December 1
“For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her. John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him…” (Mark 6:17–19, NLT)
"Police say a 30-year grudge boiled over when a former elementary school teacher littered the driveways of former co-workers and bosses with roofing nails and splattered paint on their garage doors. Thomas R. Haberbush, 72, pleaded guilty last Tuesday to one count each of stalking, criminal mischief and criminal tampering, all misdemeanors. Police said that three former school board members, a retired principal and a retired assistant principal at Caroline Street Elementary School were among the nine victims Haberbush targeted over the past two years. Their car tires were damaged by roofing nails that Haberbush threw in the driveways, police said. "It's very bizarre to carry around a grudge for nearly 30 years," said Saratoga Springs police investigator John Catone. "At least now there can be closure for all those people he terrorized." Police said Haberbush had been angered after receiving poor work reviews.” (Fox News, 4/11/05)
You might look at the story of Thomas Haberbush and think it is an unusual occurrence, an aberration, an irregularity in personal behavior. I am here to tell you today that holding a grudge, even for 30 years, is nothing new. It is not surprising nor a rarity. There are people in the pews and on your street, who hold grudges. Some hold them for decades. Some go to the grave with these resentments forever lodged in their heart. Today, I want you to examine yourself. Do you have the mindset that might produce a grudge under the right circumstances? Are you prone to harbor bitterness for far too long?
One result of a grudge is given in the scripture chosen for today from the gospel of Mark. It contains the story of the murder of John the Baptist. John angered Herodias by preaching that her marriage to Herod went against God’s law (Mark 6:18). Not only did Herodias resent John’s words sent by God, but she began to hold a grudge against John. Her grudge was so deep and full of malice that she “wanted to kill him” (Mark 6:19). In the end, she manipulated her husband and got her wish. She was directly responsible for the death of John the Baptist.
In preparing for today’s meditation, I looked up the original Greek word for “grudge” that is used in verse 19 of today’s scripture. It defines a grudge as “being resentful or bitter against someone”. It comes from the Greek root which means to “hold fast to something, not letting it go”. A grudge is not just resentment. It is resentment that lasts a long time and won’t go away. It is bitterness that grows and grows to envelop one’s mind and heart. Like a virus that takes over a body, a grudge will consume your thoughts and destroy your ability to remain objective. It will cause you to overreact. In some cases, it can result in “criminal mischief”. In the scripture for today it bloomed into murder.
Resentment and bitterness may ease over time. Grudges often increase the bitterness and resentment with time. Unless you want a grudge to consume you, you must learn to let your bitterness and resentment go to God. If you hold on to it too long, it is liable to grow and spread, causing a loss of objectivity with deep psychological and spiritual scarring and more.
Jesus asked God the Father to “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” (Luke 11:4). Immediately after these words, Jesus added, “And lead us not into temptation..”. I think there is a connection between these two verses. When you can’t forgive and it leads to resentment and grudges, you will be tempted to take your vengeance too far. You will be tempted to fixate on how to get even instead of seeking a righteous alternative. The ensuing grudge will build until it eats away at your soul and spirit and peace.
To follow Jesus, you need to forgive those who sin against you. You need to let your need for vengeance go to God before your blood boils into a full-blown grudge. Once a grudge is borne in your heart and soul, its effect will be to slowly but inevitably wreck your relationships with others and with God. In the end, it will often destroy a part of you.
You might think a grudge only affects the person who wronged you. However, a grudge will hurt you more than any other. In a Psychology Today article, Nancy Collier wrote that “we turn our grudge into an object and hold it out at arm’s length—proof of what we have suffered, a badge of honor, a way to remind others and ourselves of our pain and deserving-ness. But in fact, our grudge is disconnected from our own heart; while born out of our pain, it becomes a construction of the mind, a story of what happened to us. Our grudge morphs into a boulder that blocks the light of kindness from reaching our heart, and thus is an obstacle to true healing. Sadly, in its effort to garner us empathy, our grudge ends up depriving us of the very empathy that we need to release it.” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/201503/why-we-hold-grudges-and-how-let-them-go)
I’ve seen wonderful, beautiful, lifelong Christians who are saddled with grudges. They think they are faithful, despite the grudges. What they do not realize is that a begrudging heart begets a sinful attitude. Learn to keep grudges far from your heart and mind and soul. Seek God’s help to relieve your soul of such a burden. Trust that your spiritual life will be choked to death by the feeding and nurture of any grudge.
When a grudge is let go by a faithful person, peace and wholeness will return to take its place. If you want to be deeply burdened for a long time, hold a grudge. If you want self-destruction, take on bitterness and resentments galore. If you want a close relationship with God, the grudges have got to go. It is best to live without them…
You might look at the story of Thomas Haberbush and think it is an unusual occurrence, an aberration, an irregularity in personal behavior. I am here to tell you today that holding a grudge, even for 30 years, is nothing new. It is not surprising nor a rarity. There are people in the pews and on your street, who hold grudges. Some hold them for decades. Some go to the grave with these resentments forever lodged in their heart. Today, I want you to examine yourself. Do you have the mindset that might produce a grudge under the right circumstances? Are you prone to harbor bitterness for far too long?
One result of a grudge is given in the scripture chosen for today from the gospel of Mark. It contains the story of the murder of John the Baptist. John angered Herodias by preaching that her marriage to Herod went against God’s law (Mark 6:18). Not only did Herodias resent John’s words sent by God, but she began to hold a grudge against John. Her grudge was so deep and full of malice that she “wanted to kill him” (Mark 6:19). In the end, she manipulated her husband and got her wish. She was directly responsible for the death of John the Baptist.
In preparing for today’s meditation, I looked up the original Greek word for “grudge” that is used in verse 19 of today’s scripture. It defines a grudge as “being resentful or bitter against someone”. It comes from the Greek root which means to “hold fast to something, not letting it go”. A grudge is not just resentment. It is resentment that lasts a long time and won’t go away. It is bitterness that grows and grows to envelop one’s mind and heart. Like a virus that takes over a body, a grudge will consume your thoughts and destroy your ability to remain objective. It will cause you to overreact. In some cases, it can result in “criminal mischief”. In the scripture for today it bloomed into murder.
Resentment and bitterness may ease over time. Grudges often increase the bitterness and resentment with time. Unless you want a grudge to consume you, you must learn to let your bitterness and resentment go to God. If you hold on to it too long, it is liable to grow and spread, causing a loss of objectivity with deep psychological and spiritual scarring and more.
Jesus asked God the Father to “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” (Luke 11:4). Immediately after these words, Jesus added, “And lead us not into temptation..”. I think there is a connection between these two verses. When you can’t forgive and it leads to resentment and grudges, you will be tempted to take your vengeance too far. You will be tempted to fixate on how to get even instead of seeking a righteous alternative. The ensuing grudge will build until it eats away at your soul and spirit and peace.
To follow Jesus, you need to forgive those who sin against you. You need to let your need for vengeance go to God before your blood boils into a full-blown grudge. Once a grudge is borne in your heart and soul, its effect will be to slowly but inevitably wreck your relationships with others and with God. In the end, it will often destroy a part of you.
You might think a grudge only affects the person who wronged you. However, a grudge will hurt you more than any other. In a Psychology Today article, Nancy Collier wrote that “we turn our grudge into an object and hold it out at arm’s length—proof of what we have suffered, a badge of honor, a way to remind others and ourselves of our pain and deserving-ness. But in fact, our grudge is disconnected from our own heart; while born out of our pain, it becomes a construction of the mind, a story of what happened to us. Our grudge morphs into a boulder that blocks the light of kindness from reaching our heart, and thus is an obstacle to true healing. Sadly, in its effort to garner us empathy, our grudge ends up depriving us of the very empathy that we need to release it.” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/201503/why-we-hold-grudges-and-how-let-them-go)
I’ve seen wonderful, beautiful, lifelong Christians who are saddled with grudges. They think they are faithful, despite the grudges. What they do not realize is that a begrudging heart begets a sinful attitude. Learn to keep grudges far from your heart and mind and soul. Seek God’s help to relieve your soul of such a burden. Trust that your spiritual life will be choked to death by the feeding and nurture of any grudge.
When a grudge is let go by a faithful person, peace and wholeness will return to take its place. If you want to be deeply burdened for a long time, hold a grudge. If you want self-destruction, take on bitterness and resentments galore. If you want a close relationship with God, the grudges have got to go. It is best to live without them…
December 4
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16, NRSV)
Being a Christian in an unchristian world has its dangers and vulnerabilities. Your friends and family may think you are a religious nut. People may assume you are bigoted or hateful. Some may be convinced you are judgmental. Many will conclude that you are neither reasonable nor rational. That is how things were in New Testament times for early Christians. It is the same today in places where religious people are frowned upon by a group or society.
You may experience unchristian attitudes even among people in your church. Though baptized or members, they might be as worldly as atheists or as self-righteous as the Biblical Pharisees. Just because a person attends worship does not mean he or she is right with God. Though a church may have a sign proclaiming they are the “Church of Christ”, this doesn’t mean that they follow Jesus’ teachings. They may give lip service to the gospel. They may be more a social clique than a faithful people. In a church that is plagued by shallow or worldly Christians, the reactions can be severe for someone who wants to do the right thing or be passionate about the faith.
I remember the story of a woman who was praying during mass in a Roman Catholic Church. She made the mistake of raising her hands while she prayed as a show of respect for God. Immediately after worship, an usher chastised her saying, “We don’t do that kind of praying here.” When the world beats you up for being faithful, you might think twice about openly and honestly practicing your faith. When worldly christians treat you poorly despite doing what God wills, it might cause you to “hide God’s light in you under a bushel” for fear of offending others (Matthew 5:15). The same pressures to conform to worldly religion were present in New Testament times as much as today. Don’t do it! Don’t bow down to worldly religious practices! Live a genuine life of faith, committed to God no matter what others say.
“Have you ever heard of the spiritual disease which people in medieval times called accidie? It is something that threatens all Christian workers after the first flush of enthusiasm has worn off. It's a form of sloth but not at the physical level. It is apathy of the soul. It shows in a certain toughness of mind and wariness of spirit which often results from hurt and disillusionment.
People with accidie in this sense have grown cynical about ideals, enthusiasms, and strong hopes. They look pityingly at young people and say, "They'll learn," taking it for granted that when they've learned, they'll become tough inside too. Once upon a time these leather-souled people were keen, hopeful, and expectant. But nothing happened, or they got hurt, and now they protect themselves against pain by adopting cynical, world-weary attitudes.
If these people are ministers of churches, they work mechanically, merely going through the motions because their light has really gone out and they're no longer expecting anything exciting to happen. They feel that they know from experience that exciting things don't happen, and that's an end of it. So they merely plod on, expecting nothing and receiving nothing.
But the Lord does not send us out on his work in order that nothing may happen. His word is intended to have impact; it's sent out to accomplish something. We ought never to settle for a non-expectant, defeated attitude. Rather we should be asking and expecting great things from God.” (James Packer, Your Father Loves You, p. 10)
Jesus warned the disciples about people who would attack the faithful. To prevent some of the persecution or suffering, He urged His followers to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). By being upright and just and careful, He hoped the disciples would be able to avoid much suffering. Jesus knew, however, that every single one of us is liable to be attacked for our faithfulness. As He said in Matthew 10, “I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves…”. Being truly faithful is dangerous. It will cause you to stand up to injustice and stick out of the crowd. Even though faithful people will be attacked and ridiculed and silenced and mocked and martyred, Jesus still wanted the disciples to keep being passionate, to keep reaching out, to keep sharing the gospel, to remain a shining beacon of truth to all the world.
When worldly people inside and outside the church weigh you down, just realize that this is proof of your true faith. Jesus was not persecuted for false beliefs or worldly views. He was persecuted for His righteousness. Satan doesn’t go after those who are shallow of faith and worldly in attitude. He goes after the truly faithful. If you find yourself an outsider because of your true faith, join the ranks of the true Christian! We won’t give up and won’t give in to worldliness. We have dedicated ourselves to Jesus Christ, THE LORD, no matter the dangers.
You may experience unchristian attitudes even among people in your church. Though baptized or members, they might be as worldly as atheists or as self-righteous as the Biblical Pharisees. Just because a person attends worship does not mean he or she is right with God. Though a church may have a sign proclaiming they are the “Church of Christ”, this doesn’t mean that they follow Jesus’ teachings. They may give lip service to the gospel. They may be more a social clique than a faithful people. In a church that is plagued by shallow or worldly Christians, the reactions can be severe for someone who wants to do the right thing or be passionate about the faith.
I remember the story of a woman who was praying during mass in a Roman Catholic Church. She made the mistake of raising her hands while she prayed as a show of respect for God. Immediately after worship, an usher chastised her saying, “We don’t do that kind of praying here.” When the world beats you up for being faithful, you might think twice about openly and honestly practicing your faith. When worldly christians treat you poorly despite doing what God wills, it might cause you to “hide God’s light in you under a bushel” for fear of offending others (Matthew 5:15). The same pressures to conform to worldly religion were present in New Testament times as much as today. Don’t do it! Don’t bow down to worldly religious practices! Live a genuine life of faith, committed to God no matter what others say.
“Have you ever heard of the spiritual disease which people in medieval times called accidie? It is something that threatens all Christian workers after the first flush of enthusiasm has worn off. It's a form of sloth but not at the physical level. It is apathy of the soul. It shows in a certain toughness of mind and wariness of spirit which often results from hurt and disillusionment.
People with accidie in this sense have grown cynical about ideals, enthusiasms, and strong hopes. They look pityingly at young people and say, "They'll learn," taking it for granted that when they've learned, they'll become tough inside too. Once upon a time these leather-souled people were keen, hopeful, and expectant. But nothing happened, or they got hurt, and now they protect themselves against pain by adopting cynical, world-weary attitudes.
If these people are ministers of churches, they work mechanically, merely going through the motions because their light has really gone out and they're no longer expecting anything exciting to happen. They feel that they know from experience that exciting things don't happen, and that's an end of it. So they merely plod on, expecting nothing and receiving nothing.
But the Lord does not send us out on his work in order that nothing may happen. His word is intended to have impact; it's sent out to accomplish something. We ought never to settle for a non-expectant, defeated attitude. Rather we should be asking and expecting great things from God.” (James Packer, Your Father Loves You, p. 10)
Jesus warned the disciples about people who would attack the faithful. To prevent some of the persecution or suffering, He urged His followers to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). By being upright and just and careful, He hoped the disciples would be able to avoid much suffering. Jesus knew, however, that every single one of us is liable to be attacked for our faithfulness. As He said in Matthew 10, “I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves…”. Being truly faithful is dangerous. It will cause you to stand up to injustice and stick out of the crowd. Even though faithful people will be attacked and ridiculed and silenced and mocked and martyred, Jesus still wanted the disciples to keep being passionate, to keep reaching out, to keep sharing the gospel, to remain a shining beacon of truth to all the world.
When worldly people inside and outside the church weigh you down, just realize that this is proof of your true faith. Jesus was not persecuted for false beliefs or worldly views. He was persecuted for His righteousness. Satan doesn’t go after those who are shallow of faith and worldly in attitude. He goes after the truly faithful. If you find yourself an outsider because of your true faith, join the ranks of the true Christian! We won’t give up and won’t give in to worldliness. We have dedicated ourselves to Jesus Christ, THE LORD, no matter the dangers.
