Denny’s sins, because he keeps everything well hidden under a salesman’s exterior. His smile hides many woes. His smooth talk belies his rough life.
If God were to expose your life for everyone to see, what would happen? Would our picture of you change? Would your family be ashamed? Do you have a dark side? Be careful if you do. Bad things done in secret have a way of becoming exposed to God’s light. Hidden sins have a way of biting back or haunting you. Let God’s light permeate into every hidden recess in your life. Make things right. Then, on the day you meet God, you can look forward to seeing Him face to face. There’s nothing worse than dying with the fear or shame of what will be exposed on Judgment Day. God wants to clean things up and bring you into the light today. Can you trust Him to fix what’s broken? Can you get out from behind any mask?
Why is it that the people of Basel could be emboldened to do things different simply by wearing a mask? Is it because when people hide behind a mask, they can hide what they really think and feel? I wonder what God thinks of this need to wear masks?
Though in Basel, they wear masks on a special day, and on Halloween many American children and adults wear masks and costumes, many people wear invisible masks all the time. They use facial expressions that hide their real intentions. They hide behind smiles. They hide behind tattoos and gruff exteriors. They hide behind money or security or powerful friends. They hide their feelings, their hate, their joy, their wishes. Are you good at hiding your feelings? Do you have any masks, visible or invisible?
Just after visiting with Nicodemus, who came to see Him in the night, Jesus spoke the scripture above. It may be that Nicodemus’ visit spurred Jesus to consider what people hide from others. Nicodemus was a Jewish leader. At the time when Jesus spoke the words above, Jewish leaders had already spoken out against Jesus’ teachings. In John 2:24, it is inferred that Jesus did not feel safe around the Jewish authorities. Seeing the sinfulness in the Temple, Jesus had overturned the tables of the money-changers. In response, I’m sure he felt threatened. Nicodemus then came to Jesus at night. In the process, Jesus mentioned in the scripture above that “every one who does evil hates the light”, hates to be “exposed” (John 3:20). Jesus wasn’t speaking about Nicodemus directly, but the Jewish authorities who were friends and associates to Nicodemus might have been Jesus’ intended targets. Jesus knew the sinful Jewish authorities hid their spiritual, moral, and ethical crimes. Nicodemus’ visit at night spurred Jesus to preach about what evil lurks in the night, hidden from view.
If you visit a car dealership in Missouri, you might just bump into a salesman named Denny. Denny used to be active in his church. Denny used to have a good marriage and loving family. Denny was well-liked until it was discovered that he had had several affairs. When his sin was exposed, his marriage ended in divorce, and he was forced to move out. Today, many of Denny’s friends don’t know that he was married or has children. He keeps a lid on that. Denny doesn’t want people to know. He no longer attends church. He buys opioids on the street and uses them regularly. He has had many one-night stands. He has a problem controlling his drinking. Denny’s life has devolved into one sin after another. Nobody really knows the extent of Denny’s sins, because he keeps everything well hidden under a salesman’s exterior. His smile hides many woes. His smooth talk belies his rough life.
If God were to expose your life for everyone to see, what would happen? Would our picture of you change? Would your family be ashamed? Do you have a dark side? Be careful if you do. Bad things done in secret have a way of becoming exposed to God’s light. Hidden sins have a way of biting back or haunting you. Let God’s light permeate into every hidden recess in your life. Make things right. Then, on the day you meet God, you can look forward to seeing Him face to face. There’s nothing worse than dying with the fear or shame of what will be exposed on Judgment Day. God wants to clean things up and bring you into the light today. Can you trust Him to fix what’s broken? Can you get out from behind any mask?
August 20
“For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.” (Psalm 139:4, NKJV)
When you have been married long enough and are in love with your soul mate, something begins to happen to you. You will know your spouse so well that you can predict what he will say, how she will say it, or what he will think.
During a conversation with a couple married for fifteen years, the topic of discussion turned to favorite presents. In speaking about what to give my wife for our thirty-fourth anniversary, I asked them about their favorite anniversary present. Without hesitation, they both answered with the same answer! Both immediately shouted, “The trip!” Then, they turned and chuckled, knowing they had spoken the very same words at the very same moment.
Inquisitive, I asked, “This sounds good. Tell me about it!”
In glowing phrases, they recounted a cruise they gave themselves for their tenth anniversary. On that trip, they spent many nights watching the sunsets, days seeing the sights, and more. What made the trip most memorable was what they did one night. They got all dressed up and went up on the fantail of the ship at midnight. There, on their anniversary night, they held hands and spoke words they had written secretly beforehand, words about how much they loved each other. Surprisingly, no one was around. Despite the wind swirling, they felt exhilarated as they recounted their love for one another. As they told their story to me, one would start a sentence while the other finished it. They were so close that their relationship enabled them to predict each other’s response.
When in a relationship with God, the same holds true. In certain situations, a scripture can come to mind. You might find yourself reciting a familiar psalm or finishing some of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount as they are mentioned in worship. Some of the Bible should become so familiar that when one Christian begins a scripture, you can recite the rest of the verse. In the same way, God knows you so well that God can predict your responses to certain situations. God knows you so well that God will know your favorite sayings and know how your mind works. In our scripture for today, this is confirmed. In Psalm 139, David wrote that “there is not a word on my tongue” that the Lord doesn’t already “know it altogether” (Psalm 139:4). As one other version of the Bible says it, “God knows what you will say before you say it” (NLT). Did you know God knows you so well?
That’s why sin is so damaging to your relationship with God. God must watch you do something so deadly to your relationship with Him. God knows when sin has captured your heart and mind. God can see it coming. In hope, God prays you will value the relationship not to sin. God’s Spirit can cry out to your mind to stop and think and not go down that dark path following temptation. Still, it’s up to you to take that step, to sin or to have faith. What does God see in that heart of yours today?
Can you imagine the elation when God truly knows you love Him? On the day you give over your whole heart to God, can you see why there is celebration in Heaven? (Luke 15:7). Don’t be frightened that God can read your thoughts. Rejoice that God loves you so much that He is willing to be in a relationship full of hope and love with someone like you! God loves you so much that He is willing to listen to you and understand your hopes and dreams and fears and temptations. God wants to save you. God wants to have many conversations with you, spoken and unspoken. God knows everything about you and still wants to spend time with you! God knows when you are fearful, hopeful, or suffering. God is ready to forgive, longing to see your faith, hoping you remain true.
