February 3
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:24, NLT)
One day, a certain rich man of a miserable disposition visited a rabbi, who took the rich man by the hand and led him to a window. "Look out there," he said. The rich man looked into the street. "What do you see?" asked the rabbi. "I see men, women, and children," answered the rich man. Again, the rabbi took him by the hand and this time led him to a mirror. "Now what do you see?" "Now I see myself," the rich man replied.
Then the rabbi said, "Behold, in the window there is glass, and in the mirror there is glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with a little silver, and no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others, but you see only yourself."
I am constantly surprised at what money can do to people. It may change their priorities. It may alter their values. It will affect their choices. It will increase or decrease their options and decisions. A rich man can go to a car dealership and say, “I want this car”, and take the car home. There is no thought or worry about future payments, the risk taking involved, or interest rates. If the rich man doesn’t like the car or it is a lemon, he will take it back and get another with little worry about the consequences. A poor person will often agonize over each expenditure. She knows that one big financial mistake could mean the difference between many months of scrimping or cutting back on the purchase of healthy foods for meals, or skipping medicines, or cancelling doctor’s appointments to cut costs. But the changes that money makes in a person go much deeper. Money can change a person’s entire perspective, one’s attitude, and faith in God.
I was still in the church building two hours after worship ended. I had some work to do and a meeting to attend. While there, an elder named Steve knocked on my door and told me of a man who had appeared at the entrance. He was in need of some food. I went with the elder to talk to the man. In that conversation, I found out that the man had recently moved into an area shelter after losing his apartment. By looking at the needle marks on his arms, I could tell that his drug use had probably eaten up what little money he had. After a few minutes to find out about his situation, Steve and I excused ourselves to speak privately inside the building with the promise that we’d see what we could do.
When we talked, Steve immediately pronounced that the homeless man was a drug addict and we should not help him. He believed that the man should be told to leave the property and go back to the shelter. Steve also suggested we tell the man to attend the soup kitchen at the shelter. It would be open in an hour. I pulled twenty dollars out of my wallet and told the elder to instead take the homeless man down to the diner at the end of the block. There, he was to order him a nice meal and sit with him to make sure he ate. The elder was upset at my suggestion, but since we were good friends, he did as I asked.
At a meeting later that day, I saw Steve again. We had a chance to talk after the meeting ended. He seemed excited. Despite his initial reservations, Steve had a nice meal with the homeless man. When the two sat down together to eat, the man opened up to him since both were former soldiers. Come to find out, the homeless man was a Gulf War Veteran. He had served two years overseas, then come home to problems. While stationed overseas, he was divorced by his wife. Due to the war, he had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Not wanting to take medications to fix his problem, he had turned to alcohol and drugs. His family kicked him out of their home after getting into two fights. He was trying to get off drugs and had two weeks before entered a volunteer program for drug rehab at a nearby Veterans Hospital. In order to stay in the program, he was required to stay in the area but didn’t have a job yet. He didn’t have family living close-by and had a hard time finding a job. He couldn’t afford the two months deposit required to get an apartment. He was struggling. After the meal, Steve checked on his story through a friend at the Veterans Hospital and found that everything the homeless man said was true. As we talked about the homeless Veteran named Carl, Steve now wished he could have done more.
In the days after that meal, Steve changed. He no longer saw every person who came asking for help at the church as a bum. He didn’t look at “those people” as addicts or homeless people. He began to ask their names. He talked to them about their situations. He checked on their stories and found out ways to better help them. As an elder, Steve realized that God wanted him to treat those looking for help with more compassion.
