August 1
“On that day you will no longer need to be ashamed, for you will no longer be rebels against me. I will remove all proud and arrogant people from among you. There will be no more haughtiness on my holy mountain.” (Zephaniah 3:11, NLT)
When the prophet Zephaniah was looking forward to the day of redemption for God’s people, Zephaniah celebrated the closeness that would occur between God and the faithful. He spoke glowing words about the beauty of that time when the Temple would be a place of holiness and God would be wholly present. In that triumphant time, many other nations would praise God (Zephaniah 3:9). Those who are lame and all the faithful outcasts would be cared for by God Himself (Zephaniah 3:19). The fortunes of God’s people would be restored. Those in exile will be brought home (Zephaniah 3:20). However, some are slated to be left out of the period of redemption. Today’s scripture from Zephaniah 3:11 clarifies one type of sinner who will rejected by God. All the “proud and arrogant people” will be refused a place at the redemption celebration. Their “haughtiness” will not be welcome on God’s holy mountain in Jerusalem.
The scripture for today is a powerful reminder that haughtiness, human pride, and arrogance are not celebrated by God. They are seen as detrimental to true faith. Proverbs 16:5 teaches that “EVERYONE who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord”. Proverbs 6 lists seven things that are an abomination to the Lord. The first in the list is the person with “haughty eyes” (Proverbs 6:17). The prophet Jeremiah wrote of God’s anger at the arrogance of the Moabites, who were haughty in heart (Jeremiah 48:29). Isaiah spoke of God’s disdain for King Sennacherib’s arrogance when he attacked Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:29). James 4:16 calls all arrogant boasting “evil”. With overwhelming evidence, there is ample proof that God has no respect for selfish human boasting, arrogance, or pride.
Are there ways you flirt with pride in your faith-walk? Is there some way you are letting arrogance have its place in your life without knowing? Arrogance, pride, and haughtiness are more common among Christians than they first appear.
As an elder in his church, James makes many important decisions. Recently, he voted against inviting an Alcoholics Anonymous group into his church. He didn’t like how they dressed when they came to meetings. James felt it would not help improve the “image” of his church in any way.
James, Jasmine, Katherine, Kevin, and Pastor Schuhart all suffer some form of pride. For several, its spiritual pride. For some, its personal pride. If you ask each of them if they are prideful, every one of them would say “no!”. However, this is not the case. James is prideful about his church’s “image”. Jasmine’s self-importance is her undoing. Katherine wants her son to “marry up” because she views his fiancé as beneath her. Kevin’s pride is more hidden. He takes pride in his work and is resentful if others don’t appreciate him enough. Pastor Schuhart would tell you he is a “humble servant of God”. This belies the fact that his choices have not helped the congregation to accept any other pastor in “his” pulpit. People in that church still refer to their church as Pastor Schuhart’s church. Really?
There are many ways to let pride and arrogance creep into your faith journey. But know this, all forms of pride and arrogance and haughtiness are abhorrent to God. When you elevate yourself in some way, you denigrate the glory of God. Do you ever look down at someone who knows less about the Bible than you do? Be careful of spiritual pride. Do you love the limelight or enjoy being singled out for some appointment? Selfish pride is knocking on your door. Do you enjoy seeing others fail or falter? Do you have little patience for those who know less than you do? Does your appearance matter a little too much? Do you fish for compliments? Do you secretly desire lots of “likes” and other positive responses in social media programs? In many and varied ways, pridefulness can ruin a good person. It took down King David when he desired Bathsheba. It wrecked the wisdom of Solomon. It has controlled the thoughts of all too many in the history of our faith. It has inspired wars and suffering and jealousy and envy throughout every age.
Root out any form of haughtiness or pride or arrogance in your thoughts, soul, or relationships. There is a reason God calls these an abomination.
The scripture for today is a powerful reminder that haughtiness, human pride, and arrogance are not celebrated by God. They are seen as detrimental to true faith. Proverbs 16:5 teaches that “EVERYONE who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord”. Proverbs 6 lists seven things that are an abomination to the Lord. The first in the list is the person with “haughty eyes” (Proverbs 6:17). The prophet Jeremiah wrote of God’s anger at the arrogance of the Moabites, who were haughty in heart (Jeremiah 48:29). Isaiah spoke of God’s disdain for King Sennacherib’s arrogance when he attacked Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:29). James 4:16 calls all arrogant boasting “evil”. With overwhelming evidence, there is ample proof that God has no respect for selfish human boasting, arrogance, or pride.
Are there ways you flirt with pride in your faith-walk? Is there some way you are letting arrogance have its place in your life without knowing? Arrogance, pride, and haughtiness are more common among Christians than they first appear.
As an elder in his church, James makes many important decisions. Recently, he voted against inviting an Alcoholics Anonymous group into his church. He didn’t like how they dressed when they came to meetings. James felt it would not help improve the “image” of his church in any way.
- Jasmine has been the president of her women’s group for twenty years. After being elected to head the group so many times, people quit running against her. The members like that Jasmine is a hard worker. Still, some fear that Jasmine holds too much sway in the church and doesn’t share the load with others.
- When Phillip brought his fiancé home to a meal with the family, his mother Katherine was less than impressed. She always desired her son to “marry up”. The fiancé was a waitress at a local diner. Katherine felt her son was making a big mistake. At the last Christmas gathering, Katherine offered to set up Phillip with a “nice girl with a good name for herself”. Phillip was not happy with his mother’s interference.
- Kevin is a quiet worker in his church. He always works behind the scenes. He always pitches in to help. However, Kevin holds a grudge against several members in the church. They never had kind words to say about Kevin’s work. Kevin felt he deserved to be treated better.
- Pastor Schuhart spent twenty-five years at the same congregation. Then, he retired. Since he didn’t want to move from friends in his last church, he bought a house in town for retirement. Even though the congregation hired a new pastor to replace him after retirement, Pastor Schuhart still holds a lot of sway in the congregation. Members go to him for advice and counseling. He is often invited to family gatherings and special events and was recognized in the community for his achievements. It's been ten years since Pastor Schuhart retired. No other pastor has lasted in that church longer than two years. Wonder why?
James, Jasmine, Katherine, Kevin, and Pastor Schuhart all suffer some form of pride. For several, its spiritual pride. For some, its personal pride. If you ask each of them if they are prideful, every one of them would say “no!”. However, this is not the case. James is prideful about his church’s “image”. Jasmine’s self-importance is her undoing. Katherine wants her son to “marry up” because she views his fiancé as beneath her. Kevin’s pride is more hidden. He takes pride in his work and is resentful if others don’t appreciate him enough. Pastor Schuhart would tell you he is a “humble servant of God”. This belies the fact that his choices have not helped the congregation to accept any other pastor in “his” pulpit. People in that church still refer to their church as Pastor Schuhart’s church. Really?
There are many ways to let pride and arrogance creep into your faith journey. But know this, all forms of pride and arrogance and haughtiness are abhorrent to God. When you elevate yourself in some way, you denigrate the glory of God. Do you ever look down at someone who knows less about the Bible than you do? Be careful of spiritual pride. Do you love the limelight or enjoy being singled out for some appointment? Selfish pride is knocking on your door. Do you enjoy seeing others fail or falter? Do you have little patience for those who know less than you do? Does your appearance matter a little too much? Do you fish for compliments? Do you secretly desire lots of “likes” and other positive responses in social media programs? In many and varied ways, pridefulness can ruin a good person. It took down King David when he desired Bathsheba. It wrecked the wisdom of Solomon. It has controlled the thoughts of all too many in the history of our faith. It has inspired wars and suffering and jealousy and envy throughout every age.
Root out any form of haughtiness or pride or arrogance in your thoughts, soul, or relationships. There is a reason God calls these an abomination.
August 3
“This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it on, but do not wash it.” So I bought the loincloth as the Lord directed me, and I put it on. Then the Lord gave me another message: “Take the linen loincloth you are wearing, and go to the Euphrates River. Hide it there in a hole in the rocks.” So I went and hid it by the Euphrates as the Lord had instructed me. A long time afterward the Lord said to me, “Go back to the Euphrates and get the loincloth I told you to hide there.” So I went to the Euphrates and dug it out of the hole where I had hidden it. But now it was rotting and falling apart. The loincloth was good for nothing. Then I received this message from the Lord: “This is what the Lord says: This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 13:1–9, NLT)
Migratory birds in the U.S. were tagged by the Department of the Interior with metal strips reading "Wash. Biol. Surv."--for Washington Biological Survey. The code was changed, so the story goes, after a farmer from Arkansas wrote to the department: "Dear Sirs, I shot one of your crows, My wife followed the cooking instructions attached--she washed it, boiled it and served it. It was the worst thing we ever ate." (Quote Magazine).
Like the hunter and his wife in the story above, sometimes people find it difficult to follow instructions or directions. You may think that your instructions on how to do something are sufficient without realizing that another person may not understand the steps. You might feel that others aren’t following directions when doing a job when in fact the directions are not clear enough for the amateur. Somewhere between giving the instructions and following the instructions, people can make mistakes in understanding, reading the directions, and doing each step to completion. Christians may make mistakes in following God’s instruction in much the same manner. The same reasons listed above often apply. The Christian might misunderstand God’s spiritual direction. The Christian might make a mistake in reading the Bible. A Christian might also fail to do each step to complete a task for God. However, if you follow the instruction or direction of the Lord carefully, you will always find true wisdom direct from God.
In the scripture for today from Jeremiah 13, God gives the prophet Jeremiah instructions about buying a loincloth. First, God tells Jeremiah to buy the loincloth. Then, God tells him to put it on (Jeremiah 13:1). Then, God tells Jeremiah to hide the cloth. Then, after a long while, God tells Jeremiah to go and retrieve the loincloth. By following every instruction of God, Jeremiah noticed that the loincloth was “rotting and falling apart”. “The loincloth was good for nothing”(Jeremiah 13:7). Then, God explained why every direction needed to be followed. God wanted Jeremiah to see that, like the garment rotted away due to time and natural forces, Judah and Jerusalem were going to rot away due to sin and God’s judgment. By following every instruction of God, Jeremiah was given a great analogy with which to preach to the sinful people. By following each step of God's instruction, Jeremiah was able to deliver a simple message of repentance to the people. God was going to use that message to try and save the souls of the people in Judah and Jerusalem.
Jeremiah would never have gotten the gist of God’s parable unless he followed every step of God’s instruction. Then, with God’s explanation, the reasoning for all those steps helped Jeremiah to understand God's plan.
After several years of constant bickering back and forth, a wife went on a retreat in order to decide if she wanted a divorce. While there, she felt God was calling her to start over in her relationship with her husband. God wanted a new start for the two. The woman vowed to forgive her husband and start anew. After she got home, the wife told her husband how much she loved him. Then, with excitement, she mentioned to her husband that they were going to “gather all their friends and redo their vows to each other”. She told him that God wanted a re-commitment ceremony to help strengthen their marriage. The husband was bewildered but went along with it.
For that re-commitment ceremony, the wife spent several thousand dollars. By the time everything was said and done, the couple was more in debt than ever. The arguments soon began to erupt between the two. Being so far in debt, their relationship deteriorated quickly. The woman became angry at God. Why hadn’t things gotten better? Finally, out of desperation, the woman went to her pastor for help. After a few sessions together, the pastor finally came to realize what had gone wrong.
Through a good deal of prayer, the pastor helped the woman to see that she had misunderstood God’s message. God did NOT want her to start over in her marriage by spending a lot of money for a special event. Instead, God intended for her to start looking at her husband in a new way. Mistakenly, the wife thought her husband should go just go along with everything she did. This wasn’t what God had expressed to her in the retreat. God had desired for her to start a new relationship with her husband with a new understanding that her husband might be right about a few things. She didn’t have to get her way about spending in order for things to go right in their marriage.
Over the next few months, the wife vowed to make changes. When she began to truly listen and appreciate her husband’s suggestions, she realized he was right about the importance of budgeting and the need to save for a rainy day. She saw his attitude about money as a way to protect their savings for the future. She saw that her husband did this out of love for her and their marriage. Her husband saw the respect she gave his opinion. He began to ease up on the blame. The arguments over spending soon ceased. By following what were really God’s steps in solving this matter, both husband and wife came to realize that they were indeed in love and meant for one another.
If you misunderstand God’s direction, you will not find what you need in the moment. If you misread the Bible, you will usually regret the repercussions. If you don’t follow God’s instruction for your life, you may not have the tools to maintain a good relationship with your Savior. Learn to follow God’s direction more closely. When you can’t figure out the next steps to take, seek help from God and God’s helpers. When you need clarity, search God’s Word for direction. God’s steps always lead to grace and peace. Missteps with God will usually result in the loss of what you value most dearly.