As you talk to God today in prayer, give thanks to the God who is in this very moment so close to you. Speak words of praise for the Father in Heaven who sent His Son to rescue your soul. God truly loves you. I pray He also sees true love in that heart of yours even now.
During a conversation with a couple married for fifteen years, the topic of discussion turned to favorite presents. In speaking about what to give my wife for our thirty-fourth anniversary, I asked them about their favorite anniversary present. Without hesitation, they both answered with the same answer! Both immediately shouted, “The trip!” Then, they turned and chuckled, knowing they had spoken the very same words at the very same moment.
Inquisitive, I asked, “This sounds good. Tell me about it!”
In glowing phrases, they recounted a cruise they gave themselves for their tenth anniversary. On that trip, they spent many nights watching the sunsets, days seeing the sights, and more. What made the trip most memorable was what they did one night. They got all dressed up and went up on the fantail of the ship at midnight. There, on their anniversary night, they held hands and spoke words they had written secretly beforehand, words about how much they loved each other. Surprisingly, no one was around. Despite the wind swirling, they felt exhilarated as they recounted their love for one another. As they told their story to me, one would start a sentence while the other finished it. They were so close that their relationship enabled them to predict each other’s response.
When in a relationship with God, the same holds true. In certain situations, a scripture can come to mind. You might find yourself reciting a familiar psalm or finishing some of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount as they are mentioned in worship. Some of the Bible should become so familiar that when one Christian begins a scripture, you can recite the rest of the verse. In the same way, God knows you so well that God can predict your responses to certain situations. God knows you so well that God will know your favorite sayings and know how your mind works. In our scripture for today, this is confirmed. In Psalm 139, David wrote that “there is not a word on my tongue” that the Lord doesn’t already “know it altogether” (Psalm 139:4). As one other version of the Bible says it, “God knows what you will say before you say it” (NLT). Did you know God knows you so well?
That’s why sin is so damaging to your relationship with God. God must watch you do something so deadly to your relationship with Him. God knows when sin has captured your heart and mind. God can see it coming. In hope, God prays you will value the relationship not to sin. God’s Spirit can cry out to your mind to stop and think and not go down that dark path following temptation. Still, it’s up to you to take that step, to sin or to have faith. What does God see in that heart of yours today?
Can you imagine the elation when God truly knows you love Him? On the day you give over your whole heart to God, can you see why there is celebration in Heaven? (Luke 15:7). Don’t be frightened that God can read your thoughts. Rejoice that God loves you so much that He is willing to be in a relationship full of hope and love with someone like you! God loves you so much that He is willing to listen to you and understand your hopes and dreams and fears and temptations. God wants to save you. God wants to have many conversations with you, spoken and unspoken. God knows everything about you and still wants to spend time with you! God knows when you are fearful, hopeful, or suffering. God is ready to forgive, longing to see your faith, hoping you remain true.
As you talk to God today in prayer, give thanks to the God who is in this very moment so close to you. Speak words of praise for the Father in Heaven who sent His Son to rescue your soul. God truly loves you. I pray He also sees true love in that heart of yours even now.
August 22
“I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” (Psalm 116:14, NIV84)
The bride and groom stood in front of me. She looked beautiful in her dress; he was dashing in his tuxedo. The two had planned for that wedding for months. Songs were chosen for the occasion. Their steps and processional were thought out. Members of the wedding party were present and had their parts down. Their wedding was designed to be a memorable day. The vows that were spoken were beautiful and key to the entire day. As I taught them, they were making vows to each other and to God.
Three years later, the groom lay dying in a hospital bed. An incurable cancer had stolen his health. As he suffered through his last days, he said to his wife: “I never regret the promises I made to you. I love you. I’m sorry about leaving you.” She held his hand as tears dripped down her face. The words were so full of love that several people had to leave the room. They couldn’t stand the mix of such love and such loss. Though deeply wounded by his cancer, I felt great joy in this couple. They knew the meaning of keeping their vows to each other and to God. I wish I could say everyone who makes vows to another or to God can be trusted to fulfill them. Sadly, all too many break their promises when convenient to do so.
Psalm 116 was written by a person who had come through a tough time in life. Believed to be a man who had suffered great “distress and anguish” (Psalm 116:3), but now was relieved. His life had turned around, and he believed the changes were caused by the hand of the Lord. God’s bounty brought relief to his soul (Psalm 116:12). In response, the author of today’s scripture promised to “fulfill his vows to the Lord” (Psalm 116:14, 18). He even repeats this promise twice in the psalm and do it in the “presence of all his people.” He didn’t care who knew about his promises to God. With all that had happened, he was determined to keep his promises to God.
How well do you keep your promises and vows to God? When things go well, do you make promises to God only to falter on those promises when things go south? What would cause you to break a promise or vow to another or to God?
Psalm 116 reminds me that people are determined to keep promises to God when happy and celebrating. Fewer still keep those promises after days and months and years go by. When suffering, people can make promises to God while grasping for healing. After the healing occurs, God is pushed to the back burner, set aside. Promises are forgotten as life goes on. Making promises can seem easy at times. Keeping promises, fulfilling one’s vows, is another story. That takes dedication. It takes a steadfast willingness to be faithful to one’s word. Are you one who always fulfills vows to God or others?
Today, think back on your life. What kinds of vows or promises have you made in years past? How well have you kept those vows, remained determined to fulfill your promises? Can your word be trusted? God always keeps His promises. Jesus was “faithful unto death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). There is a direct relationship between keeping promises and remaining faithful. Have you discovered that yet?
Three years later, the groom lay dying in a hospital bed. An incurable cancer had stolen his health. As he suffered through his last days, he said to his wife: “I never regret the promises I made to you. I love you. I’m sorry about leaving you.” She held his hand as tears dripped down her face. The words were so full of love that several people had to leave the room. They couldn’t stand the mix of such love and such loss. Though deeply wounded by his cancer, I felt great joy in this couple. They knew the meaning of keeping their vows to each other and to God. I wish I could say everyone who makes vows to another or to God can be trusted to fulfill them. Sadly, all too many break their promises when convenient to do so.
Psalm 116 was written by a person who had come through a tough time in life. Believed to be a man who had suffered great “distress and anguish” (Psalm 116:3), but now was relieved. His life had turned around, and he believed the changes were caused by the hand of the Lord. God’s bounty brought relief to his soul (Psalm 116:12). In response, the author of today’s scripture promised to “fulfill his vows to the Lord” (Psalm 116:14, 18). He even repeats this promise twice in the psalm and do it in the “presence of all his people.” He didn’t care who knew about his promises to God. With all that had happened, he was determined to keep his promises to God.