December 6
“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he [Jesus] took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” (Mark 10:15–16, ESV)
In the scripture for today, Jesus blessed some children who were gathered close to Him. He offered up “good words”, while laying His hands upon them in a ritual form of blessing. As I studied this verse, I noticed something interesting about the word “blessed”. In the Greek, this word means to offer up “good words” to another. The root word for the word “blessed” used here in this verse is eulogy. Usually, when people think of a eulogy, they are reminded of the part in a funeral where a person’s life is recounted. This part of the funeral is meant to extol the “good” in a person’s life. However, good words or affirmations should not only be offered after a person dies. Affirmations are meant to be a normal part of life. Jesus, here in Mark 10:15-16, offered up his affirmations or “good words” to the children. His blessing upon them is remembered for posterity. He didn’t wait until the children did something good in order to offer them good words; He gave them affirmations while in their presence that day in order to build them up, enrich their lives, and encourage their souls.
How often do you give affirmations? Do good words of encouragement often gush from your mouth? Do you only give affirmations after someone does something for you, or are you known for generous blessings?
“Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech. With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was “different.” She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her … until she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard.
In the 1950’s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary’s case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another “difference” to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The “whisper test” was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or “What color are your shoes?” But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth that changed Mary’s life forever. When the “Whisper test” came, Mary heard the words: “I wish you were my little girl.”” (John Trent, “Men of Action”, Winter 1993, p. 5)
Giving such affirming words make a huge difference in the life of any person. They can inspire. They can touch the heart in beautiful ways. There are so many things you can say to be affirming. Here’s a list:
“You are special to me!”
“You’re a real trooper!”
“What a great help you’ve been!”
“I’m praying for you!”
“God loves you!”
“You are precious in God’s sight; did you know that?”
“You made my day!”
“I love you so much!”
“I couldn’t be any prouder of you!”
“That’s so creative!”
“I knew you could do it!”
“I can tell how hard you are trying. It shows!”
“Way to go!”
Affirmations, blessings, eulogies, and good words go a long way. They can bring healing and wholeness. They can spark creative energies. They can free a soul held captive by insecurity. Like Jesus, you have the power to offer blessings. Don’t hold back! Someone may need that affirmation from your lips today.
How often do you give affirmations? Do good words of encouragement often gush from your mouth? Do you only give affirmations after someone does something for you, or are you known for generous blessings?
“Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech. With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was “different.” She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her … until she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard.
In the 1950’s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary’s case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another “difference” to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The “whisper test” was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or “What color are your shoes?” But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth that changed Mary’s life forever. When the “Whisper test” came, Mary heard the words: “I wish you were my little girl.”” (John Trent, “Men of Action”, Winter 1993, p. 5)
Giving such affirming words make a huge difference in the life of any person. They can inspire. They can touch the heart in beautiful ways. There are so many things you can say to be affirming. Here’s a list:
“You are special to me!”
“You’re a real trooper!”
“What a great help you’ve been!”
“I’m praying for you!”
“God loves you!”
“You are precious in God’s sight; did you know that?”
“You made my day!”
“I love you so much!”
“I couldn’t be any prouder of you!”
“That’s so creative!”
“I knew you could do it!”
“I can tell how hard you are trying. It shows!”
“Way to go!”
Affirmations, blessings, eulogies, and good words go a long way. They can bring healing and wholeness. They can spark creative energies. They can free a soul held captive by insecurity. Like Jesus, you have the power to offer blessings. Don’t hold back! Someone may need that affirmation from your lips today.
December 8
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.” (Acts 10:1–2, ESV)
In the scripture for today, we are introduced to a Roman soldier who was righteous before God. It was not often in the Bible that a person outside the Israelite ethnic group was praised in the Bible as being a righteous person. That was because people who were not Israelite often did not believe in God, or did not believe in the Only True God, or did not live a holy life in respect to godly righteousness. In the scripture from Acts 10, Cornelius is named as “a devout man who feared God” (Acts 10:1). He gave alms. He was generous. These characteristics of Cornelius put him in a special category of a foreigner who understood and revered the one true God. For today, though, I want to focus in on the very last line in these two verses. It extols that one of Cornelius’ spiritual characteristics was that he “prayed continually to God” (Acts 10:2).
A Barna Research Group nationwide survey in 1998 asked random people if they thought that prayer made a difference in a person’s life. Among born-again Christians, this number was somewhat high at 73%, and rightly should be. However, the number among those who weren’t even strong believers was 43%. Even among people who did not believe strongly in God there were a high percentage who believed in the power of prayer. (Moody, July/August, p. 7) I find it interesting that though people understand or have felt the power and effects of prayer, most people do not follow through in the manner of Cornelius from the Bible. They do not “pray continually” or “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
There are over 650 instances of people praying in the Bible openly. The gospels mention Jesus praying over 25 times. Before many major moments, Jesus was in prayer, notably in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross. All these instances do not count the myriad of times that Jesus or Biblical people prayed alone or in silence. The Apostle Paul mentioned at several places in his writings that people should pray without ceasing, pray constantly, or pray consistently.
Is your prayer life consistent? Do you pray constantly? Does a conversation with God occur naturally throughout your day?
“In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own private footpaths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.
Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare, a unique custom sprang up. Whenever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”” (RWD, Our Daily Bread, Nov. 18, 1996)
I only wish that most people prayed so often that a path was worn on the way to a place of prayer. I only wish that people would pray so often and so consistently and faithfully that it would become as natural as breathing.
While visiting with a group of Christians over lunch one day, I noticed that one young woman constantly reached for her cell phone on the table next to her plate. Throughout the entire meal, she looked at the phone, tapped on the screen, or listened for the buzz of incoming messages. Being that she was on call at work, I figured that’s what she was doing. As the lunch neared completion, the leader leaned over to me and whispered, “Did you see how often she looked at her cell phone? She’s addicted to it. I only wish every time that darn phone made noise, she would send up a prayer to God. Her family needs it desperately.”
The young woman thought nothing of checking her phone constantly. She had grown used to doing it. She did it consistently during work and at home. She carried her phone with her wherever she went and was seldom caught out of cell phone range.
If only we were so used to praying! If only prayer fell so naturally from our lips! If conversations with the one true God were common in our world, I know that life would be so different. I guarantee the world would be more loving.
Two dozen people went on a prayer retreat with their pastor. At that retreat, their cell phones were taken away. Instead, each person was given a WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) band to put around their wrist. Every time they noticed the wrist band or felt the band, they were instructed to say a prayer about something special in that moment. At first, the retreat-goers felt awkward stopping to pray. But, by the end of the weekend, they hardly noticed the band. Instead, they just naturally fell into prayers at all kinds of times and places.
I have discovered that people who pray constantly find special comfort in praying in unusual places or in unusual ways. Sure, they pray during worship or before meals, but they can be found praying in many other places, at different times, and in different manners. I know people who love to pray while they walk, when they drive, and whenever they think of a needy friend. People who pray constantly are known to close their eyes to pray silently when riding the bus, sitting at their recliner, or waiting at the doctor’s office. I know people who have found great comfort talking to God out loud while alone in an empty house or when they are on the way to church for some event. I know people who do their best praying by writing things down in a prayer journal, while meditating on some scripture, or while turning the pages of an inspirational book. There are so many places and methods of prayer to enjoy. Which do you cherish the most?
Today, take every chance possible to say a prayer in silence or out loud. Take a few moments to pray for a needy friend, offer a blessing for another, or give thanks for a meal. At least every hour, find a moment to close your eyes and just let your heart think about a favorite scripture or an attribute of God. Pray without ceasing. Pray continually. You WILL find that if you do this often enough, a spiritual peace settles over your soul and the connection with God will be strengthened. Try it. You won’t regret it. Your soul WILL be affected by it. God’s Spirit in you will be filled with excitement.
A Barna Research Group nationwide survey in 1998 asked random people if they thought that prayer made a difference in a person’s life. Among born-again Christians, this number was somewhat high at 73%, and rightly should be. However, the number among those who weren’t even strong believers was 43%. Even among people who did not believe strongly in God there were a high percentage who believed in the power of prayer. (Moody, July/August, p. 7) I find it interesting that though people understand or have felt the power and effects of prayer, most people do not follow through in the manner of Cornelius from the Bible. They do not “pray continually” or “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
There are over 650 instances of people praying in the Bible openly. The gospels mention Jesus praying over 25 times. Before many major moments, Jesus was in prayer, notably in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross. All these instances do not count the myriad of times that Jesus or Biblical people prayed alone or in silence. The Apostle Paul mentioned at several places in his writings that people should pray without ceasing, pray constantly, or pray consistently.
Is your prayer life consistent? Do you pray constantly? Does a conversation with God occur naturally throughout your day?
“In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own private footpaths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.
Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare, a unique custom sprang up. Whenever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”” (RWD, Our Daily Bread, Nov. 18, 1996)
I only wish that most people prayed so often that a path was worn on the way to a place of prayer. I only wish that people would pray so often and so consistently and faithfully that it would become as natural as breathing.
While visiting with a group of Christians over lunch one day, I noticed that one young woman constantly reached for her cell phone on the table next to her plate. Throughout the entire meal, she looked at the phone, tapped on the screen, or listened for the buzz of incoming messages. Being that she was on call at work, I figured that’s what she was doing. As the lunch neared completion, the leader leaned over to me and whispered, “Did you see how often she looked at her cell phone? She’s addicted to it. I only wish every time that darn phone made noise, she would send up a prayer to God. Her family needs it desperately.”
The young woman thought nothing of checking her phone constantly. She had grown used to doing it. She did it consistently during work and at home. She carried her phone with her wherever she went and was seldom caught out of cell phone range.
If only we were so used to praying! If only prayer fell so naturally from our lips! If conversations with the one true God were common in our world, I know that life would be so different. I guarantee the world would be more loving.
Two dozen people went on a prayer retreat with their pastor. At that retreat, their cell phones were taken away. Instead, each person was given a WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) band to put around their wrist. Every time they noticed the wrist band or felt the band, they were instructed to say a prayer about something special in that moment. At first, the retreat-goers felt awkward stopping to pray. But, by the end of the weekend, they hardly noticed the band. Instead, they just naturally fell into prayers at all kinds of times and places.
I have discovered that people who pray constantly find special comfort in praying in unusual places or in unusual ways. Sure, they pray during worship or before meals, but they can be found praying in many other places, at different times, and in different manners. I know people who love to pray while they walk, when they drive, and whenever they think of a needy friend. People who pray constantly are known to close their eyes to pray silently when riding the bus, sitting at their recliner, or waiting at the doctor’s office. I know people who have found great comfort talking to God out loud while alone in an empty house or when they are on the way to church for some event. I know people who do their best praying by writing things down in a prayer journal, while meditating on some scripture, or while turning the pages of an inspirational book. There are so many places and methods of prayer to enjoy. Which do you cherish the most?
Today, take every chance possible to say a prayer in silence or out loud. Take a few moments to pray for a needy friend, offer a blessing for another, or give thanks for a meal. At least every hour, find a moment to close your eyes and just let your heart think about a favorite scripture or an attribute of God. Pray without ceasing. Pray continually. You WILL find that if you do this often enough, a spiritual peace settles over your soul and the connection with God will be strengthened. Try it. You won’t regret it. Your soul WILL be affected by it. God’s Spirit in you will be filled with excitement.
December 10
“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.” (Galatians 2:11–13, ESV)
One evening several college students spread limburger cheese on the upper lip of a sleeping fraternity brother. Upon awakening the young man sniffed, looked around, and said, “This room stinks!” He then walked into the hall and said, “This hall stinks!” Leaving the dormitory he exclaimed, “The whole world stinks!” (Today in the Word, May, 1990, MBI, p. 8) From his point of view, this poor young man understood that the whole world had started to smell. It wasn’t true, of course. From his point of view, I’m sure it seemed true!
Your point of view can be affected by outside factors such as limburger cheese. Your point of view can be right. It can be wrong. It will seem real to you. Still, sometimes reality is not as it appears. Your point of view can be skewed by events in your life, by trauma, by hormonal imbalances, and so much more. It is very important that you realize that your point of view can be altered by life events and cause you much regret.
Long after the bombings of September 11, 2001, Dr. Michael Otto and other colleagues studied the effects of people who did not have a loved one die in the 9/11 attacks but saw the media coverage of the events. Due to the disturbing pictures and media attention they were exposed to, a full 24.1% of children who witnessed the events on media ended up with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD symptoms. 11.9% of the parents of these children also showed similar symptoms. Because the point of view of these people was so profoundly affected by the 9/11 attacks and the media surrounding those attacks, their bodies and minds suffered tremendously. Their happiness and view of life were all affected. Their bodily hormones were affected. Fears and insecurities cropped up. Their view of life was incredibly altered (https://www.verywellmind.com/911-and-ptsd-in-children-2797403).
Since your point of view will be affected by circumstances, you need to constantly work out with God what is the truth, what is real, what is really going on. Otherwise, your point of view will skew reality and result in your making unwise choices or hasty decisions. Look at the scripture for today. In Galatians 2, Paul recounted his meeting with the disciples in Antioch. There, Paul was upset with Cephas (Peter). Some of the “circumcision party”, a group that disliked Gentiles, had affected Cephas’ thinking (Galatians 2:12). These circumcision party believers changed Cephas’ point of view. They convinced Cephas that gentile Christians could not be true Christians in the same manner as Jewish Christians. Due to this, Cephas pulled away from Paul and his followers. He stopped associating with Gentile Christians. In the end, Paul “opposed him to his face” (Galatians 2:11). Paul held Cephas to account before God and changed his perspective. Cephas realized his error and came around. Thereafter Paul and Cephas continued working together to spread the gospel.
If Cephas would not have realized that his point of view had been altered wrongly, the church of the New Testament times could easily have been split apart. However, Cephas realized his error. Through the faithfulness of Paul and Cephas’ relationship with Jesus, things worked out. Cephas’ point of view was corrected, and the disciples were united again.
Just as Cephas’ point of view caused him to reject God’s working, your point of view may become altered by being exposed to sinful points of view, corrupt influences, manipulators, and Satan’s own handiwork. You may be deceived. You may lose perspective. Your spiritual life may take a hit. You may go against God without knowing. You may backslide. Your point of view influences how you see reality. When that point of view is off, it is easy to lose your spiritual way.
Upset with his own denomination, a pastor started his own church. The congregation was not allowed to join any other denomination nor consider any other pastor unless he authorized it. I was asked to speak at that church. I was invited by a member who loved Bible Study and wanted to help light a fire in the congregation for people to study the Bible with more passion. After being invited to speak, I met with the pastor. He asked me dozens of questions. We agreed on so many things, all except one thing. Then he pronounced, “We can’t fellowship together. You don’t believe the same things as I do about the relationship between baptism and repentance.” I was not permitted to speak at that church. The member was forbidden to study the Bible with me.
That pastor’s point of view was so affected by his bad experiences in his previous congregation that he was highly critical and resentful toward anyone who did not think about God and the faith exactly as he did. After he died, his church died with him.
