August 2
“They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he [Jesus] was.” (Mark 6:55, NIV84)
Important medical news came out in past months. Some of it was shocking. First, there was news that the data from some of the tests for medicines was “fudged” by pharmaceutical companies regarding dementia and Alzheimer’s drugs. The second bit of news was that they found out that a chemical imbalance in the brain is NOT the cause of depression. Though this has been taught by medical professionals for decades, and promoted by pharmaceutical companies, this was found by a British Study to be completely false. In true form, medical professionals now don’t know how or why anti-depressants work, though they are sure that they only help between 20 and 40 percent of all those who take them and are best used short-term. Taken as a whole, the evidence of these news articles proves that pharmaceutical companies overexaggerated the effects of their medicine in treating these diseases. No doubt, this was to pad their bottom line.
For years, the medical establishment has advocated people take drugs instead of seeking God's help when they have issues. For over fifty years, there has been a steady increase in the use of pharmaceutical drugs to “treat” people, while ignoring or shaming those who find healing through communion with God. I remember a medical professional a few decades ago who announced that pastors giving counseling was the equivalent of saying “hocus-pocus” to make magic happen. He was convinced that God does not heal.
On the other hand, we have the scripture for today. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus heals people hundreds of times. He even encouraged his disciples to travel two-by-two and do the same. In these “missions”, He gave them authority to heal and to exorcise demons who love to cause human pain and suffering. The disciples were surprised at the healing effects of their prayers, the touch of their hands, and their exorcisms (Luke 10:17!). The disciples were amazed at the power of God’s Spirit to heal. But Jesus’ healing powers were legendary. The scripture for today proclaims that when Jesus entered an area, “people ran throughout the whole region and carried the sick to wherever they heard he [Jesus] was.” (Mark 6:55). Jesus was famous not only for his preaching but for His healing. Based on His work and His disciples’ mission, healing and faith go together!
In modern times, people have sought to separate faith in God and the ability to heal. For the most part, scientists have endeavored to make healing a scientific process. Many completely reject the healing aspect of faith. Despite centuries of proof and millions of examples, scientists keep attempting to separate the healing powers from faith. Billions of dollars are spent not only on research to find ONLY chemical therapies for healing, while advertisements by pharmaceutical companies also promote drugs and herbs and tonics and gizmos and so much more for healing. They all ignore the power of God’s healing. They all hide the fact that not only did Jesus heal thousands, but His disciples also continued that work and have that power!
When I pastored a church in the 2000’s, there was a movement among mainstream pastors to abandon spiritual counseling in Jesus’ name as a method of bringing healing to others. There were many pastors who sent people to medical and psychological “professionals” for illnesses and stuck only to “religious comforting”. Many pastors gave up praying for healing, laying hands on the sick, and counseling the hurting. I can’t tell you how many times people from other churches came to see me for counseling, prayer, and help when they were hurting! They knew it would help. Many were saddened that their own pastor would not help them get well.
The scripture for today is not just a record of Jesus’ healing power. It is a reminder that God heals. It is a sign of God’s continued efforts to reach out and heal the faithful, support the weak, and help the afflicted.
When Alcoholics Anonymous was formed, the leadership developed the famous 12-Step process for healing. The group found that following these 12 steps helped people not only to stop drinking but to overcome their addiction. What I find most interesting and not well known in the modern world is that 7 of those steps involve reaching out to God or admitting God’s work in the process. Not one of the steps mentions the requirement to take a pharmaceutical drug! God is all they need to recover. Faith gives so much healing!
Don’t wait until you are terminally ill to ask for God’s healing upon your life. You may not realize your illnesses! You may not understand how much you need healing! Scripture mentions many of the healings of Jesus. And Jesus continues to heal the faithful today. God is a great source of healing potential. Also, you may think you need healing in one area of your life when God knows you need healing and cleansing in multiple areas of your life! Prayer and listening to God’s Holy Spirit can open you up to healing that you never realized was necessary for wholeness!
For years, the medical establishment has advocated people take drugs instead of seeking God's help when they have issues. For over fifty years, there has been a steady increase in the use of pharmaceutical drugs to “treat” people, while ignoring or shaming those who find healing through communion with God. I remember a medical professional a few decades ago who announced that pastors giving counseling was the equivalent of saying “hocus-pocus” to make magic happen. He was convinced that God does not heal.
On the other hand, we have the scripture for today. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus heals people hundreds of times. He even encouraged his disciples to travel two-by-two and do the same. In these “missions”, He gave them authority to heal and to exorcise demons who love to cause human pain and suffering. The disciples were surprised at the healing effects of their prayers, the touch of their hands, and their exorcisms (Luke 10:17!). The disciples were amazed at the power of God’s Spirit to heal. But Jesus’ healing powers were legendary. The scripture for today proclaims that when Jesus entered an area, “people ran throughout the whole region and carried the sick to wherever they heard he [Jesus] was.” (Mark 6:55). Jesus was famous not only for his preaching but for His healing. Based on His work and His disciples’ mission, healing and faith go together!
In modern times, people have sought to separate faith in God and the ability to heal. For the most part, scientists have endeavored to make healing a scientific process. Many completely reject the healing aspect of faith. Despite centuries of proof and millions of examples, scientists keep attempting to separate the healing powers from faith. Billions of dollars are spent not only on research to find ONLY chemical therapies for healing, while advertisements by pharmaceutical companies also promote drugs and herbs and tonics and gizmos and so much more for healing. They all ignore the power of God’s healing. They all hide the fact that not only did Jesus heal thousands, but His disciples also continued that work and have that power!
When I pastored a church in the 2000’s, there was a movement among mainstream pastors to abandon spiritual counseling in Jesus’ name as a method of bringing healing to others. There were many pastors who sent people to medical and psychological “professionals” for illnesses and stuck only to “religious comforting”. Many pastors gave up praying for healing, laying hands on the sick, and counseling the hurting. I can’t tell you how many times people from other churches came to see me for counseling, prayer, and help when they were hurting! They knew it would help. Many were saddened that their own pastor would not help them get well.
The scripture for today is not just a record of Jesus’ healing power. It is a reminder that God heals. It is a sign of God’s continued efforts to reach out and heal the faithful, support the weak, and help the afflicted.
When Alcoholics Anonymous was formed, the leadership developed the famous 12-Step process for healing. The group found that following these 12 steps helped people not only to stop drinking but to overcome their addiction. What I find most interesting and not well known in the modern world is that 7 of those steps involve reaching out to God or admitting God’s work in the process. Not one of the steps mentions the requirement to take a pharmaceutical drug! God is all they need to recover. Faith gives so much healing!
Don’t wait until you are terminally ill to ask for God’s healing upon your life. You may not realize your illnesses! You may not understand how much you need healing! Scripture mentions many of the healings of Jesus. And Jesus continues to heal the faithful today. God is a great source of healing potential. Also, you may think you need healing in one area of your life when God knows you need healing and cleansing in multiple areas of your life! Prayer and listening to God’s Holy Spirit can open you up to healing that you never realized was necessary for wholeness!
August 5
“Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.” (Isaiah 62:5, NLT)
Chances are you don’t see the great value in YOU! When God sees you, God sees potential. God sees what you could do with your life. When you were born, God had the hope that you two would be close, that others would see HIS presence in your life, that HIS joy would permeate your existence. The Heavenly Father sent Jesus to save your soul. From Heaven, God sent HIS Spirit to comfort you. HIS angels have watched over you. God values your presence in this world.
What have you done with the potential God has given you? Have you squandered your days on this earth? Have you rejoiced over the resurrection during an Easter service? Does God’s love move you to tears at times?
When someone really loves you, I mean REALLY loves you, it brings a warm and wonderful satisfaction to your heart and soul. A part of you rejoices. Your heart may feel fullness. Your problems recede for a while. True love does that to you. It brings such joy to your day!
“Have you ever noticed the way a groom looks at his bride during the wedding? I have. Perhaps it’s my vantage point. As the minister of the wedding, I’m positioned next to the groom.…
If the light is just so and the angle just right, I can see a tiny reflection in his eyes. Her reflection. And the sight of her reminds him why he is here. His jaw relaxes and his forced smile softens. He forgets he’s wearing a tux. He forgets his sweat-soaked shirt.…When he sees her, any thought of escape becomes a joke again. For it’s written all over his face, “Who could bear to live without this bride?”
And such are precisely the feelings of Jesus. Look long enough into the eyes of our Savior and, there, too, you will see a bride. Dressed in fine linen. Clothed in pure grace.… She is the bride … walking toward him.…
And who is this bride for whom Jesus longs? … You are. You have captured the heart of God.” (Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 241)
From the preaching of Isaiah, there came a message from God to Jerusalem. The words are captured in Isaiah 62:5, the scripture chosen for today’s meditation. In a difficult time in the history of Israel, Isaiah said to the people of Jerusalem who were recovering from the ravages of war: “God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom over his bride.” When these words were spoken, the people in Jerusalem hardly felt loved. They did not even feel worth loving. The city of Jerusalem was still in shambles. The walls were patched together, but barely. The Temple was only a shadow of its former glory. The rebuilding after the war took a long time. The people of Jerusalem were tired and sore from all the effort it took to rebuild their city. They toiled and toiled to rebuild their lives along with their city. Dirty, beaten, tired, and worn, they kept their noses to the grindstone. They did not feel much worth. The women did not feel pretty. The men were exhausted from the months of work. The last thing they all felt was desirable.
While surrounded by ruins, tired from the toil, aching from the months and years of hard labor trying to rebuild their lives, the people in Jerusalem felt overwhelmed. Then, Isaiah told them what he had learned from God. God saw their toil. God blessed their work. Then, in particular poignancy, Isaiah told the people of his day, “God rejoices over you as a bride rejoices over the bride…” God didn’t see those people of Jerusalem as tired and beaten and worn and poor and hurting. God saw them as beautiful. God saw their potential. God saw their faith. And God loved what HE saw.
There may be moments when you feel overwhelmed. You might feel tired and worn. You might notice the wrinkles that have formed on your face over the years. When you look in a mirror, you might see the saggy skin and imperfections that come with age. You might notice a few scars from past surgeries or remnants of a past injury. You might remember your awkwardness or insecurities. All these “less than perfect” things may cause you to feel depressed or ugly or old or sad or stupid. But God looks at you differently. God looks past your tired eyes and sees the fire of faith still burning in your soul. God looks past the scars of past surgeries and injuries to see the hands that wiped the tears of a child as she cried. God looks past your imperfections to see the beauty of your soul, your beautiful soul. God remembers those moments together in prayer, the times you stood up to defend the needy, the arms that held on to a sobbing friend. God still sees potential in you. God still sees the grace in your heart.
For today, quit being so hard on yourself. Let past mistakes go to God. Ask for forgiveness for a past sin and just enjoy the freedom that God’s grace engenders. Just let yourself rejoice in the love of God. God sees so much that’s beautiful in you! Can you, for one day, see yourself as God sees you? Can you for just a few moments in time view your potential from God’s point of view?
What have you done with the potential God has given you? Have you squandered your days on this earth? Have you rejoiced over the resurrection during an Easter service? Does God’s love move you to tears at times?
When someone really loves you, I mean REALLY loves you, it brings a warm and wonderful satisfaction to your heart and soul. A part of you rejoices. Your heart may feel fullness. Your problems recede for a while. True love does that to you. It brings such joy to your day!
“Have you ever noticed the way a groom looks at his bride during the wedding? I have. Perhaps it’s my vantage point. As the minister of the wedding, I’m positioned next to the groom.…
If the light is just so and the angle just right, I can see a tiny reflection in his eyes. Her reflection. And the sight of her reminds him why he is here. His jaw relaxes and his forced smile softens. He forgets he’s wearing a tux. He forgets his sweat-soaked shirt.…When he sees her, any thought of escape becomes a joke again. For it’s written all over his face, “Who could bear to live without this bride?”
And such are precisely the feelings of Jesus. Look long enough into the eyes of our Savior and, there, too, you will see a bride. Dressed in fine linen. Clothed in pure grace.… She is the bride … walking toward him.…
And who is this bride for whom Jesus longs? … You are. You have captured the heart of God.” (Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 241)
From the preaching of Isaiah, there came a message from God to Jerusalem. The words are captured in Isaiah 62:5, the scripture chosen for today’s meditation. In a difficult time in the history of Israel, Isaiah said to the people of Jerusalem who were recovering from the ravages of war: “God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom over his bride.” When these words were spoken, the people in Jerusalem hardly felt loved. They did not even feel worth loving. The city of Jerusalem was still in shambles. The walls were patched together, but barely. The Temple was only a shadow of its former glory. The rebuilding after the war took a long time. The people of Jerusalem were tired and sore from all the effort it took to rebuild their city. They toiled and toiled to rebuild their lives along with their city. Dirty, beaten, tired, and worn, they kept their noses to the grindstone. They did not feel much worth. The women did not feel pretty. The men were exhausted from the months of work. The last thing they all felt was desirable.