How well do you keep your promises and vows to God? When things go well, do you make promises to God only to falter on those promises when things go south? What would cause you to break a promise or vow to another or to God?
Psalm 116 reminds me that people are determined to keep promises to God when happy and celebrating. Fewer still keep those promises after days and months and years go by. When suffering, people can make promises to God while grasping for healing. After the healing occurs, God is pushed to the back burner, set aside. Promises are forgotten as life goes on. Making promises can seem easy at times. Keeping promises, fulfilling one’s vows, is another story. That takes dedication. It takes a steadfast willingness to be faithful to one’s word. Are you one who always fulfills vows to God or others?
Today, think back on your life. What kinds of vows or promises have you made in years past? How well have you kept those vows, remained determined to fulfill your promises? Can your word be trusted? God always keeps His promises. Jesus was “faithful unto death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). There is a direct relationship between keeping promises and remaining faithful. Have you discovered that yet?
August 23
“Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?”” (John 18:23, NRSV)
After Jesus was betrayed, he was handed over to the authorities. One of those he was forced to stand before was High Priest Annas (John 18:24). When questioned by Annas, Jesus answered his questions fairly and honestly. When he did, Annas’ guard struck Jesus, condemning Jesus for not speaking appropriately to the High Priest Annas. Jesus’ response is quoted above from John 18:23. Jesus asked the guard why, “if He had spoken rightly”, would the guard strike Him? Jesus was struck by the guard for not answering the way Annas wanted Him to answer. It wasn’t that Jesus lied or said something wrong. He simply told Annas something that Annas and the guard did not want to hear. He was struck for not telling his accusers what they wanted to hear.
You may also find in life that some people will lash out at you even when you tell the truth or do something right. In some cases, it is because they too do not want to hear the truth. They want you to tell them what they want to hear. They want you to believe as they do. When you do not do as expected, they will lash out at you. How dare you not tell them what they want to hear!
“Two men had an argument. To settle the matter, they went to a Sufi judge for arbitration. The plaintiff made his case. He was very eloquent and persuasive in his reasoning. When he finished, the judge nodded in approval and said, "That's right, that's right."
On hearing this, the defendant jumped up and said, "Wait a second, judge, you haven't even heard my side of the case yet." So the judge told the defendant to state his case. And he, too, was very persuasive and eloquent. When he finished, the judge said, "That's right, that's right."
When the clerk of court heard this, he jumped up and said, "Judge, they both can't be right." The judge looked at the clerk of court and said, "That's right, that's right.”” (Roger Von Oech, A Whack in the Side of the Head, p. 23)
Many people go through life wanting others to just agree with them. They don’t look for the truth. They look for confirmation that they are right. It’s not the same.
Recently, I read an article that mentioned a problem they are having with large groups of people on social media. Using social media, people will surround themselves with like-minded people and information. Over time, they tend to gather around themselves people who like them, agree with them, or parrot what they say. They will only read news from a news organization that tells them what they want to hear. They will reject places and people who don’t tell them what they want to hear. In the end, they don’t know the truth. Their beliefs are simply reinforced.
When Annas, the high priest, was questioning Jesus, you might think that Annas wanted to find out what was the truth so that a just verdict might be reached in Jesus’ case. That is hardly what happened. When the guard struck Jesus, he reaffirmed that the truth Jesus was presenting was not the truth that Annas wanted to find in His case.
It is very important when you go through life that you don’t surround yourself with people who will only tell you what you want to hear. Otherwise, you may never find out what the truth really is. This fruitless pursuit may not only stunt your spiritual growth, it may cloud your judgment. You might begin to believe the lies that others are willing to tell you. Jesus told His disciples that the “truth will set you free” (John 8:32). If you surround yourself with those who tell you what you want to hear, you will find yourself a slave to something, never free. Can you really handle finding the God’s-honest truth?
You may also find in life that some people will lash out at you even when you tell the truth or do something right. In some cases, it is because they too do not want to hear the truth. They want you to tell them what they want to hear. They want you to believe as they do. When you do not do as expected, they will lash out at you. How dare you not tell them what they want to hear!
“Two men had an argument. To settle the matter, they went to a Sufi judge for arbitration. The plaintiff made his case. He was very eloquent and persuasive in his reasoning. When he finished, the judge nodded in approval and said, "That's right, that's right."
On hearing this, the defendant jumped up and said, "Wait a second, judge, you haven't even heard my side of the case yet." So the judge told the defendant to state his case. And he, too, was very persuasive and eloquent. When he finished, the judge said, "That's right, that's right."
When the clerk of court heard this, he jumped up and said, "Judge, they both can't be right." The judge looked at the clerk of court and said, "That's right, that's right.”” (Roger Von Oech, A Whack in the Side of the Head, p. 23)
Many people go through life wanting others to just agree with them. They don’t look for the truth. They look for confirmation that they are right. It’s not the same.
Recently, I read an article that mentioned a problem they are having with large groups of people on social media. Using social media, people will surround themselves with like-minded people and information. Over time, they tend to gather around themselves people who like them, agree with them, or parrot what they say. They will only read news from a news organization that tells them what they want to hear. They will reject places and people who don’t tell them what they want to hear. In the end, they don’t know the truth. Their beliefs are simply reinforced.
When Annas, the high priest, was questioning Jesus, you might think that Annas wanted to find out what was the truth so that a just verdict might be reached in Jesus’ case. That is hardly what happened. When the guard struck Jesus, he reaffirmed that the truth Jesus was presenting was not the truth that Annas wanted to find in His case.
It is very important when you go through life that you don’t surround yourself with people who will only tell you what you want to hear. Otherwise, you may never find out what the truth really is. This fruitless pursuit may not only stunt your spiritual growth, it may cloud your judgment. You might begin to believe the lies that others are willing to tell you. Jesus told His disciples that the “truth will set you free” (John 8:32). If you surround yourself with those who tell you what you want to hear, you will find yourself a slave to something, never free. Can you really handle finding the God’s-honest truth?