As a homeless person in that situation, Carl had few options or choices. He couldn’t choose what food to eat. He was limited to whatever the soup kitchen served. If he was sick, the dispensary at the shelter had only OTC drugs like aspirin and Tylenol with a few bottles of antacids, but no antibiotics or painkillers or diabetes medications or any other prescription medications. Carl couldn’t choose whether to see a doctor. If he was sick, he’d wait until the free clinic was open at the VA. Carl couldn’t choose which bed to sleep in nor any furniture at the shelter. He couldn’t choose when to eat. He couldn’t raise the temperature of his room on a cold night or stay in bed when under the weather or when it was pouring down rain during the day. Because of our income and situation and health, Steve and I had choices. We could choose when to eat, where to sleep, when to see a doctor and had thousands more options in our day.
As part of the long “Sermon on the Mount” found in Matthew chapters five through seven, Jesus mentioned the words found in the scripture for today. The topic of these verses was the mastery of the soul. Jesus mentioned that “no one can serve two masters”. If you are beholden to one master, that master has priority over you. Your choices are limited. You must follow your master’s bidding. In the verse for today, Jesus mentioned two common masters in our world, God and money. When faced with the choice between the love of God and the love of money, you can only choose one to be most important. Some have chosen to be devoted to money. A few have chosen to love God. One must be the master. In life, your choices will determine who is your master. If you become “enslaved to money”, it becomes your master. It controls you attitudes and choices. It affects your values and priorities.
When encountering Carl, Steve realized that he initially was unsympathetic. Steve had the choice of whether to help Carl or not. At first, Steve wanted to withhold all support from Carl and send him back to the shelter and soup kitchen. This changed when Steve had a chance to have a meal with Carl. After a meal together, Steve saw Carl as a person in need, a good man, a soldier who deserved help. Before that, Steve’s heart was hardened. Until that meal, Steve didn’t even ask Carl’s name! It was easy to withhold help and support.
If you’d have asked Steve if he was “enslaved to money” before he met Carl, Steve would have taken offense. After being put in the situation of dealing with Carl, Steve realized that he was affected by his “status” and financial situation. The encounter with Carl made Steve re-evaluate why and how he used his money and influence. The last thing Steve wanted was to have money become more important than a person in true need.
As a friend of mine from youth became wealthy, I noticed a change in him. He became selfish and self-centered. He saw his money as not only deserved but a sign of his worth. When in trouble, he turned less and less to God and more and more to his money to get him out of a jam. Only when his money failed him did he rely on God. Sadly, his money stunted his spiritual growth. He never learned to truly rely on God until his health was gone. He wealth damaged his spiritual life. Money has a way of putting its tentacles around your world. As it expands your choices, but often tempts you to rely on its power. God often takes a back burner when money is available or easy.
From Hollywood to Washington, DC, you can see how money corrupts lives. It skews one’s values. It distorts one’s self-worth. The love of money can slowly enslave you. It can co-opt you into making worldly choices. It can make you conceited, arrogant, hard-hearted, and selfish. Rich and poor people alike can have their minds and choices captivated by the love of money.
Throughout your life, you will feel the tug of money’s influence. It’s cheap and easy to sell your soul to its influence. However, when money “ensnares” your soul, you will pay an infinite price. Some of the very things you should love will become cheapened and worth less and less over time. Money may become such an influence that your whole world will revolve around it, skewing everything else of eternal importance.
Jesus’ words for today are a warning. When it comes to the love of money or the love of God, you will be forced to choose a side. Only one will become your master. Only one can own your soul.
Then the rabbi said, "Behold, in the window there is glass, and in the mirror there is glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with a little silver, and no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others, but you see only yourself."
I am constantly surprised at what money can do to people. It may change their priorities. It may alter their values. It will affect their choices. It will increase or decrease their options and decisions. A rich man can go to a car dealership and say, “I want this car”, and take the car home. There is no thought or worry about future payments, the risk taking involved, or interest rates. If the rich man doesn’t like the car or it is a lemon, he will take it back and get another with little worry about the consequences. A poor person will often agonize over each expenditure. She knows that one big financial mistake could mean the difference between many months of scrimping or cutting back on the purchase of healthy foods for meals, or skipping medicines, or cancelling doctor’s appointments to cut costs. But the changes that money makes in a person go much deeper. Money can change a person’s entire perspective, one’s attitude, and faith in God.