Spiritual friends and enemies can affect your point of view. Satan is constantly trying to influence your point of view. A wrong point of view can mess up your whole life, including your relationship with God. Cephas, who was with Jesus during almost His entire ministry, lost his perspective. His point of view was skewed by the circumcision group. If he was thus affected, you can also be affected by people and end up with an ungodly view of your reality. It is crucial that you constantly evaluate your point of view with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. Seek God’s truth. Understand God’s direction. Your spiritual life will depend on it.
Was there a time when your point of view became corrupted or sinful? How might Satan try to manipulate your situation and affect your point of view? Is there someone you know who can’t see the truth of God due to bad perspective? Prayer can correct a lot of things. Sometimes, it is the best way to alter a bad point of view. I’m thankful that Paul loved Cephas enough to hold him accountable for God’s truth. I’m doing the same thing for you today!
Your point of view can be affected by outside factors such as limburger cheese. Your point of view can be right. It can be wrong. It will seem real to you. Still, sometimes reality is not as it appears. Your point of view can be skewed by events in your life, by trauma, by hormonal imbalances, and so much more. It is very important that you realize that your point of view can be altered by life events and cause you much regret.
Long after the bombings of September 11, 2001, Dr. Michael Otto and other colleagues studied the effects of people who did not have a loved one die in the 9/11 attacks but saw the media coverage of the events. Due to the disturbing pictures and media attention they were exposed to, a full 24.1% of children who witnessed the events on media ended up with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD symptoms. 11.9% of the parents of these children also showed similar symptoms. Because the point of view of these people was so profoundly affected by the 9/11 attacks and the media surrounding those attacks, their bodies and minds suffered tremendously. Their happiness and view of life were all affected. Their bodily hormones were affected. Fears and insecurities cropped up. Their view of life was incredibly altered (https://www.verywellmind.com/911-and-ptsd-in-children-2797403).
Since your point of view will be affected by circumstances, you need to constantly work out with God what is the truth, what is real, what is really going on. Otherwise, your point of view will skew reality and result in your making unwise choices or hasty decisions. Look at the scripture for today. In Galatians 2, Paul recounted his meeting with the disciples in Antioch. There, Paul was upset with Cephas (Peter). Some of the “circumcision party”, a group that disliked Gentiles, had affected Cephas’ thinking (Galatians 2:12). These circumcision party believers changed Cephas’ point of view. They convinced Cephas that gentile Christians could not be true Christians in the same manner as Jewish Christians. Due to this, Cephas pulled away from Paul and his followers. He stopped associating with Gentile Christians. In the end, Paul “opposed him to his face” (Galatians 2:11). Paul held Cephas to account before God and changed his perspective. Cephas realized his error and came around. Thereafter Paul and Cephas continued working together to spread the gospel.
If Cephas would not have realized that his point of view had been altered wrongly, the church of the New Testament times could easily have been split apart. However, Cephas realized his error. Through the faithfulness of Paul and Cephas’ relationship with Jesus, things worked out. Cephas’ point of view was corrected, and the disciples were united again.
Just as Cephas’ point of view caused him to reject God’s working, your point of view may become altered by being exposed to sinful points of view, corrupt influences, manipulators, and Satan’s own handiwork. You may be deceived. You may lose perspective. Your spiritual life may take a hit. You may go against God without knowing. You may backslide. Your point of view influences how you see reality. When that point of view is off, it is easy to lose your spiritual way.
Upset with his own denomination, a pastor started his own church. The congregation was not allowed to join any other denomination nor consider any other pastor unless he authorized it. I was asked to speak at that church. I was invited by a member who loved Bible Study and wanted to help light a fire in the congregation for people to study the Bible with more passion. After being invited to speak, I met with the pastor. He asked me dozens of questions. We agreed on so many things, all except one thing. Then he pronounced, “We can’t fellowship together. You don’t believe the same things as I do about the relationship between baptism and repentance.” I was not permitted to speak at that church. The member was forbidden to study the Bible with me.
That pastor’s point of view was so affected by his bad experiences in his previous congregation that he was highly critical and resentful toward anyone who did not think about God and the faith exactly as he did. After he died, his church died with him.
Spiritual friends and enemies can affect your point of view. Satan is constantly trying to influence your point of view. A wrong point of view can mess up your whole life, including your relationship with God. Cephas, who was with Jesus during almost His entire ministry, lost his perspective. His point of view was skewed by the circumcision group. If he was thus affected, you can also be affected by people and end up with an ungodly view of your reality. It is crucial that you constantly evaluate your point of view with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. Seek God’s truth. Understand God’s direction. Your spiritual life will depend on it.
Was there a time when your point of view became corrupted or sinful? How might Satan try to manipulate your situation and affect your point of view? Is there someone you know who can’t see the truth of God due to bad perspective? Prayer can correct a lot of things. Sometimes, it is the best way to alter a bad point of view. I’m thankful that Paul loved Cephas enough to hold him accountable for God’s truth. I’m doing the same thing for you today!
December 13
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?...” (Hebrews 2:1–3, ESV)
Recently, I was cleaning out my garage area. I have a set of hand tools in a toolbox that I keep in the garage to work on the lawn mower and outdoor chores. The toolbox and tools have been there for years. As I opened the toolbox during my cleaning, I was shocked at what I found. The tools in the upper tray were rusted. After removing the upper tray, I noticed that the bottom of the toolbox had about a quarter cup of water lying in it. The tools in the bottom of the toolbox were even more damaged by rust. I looked back to where I had placed my toolbox and discovered that during a recent project, I had moved the toolbox to the floor. Without thinking, I had placed it underneath the brush I used for cleaning the car. The last time I cleaned the car, the brush must have had some water still in it that dripped onto the toolbox. Because the toolbox cheaply made, it leaked from the top. The result was a toolbox where half of the tools were damaged beyond repair. Neglecting to keep the toolbox in a dry spot will cost me a hundred dollars in replacement tools. If I would have taken only one minute to move the toolbox back to its dry spot, I would have saved myself all this loss. I hate having to replace these tools. Sadly, one of the tools in the box that had to be thrown out was a gift from my late grandfather. This made it even more upsetting.
When you neglect to do something important, ignore a potential hazard, or overlook warning signs, these decisions can nail you later. Neglecting things often causes regrets, whether its neglecting to change the oil in your car or neglecting a visit to a friend in hospice. If you wait too long, put something off past its prime, or ignore a need, you might not like the price you have to pay in the end.
Neglecting your spiritual life or relationship with God will have similar results. If you ignore your Bible studies and scripture readings, your spiritual strength may fail you in a moment of crisis. Neglect to pray and you might find your life slowly spinning out of control. Neglect your relationship with God and you may find yourself consumed by temptations or emotions or a sinful lifestyle.
The US. News and World Report of April 27, 1992 contained an article about Chicago’s financial woes in 1992. What the article revealed is remarkably interesting for today’s meditation. Read on… “For most of the last decade, Chicagoans who worked in the Loop, the booming downtown business district, could easily ignore the city’s budget crisis; Washington’s cutback of aid to cities didn’t seem to hurt business. Last week, they learned one price of neglecting the underpinnings of all that economic growth. A quarter billion gallons of murky Chicago River water gushed into a 60-mile network of turn-of-the-century freight tunnels under the Loop and brought nearly all businesses to a soggy halt. It turned out that a top city official had known about the leak, but, acting for a cash-strapped government, had delayed repairs costing only about $50,000. The final cost of the damage could run higher than $1 billion.”
Did you notice how a $50,000 neglected repair turned into a $1 billion dollar colossal mistake? Even small things overlooked in your life may result in big consequences. Neglecting a couple of hours of exercise each week could result in a heart attack years later. Neglecting a small leak in a ceiling might end up in thousands of dollars of plumbing, painting, refinishing, and structural costs. Neglecting time with God can have eternal consequences.
Geoffrey was a very gifted teacher. He loved teaching fifth graders. To him, teaching wasn’t a job but a calling. He poured his heart and soul into his work, and the children loved him for it. During class one winter’s day, most of the children decided to stay inside during recess. Seven boys got all dressed up and went out. Geoffrey was surprised that one of the boys, Kurt, decided to go out. Kurt not only had a speech impediment, but he had other physical problems. Geoffrey remained in the classroom while keeping an eye on the boys outside through his classroom window.
From his vantage point, Geoffrey could see that Kurt was being teased for his lack of stability on the slippery areas of the playground. Several times Kurt fell, to the amusement of his classmates. When the boys returned to the classroom, they were laughing about Kurt’s instability on the ice. When Kurt finally returned, Geoffrey sidled over to his desk and whispered, “You OK, Kurt? I saw you slip a few times out there. I hope the boys didn’t tease you too much about it.”
Kurt responded quietly, “That’s OK. I’ll try harder next time. At least Jesus loves me as I am.”
Geoffrey was dumbstruck by Kurt’s statement. Not only did he not know that Kurt was a regular churchgoer, but the boy was also obviously secure in his faith. Without showing it, Kurt’s statement of faith bothered Geoffrey for the rest of the day. That night he tossed and turned while in bed. Geoffrey remembered when, as a child, Jesus meant that much to him. Sadly, Geoffrey’s faith had drifted away over the years. A few weeks later Geoffrey confided to his wife that he missed praying and worshipping. They found a wonderful church and are active members to this day.
The scripture written above from Hebrews 2 contains some powerful words. The writer of Hebrews is anonymous, but his faith is powerfully present. The first verse contains a warning to all the faithful to “pay attention” to the gospel and not let it “drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). His goal in writing these words was to remind the faithful that faith in Jesus must be nurtured. It must be treasured and guarded. It is precious. The author of Hebrews considered the true gospel “reliable” (Hebrews 2:2). He believed that making it through life was impossible without it. He even begged to question, “how shall we escape (from sin) if we neglect such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3). The author here is fully aware that some people drift away from God. Those who drift away from God will have little hope from suffering in the long run. Neglecting their salvation will have long lasting repercussions.
Is there a part of your spiritual life that has been neglected? Do you pray regularly with passion? Does God know you intimately? Are you active in outreach, missions, teaching, and giving? When even a part of your spiritual life is neglected, that is where Satan will strike first. That is where neglect will cause fractures in your spiritual strength. I want you to have a healthy and powerful spiritual life with Jesus as your Master and Lord. That can never happen if you let your faith drift away with time…. So, what can you do to nurture and strengthen that beautiful faith of yours today?
When you neglect to do something important, ignore a potential hazard, or overlook warning signs, these decisions can nail you later. Neglecting things often causes regrets, whether its neglecting to change the oil in your car or neglecting a visit to a friend in hospice. If you wait too long, put something off past its prime, or ignore a need, you might not like the price you have to pay in the end.
Neglecting your spiritual life or relationship with God will have similar results. If you ignore your Bible studies and scripture readings, your spiritual strength may fail you in a moment of crisis. Neglect to pray and you might find your life slowly spinning out of control. Neglect your relationship with God and you may find yourself consumed by temptations or emotions or a sinful lifestyle.
The US. News and World Report of April 27, 1992 contained an article about Chicago’s financial woes in 1992. What the article revealed is remarkably interesting for today’s meditation. Read on… “For most of the last decade, Chicagoans who worked in the Loop, the booming downtown business district, could easily ignore the city’s budget crisis; Washington’s cutback of aid to cities didn’t seem to hurt business. Last week, they learned one price of neglecting the underpinnings of all that economic growth. A quarter billion gallons of murky Chicago River water gushed into a 60-mile network of turn-of-the-century freight tunnels under the Loop and brought nearly all businesses to a soggy halt. It turned out that a top city official had known about the leak, but, acting for a cash-strapped government, had delayed repairs costing only about $50,000. The final cost of the damage could run higher than $1 billion.”
Did you notice how a $50,000 neglected repair turned into a $1 billion dollar colossal mistake? Even small things overlooked in your life may result in big consequences. Neglecting a couple of hours of exercise each week could result in a heart attack years later. Neglecting a small leak in a ceiling might end up in thousands of dollars of plumbing, painting, refinishing, and structural costs. Neglecting time with God can have eternal consequences.
Geoffrey was a very gifted teacher. He loved teaching fifth graders. To him, teaching wasn’t a job but a calling. He poured his heart and soul into his work, and the children loved him for it. During class one winter’s day, most of the children decided to stay inside during recess. Seven boys got all dressed up and went out. Geoffrey was surprised that one of the boys, Kurt, decided to go out. Kurt not only had a speech impediment, but he had other physical problems. Geoffrey remained in the classroom while keeping an eye on the boys outside through his classroom window.
From his vantage point, Geoffrey could see that Kurt was being teased for his lack of stability on the slippery areas of the playground. Several times Kurt fell, to the amusement of his classmates. When the boys returned to the classroom, they were laughing about Kurt’s instability on the ice. When Kurt finally returned, Geoffrey sidled over to his desk and whispered, “You OK, Kurt? I saw you slip a few times out there. I hope the boys didn’t tease you too much about it.”
Kurt responded quietly, “That’s OK. I’ll try harder next time. At least Jesus loves me as I am.”
Geoffrey was dumbstruck by Kurt’s statement. Not only did he not know that Kurt was a regular churchgoer, but the boy was also obviously secure in his faith. Without showing it, Kurt’s statement of faith bothered Geoffrey for the rest of the day. That night he tossed and turned while in bed. Geoffrey remembered when, as a child, Jesus meant that much to him. Sadly, Geoffrey’s faith had drifted away over the years. A few weeks later Geoffrey confided to his wife that he missed praying and worshipping. They found a wonderful church and are active members to this day.
The scripture written above from Hebrews 2 contains some powerful words. The writer of Hebrews is anonymous, but his faith is powerfully present. The first verse contains a warning to all the faithful to “pay attention” to the gospel and not let it “drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). His goal in writing these words was to remind the faithful that faith in Jesus must be nurtured. It must be treasured and guarded. It is precious. The author of Hebrews considered the true gospel “reliable” (Hebrews 2:2). He believed that making it through life was impossible without it. He even begged to question, “how shall we escape (from sin) if we neglect such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3). The author here is fully aware that some people drift away from God. Those who drift away from God will have little hope from suffering in the long run. Neglecting their salvation will have long lasting repercussions.
Is there a part of your spiritual life that has been neglected? Do you pray regularly with passion? Does God know you intimately? Are you active in outreach, missions, teaching, and giving? When even a part of your spiritual life is neglected, that is where Satan will strike first. That is where neglect will cause fractures in your spiritual strength. I want you to have a healthy and powerful spiritual life with Jesus as your Master and Lord. That can never happen if you let your faith drift away with time…. So, what can you do to nurture and strengthen that beautiful faith of yours today?
December 15
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–7, ESV)
It gives me a smile to walk through a store selling Christmas trees with lights. They are so beautiful. They light up not only the room, but this darkest of all months of the year. As the sun shines less in these winter days, the Christmas trees can bring out the beauty of this dark season, shining like hope in the midst of darkness.
As I enjoyed some Christmas tree lights recently, they got me thinking about 1 Corinthians 12. Many stores display Christmas trees but with different light combinations. Some are covered in multi-colored lights. Some are filled with just white. Some people love the multiple colors, me among them. Others love the tree filled with pure white light. As I thought about these differences in preference, it hit me; people like different things. They are inspired in different ways. Despite living together, a husband and wife may have two radically opposed views of what matches, what paint color would look good in a room, and what constitutes good fashion. Twin boys or girls can diverge on their personalities, their likes and dislikes, and their favorite foods. Poet William Cowper noted these differences in preferences and the great diversity of life in this world and concluded that “variety is the spice of life”. He didn’t see diversity and differences as a bad thing, but as adding flavor and beauty and uniqueness to our world.