Jeremiah followed each step of God’s instruction to perceive God’s perfect analogy for his ministry. Sometimes, following through carefully on each step of God's plan is required for you to find God's perfect answer.
Like the hunter and his wife in the story above, sometimes people find it difficult to follow instructions or directions. You may think that your instructions on how to do something are sufficient without realizing that another person may not understand the steps. You might feel that others aren’t following directions when doing a job when in fact the directions are not clear enough for the amateur. Somewhere between giving the instructions and following the instructions, people can make mistakes in understanding, reading the directions, and doing each step to completion. Christians may make mistakes in following God’s instruction in much the same manner. The same reasons listed above often apply. The Christian might misunderstand God’s spiritual direction. The Christian might make a mistake in reading the Bible. A Christian might also fail to do each step to complete a task for God. However, if you follow the instruction or direction of the Lord carefully, you will always find true wisdom direct from God.
In the scripture for today from Jeremiah 13, God gives the prophet Jeremiah instructions about buying a loincloth. First, God tells Jeremiah to buy the loincloth. Then, God tells him to put it on (Jeremiah 13:1). Then, God tells Jeremiah to hide the cloth. Then, after a long while, God tells Jeremiah to go and retrieve the loincloth. By following every instruction of God, Jeremiah noticed that the loincloth was “rotting and falling apart”. “The loincloth was good for nothing”(Jeremiah 13:7). Then, God explained why every direction needed to be followed. God wanted Jeremiah to see that, like the garment rotted away due to time and natural forces, Judah and Jerusalem were going to rot away due to sin and God’s judgment. By following every instruction of God, Jeremiah was given a great analogy with which to preach to the sinful people. By following each step of God's instruction, Jeremiah was able to deliver a simple message of repentance to the people. God was going to use that message to try and save the souls of the people in Judah and Jerusalem.
Jeremiah would never have gotten the gist of God’s parable unless he followed every step of God’s instruction. Then, with God’s explanation, the reasoning for all those steps helped Jeremiah to understand God's plan.
After several years of constant bickering back and forth, a wife went on a retreat in order to decide if she wanted a divorce. While there, she felt God was calling her to start over in her relationship with her husband. God wanted a new start for the two. The woman vowed to forgive her husband and start anew. After she got home, the wife told her husband how much she loved him. Then, with excitement, she mentioned to her husband that they were going to “gather all their friends and redo their vows to each other”. She told him that God wanted a re-commitment ceremony to help strengthen their marriage. The husband was bewildered but went along with it.
For that re-commitment ceremony, the wife spent several thousand dollars. By the time everything was said and done, the couple was more in debt than ever. The arguments soon began to erupt between the two. Being so far in debt, their relationship deteriorated quickly. The woman became angry at God. Why hadn’t things gotten better? Finally, out of desperation, the woman went to her pastor for help. After a few sessions together, the pastor finally came to realize what had gone wrong.
Through a good deal of prayer, the pastor helped the woman to see that she had misunderstood God’s message. God did NOT want her to start over in her marriage by spending a lot of money for a special event. Instead, God intended for her to start looking at her husband in a new way. Mistakenly, the wife thought her husband should go just go along with everything she did. This wasn’t what God had expressed to her in the retreat. God had desired for her to start a new relationship with her husband with a new understanding that her husband might be right about a few things. She didn’t have to get her way about spending in order for things to go right in their marriage.
Over the next few months, the wife vowed to make changes. When she began to truly listen and appreciate her husband’s suggestions, she realized he was right about the importance of budgeting and the need to save for a rainy day. She saw his attitude about money as a way to protect their savings for the future. She saw that her husband did this out of love for her and their marriage. Her husband saw the respect she gave his opinion. He began to ease up on the blame. The arguments over spending soon ceased. By following what were really God’s steps in solving this matter, both husband and wife came to realize that they were indeed in love and meant for one another.
If you misunderstand God’s direction, you will not find what you need in the moment. If you misread the Bible, you will usually regret the repercussions. If you don’t follow God’s instruction for your life, you may not have the tools to maintain a good relationship with your Savior. Learn to follow God’s direction more closely. When you can’t figure out the next steps to take, seek help from God and God’s helpers. When you need clarity, search God’s Word for direction. God’s steps always lead to grace and peace. Missteps with God will usually result in the loss of what you value most dearly.
Jeremiah followed each step of God’s instruction to perceive God’s perfect analogy for his ministry. Sometimes, following through carefully on each step of God's plan is required for you to find God's perfect answer.
August 5
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8, RSV)
“The story is told of a man who came to visit his old friend, a music teacher. As the man came in, he said, “What’s the good news today?” The old teacher was silent as he stood up and walked across the room. He picked up a small hammer and struck a tuning fork. As the note sounded throughout the room, he said, “That is ‘A.’ It is ‘A’ today; it was ‘A’ 5, 000 years ago, and it will be ‘A’ 10, 000 years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall flats on his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune.” He struck the note again and said, “That is ‘A,’ my friend, and that’s the good news for today!”
The only hope for a world out of tune is to know that Jesus is the truth: “Yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). That’s the good news of truth!” (Dr. Clyde McDowell, Focal Point, Spring, 1997, p. 3)
Our world is filled with people who do not believe that anything can last forever. When a product gets old, it is replaced. When philosophies become passé, new ones are dreamed up. As the wisdom of humankind advances, anything is possible. Nothing is meant to be permanent. Sadly, the same attitude has attached itself to Christians as well. Some Christians believe that Jesus was an historical figure, His teachings meant for “His time”. They understand Jesus’ ministry as purposefully set in the first century AD. They do not believe His words were meant for all time. There are also Christians who believe that God changes with time. They point to scriptures like Exodus 32:14, where God changed direction. What they do not understand is that God was affected by God’s people. God’s thinking had not changed. The way God dealt with His people changed because of Moses’ words and God’s ultimate grace. God’s character does not change. God’s law does not change. God’s character does not change. God is eternal.
In modern times, relativism has gripped the thinking of the world, including Christianity. The notion of relativism understands the world as ever-changing. Because of this, relativism teaches that our thoughts and rules and laws and norms must change with time and the situation. Right and wrong are relative, not permanent. Good and evil are relative and change with the circumstances. Our scripture for today flies in the face of relativism. It asserts that Jesus Christ does not change with the times. His message, His ministry, His teachings last the test of time. He was not a Savior “in His day”. He was and is the Savior for all time. Our world needs His saving grace as much now as ever before. Jesus Christ didn’t come to save the world of the first century AD alone. He was meant for our world today as well. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He will FOREVER be trying to save our world, separate good and evil, explain right and wrong.
After seeing changes in the opinions of youth for decades, the Lutheran Brotherhood decided to do a survey to find the opinions of students and teachers alike. They wondered how many believed in the concept of relativism, which goes against Biblical norms. The question they asked on the survey was “Are there absolute standards for morals and ethics or does everything depend on the situation?” “Seventy-nine percent of the respondents in the 18–34 age group said that standards did not exist, and that the situation should always dictate behavior. Three percent said they were not sure. If this poll is correct, 82 percent of all students believe that right and wrong are relative terms and that morality is a ridiculous concept” (Imprimis, August 1998, pp. 4-5). After viewing the results, one teacher wrote: “This is the den of lions into which I walk every day. It is called the modern American classroom.” It is filled full of people infected by relativism.
There are many philosophies and religions that go against God’s way. Chances are you have been exposed or infected by one or several. It is important that you root out worldly philosophies and beliefs. They will conflict with your belief in Jesus Christ. Many of these philosophies and beliefs will even undermine your understanding of Jesus. They will rewrite history and change the character of Jesus to “fit the times”. This is a relativistic concept. It is dangerous.
Many denominations and groups have sought to rewrite the Bible “for modern times”. Sadly, some of these groups have purposefully misinterpreted the Bible or outright changed the tone of certain verses they do not like. The view of any of those who seek to change the Bible to fit modern times is relativistic. It is not godly.
I will close with a warning issued by John of Patmos, who wrote the book of Revelation. These words were penned at the end of the book of Revelation. They were meant as a warning to those who would like to change the words of the prophecy to fit some agenda. In essence, they were written for people who would be caught up in a philosophy such as relativism…..
“And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18–19, NLT)
The only hope for a world out of tune is to know that Jesus is the truth: “Yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). That’s the good news of truth!” (Dr. Clyde McDowell, Focal Point, Spring, 1997, p. 3)
Our world is filled with people who do not believe that anything can last forever. When a product gets old, it is replaced. When philosophies become passé, new ones are dreamed up. As the wisdom of humankind advances, anything is possible. Nothing is meant to be permanent. Sadly, the same attitude has attached itself to Christians as well. Some Christians believe that Jesus was an historical figure, His teachings meant for “His time”. They understand Jesus’ ministry as purposefully set in the first century AD. They do not believe His words were meant for all time. There are also Christians who believe that God changes with time. They point to scriptures like Exodus 32:14, where God changed direction. What they do not understand is that God was affected by God’s people. God’s thinking had not changed. The way God dealt with His people changed because of Moses’ words and God’s ultimate grace. God’s character does not change. God’s law does not change. God’s character does not change. God is eternal.
In modern times, relativism has gripped the thinking of the world, including Christianity. The notion of relativism understands the world as ever-changing. Because of this, relativism teaches that our thoughts and rules and laws and norms must change with time and the situation. Right and wrong are relative, not permanent. Good and evil are relative and change with the circumstances. Our scripture for today flies in the face of relativism. It asserts that Jesus Christ does not change with the times. His message, His ministry, His teachings last the test of time. He was not a Savior “in His day”. He was and is the Savior for all time. Our world needs His saving grace as much now as ever before. Jesus Christ didn’t come to save the world of the first century AD alone. He was meant for our world today as well. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He will FOREVER be trying to save our world, separate good and evil, explain right and wrong.
After seeing changes in the opinions of youth for decades, the Lutheran Brotherhood decided to do a survey to find the opinions of students and teachers alike. They wondered how many believed in the concept of relativism, which goes against Biblical norms. The question they asked on the survey was “Are there absolute standards for morals and ethics or does everything depend on the situation?” “Seventy-nine percent of the respondents in the 18–34 age group said that standards did not exist, and that the situation should always dictate behavior. Three percent said they were not sure. If this poll is correct, 82 percent of all students believe that right and wrong are relative terms and that morality is a ridiculous concept” (Imprimis, August 1998, pp. 4-5). After viewing the results, one teacher wrote: “This is the den of lions into which I walk every day. It is called the modern American classroom.” It is filled full of people infected by relativism.
There are many philosophies and religions that go against God’s way. Chances are you have been exposed or infected by one or several. It is important that you root out worldly philosophies and beliefs. They will conflict with your belief in Jesus Christ. Many of these philosophies and beliefs will even undermine your understanding of Jesus. They will rewrite history and change the character of Jesus to “fit the times”. This is a relativistic concept. It is dangerous.
Many denominations and groups have sought to rewrite the Bible “for modern times”. Sadly, some of these groups have purposefully misinterpreted the Bible or outright changed the tone of certain verses they do not like. The view of any of those who seek to change the Bible to fit modern times is relativistic. It is not godly.
I will close with a warning issued by John of Patmos, who wrote the book of Revelation. These words were penned at the end of the book of Revelation. They were meant as a warning to those who would like to change the words of the prophecy to fit some agenda. In essence, they were written for people who would be caught up in a philosophy such as relativism…..
“And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18–19, NLT)
August 7
“Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.”
(Romans 12:11, RSV)
(Romans 12:11, RSV)
The scripture for today from Romans 11:5 contains the word “remnant”. It speaks of a remnant among the people chosen by God to remain faithful. When God punishes evil, the remnant who are faithful will be spared. When God cleansed the earth with the flood spoken of in the book of Genesis, God left a remnant through Noah and his family. When the Babylonian armies destroyed Jerusalem, a remnant of the faithful endured exile in Babylon. That remnant would later rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple (See Ezra and Nehemiah). In every age and time, you will find that God works through that remnant to share the gospel and to keep the faith pure and undefiled; thus, powerfully alive.
“Something remaining. In the Old Testament some passages refer to the total destruction of a nation (e.g., the Babylonians in Jer. 50:26). When God brings judgment on the people, however, he does not destroy the faithful with the wicked, but leaves a remnant (Ezek. 6:8; Mic. 2:12). The concept of a remnant stood for that part of the nation who were faithful even though most people rejected the ways of God (Isa. 4:2–4). The fact of the existence of a remnant is said to be due to God himself (Isa. 1:9; Zeph. 3:12). The remnant, then, is the real people of God, a concept we also find in the New Testament, “a remnant chosen by grace” (Rom. 11:5).” (The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, p. 355).