While surrounded by ruins, tired from the toil, aching from the months and years of hard labor trying to rebuild their lives, the people in Jerusalem felt overwhelmed. Then, Isaiah told them what he had learned from God. God saw their toil. God blessed their work. Then, in particular poignancy, Isaiah told the people of his day, “God rejoices over you as a bride rejoices over the bride…” God didn’t see those people of Jerusalem as tired and beaten and worn and poor and hurting. God saw them as beautiful. God saw their potential. God saw their faith. And God loved what HE saw.
There may be moments when you feel overwhelmed. You might feel tired and worn. You might notice the wrinkles that have formed on your face over the years. When you look in a mirror, you might see the saggy skin and imperfections that come with age. You might notice a few scars from past surgeries or remnants of a past injury. You might remember your awkwardness or insecurities. All these “less than perfect” things may cause you to feel depressed or ugly or old or sad or stupid. But God looks at you differently. God looks past your tired eyes and sees the fire of faith still burning in your soul. God looks past the scars of past surgeries and injuries to see the hands that wiped the tears of a child as she cried. God looks past your imperfections to see the beauty of your soul, your beautiful soul. God remembers those moments together in prayer, the times you stood up to defend the needy, the arms that held on to a sobbing friend. God still sees potential in you. God still sees the grace in your heart.
For today, quit being so hard on yourself. Let past mistakes go to God. Ask for forgiveness for a past sin and just enjoy the freedom that God’s grace engenders. Just let yourself rejoice in the love of God. God sees so much that’s beautiful in you! Can you, for one day, see yourself as God sees you? Can you for just a few moments in time view your potential from God’s point of view?
August 7
“You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
(John 8:44, NRSV)
(John 8:44, NRSV)
Jesus used the above words in dealing with some Jewish leaders who thought they were godly and righteous. Jesus called them out for being liars and living a lie. Now, think about this for one moment. These Jewish leaders were convinced they were holier, more righteous, more religious than others. They thought they were even more holy than Jesus. Jesus saw them differently. He noted that these specific Jewish leaders were doing the devils’ work. How? They were lying to themselves and to others. A few verses later, Jesus made clear that while HE taught about the truth, these Jewish leaders lived a lie.
Just as these Jewish leaders though they were faithful when in fact they were living a lie, there are many people today (even lifelong Christians!) who think they are being faithful when in fact they are living a lie. They lie to themselves. They do not speak the truth. They believe what is not true. They spread what is false. Christians who distort or outright spread lies instead of the truth are not spreading the gospel or being righteous in any way. They too are “children of the devil”. They too have “no truth in them” (John 8:44).
In John 8:44, Jesus called out these Jewish leaders as liars. They lied to themselves. They did not know the truth and even rejected it. They saw Jesus as evil. They believed the gospel to be untrue. Because they rejected Jesus, they rejected the truth of the gospel. This caused them to be allied with the devil. Then, these people ended up “doing their father’s desires”, the devils desires. Why? Because “there was no truth in the devil” either. Jesus characterized the devil in this verse as “a liar” and “the father of lies”. Satan is a “murderer”. There is “no truth in him”. He lives and breathes lies.
As for you, my beloved reader, don’t be too quick to judge these Jewish leaders. They were very religious people like you. They worshipped our God. They sat in sanctuaries and sang praises. They read their Bible daily. They prayed often. However, they still believed the lies perpetuated by the manipulation of the devil. They did not recognize the lies they believed. All their reading of the Bible and worship was for naught because they lived a lie. Until they accepted God’s truth, they would remain deceived by the devil.
Are there any lies that might be separating you from God? Are you afraid of some bit of truth God needs you to accept? Is there a lie you tell yourself that damages your relationship with Jesus?
Renee is a wonderful mother. She is loved by her husband. She is cherished by her church. However, Renee is living a lie. Inside her heart and soul, Renee feels she is undeserving of forgiveness by God. When Renee was young, she lived in a dysfunctional household. She was punished for the slightest error. If she brought home a “C” on a test, she was punished. If she forgot to do any one of her dozen chores, she was sent to her room without dinner. If she dared question why her parents were doing something, she was beaten. When she made a mistake in her cleaning or homework or actions, she was chastised over and over repeatedly for days. Renee’s parents believed the lie that children should be beaten until they are afraid of you, beaten into submission, beaten until they do anything the parent needs. To this day, Renee carries this fear of failing and lack of forgiveness inside her heart and soul. Beaten into her by her parents, this attitude even pervades and poisons her relationship with God. In her prayers as in her dealings with God, Renee feels like a failure, unworthy, and undeserving of grace.
Renee is a very religious person. But inside, she is living a lie where she does not deserve love and forgiveness and the grace of God. She feels like the only way she can receive the love of God is by doing extra-special things for others. Sadly, she feels the need to earn her grace and forgiveness from God and others, as if this was possible! She feels undeserving of Jesus’ love. When she fails, she tells herself over and over that she is worthless. The lies go deep into her heart and soul and mind.
Unless Renee fully accepts that she is living a lie and accepts the truth of the gospel, she will never really understand salvation. Until she lets go of her self-loathing, she will not be able to see herself as a true child of God.
Many people who sit in the pews on Sunday morning are living with lies. Some lies have been taught to them. Some lies have come from distorting the truth. In any case, the lies they believe damage their relationship with God in Christ. They distort their view of the true gospel. Until they repent and reject these lies, they will be manipulated by the father of lies, by the devil himself.
The lies you believe will not only distort the truth, but they will also form your beliefs. If, like Renee, you believe yourself to be a worthless screw-up, then you will have a hard time believing that Jesus died for you. If you believe you are holier than thou, you may have a difficult time forgiving others when they fail. Should you be addicted to money, it may be difficult to justify giving a tithe. When you are selfish, you might hold onto the false belief that you more deserving than others. Lies permeate the devil’s character. Lies also seep into the soul of the non-believer. Worldly lies told by politicians and social groups and even by mistaken parents can be deeply imbedded in your core understandings. Many of the most dangerous lies of the devil may even sound very religious, very faithful, very patriotic, or very true!
Don’t let lies define you! Search your heart and soul for any lie you tell yourself. In order to be a true disciple of God, you will need to face your lies and accept God’s truth. Otherwise, you are doomed to fail God. Otherwise, the devil will own you. Otherwise, you will be a lost soul always searching for peace and wholeness, just like the devil wants you.
Just as these Jewish leaders though they were faithful when in fact they were living a lie, there are many people today (even lifelong Christians!) who think they are being faithful when in fact they are living a lie. They lie to themselves. They do not speak the truth. They believe what is not true. They spread what is false. Christians who distort or outright spread lies instead of the truth are not spreading the gospel or being righteous in any way. They too are “children of the devil”. They too have “no truth in them” (John 8:44).
In John 8:44, Jesus called out these Jewish leaders as liars. They lied to themselves. They did not know the truth and even rejected it. They saw Jesus as evil. They believed the gospel to be untrue. Because they rejected Jesus, they rejected the truth of the gospel. This caused them to be allied with the devil. Then, these people ended up “doing their father’s desires”, the devils desires. Why? Because “there was no truth in the devil” either. Jesus characterized the devil in this verse as “a liar” and “the father of lies”. Satan is a “murderer”. There is “no truth in him”. He lives and breathes lies.
As for you, my beloved reader, don’t be too quick to judge these Jewish leaders. They were very religious people like you. They worshipped our God. They sat in sanctuaries and sang praises. They read their Bible daily. They prayed often. However, they still believed the lies perpetuated by the manipulation of the devil. They did not recognize the lies they believed. All their reading of the Bible and worship was for naught because they lived a lie. Until they accepted God’s truth, they would remain deceived by the devil.
Are there any lies that might be separating you from God? Are you afraid of some bit of truth God needs you to accept? Is there a lie you tell yourself that damages your relationship with Jesus?
Renee is a wonderful mother. She is loved by her husband. She is cherished by her church. However, Renee is living a lie. Inside her heart and soul, Renee feels she is undeserving of forgiveness by God. When Renee was young, she lived in a dysfunctional household. She was punished for the slightest error. If she brought home a “C” on a test, she was punished. If she forgot to do any one of her dozen chores, she was sent to her room without dinner. If she dared question why her parents were doing something, she was beaten. When she made a mistake in her cleaning or homework or actions, she was chastised over and over repeatedly for days. Renee’s parents believed the lie that children should be beaten until they are afraid of you, beaten into submission, beaten until they do anything the parent needs. To this day, Renee carries this fear of failing and lack of forgiveness inside her heart and soul. Beaten into her by her parents, this attitude even pervades and poisons her relationship with God. In her prayers as in her dealings with God, Renee feels like a failure, unworthy, and undeserving of grace.
Renee is a very religious person. But inside, she is living a lie where she does not deserve love and forgiveness and the grace of God. She feels like the only way she can receive the love of God is by doing extra-special things for others. Sadly, she feels the need to earn her grace and forgiveness from God and others, as if this was possible! She feels undeserving of Jesus’ love. When she fails, she tells herself over and over that she is worthless. The lies go deep into her heart and soul and mind.
Unless Renee fully accepts that she is living a lie and accepts the truth of the gospel, she will never really understand salvation. Until she lets go of her self-loathing, she will not be able to see herself as a true child of God.
Many people who sit in the pews on Sunday morning are living with lies. Some lies have been taught to them. Some lies have come from distorting the truth. In any case, the lies they believe damage their relationship with God in Christ. They distort their view of the true gospel. Until they repent and reject these lies, they will be manipulated by the father of lies, by the devil himself.
The lies you believe will not only distort the truth, but they will also form your beliefs. If, like Renee, you believe yourself to be a worthless screw-up, then you will have a hard time believing that Jesus died for you. If you believe you are holier than thou, you may have a difficult time forgiving others when they fail. Should you be addicted to money, it may be difficult to justify giving a tithe. When you are selfish, you might hold onto the false belief that you more deserving than others. Lies permeate the devil’s character. Lies also seep into the soul of the non-believer. Worldly lies told by politicians and social groups and even by mistaken parents can be deeply imbedded in your core understandings. Many of the most dangerous lies of the devil may even sound very religious, very faithful, very patriotic, or very true!
Don’t let lies define you! Search your heart and soul for any lie you tell yourself. In order to be a true disciple of God, you will need to face your lies and accept God’s truth. Otherwise, you are doomed to fail God. Otherwise, the devil will own you. Otherwise, you will be a lost soul always searching for peace and wholeness, just like the devil wants you.
August 9
“… [Jesus said:] “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:15, NKJV)
The words above form the core of Jesus’ very first sermon in the Gospel of Mark. These words are at the center of Jesus’ teachings. Jesus believed that the “kingdom of God” was touching the lives of His hearers in that crucial period of history (Mark 1:15a). He believed that prophecies of that special time were being “fulfilled”. Anyone who listened to Jesus was asked to respond in two ways. True disciples were to “repent” and to “believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15b). No person can be a true disciple of Jesus without these two responses to the call to faith. You, dear reader, must continually respond to Jesus in your life by repenting and by believing.
Believing in Jesus means putting your faith in the gospel. To be a part of God’s Kingdom, you need to let go of the lies you believe, the false doctrines that define the world, reject false teachings, and dedicate yourself to the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Still, belief is not enough. One other thing was required, as stipulated by Jesus in His sermon. You need to “repent”. Repenting means MORE than just saying I’m sorry to God and others. Repenting means more than admitting you were wrong. The Greek word used for “repent” in this verse means to “make a U-turn in life”. It means you need to stop going away from God and start going toward God. It means you need to walk away from sin and walk toward the holy light. It means you must actively change things in your life that are wrong. Repenting will require more than a few words or a quickly uttered prayer. It will require changes in your life, correction of your actions, amended thoughts, and a gracious attitude. If you do repentance right, it will change YOU. You will choose to think and act and respond more like Jesus.