Some people don’t know how to handle diversity let alone differences of opinion. They want others to think like them, feel the same way about issues, fall into line. People who are very rigid in their demands that others must believe as they do often run into problems. A matter-of-fact parent may have trouble understanding a child who is overly artistic. A “tree-hugger” may have problems fitting in with a family in the logging business. A highly logical child may not like being around relatives who enjoy public displays of affection. A shy student may feel totally out of place with a classmate in the debate club. People are different. One type of person may not understand or feel welcome surrounded by a different group of people. Some groups may not want independent thinking. Some people despise free-spirited individuals. Where would you fit in?
The Bible displays a great variety of leadership styles, methods of operating, and functional attitudes. Some Biblical personalities were known for their rigid stance. Gideon sent home any of his army who felt afraid before battle. Cephas was reluctant to incorporate gentiles into the early Christian church. Cain hated his brother for being different. Jeremiah thought any carved statue even resembling an idol should be cast out. On the other hand, there were others who were very open to differences and cooperation. Paul was excited about ministry among the gentiles. Isaiah called Cyrus, King of Persia, a messianic figure, though he was not even a Jew! Jesus even opened up himself to do miracles among foreigners when they exhibited faith. Sometimes, a rigid stance was more faithful. Sometimes, being more accommodating was faithful. It depended on the situation, God’s call, and the Spiritual work being done.
Today’s scripture focuses on the variety and diversity of the spiritual gifts given by God. The very first words of 1 Corinthians 12:4 state clearly that “there are varieties of spiritual gifts” and “there are varieties of service” to God. 1 Corinthians 12 goes on to name a good number of the spiritual gifts including (but not limited to) prophecy, wisdom, faith, knowledge, healing, and speaking in tongues. In 1 Corinthians 12:12 and the verses following, the scripture clearly delineates that healthy churches need all the gifts, not just one. Thus, your church needs a variety of spiritual gifts. Each gift helps and supports the others. No gift reigns supreme. All God-given gifts are for the “common good” of the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). The variety of gifts in the church gives the congregation greater abilities and a wider outreach.
When a person or church rejects the acceptance of other God-given spiritual gifts, it weakens the faith and causes division.
A young woman was very gifted at speaking with the deaf using sign language. She enjoyed being able to communicate with the deaf, who were often isolated because of their disability. One Christmas, she decided to share her gift with her church. She asked the leaders if she could play a contemporary Christian song during worship and have a group of people proficient in sign language offer up their services. One leader became upset saying, “There is only one deaf person in the congregation. Why do we need to play this modern music? Why do we need to have you all get up and perform? Church isn’t supposed to be a performance?”
The young woman was not dismayed. She asked the leaders to trust her vision. She met with the pastors to explain further her hopes. In the end, the performance by the group not only inspired the church but has inspired millions when the video of their performance was shared widely on social media.
What would have happened if those in the church would have tamped down this woman’s enthusiasm to reach the deaf with the gospel? What would have happened if the leaders would have been swayed by a few rigid and short-sighted leaders?
Though scripture speaks openly about the varieties of God-given spiritual gifts, it also mentions that these gifts are inspired by “the same Spirit” and “the same Lord”. Yes, God meant for there to be spiritual diversity in the church. However, God also desires you to worship only ONE Lord and follow the leading of only ONE Spirit. On that, you must not sway. You must be rigid. You must hold fast. Sometimes, those who love diversity may fall into the trap that respecting other gods or believing unholy myths are more beneficial to the church. They may fall head over heels for things like political correctness in the church and in all of life. They do not realize that political correctness will at times reject Jesus Christ as Savior and promote all religious practices as equal. This can only lead to a watered-down faith and unholy alliances.
Your faith must never become too rigid. If it does, you may lose the awesome witness of the Holy Spirit! Also, don’t let your faith be watered down by losing sight of the reason for the season! God is praised by the unity of the faithful AND by those who are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
During a particularly difficult time in my ministry, I came to my office early on Christmas Eve to pray. After twenty minutes, and with a heavy heart, I put on my robe and grabbed my Bible to walk into the sanctuary and lead worship. As I walked up to the rear door of the sanctuary, an usher handed me the lapel microphone. As I was attaching the microphone, a young child no more than eight rushed up to me and hugged me with all her might. She looked up at me and said, “I love you, Pastor Dave! I hope you have a great Christmas! It’s going to be wonderful this year!” Though I like to hug, her public display of affection was over the top. However, in this case, I let her enthusiastic spirit heal my soul and lift my heart. All through that service, I looked at things through her eyes. I saw the beauty in the Christmas decorations. I listened anew to the Christmas story read from Luke 2. I needed that young girl to share with me her joy for the season that night. I needed her different perspective on our world. It was her spiritual gift to me!
This Christmas season, let all the decorated trees with their beautiful lights remind you that there is beauty in God’s creation of variety. Let the trees also remind you that ONE God sent ONE Savior to be your Lord. Enjoy the many colors of this season! Enjoy the ONE God who wants to enjoy every part of it with you!
As I enjoyed some Christmas tree lights recently, they got me thinking about 1 Corinthians 12. Many stores display Christmas trees but with different light combinations. Some are covered in multi-colored lights. Some are filled with just white. Some people love the multiple colors, me among them. Others love the tree filled with pure white light. As I thought about these differences in preference, it hit me; people like different things. They are inspired in different ways. Despite living together, a husband and wife may have two radically opposed views of what matches, what paint color would look good in a room, and what constitutes good fashion. Twin boys or girls can diverge on their personalities, their likes and dislikes, and their favorite foods. Poet William Cowper noted these differences in preferences and the great diversity of life in this world and concluded that “variety is the spice of life”. He didn’t see diversity and differences as a bad thing, but as adding flavor and beauty and uniqueness to our world.
Some people don’t know how to handle diversity let alone differences of opinion. They want others to think like them, feel the same way about issues, fall into line. People who are very rigid in their demands that others must believe as they do often run into problems. A matter-of-fact parent may have trouble understanding a child who is overly artistic. A “tree-hugger” may have problems fitting in with a family in the logging business. A highly logical child may not like being around relatives who enjoy public displays of affection. A shy student may feel totally out of place with a classmate in the debate club. People are different. One type of person may not understand or feel welcome surrounded by a different group of people. Some groups may not want independent thinking. Some people despise free-spirited individuals. Where would you fit in?
The Bible displays a great variety of leadership styles, methods of operating, and functional attitudes. Some Biblical personalities were known for their rigid stance. Gideon sent home any of his army who felt afraid before battle. Cephas was reluctant to incorporate gentiles into the early Christian church. Cain hated his brother for being different. Jeremiah thought any carved statue even resembling an idol should be cast out. On the other hand, there were others who were very open to differences and cooperation. Paul was excited about ministry among the gentiles. Isaiah called Cyrus, King of Persia, a messianic figure, though he was not even a Jew! Jesus even opened up himself to do miracles among foreigners when they exhibited faith. Sometimes, a rigid stance was more faithful. Sometimes, being more accommodating was faithful. It depended on the situation, God’s call, and the Spiritual work being done.
Today’s scripture focuses on the variety and diversity of the spiritual gifts given by God. The very first words of 1 Corinthians 12:4 state clearly that “there are varieties of spiritual gifts” and “there are varieties of service” to God. 1 Corinthians 12 goes on to name a good number of the spiritual gifts including (but not limited to) prophecy, wisdom, faith, knowledge, healing, and speaking in tongues. In 1 Corinthians 12:12 and the verses following, the scripture clearly delineates that healthy churches need all the gifts, not just one. Thus, your church needs a variety of spiritual gifts. Each gift helps and supports the others. No gift reigns supreme. All God-given gifts are for the “common good” of the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). The variety of gifts in the church gives the congregation greater abilities and a wider outreach.
When a person or church rejects the acceptance of other God-given spiritual gifts, it weakens the faith and causes division.
A young woman was very gifted at speaking with the deaf using sign language. She enjoyed being able to communicate with the deaf, who were often isolated because of their disability. One Christmas, she decided to share her gift with her church. She asked the leaders if she could play a contemporary Christian song during worship and have a group of people proficient in sign language offer up their services. One leader became upset saying, “There is only one deaf person in the congregation. Why do we need to play this modern music? Why do we need to have you all get up and perform? Church isn’t supposed to be a performance?”
The young woman was not dismayed. She asked the leaders to trust her vision. She met with the pastors to explain further her hopes. In the end, the performance by the group not only inspired the church but has inspired millions when the video of their performance was shared widely on social media.
What would have happened if those in the church would have tamped down this woman’s enthusiasm to reach the deaf with the gospel? What would have happened if the leaders would have been swayed by a few rigid and short-sighted leaders?
Though scripture speaks openly about the varieties of God-given spiritual gifts, it also mentions that these gifts are inspired by “the same Spirit” and “the same Lord”. Yes, God meant for there to be spiritual diversity in the church. However, God also desires you to worship only ONE Lord and follow the leading of only ONE Spirit. On that, you must not sway. You must be rigid. You must hold fast. Sometimes, those who love diversity may fall into the trap that respecting other gods or believing unholy myths are more beneficial to the church. They may fall head over heels for things like political correctness in the church and in all of life. They do not realize that political correctness will at times reject Jesus Christ as Savior and promote all religious practices as equal. This can only lead to a watered-down faith and unholy alliances.
Your faith must never become too rigid. If it does, you may lose the awesome witness of the Holy Spirit! Also, don’t let your faith be watered down by losing sight of the reason for the season! God is praised by the unity of the faithful AND by those who are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
During a particularly difficult time in my ministry, I came to my office early on Christmas Eve to pray. After twenty minutes, and with a heavy heart, I put on my robe and grabbed my Bible to walk into the sanctuary and lead worship. As I walked up to the rear door of the sanctuary, an usher handed me the lapel microphone. As I was attaching the microphone, a young child no more than eight rushed up to me and hugged me with all her might. She looked up at me and said, “I love you, Pastor Dave! I hope you have a great Christmas! It’s going to be wonderful this year!” Though I like to hug, her public display of affection was over the top. However, in this case, I let her enthusiastic spirit heal my soul and lift my heart. All through that service, I looked at things through her eyes. I saw the beauty in the Christmas decorations. I listened anew to the Christmas story read from Luke 2. I needed that young girl to share with me her joy for the season that night. I needed her different perspective on our world. It was her spiritual gift to me!
This Christmas season, let all the decorated trees with their beautiful lights remind you that there is beauty in God’s creation of variety. Let the trees also remind you that ONE God sent ONE Savior to be your Lord. Enjoy the many colors of this season! Enjoy the ONE God who wants to enjoy every part of it with you!
December 18
“Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”” (John 13:7, NIV84)
On the day that marked Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet, our Lord made a bold statement memorialized in the scripture for today. After Peter questioned what Jesus was doing, Jesus said, “ You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (John 13:7). This is not the only place in the Bible where people did not understand what God was doing. The Wisemen didn’t understand the intricacies of Jesus’ birth, though they followed the star and asked Herod about the Christ child. The Shepherds didn’t understand the angels’ proclamation at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:15). King Herod didn’t know where the Messiah was to be born and had to consult “chief priests and scribes” for answers to what God was doing in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:3-5). Paul did not subscribe to Jesus as the Messiah until he met the risen Savior on the Road to Damascus. Only then did he begin to comprehend the meaning of Jesus as his Lord. In situation after situation of the Bible, many people didn’t appreciate what God was doing or didn’t fully comprehend a holy movement. Even faithful people like Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul all had moments of spiritual incomprehension.
Hindsight sometimes yields clues to God’s work among us. After looking back, you may be able to decipher God’s plan or purpose. Some people never figure it out. Some people are blind to the actions of the Lord. Many do not feel the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit. How about you? Have you ever had a realization that God had been doing something special in and around you? Have you ever looked back and later understood the meaning of a series of events in your life?
"Many years ago, there was a man and his wife who were driving from the countryside into the busy city. They passed villages that were along the road and reached the peri-urban farms without any challenge. Suddenly they had a puncture and the man pulled off the road. He quickly donned an overcoat intending to change the wheel and put on a spare. This job would not take him a lot of time since he had everything required to change the wheel. He went to the rear of the vehicle and unwound the spare wheel from underneath the car. To his surprise, he realized that the rim was not the same as those presently on his car. The spare wheel had five holes, yet their car used six holes. This was a shock to the man who had never used a five-hole rim before. He wondered how on earth he came to have a five-hole rim as the spare. They had no choice except to wait for other motorists and ask for assistance. While contemplating their predicament, they saw from a distance a woman moving along the hedges. Amazingly, they came to realize that the woman wanted to abandon a baby in the bushes. Immediately, they came to the rescue of the little innocent infant and ensured his safety. To their surprise, when they returned to their car, the spare wheel was the right one with six holes. It was clear that God had confused them in order to save the little innocent infant.
As the pastor was telling the story everyone was following with keen interest. As he concluded the story he said, "The little innocent child in my story is this pastor who is standing before you today." There was dead silence in the congregation, and many were seen wiping tears from their eyes while others were unable to even speak.” (adapted from and used with permission from Brighton Kohlisa, Daily Inspirational Devotional Series).
A flat tire, an interruption, an obstacle, a change in plans can all be frustrating events. Some of those may occur through the intervention of God. God will alter your calendar, change your direction, adjust your attitude, or make new arrangements to accomplish His plan. When things pop up out of nowhere in your life and even cause stress, don’t let it unsettle your spirit. It may be God at work. God may be putting you in a better situation or saving you from harm.
Off the top of my head, I have witnessed or been told directly by people who experienced the following:
A woman slowed down while driving upon hearing a voice in her car while praying on the way to work. In so doing, she avoided an accident only seconds later.
A man went into the hospital with bronchitis, but the x ray taken revealed cancer. The cancer was removed in surgery. The bronchitis that came out of nowhere saved his life.
A man’s flight was delayed. Because of the delay, he ended up on a different flight seated next to a woman who later became his wife! They met on that flight!
A man had complications following surgery. The doctors were worried about infection setting in as he was retaining fluid around the joint weeks later. He asked for and received more prayers from friends. A few days later, he moved his joint and heard a pop. Fearing something went wrong, he was surprised in the following days as all the swelling receded and the recovery went perfectly thereafter.
A young teen went to church camp only because her parents made her go. She dreaded everything about the arrangements. However, during that week, she met another camper who was born blind. The two, though coming from very different worlds, hit it off. They became best friends and are so to this day!
I was told at age 52 that I was going to be bed-ridden for life. A specialist who was consulted advised they put me in a nursing home due to a severely damaged spine. However, I just happened to run into a person who had recovered beautifully from the exact same surgery that was needed to enable me to live a normal life. He put me in touch with a surgeon who had just patented a novel procedure. I had the surgery in 2015 and now can move without debilitating pain from that damaged spine. I no longer must be medicated in order to simply stand or walk or even lay in bed. I still don’t know what caused me to bump into that person who had that exact same experimental surgery that I required. My doctors did not even know about the novel surgery! Looking back, I can see how all kinds of things fell into place perfectly. Obviously, it was God’s plan all along.