Are you among the “remnant chosen by grace” living in the world today? That depends. The remnant is chosen for specific purposes. They are chosen by God and separated out from the world by God’s grace (Romans 11:5b). In response, they are to do two main things. First, they are to keep God’s Word and themselves undefiled. Second, they are to do evangelism by spreading the true gospel. Let’s look closer at the meaning of these two purposes for the faithful remnant.
As to keeping the gospel pure, the remnant needs to be faithful and true concerning the Bible and living the faith. When the world wants to destroy God’s ways, it often accomplishes this by either destroying or watering-down God’s commands or God’s people. For example, Christians in China today are experiencing, firsthand, worldly tactics aimed at watering down the gospel message. The government in China has set up controls and laws about what is preached and taught in the churches. The churches are registered and monitored whenever possible. The government constantly meddles in church life hoping to manipulate the faithful into believing in both Jesus and Socialism. The government of China also tries to destroy God’s commands by confiscating and destroying Bibles, forbidding the printing or importing of Bibles, and more. Elsewhere on my website, I have given notice about the churches that have been torn down in China. All these methods are attempts to destroy the heart of Christianity in China. However, don’t for a moment think that Christians in China are gone. There is a remnant there believed to be over 150 million strong!
The second main calling of the “remnant” is to spread the faith. If you are a person who easily shares your passion for God, this calling should be natural. Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ offers so many things to this world. Filled with uncertainty, many worldly people are looking for answers about life. With Jesus, the faithful have found hope in the midst of chaos, peace even in tribulation, and a faithful love that transcends normal worldly activities. I have seen faithful people overcome tremendous odds, respond with grace despite suffering, and share their wealth to help the needy. I have witnessed the faithful respond with enthusiasm when speaking about their faith in Christ. If you share your faith openly and with such passion that others have responded to God’s call, you can be confident that you may indeed be among the remnant serving Christ today.
Remember that the “remnant” will always be in the minority. Today, that same holds true. Many mainline churches have gone “off the tracks”, preaching social justice instead of Biblical faith. Many Christians have adopted worldly values. Many sermons have been watered down to appeal to a wider audience. Many have neglected prayer and do not speak with God. Many have chosen to follow modern fads and have rejected God’s authority. According to a study done some years ago of multiple denominations, it is believed that as few as 18% of all Christians living today even know the BASICS of the Bible! It is not popular to be called a Christian today. It is not safe in many places to acknowledge you are a Christian. The remnant does not care about what is popular or what sounds good. They do not follow the hype of the day. They follow God in Christ. They follow Jesus faithfully, no matter what the obstacle.
When John Calvin, the reformer, was asked about who would go to heaven, he responded that “the elect” would be the only ones to go to heaven. When he was asked to explain who “the elect” were, he acknowledged that they were the ones chosen by God to be faithful and who responded with a pure and undefiled faith. When Calvin was asked how many in the churches are of “the elect”, Calvin responded with two words: “very few” (Institutes 3: 20, 11). Jesus was once asked if only a few would be saved. He responded that “many will seek to enter, but not be able” (Luke 13:24). Jesus also said that the harvest of faithful is plentiful, but the workers were FEW (Luke 10:2). With these words, even Jesus acknowledged that the remnant is the “FEW” who share the true gospel and follow God faithfully.
I hope and pray that today you are numbered among the remnant keeping faithful to Jesus in a time of rampant worldliness. I pray your faith is pure and undefiled before God. I also hope that your passion for God in Christ is so evident that others enthusiastically believe in Christ because of your personal witness.
“Something remaining. In the Old Testament some passages refer to the total destruction of a nation (e.g., the Babylonians in Jer. 50:26). When God brings judgment on the people, however, he does not destroy the faithful with the wicked, but leaves a remnant (Ezek. 6:8; Mic. 2:12). The concept of a remnant stood for that part of the nation who were faithful even though most people rejected the ways of God (Isa. 4:2–4). The fact of the existence of a remnant is said to be due to God himself (Isa. 1:9; Zeph. 3:12). The remnant, then, is the real people of God, a concept we also find in the New Testament, “a remnant chosen by grace” (Rom. 11:5).” (The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, p. 355).
Are you among the “remnant chosen by grace” living in the world today? That depends. The remnant is chosen for specific purposes. They are chosen by God and separated out from the world by God’s grace (Romans 11:5b). In response, they are to do two main things. First, they are to keep God’s Word and themselves undefiled. Second, they are to do evangelism by spreading the true gospel. Let’s look closer at the meaning of these two purposes for the faithful remnant.
As to keeping the gospel pure, the remnant needs to be faithful and true concerning the Bible and living the faith. When the world wants to destroy God’s ways, it often accomplishes this by either destroying or watering-down God’s commands or God’s people. For example, Christians in China today are experiencing, firsthand, worldly tactics aimed at watering down the gospel message. The government in China has set up controls and laws about what is preached and taught in the churches. The churches are registered and monitored whenever possible. The government constantly meddles in church life hoping to manipulate the faithful into believing in both Jesus and Socialism. The government of China also tries to destroy God’s commands by confiscating and destroying Bibles, forbidding the printing or importing of Bibles, and more. Elsewhere on my website, I have given notice about the churches that have been torn down in China. All these methods are attempts to destroy the heart of Christianity in China. However, don’t for a moment think that Christians in China are gone. There is a remnant there believed to be over 150 million strong!
The second main calling of the “remnant” is to spread the faith. If you are a person who easily shares your passion for God, this calling should be natural. Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ offers so many things to this world. Filled with uncertainty, many worldly people are looking for answers about life. With Jesus, the faithful have found hope in the midst of chaos, peace even in tribulation, and a faithful love that transcends normal worldly activities. I have seen faithful people overcome tremendous odds, respond with grace despite suffering, and share their wealth to help the needy. I have witnessed the faithful respond with enthusiasm when speaking about their faith in Christ. If you share your faith openly and with such passion that others have responded to God’s call, you can be confident that you may indeed be among the remnant serving Christ today.
Remember that the “remnant” will always be in the minority. Today, that same holds true. Many mainline churches have gone “off the tracks”, preaching social justice instead of Biblical faith. Many Christians have adopted worldly values. Many sermons have been watered down to appeal to a wider audience. Many have neglected prayer and do not speak with God. Many have chosen to follow modern fads and have rejected God’s authority. According to a study done some years ago of multiple denominations, it is believed that as few as 18% of all Christians living today even know the BASICS of the Bible! It is not popular to be called a Christian today. It is not safe in many places to acknowledge you are a Christian. The remnant does not care about what is popular or what sounds good. They do not follow the hype of the day. They follow God in Christ. They follow Jesus faithfully, no matter what the obstacle.
When John Calvin, the reformer, was asked about who would go to heaven, he responded that “the elect” would be the only ones to go to heaven. When he was asked to explain who “the elect” were, he acknowledged that they were the ones chosen by God to be faithful and who responded with a pure and undefiled faith. When Calvin was asked how many in the churches are of “the elect”, Calvin responded with two words: “very few” (Institutes 3: 20, 11). Jesus was once asked if only a few would be saved. He responded that “many will seek to enter, but not be able” (Luke 13:24). Jesus also said that the harvest of faithful is plentiful, but the workers were FEW (Luke 10:2). With these words, even Jesus acknowledged that the remnant is the “FEW” who share the true gospel and follow God faithfully.
I hope and pray that today you are numbered among the remnant keeping faithful to Jesus in a time of rampant worldliness. I pray your faith is pure and undefiled before God. I also hope that your passion for God in Christ is so evident that others enthusiastically believe in Christ because of your personal witness.
August 9
“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.” (Proverbs 4:14–15, ESV)
Two friends, Tiffany and Cece, sat together at the deli. They were talking about their shopping trip to come later in the day. Tiffany looked directly into Cece’s eyes and said, “Listen to me, Cece. I’m having a problem with spending. I’m buying things that I really don’t need. I’m buying things to feel better about myself, and then I feel worse about it when the bill comes. You need to do something for me today.”
Cece responded: “You are my best friend. Whatever you need me to do, I’m there.”
Tiffany held out her pocketbook and said, “I need you to hold onto my pocketbook. I put twenty dollars in my pocket, and that’s all I can spend today. I don’t need to spend more than that. I don’t need the guilt. Can you do that for me?”
Cece smiled and said, “I got you, sister. I’ll watch over you!” And she did.
The conversation between Tiffany and Cece is not uncommon in our world today. It is important for conversations like that to happen. Tiffany needs Cece to watch her back, to help curb her spending when she might be tempted to go overboard. Everyone has limitations when it comes to sin and temptations. It is important to know when you need help to face a temptation or sin or lure or time of trial. It is crucial to avoid those things in life that are detrimental to your welfare. Avoiding temptation is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of wisdom and good character. It is a sign that God means more to you than short-lived indulgences.
A survey was done by the Discipleship Journal in 1992. The journal polled Christians about how they dealt with strong temptations. The summary of the results included the following facts: “Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent).” (Discipleship Journal, November/December 1992). If you look closely at these results, people responded to temptations best by first, praying, but also by “avoiding compromising situations”. When you have a strong temptation to sin or fail or make a mistake, it may be in your best interest to avoid a compromising situation altogether.
Avoiding temptations does not imply that you don’t do things that are uncomfortable or difficult or challenging. At times, God will put you in such situations to help you to grow. However, when you find yourself facing a temptation that is extremely difficult or overwhelming, it might be best to simply avoid the situation completely. Most good dieters know that visiting a bakery when you are on a diet won’t bode well. The aroma alone is enough to get you to abandon your diet for the day. Alcoholics are taught to rid their house of all alcohol, so they aren’t tempted to drink in a moment of weakness. If you are prone to cheat on your spouse, it is best that you don’t work with several beautiful people. Some temptations are just too powerful to live with consistently.
When I met Ruth, she was a strong Christian in her mid-twenties. She believed in God with her whole heart. She gave herself to Jesus at a young age. She was a great encourager, always looking to make a situation better. However, Ruth had a difficult relationship with her husband. She was married to a man who was overbearing and irreverent. He never went to church, ridiculed Ruth’s faith, and was a constant irritation in public. Coming from a dysfunctional family, he had a difficult time dealing with his emotions and saying the appropriate words. Ruth knew her husband was hard to live with, but she also knew he loved her dearly.
When I had been at that church for several years, Ruth came to my office out of the blue. I thought her visit was about an upcoming women’s event. It was not. Inside my office, she began to share with me that her marriage had taken a bad turn, and she was worried about cheating on her husband. Ruth was very pretty for her age. She was outgoing and very well liked by all. At times, this put her in difficult situations. At times, she was tempted to cheat on her husband, especially when a man paid her a lot of attention. Ruth asked me for a favor, an unusual one. She asked me to hold her accountable. She wanted me to help keep her out of trouble and help her to find ways to make her marriage better.
A month later, I attended a gathering in the fellowship hall of the church. While there, I noticed Ruth talking animatedly with a good-looking young man in the congregation. That man had recently been widowed at a young age. He was reeling from grief. No doubt, he wanted to find companionship and develop new friendships in the church. However, both Ruth and this man were vulnerable. He was going through grief. She was dealing with a rough patch in her marriage. As I saw them spending more and more time at that gathering talking and then seated beside each other at the meal, I approached Ruth and asked her to step in the kitchen for a moment. While in there, I reminded Ruth that this man was widowed and grieving and vulnerable, though a joy to be around. I asked Ruth if she was developing any feelings for him. She told me that her discussions with this widower in the last hour were more enjoyable than any she could remember with her own husband all week. I asked her to be careful and that he was a temptation. She thanked me for watching out for her. She went back to the table and finished eating but did not spend any more time with him in the weeks following.
Ruth’s marriage is on solid ground today, but things were pretty shaky for several years. I know Ruth is thankful that I was there helping her in a time of need. She knew herself well enough that she needed help to avoid getting the wrong idea or spending too much time with a handsome man. She leaned on me to remain in God’s good graces. She trusted our friendship. She wanted desperately to remain faithful to God and to her husband.
It takes great courage and wisdom to ask another person to help you deal with temptations. It takes great courage and wisdom to also avoid a serious temptation altogether. You need to know yourself and your spiritual limitations. You need to know when to walk away. If you want to be faithful, learn to discern when you need to avoid a temptation that is too great. If you need help in doing so, put your trust in God and in a godly friend. God will want you to succeed. Satan will desire that you fail.
The scripture for today is clear that at times it is highly advantageous to “not walk in the way of evil” (Proverbs 4:14). These verses encourage you to “avoid” those situations that might cause you to sin. I pray you are spiritually mature enough to recognize those situations that need to be avoided, those paths that will only lead you to destruction.
Cece responded: “You are my best friend. Whatever you need me to do, I’m there.”
Tiffany held out her pocketbook and said, “I need you to hold onto my pocketbook. I put twenty dollars in my pocket, and that’s all I can spend today. I don’t need to spend more than that. I don’t need the guilt. Can you do that for me?”