Jesus’ call upon the listener to “repent and believe” is simple. Only two things are required to become a disciple of Jesus. You must repent. You must believe. Sadly, too many people have big problems with these two simple requirements of Jesus. If they do not come around to following Jesus’ call for these two simple things, they will never truly be disciples of Jesus Christ. First, some people doubt the gospel. The question parts of the scriptures. They question Jesus’ validity. They second-guess the meaning of scriptures they don’t like or God’s words they don’t want to follow. Their faith is weakened by such doubt. Their commitment to Jesus is put on shaky ground by inadequate commitment to faith in Jesus. Second, all too many who desire to be Christian do not take time to repent. Some lie to themselves about how much sin has twisted their judgment. Some don’t want to admit they are imperfect or prone to self-destructive behaviors. Some are too prideful to admit their own failings. Some feel undeserving of forgiveness, so they withhold their repentance. For whatever the reason, those who fail to repent of their sins will never truly feel forgiven and blessed by Almighty God.
Belief in Jesus requires continual repentance. Repentance is a part of true belief. Belief and repentance go hand in hand in the faithful disciple.
To explain the disconnect between belief and repentance when studying Mark 1:15, John MacArthur wrote the following words in Truth for Today:
“If you want to enter the narrow gate you must repent. Many Jews during Jesus’ time believed that just being physical descendants of Abraham was sufficient for entrance into heaven. And many people today believe that simply being churchgoers or morally good people qualifies them for salvation. After all, they reason, God is too benevolent to exclude anyone but the most evil people.
God does desire that everyone enter the narrow gate because He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). But you will not pass through the narrow gate unless you follow Charles Spurgeon’s admonition: “You and your sins must separate, or you and your God will never come together. No one sin may you keep; they must all be given up...”” (John MacArthur, Truth for Today, p. 241)
If you want to believe in Jesus, repentance should be a common action of your faith. Repentance should be a regular part of your prayer life. It should be done as a part of worship (that is why many churches have the “Confession of Sin” as a part of their worship liturgy). Repentance needs to become second nature to your spiritual thinking. You should constantly be ready to repent as long as you truly believe in Jesus.
In response to Jesus’ first sermon in the Gospel of Mark, are there any doubts of God lingering in your spiritual life. Are there any sins needing repentance? Are you repenting in heart, mind, and soul, or just saying the words of confession without a real commitment? Are you truly sorry for your sin? A life with Jesus can be the most rewarding, awesome experience of your life. But, you will never get to enjoy the depths of that relationship without true repentance and a committed belief in the gospel. Never.
Believing in Jesus means putting your faith in the gospel. To be a part of God’s Kingdom, you need to let go of the lies you believe, the false doctrines that define the world, reject false teachings, and dedicate yourself to the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Still, belief is not enough. One other thing was required, as stipulated by Jesus in His sermon. You need to “repent”. Repenting means MORE than just saying I’m sorry to God and others. Repenting means more than admitting you were wrong. The Greek word used for “repent” in this verse means to “make a U-turn in life”. It means you need to stop going away from God and start going toward God. It means you need to walk away from sin and walk toward the holy light. It means you must actively change things in your life that are wrong. Repenting will require more than a few words or a quickly uttered prayer. It will require changes in your life, correction of your actions, amended thoughts, and a gracious attitude. If you do repentance right, it will change YOU. You will choose to think and act and respond more like Jesus.
Jesus’ call upon the listener to “repent and believe” is simple. Only two things are required to become a disciple of Jesus. You must repent. You must believe. Sadly, too many people have big problems with these two simple requirements of Jesus. If they do not come around to following Jesus’ call for these two simple things, they will never truly be disciples of Jesus Christ. First, some people doubt the gospel. The question parts of the scriptures. They question Jesus’ validity. They second-guess the meaning of scriptures they don’t like or God’s words they don’t want to follow. Their faith is weakened by such doubt. Their commitment to Jesus is put on shaky ground by inadequate commitment to faith in Jesus. Second, all too many who desire to be Christian do not take time to repent. Some lie to themselves about how much sin has twisted their judgment. Some don’t want to admit they are imperfect or prone to self-destructive behaviors. Some are too prideful to admit their own failings. Some feel undeserving of forgiveness, so they withhold their repentance. For whatever the reason, those who fail to repent of their sins will never truly feel forgiven and blessed by Almighty God.
Belief in Jesus requires continual repentance. Repentance is a part of true belief. Belief and repentance go hand in hand in the faithful disciple.
To explain the disconnect between belief and repentance when studying Mark 1:15, John MacArthur wrote the following words in Truth for Today:
“If you want to enter the narrow gate you must repent. Many Jews during Jesus’ time believed that just being physical descendants of Abraham was sufficient for entrance into heaven. And many people today believe that simply being churchgoers or morally good people qualifies them for salvation. After all, they reason, God is too benevolent to exclude anyone but the most evil people.
God does desire that everyone enter the narrow gate because He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). But you will not pass through the narrow gate unless you follow Charles Spurgeon’s admonition: “You and your sins must separate, or you and your God will never come together. No one sin may you keep; they must all be given up...”” (John MacArthur, Truth for Today, p. 241)
If you want to believe in Jesus, repentance should be a common action of your faith. Repentance should be a regular part of your prayer life. It should be done as a part of worship (that is why many churches have the “Confession of Sin” as a part of their worship liturgy). Repentance needs to become second nature to your spiritual thinking. You should constantly be ready to repent as long as you truly believe in Jesus.
In response to Jesus’ first sermon in the Gospel of Mark, are there any doubts of God lingering in your spiritual life. Are there any sins needing repentance? Are you repenting in heart, mind, and soul, or just saying the words of confession without a real commitment? Are you truly sorry for your sin? A life with Jesus can be the most rewarding, awesome experience of your life. But, you will never get to enjoy the depths of that relationship without true repentance and a committed belief in the gospel. Never.
August 12
“God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.” (1 Corinthians 7:23, NLT)
When Jesus died on the cross, He gave His life for you. You were redeemed at a high cost. The Son of God had to die to take away the power of sin over you. Jesus was nailed to that cross to redeem you from the evils of sin and fallenness. Because of the high cost of Jesus’ act, you are considered highly valuable to God. Satan also recognizes your worth to God. That’s why he does everything he can to keep you away from your Maker. In doing so, Satan’s hope is to keep someone valuable (YOU!) from a relationship with God.
Today’s scripture talks about the “high price” paid by God for you. 1 Corinthians 7:23 states this very clearly. Paul did not like it that the Corinthian church was putting human religious traditions above the worship of Almighty God. They were letting things like the rite of circumcision, the order of worship, and even how much wine should be taken at communion to become important topics. Paul wanted to make sure that they knew that they should never let these religious issues cloud the fact that Jesus paid for their redemption with the high cost of His life. The Corinthian church people were not to become slaved by worldly issues in the church, enslaved by religious rituals and traditions. Instead, they were intended to be bound to Jesus for life, committed to the Savior who redeemed them.
If you take this scripture another way, someone else has paid a high cost for your life. Jesus died on a cross to stake a claim that you are valuable to Heaven! God desires a relationship with you! Throughout your life, others will put value on your life. Others will do things to show your worth. Others may redeem you, protect you, help you, watch over you. Like Jesus, when we sacrifice for others, it shows their value to us. When others sacrifice for us, it shows how valuable we are to them!
In September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a History teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks in her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.
'Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?'
She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.' They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'
And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still, no desks were in the classroom. Kids called their parents to tell them what was happening and by early afternoon television news crews had started gathering at the school to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her classroom.
The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk-less classroom. Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'
At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Armed Services Veterans, all in uniform, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.
Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. They went halfway around the world, giving up their education and interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedoms you have. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, and to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'
By the way, this is a true story. And this teacher was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year for the State of Arkansas in 2006. She is the daughter of a WWII POW.
Like Jesus, soldiers of this country have died to protect your life and freedoms. They give value to your citizenship in the United States. Jesus gives value to your spiritual life, your soul, your heart, and so much more. He paid a high price to show your worth. How will you respond to those who paid a price to show your value to them? How will you respect the soldiers who gave up their lives and freedoms to protect you? How will you respond to the Savior who gave up His life on that cross for you?
Today’s scripture talks about the “high price” paid by God for you. 1 Corinthians 7:23 states this very clearly. Paul did not like it that the Corinthian church was putting human religious traditions above the worship of Almighty God. They were letting things like the rite of circumcision, the order of worship, and even how much wine should be taken at communion to become important topics. Paul wanted to make sure that they knew that they should never let these religious issues cloud the fact that Jesus paid for their redemption with the high cost of His life. The Corinthian church people were not to become slaved by worldly issues in the church, enslaved by religious rituals and traditions. Instead, they were intended to be bound to Jesus for life, committed to the Savior who redeemed them.
If you take this scripture another way, someone else has paid a high cost for your life. Jesus died on a cross to stake a claim that you are valuable to Heaven! God desires a relationship with you! Throughout your life, others will put value on your life. Others will do things to show your worth. Others may redeem you, protect you, help you, watch over you. Like Jesus, when we sacrifice for others, it shows their value to us. When others sacrifice for us, it shows how valuable we are to them!
In September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a History teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks in her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.
'Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?'
She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.' They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'
And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still, no desks were in the classroom. Kids called their parents to tell them what was happening and by early afternoon television news crews had started gathering at the school to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her classroom.
The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk-less classroom. Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'
At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Armed Services Veterans, all in uniform, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.
Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. They went halfway around the world, giving up their education and interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedoms you have. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, and to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'
By the way, this is a true story. And this teacher was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year for the State of Arkansas in 2006. She is the daughter of a WWII POW.
Like Jesus, soldiers of this country have died to protect your life and freedoms. They give value to your citizenship in the United States. Jesus gives value to your spiritual life, your soul, your heart, and so much more. He paid a high price to show your worth. How will you respond to those who paid a price to show your value to them? How will you respect the soldiers who gave up their lives and freedoms to protect you? How will you respond to the Savior who gave up His life on that cross for you?
August 14
“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:3, NKJV)
Verses like the one above give us ample evidence of Paul’s belief that true Christians will endure hard times faithfully.
Despite having a relationship with the Creator of the universe, people of God still suffer. They still experience loss, death, financial ruin, trials, health emergencies, and so much more. It’s all part of the human condition. BUT, the true disciple of Jesus deals with hardship in a different way than unfaithful human beings. The true believer endures hardship “as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3b). The faithful follower does not let hardship weaken a relationship with God. Instead, faithful followers of Jesus Christ often find themselves closer to God throughout the duration of difficult times and long after.
“Christianity Today” collected 6000 sermon illustrations in a book made for anyone hoping to share the gospel. One of their stories speaks to hardships endured by the faithful. It is a parable of sorts. The story below concerns one special potato farmer from Idaho. Here’s the message…
“People are like potatoes.
After potatoes have been harvested, they have to be spread out and sorted in order to get the maximum market dollar. They are divided according to size—big, medium, and small. It is only after potatoes have been sorted and bagged that they are loaded onto trucks. This is the method that all Idaho potato farmers use—all but one.
One farmer never bothered to sort the potatoes at all. Yet he seemed to be making the most money. A puzzled neighbor finally asked him, “What is your secret?” He said, “It’s simple. I just load up the wagon with potatoes and take the roughest road to town. During the eight-mile trip, the little potatoes always fall to the bottom. The medium potatoes land in the middle, while the big potatoes rise to the top.”
That’s not only true of potatoes. It is a law of life. Big potatoes rise to the top on rough roads, and tough people rise to the top in rough times.
Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
(6000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths)
I agree with the assessment of the people over at Christianity Today who collected this story. I also believe that tough people rise to the top in difficult moments. Strong believers become stronger in uncertain times. True followers of Christ not only take hardship in stride, they become spiritually deeper and form a tighter bond with their Savior.
When I met young Michael, I was intrigued by his ease at talking to adults. He could carry on a seeming adult conversation in any time and place. He loved to chat. He was prone to think deeply. At first, I noticed that he seemed to watch people. While doing that, I found he was processing lots of philosophical and theological questions, way beyond the normal thoughts for a young man only eight years old. I could sense his deep analytical thinking. I could see his spiritual muscles growing the entire time I spent with him at a Christian summer camp.
One evening after worship, Michael replied to a counselor: “I think God cries sometimes. I think God cries when people do terrible things to one another. The Bible says that Jesus wept, you know!” Smiling at little Michael’s insight, another counselor walked up to me and stated: “You do know Michael’s home situation, right?” When I shook my head no, the counselor added, “His father died of Cancer. His mom works two jobs to keep the family living in their home. And, his sister just had major surgery.” I looked at the other counselor shocked at all the difficulties young Michael has had to face in his young life. Then, I thought some more. Michael is another example of the ability of hardship to help spiritual depth grow and flourish in the heart of the truly faithful. Michael’s hard life has forced him to ask the difficult questions, find answers to suffering, and hold on tightly to His loving Savior.