August 24
“Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O mortal? Is it not bad enough that the house of Judah commits the abominations done here? Must they fill the land with violence, and provoke my anger still further?” (Ezekiel 8:17, NRSV)
There was a day when the prophet Ezekiel was shown a scene from just outside the Temple in Jerusalem. There, twenty-five men had gathered in the inner court of the Temple (Ezekiel 8:16). As the sun rose, these twenty-five men turned away from the altar of God and faced the rising sun in order to worship it. This was not uncommon to do in Egyptian forms of worship to RA, the sun god. But, for Israelites to do such a thing was blasphemous! To do it in the Temple in God’s presence was egregious, horrible, abominable! As the prophet Ezekiel saw with God’s eyes what had happened, God questioned, “Must they fill the land with violence, and provoke my anger still further?” (Ezekiel 8:17). It was as if they were doing this horrible thing in God’s presence to push God’s buttons and provoke God to anger. Who would be crazy enough to do such a thing?
There are people who provoke God to anger. They purposefully do things against God and bring God’s wrath in return. Can you imagine worshiping another god in the house of God? Can you imagine committing sin in front of the altar? That’s what they were doing in the days of Ezekiel. Before your disgust rises against those twenty-five sinful men in the Temple worshiping the sun instead of God, realize that when people today sin openly without caring about the consequences, they too may provoke the anger of God. God isn’t just going to sit around and twiddle His thumbs while people openly mock and provoke Him. Not long after Ezekiel witnessed the sin in the Temple, major war broke out. The Babylonians crushed the people of Judah and destroyed Jerusalem. The armies burned and tore down the Temple of God. God’s wrath came swiftly and with deadly form to those who provoked God in the days of Ezekiel. Would God do any different today?
When leaders of several major denominations redefine marriage as a covenant between any two people regardless of sex, might we be provoking God to anger? When religious leaders rewrite the Bible to make it less offensive, might this push God’s buttons? When political correctness and modern ideas of sexuality are used as reasons to change the words of hymns and scriptures and the words of worship, might we be provoking God? Doesn’t God’s word determine the words of our hymns and the words of scripture? Should human political and social issues determine how the Bible is interpreted and how worship is done, while the Bible is set aside as unfit for modern usage? All the things in this paragraph have already happened in churches and denominations and places throughout the world. Chances are, they are happening in your church without you even knowing it. These things happen inside the walls of churches and in front of altars every day. Will this incur the wrath of God?
I have found that God can put His foot down in the face of sin in any life. God may do it in your life, your family, your hometown. When an abuser beats his wife for the tenth time, God may very well come down hard upon that sick soul. As a person plots to damage the reputation of another person for her own benefit, why wouldn’t God step in? If you sin egregiously in the sight of God, even if it is done in secret, God’s anger may come down hard on you. If you knowingly do something wrong over and over knowing it causes God and others to suffer, do you think God will just sit idly by and not care? At some point, God will always step in and shake things up when sin takes hold in one’s life.
Today’s meditation may seem like a downer to you. Some people don’t like to talk about the wrath of God. What you may not realize is that the wrath of God is ALWAYS used to save people. It may not save the life of the person who suffered from the war in Babylon, but it has saved many in generations since. The sin of another can be a great teacher to those who learn from history. God also may come down hard on a sin in your life or family. It is not to get even. God’s retribution always comes as justice to sin. God’s anger is only set forth to correct unrighteous evil and sinful living. The purpose is always to make things right, to bring back hope and faith and peace.
Make sure in your life never to let sin settle in your daily routine. If you let sin take hold and do not repent, God’s wrath will come down. God will punish the sin and demand repentance from you. In that terrible moment, God’s wrath is the only hope for your salvation. It is the best way to deal with your life. By atoning for your sin, love will be the result. God’s wrath will be replaced with God’s Spirit. God’s anger will be replaced with God’s loving arms reaching out for you.
Please tell me that you are not pushing God's buttons through some sin in your life!
There are people who provoke God to anger. They purposefully do things against God and bring God’s wrath in return. Can you imagine worshiping another god in the house of God? Can you imagine committing sin in front of the altar? That’s what they were doing in the days of Ezekiel. Before your disgust rises against those twenty-five sinful men in the Temple worshiping the sun instead of God, realize that when people today sin openly without caring about the consequences, they too may provoke the anger of God. God isn’t just going to sit around and twiddle His thumbs while people openly mock and provoke Him. Not long after Ezekiel witnessed the sin in the Temple, major war broke out. The Babylonians crushed the people of Judah and destroyed Jerusalem. The armies burned and tore down the Temple of God. God’s wrath came swiftly and with deadly form to those who provoked God in the days of Ezekiel. Would God do any different today?
When leaders of several major denominations redefine marriage as a covenant between any two people regardless of sex, might we be provoking God to anger? When religious leaders rewrite the Bible to make it less offensive, might this push God’s buttons? When political correctness and modern ideas of sexuality are used as reasons to change the words of hymns and scriptures and the words of worship, might we be provoking God? Doesn’t God’s word determine the words of our hymns and the words of scripture? Should human political and social issues determine how the Bible is interpreted and how worship is done, while the Bible is set aside as unfit for modern usage? All the things in this paragraph have already happened in churches and denominations and places throughout the world. Chances are, they are happening in your church without you even knowing it. These things happen inside the walls of churches and in front of altars every day. Will this incur the wrath of God?
I have found that God can put His foot down in the face of sin in any life. God may do it in your life, your family, your hometown. When an abuser beats his wife for the tenth time, God may very well come down hard upon that sick soul. As a person plots to damage the reputation of another person for her own benefit, why wouldn’t God step in? If you sin egregiously in the sight of God, even if it is done in secret, God’s anger may come down hard on you. If you knowingly do something wrong over and over knowing it causes God and others to suffer, do you think God will just sit idly by and not care? At some point, God will always step in and shake things up when sin takes hold in one’s life.
Today’s meditation may seem like a downer to you. Some people don’t like to talk about the wrath of God. What you may not realize is that the wrath of God is ALWAYS used to save people. It may not save the life of the person who suffered from the war in Babylon, but it has saved many in generations since. The sin of another can be a great teacher to those who learn from history. God also may come down hard on a sin in your life or family. It is not to get even. God’s retribution always comes as justice to sin. God’s anger is only set forth to correct unrighteous evil and sinful living. The purpose is always to make things right, to bring back hope and faith and peace.
Make sure in your life never to let sin settle in your daily routine. If you let sin take hold and do not repent, God’s wrath will come down. God will punish the sin and demand repentance from you. In that terrible moment, God’s wrath is the only hope for your salvation. It is the best way to deal with your life. By atoning for your sin, love will be the result. God’s wrath will be replaced with God’s Spirit. God’s anger will be replaced with God’s loving arms reaching out for you.