Cece smiled and said, “I got you, sister. I’ll watch over you!” And she did.
The conversation between Tiffany and Cece is not uncommon in our world today. It is important for conversations like that to happen. Tiffany needs Cece to watch her back, to help curb her spending when she might be tempted to go overboard. Everyone has limitations when it comes to sin and temptations. It is important to know when you need help to face a temptation or sin or lure or time of trial. It is crucial to avoid those things in life that are detrimental to your welfare. Avoiding temptation is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of wisdom and good character. It is a sign that God means more to you than short-lived indulgences.
A survey was done by the Discipleship Journal in 1992. The journal polled Christians about how they dealt with strong temptations. The summary of the results included the following facts: “Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent).” (Discipleship Journal, November/December 1992). If you look closely at these results, people responded to temptations best by first, praying, but also by “avoiding compromising situations”. When you have a strong temptation to sin or fail or make a mistake, it may be in your best interest to avoid a compromising situation altogether.
Avoiding temptations does not imply that you don’t do things that are uncomfortable or difficult or challenging. At times, God will put you in such situations to help you to grow. However, when you find yourself facing a temptation that is extremely difficult or overwhelming, it might be best to simply avoid the situation completely. Most good dieters know that visiting a bakery when you are on a diet won’t bode well. The aroma alone is enough to get you to abandon your diet for the day. Alcoholics are taught to rid their house of all alcohol, so they aren’t tempted to drink in a moment of weakness. If you are prone to cheat on your spouse, it is best that you don’t work with several beautiful people. Some temptations are just too powerful to live with consistently.
When I met Ruth, she was a strong Christian in her mid-twenties. She believed in God with her whole heart. She gave herself to Jesus at a young age. She was a great encourager, always looking to make a situation better. However, Ruth had a difficult relationship with her husband. She was married to a man who was overbearing and irreverent. He never went to church, ridiculed Ruth’s faith, and was a constant irritation in public. Coming from a dysfunctional family, he had a difficult time dealing with his emotions and saying the appropriate words. Ruth knew her husband was hard to live with, but she also knew he loved her dearly.
When I had been at that church for several years, Ruth came to my office out of the blue. I thought her visit was about an upcoming women’s event. It was not. Inside my office, she began to share with me that her marriage had taken a bad turn, and she was worried about cheating on her husband. Ruth was very pretty for her age. She was outgoing and very well liked by all. At times, this put her in difficult situations. At times, she was tempted to cheat on her husband, especially when a man paid her a lot of attention. Ruth asked me for a favor, an unusual one. She asked me to hold her accountable. She wanted me to help keep her out of trouble and help her to find ways to make her marriage better.
A month later, I attended a gathering in the fellowship hall of the church. While there, I noticed Ruth talking animatedly with a good-looking young man in the congregation. That man had recently been widowed at a young age. He was reeling from grief. No doubt, he wanted to find companionship and develop new friendships in the church. However, both Ruth and this man were vulnerable. He was going through grief. She was dealing with a rough patch in her marriage. As I saw them spending more and more time at that gathering talking and then seated beside each other at the meal, I approached Ruth and asked her to step in the kitchen for a moment. While in there, I reminded Ruth that this man was widowed and grieving and vulnerable, though a joy to be around. I asked Ruth if she was developing any feelings for him. She told me that her discussions with this widower in the last hour were more enjoyable than any she could remember with her own husband all week. I asked her to be careful and that he was a temptation. She thanked me for watching out for her. She went back to the table and finished eating but did not spend any more time with him in the weeks following.
Ruth’s marriage is on solid ground today, but things were pretty shaky for several years. I know Ruth is thankful that I was there helping her in a time of need. She knew herself well enough that she needed help to avoid getting the wrong idea or spending too much time with a handsome man. She leaned on me to remain in God’s good graces. She trusted our friendship. She wanted desperately to remain faithful to God and to her husband.
It takes great courage and wisdom to ask another person to help you deal with temptations. It takes great courage and wisdom to also avoid a serious temptation altogether. You need to know yourself and your spiritual limitations. You need to know when to walk away. If you want to be faithful, learn to discern when you need to avoid a temptation that is too great. If you need help in doing so, put your trust in God and in a godly friend. God will want you to succeed. Satan will desire that you fail.
The scripture for today is clear that at times it is highly advantageous to “not walk in the way of evil” (Proverbs 4:14). These verses encourage you to “avoid” those situations that might cause you to sin. I pray you are spiritually mature enough to recognize those situations that need to be avoided, those paths that will only lead you to destruction.
August 11
“The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done.” (Acts 21:30–33, NLT)
Because many people don’t know history very well, they often do not understand how history often repeats itself. Bible history is no exception. In the past few months, there have been riots in many major cities. Despite the lies of many in the media that these riots are peaceful protests, many people have been injured and even killed. Stores have been looted and lives have been irreparably harmed. Businesses have had to close their doors permanently, and people have lost their jobs. Riots are not a recent phenomenon, however. Even the New Testament of our Bible mentions at least three. Today’s scripture is an example of a riot. For some interesting insights on what happened in this riot from the first century, let’s look more closely at Acts 21.
When Paul was doing his missionary work in and around Jerusalem, local people got upset at his preaching of the gospel. Likely prompted by local religious leaders, “a mob” gathered around Paul and seized him (Acts 21:31). “A great riot” ensued (Acts 21:30). The Bible confirms that “the whole city was rocked” by accusations of leaders against Paul. “The mob”, as the group was described in scripture, began beating Paul in public (Acts 21:32). Soon, soldiers stationed in the city were called to restore order. Instead of facing the wrath of the mob, the soldiers instead arrested Paul. Instead of asking Paul what happened, they “asked the crowd who he was and what he had done” (Acts 21:33). The rioters were ignored by the soldiers. Paul was arrested. Paul was assumed to be guilty. Paul was questioned. The rioters remained unscathed and were not charged with one crime. Paul, who was seen being beaten by the mob, was the one targeted.
Today’s world may be more modern, but mob tactics still rule the day. In places like Portland and Chicago, rioters are freed from jail. Police are blamed for the problem. Citizens who defend their homes or businesses are arrested and charged. Rioters in places like Portland, Seattle, New York City, and St. Louis have all been released without any charges even after fire-bombing and maiming people. Out of fear, many of the authorities have sided with the rioters in order to quell the uprising. They arrested innocent people to placate angry rioters. Some blamed the innocent for doing the right thing.
“The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave in an orderly fashion. The audience thinks this is the most amusing turn of the evening, and cheer thunderously. The manager again implores them to leave the burning building, and he is again applauded vigorously. At last he can do no more. The fire raced through the whole building and the fun-loving audience with it.
“And so,” concluded Kierkegaard, “will our age, I sometimes think, go down in fiery destruction to the applause of a crowded house of cheering spectators.”” (Resource, July/August 1990)
Just because a group cheers on something doesn’t make it just. Though a group from your church might rise up against someone in the church doesn’t mean that person is doing something ungodly. Sometimes, mobs form in churches just like in Jerusalem. Sometimes, they target and blame the wrong person. In most cases, lives are harmed, and reputations are tarnished. Bad things can happen when people gather together over an emotionally charged issue. Usually, the results are never good.
Be careful you don’t get caught up in the lies of any group. Sometimes, groups will lie or distort the truth to manipulate a wider audience. They will twist the facts to appear innocent. They will manipulate opinion in order to control the narrative. In today’s world, where online social media access means things can blow out of control very quickly, it is especially important to be careful when taking sides. Things can explode all the more quickly on social media. A rumor can become factual when framed in the wrong way and told by enough well-meaning but misguided individuals. Even the news media and online fact-checking organizations have been found to manipulate their results to fit certain agendas. These “fake facts” and “fake news” bits have caused much harm to the truth.
Paul did not let the riot control his mission. He continued to preach and teach until he was martyred in Rome. He knew the truth and preached it valiantly. Take your cues from the Apostle Paul. Find out the truth in what you hear. Let it inform your decisions. Never let public opinion and mobs control your faith or your mission. Do you want to be popular or do you want to be faithful to Jesus Christ?
When Paul was doing his missionary work in and around Jerusalem, local people got upset at his preaching of the gospel. Likely prompted by local religious leaders, “a mob” gathered around Paul and seized him (Acts 21:31). “A great riot” ensued (Acts 21:30). The Bible confirms that “the whole city was rocked” by accusations of leaders against Paul. “The mob”, as the group was described in scripture, began beating Paul in public (Acts 21:32). Soon, soldiers stationed in the city were called to restore order. Instead of facing the wrath of the mob, the soldiers instead arrested Paul. Instead of asking Paul what happened, they “asked the crowd who he was and what he had done” (Acts 21:33). The rioters were ignored by the soldiers. Paul was arrested. Paul was assumed to be guilty. Paul was questioned. The rioters remained unscathed and were not charged with one crime. Paul, who was seen being beaten by the mob, was the one targeted.
Today’s world may be more modern, but mob tactics still rule the day. In places like Portland and Chicago, rioters are freed from jail. Police are blamed for the problem. Citizens who defend their homes or businesses are arrested and charged. Rioters in places like Portland, Seattle, New York City, and St. Louis have all been released without any charges even after fire-bombing and maiming people. Out of fear, many of the authorities have sided with the rioters in order to quell the uprising. They arrested innocent people to placate angry rioters. Some blamed the innocent for doing the right thing.
“The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave in an orderly fashion. The audience thinks this is the most amusing turn of the evening, and cheer thunderously. The manager again implores them to leave the burning building, and he is again applauded vigorously. At last he can do no more. The fire raced through the whole building and the fun-loving audience with it.
“And so,” concluded Kierkegaard, “will our age, I sometimes think, go down in fiery destruction to the applause of a crowded house of cheering spectators.”” (Resource, July/August 1990)
Just because a group cheers on something doesn’t make it just. Though a group from your church might rise up against someone in the church doesn’t mean that person is doing something ungodly. Sometimes, mobs form in churches just like in Jerusalem. Sometimes, they target and blame the wrong person. In most cases, lives are harmed, and reputations are tarnished. Bad things can happen when people gather together over an emotionally charged issue. Usually, the results are never good.
Be careful you don’t get caught up in the lies of any group. Sometimes, groups will lie or distort the truth to manipulate a wider audience. They will twist the facts to appear innocent. They will manipulate opinion in order to control the narrative. In today’s world, where online social media access means things can blow out of control very quickly, it is especially important to be careful when taking sides. Things can explode all the more quickly on social media. A rumor can become factual when framed in the wrong way and told by enough well-meaning but misguided individuals. Even the news media and online fact-checking organizations have been found to manipulate their results to fit certain agendas. These “fake facts” and “fake news” bits have caused much harm to the truth.
Paul did not let the riot control his mission. He continued to preach and teach until he was martyred in Rome. He knew the truth and preached it valiantly. Take your cues from the Apostle Paul. Find out the truth in what you hear. Let it inform your decisions. Never let public opinion and mobs control your faith or your mission. Do you want to be popular or do you want to be faithful to Jesus Christ?
August 14
“A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God… Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”” (Isaiah 40:3,5, NRSV)
In the scripture for today, the prophet Isaiah described how the people of God were to prepare “the way of the Lord” in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3). When Isaiah spoke these words, the people of Judah and Israel were experiencing great loss and tragedy. They were suffering. As they dealt with their sin taking root and causing the suffering, people like Isaiah began to see God’s action in the midst of this wilderness suffering. God had detoured the people away from their prosperous and sinful life in order to cleanse their heart and soul. As in the time of Moses, God was going to detour the people back to the wilderness so that they could once again find their connection with Him. Isaiah perceived the time in the wilderness as a time when "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed" (Isaiah 40:5).
Some people hate detours. When a detour occurs on a highway, it may take you many miles of traveling to get back on track. Detours are notorious time-wasters. They take you where you don’t want to go. They burn up gas. They may make you late for work. When a road is being repaved, it is not unusual to have a detour while the work is being done. The detour is necessary for the work to be completed. In the same way, spiritual detours in life may be a pain, but often they are necessary. As so often happens with humans, the only way God can reach your soul may be by putting you on a detour and opening you up to see life in a different way.
“Detours, when we get off the main road, can be frustrating and time consuming. Yet in the spiritual life, God seems to allow us to be detoured. One of the longest detours of all time happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness. What should have taken them eleven days to enter the Promised Land turned into a forty-year detour in the desert. That detour was due to their deplorable lack of faith in God’s conquering power. On the other hand, there were those who may have thought they were being detoured by God, but who later found they were on God’s perfect road of blessing all along. Consider: 1) Moses was detoured into submission. Those forty years in the wilderness tending sheep were not a waste, but actually a training ground for tending Israel later on. The desert experience took all the trust in the arm of flesh out of Moses (Exodus 3, Exodus 4). 2) Paul was detoured into learning: “I went into Arabia...then after three years I went up to Jerusalem” (Galatians 1:17,18). Those years were good for Paul, so that he might learn of Christ and be trained for service. 3) Philip was detoured from many, to one. He went from winning multitudes, to winning one man, the Ethiopian eunuch; from a great revival to a singular witnessing experience. This story shows the Lord’s estimation of the value of one soul. 4) Enoch and Elijah were detoured into heaven (Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11). Is today the day we will experience the same?” (excerpt from “Our Daily Bread” as quoted in Bible.org).