When hardship comes along, don’t get bent out of shape. Don’t go off on a rant of complaints and “it’s not fair” statements. Instead, look for ways to adapt like a “good soldier of Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Look for ways to be strong in the face of adversity. Seek the direction of your Lord. Find comfort in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Be a beacon of hope for others. In the end, make Jesus proud. He bore that cross for you. How much can you bear for HIM?
Despite having a relationship with the Creator of the universe, people of God still suffer. They still experience loss, death, financial ruin, trials, health emergencies, and so much more. It’s all part of the human condition. BUT, the true disciple of Jesus deals with hardship in a different way than unfaithful human beings. The true believer endures hardship “as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3b). The faithful follower does not let hardship weaken a relationship with God. Instead, faithful followers of Jesus Christ often find themselves closer to God throughout the duration of difficult times and long after.
“Christianity Today” collected 6000 sermon illustrations in a book made for anyone hoping to share the gospel. One of their stories speaks to hardships endured by the faithful. It is a parable of sorts. The story below concerns one special potato farmer from Idaho. Here’s the message…
“People are like potatoes.
After potatoes have been harvested, they have to be spread out and sorted in order to get the maximum market dollar. They are divided according to size—big, medium, and small. It is only after potatoes have been sorted and bagged that they are loaded onto trucks. This is the method that all Idaho potato farmers use—all but one.
One farmer never bothered to sort the potatoes at all. Yet he seemed to be making the most money. A puzzled neighbor finally asked him, “What is your secret?” He said, “It’s simple. I just load up the wagon with potatoes and take the roughest road to town. During the eight-mile trip, the little potatoes always fall to the bottom. The medium potatoes land in the middle, while the big potatoes rise to the top.”
That’s not only true of potatoes. It is a law of life. Big potatoes rise to the top on rough roads, and tough people rise to the top in rough times.
Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
(6000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths)
I agree with the assessment of the people over at Christianity Today who collected this story. I also believe that tough people rise to the top in difficult moments. Strong believers become stronger in uncertain times. True followers of Christ not only take hardship in stride, they become spiritually deeper and form a tighter bond with their Savior.
When I met young Michael, I was intrigued by his ease at talking to adults. He could carry on a seeming adult conversation in any time and place. He loved to chat. He was prone to think deeply. At first, I noticed that he seemed to watch people. While doing that, I found he was processing lots of philosophical and theological questions, way beyond the normal thoughts for a young man only eight years old. I could sense his deep analytical thinking. I could see his spiritual muscles growing the entire time I spent with him at a Christian summer camp.
One evening after worship, Michael replied to a counselor: “I think God cries sometimes. I think God cries when people do terrible things to one another. The Bible says that Jesus wept, you know!” Smiling at little Michael’s insight, another counselor walked up to me and stated: “You do know Michael’s home situation, right?” When I shook my head no, the counselor added, “His father died of Cancer. His mom works two jobs to keep the family living in their home. And, his sister just had major surgery.” I looked at the other counselor shocked at all the difficulties young Michael has had to face in his young life. Then, I thought some more. Michael is another example of the ability of hardship to help spiritual depth grow and flourish in the heart of the truly faithful. Michael’s hard life has forced him to ask the difficult questions, find answers to suffering, and hold on tightly to His loving Savior.
When hardship comes along, don’t get bent out of shape. Don’t go off on a rant of complaints and “it’s not fair” statements. Instead, look for ways to adapt like a “good soldier of Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Look for ways to be strong in the face of adversity. Seek the direction of your Lord. Find comfort in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Be a beacon of hope for others. In the end, make Jesus proud. He bore that cross for you. How much can you bear for HIM?
August 16
“I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you.” (John 14:18, NET)
Christians sometimes view the disciples as persons who did not experience doubt and weakness. They see the disciples as heroes and people with rock-solid faith. However, the gospels paint a different picture of the disciples. Their faith was shaky at times, even in crucial moments. Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter made a promise to Jesus that he did not keep when his life was threatened (Mark 14:31). The disciple Thomas was even dubbed “the doubter”, because he initially doubted Jesus’ resurrection. Let’s not forget that the disciples fled when the soldiers showed up to arrest Jesus. The disciples had moments of bravery and courage, times when they were spiritually strong; but they also had moments of doubt and weakness and insecurity.
John 14 kicks off with worry from the disciples. They heard Jesus talk about leaving. They heard Jesus’ sermons in which He hinted of offering Himself up. There were clearly warnings about the hatred of Jesus by the authorities, the scribes, and the Pharisees. Jesus’ preaching and teaching challenged political entities as well as religious leadership. Jesus and His disciples lived with the knowledge that John the Baptist was beheaded for the same views that Jesus carried in His teachings. With all the swirling danger from the powers that be, the disciples lived with the realization that their lives were on the line as long as they believed in Jesus. That’s why in John 14, Thomas asks Jesus, “How can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Thomas was concerned that the disciples would not know what to do without Jesus’ leadership. Jesus had to reassure the disciples with the words, “Let not your hearts be troubled, believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1). The disciples were troubled. They had questions. They feared for the future.
In the midst of the turmoil and instability of Jesus’ ministry, today’s scripture contains a statement by Jesus to His fearful disciples. Jesus made clear to His followers, “I will NOT abandon you… I will come to you” (John 14:18). Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that no matter what happened He personally would be there for them. He would not “orphan” them. He would not desert them. Jesus kept this promise. Even after His death, Jesus was resurrected and came to be with them. Even when Jesus ascended to Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit and angels to comfort them and guide His followers. The disciples were never left without a lifeline to Jesus.
When I met with a soldier who had served in Iraq during the Gulf War, I could perceive his hurt. He was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He lost several close friends in one day due to an ambush during the war. The memories of that day haunted his dreams and fueled his nightmares. When I asked him what kept him going during the days following the ambush, he responded, “I picked up a Bible that a member of my church had sent me. It was one of those small portable Bibles. I poured over the scriptures looking for answers. I spoke to a chaplain. I prayed. Honestly, that Bible and those spiritual moments kept me sane. They were what helped me hold it together during my time overseas.”
In my conversations with that soldier, I realized that the only comfort he found that had any lasting effect was his faith in Jesus. That soldier found great comfort that Jesus was with him throughout the deployment, with him on that terrible day of the ambush, and did not leave him afterward when he needed Jesus even more. The young soldier felt God’s hand upon his life. To this day, he encourages other soldiers to lean on Jesus to help their recovery from the memories of war.
In the scripture above, Jesus promised the disciples that He would not leave them orphaned. He would be there for them. This also applies to you. Since you are a present-day disciple of the Lord Jesus, you too can be assured that Jesus will be present with you. The Holy Spirit will keep you connected with Christ. God knows what is going on in your life right now. God will not abandon you. God will be with you. Jesus’ last words when in bodily form with His disciples was that he would “be with them always” (Matthew 28:20). Do you realize that this promise also applies to you?
When life gets crazy, take time to be with Jesus. He is with you always. When you are saddled with burdens difficult to bear, pour out your soul to God. He is with you always. When doubts and insecurities rear their ugly heads in your thoughts and heart, lean on the strength God gives. Jesus is with you always. When you don’t know where to turn and don’t know which way to go, listen for the Holy Spirit to guide you. Jesus is with you always. His Holy Spirit will give you courage and direction. God the Father already has a place for you in His heaven.
Faithful follower of Jesus, you are not abandoned by God and alone… ever. I mean EVER.
John 14 kicks off with worry from the disciples. They heard Jesus talk about leaving. They heard Jesus’ sermons in which He hinted of offering Himself up. There were clearly warnings about the hatred of Jesus by the authorities, the scribes, and the Pharisees. Jesus’ preaching and teaching challenged political entities as well as religious leadership. Jesus and His disciples lived with the knowledge that John the Baptist was beheaded for the same views that Jesus carried in His teachings. With all the swirling danger from the powers that be, the disciples lived with the realization that their lives were on the line as long as they believed in Jesus. That’s why in John 14, Thomas asks Jesus, “How can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Thomas was concerned that the disciples would not know what to do without Jesus’ leadership. Jesus had to reassure the disciples with the words, “Let not your hearts be troubled, believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1). The disciples were troubled. They had questions. They feared for the future.
In the midst of the turmoil and instability of Jesus’ ministry, today’s scripture contains a statement by Jesus to His fearful disciples. Jesus made clear to His followers, “I will NOT abandon you… I will come to you” (John 14:18). Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that no matter what happened He personally would be there for them. He would not “orphan” them. He would not desert them. Jesus kept this promise. Even after His death, Jesus was resurrected and came to be with them. Even when Jesus ascended to Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit and angels to comfort them and guide His followers. The disciples were never left without a lifeline to Jesus.
When I met with a soldier who had served in Iraq during the Gulf War, I could perceive his hurt. He was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He lost several close friends in one day due to an ambush during the war. The memories of that day haunted his dreams and fueled his nightmares. When I asked him what kept him going during the days following the ambush, he responded, “I picked up a Bible that a member of my church had sent me. It was one of those small portable Bibles. I poured over the scriptures looking for answers. I spoke to a chaplain. I prayed. Honestly, that Bible and those spiritual moments kept me sane. They were what helped me hold it together during my time overseas.”
In my conversations with that soldier, I realized that the only comfort he found that had any lasting effect was his faith in Jesus. That soldier found great comfort that Jesus was with him throughout the deployment, with him on that terrible day of the ambush, and did not leave him afterward when he needed Jesus even more. The young soldier felt God’s hand upon his life. To this day, he encourages other soldiers to lean on Jesus to help their recovery from the memories of war.
In the scripture above, Jesus promised the disciples that He would not leave them orphaned. He would be there for them. This also applies to you. Since you are a present-day disciple of the Lord Jesus, you too can be assured that Jesus will be present with you. The Holy Spirit will keep you connected with Christ. God knows what is going on in your life right now. God will not abandon you. God will be with you. Jesus’ last words when in bodily form with His disciples was that he would “be with them always” (Matthew 28:20). Do you realize that this promise also applies to you?
When life gets crazy, take time to be with Jesus. He is with you always. When you are saddled with burdens difficult to bear, pour out your soul to God. He is with you always. When doubts and insecurities rear their ugly heads in your thoughts and heart, lean on the strength God gives. Jesus is with you always. When you don’t know where to turn and don’t know which way to go, listen for the Holy Spirit to guide you. Jesus is with you always. His Holy Spirit will give you courage and direction. God the Father already has a place for you in His heaven.
Faithful follower of Jesus, you are not abandoned by God and alone… ever. I mean EVER.
August 18
“When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.”
(Luke 18:22–23, NLT)
(Luke 18:22–23, NLT)
Sometimes, a scripture is not about what you see initially. No. There’s a whole lot more to unpack in a scripture FOR YOU. Jesus taught a parable about a mustard seed in Mark 4:31. Was it about seeds? Not really. Was it about planting? Not really. Was it about the size of the mustard seed? Kind of. For one person, that parable may be about a small seed growing into a large plant, symbolizing a small kernel of truth growing into a deep faith. For another person, that mustard seed symbolizes the power of a small truth that will be powerful enough to change a person’s life. For another person, that same parable may symbolize the power of small godly actions that have big, powerful consequences. That’s the power of scripture to say so many deep things to so many people at so many times in life. What may be difficult is interpreting what it is that God is wanting to say TO YOU through a scripture in this moment in time, in this place in your life, with your specific issues.
Wise believers will not gloss over the details and meanings in a scripture. Instead, they will find the nugget of spiritual truth in that scripture for this moment in time, for this place in their life, for their specific issues.
In Luke 18, we are introduced to a very wealthy and faithful man. Jesus saw his faith and was impressed. Jesus even issued a command for the man that HE only gave to HIS chosen disciples, “then, come and follow me.” There was only ONE HITCH. There was one problem. The man was told by Jesus to leave his riches behind, giving them to the poor, and then to come and follow Jesus. This ONE HITCH was the sticking point that made it so that the man could not follow Jesus. This ONE SMALL spiritual defect made it so that this man, who was righteous in every other area of his life, could not be a disciple of Jesus in that moment in time, in that place in his life, with his specific issues.