Where some people see coincidences or obstacles, others find out later that God was working behind the scenes all along. Don’t be surprised if you too don’t notice God’s hand at work until later. There are things we just can’t perceive at the time. It’s not that God doesn’t like to share what HE is doing. Often, we just aren’t open to the possibilities or prepared for what God has planned.
Every now and then, look for what God may be doing in your life. Examine events that just seem to fall into place at the perfect time or with perfect purpose. God’s plans are awesome to behold, if you just take the time to notice!
Hindsight sometimes yields clues to God’s work among us. After looking back, you may be able to decipher God’s plan or purpose. Some people never figure it out. Some people are blind to the actions of the Lord. Many do not feel the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit. How about you? Have you ever had a realization that God had been doing something special in and around you? Have you ever looked back and later understood the meaning of a series of events in your life?
"Many years ago, there was a man and his wife who were driving from the countryside into the busy city. They passed villages that were along the road and reached the peri-urban farms without any challenge. Suddenly they had a puncture and the man pulled off the road. He quickly donned an overcoat intending to change the wheel and put on a spare. This job would not take him a lot of time since he had everything required to change the wheel. He went to the rear of the vehicle and unwound the spare wheel from underneath the car. To his surprise, he realized that the rim was not the same as those presently on his car. The spare wheel had five holes, yet their car used six holes. This was a shock to the man who had never used a five-hole rim before. He wondered how on earth he came to have a five-hole rim as the spare. They had no choice except to wait for other motorists and ask for assistance. While contemplating their predicament, they saw from a distance a woman moving along the hedges. Amazingly, they came to realize that the woman wanted to abandon a baby in the bushes. Immediately, they came to the rescue of the little innocent infant and ensured his safety. To their surprise, when they returned to their car, the spare wheel was the right one with six holes. It was clear that God had confused them in order to save the little innocent infant.
As the pastor was telling the story everyone was following with keen interest. As he concluded the story he said, "The little innocent child in my story is this pastor who is standing before you today." There was dead silence in the congregation, and many were seen wiping tears from their eyes while others were unable to even speak.” (adapted from and used with permission from Brighton Kohlisa, Daily Inspirational Devotional Series).
A flat tire, an interruption, an obstacle, a change in plans can all be frustrating events. Some of those may occur through the intervention of God. God will alter your calendar, change your direction, adjust your attitude, or make new arrangements to accomplish His plan. When things pop up out of nowhere in your life and even cause stress, don’t let it unsettle your spirit. It may be God at work. God may be putting you in a better situation or saving you from harm.
Off the top of my head, I have witnessed or been told directly by people who experienced the following:
A woman slowed down while driving upon hearing a voice in her car while praying on the way to work. In so doing, she avoided an accident only seconds later.
A man went into the hospital with bronchitis, but the x ray taken revealed cancer. The cancer was removed in surgery. The bronchitis that came out of nowhere saved his life.
A man’s flight was delayed. Because of the delay, he ended up on a different flight seated next to a woman who later became his wife! They met on that flight!
A man had complications following surgery. The doctors were worried about infection setting in as he was retaining fluid around the joint weeks later. He asked for and received more prayers from friends. A few days later, he moved his joint and heard a pop. Fearing something went wrong, he was surprised in the following days as all the swelling receded and the recovery went perfectly thereafter.
A young teen went to church camp only because her parents made her go. She dreaded everything about the arrangements. However, during that week, she met another camper who was born blind. The two, though coming from very different worlds, hit it off. They became best friends and are so to this day!
I was told at age 52 that I was going to be bed-ridden for life. A specialist who was consulted advised they put me in a nursing home due to a severely damaged spine. However, I just happened to run into a person who had recovered beautifully from the exact same surgery that was needed to enable me to live a normal life. He put me in touch with a surgeon who had just patented a novel procedure. I had the surgery in 2015 and now can move without debilitating pain from that damaged spine. I no longer must be medicated in order to simply stand or walk or even lay in bed. I still don’t know what caused me to bump into that person who had that exact same experimental surgery that I required. My doctors did not even know about the novel surgery! Looking back, I can see how all kinds of things fell into place perfectly. Obviously, it was God’s plan all along.
Where some people see coincidences or obstacles, others find out later that God was working behind the scenes all along. Don’t be surprised if you too don’t notice God’s hand at work until later. There are things we just can’t perceive at the time. It’s not that God doesn’t like to share what HE is doing. Often, we just aren’t open to the possibilities or prepared for what God has planned.
Every now and then, look for what God may be doing in your life. Examine events that just seem to fall into place at the perfect time or with perfect purpose. God’s plans are awesome to behold, if you just take the time to notice!
December 20
“Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” (Luke 11:46, NIV)
PLAYING BY GOD'S RULES!
The Victorian era of history is known for being uptight and overly controlled. During that time, there were many rules about how people should interact in society and even in the home. There were rules about how a person was supposed to act, to speak, to cross a street. During the Victorian era, one how-to-do-it-right manual was Lady Gough's Book of Etiquette. In this volume, putting books by male authors next to books by female authors was forbidden - unless the authors were married.
During these COVID-19 days, people have also become enamored with making rules for others to follow. There are many stories of people being screamed at for not wearing masks while walking, wearing masks in one’s car, or covering their face when alone in the house! One man in Canada was fined for sitting in his car alone in a public parking lot. He just desired to get some sunshine and get out of the house during the COVID epidemic. The police said he was not allowed to sit in a public parking lot during the day by himself because of the pandemic. Scores of beach goers in California were evicted or cited for violating COVID rules by walking alone on a beach during the day????? A dog-walker in New York was arrested for not following adequate precautions while walking the dogs alone during the COVID lockdown. How was he going to infect anyone? How were the dogs going to get out or potty? Several of the dogs were from nurses who were needed at the hospital. Should they have killed their dogs instead of just allowing the dogwalker to take care of them? Stupid rules.
Not all rules are bad. Good laws are meant to keep people safe or to help society function. Bad rules do the opposite. They ruin relationships. They are often unreasonable. They may be used to force people to do what is wrong. The Bible contains rules or laws in order to preserve and protect life. They also explain the importance of faith and holiness. You’d think that religious people who knew the Bible would make rules that are good. Not always. The “experts in the law” during Jesus’ day were a good example of this. They knew God’s laws, but often used their influence to add caveats and other human rules or guidelines to God’s law. They thought nothing of shaming those who did not follow God’s law their way or who did not do what was popular in the day. Many made rules out of human traditions or myths and promoted them as godly requirements. This only served to distort the view of a true relationship with God.
Jesus came across a good share of religious people who used laws to damage relationships or faith. In Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus was critical of the Scribes and Pharisees who were proud of themselves for tithing but ignored rules in society about justice and mercy. In Matthew 23:25, Jesus was also critical of those who promoted laws of cleanliness but had unclean hearts. Does this sound hypocritical to you? Oh, it was. Jesus saw much hypocrisy in the religious leaders of His day. They followed certain rules but ignored others. They shamed those who would not follow certain rules while ignoring those same rules themselves. Jesus not only called them out as hypocrites, but He also condemned their understanding of God’s law.
In our scripture for today, Jesus again attempts to correct the hypocritical view of “experts in the law”. He challenged their desire to “load people down with burdens” in order to promote their own self-serving and smug religiosity. He also chastised their hypocrisy in doing so. While requiring others to follow these onerous and frivolous religious laws, these religious hypocrites would not “lift one finger to help” (Luke 11:46). It is as if these people enjoyed sticking it to others while letting themselves off the hook for their own unholy rules.
When people are given positions of power and authority, sometimes they respond with a need to control or manipulate others using rules. They may make rules to promote their own agenda. They often will circumvent these same rules when it does not suit them. After enacting stay at home orders with threats of fines, Governor of California Gavin Newsome was photographed with his family at an exclusive French restaurant only a few days later. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock advised his staff and others to “refrain from all travel” over Thanksgiving. He himself flew to see his family for the holiday. Representative Nancy Pelosi famously demanded her constituents not even get their hair done during the COVID epidemic. That is, until a video was leaked showing her doing exactly that! Some people love making rules for others that they themselves are unwilling or unable to follow.
In your walk with God, realize that you and rules may have problems with one another. Some people have a hard time following the rules. Some enjoy making rules for others to follow. The hypocrites among the faithful will blast others for not following one law of God while they themselves are good at breaking other laws of God. Like the Pharisees, some Christians go overboard by using rules as a means to determine who is faithful. Rules bring out the best and worst in us. God never meant it to be this way.
“One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself.
Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It's a real bad neighborhood, your Honor." the man told the mayor. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson." LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions--ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero saying: "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."(Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, p. 91-92).
LaGuardia had to follow the law, but left room for mercy. He was forced to follow the rules of the city, but that did not stop him from finding a way to reach out to a poor family. He showed respect for the city’s laws but made sure not to ignore God’s law. Ultimately, LaGuardia fulfilled God’s justice in true holy fashion.
Human rules often are flawed. I’ve seen many courts where injustice was routinely practiced, where the rich skated by and the needy were put down. Sadly, God’s rules are often twisted by the faithful, even by those who should know better. Being truly faithful, more is required of you! Learn God’s law. Follow God’s word. Be faithful. Honor God’s law but remain open to God’s direction. Respect God’s statutes but always honor God’s Spirit. Reject human traditions that have been elevated to divine status. Love God above all else. Legalism won’t get you to Heaven. Neither will hypocrisy!
Do you tend to use rules to justify yourself or to put down others? Do you use God’s laws like a weapon? Is there a part of your thinking that is a bit hypocritical? A healthy relationship with rules is required where there is a healthy relationship with God!
The Victorian era of history is known for being uptight and overly controlled. During that time, there were many rules about how people should interact in society and even in the home. There were rules about how a person was supposed to act, to speak, to cross a street. During the Victorian era, one how-to-do-it-right manual was Lady Gough's Book of Etiquette. In this volume, putting books by male authors next to books by female authors was forbidden - unless the authors were married.
During these COVID-19 days, people have also become enamored with making rules for others to follow. There are many stories of people being screamed at for not wearing masks while walking, wearing masks in one’s car, or covering their face when alone in the house! One man in Canada was fined for sitting in his car alone in a public parking lot. He just desired to get some sunshine and get out of the house during the COVID epidemic. The police said he was not allowed to sit in a public parking lot during the day by himself because of the pandemic. Scores of beach goers in California were evicted or cited for violating COVID rules by walking alone on a beach during the day????? A dog-walker in New York was arrested for not following adequate precautions while walking the dogs alone during the COVID lockdown. How was he going to infect anyone? How were the dogs going to get out or potty? Several of the dogs were from nurses who were needed at the hospital. Should they have killed their dogs instead of just allowing the dogwalker to take care of them? Stupid rules.
Not all rules are bad. Good laws are meant to keep people safe or to help society function. Bad rules do the opposite. They ruin relationships. They are often unreasonable. They may be used to force people to do what is wrong. The Bible contains rules or laws in order to preserve and protect life. They also explain the importance of faith and holiness. You’d think that religious people who knew the Bible would make rules that are good. Not always. The “experts in the law” during Jesus’ day were a good example of this. They knew God’s laws, but often used their influence to add caveats and other human rules or guidelines to God’s law. They thought nothing of shaming those who did not follow God’s law their way or who did not do what was popular in the day. Many made rules out of human traditions or myths and promoted them as godly requirements. This only served to distort the view of a true relationship with God.
Jesus came across a good share of religious people who used laws to damage relationships or faith. In Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus was critical of the Scribes and Pharisees who were proud of themselves for tithing but ignored rules in society about justice and mercy. In Matthew 23:25, Jesus was also critical of those who promoted laws of cleanliness but had unclean hearts. Does this sound hypocritical to you? Oh, it was. Jesus saw much hypocrisy in the religious leaders of His day. They followed certain rules but ignored others. They shamed those who would not follow certain rules while ignoring those same rules themselves. Jesus not only called them out as hypocrites, but He also condemned their understanding of God’s law.
In our scripture for today, Jesus again attempts to correct the hypocritical view of “experts in the law”. He challenged their desire to “load people down with burdens” in order to promote their own self-serving and smug religiosity. He also chastised their hypocrisy in doing so. While requiring others to follow these onerous and frivolous religious laws, these religious hypocrites would not “lift one finger to help” (Luke 11:46). It is as if these people enjoyed sticking it to others while letting themselves off the hook for their own unholy rules.
When people are given positions of power and authority, sometimes they respond with a need to control or manipulate others using rules. They may make rules to promote their own agenda. They often will circumvent these same rules when it does not suit them. After enacting stay at home orders with threats of fines, Governor of California Gavin Newsome was photographed with his family at an exclusive French restaurant only a few days later. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock advised his staff and others to “refrain from all travel” over Thanksgiving. He himself flew to see his family for the holiday. Representative Nancy Pelosi famously demanded her constituents not even get their hair done during the COVID epidemic. That is, until a video was leaked showing her doing exactly that! Some people love making rules for others that they themselves are unwilling or unable to follow.
In your walk with God, realize that you and rules may have problems with one another. Some people have a hard time following the rules. Some enjoy making rules for others to follow. The hypocrites among the faithful will blast others for not following one law of God while they themselves are good at breaking other laws of God. Like the Pharisees, some Christians go overboard by using rules as a means to determine who is faithful. Rules bring out the best and worst in us. God never meant it to be this way.
“One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself.
Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It's a real bad neighborhood, your Honor." the man told the mayor. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson." LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions--ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero saying: "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."(Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, p. 91-92).
LaGuardia had to follow the law, but left room for mercy. He was forced to follow the rules of the city, but that did not stop him from finding a way to reach out to a poor family. He showed respect for the city’s laws but made sure not to ignore God’s law. Ultimately, LaGuardia fulfilled God’s justice in true holy fashion.
Human rules often are flawed. I’ve seen many courts where injustice was routinely practiced, where the rich skated by and the needy were put down. Sadly, God’s rules are often twisted by the faithful, even by those who should know better. Being truly faithful, more is required of you! Learn God’s law. Follow God’s word. Be faithful. Honor God’s law but remain open to God’s direction. Respect God’s statutes but always honor God’s Spirit. Reject human traditions that have been elevated to divine status. Love God above all else. Legalism won’t get you to Heaven. Neither will hypocrisy!
Do you tend to use rules to justify yourself or to put down others? Do you use God’s laws like a weapon? Is there a part of your thinking that is a bit hypocritical? A healthy relationship with rules is required where there is a healthy relationship with God!
December 22
“I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.” (2 Corinthians 11:8, NIV)
In a moment of frustration at the continuing problems in the Corinthian church, Paul wrote the words found in 2 Corinthians 11:8. Paul was upset. He traveled to Corinth in order to start a church there. He did not use Corinthian money to live on. He asked for missionary support from Macedonian Christians. While working with and serving the Corinthians, he encountered problem after problem. There was jealousy between members. There were divisions in the church. People were even acting wrongly during communion! Paul worked diligently to iron out the problems. Despite all his hard work, he still received so little back from the Corinthian Christians. Out of desperation to make a point, Paul wrote in the verse for today, “I robbed other churches… so as to serve you” (2 Corinthians 11:8). Paul had to accept money from the Macedonians for his missionary work in Corinth despite the fact that the Corinthian Christians should have been able to afford it; if only they weren’t so busy being self-destructive!