Moses had a detour that made him trust God all the more. Paul had a detour to learn more about Christ and be trained for service. Philip’s detour saved the soul of the Ethiopian eunuch. Have you been on a detour lately? Did God put you there? Have you learned anything in your detour? Did a detour of your past change you in some way?
Detours are a part of life. Often, you can’t escape them. When God has a hand in a spiritual detour, you won’t want to miss it! Spiritual detours can become the most inspirational of travels if you just take the time to appreciate what God is doing!
Some people hate detours. When a detour occurs on a highway, it may take you many miles of traveling to get back on track. Detours are notorious time-wasters. They take you where you don’t want to go. They burn up gas. They may make you late for work. When a road is being repaved, it is not unusual to have a detour while the work is being done. The detour is necessary for the work to be completed. In the same way, spiritual detours in life may be a pain, but often they are necessary. As so often happens with humans, the only way God can reach your soul may be by putting you on a detour and opening you up to see life in a different way.
“Detours, when we get off the main road, can be frustrating and time consuming. Yet in the spiritual life, God seems to allow us to be detoured. One of the longest detours of all time happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness. What should have taken them eleven days to enter the Promised Land turned into a forty-year detour in the desert. That detour was due to their deplorable lack of faith in God’s conquering power. On the other hand, there were those who may have thought they were being detoured by God, but who later found they were on God’s perfect road of blessing all along. Consider: 1) Moses was detoured into submission. Those forty years in the wilderness tending sheep were not a waste, but actually a training ground for tending Israel later on. The desert experience took all the trust in the arm of flesh out of Moses (Exodus 3, Exodus 4). 2) Paul was detoured into learning: “I went into Arabia...then after three years I went up to Jerusalem” (Galatians 1:17,18). Those years were good for Paul, so that he might learn of Christ and be trained for service. 3) Philip was detoured from many, to one. He went from winning multitudes, to winning one man, the Ethiopian eunuch; from a great revival to a singular witnessing experience. This story shows the Lord’s estimation of the value of one soul. 4) Enoch and Elijah were detoured into heaven (Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11). Is today the day we will experience the same?” (excerpt from “Our Daily Bread” as quoted in Bible.org).
Moses had a detour that made him trust God all the more. Paul had a detour to learn more about Christ and be trained for service. Philip’s detour saved the soul of the Ethiopian eunuch. Have you been on a detour lately? Did God put you there? Have you learned anything in your detour? Did a detour of your past change you in some way?
Detours are a part of life. Often, you can’t escape them. When God has a hand in a spiritual detour, you won’t want to miss it! Spiritual detours can become the most inspirational of travels if you just take the time to appreciate what God is doing!
August 16
“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.” (Luke 22:3–6, ESV)
After a quick reading of this verse, can you spot which significant word is used twice to great effect? The word that is repeated is “betray”. This word means to give over or hand over someone to another and thus to determine their fate. In the scripture above from the gospel of Luke, Judas “conferred with the chief priests and officers” how he might “betray” Jesus (Luke 22:4). Then, he agreed to “betray” Jesus at a time when the deed could be done secretly (“in the absence of a crowd”-Luke 22:6). As we look at these three short sentences that set into motion the crucifixion and death of Jesus, let us examine the meaning of Jesus’ betrayal.
“No treachery is worse than betrayal by a family member or friend. Julius Caesar knew such treachery. Among the conspirators who assassinated the Roman leader on March 15, 44 B. C. was Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesar not only trusted Brutus, he had favored him as a son. According to Roman historians, Caesar first resisted the onslaught of the assassins. But when he saw Brutus among them with his dagger drawn, Caesar ceased to struggle and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, asked the famous question, “You too, Brutus?”” (“Today in the Word”, August 13, 1992).
When you are betrayed, it will often be by someone who has the power to hurt you. It will usually be done with the intent to cause you harm. It will often shake you to the core that someone you so trusted has turned against you. Betrayal will always cause the maximum amount of internal suffering and turmoil. It even caused the great Julius Caesar to crumble when his trusted Brutus was part of his betrayal. Can you imagine how hurt Jesus must have been to have been betrayed by Judas, a trusted chosen disciple?
Looking at the scripture for today, Jesus’ betrayal by Judas gives us two clues as to why betrayal hurts so deeply. Luke 22:6 teaches us that the betrayal event was planned to occur “in the absence of a crowd”. When you betray someone, it will often involve secret negotiations or a hidden agenda or both. Because the disciples were so close to Jesus, Judas knew that Jesus might catch on to the betrayal. To counter this, he met secretly with the chief priests and scribes. If a person close to you desires to betray your trust, the work will often be hidden from your view. It may happen behind closed doors. It may happen when your back is turned. You may not see it coming. Jesus did. He even said to Judas at the Last Supper, “What you must do, do quickly” (John 13:27). Jesus allowed himself to be betrayed. He gave Judas every opportunity not to sin.
That’s just like God. God doesn’t want you to fail, to sin, to betray a loved one or friend. So, what causes this to occur? Our scripture for today gives us a big clue. It tells us that what precipitated Judas’ decision to betray the Savior was Satan entering into Judas (Luke 22:3). Satan was behind the betrayal. Be careful when you entertain thoughts of betraying someone. Satan may be the one working behind the scenes, pulling the strings. In truth, Satan is usually involved.
Betrayal doesn’t occur when you turn someone over to authorities to get them help. Betrayal always involves some kind of harm. Scripture usually uses the word for betrayal by humans to speak of a person plotting against another person to cause undue pain. Satan loves when pain is inflicted, when harm is done to another. The fact that betrayal usually involves a hidden evil agenda is par for the course.
If you find yourself toying with a hidden agenda to cause another person harm, be warned. It might just be a betrayal you are considering. Chances are, if you are considering betrayal, Satan will probably be an instigator in the process. If you choose to betray someone close, it may come back to haunt you. Judas ended up committing suicide because of his part in the betrayal (Acts 1:19).
A friend confided in Sophia that the pastor’s clothes were too shabby for their large and growing church. From then on, every time Sophia looked at her pastor, she would regard his level of dress. She had to agree with her friend; the pastor did lack a sophisticated wardrobe. Rather than become part of a group in the church who would bash the pastor behind the scenes, Sophia acquired a $500 gift certificate to a neighboring tailor’s business. There, her pastor bought a new suit. When he wore the suit, Sophia’s friend noticed. She commented on the change. Sophia was glad that she wasn’t one talking behind the pastor’s back but instead became part of a great solution. Sophia was not going to betray her pastor.
How many things go on behind your back? Are you part of a group who backbites others, gossips with malicious intent, or looks down on another? Do you have any hidden agendas? If you answered “yes” to any of the previous three questions, you may have to consider if a betrayal might be a part of your future.
“No treachery is worse than betrayal by a family member or friend. Julius Caesar knew such treachery. Among the conspirators who assassinated the Roman leader on March 15, 44 B. C. was Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesar not only trusted Brutus, he had favored him as a son. According to Roman historians, Caesar first resisted the onslaught of the assassins. But when he saw Brutus among them with his dagger drawn, Caesar ceased to struggle and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, asked the famous question, “You too, Brutus?”” (“Today in the Word”, August 13, 1992).
When you are betrayed, it will often be by someone who has the power to hurt you. It will usually be done with the intent to cause you harm. It will often shake you to the core that someone you so trusted has turned against you. Betrayal will always cause the maximum amount of internal suffering and turmoil. It even caused the great Julius Caesar to crumble when his trusted Brutus was part of his betrayal. Can you imagine how hurt Jesus must have been to have been betrayed by Judas, a trusted chosen disciple?
Looking at the scripture for today, Jesus’ betrayal by Judas gives us two clues as to why betrayal hurts so deeply. Luke 22:6 teaches us that the betrayal event was planned to occur “in the absence of a crowd”. When you betray someone, it will often involve secret negotiations or a hidden agenda or both. Because the disciples were so close to Jesus, Judas knew that Jesus might catch on to the betrayal. To counter this, he met secretly with the chief priests and scribes. If a person close to you desires to betray your trust, the work will often be hidden from your view. It may happen behind closed doors. It may happen when your back is turned. You may not see it coming. Jesus did. He even said to Judas at the Last Supper, “What you must do, do quickly” (John 13:27). Jesus allowed himself to be betrayed. He gave Judas every opportunity not to sin.
That’s just like God. God doesn’t want you to fail, to sin, to betray a loved one or friend. So, what causes this to occur? Our scripture for today gives us a big clue. It tells us that what precipitated Judas’ decision to betray the Savior was Satan entering into Judas (Luke 22:3). Satan was behind the betrayal. Be careful when you entertain thoughts of betraying someone. Satan may be the one working behind the scenes, pulling the strings. In truth, Satan is usually involved.
Betrayal doesn’t occur when you turn someone over to authorities to get them help. Betrayal always involves some kind of harm. Scripture usually uses the word for betrayal by humans to speak of a person plotting against another person to cause undue pain. Satan loves when pain is inflicted, when harm is done to another. The fact that betrayal usually involves a hidden evil agenda is par for the course.
If you find yourself toying with a hidden agenda to cause another person harm, be warned. It might just be a betrayal you are considering. Chances are, if you are considering betrayal, Satan will probably be an instigator in the process. If you choose to betray someone close, it may come back to haunt you. Judas ended up committing suicide because of his part in the betrayal (Acts 1:19).
A friend confided in Sophia that the pastor’s clothes were too shabby for their large and growing church. From then on, every time Sophia looked at her pastor, she would regard his level of dress. She had to agree with her friend; the pastor did lack a sophisticated wardrobe. Rather than become part of a group in the church who would bash the pastor behind the scenes, Sophia acquired a $500 gift certificate to a neighboring tailor’s business. There, her pastor bought a new suit. When he wore the suit, Sophia’s friend noticed. She commented on the change. Sophia was glad that she wasn’t one talking behind the pastor’s back but instead became part of a great solution. Sophia was not going to betray her pastor.
How many things go on behind your back? Are you part of a group who backbites others, gossips with malicious intent, or looks down on another? Do you have any hidden agendas? If you answered “yes” to any of the previous three questions, you may have to consider if a betrayal might be a part of your future.
August 18
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:1–4, ESV)
In a June 1992 “Reader’s Digest” article, author Reynolds Dodson wrote some rules for crisis management. He believed they could help anyone to make it through a crisis. These were the seven rules he penned:
1. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
2. Look first, then act.
3. When you do act, act aggressively.
4. Seek help.
5. Don’t get locked on a detail.
6. No matter how bad things get, be truthful.
7. Look for the silver lining.
Of all the seven rules, the very first mentioned was to “prepare for the worst”. I have found that many people do not prepare for difficult times. Financial counselors say that you should set aside a few thousand dollars in savings for a “rainy day fund”. This would help in a time of crisis. Emergency management coordinators have proclaimed that people in earthquake and hurricane zones require an emergency kit on hand at all times which includes clean drinking water, emergency medical equipment, some food, a flashlight, and several other necessities. In climate zones that experience cold winters, authorities urge people to put blankets and survival gear in the car in case one is stranded in a blizzard, especially while traveling. It is critical to prepare for rough times. Sadly, many people do not take the time nor exert the effort to prepare for life’s emergencies. So too, most people do not prepare their soul for Judgment Day.
In the scripture for today, Jesus used a parable to explain about preparing for Judgment Day. He alluded to this in the very first verse which states that “the Kingdom of Heaven will be like…” (Matthew 25:1). These words by Jesus prepare the reader to understand that the following parable will contain something required to be ready for Heaven. In the scripture above from Matthew 25, Jesus explained that in preparation for a wedding, five virgins were prepared, and five virgins were not. The virgins were all expected to march in the processional to the wedding celebration. Because of a delay, they needed more oil for the lamps than originally planned. Five had an extra flask of oil, while five did not. In the end, the five who did not prepare enough oil were locked out of the celebration while they were out scrounging for more. The five who had prepared extra oil did not miss the celebration. In essence, the parable reminds you to be ready for Judgment Day. You need to be ready all the time, for you do not know when death will come upon you. You may not have more time to prepare.