On the surface, you may think this scripture about this man is about riches. And it is… for the rich man. Then, you might think this scripture is about the ability of the faithful to give up the love of wealth in order to follow Jesus. And it is… for a rich man in this situation. However, what this scripture says TO YOU in this moment in time, in this place in your life, with your specific issues is more about that ONE SMALL HITCH that will hold you back from full communion with God. It will be that one thing that holds you back from being a true disciple. It is about that one thing that comes between you and your Savior.
For this scripture to have meaning for you today, in this moment in time, in this place in your life, with your specific issues, you need to figure out for yourself if you have ONE HITCH that is holding you back from being a committed believer. Is there one main thing that continually holds you back spiritually? Is there one issue that keeps popping up in your life that causes you sadness? What is stealing your joy in Jesus?
The rich man in our scripture today went away “sad” because the ONE HITCH in his life was wealth. He couldn’t give it up for Jesus. He couldn’t let go of his money. You may look at this scripture and say to yourself, “I’d give up my wealth for Jesus”, and feel self-satisfied that you are a good disciple of our Lord. BUT, you are NOT looking at the scripture right IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME, IN YOUR PLACE IN LIFE, WITH YOUR SPECIFIC ISSUES. It may not be wealth that is holding you back and making you sad. It may be something completely different. It might be regret from a past sin. It might be a self-defeatist attitude that constantly causes you to feel worthless. It might be a depression caused by stress. It might be your type-A workaholic attitude that won’t accept grace. Don’t go thinking this scripture reinforces your faith because you don’t have issues with money and wealth. At this moment in time, in this place in your life, with your specific issues, this scripture may be about that ONE HITCH in your life that holds you back from a deep committed love for Jesus. It might be that one thing that keeps bringing sadness into your life.
Cassie came to me about a situation in her marriage that hurt her deeply. Her husband Karl mentioned that his secretary was a very sweet soul who helped him greatly. He also said he could not get along at work without her. Cassie took this statement by her husband as a warning. She began to consider if her husband was having an affair. For days, Cassie replayed their conversations in her head. She began to question why he came home late from work two days in the past month. All kinds of scenarios were flying through her mind. By the time Cassie came to me, her pastor, she was a mess. Not five minutes into our time together, she was falling apart sobbing. She feared for her marriage. She seriously considered if her husband was having an affair. Then, she became angry at her husband for his lack of love and commitment. Then, after a half hour of the emotions pouring out, I said to her, “This isn’t about Karl. It’s about you.”
Initially, I could see Cassie become angry and hurt at my statement. She figured I was siding with her husband, trying to cover up his possible adultery. I was doing no such thing. Over the next half hour, I got it through to Cassie that she was going through this hell of wondering IF her husband was being faithful when she had no idea if anything had occurred. Her falling apart had more to do with her own insecurities, a fear of being divorced like her mother, and a self-defeatist attitude. In the end, we discovered that Cassie’s husband had never had an affair. Instead, what came out clearly was that Cassie had insecurities that were tearing her apart inside. Those insecurities put a damper on her life and marriage. They stole her joy. They formed one big hitch in her spiritual life that played out in her every day.
Cassie thought her problem was an adulterous husband. Cassie’s real problem centered upon her insecurities, her fears, her attitude. In that moment in time, in that place in her life, with her issues, she didn’t have a problem in her marriage. She had a sticking point in her own soul. It made everything worse. She needed to discover that sticking point, her one hitch, and overcome it.
Most people will not get to this point in the meditation for today. They will zone out along the way. That’s because this meditation is meant to be deeper. It is meant to challenge that one hitch that often lies hidden in the back of your mind but holds you back from a joyful, committed relationship with Jesus. That one hitch will rear its head at various times. You might think you are dealing with one thing when its really that one hitch that is getting to you. It’s that one thing that is holding you back. Most people don’t want to face that one hitch, that one obstacle, that one stopping block. So, they will prematurely end their self-examination during a meditation like the one today.
For the rich man in our scripture, his one hitch was wealth. Because he wouldn’t give it up for Jesus, it caused him deep sadness. Overcoming that one hitch would have fulfilled his soul. It would have turned him into a true believer. It would have made him one of Jesus’ disciples. He just couldn’t get past it. Today, at this moment in time, at this place in your life, with your specific issues… that hitch may be one thing. Next year, it may be something else. Just realize, that there will always be one hitch that holds you back from a full joy in Christ. Find that hitch. Deal with it. Find joy…. For this moment in time, for this place in your life, with your specific issues…
Wise believers will not gloss over the details and meanings in a scripture. Instead, they will find the nugget of spiritual truth in that scripture for this moment in time, for this place in their life, for their specific issues.
In Luke 18, we are introduced to a very wealthy and faithful man. Jesus saw his faith and was impressed. Jesus even issued a command for the man that HE only gave to HIS chosen disciples, “then, come and follow me.” There was only ONE HITCH. There was one problem. The man was told by Jesus to leave his riches behind, giving them to the poor, and then to come and follow Jesus. This ONE HITCH was the sticking point that made it so that the man could not follow Jesus. This ONE SMALL spiritual defect made it so that this man, who was righteous in every other area of his life, could not be a disciple of Jesus in that moment in time, in that place in his life, with his specific issues.
On the surface, you may think this scripture about this man is about riches. And it is… for the rich man. Then, you might think this scripture is about the ability of the faithful to give up the love of wealth in order to follow Jesus. And it is… for a rich man in this situation. However, what this scripture says TO YOU in this moment in time, in this place in your life, with your specific issues is more about that ONE SMALL HITCH that will hold you back from full communion with God. It will be that one thing that holds you back from being a true disciple. It is about that one thing that comes between you and your Savior.
For this scripture to have meaning for you today, in this moment in time, in this place in your life, with your specific issues, you need to figure out for yourself if you have ONE HITCH that is holding you back from being a committed believer. Is there one main thing that continually holds you back spiritually? Is there one issue that keeps popping up in your life that causes you sadness? What is stealing your joy in Jesus?
The rich man in our scripture today went away “sad” because the ONE HITCH in his life was wealth. He couldn’t give it up for Jesus. He couldn’t let go of his money. You may look at this scripture and say to yourself, “I’d give up my wealth for Jesus”, and feel self-satisfied that you are a good disciple of our Lord. BUT, you are NOT looking at the scripture right IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME, IN YOUR PLACE IN LIFE, WITH YOUR SPECIFIC ISSUES. It may not be wealth that is holding you back and making you sad. It may be something completely different. It might be regret from a past sin. It might be a self-defeatist attitude that constantly causes you to feel worthless. It might be a depression caused by stress. It might be your type-A workaholic attitude that won’t accept grace. Don’t go thinking this scripture reinforces your faith because you don’t have issues with money and wealth. At this moment in time, in this place in your life, with your specific issues, this scripture may be about that ONE HITCH in your life that holds you back from a deep committed love for Jesus. It might be that one thing that keeps bringing sadness into your life.
Cassie came to me about a situation in her marriage that hurt her deeply. Her husband Karl mentioned that his secretary was a very sweet soul who helped him greatly. He also said he could not get along at work without her. Cassie took this statement by her husband as a warning. She began to consider if her husband was having an affair. For days, Cassie replayed their conversations in her head. She began to question why he came home late from work two days in the past month. All kinds of scenarios were flying through her mind. By the time Cassie came to me, her pastor, she was a mess. Not five minutes into our time together, she was falling apart sobbing. She feared for her marriage. She seriously considered if her husband was having an affair. Then, she became angry at her husband for his lack of love and commitment. Then, after a half hour of the emotions pouring out, I said to her, “This isn’t about Karl. It’s about you.”
Initially, I could see Cassie become angry and hurt at my statement. She figured I was siding with her husband, trying to cover up his possible adultery. I was doing no such thing. Over the next half hour, I got it through to Cassie that she was going through this hell of wondering IF her husband was being faithful when she had no idea if anything had occurred. Her falling apart had more to do with her own insecurities, a fear of being divorced like her mother, and a self-defeatist attitude. In the end, we discovered that Cassie’s husband had never had an affair. Instead, what came out clearly was that Cassie had insecurities that were tearing her apart inside. Those insecurities put a damper on her life and marriage. They stole her joy. They formed one big hitch in her spiritual life that played out in her every day.
Cassie thought her problem was an adulterous husband. Cassie’s real problem centered upon her insecurities, her fears, her attitude. In that moment in time, in that place in her life, with her issues, she didn’t have a problem in her marriage. She had a sticking point in her own soul. It made everything worse. She needed to discover that sticking point, her one hitch, and overcome it.
Most people will not get to this point in the meditation for today. They will zone out along the way. That’s because this meditation is meant to be deeper. It is meant to challenge that one hitch that often lies hidden in the back of your mind but holds you back from a joyful, committed relationship with Jesus. That one hitch will rear its head at various times. You might think you are dealing with one thing when its really that one hitch that is getting to you. It’s that one thing that is holding you back. Most people don’t want to face that one hitch, that one obstacle, that one stopping block. So, they will prematurely end their self-examination during a meditation like the one today.
For the rich man in our scripture, his one hitch was wealth. Because he wouldn’t give it up for Jesus, it caused him deep sadness. Overcoming that one hitch would have fulfilled his soul. It would have turned him into a true believer. It would have made him one of Jesus’ disciples. He just couldn’t get past it. Today, at this moment in time, at this place in your life, with your specific issues… that hitch may be one thing. Next year, it may be something else. Just realize, that there will always be one hitch that holds you back from a full joy in Christ. Find that hitch. Deal with it. Find joy…. For this moment in time, for this place in your life, with your specific issues…
August 20
“I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.”
(John 17:14, NLT)
(John 17:14, NLT)
I was sitting across from a woman who had all the symptoms of depression. As a counselor, I could see the symptoms clearly. She couldn’t smile, even when others were joking before her. She kept to herself. She held back her emotions. She seemed sad. Her eyes didn’t smile, even when around close friends. There were other “tells”. Then, she gave the remark that clinched it. She said out loud to her husband in a soft voice which I overheard, “Have you ever sat in a room of fifty people and felt absolutely and utterly alone?”
Like this depressed woman feeling absolutely alone in a room filled with happy people, Christians will at times feel like they are utterly alone in a world full of people. They will feel like they don’t belong. They will be shocked by news reports. While watching a TV show, they will cringe at some of the crude statements made by the actors or the denigrating premise of the program. Seeing a picture in the newspaper of a child who has been molested will make their stomach acid flow. Reading an article about a serial rapist will make them slightly nauseous as the details are given. You may find yourself recoiling while reading social media, twisting up your face at the brazen sickness of the acts making news, or angry at the sinful events that are promoted as inclusive, insightful, or newsworthy. Let’s be honest; worldliness disgusts you. You find sinful actions disgusting. Your heart drops when you hear stories of injustices, abuse, neglect, or greed. That’s what its like for a true disciple of Jesus in the world today. You don’t belong. You won’t fit. You will feel out of place. And that, dear child of God, is exactly how you should feel!
Max Lucado added his own wisdom to this line of thinking. He wrote: “We don’t always feel welcome here on earth. We wonder if there is a place here for us. People can make us feel unwanted. Tragedy leaves us feeling like intruders. Strangers. Interlopers in a land not ours. We don’t always feel welcome here.
We shouldn’t. This isn’t our home. To feel unwelcome is no tragedy. Indeed it is healthy. We are not home here. This language we speak, it’s not ours. This body we wear, it isn’t us. And the world we live in, this isn’t home.” (p. 157, Grace for the Moment).
What Max Lucado is saying, and Jesus gave words to in the scripture for today, is that this world isn’t our real “home”. Heaven is where we belong. Heaven is our eternal home. It is where we “fit in”. It is where our heart and soul feel most comfortable and at ease. This world is nothing like Heaven. It is “foreign land”. In the scripture for today, Jesus prayed to God the Father that because He “gave the disciples the Holy Word”…. It only made them “hated” by the world. It made them outsiders, who no longer “belong to the world” (John 17:14). Once you believe in Jesus and accept the truth of the gospel, the falsehood and fakeness and sinfulness of the world become increasingly obvious. The more you trust in Jesus, the more you will feel "off" with the lies of this world. Your soul will recognize the false dreams that the world gives. Your heart will long for the truth, for real love, for grace and forgiveness.
Hollywood, California is the home for many actors, actresses, studios, production houses, and more. It is a city known internationally as the nerve center for movies and television. The city is full of moviemakers seeking to make it big. Money flows toward new and novel ideas for entertainment. One shouldn’t be surprised in this “city of lights” that there is so much fake. I mean, the city is full of actresses and actors, right?