As I read these words from the Apostle Paul, I was reminded of the phrase, “Rob Peter to pay Paul”. The phrase means to take from one area of your finances to pay for another, even though both need the resources. The phrase is often used to speak out against those who are constantly short-changing themselves, seeking a quick fix, or making do while not having enough.
There are many examples of robbing Peter to pay Paul. This one is my favorite….
“Anxious to get home after a week long business trip in California, I waited for my flight in the crowded boarding area. Suddenly the public address system glared: “Flight 100 to Dallas will be delayed 20 minutes due to maintenance problems.” All of the passengers groaned.
Twenty-five minutes later another announcement came: “The Dallas flight needs an oil filter. As soon as one is located, we will be on our way.” Another collective groan filled the boarding area, now packed with people waiting for a second flight.
After 15 minutes, the PA system crackled: “We have installed the filter for the Dallas aircraft and will soon be boarding.” Before the cheers subsided, there was another announcement: “Flight 220 to Seattle will be delayed. Your aircraft needs an oil filter.”” (Ted Ballenger (Reedsville, PA), as quoted in Reader’s Digest).
While a business or a non-profit may have to resort to such short-term fixes as robbing Peter to pay Paul, there are Christians who do this regularly in their spiritual walk. They are consistently taking short-term shortcuts, seeking quick fixes, and reacting to situations instead of planning for real needs.
A rural church was spearheaded by pastors and leaders who were known for their stingy ways. The members paid the pastor a fair amount of compensation but were constantly failing to meet the budget. Rather than increase membership to increase giving or explain to the congregation the importance of giving a fair share to God, the church just kept cutting its budget tighter and tighter in order to make ends meet.
When the choir was practicing one evening, the organ acted up. It was a big and beautiful old organ with ornate copper piping. Not wanting to call a repairman to fix the problem, the pastor went into the mechanical room and saw that a connector that held on the bellows was loose. He tightened it up, but the bolt broke. So, he used his shoelace to hold it together. A month after that first breakdown, the organ broke down again. Rather than call in that expensive repair service, the pastor contacted a local plumber, who tried his best. After the organ broke down several more times, the congregation voted to bring in a repair company.
After the needed repair was completed, the repair technician came into the pastor’s office and handed him a shoelace and remarked, “I don’t think this was good quality original equipment”. The pastor didn’t want to admit it was his own shoelace, so he simply smiled and thanked the man for his work. What was the cost for the repair? The repair bill was four hundred dollars in parts and three hundred dollars in labor. This however, wasn’t the entire cost. Over the previous months, the worship services were interrupted a dozen times, several sermons were cut short, three choir practices were cancelled, and many other things were delayed. Looking back, a member of the congregation remarked, “I wonder why God put us through all that trouble with the organ!”
God did not put the congregation through all that trouble with the organ. The members were so stingy and the pastor so afraid to hurt feelings that they were seeking temporary fixes where a good repair was needed. The member who thought the organ was the problem didn’t realize that stinginess and a lack of concern for God’s house were the problems. Congregants who loathed to give and share were the problem. They were great at robbing Peter to pay Paul but extremely poor in stewardship of God’s gifts.
If you find yourself reacting to problem after problem in your life, make sure you aren’t making the same mistake as that rural church. Don’t seek quick fixes that might break down later. Don’t try to band-aid deep spiritual problems with a quick prayer or pie-in-the sky attitude. Some things in life and in your spiritual life take due diligence, a concerted effort, hard work, and an attitude to get God’s job done right. Do you just hurry to get things done in your life (especially in your spiritual life), or do you get them done to the level God would deem right?
A pastor was rushing to complete his work during holy week. A parishioner came in to ask if there was a scripture in the Bible about getting a job done right and quickly. The pastor hurriedly looked up the word, “quickly”, in the Bible and then wrote down a scripture for the man to consider, “John 11:27, “Jesus said, “What you must do, do it quickly.”” The next day, the man came into the Pastor’s office and said he was worried the Pastor was upset with him. The pastor asked why. The man responded, “The scripture you gave me yesterday was Jesus’ condemnation to Judas about being betrayed. Are you trying to tell me something?” It was only then that the Pastor realized he had rushed to find a Biblical answer for the man and gave him a scripture that was totally inappropriate for the situation.
When you are rushed and, in a hurry, or needing something, you might try to find a quick fix to the problem. Be careful. Sometimes, that quick fix may not be the right fix, or the way God wants it done. If you are constantly rushing through things in your walk with God, it might be that you haven’t taken enough time to work through what is really needed or required in a situation. Do you want to rush to get something done in your walk with God, or do you want to complete God’s work faithfully? There is a difference, isn’t there?
As I read these words from the Apostle Paul, I was reminded of the phrase, “Rob Peter to pay Paul”. The phrase means to take from one area of your finances to pay for another, even though both need the resources. The phrase is often used to speak out against those who are constantly short-changing themselves, seeking a quick fix, or making do while not having enough.
There are many examples of robbing Peter to pay Paul. This one is my favorite….
“Anxious to get home after a week long business trip in California, I waited for my flight in the crowded boarding area. Suddenly the public address system glared: “Flight 100 to Dallas will be delayed 20 minutes due to maintenance problems.” All of the passengers groaned.
Twenty-five minutes later another announcement came: “The Dallas flight needs an oil filter. As soon as one is located, we will be on our way.” Another collective groan filled the boarding area, now packed with people waiting for a second flight.
After 15 minutes, the PA system crackled: “We have installed the filter for the Dallas aircraft and will soon be boarding.” Before the cheers subsided, there was another announcement: “Flight 220 to Seattle will be delayed. Your aircraft needs an oil filter.”” (Ted Ballenger (Reedsville, PA), as quoted in Reader’s Digest).
While a business or a non-profit may have to resort to such short-term fixes as robbing Peter to pay Paul, there are Christians who do this regularly in their spiritual walk. They are consistently taking short-term shortcuts, seeking quick fixes, and reacting to situations instead of planning for real needs.
A rural church was spearheaded by pastors and leaders who were known for their stingy ways. The members paid the pastor a fair amount of compensation but were constantly failing to meet the budget. Rather than increase membership to increase giving or explain to the congregation the importance of giving a fair share to God, the church just kept cutting its budget tighter and tighter in order to make ends meet.
When the choir was practicing one evening, the organ acted up. It was a big and beautiful old organ with ornate copper piping. Not wanting to call a repairman to fix the problem, the pastor went into the mechanical room and saw that a connector that held on the bellows was loose. He tightened it up, but the bolt broke. So, he used his shoelace to hold it together. A month after that first breakdown, the organ broke down again. Rather than call in that expensive repair service, the pastor contacted a local plumber, who tried his best. After the organ broke down several more times, the congregation voted to bring in a repair company.
After the needed repair was completed, the repair technician came into the pastor’s office and handed him a shoelace and remarked, “I don’t think this was good quality original equipment”. The pastor didn’t want to admit it was his own shoelace, so he simply smiled and thanked the man for his work. What was the cost for the repair? The repair bill was four hundred dollars in parts and three hundred dollars in labor. This however, wasn’t the entire cost. Over the previous months, the worship services were interrupted a dozen times, several sermons were cut short, three choir practices were cancelled, and many other things were delayed. Looking back, a member of the congregation remarked, “I wonder why God put us through all that trouble with the organ!”
God did not put the congregation through all that trouble with the organ. The members were so stingy and the pastor so afraid to hurt feelings that they were seeking temporary fixes where a good repair was needed. The member who thought the organ was the problem didn’t realize that stinginess and a lack of concern for God’s house were the problems. Congregants who loathed to give and share were the problem. They were great at robbing Peter to pay Paul but extremely poor in stewardship of God’s gifts.
If you find yourself reacting to problem after problem in your life, make sure you aren’t making the same mistake as that rural church. Don’t seek quick fixes that might break down later. Don’t try to band-aid deep spiritual problems with a quick prayer or pie-in-the sky attitude. Some things in life and in your spiritual life take due diligence, a concerted effort, hard work, and an attitude to get God’s job done right. Do you just hurry to get things done in your life (especially in your spiritual life), or do you get them done to the level God would deem right?
A pastor was rushing to complete his work during holy week. A parishioner came in to ask if there was a scripture in the Bible about getting a job done right and quickly. The pastor hurriedly looked up the word, “quickly”, in the Bible and then wrote down a scripture for the man to consider, “John 11:27, “Jesus said, “What you must do, do it quickly.”” The next day, the man came into the Pastor’s office and said he was worried the Pastor was upset with him. The pastor asked why. The man responded, “The scripture you gave me yesterday was Jesus’ condemnation to Judas about being betrayed. Are you trying to tell me something?” It was only then that the Pastor realized he had rushed to find a Biblical answer for the man and gave him a scripture that was totally inappropriate for the situation.
When you are rushed and, in a hurry, or needing something, you might try to find a quick fix to the problem. Be careful. Sometimes, that quick fix may not be the right fix, or the way God wants it done. If you are constantly rushing through things in your walk with God, it might be that you haven’t taken enough time to work through what is really needed or required in a situation. Do you want to rush to get something done in your walk with God, or do you want to complete God’s work faithfully? There is a difference, isn’t there?
December 24
“The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease.” (Lamentations 3:19–22, NLT)
For some people, the holidays are a difficult time. They may have burdens that are difficult to carry. They may have regrets or sadness that saps all joy. While a child may look at a Christmas tree and smile, those with intense pressures will often frown. Their heart is heavy. There is relief for those who suffer in these days. Our scripture for today points us in that direction.
Lamentations 3 tells the story of a man who went against God’s ways and suffered because of it. His thoughts were filled with stories of all that befell him: “The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.” (Lamentations 3:19). The man was suffering in heart and mind and soul. During the day, something would spark the bad memories. At night, he would suffer nightmares. In agony, he wrote, “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.” (Lamentations 3:20). The suffering he endured lived with him constantly, covering his world in a thick cloak of gloom.
Some of those who have suffered great things in life are filled with thoughts of those dark times. They cannot forget what happened, nor the feelings of how they suffered. Often, they are filled with anger and resentment. The bad past causes burning resentment and consuming rage. Often, they lash out at others, even the innocent.
For months, Joan thought her husband, Harry, had cheated on her. She had a feeling. Now and then when she kissed her husband after work, he would pull away. In those moments, she thought for sure she smelled perfume. In the wash, she found smeared lipstick on the collar of Harry’s work shirt. At unexpected times, her husband would come home late from work. Joan feared the worst. She didn’t want to ask Harry about it, fearing she could be wrong, and it would look terrible on her part. In the meantime, she bided her time, the anger and insecurities building by the day.
Several months passed and Joan was no closer to finding out if Harry was having an affair. New clues surfaced. Hints of something secret in her husband’s life were slipping out. Though Joan confessed to her best friend her fear of the affair, she told no one else. However, the pressure in her had built to huge proportions. Her days were constantly filled with musings about the identity of the woman. Where did they go, and what did they do? Joan and Harry’s moments of intimacy became few and far between. When Joan’s husband said something, it was not unusual for Joan to become snippy and short with him. Though the two never seemed to argue before, now arguments grew more and more frequent. However, Joan was close to finding out the truth. She knew that truth would come out sooner or later. She braced herself for that day, for the life-altering news, for the possible divorce to come.
What Joan didn’t know was that her husband had been seeing a woman from work. The two were not having an affair. She was teaching Harry to dance. Harry knew that Joan always wanted to go on a cruise ship and get all dressed up and dance the night away. Harry knew she loved to dance waltzes and attend formals. For their fifteenth anniversary, he had booked a cruise and learned how to dance to give her the best time of her life! When Harry finally told Joan what was planned, all of Joan’s pent-up emotions burst forth. She cried for hours. Some of her tears were from relief. Others were from regret. How could she question such love? What made her do it? Why had she been so cruel to him in the last months? What would her best friend think of her when she found out what had really happened?
It does not matter if a time of suffering is imaginary or real, the negative emotions will often settle into your heart and soul. They will sear themselves into your mind and imagination. They will cause the pressure to build inside you. Then, like a keg of dynamite going off, you might blast away at someone who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. You might take it out on a dog, an innocent friend, a neighbor. Your pent-up hurt and pain might come out in drinking binges or shopping sprees or fits of rage. If you are unable to deal with these internal struggles, they will often come pouring out of you in a terrible torrent that you will only live to regret.
“Think a moment about a water-saturated sponge. If we push down with our finger even slightly, water runs out onto the table. We immediately know what fills the interior pockets of the sponge. The same is true of ourselves. We can tell what fills us on the inside by what comes out under pressure.” (Robert Schmidgall as relayed on Bible.org). When you are filled with all kinds of emotions, filled to the brim with anger or resentment or hate or hurt or pain that is buried in your heart and soul, the pressure on your insides will often bleed out in your every day interactions.
Chances are that the angry old man in the dilapidated old house, who yells at all the school kids to get off his lawn, is filled with pain and anger. The snippy clerk at the grocery store has a mind that is probably teeming with resentment about something. The curmudgeon behind the desk is surely filled with negative thoughts and anger. What is inside your heart and soul will bleed through under pressure.
When the writer of our scripture for today found himself filled with bitter memories, he found grace and peace in one place. Just look in the scripture for today. When he was tempted by bitterness, the author dared to find “hope” as he constantly remembered that “the faithful love of the Lord never ends! HIS mercies never cease.” (Lamentations 3:21,22). When bitter thoughts ate into his day, the writer here in Lamentations countered that with the love and mercy of God. The man put his pain at the feet of the Savior, his resentments as an offering before God. He LET God ease his burden. He allowed God’s mercy to shine into the darkness of his soul. With that, the pressure was lifted.
As we near Christmas, do you have some pressures that are building in your life? Maybe its time to put them at the altar of God. Let go of your pressures, real or imagined. God is more than strong enough to handle anything you dish out! Do you know how much hope it gives to know that God can take any burden you have right now? Give your pressures to God (leave them in HIS hands) and just see what happens!
Lamentations 3 tells the story of a man who went against God’s ways and suffered because of it. His thoughts were filled with stories of all that befell him: “The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.” (Lamentations 3:19). The man was suffering in heart and mind and soul. During the day, something would spark the bad memories. At night, he would suffer nightmares. In agony, he wrote, “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.” (Lamentations 3:20). The suffering he endured lived with him constantly, covering his world in a thick cloak of gloom.
Some of those who have suffered great things in life are filled with thoughts of those dark times. They cannot forget what happened, nor the feelings of how they suffered. Often, they are filled with anger and resentment. The bad past causes burning resentment and consuming rage. Often, they lash out at others, even the innocent.
For months, Joan thought her husband, Harry, had cheated on her. She had a feeling. Now and then when she kissed her husband after work, he would pull away. In those moments, she thought for sure she smelled perfume. In the wash, she found smeared lipstick on the collar of Harry’s work shirt. At unexpected times, her husband would come home late from work. Joan feared the worst. She didn’t want to ask Harry about it, fearing she could be wrong, and it would look terrible on her part. In the meantime, she bided her time, the anger and insecurities building by the day.