Please tell me that you are not pushing God's buttons through some sin in your life!
August 25
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NASB95)
“The trouble with some self-made men is that they worship their creator.” (Bits and Pieces, October 1989, p. 9). I want you to think about this last sentence until you get it. If you don’t get it, don’t bother to read on. You won’t get much out of this Bible Study Meditation, I fear.
“When Roy DeLamotte was chaplain at Paine College in Georgia, he preached the shortest sermon in the college's history. However, he had a rather long topic: "What does Christ Answer When We Ask, "Lord, What's in Religion for Me?" The complete content of his sermon was in one word: "Nothing." He later explained that the one-word sermon was meant for people brought up on the 'gimme-gimme' gospel. When asked how long it took him to prepare the message, he said, "Twenty years."” (Resources, 1990).
Self-centered beliefs and opinions have grown in recent years. We are surrounded by “selfies” and inundated with tweets about what someone just ate in a restaurant. There are people who write about themselves and their opinions in daily blogs. We live in a world filled with words and phrases like “self-service”, “have it your own way”, and “ego-boosts”. I read an article recently about whole sections of business devoted to people who send themselves gifts! Our modern world spends a lot of time in selfish thinking.
When the apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthian believers, he saw the same kind of danger in their culture. The Greek people were very much enamored with self-centered living. They cultivated entire industries to finding a god to do your bidding and to hedonistic pursuits (such as that found in Acts 19:24). Ethical hedonism as a movement was started by a student of Socrates who believed that pleasure is the greatest good. The purpose of the movement was to find the greatest pleasures for yourself in life. To this mindset, Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is a slap in the face. The scripture for today directly opposes Hedonism. Paul wrote that in whatever you do, even eating or drinking, “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
If I asked you to list ten things you did recently to the glory of God, could you rattle them off quickly? Try it. Most true Christians find this easy. Shallow Christians have a very hard time answering with ten. For most people, thinking about what to do for God’s benefit and glory is not a common occurrence. The ancient Hedonistic Greek way of thinking and modern humanistic thinking are closely aligned. Both are good at self-centered living. Both are based on pleasing one’s self. True Christian thinking as proposed by Paul in the scripture for today flies in the face of such a world-view. Paul wanted you to focus on what you can do for God, not what you can do for yourself.
If I asked you to tell me twenty things you did for God in the past seven days, could you answer more quickly than if I asked you to name twenty things you did for yourself this past week? I hope not. If you think about God and “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), doing things for God’s glory should be very easy to do. If you are truly Christian, doing things for your own glory should be seriously difficult.
“When Roy DeLamotte was chaplain at Paine College in Georgia, he preached the shortest sermon in the college's history. However, he had a rather long topic: "What does Christ Answer When We Ask, "Lord, What's in Religion for Me?" The complete content of his sermon was in one word: "Nothing." He later explained that the one-word sermon was meant for people brought up on the 'gimme-gimme' gospel. When asked how long it took him to prepare the message, he said, "Twenty years."” (Resources, 1990).
Self-centered beliefs and opinions have grown in recent years. We are surrounded by “selfies” and inundated with tweets about what someone just ate in a restaurant. There are people who write about themselves and their opinions in daily blogs. We live in a world filled with words and phrases like “self-service”, “have it your own way”, and “ego-boosts”. I read an article recently about whole sections of business devoted to people who send themselves gifts! Our modern world spends a lot of time in selfish thinking.
When the apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthian believers, he saw the same kind of danger in their culture. The Greek people were very much enamored with self-centered living. They cultivated entire industries to finding a god to do your bidding and to hedonistic pursuits (such as that found in Acts 19:24). Ethical hedonism as a movement was started by a student of Socrates who believed that pleasure is the greatest good. The purpose of the movement was to find the greatest pleasures for yourself in life. To this mindset, Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is a slap in the face. The scripture for today directly opposes Hedonism. Paul wrote that in whatever you do, even eating or drinking, “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
If I asked you to list ten things you did recently to the glory of God, could you rattle them off quickly? Try it. Most true Christians find this easy. Shallow Christians have a very hard time answering with ten. For most people, thinking about what to do for God’s benefit and glory is not a common occurrence. The ancient Hedonistic Greek way of thinking and modern humanistic thinking are closely aligned. Both are good at self-centered living. Both are based on pleasing one’s self. True Christian thinking as proposed by Paul in the scripture for today flies in the face of such a world-view. Paul wanted you to focus on what you can do for God, not what you can do for yourself.
If I asked you to tell me twenty things you did for God in the past seven days, could you answer more quickly than if I asked you to name twenty things you did for yourself this past week? I hope not. If you think about God and “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), doing things for God’s glory should be very easy to do. If you are truly Christian, doing things for your own glory should be seriously difficult.
August 26
"“Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance.”” (1 Chronicles 16:15–18, ESV)
As I sat in the premarital counseling session, I became aware of my doubts. I’m not sure these two should get married. They came to me for counseling and planning for their upcoming wedding. Whenever I meet with a couple, I tell them that I will not do a wedding if I see something is wrong with their relationship or if they want to do something that goes against God. Those are my rules. Only a few times did I postpone or reject leading a wedding. This was shaping up to be one of those times. However, I was not 100% sure, so I didn’t say anything, until…..
I asked the groom the main reason he wanted to get married right now in his life. He responded, “Well, nothing better has come along, so I thought…. Hey, why not!” I looked at his future bride. She looked down to the floor. He didn’t even realize what he had said, but the words hit her like a sledgehammer. I was kind as I told them they needed more time to think about marriage. I never did that wedding. They found another pastor to perform it. I just couldn’t do the wedding thinking about the groom’s statement. I couldn’t.
I can’t perform a wedding if I think husband or wife are surely going to break their wedding vows. When they make their vows to each other and to God, it’s a lifetime commitment they make. This is not something to take lightly. A lifetime commitment between husband and wife is not meant to be a burden or impossible demand. God expects this kind of commitment and love. Couples need to be ready to fight for the marriage, to set aside their differences, to make it work. This commitment is supposed to help both husband and wife feel secure in their love, knowing they will always be there for one another no matter what.