Recently, an actor spoke up about the fakeness of Hollywood. He noted that friends are often not really friends. It feels like everyone is out to make a buck. The city is full of people who are “used” and people who “use” others. He mentioned that women are seen as sex objects. Men are objectified. Illegal drugs are a means of entertainment. In the interview of the actor, he responded that in time, people use the drugs to escape their situation. They have surgeries to enhance their suitability for roles or relationships. They use sex and money as pawns in games of power. It’s a “dog eat dog” kind of world. The actor then mentioned that he misses “real people, real conversations, the truth, and honesty.”
There are many places in this world where false truths, lies, and cover-ups are the norm. Even where you live, you will find people who are fake, promises that are really lies, conversations that are one-sided, and people who are out for themselves. It’s not that I’m being overly negative or purposefully preachy. That’s what the world is like. That’s what a worldly person is like. Where worldliness exists, lies will be sold as the truth, people will be manipulated, life will be cheap, morals will change, values will be frowned upon, and sinful acts will run rampant. Violence will become commonplace. The truth will get muddied or lost. Spirituality will be downplayed. Faith will be seen as backwardness. AND the true believer will never feel comfortable in places of worldliness and among worldly people. You see, where Jesus and the gospel are lived out, the opposite will be found. A little bit of Heaven will appear. The truth will be celebrated. Grace and forgiveness will be given. Life will be precious. Values will be promoted. God’s kind of love will be supreme. Peace will endure.
A young woman named Carmen walked into the pastor’s office. She was new to the faith. She was raised in a home where the Bible was seen as backward. Science was promoted as perfection. Grace was a name, not a practice. Forgiveness had a cost. Carmen was having problems coping with the death of her best friend. At the request of her husband, Carmen visited with the pastor and asked for help.
After a few counseling sessions, Carmen and the pastor prayed as usual to end their time together. However, on that night, something changed. The prayer time did not seem “usual” to Carmen. For the first time in her life, Carmen felt the love of Jesus coming to her. She began to truly feel the peace of God descending over her. Surprised, she turned to the pastor after their prayer together and said, “Why do I feel better tonight after praying?” The pastor responded, “Maybe because you now see a little of Heaven on this earth?” He was right. Grace and forgiveness and faith and love were no longer just words. Carmen was beginning to accept Jesus into her heart, believe the gospel, and understand her place in the faith. As she left the pastor’s office, the world looked very different than it did just an hour before.
Something changes in you when God’s Spirit enters your soul. You begin to connect with Heaven. Then again, the world becomes a foreign place. As Jesus said in our scripture for today, you will no longer feel like you belong in the world. You will long for Heaven. Your heart will be set on a discovery of faith. Right and wrong will change. The truth will become apparent. So will the lies. Then, you will no longer feel at home in the world.
Have you committed yourself fully to Jesus? If so, don’t be surprised when you just don’t “fit in” with this world. Your home is in Heaven. Your heart is with Jesus. Your mind will no longer be at ease with sinfulness. Love will mean a whole lot more.
Like this depressed woman feeling absolutely alone in a room filled with happy people, Christians will at times feel like they are utterly alone in a world full of people. They will feel like they don’t belong. They will be shocked by news reports. While watching a TV show, they will cringe at some of the crude statements made by the actors or the denigrating premise of the program. Seeing a picture in the newspaper of a child who has been molested will make their stomach acid flow. Reading an article about a serial rapist will make them slightly nauseous as the details are given. You may find yourself recoiling while reading social media, twisting up your face at the brazen sickness of the acts making news, or angry at the sinful events that are promoted as inclusive, insightful, or newsworthy. Let’s be honest; worldliness disgusts you. You find sinful actions disgusting. Your heart drops when you hear stories of injustices, abuse, neglect, or greed. That’s what its like for a true disciple of Jesus in the world today. You don’t belong. You won’t fit. You will feel out of place. And that, dear child of God, is exactly how you should feel!
Max Lucado added his own wisdom to this line of thinking. He wrote: “We don’t always feel welcome here on earth. We wonder if there is a place here for us. People can make us feel unwanted. Tragedy leaves us feeling like intruders. Strangers. Interlopers in a land not ours. We don’t always feel welcome here.
We shouldn’t. This isn’t our home. To feel unwelcome is no tragedy. Indeed it is healthy. We are not home here. This language we speak, it’s not ours. This body we wear, it isn’t us. And the world we live in, this isn’t home.” (p. 157, Grace for the Moment).
What Max Lucado is saying, and Jesus gave words to in the scripture for today, is that this world isn’t our real “home”. Heaven is where we belong. Heaven is our eternal home. It is where we “fit in”. It is where our heart and soul feel most comfortable and at ease. This world is nothing like Heaven. It is “foreign land”. In the scripture for today, Jesus prayed to God the Father that because He “gave the disciples the Holy Word”…. It only made them “hated” by the world. It made them outsiders, who no longer “belong to the world” (John 17:14). Once you believe in Jesus and accept the truth of the gospel, the falsehood and fakeness and sinfulness of the world become increasingly obvious. The more you trust in Jesus, the more you will feel "off" with the lies of this world. Your soul will recognize the false dreams that the world gives. Your heart will long for the truth, for real love, for grace and forgiveness.
Hollywood, California is the home for many actors, actresses, studios, production houses, and more. It is a city known internationally as the nerve center for movies and television. The city is full of moviemakers seeking to make it big. Money flows toward new and novel ideas for entertainment. One shouldn’t be surprised in this “city of lights” that there is so much fake. I mean, the city is full of actresses and actors, right?
Recently, an actor spoke up about the fakeness of Hollywood. He noted that friends are often not really friends. It feels like everyone is out to make a buck. The city is full of people who are “used” and people who “use” others. He mentioned that women are seen as sex objects. Men are objectified. Illegal drugs are a means of entertainment. In the interview of the actor, he responded that in time, people use the drugs to escape their situation. They have surgeries to enhance their suitability for roles or relationships. They use sex and money as pawns in games of power. It’s a “dog eat dog” kind of world. The actor then mentioned that he misses “real people, real conversations, the truth, and honesty.”
There are many places in this world where false truths, lies, and cover-ups are the norm. Even where you live, you will find people who are fake, promises that are really lies, conversations that are one-sided, and people who are out for themselves. It’s not that I’m being overly negative or purposefully preachy. That’s what the world is like. That’s what a worldly person is like. Where worldliness exists, lies will be sold as the truth, people will be manipulated, life will be cheap, morals will change, values will be frowned upon, and sinful acts will run rampant. Violence will become commonplace. The truth will get muddied or lost. Spirituality will be downplayed. Faith will be seen as backwardness. AND the true believer will never feel comfortable in places of worldliness and among worldly people. You see, where Jesus and the gospel are lived out, the opposite will be found. A little bit of Heaven will appear. The truth will be celebrated. Grace and forgiveness will be given. Life will be precious. Values will be promoted. God’s kind of love will be supreme. Peace will endure.
A young woman named Carmen walked into the pastor’s office. She was new to the faith. She was raised in a home where the Bible was seen as backward. Science was promoted as perfection. Grace was a name, not a practice. Forgiveness had a cost. Carmen was having problems coping with the death of her best friend. At the request of her husband, Carmen visited with the pastor and asked for help.
After a few counseling sessions, Carmen and the pastor prayed as usual to end their time together. However, on that night, something changed. The prayer time did not seem “usual” to Carmen. For the first time in her life, Carmen felt the love of Jesus coming to her. She began to truly feel the peace of God descending over her. Surprised, she turned to the pastor after their prayer together and said, “Why do I feel better tonight after praying?” The pastor responded, “Maybe because you now see a little of Heaven on this earth?” He was right. Grace and forgiveness and faith and love were no longer just words. Carmen was beginning to accept Jesus into her heart, believe the gospel, and understand her place in the faith. As she left the pastor’s office, the world looked very different than it did just an hour before.
Something changes in you when God’s Spirit enters your soul. You begin to connect with Heaven. Then again, the world becomes a foreign place. As Jesus said in our scripture for today, you will no longer feel like you belong in the world. You will long for Heaven. Your heart will be set on a discovery of faith. Right and wrong will change. The truth will become apparent. So will the lies. Then, you will no longer feel at home in the world.
Have you committed yourself fully to Jesus? If so, don’t be surprised when you just don’t “fit in” with this world. Your home is in Heaven. Your heart is with Jesus. Your mind will no longer be at ease with sinfulness. Love will mean a whole lot more.
August 22
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison...” (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV)
Every single person who has ever lived has dealt with momentary afflictions. These little “thorns in the flesh” or recurring annoyances might get under your skin. They may eat away at your calm. They are a part of life, yet we loathe their intrusion whenever they appear. However, some of these annoyances or momentary afflictions can teach valuable lessons. They have the ability to not only expose our weaknesses but can make us strong. In the same way that a cold or the flu can bolster the immune system, momentary afflictions may strengthen one’s resolve or engender patience. They can also be great spiritual tools that God uses to build something in your character or to affect your attitude.
The prophet Job went through various afflictions. At first, Job responded to his afflictions with sadness. Then, he went through bouts of disdain and anger and depression and hopelessness. In the end, Job came through a more faithful man. He appreciated the value of life more than ever. He was more forgiving and gracious. His faith was much deeper. His patience grew much stronger.
The scripture for today, included above, teaches about life’s annoyances. Written by Paul, the scripture teaches that “light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison…” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Little annoyances, bothersome snags, and prickly situations all keep you from smooth sailing through your life. They introduce disruptions and challenges to your every day. Your response to these annoyances and light momentary afflictions will expose your demeanor, level of patience, and ability to handle adversity. They will also display your level of patience, love, and trust in God’s ways.
How well do you handle momentary afflictions and annoyances that come your way?
“There once was an oyster whose story I tell,
Who found that sand had got under his shell;
Just one little grain, but it gave him much pain,
For oysters have feelings although they’re so plain.
Now, did he berate the working of Fate
Which had led him to such a deplorable state?
Did he curse out the Government, call for an election?
No; as he lay on the shelf, he said to himself, “If I cannot remove it, I’ll try to improve it.”
So the years rolled by as the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate destiny—stew.
And this small grain of sand which had bothered him so,
Was a beautiful pearl, all richly aglow.
Now this tale has a moral—for isn’t it grand
What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand;
What couldn’t we do if we’d only begin
With all of the things that get under our skin.”
(from 6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths).
This parable of the oyster exposes a valuable lesson. The parable begs the question, “What do you do with things that get “under your shell”? How do you respond to unwanted intrusions to your day? What happens when things don’t go your way?
Life is full of little annoyances. Like Job, some people initially respond with anger, resentment, bitterness, sadness, depression, and irritation. What if those little annoyances are in your life for a purpose? What if God put them there? Those annoyances might be like the sand in an oyster bed. Those bothersome little pinpricks to your day might be exactly what you need to change your attitude or learn a new lesson. You just need to find the “pearls of wisdom” or "kernels of truth" among the bothersome! Only then will God’s purpose for this moment be discovered!
The prophet Job went through various afflictions. At first, Job responded to his afflictions with sadness. Then, he went through bouts of disdain and anger and depression and hopelessness. In the end, Job came through a more faithful man. He appreciated the value of life more than ever. He was more forgiving and gracious. His faith was much deeper. His patience grew much stronger.
The scripture for today, included above, teaches about life’s annoyances. Written by Paul, the scripture teaches that “light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison…” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Little annoyances, bothersome snags, and prickly situations all keep you from smooth sailing through your life. They introduce disruptions and challenges to your every day. Your response to these annoyances and light momentary afflictions will expose your demeanor, level of patience, and ability to handle adversity. They will also display your level of patience, love, and trust in God’s ways.
How well do you handle momentary afflictions and annoyances that come your way?
“There once was an oyster whose story I tell,
Who found that sand had got under his shell;
Just one little grain, but it gave him much pain,
For oysters have feelings although they’re so plain.
Now, did he berate the working of Fate
Which had led him to such a deplorable state?
Did he curse out the Government, call for an election?
No; as he lay on the shelf, he said to himself, “If I cannot remove it, I’ll try to improve it.”
So the years rolled by as the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate destiny—stew.
And this small grain of sand which had bothered him so,
Was a beautiful pearl, all richly aglow.
Now this tale has a moral—for isn’t it grand
What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand;
What couldn’t we do if we’d only begin
With all of the things that get under our skin.”
(from 6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths).
This parable of the oyster exposes a valuable lesson. The parable begs the question, “What do you do with things that get “under your shell”? How do you respond to unwanted intrusions to your day? What happens when things don’t go your way?