I was still in the church building two hours after worship ended. I had some work to do and a meeting to attend. While there, an elder named Steve knocked on my door and told me of a man who had appeared at the entrance. He was in need of some food. I went with the elder to talk to the man. In that conversation, I found out that the man had recently moved into an area shelter after losing his apartment. By looking at the needle marks on his arms, I could tell that his drug use had probably eaten up what little money he had. After a few minutes to find out about his situation, Steve and I excused ourselves to speak privately inside the building with the promise that we’d see what we could do.
When we talked, Steve immediately pronounced that the homeless man was a drug addict and we should not help him. He believed that the man should be told to leave the property and go back to the shelter. Steve also suggested we tell the man to attend the soup kitchen at the shelter. It would be open in an hour. I pulled twenty dollars out of my wallet and told the elder to instead take the homeless man down to the diner at the end of the block. There, he was to order him a nice meal and sit with him to make sure he ate. The elder was upset at my suggestion, but since we were good friends, he did as I asked.
At a meeting later that day, I saw Steve again. We had a chance to talk after the meeting ended. He seemed excited. Despite his initial reservations, Steve had a nice meal with the homeless man. When the two sat down together to eat, the man opened up to him since both were former soldiers. Come to find out, the homeless man was a Gulf War Veteran. He had served two years overseas, then come home to problems. While stationed overseas, he was divorced by his wife. Due to the war, he had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Not wanting to take medications to fix his problem, he had turned to alcohol and drugs. His family kicked him out of their home after getting into two fights. He was trying to get off drugs and had two weeks before entered a volunteer program for drug rehab at a nearby Veterans Hospital. In order to stay in the program, he was required to stay in the area but didn’t have a job yet. He didn’t have family living close-by and had a hard time finding a job. He couldn’t afford the two months deposit required to get an apartment. He was struggling. After the meal, Steve checked on his story through a friend at the Veterans Hospital and found that everything the homeless man said was true. As we talked about the homeless Veteran named Carl, Steve now wished he could have done more.
In the days after that meal, Steve changed. He no longer saw every person who came asking for help at the church as a bum. He didn’t look at “those people” as addicts or homeless people. He began to ask their names. He talked to them about their situations. He checked on their stories and found out ways to better help them. As an elder, Steve realized that God wanted him to treat those looking for help with more compassion.
As a homeless person in that situation, Carl had few options or choices. He couldn’t choose what food to eat. He was limited to whatever the soup kitchen served. If he was sick, the dispensary at the shelter had only OTC drugs like aspirin and Tylenol with a few bottles of antacids, but no antibiotics or painkillers or diabetes medications or any other prescription medications. Carl couldn’t choose whether to see a doctor. If he was sick, he’d wait until the free clinic was open at the VA. Carl couldn’t choose which bed to sleep in nor any furniture at the shelter. He couldn’t choose when to eat. He couldn’t raise the temperature of his room on a cold night or stay in bed when under the weather or when it was pouring down rain during the day. Because of our income and situation and health, Steve and I had choices. We could choose when to eat, where to sleep, when to see a doctor and had thousands more options in our day.
As part of the long “Sermon on the Mount” found in Matthew chapters five through seven, Jesus mentioned the words found in the scripture for today. The topic of these verses was the mastery of the soul. Jesus mentioned that “no one can serve two masters”. If you are beholden to one master, that master has priority over you. Your choices are limited. You must follow your master’s bidding. In the verse for today, Jesus mentioned two common masters in our world, God and money. When faced with the choice between the love of God and the love of money, you can only choose one to be most important. Some have chosen to be devoted to money. A few have chosen to love God. One must be the master. In life, your choices will determine who is your master. If you become “enslaved to money”, it becomes your master. It controls you attitudes and choices. It affects your values and priorities.