I was called to the hospital one afternoon. A nurse telephoned to tell me that a member of my congregation had only a few hours to live. I had visited with Tom over the past two weeks. He thought he was going to get better. When I prayed, I had another feeling. When the nurse called, I rushed to the hospital to find Tom on oxygen and having difficulty breathing. He was feverish and his heart was racing. He was fading in and out of consciousness. As I held his hand, he woke just enough to recognize me and say a few words. Those few words were so very heartbreaking. He told me that he wanted desperately to see his son before he died. I asked why. He said that he and his son had not patched some things up. His son lived several hours away and would not arrive in the time-frame the nurse gave us, before Tom’s heart would give out. I told Tom all of this, and he broke down and cried until he passed out. I prayed a long prayer for Tom. I asked God to be with him in these final hours. I asked God to give Tom more time. During the prayer, Tom regained consciousness. After the prayer, Tom asked for the nurse. He wanted his son called. Tom had resolved that he would not die until he had made things right with his son. As I left, I said to Tom, “Pray for strength. You may yet have enough time, God-willing”.
Though the nurse was astounded, Tom remained alive for twenty-hours. He met with his son. The nurse told me after Tom’s death that she has no idea how Tom ever lasted that long. She called it a miracle. I do believe it was. God gave Tom just enough time to accomplish what was needed.
Not everyone will have the time to complete was is needed in life. Not every soul will be prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven. Will yours? Do you have any unfinished business? The parable for today contains examples of wise and foolish people dealing with limits in life. I wonder which group you will be in come Judgment Day. Will you be among the wise and prepared souls? Or will you be numbered among the many who were not ready to meet Jesus face to face.
1. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
2. Look first, then act.
3. When you do act, act aggressively.
4. Seek help.
5. Don’t get locked on a detail.
6. No matter how bad things get, be truthful.
7. Look for the silver lining.
Of all the seven rules, the very first mentioned was to “prepare for the worst”. I have found that many people do not prepare for difficult times. Financial counselors say that you should set aside a few thousand dollars in savings for a “rainy day fund”. This would help in a time of crisis. Emergency management coordinators have proclaimed that people in earthquake and hurricane zones require an emergency kit on hand at all times which includes clean drinking water, emergency medical equipment, some food, a flashlight, and several other necessities. In climate zones that experience cold winters, authorities urge people to put blankets and survival gear in the car in case one is stranded in a blizzard, especially while traveling. It is critical to prepare for rough times. Sadly, many people do not take the time nor exert the effort to prepare for life’s emergencies. So too, most people do not prepare their soul for Judgment Day.
In the scripture for today, Jesus used a parable to explain about preparing for Judgment Day. He alluded to this in the very first verse which states that “the Kingdom of Heaven will be like…” (Matthew 25:1). These words by Jesus prepare the reader to understand that the following parable will contain something required to be ready for Heaven. In the scripture above from Matthew 25, Jesus explained that in preparation for a wedding, five virgins were prepared, and five virgins were not. The virgins were all expected to march in the processional to the wedding celebration. Because of a delay, they needed more oil for the lamps than originally planned. Five had an extra flask of oil, while five did not. In the end, the five who did not prepare enough oil were locked out of the celebration while they were out scrounging for more. The five who had prepared extra oil did not miss the celebration. In essence, the parable reminds you to be ready for Judgment Day. You need to be ready all the time, for you do not know when death will come upon you. You may not have more time to prepare.
I was called to the hospital one afternoon. A nurse telephoned to tell me that a member of my congregation had only a few hours to live. I had visited with Tom over the past two weeks. He thought he was going to get better. When I prayed, I had another feeling. When the nurse called, I rushed to the hospital to find Tom on oxygen and having difficulty breathing. He was feverish and his heart was racing. He was fading in and out of consciousness. As I held his hand, he woke just enough to recognize me and say a few words. Those few words were so very heartbreaking. He told me that he wanted desperately to see his son before he died. I asked why. He said that he and his son had not patched some things up. His son lived several hours away and would not arrive in the time-frame the nurse gave us, before Tom’s heart would give out. I told Tom all of this, and he broke down and cried until he passed out. I prayed a long prayer for Tom. I asked God to be with him in these final hours. I asked God to give Tom more time. During the prayer, Tom regained consciousness. After the prayer, Tom asked for the nurse. He wanted his son called. Tom had resolved that he would not die until he had made things right with his son. As I left, I said to Tom, “Pray for strength. You may yet have enough time, God-willing”.
Though the nurse was astounded, Tom remained alive for twenty-hours. He met with his son. The nurse told me after Tom’s death that she has no idea how Tom ever lasted that long. She called it a miracle. I do believe it was. God gave Tom just enough time to accomplish what was needed.
Not everyone will have the time to complete was is needed in life. Not every soul will be prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven. Will yours? Do you have any unfinished business? The parable for today contains examples of wise and foolish people dealing with limits in life. I wonder which group you will be in come Judgment Day. Will you be among the wise and prepared souls? Or will you be numbered among the many who were not ready to meet Jesus face to face.
August 19
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)
Did you know that birds have their friends just as you do? If a robin is in trouble, other robins will hurry to her side; so will orioles, chickadees and many others. Suppose a mother robin is killed while she is out hunting food for her babies. Do the little birds starve? No, indeed, they do not. The other birds feed the orphan babies as well as their own.
One time a little bird was caught in a tree and could not get out. When he was found and helped out by a kind man, he was as fat as he could be. This shows us that the other birds fed him. When birds are crippled or blind or cannot fly, they are cared for by other birds in the community. So you see birds are friendly little creatures, and love one another and care for one another much the same as the Lord has told people to do.
It is heartwarming to think of this action by birds to bring help. It is a kindness and appreciation of life that is sometimes absent in our world. Though human beings have evolved greatly, I have found that kindness is sometimes lost in human interactions. Why is that? Why would animals show more kindness than human beings?
In the scripture reading chosen today from Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul wrote that the Christians in Ephesus should “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” as would Christ. Why did Paul write this to the Christians in Ephesus? Maybe they needed this reminder. Maybe they were so busy being holy that they forgot to be kind. Maybe their society was not very giving or caring. Maybe it was just to make sure that the Christians exhibited these aspects of the love of Christ. We are not told in definite terms by the Apostle Paul. However, the sentiment is still relevant even today. Even though Christians are called to be loving in the name of Jesus, we sometimes need a reminder to be kind.
"The elevator man was gruff, and in his estimation the little, frail old lady who got on last made one passenger too many in his car. "Take the next car," he commanded gruffly. "Take the next car!" slipping his hand in front of her. But the little old lady, frightened in the crowd, seemed deaf to his remark and unconscious that anything was required of her. A young lady from the middle of the car worked her way out to make one passenger less. The aged woman, happy at being able to find room, did not notice that anything had been done for her. The elevator man did not appear to notice. Nobody thanked the girl, as, pressed for time in her busy day, she stood looking a little wistfully after the ascending car, thinking perhaps that it was merely a sacrifice of time that counted for little. But doubtless every heart in that car, as it went up, was beating with some better impulse because of that little kindness so unobtrusively done.” (an excerpt from the “Sunday School Banner”).
Being kind may go unnoticed. It may be seen as weakness in our harsh world. It might seem passé or naïve. However, being kind adds a little “heart” to our incredibly selfish and impatient and self-obsessed world. It brings a warmth to the heart. The soul is gladdened in the presence of it. Kindness is not only something expect of Christians. Our world is starving for its presence.
When was the last time you performed a deed of kindness just to bring warmth to our world? Do you regret it when people do not notice your acts of kindness? Paul did not advocate acts of kindness in order to be noticed, but instead out of love for Christ. How well do you display the kindness of Christ to those around you each day? How about making an effort to be especially kind today? What does it matter to be right if you are not kind?
One time a little bird was caught in a tree and could not get out. When he was found and helped out by a kind man, he was as fat as he could be. This shows us that the other birds fed him. When birds are crippled or blind or cannot fly, they are cared for by other birds in the community. So you see birds are friendly little creatures, and love one another and care for one another much the same as the Lord has told people to do.
It is heartwarming to think of this action by birds to bring help. It is a kindness and appreciation of life that is sometimes absent in our world. Though human beings have evolved greatly, I have found that kindness is sometimes lost in human interactions. Why is that? Why would animals show more kindness than human beings?
In the scripture reading chosen today from Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul wrote that the Christians in Ephesus should “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” as would Christ. Why did Paul write this to the Christians in Ephesus? Maybe they needed this reminder. Maybe they were so busy being holy that they forgot to be kind. Maybe their society was not very giving or caring. Maybe it was just to make sure that the Christians exhibited these aspects of the love of Christ. We are not told in definite terms by the Apostle Paul. However, the sentiment is still relevant even today. Even though Christians are called to be loving in the name of Jesus, we sometimes need a reminder to be kind.
"The elevator man was gruff, and in his estimation the little, frail old lady who got on last made one passenger too many in his car. "Take the next car," he commanded gruffly. "Take the next car!" slipping his hand in front of her. But the little old lady, frightened in the crowd, seemed deaf to his remark and unconscious that anything was required of her. A young lady from the middle of the car worked her way out to make one passenger less. The aged woman, happy at being able to find room, did not notice that anything had been done for her. The elevator man did not appear to notice. Nobody thanked the girl, as, pressed for time in her busy day, she stood looking a little wistfully after the ascending car, thinking perhaps that it was merely a sacrifice of time that counted for little. But doubtless every heart in that car, as it went up, was beating with some better impulse because of that little kindness so unobtrusively done.” (an excerpt from the “Sunday School Banner”).
Being kind may go unnoticed. It may be seen as weakness in our harsh world. It might seem passé or naïve. However, being kind adds a little “heart” to our incredibly selfish and impatient and self-obsessed world. It brings a warmth to the heart. The soul is gladdened in the presence of it. Kindness is not only something expect of Christians. Our world is starving for its presence.
When was the last time you performed a deed of kindness just to bring warmth to our world? Do you regret it when people do not notice your acts of kindness? Paul did not advocate acts of kindness in order to be noticed, but instead out of love for Christ. How well do you display the kindness of Christ to those around you each day? How about making an effort to be especially kind today? What does it matter to be right if you are not kind?
August 22
“So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies…” (Haggai 1:14, NLT)
The great Biblical Scholar and Evangelist Charles Spurgeon taught many students over the years. He taught with much enthusiasm and panache. He had a way of bringing an excitement to his Bible studies and his sermons. One day while teaching, Spurgeon shared with his students a bit of wisdom: “A blacksmith can do nothing when his fire is out.” What Spurgeon meant for his students to take away from those words was that a Christian who has no “fire” in his or her gut to preach about Jesus isn’t able to do anything to further the Kingdom of God. So inspiring were these words to Spurgeon and his students that Spurgeon included them in his “Lectures to My Students” published decades later.
All true Christians have a genuine need to share their faith. They might love to share stories from the gospel, speak out about Jesus, sing hymns, or share one’s experience of the Divine. When was the last time you spoke enthusiastically about Jesus? When was the last time you couldn’t wait to see your friend from church? If you find your spiritual “fire” going out, petition God to rekindle the beauty and power of true faith. Ask God to fill you with the Spirit and fire you up like the apostles of old (Matthew 3:11)!
“Tony Award-winning director Jerry Zaks remembers one of his first acting roles, on tour with Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof. “I had one critical line, ‘Even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness.’ I was supposed to shout it at Zero, right in his face, and I was sure I was giving my all. But every night, just before the line, he’d whisper, ‘Give it to me. Come on, give it to me.’
Finally I got so angry I just lost it. I stood up on my toes. I went white; I screamed; I was actually spitting in that face I detested so much, ‘Even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness!’ And this time, the audience roared. And Zero said to me under his breath, ‘Thaaaat’s it! Thaaaat’s it!”” (“Today in the Word”, February 10, 1993)
Inspiring others entails getting others fired up about something. Inspiring others to believe in Jesus usually will fail when the person speaking about Jesus isn’t enthusiastic. Being excited to meet with Jesus in prayer or share your born-again experience affects the heart and soul of others. Look in the scripture above. Haggai 1:14 told how God “sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel” “and the enthusiasm of Jeshua”. When God fired up these men of God, the results were made known in the very same verse. The “whole remnant of the God’s people” became filled with enthusiasm. Genuine excitement in God catches the imagination of others. It inspires others to look for God. Spiritual enthusiasm has caused Christians to face death and imprisonment without fear. It has sparked missionaries to dedicate their lives to God’s mission field. It has changed hearts and futures. After God fired up the people in the days of Haggai, they rebuilt the Temple for God which had been destroyed in war. When God brings a genuine enthusiasm to a soul, amazing things happen!
Take some time in the next weeks to examine your “enthusiasm for the Lord”. How excited are you to be counted among the faithful? What might inspire you to seek God’s Spirit and get all fired up for the Lord? When was the last time God’s Spirit in you got whipped up to do something wonderful?