Life is full of little annoyances. Like Job, some people initially respond with anger, resentment, bitterness, sadness, depression, and irritation. What if those little annoyances are in your life for a purpose? What if God put them there? Those annoyances might be like the sand in an oyster bed. Those bothersome little pinpricks to your day might be exactly what you need to change your attitude or learn a new lesson. You just need to find the “pearls of wisdom” or "kernels of truth" among the bothersome! Only then will God’s purpose for this moment be discovered!
August 24
“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–2, ESV)
The scripture above is a constant reminder from scripture that we have no control over the passage of time. We cannot stop time, nor can we know what time will bring. Sometimes, with the passing of “times and the seasons”, we are given glimpses of what is to come. In the same way that you know when to plant and harvest with the passing of the seasons, you may get glimpses of what is to come your way. Then again, the scripture makes painfully clear that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”( 1 Thessalonians 5:2). Prophets and priests and people may be given hints of the end times, but they will never be sure until the end arrives. Because of this, it is crucial that you use the best of your time on earth. You never know when things will change, accidents will happen, or it will be too late to accomplish something important.
Even the best of God’s children cannot know some things about the passing of time. In the story below from Billy Graham, you can see that even the great preacher missed his moment. Even Billy Graham didn’t know that time would pass him by, and he would regret a lost opportunity….
“On the way back to the Kennedy house (in 1961), the president-elect stopped the car and turned to me [to Billy Graham]. ‘Do you believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?’ he asked.
“ ‘I most certainly do.’
“ ‘Well, does my church believe it?’
“ ‘They have it in their creeds.’
“ ‘They don’t preach it,’ he said. ‘They don’t tell us much about it. I’d like to know what you think.’
“I explained what the Bible said about Christ coming the first time, dying on the Cross, rising from the dead, and then promising that he would come back again. ‘Only then,’ I said, ‘are we going to have permanent world peace.’
“ ‘Very interesting,’ he said, looking away. ‘We’ll have to talk more about that someday.’ And he drove on.”
Several years later, the two met again, at the 1963 National Prayer Breakfast.
“I had the flu,” Graham remembers. “After I gave my short talk, and he gave his, we walked out of the hotel to his car together, as was always our custom. At the curb, he turned to me.
“ ‘Billy, could you ride back to the White House with me? I’d like to see you for a minute.’
“ ‘Mr. President, I’ve got a fever,’ I protested. ‘Not only am I weak, but I don’t want to give you this thing. Couldn’t we wait and talk some other time?’
“It was a cold, snowy day, and I was freezing as I stood there without my overcoat.
“ ‘Of course,’ he said graciously.”
But the two would never meet again. Later that year, Kennedy was shot dead. Graham comments, “His hesitation at the car door, and his request, haunt me still. What was on his mind? Should I have gone with him? It was an irrecoverable moment.”
(from the section on Evangelists in 6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths).
When the two parted, I’m sure that Billy Graham thought he would have another chance to talk to John F. Kennedy about the church, the Bible, sin, and end times. Because of an assassin’s bullets, that conversation never occurred. Their next planned meeting was stolen as if by a “thief in the night”.
You may have plans for the future. You may have a conversation needing to happen. Someone you know may need to hear your voice say, “I’m sorry”. God may need you to stop for a few moments to pray or visit a person in need. Out of all the opportunities you are given in your life, some carry more importance. Some of those faithful conversations, loving moments, times of forgiveness, or gifts of grace will need your attention in the very near future. Will you be able to separate out which of those moments are “more holy”, “more special”, “most needed by God"? I hope so.
One word, one hug, one more conversation inspired by the Holy Spirit can change everything. Pick your work for the day carefully. Don’t hold back when God needs you to say something, be somewhere, see someone. It may be the perfect moment. Don’t let those special, holy moments pass you by without notice… disappearing like a “thief in the night”.
Even the best of God’s children cannot know some things about the passing of time. In the story below from Billy Graham, you can see that even the great preacher missed his moment. Even Billy Graham didn’t know that time would pass him by, and he would regret a lost opportunity….
“On the way back to the Kennedy house (in 1961), the president-elect stopped the car and turned to me [to Billy Graham]. ‘Do you believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?’ he asked.
“ ‘I most certainly do.’
“ ‘Well, does my church believe it?’
“ ‘They have it in their creeds.’
“ ‘They don’t preach it,’ he said. ‘They don’t tell us much about it. I’d like to know what you think.’
“I explained what the Bible said about Christ coming the first time, dying on the Cross, rising from the dead, and then promising that he would come back again. ‘Only then,’ I said, ‘are we going to have permanent world peace.’
“ ‘Very interesting,’ he said, looking away. ‘We’ll have to talk more about that someday.’ And he drove on.”
Several years later, the two met again, at the 1963 National Prayer Breakfast.
“I had the flu,” Graham remembers. “After I gave my short talk, and he gave his, we walked out of the hotel to his car together, as was always our custom. At the curb, he turned to me.
“ ‘Billy, could you ride back to the White House with me? I’d like to see you for a minute.’
“ ‘Mr. President, I’ve got a fever,’ I protested. ‘Not only am I weak, but I don’t want to give you this thing. Couldn’t we wait and talk some other time?’
“It was a cold, snowy day, and I was freezing as I stood there without my overcoat.
“ ‘Of course,’ he said graciously.”
But the two would never meet again. Later that year, Kennedy was shot dead. Graham comments, “His hesitation at the car door, and his request, haunt me still. What was on his mind? Should I have gone with him? It was an irrecoverable moment.”
(from the section on Evangelists in 6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths).
When the two parted, I’m sure that Billy Graham thought he would have another chance to talk to John F. Kennedy about the church, the Bible, sin, and end times. Because of an assassin’s bullets, that conversation never occurred. Their next planned meeting was stolen as if by a “thief in the night”.
You may have plans for the future. You may have a conversation needing to happen. Someone you know may need to hear your voice say, “I’m sorry”. God may need you to stop for a few moments to pray or visit a person in need. Out of all the opportunities you are given in your life, some carry more importance. Some of those faithful conversations, loving moments, times of forgiveness, or gifts of grace will need your attention in the very near future. Will you be able to separate out which of those moments are “more holy”, “more special”, “most needed by God"? I hope so.
One word, one hug, one more conversation inspired by the Holy Spirit can change everything. Pick your work for the day carefully. Don’t hold back when God needs you to say something, be somewhere, see someone. It may be the perfect moment. Don’t let those special, holy moments pass you by without notice… disappearing like a “thief in the night”.
August 27
“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”” (Genesis 22:13–14, NKJV)
There is an old expression that has gone mostly out-of-date. It is an old-fashioned saying about a person’s name. In past centuries, people would say about someone, “He’s true to his name”. For example, the name Laura is derived from the laurel wreath. In ancient times and in Greek mythology, the laurel wreath was put on the head of a winner. If a girl named Laura won a class spelling bee, you’d say she was “true to her name”. Her name implies a laurel wreath given to winners!
God has many names in the Bible. He is a Savior. He is called Lord or Master or Jehovah (another word for Lord!). He is called Redeemer. 1 John tells us God is Love! There are dozens of names for God in the Bible. All reflect God’s character in some way. In our scripture for today, we are given another name for God. It is rarely used in the Bible but perfectly natural to describe God. In the scripture above from Genesis 22, when Abraham saw the ram “caught in a thicket” that God provided for his sacrifice, Abraham took it as a sign from God. Abraham was not supposed to sacrifice his son to God. God had already provided the ram for the offering. Abraham was so amazed that God had caused the ram to be caught in the thicket at the perfect place and time that Abraham named that place “Jehovah Jireh” in Hebrew, or “The Lord Will Provide” in English (Genesis 22:14)! Certainly, Abraham’s name for that place was “true to its name”!
When God provides for a believer, He’s being true to His name. I mean, God is “Jehovah Jireh”, the Lord who provides!
In the book, Strength for Today, John MacArthur commented on the name “Jehovah Jireh”, “the Lord will provide”. He wrote:
“We would never question that God is love and great and mighty and holy and just and good. But some question whether God provides. They doubt and are afraid that God isn’t going to meet their needs. That is exactly what the Lord speaks to in Matthew 6:25–34 when He says, in summary, “Don’t worry about what to eat, drink, or wear.” The Lord is still Jehovah–Jireh. That is His name, and it is synonymous with one of His attributes.
God is a God who provides, and that is why David said, “I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread” (Ps. 37:25). The world digs and scratches and claws to make sure it has enough. Unlike the world, your Father knows your needs, and He will always give you what you need.
You don’t have to own everything, and you don’t have to control everything to meet your needs. You can receive what God gives you to invest in His eternal kingdom and put away all anxiety about your needs. Worship God with your life, and rest assured in His promise to provide for you.”
God is a provider. God will not always give you what you want, but God will give you what you need. One aspect of being a true follower of Christ is that you have a good assessment of what you need. Being faithful to Jesus means setting aside what you WANT to pray for what you NEED!
A woman from my church stopped in my office to chat. I thought she just wanted to speak about an upcoming event. She was there for another purpose. She informed me that a husband and wife in the community had separated. The husband left town with his new girlfriend. His wife and two girls were left desolate. They barely had food to eat. The wife was working two jobs to pay for their bills. The wife and the two girls attended our church regularly.
Leaving my office that day, I stopped over at the home of the wife and two girls and was greeted warmly. You could not tell they were hurting. The house was spotlessly clean. Smells of baking cookies filled the air. The atmosphere exuded love. The girls were all smiles. Still, I could sense grief in their eyes and words.
As we talked about their situation, I asked if they had enough to get by. I figured they needed food. The wife looked at me, then her girls, then me again. She said to me, “Honestly, Pastor, we are doing OK, except for one thing.” Here, I thought she was going to bring up the fact that their refrigerator was practically empty. Instead, she offered the following words, “We sure could use some hugs, some prayers, and if someone could please fix our plumbing, it sure would help!” Come to find out, their toilet kept overflowing and the shower would flood the bathroom at inopportune times. The flooding made a mess! I called a plumber in the church to fix everything. Then, two women from the church stopped over to drop off a few groceries. A few of her closest friends and I checked in on them periodically. We all showered them with hugs!
When I left that church to move on to where the Lord was next sending me, that mother expressed with tears in her eyes, “I thank God you came to our church. I’m so glad you helped us! God provided so much for us when we needed it. Thank you! Thank God!”
It was one of those Jehovah-Jireh moments. God provided exactly what was needed again!
Since our God is a God who provides, what is it that you need right now? Why don’t you take a few moments to talk it over with your Lord?
God has many names in the Bible. He is a Savior. He is called Lord or Master or Jehovah (another word for Lord!). He is called Redeemer. 1 John tells us God is Love! There are dozens of names for God in the Bible. All reflect God’s character in some way. In our scripture for today, we are given another name for God. It is rarely used in the Bible but perfectly natural to describe God. In the scripture above from Genesis 22, when Abraham saw the ram “caught in a thicket” that God provided for his sacrifice, Abraham took it as a sign from God. Abraham was not supposed to sacrifice his son to God. God had already provided the ram for the offering. Abraham was so amazed that God had caused the ram to be caught in the thicket at the perfect place and time that Abraham named that place “Jehovah Jireh” in Hebrew, or “The Lord Will Provide” in English (Genesis 22:14)! Certainly, Abraham’s name for that place was “true to its name”!
When God provides for a believer, He’s being true to His name. I mean, God is “Jehovah Jireh”, the Lord who provides!
In the book, Strength for Today, John MacArthur commented on the name “Jehovah Jireh”, “the Lord will provide”. He wrote:
“We would never question that God is love and great and mighty and holy and just and good. But some question whether God provides. They doubt and are afraid that God isn’t going to meet their needs. That is exactly what the Lord speaks to in Matthew 6:25–34 when He says, in summary, “Don’t worry about what to eat, drink, or wear.” The Lord is still Jehovah–Jireh. That is His name, and it is synonymous with one of His attributes.
God is a God who provides, and that is why David said, “I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread” (Ps. 37:25). The world digs and scratches and claws to make sure it has enough. Unlike the world, your Father knows your needs, and He will always give you what you need.
You don’t have to own everything, and you don’t have to control everything to meet your needs. You can receive what God gives you to invest in His eternal kingdom and put away all anxiety about your needs. Worship God with your life, and rest assured in His promise to provide for you.”
God is a provider. God will not always give you what you want, but God will give you what you need. One aspect of being a true follower of Christ is that you have a good assessment of what you need. Being faithful to Jesus means setting aside what you WANT to pray for what you NEED!