Our scripture above, chosen for today, is part of a thanksgiving said by David on a special occasion. These words were meant to be repeated for generations. They tell of a covenant that God made with Abraham that was to last “forever” ( 1 Chronicles 16:15). This “everlasting covenant including “an inheritance” of land given as a gift from God to Israel (1 Chronicles 16:18). God’s covenant was never entered lightly. It was meant to help both parties secure in their relationship. God wanted Israel’s love and adoration and worship. Israel wanted God’s power and future security. The covenant was meant to provide that, unless the covenant was broken.
God doesn’t wreck an everlasting covenant. God doesn’t stop loving those with whom He is in covenant. Sadly, people take their vows and promises and marriage covenants and covenantal promises all too lightly. Just as Israel broke the covenant over the generations since it was first made, people can break their covenants when “something better comes along.”
How well do you keep your covenant with God? How well do you cherish those with whom you have made solemn promises? Are you a covenant-keeper or a covenant-breaker? Your answers are very important to your God.
Today, you can count on God being there. If you have kept your part of the covenant promises you have made to God, you can count on God keeping His as well. I was once asked if God will really take care of us after we die. The answer was simple… “God keeps His promises. He never goes back on them. You just keep your side of the bargain!”
I asked the groom the main reason he wanted to get married right now in his life. He responded, “Well, nothing better has come along, so I thought…. Hey, why not!” I looked at his future bride. She looked down to the floor. He didn’t even realize what he had said, but the words hit her like a sledgehammer. I was kind as I told them they needed more time to think about marriage. I never did that wedding. They found another pastor to perform it. I just couldn’t do the wedding thinking about the groom’s statement. I couldn’t.
I can’t perform a wedding if I think husband or wife are surely going to break their wedding vows. When they make their vows to each other and to God, it’s a lifetime commitment they make. This is not something to take lightly. A lifetime commitment between husband and wife is not meant to be a burden or impossible demand. God expects this kind of commitment and love. Couples need to be ready to fight for the marriage, to set aside their differences, to make it work. This commitment is supposed to help both husband and wife feel secure in their love, knowing they will always be there for one another no matter what.
Our scripture above, chosen for today, is part of a thanksgiving said by David on a special occasion. These words were meant to be repeated for generations. They tell of a covenant that God made with Abraham that was to last “forever” ( 1 Chronicles 16:15). This “everlasting covenant including “an inheritance” of land given as a gift from God to Israel (1 Chronicles 16:18). God’s covenant was never entered lightly. It was meant to help both parties secure in their relationship. God wanted Israel’s love and adoration and worship. Israel wanted God’s power and future security. The covenant was meant to provide that, unless the covenant was broken.
God doesn’t wreck an everlasting covenant. God doesn’t stop loving those with whom He is in covenant. Sadly, people take their vows and promises and marriage covenants and covenantal promises all too lightly. Just as Israel broke the covenant over the generations since it was first made, people can break their covenants when “something better comes along.”
How well do you keep your covenant with God? How well do you cherish those with whom you have made solemn promises? Are you a covenant-keeper or a covenant-breaker? Your answers are very important to your God.
Today, you can count on God being there. If you have kept your part of the covenant promises you have made to God, you can count on God keeping His as well. I was once asked if God will really take care of us after we die. The answer was simple… “God keeps His promises. He never goes back on them. You just keep your side of the bargain!”
August 29
“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9, RSV)
Charlene was at a women's meeting. Several there were complaining about how hard it was to be a mother. One of the women recited an article she had read. The article quoted Susan Lang, author of Women Without Children. It included evidence that women who have never had children get the equivalent of three more months of personal time to themselves per year. The average mother spends 3.5 more hours per week doing housework and eleven more hours a week on average doing child-related activities. All this adds up to an additional 754 hours of work per year. (See "Signs of the Times", May 1992, p. 6). One of the women talked about the oppression of women in society and how women should stand up and fight the overbearing men of the world. After several of the women complained that they did too much, had too many responsibilities, were tired all the time, or couldn’t sleep, Charlene spoke up. She quietly said, “I sure wish I had all those troubles. I will never have a child due to illness. Oh, how I’d love one.” There was pure silence at the meeting. Then, one by one, the women began to talk about how much they loved children. Before the meeting concluded, several of the women began to share how prayer and God helped them cope with their difficulties. After the meeting, two women ended up praying for Charlene.
I have met many people who felt beaten down, alone, oppressed, over-burdened or pushed to the limit. Some felt like giving up. Some took anti-depressants or anxiety medicine to cope. A few turned to alcohol or drugs to deal with the stress. Very few learned early on to turn to God when feeling overwhelmed or oppressed. I find this to be very sad, for God is one of the greatest sources of hope in the midst of troubles, trials, and oppression.
During the time of slavery in America, many black slaves found great comfort in singing to God about their oppression. Known today as African-American spirituals, these songs brought great comfort to a people who were harshly oppressed. Songs like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Go Down Moses” were often sung on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War of 1865. These songs brought comfort to slaves in the fields, slaves on the run, and slaves who found freedom.
Our scripture for today reminds us that the Lord is a place of refuge for the oppressed. God seeks to comfort the afflicted. In Psalm 9, it is recorded that the Lord “is a stronghold or fortress for the oppressed” (Psalm 9:9). You can run to God “in times of trouble”. God will be there. God will protect you. God will watch over you. Don’t you find it interesting that God cares especially for those who are “oppressed”? In ancient times, it was believed that the rich and powerful had the ear of God. The Egyptians believed that Pharaoh had a direct line to God. They believed that God listened more to the prayers of the powerful than to the oppressed. Not so in our Bible. Over and over, God made a special effort to help the afflicted, the poor, and the oppressed. God didn’t rescue the Egyptians from bondage. God freed the Israelite slaves. Jesus wasn’t born the son of Herod the Great. He was born to young Mary and her poor fiance, Joseph. Jesus didn’t travel by rich caravan. He traveled into Jerusalem on a donkey to face His destiny.
When you are feeling down and depressed, overwhelmed or over-burdened, trust that God knows your pain. God feels your hurt. God longs to hear your prayers and help when you are oppressed. Our God is a God who cares about those who are suffering and tired, over-worked and abused. God does not take kindly to those, like Pharaoh, who oppress the less fortunate. God gets even whenever the powerful take advantage of those who don’t have enough.
No matter how tough your life gets, look to God for relief. Look for Jesus to help you. God knows how mean people can be. God knows how tortuous life can get. God can help in ways you can only imagine. He’s done it before. He’ll do it again.