All true Christians have a genuine need to share their faith. They might love to share stories from the gospel, speak out about Jesus, sing hymns, or share one’s experience of the Divine. When was the last time you spoke enthusiastically about Jesus? When was the last time you couldn’t wait to see your friend from church? If you find your spiritual “fire” going out, petition God to rekindle the beauty and power of true faith. Ask God to fill you with the Spirit and fire you up like the apostles of old (Matthew 3:11)!
“Tony Award-winning director Jerry Zaks remembers one of his first acting roles, on tour with Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof. “I had one critical line, ‘Even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness.’ I was supposed to shout it at Zero, right in his face, and I was sure I was giving my all. But every night, just before the line, he’d whisper, ‘Give it to me. Come on, give it to me.’
Finally I got so angry I just lost it. I stood up on my toes. I went white; I screamed; I was actually spitting in that face I detested so much, ‘Even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness!’ And this time, the audience roared. And Zero said to me under his breath, ‘Thaaaat’s it! Thaaaat’s it!”” (“Today in the Word”, February 10, 1993)
Inspiring others entails getting others fired up about something. Inspiring others to believe in Jesus usually will fail when the person speaking about Jesus isn’t enthusiastic. Being excited to meet with Jesus in prayer or share your born-again experience affects the heart and soul of others. Look in the scripture above. Haggai 1:14 told how God “sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel” “and the enthusiasm of Jeshua”. When God fired up these men of God, the results were made known in the very same verse. The “whole remnant of the God’s people” became filled with enthusiasm. Genuine excitement in God catches the imagination of others. It inspires others to look for God. Spiritual enthusiasm has caused Christians to face death and imprisonment without fear. It has sparked missionaries to dedicate their lives to God’s mission field. It has changed hearts and futures. After God fired up the people in the days of Haggai, they rebuilt the Temple for God which had been destroyed in war. When God brings a genuine enthusiasm to a soul, amazing things happen!
Take some time in the next weeks to examine your “enthusiasm for the Lord”. How excited are you to be counted among the faithful? What might inspire you to seek God’s Spirit and get all fired up for the Lord? When was the last time God’s Spirit in you got whipped up to do something wonderful?
August 25
“On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” (Psalm 62:7–8, ESV)
In September of 1981, the Ladies Home Journal included an article based on a poll they had just concluded. They asked hundreds of women, “In Whom do You Trust?”. 40% of the people polled said they trusted Walter Cronkite, the famous news anchor of the day. Pope John Paul was trusted by 26% of the respondents. Billy Graham received a 6% trust ranking. Only 3% said they trust God. 3%!
Every day, people put their trust and faith in someone or something. At any point in time, you might be putting trust in multiple sources. When you plug an appliance into an electrical outlet, you trust that the utility company will provide the power needed to run the appliance. You trust that the laws that govern that electricity have been tested and were deemed safe. In order for the electricity to supply power, you put your faith in scientists who believe that electrons act in a certain way and that copper wiring will conduct electricity safely. Throughout your days, you will trust many entities. You trust that your doctor is qualified to practice medicine, that your grocer is supplying safe meat, and that your car’s battery is sufficiently charged to start your vehicle. Some people will tell you that they only trust what their eyes can see. This is a lie. They can’t see the electrons that power their appliances! They can’t physically see love in order to trust a spouse is faithful. To live means to put your trust in many places. You can’t function in this world without a large level of trust.
Why is it that people have such a difficult time trusting God? A 1998 study of 1210 Christians found that 73% of them believe that prayer makes a substantial difference in their lives. Even 43% of non-Christians believed the same (Moody, July/August 1998, p. 37). 1000 health care professionals at a Harvard Medical School gathering were asked if there was a discernible connection between faith and healing. Shockingly, 99% said, “Yes”! (The Associated Press as quoted in Signs of the Times, March 1997, p.4). Two hundred heart patients in California were prayed for by a group of Christians while a control group of an equal number were not. This was part of a study to see the effects of prayer in healing. What did they find? Though NEITHER group knew about the prayers or the study, those who were prayed for developed half of the complications as the control group. Dartmouth Medical School conducted a similar study with heart patients who went through bypass surgery. Those who prayed regularly were half as likely to die within the first six months. What also shocked those who studied the results was that not one person who characterized him or herself as “deeply religious” died during the study! (See the Moody article above for references to both studies).
If people find that prayers make a difference in life, that faith in God heals, and that a relationship with God has powerful results, why do people fail to put their trust in God? I believe a large part of the lack of trust in God is because people cannot “control” God. You can control electricity by paying your utility bills. You have control over which places you shop and which foods you deem safe. You have control over which car you buy, neighborhood you live in, and people you trust. With so many things “under your control”, it may seem that you have control over most of life. In actuality, you don’t. You can’t control the weather, stop accidents from happening, ensure the safety of your food, or even promise 100% that you will be alive tomorrow! Control over your life is an illusion. You may have control over some of your decisions, but you cannot control much in this world. Chaos can erupt at any moment.
Throughout history, many have found that with all the variables and lack of control in life, the best place to put your trust is in the arms of Almighty God. I am a firm believer that faith works. I have dedicated my life to God. Putting trust in God, leaving ultimate control in God’s hands, is a great way to work through this unpredictable life. In fact, trust in God can ease many things in your life, bring wholeness and healing, and help you to work through challenges. When David wrote Psalm 62, he described God as a “mighty rock” who could be trusted during difficult times (Psalm 62:7). As a mighty rock by the sea seems to withstand the fiercest of winter storms, God will be there when everything else fails during the storms of life. In the last verse for today, David urged his readers to “Trust in God at all times” (Psalm 62:8). You shouldn’t trust in God only when it is convenient or when others are watching. True trust in God involves your commitment to God in every moment of your life without exception.
Who or what are you placing your trust in at this moment? Are you trusting in the efficacy of your medicine? Do you trust that a spouse is faithful? Do you trust that your doctor made the right diagnosis? Do you trust that your teacher is not biased? I have found over and over that 100% trust in God is reliable and secure no matter the situation. My trust in God holds even when everything else is falling apart.
As I end this meditation for today, I am reminded of my neighbor. He has two siblings who have left the church. Both have addictions to alcohol and drugs. He also has two siblings who believe in God strongly. For some reason, those two have no addictions. The two who have left the church have had hard lives. The two who believe in God have been greatly blessed financially and in their family life. The two who have rejected their faith have broken and dysfunctional homes and are divorced. The two who have a strong faith have been married for decades and they seem much more happy day to day. This is not to say that belief in God will make everything rosy. What I am saying is that when you put your full trust in God, things have a way of working out for the better. Why? Because God is able to help in more ways than you even know are possible! God is a perfect refuge (Psalm 62:8).
How can you trust God FULLY today?
Every day, people put their trust and faith in someone or something. At any point in time, you might be putting trust in multiple sources. When you plug an appliance into an electrical outlet, you trust that the utility company will provide the power needed to run the appliance. You trust that the laws that govern that electricity have been tested and were deemed safe. In order for the electricity to supply power, you put your faith in scientists who believe that electrons act in a certain way and that copper wiring will conduct electricity safely. Throughout your days, you will trust many entities. You trust that your doctor is qualified to practice medicine, that your grocer is supplying safe meat, and that your car’s battery is sufficiently charged to start your vehicle. Some people will tell you that they only trust what their eyes can see. This is a lie. They can’t see the electrons that power their appliances! They can’t physically see love in order to trust a spouse is faithful. To live means to put your trust in many places. You can’t function in this world without a large level of trust.
Why is it that people have such a difficult time trusting God? A 1998 study of 1210 Christians found that 73% of them believe that prayer makes a substantial difference in their lives. Even 43% of non-Christians believed the same (Moody, July/August 1998, p. 37). 1000 health care professionals at a Harvard Medical School gathering were asked if there was a discernible connection between faith and healing. Shockingly, 99% said, “Yes”! (The Associated Press as quoted in Signs of the Times, March 1997, p.4). Two hundred heart patients in California were prayed for by a group of Christians while a control group of an equal number were not. This was part of a study to see the effects of prayer in healing. What did they find? Though NEITHER group knew about the prayers or the study, those who were prayed for developed half of the complications as the control group. Dartmouth Medical School conducted a similar study with heart patients who went through bypass surgery. Those who prayed regularly were half as likely to die within the first six months. What also shocked those who studied the results was that not one person who characterized him or herself as “deeply religious” died during the study! (See the Moody article above for references to both studies).
If people find that prayers make a difference in life, that faith in God heals, and that a relationship with God has powerful results, why do people fail to put their trust in God? I believe a large part of the lack of trust in God is because people cannot “control” God. You can control electricity by paying your utility bills. You have control over which places you shop and which foods you deem safe. You have control over which car you buy, neighborhood you live in, and people you trust. With so many things “under your control”, it may seem that you have control over most of life. In actuality, you don’t. You can’t control the weather, stop accidents from happening, ensure the safety of your food, or even promise 100% that you will be alive tomorrow! Control over your life is an illusion. You may have control over some of your decisions, but you cannot control much in this world. Chaos can erupt at any moment.
Throughout history, many have found that with all the variables and lack of control in life, the best place to put your trust is in the arms of Almighty God. I am a firm believer that faith works. I have dedicated my life to God. Putting trust in God, leaving ultimate control in God’s hands, is a great way to work through this unpredictable life. In fact, trust in God can ease many things in your life, bring wholeness and healing, and help you to work through challenges. When David wrote Psalm 62, he described God as a “mighty rock” who could be trusted during difficult times (Psalm 62:7). As a mighty rock by the sea seems to withstand the fiercest of winter storms, God will be there when everything else fails during the storms of life. In the last verse for today, David urged his readers to “Trust in God at all times” (Psalm 62:8). You shouldn’t trust in God only when it is convenient or when others are watching. True trust in God involves your commitment to God in every moment of your life without exception.
Who or what are you placing your trust in at this moment? Are you trusting in the efficacy of your medicine? Do you trust that a spouse is faithful? Do you trust that your doctor made the right diagnosis? Do you trust that your teacher is not biased? I have found over and over that 100% trust in God is reliable and secure no matter the situation. My trust in God holds even when everything else is falling apart.
As I end this meditation for today, I am reminded of my neighbor. He has two siblings who have left the church. Both have addictions to alcohol and drugs. He also has two siblings who believe in God strongly. For some reason, those two have no addictions. The two who have left the church have had hard lives. The two who believe in God have been greatly blessed financially and in their family life. The two who have rejected their faith have broken and dysfunctional homes and are divorced. The two who have a strong faith have been married for decades and they seem much more happy day to day. This is not to say that belief in God will make everything rosy. What I am saying is that when you put your full trust in God, things have a way of working out for the better. Why? Because God is able to help in more ways than you even know are possible! God is a perfect refuge (Psalm 62:8).
How can you trust God FULLY today?
August 27
“Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went back to bed.”
(1 Samuel 3:7–9, NLT)
(1 Samuel 3:7–9, NLT)
Carl M. Tucker told Reader's Digest the following true story: "I was an air-traffic controller stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. One morning we picked up a Montana National Guard passenger aircraft. Instead of identifying the plane by its five-digit tail number, its pilot radioed, “Selfridge Approach, this is Pig Sty One.” As we were taught to refer to aircraft by whatever call sign the pilot used, the controller thereafter called the craft “Pig Sty One.” Just after touching down, the pilot contacted the tower.
“Selfridge,” he said, “our call sign is not ‘Pig Sty one.” It is ‘Big Sky One,’ and we have the governor of Montana on board!”
Confusion, misunderstandings, and mistakes are not uncommon in a spiritual life. Just as a tower can misunderstand a pilot’s messages, people can mistake God’s messages. When spiritual miscommunication and mistakes happen, it can make your understanding or direction unclear. Sometimes, the only way to reorient yourself after a few spiritual screw-ups or when confused is to communicate with God in a better way. It often will help to get advice from someone close to God to understand what you are missing.
In the scripture for today from the first book of Samuel in the Old Testament, Samuel is being called by God to be a prophet. The first verse of our scripture sets up why Samuel is having a problem responding to God’s call: “Samuel did not yet know the Lord, because he had never had a message from the Lord before” (1 Samuel 3:7). Samuel was just a young man. He didn’t recognize God’s voice. He didn’t understand that God has the ability to speak with a person. Three times Samuel was called by God in 1 Samuel 3:1-9. Each time, Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice and thought the prophet Eli was summoning him. After the third attempt by God to call Samuel (1 Samuel 3:8), Eli realized what was happening. Eli was a wise old prophet who had known God for a long time. Eli “realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy”. Eli told Samuel that the next time he heard the voice, he should say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). Samuel followed the wise advice of Eli and did as commanded. The Lord called again, and Samuel answered the call. Because of this calling, Samuel became one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, even anointing David as King.