A woman from my church stopped in my office to chat. I thought she just wanted to speak about an upcoming event. She was there for another purpose. She informed me that a husband and wife in the community had separated. The husband left town with his new girlfriend. His wife and two girls were left desolate. They barely had food to eat. The wife was working two jobs to pay for their bills. The wife and the two girls attended our church regularly.
Leaving my office that day, I stopped over at the home of the wife and two girls and was greeted warmly. You could not tell they were hurting. The house was spotlessly clean. Smells of baking cookies filled the air. The atmosphere exuded love. The girls were all smiles. Still, I could sense grief in their eyes and words.
As we talked about their situation, I asked if they had enough to get by. I figured they needed food. The wife looked at me, then her girls, then me again. She said to me, “Honestly, Pastor, we are doing OK, except for one thing.” Here, I thought she was going to bring up the fact that their refrigerator was practically empty. Instead, she offered the following words, “We sure could use some hugs, some prayers, and if someone could please fix our plumbing, it sure would help!” Come to find out, their toilet kept overflowing and the shower would flood the bathroom at inopportune times. The flooding made a mess! I called a plumber in the church to fix everything. Then, two women from the church stopped over to drop off a few groceries. A few of her closest friends and I checked in on them periodically. We all showered them with hugs!
When I left that church to move on to where the Lord was next sending me, that mother expressed with tears in her eyes, “I thank God you came to our church. I’m so glad you helped us! God provided so much for us when we needed it. Thank you! Thank God!”
It was one of those Jehovah-Jireh moments. God provided exactly what was needed again!
Since our God is a God who provides, what is it that you need right now? Why don’t you take a few moments to talk it over with your Lord?
August 30
“You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.” (Exodus 23:2, NLT)
When I was in elementary school, my fourth-grade teacher remarked about how the court system worked. In speaking about how governments function, she taught us that the court system makes sure people follow the law. It makes sure that people are fair to one another. It upholds justice in the land. For years after this, I was under the assumption that she told the truth. Since then, I believe what she taught was a romanticized view of the truth. It wasn’t the truth. I have come to see that court systems are not always fair, justice is not always metered out in law, and courts can be “bought” in many ways.
Recently, there have been well-documented cases where justice has been perverted. Several high profile articles have documented how innocent men went to jail for murder when the police couldn’t find a suitable killer. The courts believed the police over the evidence and the innocent men went to jail. Years later, DNA tests proved the men innocent and the police were wrong. In California, people who were arrested for violent crimes have been released from custody through court bias. In New York, a violent offender was let out on bond even after committing murder. He committed another murder before he was re-arrested. In several recent court cases of note, wealthy people with a team of expensive lawyers won their cases by buying off witnesses, finding technicalities, and manipulating the court system to their benefit. In the past two years, videos and affidavits and evidence proves that the son of President Joe Biden engaged in illegal activity for which he has never been arrested. This week it was even reported that the FBI demanded that Facebook not report on this illegal activity. Also, today’s news has a report that the Department of Justice engaged in actions over the past three years that were in direct contradiction to the Constitution of the United States in order to secure political points or favors from Democrats!!!!! Recently, an article about the wars in the Middle East mentioned that laws like the Patriot Act, promoted by both parties in America to keep terrorism from spreading, were being used by political groups to spy on one another and to subvert American freedoms.
God’s word, the Bible, is adamantly opposed to injustice. Scripture is clear that courts and judges and people who decide on the law must be free from corruption or face the wrath of God. The prophet Amos warned against those in Israel who took bribes so to enrich themselves (Amos 5:12). The prophet Micah spoke out against the “rulers of the house of Israel” who changed their rules through bribery. He also took issue with religious leaders who twisted God’s law for a price (Micah 3:11). All the prophets of the Old Testament spoke in one manner or another to God’s condemnation of those who perverted the law or misused their power or promoted injustice. All the prophets predicted that God’s wrath would go against those who perverted justice and manipulated the courts.
It is clear from scripture that God will personally stand against those who act unjustly. However, what is also clear from scripture is that worldly and sinful people will constantly manipulate justice and even pervert the concept of righteousness for their own benefit. This week, I read a modern parable which spoke to this very thing…..
“Once upon a time, in a far away country, there lived a little girl called Red Riding Hood. One day her mother asked her to take a basket of fruit to her grandmother, who had been ill and lived alone in a cottage in the forest.
It happened that a wolf was lurking in the bushes and overheard the conversation. He decided to take a short-cut to the grandmother’s house and get the goodies for himself. The wolf killed the grandmother, then dressed in her nightgown and jumped into bed to await the little girl.
When she arrived, he made several nasty suggestions and then tried to grab her. But by this time, the child was very frightened and ran screaming from the cottage.
A woodcutter, working nearby, heard her cries and rushed to the rescue. He killed the wolf with his ax, thereby saving Red Riding Hood’s life. All the townspeople hurried to the scene and proclaimed the woodcutter a hero.
But at the inquest, several facts emerged:
• The wolf had never been advised of his rights.
• The woodcutter had made no warning swings before striking the fatal blow.
• The Civil Liberties Union stressed the point that, although the act of eating Grandma may have been in bad taste, the wolf was only “doing his thing” and thus didn’t deserve the death penalty.
• The SDS contended that the killing of the grandmother should be considered self-defense since she was over 30 and, therefore, couldn’t be taken seriously because the wolf was trying to make love, not war.
On the basis of these considerations, it was decided there was no valid basis for charges against the wolf. Moreover, the woodcutter was indicted for unaggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Several nights later, the woodcutter’s cottage was burned to the ground.
One year from the date of “The Incident at Grandma’s,” her cottage was made a shrine for the wolf who had bled and died there. All the village officials spoke at the dedication, but it was Red Riding Hood who gave the most touching tribute.
She said that, while she had been selfishly grateful for the woodcutter’s intervention, she realized in retrospect that he had over-reacted. As she knelt and placed a wreath in honor of the brave wolf, there wasn’t a dry eye in the whole forest.”
(Found in the section on Evil, 6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths)
The scripture for today comes from Exodus 23:2. This scripture is located in the part of the Bible known as the Torah, or books of the law. This verse contains God’s view that people should not “follow the crowd” when it goes against the word of God. In clear contradiction to those who would manipulate justice to get their own way, the scripture ends by saying that all people “should not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice” (Exodus 23:2b). People who testify in court should speak God’s truth. For years, people made an oath on a Bible when testifying in court. Sadly, this has gone out of favor. Even worse, more and more people do not think it wrong to pervert justice, lie about the truth, manipulate those involved, and play loosely with the facts.
One thing I know is that in one way or another, God always gets HIS justice. Those who pervert righteousness will pay for their misdeeds. Those who spread lies in order to manipulate the court system or sway public opinion will suffer God’s wrath. Those who believe the lies told to them will find themselves suffering one way or another. You can’t go against what is right by God or you go against God directly.
As a child of God, you need to make sure that you are living a life that is holy and righteous and faithful before God. Manipulating courts, the truth, or public opinion in order to secure your own advantages is a great way to incur the wrath of Almighty God. You don’t want to go there! Even if the world is not righteous or holy or just, you need to be. Even if the world speaks lies, you need to hold fast to the truth. Even if others lie, cheat, and steal, you are called to be righteous before the Lord. In the end, it is God who determines whether you were truthful and honest or swayed others by deception and the manipulation of justice.
Recently, there have been well-documented cases where justice has been perverted. Several high profile articles have documented how innocent men went to jail for murder when the police couldn’t find a suitable killer. The courts believed the police over the evidence and the innocent men went to jail. Years later, DNA tests proved the men innocent and the police were wrong. In California, people who were arrested for violent crimes have been released from custody through court bias. In New York, a violent offender was let out on bond even after committing murder. He committed another murder before he was re-arrested. In several recent court cases of note, wealthy people with a team of expensive lawyers won their cases by buying off witnesses, finding technicalities, and manipulating the court system to their benefit. In the past two years, videos and affidavits and evidence proves that the son of President Joe Biden engaged in illegal activity for which he has never been arrested. This week it was even reported that the FBI demanded that Facebook not report on this illegal activity. Also, today’s news has a report that the Department of Justice engaged in actions over the past three years that were in direct contradiction to the Constitution of the United States in order to secure political points or favors from Democrats!!!!! Recently, an article about the wars in the Middle East mentioned that laws like the Patriot Act, promoted by both parties in America to keep terrorism from spreading, were being used by political groups to spy on one another and to subvert American freedoms.
God’s word, the Bible, is adamantly opposed to injustice. Scripture is clear that courts and judges and people who decide on the law must be free from corruption or face the wrath of God. The prophet Amos warned against those in Israel who took bribes so to enrich themselves (Amos 5:12). The prophet Micah spoke out against the “rulers of the house of Israel” who changed their rules through bribery. He also took issue with religious leaders who twisted God’s law for a price (Micah 3:11). All the prophets of the Old Testament spoke in one manner or another to God’s condemnation of those who perverted the law or misused their power or promoted injustice. All the prophets predicted that God’s wrath would go against those who perverted justice and manipulated the courts.
It is clear from scripture that God will personally stand against those who act unjustly. However, what is also clear from scripture is that worldly and sinful people will constantly manipulate justice and even pervert the concept of righteousness for their own benefit. This week, I read a modern parable which spoke to this very thing…..
“Once upon a time, in a far away country, there lived a little girl called Red Riding Hood. One day her mother asked her to take a basket of fruit to her grandmother, who had been ill and lived alone in a cottage in the forest.
It happened that a wolf was lurking in the bushes and overheard the conversation. He decided to take a short-cut to the grandmother’s house and get the goodies for himself. The wolf killed the grandmother, then dressed in her nightgown and jumped into bed to await the little girl.
When she arrived, he made several nasty suggestions and then tried to grab her. But by this time, the child was very frightened and ran screaming from the cottage.
A woodcutter, working nearby, heard her cries and rushed to the rescue. He killed the wolf with his ax, thereby saving Red Riding Hood’s life. All the townspeople hurried to the scene and proclaimed the woodcutter a hero.
But at the inquest, several facts emerged:
• The wolf had never been advised of his rights.
• The woodcutter had made no warning swings before striking the fatal blow.
• The Civil Liberties Union stressed the point that, although the act of eating Grandma may have been in bad taste, the wolf was only “doing his thing” and thus didn’t deserve the death penalty.
• The SDS contended that the killing of the grandmother should be considered self-defense since she was over 30 and, therefore, couldn’t be taken seriously because the wolf was trying to make love, not war.
On the basis of these considerations, it was decided there was no valid basis for charges against the wolf. Moreover, the woodcutter was indicted for unaggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Several nights later, the woodcutter’s cottage was burned to the ground.
One year from the date of “The Incident at Grandma’s,” her cottage was made a shrine for the wolf who had bled and died there. All the village officials spoke at the dedication, but it was Red Riding Hood who gave the most touching tribute.
She said that, while she had been selfishly grateful for the woodcutter’s intervention, she realized in retrospect that he had over-reacted. As she knelt and placed a wreath in honor of the brave wolf, there wasn’t a dry eye in the whole forest.”
(Found in the section on Evil, 6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths)
The scripture for today comes from Exodus 23:2. This scripture is located in the part of the Bible known as the Torah, or books of the law. This verse contains God’s view that people should not “follow the crowd” when it goes against the word of God. In clear contradiction to those who would manipulate justice to get their own way, the scripture ends by saying that all people “should not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice” (Exodus 23:2b). People who testify in court should speak God’s truth. For years, people made an oath on a Bible when testifying in court. Sadly, this has gone out of favor. Even worse, more and more people do not think it wrong to pervert justice, lie about the truth, manipulate those involved, and play loosely with the facts.
One thing I know is that in one way or another, God always gets HIS justice. Those who pervert righteousness will pay for their misdeeds. Those who spread lies in order to manipulate the court system or sway public opinion will suffer God’s wrath. Those who believe the lies told to them will find themselves suffering one way or another. You can’t go against what is right by God or you go against God directly.
As a child of God, you need to make sure that you are living a life that is holy and righteous and faithful before God. Manipulating courts, the truth, or public opinion in order to secure your own advantages is a great way to incur the wrath of Almighty God. You don’t want to go there! Even if the world is not righteous or holy or just, you need to be. Even if the world speaks lies, you need to hold fast to the truth. Even if others lie, cheat, and steal, you are called to be righteous before the Lord. In the end, it is God who determines whether you were truthful and honest or swayed others by deception and the manipulation of justice.