Several months passed and Joan was no closer to finding out if Harry was having an affair. New clues surfaced. Hints of something secret in her husband’s life were slipping out. Though Joan confessed to her best friend her fear of the affair, she told no one else. However, the pressure in her had built to huge proportions. Her days were constantly filled with musings about the identity of the woman. Where did they go, and what did they do? Joan and Harry’s moments of intimacy became few and far between. When Joan’s husband said something, it was not unusual for Joan to become snippy and short with him. Though the two never seemed to argue before, now arguments grew more and more frequent. However, Joan was close to finding out the truth. She knew that truth would come out sooner or later. She braced herself for that day, for the life-altering news, for the possible divorce to come.
What Joan didn’t know was that her husband had been seeing a woman from work. The two were not having an affair. She was teaching Harry to dance. Harry knew that Joan always wanted to go on a cruise ship and get all dressed up and dance the night away. Harry knew she loved to dance waltzes and attend formals. For their fifteenth anniversary, he had booked a cruise and learned how to dance to give her the best time of her life! When Harry finally told Joan what was planned, all of Joan’s pent-up emotions burst forth. She cried for hours. Some of her tears were from relief. Others were from regret. How could she question such love? What made her do it? Why had she been so cruel to him in the last months? What would her best friend think of her when she found out what had really happened?
It does not matter if a time of suffering is imaginary or real, the negative emotions will often settle into your heart and soul. They will sear themselves into your mind and imagination. They will cause the pressure to build inside you. Then, like a keg of dynamite going off, you might blast away at someone who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. You might take it out on a dog, an innocent friend, a neighbor. Your pent-up hurt and pain might come out in drinking binges or shopping sprees or fits of rage. If you are unable to deal with these internal struggles, they will often come pouring out of you in a terrible torrent that you will only live to regret.
“Think a moment about a water-saturated sponge. If we push down with our finger even slightly, water runs out onto the table. We immediately know what fills the interior pockets of the sponge. The same is true of ourselves. We can tell what fills us on the inside by what comes out under pressure.” (Robert Schmidgall as relayed on Bible.org). When you are filled with all kinds of emotions, filled to the brim with anger or resentment or hate or hurt or pain that is buried in your heart and soul, the pressure on your insides will often bleed out in your every day interactions.
Chances are that the angry old man in the dilapidated old house, who yells at all the school kids to get off his lawn, is filled with pain and anger. The snippy clerk at the grocery store has a mind that is probably teeming with resentment about something. The curmudgeon behind the desk is surely filled with negative thoughts and anger. What is inside your heart and soul will bleed through under pressure.
When the writer of our scripture for today found himself filled with bitter memories, he found grace and peace in one place. Just look in the scripture for today. When he was tempted by bitterness, the author dared to find “hope” as he constantly remembered that “the faithful love of the Lord never ends! HIS mercies never cease.” (Lamentations 3:21,22). When bitter thoughts ate into his day, the writer here in Lamentations countered that with the love and mercy of God. The man put his pain at the feet of the Savior, his resentments as an offering before God. He LET God ease his burden. He allowed God’s mercy to shine into the darkness of his soul. With that, the pressure was lifted.
As we near Christmas, do you have some pressures that are building in your life? Maybe its time to put them at the altar of God. Let go of your pressures, real or imagined. God is more than strong enough to handle anything you dish out! Do you know how much hope it gives to know that God can take any burden you have right now? Give your pressures to God (leave them in HIS hands) and just see what happens!
December 26
“…but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8, NIV)
At a Christmas family gathering, the youngest daughter of a wealthy merchant interrupted the meal to speak. Seldom had Carolyn spoken. She was the quiet one, the daughter who usually kept to herself, the one who drank a little too much eggnog in the corner. When Carolyn interrupted the family conversation at the dinner table, people immediately went silent. They listened to see what the quiet woman had to say. At twenty-one and just arriving home from college, they were intrigued by her willingness to take center stage.
Carolyn began the interruption with the words, “Excuse me, everyone!”. Then, when the room went silent, she continued. “For a long time, I have held my tongue. I can do so no longer. I am sick and tired of hearing about your problems with workers, with servants, with your new dresses or your new cars. There are people starving in Africa, for God’s sake! Uncle Dave, I’m so tired of hearing about your latest success at work. Aunt Barb, will you please shut up about your latest weight loss tactic. Stephen and Jean, just quit bragging about your drinking binges. I hate this family. I’ve always hated this family.”
Upon finishing her speech, Carolyn left the room, packed her clothes, and departed. The family members did not see her again for a dozen years. Some attributed her outburst to a little too much alcohol. Her mother thought Carolyn was being brainwashed at college. Her father thought her impertinent. Her two brothers felt she was shameful. An aunt defended her. One cousin agreed with her and left the gathering. Though never finding out all the reasons for Carolyn’s outburst, one thing was true about the young woman. That night, the poison she had inside her came out full force. The poison that had been eating away at her soul burst forth. It caused a split in the family for many years. It exacerbated rifts among the family members. The poison inside of Carolyn brought sadness and pain and separation to that family that never did fully heal.
A poison is something that can harm or kill. It can come in the form of a pill, a powder, a liquid, or a solid. Some poisons can be ingested. Others need to be injected. Some need only be touched to be fatal. Many poisons do not look dangerous. A poisonous flower can look beautiful. Cyanide smells like almonds. That is why many poisons are dangerous; they can be easily concealed In history, poisons were used to murder by a hidden adversary. Sometimes, it took centuries to prove a poison was the cause of a death. Even today, doctors find that some poisonings are hard to prove.
Though easily concealed, poisons are no less deadly. Though small in amount, they yield a terrible punch. “A minimum lethal dose of botulism bacillus is .00003 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. That is almost the equivalent of a flea derailing a 100-mile-long freight train.” (Randy Raysbrook, “Discipleship Journal”, Issue #33, 1986, p. 20.) Poisons work by damaging a crucial part of the body. Some cause the heart to stop. Some cause breathing difficulties. Some destroy necessary body organs or wreck the body’s ability to function correctly. All-in-all, poisons are best avoided unless you want to kill, damage, or threaten.
In our scripture for today, the tongue of the human body is called “a restless evil full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). The scripture is speaking allegorically. It is obvious that the human tongue is not inhabited by poisons that can burst forth. However, the words that a person uses can definitely poison a conversation, poison a relationship, or cause the death of a person in the spirit or in the flesh.
Conrad Roy committed suicide in 2014. Later it was determined that his girlfriend, Michelle Carter, had sent him numerous texts and had conversations with him encouraging him to just kill himself. The jury that convicted her for manslaughter believed that Michelle’s words caused Conrad Roy to follow through on his suicide. Her words wrought death. She poisoned his heart and soul.
The scripture for today explains that the tongue is a restless evil filled with deadly poison. The words of a sweet person can bring life and peace and joy. The words of an evil person can bring sadness and regret and suffering and death. Words are powerful. They have the ability to shape the world. They can bring forth so much good. They can bring about so much evil and death.
Recently, a person told me that Christmas was her favorite time of the year. When I asked her why, I thought she would mention that it was a holiday, she had time off, that she spent time with family and friends, or that she received great presents. Instead, she said simply, “I love Christmas because people tend to be more kind to one another. There are more works of kindness and words of love.” I think she is right. Christmas, as a season, is meant to be a time of celebration, of hope, of peace, of joy, and of good deeds.
There are some families where poisonous treatment still persists, even at Christmas. There is too much drinking, too much swearing, a lot of lusting after presents, and a lot of drama over the dinner table. There are churches in our world today where snide comments, self-serving people, and a desire to look good are all on display at Christmas time. It should not be so.
Herod sought to kill the Christ child. He sought to poison God’s plan for a Savior. He did not succeed. Instead, there were “good tidings of great joy” brought to shepherds and wisemen. A baby was born healthy, despite being born in a stable and being placed in a manger. The angels rejoiced at the birth of Jesus. During these days, let the joy of the season color your thoughts and language. Don't be like Herod, attempting to silence the good news of great joy. Be a Christmas Angel. Bless instead of curse. Rejoice instead of being blue. Let joy and peace fill your heart to overflowing. Let your tongue bring forth God's praises. Jesus is born. The Savior has come to this world. The Son of God has come for you.
Carolyn began the interruption with the words, “Excuse me, everyone!”. Then, when the room went silent, she continued. “For a long time, I have held my tongue. I can do so no longer. I am sick and tired of hearing about your problems with workers, with servants, with your new dresses or your new cars. There are people starving in Africa, for God’s sake! Uncle Dave, I’m so tired of hearing about your latest success at work. Aunt Barb, will you please shut up about your latest weight loss tactic. Stephen and Jean, just quit bragging about your drinking binges. I hate this family. I’ve always hated this family.”
Upon finishing her speech, Carolyn left the room, packed her clothes, and departed. The family members did not see her again for a dozen years. Some attributed her outburst to a little too much alcohol. Her mother thought Carolyn was being brainwashed at college. Her father thought her impertinent. Her two brothers felt she was shameful. An aunt defended her. One cousin agreed with her and left the gathering. Though never finding out all the reasons for Carolyn’s outburst, one thing was true about the young woman. That night, the poison she had inside her came out full force. The poison that had been eating away at her soul burst forth. It caused a split in the family for many years. It exacerbated rifts among the family members. The poison inside of Carolyn brought sadness and pain and separation to that family that never did fully heal.
A poison is something that can harm or kill. It can come in the form of a pill, a powder, a liquid, or a solid. Some poisons can be ingested. Others need to be injected. Some need only be touched to be fatal. Many poisons do not look dangerous. A poisonous flower can look beautiful. Cyanide smells like almonds. That is why many poisons are dangerous; they can be easily concealed In history, poisons were used to murder by a hidden adversary. Sometimes, it took centuries to prove a poison was the cause of a death. Even today, doctors find that some poisonings are hard to prove.
Though easily concealed, poisons are no less deadly. Though small in amount, they yield a terrible punch. “A minimum lethal dose of botulism bacillus is .00003 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. That is almost the equivalent of a flea derailing a 100-mile-long freight train.” (Randy Raysbrook, “Discipleship Journal”, Issue #33, 1986, p. 20.) Poisons work by damaging a crucial part of the body. Some cause the heart to stop. Some cause breathing difficulties. Some destroy necessary body organs or wreck the body’s ability to function correctly. All-in-all, poisons are best avoided unless you want to kill, damage, or threaten.
In our scripture for today, the tongue of the human body is called “a restless evil full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). The scripture is speaking allegorically. It is obvious that the human tongue is not inhabited by poisons that can burst forth. However, the words that a person uses can definitely poison a conversation, poison a relationship, or cause the death of a person in the spirit or in the flesh.
Conrad Roy committed suicide in 2014. Later it was determined that his girlfriend, Michelle Carter, had sent him numerous texts and had conversations with him encouraging him to just kill himself. The jury that convicted her for manslaughter believed that Michelle’s words caused Conrad Roy to follow through on his suicide. Her words wrought death. She poisoned his heart and soul.
The scripture for today explains that the tongue is a restless evil filled with deadly poison. The words of a sweet person can bring life and peace and joy. The words of an evil person can bring sadness and regret and suffering and death. Words are powerful. They have the ability to shape the world. They can bring forth so much good. They can bring about so much evil and death.
Recently, a person told me that Christmas was her favorite time of the year. When I asked her why, I thought she would mention that it was a holiday, she had time off, that she spent time with family and friends, or that she received great presents. Instead, she said simply, “I love Christmas because people tend to be more kind to one another. There are more works of kindness and words of love.” I think she is right. Christmas, as a season, is meant to be a time of celebration, of hope, of peace, of joy, and of good deeds.
There are some families where poisonous treatment still persists, even at Christmas. There is too much drinking, too much swearing, a lot of lusting after presents, and a lot of drama over the dinner table. There are churches in our world today where snide comments, self-serving people, and a desire to look good are all on display at Christmas time. It should not be so.
Herod sought to kill the Christ child. He sought to poison God’s plan for a Savior. He did not succeed. Instead, there were “good tidings of great joy” brought to shepherds and wisemen. A baby was born healthy, despite being born in a stable and being placed in a manger. The angels rejoiced at the birth of Jesus. During these days, let the joy of the season color your thoughts and language. Don't be like Herod, attempting to silence the good news of great joy. Be a Christmas Angel. Bless instead of curse. Rejoice instead of being blue. Let joy and peace fill your heart to overflowing. Let your tongue bring forth God's praises. Jesus is born. The Savior has come to this world. The Son of God has come for you.
December 28
“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.” (Proverbs 16:2, NLT)
Human beings all have an ability that is largely suspect in the eyes of God. Christians and non-Christians alike have the propensity to rationalize their own sin away. They find reasons why something that is wrong is right. After doing a wrong, they try to find a way to hide it or justify it. When a young boy was caught kissing a young girl from his fourth-grade class during recess, the teacher questioned, “What are you doing?” The boy responded, “She ran lips first right into me!” Even from a young age, humans learn how to manipulate the truth to rationalize away a wrong.
A lady once came to Billy Sunday and attempted to rationalize her angry outbursts. She said, “There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper. I blow up, and then it’s all over.”
Mr. Sunday replied, “So does a shotgun, and look at the damage it leaves behind!” (Bill Bright and Henry Brandt, Soul Prescription)
Billy Sunday would not be fooled. He knew that the woman was doing wrong by losing her temper. Sadly, the woman had justified her temper to herself for so long that she didn’t see the truth of the matter.
All human beings are capable of rationalizing away their own sin, guilt, and responsibility. All human beings self-justify. Even famous people of the Bible explained away their own sin. King David caused Bathsheba to be pregnant while she was married to another. Rather than admit his sin, David had her husband killed so she could marry David. David thought his sin was hidden forever. Instead, God revealed his sin to Nathan the prophet and David was forced to suffer greatly for his mistake. No amount of justification could cover the fact that David was not only responsible for Uriah’s death, but also the death of Bathsheba and David’s first child. John W. Ritenbaugh wrote about David’s rationalization of his sin: “David was brought face to face with truth, with reality, with light. The Holy Spirit refuted him and convicted him with an overwhelming argument, revealing where wrong and right were, and he could not escape. He dodged the issue for nine months at least, making all kinds of rationalizations, even to the point of bringing about the death of Uriah.” (Truth, Part 3) David was not the only one to justify his actions. Peter did it after Jesus was arrested, until the cock crowed three times. The people of Israel did it to Moses and God in the wilderness. Solomon did it to fit in with his foreign wives. Rationalizations for sin may make you feel better for a while, but they will inhibit you from seeking needed repentance.
Sidney J. Harris hated the use of the phrase “necessary evil”. He believed that people used that phrase to justify all kinds of wrongs to themselves. He even wrote, “Once we assuage our conscience by calling something a "necessary evil," it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less evil.” Upon studying Romans 2:21, one anonymous author concluded that he was “Allowing his mind to find reasons to excuse what my spirit knows is wrong.”
Are there things you know you are doing wrong that you justify and rationalize away as harmless? Do you play down your own responsibility when discovered doing wrong? When you want to do something badly, do you find a way to justify its need or purpose?