I have met many people who felt beaten down, alone, oppressed, over-burdened or pushed to the limit. Some felt like giving up. Some took anti-depressants or anxiety medicine to cope. A few turned to alcohol or drugs to deal with the stress. Very few learned early on to turn to God when feeling overwhelmed or oppressed. I find this to be very sad, for God is one of the greatest sources of hope in the midst of troubles, trials, and oppression.
During the time of slavery in America, many black slaves found great comfort in singing to God about their oppression. Known today as African-American spirituals, these songs brought great comfort to a people who were harshly oppressed. Songs like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Go Down Moses” were often sung on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War of 1865. These songs brought comfort to slaves in the fields, slaves on the run, and slaves who found freedom.
Our scripture for today reminds us that the Lord is a place of refuge for the oppressed. God seeks to comfort the afflicted. In Psalm 9, it is recorded that the Lord “is a stronghold or fortress for the oppressed” (Psalm 9:9). You can run to God “in times of trouble”. God will be there. God will protect you. God will watch over you. Don’t you find it interesting that God cares especially for those who are “oppressed”? In ancient times, it was believed that the rich and powerful had the ear of God. The Egyptians believed that Pharaoh had a direct line to God. They believed that God listened more to the prayers of the powerful than to the oppressed. Not so in our Bible. Over and over, God made a special effort to help the afflicted, the poor, and the oppressed. God didn’t rescue the Egyptians from bondage. God freed the Israelite slaves. Jesus wasn’t born the son of Herod the Great. He was born to young Mary and her poor fiance, Joseph. Jesus didn’t travel by rich caravan. He traveled into Jerusalem on a donkey to face His destiny.
When you are feeling down and depressed, overwhelmed or over-burdened, trust that God knows your pain. God feels your hurt. God longs to hear your prayers and help when you are oppressed. Our God is a God who cares about those who are suffering and tired, over-worked and abused. God does not take kindly to those, like Pharaoh, who oppress the less fortunate. God gets even whenever the powerful take advantage of those who don’t have enough.
No matter how tough your life gets, look to God for relief. Look for Jesus to help you. God knows how mean people can be. God knows how tortuous life can get. God can help in ways you can only imagine. He’s done it before. He’ll do it again.
August 30
“It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.” (Exodus 12:42, ESV)
In the picture above, a hippo is watching as a man proposed to his girlfriend. You never know who is watching! You may not see who is watching. Sometimes, the one who is watching is God.
Nestled in the pages of Exodus is a short verse I have included above. It mentions how on one special night, God was the guard for the people of Israel in Egypt. God watched over them intently. God was going to protect them from Pharaoh’s fury. God knew they were vulnerable, so God was watching. Exodus 12:42 called that time “a night of watching by the Lord”. It was to be remembered how God watched over the people closely in the land of Egypt. It was to be called the “night of watching” “throughout their generations”. All the people of Israel were urged to recall the night God was on watch.
There are special moments in history and in your life when God will have a special watch over you. If you have given your heart to Him, He will want to watch over you in a special way. It should not be surprising that God watches over those He loves. God has done that countless times over generations. Israel knew this. They even christened a night for the people to remember that God can and does stand watch in crucial moments.
When I was an Indiana State Police Chaplain, I met a man who was in a serious accident. When I visited with him in the hospital, he seemed unusually glad to see me. Usually, he was kind of quiet and kept his distance. Seeing him talkative and overly-friendly was unusual. After a few minutes of talk, I found out why. He asked me, “Pastor, do you really believe God can watch over you or send angels to protect you?”
“Yes, I do,” was my quick response.
Then, he relayed to me the reason for his excitement. A few moments after the accident, he remembers a hand upon him. Someone helped him get out of the car before it caught fire. Nobody was at the scene. He was alone. Ten minutes later, help arrived. An ambulance was called. But, in those initial moments, the man knew that the only one who could have helped him get out of danger was God or an angel of God. Nobody could convince him otherwise. He was very excited. For the first time in his life, he had “incontrovertible proof” (that’s the words he used) that God did watch over him. He told his story over and over to nurses and doctors and staff until people reminded him that he already told them!
People tend to be surprised when God comes to them in a very important moment. They shouldn’t be. If God is watching over things, God knows when to intervene. God knows when a day for you is going to be very important. If you remain faithful, God will be there. I’ve heard hundreds of stories about God being there at a crucial moment. That’s too many times to be a coincidence.
Think back to a time in your life that was crucial. How might God have been there? Look forward to the day when God will be there again. You never know when He’ll show up in a big way. He watches for that perfect moment.
Genesis 28:15 - "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Proverbs 15:3 - The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
Matthew 6:4 - So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Psalm 121:8 - The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Nestled in the pages of Exodus is a short verse I have included above. It mentions how on one special night, God was the guard for the people of Israel in Egypt. God watched over them intently. God was going to protect them from Pharaoh’s fury. God knew they were vulnerable, so God was watching. Exodus 12:42 called that time “a night of watching by the Lord”. It was to be remembered how God watched over the people closely in the land of Egypt. It was to be called the “night of watching” “throughout their generations”. All the people of Israel were urged to recall the night God was on watch.
There are special moments in history and in your life when God will have a special watch over you. If you have given your heart to Him, He will want to watch over you in a special way. It should not be surprising that God watches over those He loves. God has done that countless times over generations. Israel knew this. They even christened a night for the people to remember that God can and does stand watch in crucial moments.
When I was an Indiana State Police Chaplain, I met a man who was in a serious accident. When I visited with him in the hospital, he seemed unusually glad to see me. Usually, he was kind of quiet and kept his distance. Seeing him talkative and overly-friendly was unusual. After a few minutes of talk, I found out why. He asked me, “Pastor, do you really believe God can watch over you or send angels to protect you?”
“Yes, I do,” was my quick response.
Then, he relayed to me the reason for his excitement. A few moments after the accident, he remembers a hand upon him. Someone helped him get out of the car before it caught fire. Nobody was at the scene. He was alone. Ten minutes later, help arrived. An ambulance was called. But, in those initial moments, the man knew that the only one who could have helped him get out of danger was God or an angel of God. Nobody could convince him otherwise. He was very excited. For the first time in his life, he had “incontrovertible proof” (that’s the words he used) that God did watch over him. He told his story over and over to nurses and doctors and staff until people reminded him that he already told them!
People tend to be surprised when God comes to them in a very important moment. They shouldn’t be. If God is watching over things, God knows when to intervene. God knows when a day for you is going to be very important. If you remain faithful, God will be there. I’ve heard hundreds of stories about God being there at a crucial moment. That’s too many times to be a coincidence.