When God called Samuel to be a prophet, Samuel was confused. He didn’t understand God wanted to speak with him. Samuel mistakenly thought that Eli was calling when it was really God who was initiating contact. Thankfully, Samuel talked to Eli about it. Thankfully, Eli was a prophet of God and knew what to do. The confusion was cleared up quickly, with Eli’s help. Samuel and God grew very close.
At various points in your spiritual life, you might get your “wires crossed”. You might not understand a message you feel God is sending you. You also might not understand something new happening in your spiritual life. At times like these, it is important to do the two things that Samuel did in the scripture for today. First, Samuel sought the help of wise old Eli. When you are in spiritual confusion or need guidance to get back on track, it would be wise for you to seek out someone who knows God well. Did you notice I didn’t say, “Speak to a clergyman”? There is a reason for this. Too many people in spiritual leadership are there for the wrong reasons. Some desire the accolades of others. Some have a worldly agenda. Some see spiritual leadership as merely social activism. Some don’t know God all that well. You need to speak with a wise person who knows God well. Second, Samuel followed Eli’s instruction to initiate contact with God. It is important that you do certain things in order to understand what God is doing. This may involve prayer. It may take time. It may require your attention or some changes. One way or another, God will clear up any spiritual confusion in time if you are truly listening (i.e. in 1 Samuel 3:9) and obeying the Lord.
Spiritual confusion and misunderstandings will occur in your life. They will require that you take time to reorient yourself with respect to God. The miscommunication will usually take time and prayer and maybe even holy advice to clear up. However, the results will be greatly worth your effort. If God is trying to get a message to you, you will want to know it, heed it, and work through it.
Is there something in your spiritual life that needs “clearing up”? Are you getting mixed messages from God? Are you confused about something your heart is telling you? Seek direction from those who know God well. Ultimately, learn to listen and discern and follow God’s voice.
“Selfridge,” he said, “our call sign is not ‘Pig Sty one.” It is ‘Big Sky One,’ and we have the governor of Montana on board!”
Confusion, misunderstandings, and mistakes are not uncommon in a spiritual life. Just as a tower can misunderstand a pilot’s messages, people can mistake God’s messages. When spiritual miscommunication and mistakes happen, it can make your understanding or direction unclear. Sometimes, the only way to reorient yourself after a few spiritual screw-ups or when confused is to communicate with God in a better way. It often will help to get advice from someone close to God to understand what you are missing.
In the scripture for today from the first book of Samuel in the Old Testament, Samuel is being called by God to be a prophet. The first verse of our scripture sets up why Samuel is having a problem responding to God’s call: “Samuel did not yet know the Lord, because he had never had a message from the Lord before” (1 Samuel 3:7). Samuel was just a young man. He didn’t recognize God’s voice. He didn’t understand that God has the ability to speak with a person. Three times Samuel was called by God in 1 Samuel 3:1-9. Each time, Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice and thought the prophet Eli was summoning him. After the third attempt by God to call Samuel (1 Samuel 3:8), Eli realized what was happening. Eli was a wise old prophet who had known God for a long time. Eli “realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy”. Eli told Samuel that the next time he heard the voice, he should say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). Samuel followed the wise advice of Eli and did as commanded. The Lord called again, and Samuel answered the call. Because of this calling, Samuel became one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, even anointing David as King.
When God called Samuel to be a prophet, Samuel was confused. He didn’t understand God wanted to speak with him. Samuel mistakenly thought that Eli was calling when it was really God who was initiating contact. Thankfully, Samuel talked to Eli about it. Thankfully, Eli was a prophet of God and knew what to do. The confusion was cleared up quickly, with Eli’s help. Samuel and God grew very close.
At various points in your spiritual life, you might get your “wires crossed”. You might not understand a message you feel God is sending you. You also might not understand something new happening in your spiritual life. At times like these, it is important to do the two things that Samuel did in the scripture for today. First, Samuel sought the help of wise old Eli. When you are in spiritual confusion or need guidance to get back on track, it would be wise for you to seek out someone who knows God well. Did you notice I didn’t say, “Speak to a clergyman”? There is a reason for this. Too many people in spiritual leadership are there for the wrong reasons. Some desire the accolades of others. Some have a worldly agenda. Some see spiritual leadership as merely social activism. Some don’t know God all that well. You need to speak with a wise person who knows God well. Second, Samuel followed Eli’s instruction to initiate contact with God. It is important that you do certain things in order to understand what God is doing. This may involve prayer. It may take time. It may require your attention or some changes. One way or another, God will clear up any spiritual confusion in time if you are truly listening (i.e. in 1 Samuel 3:9) and obeying the Lord.
Spiritual confusion and misunderstandings will occur in your life. They will require that you take time to reorient yourself with respect to God. The miscommunication will usually take time and prayer and maybe even holy advice to clear up. However, the results will be greatly worth your effort. If God is trying to get a message to you, you will want to know it, heed it, and work through it.
Is there something in your spiritual life that needs “clearing up”? Are you getting mixed messages from God? Are you confused about something your heart is telling you? Seek direction from those who know God well. Ultimately, learn to listen and discern and follow God’s voice.
August 29
“When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.”” (Mark 8:11–12, NLT)
There can come upon you days that make you frustrated and upset, hurt or disappointed. A friend failed you. A financial decision caused a loss of income. A co-worker smeared your name. The boss didn’t notice your hard work. A child said she hated you. A disagreement ended with your broken heart. A cute boy didn’t even acknowledge your presence. Your girlfriend of five years gave back your engagement ring and left. Some moments can be so exasperating. They can sap your strength and joy while destroying your hopes and dreams.
“Sir Alexander Mackenzie is a Canadian hero. An early fur trader and explorer, he accomplished a magnificent feat when he led an expedition across Canada from Fort Chippewyan on Lake Athabasca to the Pacific Ocean. His incredible journey was completed in 1793, 11 years before Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition to the west. Mackenzie’s earlier attempt in 1789, however, had been a major disappointment. His explorers had set out in an effort to find a water route to the Pacific. The valiant group followed a mighty river (now named the Mackenzie) with high hopes, paddling furiously amid great danger. Unfortunately, it didn’t empty into the Pacific, but into the Arctic Ocean. In his diary, Mackenzie called it the “River of Disappointment.”” (from “Our Daily Bread”, July 1, 1990)
You will experience your own rivers of disappointment. You can’t stop those moments when you are completely let down or utterly defeated. No human being has ever lived a life without loss, failures, or disappointments. Everyone has experienced a word or event that burst their hopeful bubble.
In the scripture for today, we even see Jesus filled with deep disappointment. As Jesus was traveling in the district of Dalmanutha (Mark 8:10), He was approached by some Pharisees. The Jewish Pharisees knew the Bible well. They studied it. Sadly, some worshiped the words of the Bible or the traditions of the Bible more than the God of the Bible. They tended to be legalistic in their view of God and faith. They didn’t like Jesus nor His teachings. When the Pharisees in the district heard that Jesus was in their neighborhood, “they came and started to argue with Him” (Mark 8:11). They weren’t there to listen to Jesus’ teachings, they were there to start a theological fight. They began to make demands of Jesus. Then, they made fun of Jesus’ authority. After a few moments of this abuse, the scripture mentioned that Jesus “sighed deeply in His spirit” (Mark 8:12). This was one of those moments of disappointment in Jesus’ ministry. The religious leaders weren’t willing to listen. They did not care to learn from Jesus. Instead, they were up for a fight. They were gathered to argue. They “tested” Jesus’ patience and authority (Mark 8:11). While Jesus was sent to save their souls, these Pharisees only sought to destroy Jesus and silence His voice. No matter what Jesus did or said, they just didn’t care to listen. Frustrated, Jesus said out loud, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign?” (Mark 8:12). When you are disappointed, the word “why” often comes up, doesn’t it?
Despite His disappointment, Jesus didn’t become depressed or withdrawn. Instead, he moved his ministry to a different area some distance away (Mark 8:13). If the Pharisees in Dalmanutha were not going to listen to the gospel, Jesus was going to find someone who would. Ending up in Bethsaida, Jesus did many great things and reached many souls.
Like Jesus, you will be faced with days that are just plain exasperating. You may be surrounded by people who won’t listen or refuse to respect you. You might become disappointed. You might feel frustrated. Don’t let the negativity and rejection of others stop you from getting on with your spiritual life. Don’t let the downers of this world keep you from seeing the beauty of true faith. Despite disappointments and failures, miracles can and do occur all the time. Even though there are naysayers and defeatists and trolls all around, God is always providing miracles just waiting to be noticed. God is always working. You have Heaven in your future. You have been greatly blessed. Shake the dust of disappointment off your feet and move on. God has great plans for you.
“Sir Alexander Mackenzie is a Canadian hero. An early fur trader and explorer, he accomplished a magnificent feat when he led an expedition across Canada from Fort Chippewyan on Lake Athabasca to the Pacific Ocean. His incredible journey was completed in 1793, 11 years before Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition to the west. Mackenzie’s earlier attempt in 1789, however, had been a major disappointment. His explorers had set out in an effort to find a water route to the Pacific. The valiant group followed a mighty river (now named the Mackenzie) with high hopes, paddling furiously amid great danger. Unfortunately, it didn’t empty into the Pacific, but into the Arctic Ocean. In his diary, Mackenzie called it the “River of Disappointment.”” (from “Our Daily Bread”, July 1, 1990)
You will experience your own rivers of disappointment. You can’t stop those moments when you are completely let down or utterly defeated. No human being has ever lived a life without loss, failures, or disappointments. Everyone has experienced a word or event that burst their hopeful bubble.
In the scripture for today, we even see Jesus filled with deep disappointment. As Jesus was traveling in the district of Dalmanutha (Mark 8:10), He was approached by some Pharisees. The Jewish Pharisees knew the Bible well. They studied it. Sadly, some worshiped the words of the Bible or the traditions of the Bible more than the God of the Bible. They tended to be legalistic in their view of God and faith. They didn’t like Jesus nor His teachings. When the Pharisees in the district heard that Jesus was in their neighborhood, “they came and started to argue with Him” (Mark 8:11). They weren’t there to listen to Jesus’ teachings, they were there to start a theological fight. They began to make demands of Jesus. Then, they made fun of Jesus’ authority. After a few moments of this abuse, the scripture mentioned that Jesus “sighed deeply in His spirit” (Mark 8:12). This was one of those moments of disappointment in Jesus’ ministry. The religious leaders weren’t willing to listen. They did not care to learn from Jesus. Instead, they were up for a fight. They were gathered to argue. They “tested” Jesus’ patience and authority (Mark 8:11). While Jesus was sent to save their souls, these Pharisees only sought to destroy Jesus and silence His voice. No matter what Jesus did or said, they just didn’t care to listen. Frustrated, Jesus said out loud, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign?” (Mark 8:12). When you are disappointed, the word “why” often comes up, doesn’t it?
Despite His disappointment, Jesus didn’t become depressed or withdrawn. Instead, he moved his ministry to a different area some distance away (Mark 8:13). If the Pharisees in Dalmanutha were not going to listen to the gospel, Jesus was going to find someone who would. Ending up in Bethsaida, Jesus did many great things and reached many souls.
Like Jesus, you will be faced with days that are just plain exasperating. You may be surrounded by people who won’t listen or refuse to respect you. You might become disappointed. You might feel frustrated. Don’t let the negativity and rejection of others stop you from getting on with your spiritual life. Don’t let the downers of this world keep you from seeing the beauty of true faith. Despite disappointments and failures, miracles can and do occur all the time. Even though there are naysayers and defeatists and trolls all around, God is always providing miracles just waiting to be noticed. God is always working. You have Heaven in your future. You have been greatly blessed. Shake the dust of disappointment off your feet and move on. God has great plans for you.
October 30
“And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9–10, RSV)
Some things in life are related. If you affect one, it will affect the other. If you change one, you will change the other. There are millions of examples of this. If you change out dead batteries in a toy for new ones, the toy will come to life again. If you move the thermostat setting up two degrees, the house will warm as the furnace kicks in. When you take the fall leaves out of a blocked gutter, the water should be able to flow through it again. In your spiritual life, there are also related elements that affect one another. Our scripture for today shows some of these elements and how they work together to mold a person into a more effective and beloved child of God.
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
October 31
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
When you make a commitment to God through Jesus Christ, you become a Christian. As you live out the promises and obedience given that relationship, you become a faithful and true Christian. The basis for the word "Christian" is Christ, the Messiah. Thus, when you live for Jesus' sake, you become a "Christian" through that relationship with Jesus. An "Serbian" owes a commitment to Serbia. A "Mohammedan" is an ancient term for one who follows Mohammed. A "Christian" owes his or her life to Christ. That relationship should be the center of one's life and form the crux of who you are.
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!