A young woman came to her pastor for counseling. Twenty years before, she had been sexually assaulted while in college. The accused, her boyfriend at the time, was never charged. For two decades, the young woman harbored intense hatred for the man. She loathed him, wanted him to suffer. However, the woman, Eve, grew depressed. She blamed the depression on her sexual assault and asked the pastor to help her to work through it. After a year of counseling, the pastor asked her, “On the night of the sexual assault, what did you do before the event occurred?” Eve told her pastor that she had been out drinking with her boyfriend and was very drunk. The pastor then asked, “Did your drinking contribute to the assault?” Eve yelled at the pastor for being inconsiderate, called him a sexist, and swore at him for “siding with the rapist”. She left his office and never returned to the church.
Her pastor came to me very upset. Had he messed up? Was he a bad counselor, a bad person? He was not. What had happened was that the pastor had actually hit on the very thing that was causing Eve’s depression. The person who had committed sexual assault was very guilty, but Eve had played a part in the assault. She put herself into a compromised position. She was so drunk that her own inhibitions were compromised and her thought process was hazy and unclear. Though Eve’s boyfriend was guilty of sexual assault, Eve was responsible for putting herself into a bad situation knowingly. That’s why Eve was depressed. She had spent years blaming her attacker for all her problems and anger and failures. She could not live with the thought that she had in any way played a part or made a mistake. Until she dealt with all the consequences and her anger, and her rationalizations about that night, she could not move past her depressive feelings. In the end, she needed most of all to forgive herself for her own culpability. She could not face that. She would rather blame another than look at her own failure to take responsibility for that night. Then, she justified every bit of her anger for two decades!
The scripture for today mentions why people rationalize their own sin. They want to be “pure in their own eyes” (Proverbs 16:2). Rather than admitting their own sin and failures, they will play up their innocence and heap the blame on another person. God doesn’t play such games. The Lord always “examines their motives” (Proverbs 16:2). God can see when a person is genuinely innocent and when a person is only explaining away their own guilt or responsibility for sin.
Are you good at making yourself look innocent even when you are not? You may think this attitude makes you appear more righteous. It may, but not before God. When God looks at your self-centered attempts at morality, God can only see that you are one of the guilty.
Before you move into a new year, it might just be time for you to look back and make sure you have been honest with yourself. Do you rationalize away your own mistakes? Do you blame others for failures you might be party responsible for committing? Are you true with yourself as well as true with God? Be careful how you answer these questions… God is right now examining your motives!
A lady once came to Billy Sunday and attempted to rationalize her angry outbursts. She said, “There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper. I blow up, and then it’s all over.”
Mr. Sunday replied, “So does a shotgun, and look at the damage it leaves behind!” (Bill Bright and Henry Brandt, Soul Prescription)
Billy Sunday would not be fooled. He knew that the woman was doing wrong by losing her temper. Sadly, the woman had justified her temper to herself for so long that she didn’t see the truth of the matter.
All human beings are capable of rationalizing away their own sin, guilt, and responsibility. All human beings self-justify. Even famous people of the Bible explained away their own sin. King David caused Bathsheba to be pregnant while she was married to another. Rather than admit his sin, David had her husband killed so she could marry David. David thought his sin was hidden forever. Instead, God revealed his sin to Nathan the prophet and David was forced to suffer greatly for his mistake. No amount of justification could cover the fact that David was not only responsible for Uriah’s death, but also the death of Bathsheba and David’s first child. John W. Ritenbaugh wrote about David’s rationalization of his sin: “David was brought face to face with truth, with reality, with light. The Holy Spirit refuted him and convicted him with an overwhelming argument, revealing where wrong and right were, and he could not escape. He dodged the issue for nine months at least, making all kinds of rationalizations, even to the point of bringing about the death of Uriah.” (Truth, Part 3) David was not the only one to justify his actions. Peter did it after Jesus was arrested, until the cock crowed three times. The people of Israel did it to Moses and God in the wilderness. Solomon did it to fit in with his foreign wives. Rationalizations for sin may make you feel better for a while, but they will inhibit you from seeking needed repentance.
Sidney J. Harris hated the use of the phrase “necessary evil”. He believed that people used that phrase to justify all kinds of wrongs to themselves. He even wrote, “Once we assuage our conscience by calling something a "necessary evil," it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less evil.” Upon studying Romans 2:21, one anonymous author concluded that he was “Allowing his mind to find reasons to excuse what my spirit knows is wrong.”
Are there things you know you are doing wrong that you justify and rationalize away as harmless? Do you play down your own responsibility when discovered doing wrong? When you want to do something badly, do you find a way to justify its need or purpose?
A young woman came to her pastor for counseling. Twenty years before, she had been sexually assaulted while in college. The accused, her boyfriend at the time, was never charged. For two decades, the young woman harbored intense hatred for the man. She loathed him, wanted him to suffer. However, the woman, Eve, grew depressed. She blamed the depression on her sexual assault and asked the pastor to help her to work through it. After a year of counseling, the pastor asked her, “On the night of the sexual assault, what did you do before the event occurred?” Eve told her pastor that she had been out drinking with her boyfriend and was very drunk. The pastor then asked, “Did your drinking contribute to the assault?” Eve yelled at the pastor for being inconsiderate, called him a sexist, and swore at him for “siding with the rapist”. She left his office and never returned to the church.
Her pastor came to me very upset. Had he messed up? Was he a bad counselor, a bad person? He was not. What had happened was that the pastor had actually hit on the very thing that was causing Eve’s depression. The person who had committed sexual assault was very guilty, but Eve had played a part in the assault. She put herself into a compromised position. She was so drunk that her own inhibitions were compromised and her thought process was hazy and unclear. Though Eve’s boyfriend was guilty of sexual assault, Eve was responsible for putting herself into a bad situation knowingly. That’s why Eve was depressed. She had spent years blaming her attacker for all her problems and anger and failures. She could not live with the thought that she had in any way played a part or made a mistake. Until she dealt with all the consequences and her anger, and her rationalizations about that night, she could not move past her depressive feelings. In the end, she needed most of all to forgive herself for her own culpability. She could not face that. She would rather blame another than look at her own failure to take responsibility for that night. Then, she justified every bit of her anger for two decades!
The scripture for today mentions why people rationalize their own sin. They want to be “pure in their own eyes” (Proverbs 16:2). Rather than admitting their own sin and failures, they will play up their innocence and heap the blame on another person. God doesn’t play such games. The Lord always “examines their motives” (Proverbs 16:2). God can see when a person is genuinely innocent and when a person is only explaining away their own guilt or responsibility for sin.
Are you good at making yourself look innocent even when you are not? You may think this attitude makes you appear more righteous. It may, but not before God. When God looks at your self-centered attempts at morality, God can only see that you are one of the guilty.
Before you move into a new year, it might just be time for you to look back and make sure you have been honest with yourself. Do you rationalize away your own mistakes? Do you blame others for failures you might be party responsible for committing? Are you true with yourself as well as true with God? Be careful how you answer these questions… God is right now examining your motives!
December 30
“… if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12, NIV)
It is important in life to be confident in your abilities. If you have a strong faith, you need to be confident as you tackle obstacles. If you are well trained, you need to trust in what you have been taught. Being confident not only gives you strength to face challenges, it gives you an air of authority that others need during difficult times. A confident general will give courage to the soldiers under his or her command. A confident hairdresser will make you feel at ease with choosing a new hair style. Confidence is a wonderful asset. However, overconfidence is a bad trait. It can cause you to take chances for which you are not ready. It can convince others to trust you when they should not. Overconfidence in your spiritual gifts can lead to your downfall. Sadly, overconfidence will often ensure that others fail along with you.
Golf immortal Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about overconfidence:
“It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, "Congratulations." I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus.
On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters. You don't forget a mistake like that; you just learn from it and become determined that you will never do that again. I haven't in the 30 years since.” (Carol Mann, The 19th Hole, quoted in Reader's Digest).
If a professional golfer such as Arnold Palmer can be overconfident in his game, you surely can be overconfident in your abilities, even in areas where you are highly gifted. That’s why one firefighter’s home burned to the ground when he left oily rags to dry in the garbage on a hot day. That’s what happened when a counselor overlooked the seriousness of a patient’s depression that resulted in the patient attempting suicide. Even the best of people can be blindsided when their overconfidence causes blind spots in reasoning.
Paul began 1 Corinthians 10 by speaking of the faithful Israelites who witnessed the parting of the Red Sea. This generation of the faithful also witnessed other great miracles like being fed with manna in the wilderness and receiving freshwater that burst from a rock in the desert (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). But those same faithful Israelites who saw such great miracles wrought by God were also the same people who worshipped idols at the base of Mt. Sinai and who doubted God’s providence in the desert (1 Corinthians 10:5). Overconfidence in their faith cost the Israelites dearly when temptations came their way. Upon reminiscing upon these facts, Paul concluded in our scripture for today that “if you think you are standing firm, be careful you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12). In essence, Paul was warning all his readers that they should refrain from being overconfident in their spiritual life. Under the right conditions, that overconfidence could easily lead to downfall and sin.
Ed and Lorraine Warren were well-known authorities in the Roman Catholic Church. For years, they studied spiritual phenomenon, demonic spirits, and spiritualism. They were experts in the field of exorcism, often consulting with the Church and various priests trained for work with demonic spirits. Several famous movies were made using information gleaned from their research such as “The Conjuring”, “Annabelle”, and “The Nun”. During many of their interviews and seminars, the Warrens were adamant that very few people were spiritually strong enough to handle evil spirits or demonic entities one-on-one. The Roman Catholic Church even has special training for exorcist priests, training that first appeared way back in 1614 AD! For centuries it has been taught and believed that a person who is overconfident in dealing with evil may easily succumb to evil spirits!
Daniel was a pastor and well-known counselor. He was sought after for his awesome public-speaking abilities. When he taught Bible Studies, he was extremely well received. He had quite the following. After being on tour for six weeks due to his latest book release, Daniel stopped home for a surprise visit. His daughter was turning sixteen in a few days, and he wanted to be home for the party that was planned. However, upon entering his house unexpectedly, he found his wife and a best friend in an embrace. After the initial shock and outburst, Daniel discovered that his wife had been having an affair for months. This pastor and well-known counselor had overlooked the signs that his marriage was in trouble and missed all the clues that his wife was having an affair. He was so focused on his new book and tour that he misread all the warning signs. Though very gifted spiritually, Daniel was blind to what was happening right before his eyes.
You may be close to God and have wonderful spiritual gifts and abilities, but you too are capable of an overconfident spirit. Paul warns against this in our scripture for today. Every one of us is vulnerable to deception and can overlook even the most obvious of signs. Often those who are blindsided by a failure in life can look back and see how God was sending warnings. I’ve known many a Christian who responded with the words, “I knew I should have listened to what God was telling me….. I see it now….”. Jesus cautioned his disciples to be “as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). This includes being realistic in your self-examination. Satan is called “The Deceiver”, because he enjoys blindsiding even the most faithful.
Is there an area of your life where you might be deceived? Is there a truth that you have a hard time digesting? Are you a little too confident in your abilities? I don’t want you to be blindsided by Satan’s tactics. I don’t want you to overlook important spiritual clues. God will provide you with everything you need. Overconfidence is something you don’t need.
Golf immortal Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about overconfidence:
“It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, "Congratulations." I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus.
On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters. You don't forget a mistake like that; you just learn from it and become determined that you will never do that again. I haven't in the 30 years since.” (Carol Mann, The 19th Hole, quoted in Reader's Digest).
If a professional golfer such as Arnold Palmer can be overconfident in his game, you surely can be overconfident in your abilities, even in areas where you are highly gifted. That’s why one firefighter’s home burned to the ground when he left oily rags to dry in the garbage on a hot day. That’s what happened when a counselor overlooked the seriousness of a patient’s depression that resulted in the patient attempting suicide. Even the best of people can be blindsided when their overconfidence causes blind spots in reasoning.
Paul began 1 Corinthians 10 by speaking of the faithful Israelites who witnessed the parting of the Red Sea. This generation of the faithful also witnessed other great miracles like being fed with manna in the wilderness and receiving freshwater that burst from a rock in the desert (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). But those same faithful Israelites who saw such great miracles wrought by God were also the same people who worshipped idols at the base of Mt. Sinai and who doubted God’s providence in the desert (1 Corinthians 10:5). Overconfidence in their faith cost the Israelites dearly when temptations came their way. Upon reminiscing upon these facts, Paul concluded in our scripture for today that “if you think you are standing firm, be careful you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12). In essence, Paul was warning all his readers that they should refrain from being overconfident in their spiritual life. Under the right conditions, that overconfidence could easily lead to downfall and sin.
Ed and Lorraine Warren were well-known authorities in the Roman Catholic Church. For years, they studied spiritual phenomenon, demonic spirits, and spiritualism. They were experts in the field of exorcism, often consulting with the Church and various priests trained for work with demonic spirits. Several famous movies were made using information gleaned from their research such as “The Conjuring”, “Annabelle”, and “The Nun”. During many of their interviews and seminars, the Warrens were adamant that very few people were spiritually strong enough to handle evil spirits or demonic entities one-on-one. The Roman Catholic Church even has special training for exorcist priests, training that first appeared way back in 1614 AD! For centuries it has been taught and believed that a person who is overconfident in dealing with evil may easily succumb to evil spirits!
Daniel was a pastor and well-known counselor. He was sought after for his awesome public-speaking abilities. When he taught Bible Studies, he was extremely well received. He had quite the following. After being on tour for six weeks due to his latest book release, Daniel stopped home for a surprise visit. His daughter was turning sixteen in a few days, and he wanted to be home for the party that was planned. However, upon entering his house unexpectedly, he found his wife and a best friend in an embrace. After the initial shock and outburst, Daniel discovered that his wife had been having an affair for months. This pastor and well-known counselor had overlooked the signs that his marriage was in trouble and missed all the clues that his wife was having an affair. He was so focused on his new book and tour that he misread all the warning signs. Though very gifted spiritually, Daniel was blind to what was happening right before his eyes.
You may be close to God and have wonderful spiritual gifts and abilities, but you too are capable of an overconfident spirit. Paul warns against this in our scripture for today. Every one of us is vulnerable to deception and can overlook even the most obvious of signs. Often those who are blindsided by a failure in life can look back and see how God was sending warnings. I’ve known many a Christian who responded with the words, “I knew I should have listened to what God was telling me….. I see it now….”. Jesus cautioned his disciples to be “as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). This includes being realistic in your self-examination. Satan is called “The Deceiver”, because he enjoys blindsiding even the most faithful.
Is there an area of your life where you might be deceived? Is there a truth that you have a hard time digesting? Are you a little too confident in your abilities? I don’t want you to be blindsided by Satan’s tactics. I don’t want you to overlook important spiritual clues. God will provide you with everything you need. Overconfidence is something you don’t need.
October 31
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
When you make a commitment to God through Jesus Christ, you become a Christian. As you live out the promises and obedience given that relationship, you become a faithful and true Christian. The basis for the word "Christian" is Christ, the Messiah. Thus, when you live for Jesus' sake, you become a "Christian" through that relationship with Jesus. An "Serbian" owes a commitment to Serbia. A "Mohammedan" is an ancient term for one who follows Mohammed. A "Christian" owes his or her life to Christ. That relationship should be the center of one's life and form the crux of who you are.
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!