Think back to a time in your life that was crucial. How might God have been there? Look forward to the day when God will be there again. You never know when He’ll show up in a big way. He watches for that perfect moment.
Genesis 28:15 - "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Proverbs 15:3 - The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
Matthew 6:4 - So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Psalm 121:8 - The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
August 31
“But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.” (Joshua 7:1, NLT)
Joshua 7 tells the story of a sin that cost a man his life. It also caused many men to die in battle. It’s the story of Achan. Achan did something that you might consider small. But, that small sin had a corruptive influence on the whole of Israel. That small sin caused Joshua’s mighty soldiers to suffer a serious defeat in the battle at Ai. That small sin was highly destructive. When God tells you not to do something, even something small, it is dangerous to go against that directive.
After defeating Jericho in a mighty battle, Joshua knew he had to defeat the neighboring city of Ai. It was full of good soldiers and strong fighters. When deciding what to do, Joshua sent up spies into the area around Ai. They came back with the news that a small army could defeat the city (Joshua 7:3). However, when the small army went to battle Ai, they suffered a deadly defeat and retreated before the enemy (Joshua 7:5). Joshua inquired about the loss to God. Only then did Joshua lean that “devoted things” meant to be destroyed out of respect for God were instead hidden in the land. Joshua sent out men to find the ones whose sin had caused this great defeat. They discovered that a man named Achan, of the tribe of Judah, had hidden gold, silver, and an expensive garment that were supposed to have been destroyed upon God’s command (Joshua 7:18-20). It was buried under his house. Achan knew this was wrong but did it anyway. Joshua destroyed the items as the Lord originally intended. Achan also paid for his sin with his life.
You may think it is unfair that all these people died and God turned his back on Israel due to a few hidden trinkets. But to God, there were important reasons for not having the gold and silver and stolen items of Achan in the land. These items were not to be loot for Israel. They were intended to be destroyed as God had originally intended. The items may have been idols or had pictures of foreign gods. The precious metals and garment may have been used in religious ceremonies praising another god. The exact reasons why are lost to history, but we know that the God of Israel demanded they be destroyed. Achan kept some for himself. It was sinful. That’s why Achan hid the precious loot. He knew it was wrong in the eyes of God.
Twenty years ago, I went to an intervention with several members of my church. We wanted to redeem a man who had turned into an alcoholic and needed help. We urged him to get into a rehab program. Several family members and friends from the church offered to pay for his inpatient treatment and help him during the rehabilitation. The man decided to go. The day after entering treatment, we went through his entire house and cleaned out the hidden bottles of liquor. There were hidden bottles of booze in cubby holes, under desks, stowed away in boxes in the garage, and hidden deep in the cupboards. We carried out at least two dozen bottles of hard liquor.
After thirty days, the man came home. We all congratulated him on his achievement and gave him a small party with good food. After the meal, the man came to me and we discussed all the alcohol that was removed. I pulled him to his den ,and I led him in prayer. After the prayer, he told me to wait. He walked over and pulled up a floorboard. Therein were two liters of whiskey that he had hidden. I took them home and disposed of them. Only when the man had given up every single bottle of alcohol in the house did he feel he was ready to begin his new life free from drinking. His sister cried deeply at his commitment.
Sometimes, the smallest temptation can destroy your resolve. The smallest sin can have the greatest of consequences. When God wants you to sanctify your life, God may require you to get rid of something that might cause you or your family to sin. God might ask you to give up completely something that may hurt you later. Don’t hold back. Rid yourself completely of these things. Don’t hold on to even one small bit. You never know when that one small hidden thing may cause the suffering of many others.
After defeating Jericho in a mighty battle, Joshua knew he had to defeat the neighboring city of Ai. It was full of good soldiers and strong fighters. When deciding what to do, Joshua sent up spies into the area around Ai. They came back with the news that a small army could defeat the city (Joshua 7:3). However, when the small army went to battle Ai, they suffered a deadly defeat and retreated before the enemy (Joshua 7:5). Joshua inquired about the loss to God. Only then did Joshua lean that “devoted things” meant to be destroyed out of respect for God were instead hidden in the land. Joshua sent out men to find the ones whose sin had caused this great defeat. They discovered that a man named Achan, of the tribe of Judah, had hidden gold, silver, and an expensive garment that were supposed to have been destroyed upon God’s command (Joshua 7:18-20). It was buried under his house. Achan knew this was wrong but did it anyway. Joshua destroyed the items as the Lord originally intended. Achan also paid for his sin with his life.
You may think it is unfair that all these people died and God turned his back on Israel due to a few hidden trinkets. But to God, there were important reasons for not having the gold and silver and stolen items of Achan in the land. These items were not to be loot for Israel. They were intended to be destroyed as God had originally intended. The items may have been idols or had pictures of foreign gods. The precious metals and garment may have been used in religious ceremonies praising another god. The exact reasons why are lost to history, but we know that the God of Israel demanded they be destroyed. Achan kept some for himself. It was sinful. That’s why Achan hid the precious loot. He knew it was wrong in the eyes of God.
Twenty years ago, I went to an intervention with several members of my church. We wanted to redeem a man who had turned into an alcoholic and needed help. We urged him to get into a rehab program. Several family members and friends from the church offered to pay for his inpatient treatment and help him during the rehabilitation. The man decided to go. The day after entering treatment, we went through his entire house and cleaned out the hidden bottles of liquor. There were hidden bottles of booze in cubby holes, under desks, stowed away in boxes in the garage, and hidden deep in the cupboards. We carried out at least two dozen bottles of hard liquor.
After thirty days, the man came home. We all congratulated him on his achievement and gave him a small party with good food. After the meal, the man came to me and we discussed all the alcohol that was removed. I pulled him to his den ,and I led him in prayer. After the prayer, he told me to wait. He walked over and pulled up a floorboard. Therein were two liters of whiskey that he had hidden. I took them home and disposed of them. Only when the man had given up every single bottle of alcohol in the house did he feel he was ready to begin his new life free from drinking. His sister cried deeply at his commitment.
Sometimes, the smallest temptation can destroy your resolve. The smallest sin can have the greatest of consequences. When God wants you to sanctify your life, God may require you to get rid of something that might cause you or your family to sin. God might ask you to give up completely something that may hurt you later. Don’t hold back. Rid yourself completely of these things. Don’t hold on to even one small bit. You never know when that one small hidden thing may cause the suffering of many others.