When encountering Carl, Steve realized that he initially was unsympathetic. Steve had the choice of whether to help Carl or not. At first, Steve wanted to withhold all support from Carl and send him back to the shelter and soup kitchen. This changed when Steve had a chance to have a meal with Carl. After a meal together, Steve saw Carl as a person in need, a good man, a soldier who deserved help. Before that, Steve’s heart was hardened. Until that meal, Steve didn’t even ask Carl’s name! It was easy to withhold help and support.
If you’d have asked Steve if he was “enslaved to money” before he met Carl, Steve would have taken offense. After being put in the situation of dealing with Carl, Steve realized that he was affected by his “status” and financial situation. The encounter with Carl made Steve re-evaluate why and how he used his money and influence. The last thing Steve wanted was to have money become more important than a person in true need.
As a friend of mine from youth became wealthy, I noticed a change in him. He became selfish and self-centered. He saw his money as not only deserved but a sign of his worth. When in trouble, he turned less and less to God and more and more to his money to get him out of a jam. Only when his money failed him did he rely on God. Sadly, his money stunted his spiritual growth. He never learned to truly rely on God until his health was gone. He wealth damaged his spiritual life. Money has a way of putting its tentacles around your world. As it expands your choices, but often tempts you to rely on its power. God often takes a back burner when money is available or easy.
From Hollywood to Washington, DC, you can see how money corrupts lives. It skews one’s values. It distorts one’s self-worth. The love of money can slowly enslave you. It can co-opt you into making worldly choices. It can make you conceited, arrogant, hard-hearted, and selfish. Rich and poor people alike can have their minds and choices captivated by the love of money.
Throughout your life, you will feel the tug of money’s influence. It’s cheap and easy to sell your soul to its influence. However, when money “ensnares” your soul, you will pay an infinite price. Some of the very things you should love will become cheapened and worth less and less over time. Money may become such an influence that your whole world will revolve around it, skewing everything else of eternal importance.
Jesus’ words for today are a warning. When it comes to the love of money or the love of God, you will be forced to choose a side. Only one will become your master. Only one can own your soul.
February 5
“For I have set My face against this city for adversity and not for good,” says the Lord. “It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.” ’” (Jeremiah 21:10, NKJV)
In Ezekiel 39:24, God told the people who had sinned that HE was hiding his face from them. God was upset with the sinfulness in Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah prophesied in that same era that God was no longer going to hear the prayers of the people. In our scripture for today, the prophet Jeremiah told the people of Judah and Jerusalem that God had shifted His intent. No longer was God going to just hide HIS face from the people and ignore their prayers. Because of their sin, Jeremiah reported that the Lord was going to “set HIS face against the city” (Jeremiah 21:10). God was going to cause “adversity” to come upon Jerusalem. The good times were over.
Today’s Christians may become so politically correct that they only see God as “nice” or “good”. I have heard sermons wherein pastors predicted that God is always going to be nice to people, no matter how much they sin. I’ve met church people who saw God as a “nice old man” who acted more like jolly Santa Claus than the Biblical Lord of all. That view of God does not exist in today’s scripture. It also does not reflect what happened in the sixth century BC. In those days, not only did God reject the sin of the people of Judah, God sent the Babylonian armies to crush the unrepentant Jews. Jerusalem’s protective walls were utterly destroyed. The Temple was burned to the ground. Many mainline pastors try to downplay the destruction caused by God. Some Christians proclaim that the God of the Old Testament was harsh, and Jesus would not cause such devastation. Those who preach and teach only about God’s mercy hide from God’s people the fact that at times God may bring devastation and adversity into a person’s life in order to combat unrepentant sin. God’s grace and forgiveness are legendary. However, when a person refuses to face sin, God’s judgement may be just as powerful. If you sin long enough, God may decide to “set HIS face” against you. If you don’t repent and help evil to flourish, God may reign down adversity upon you.
“In his book I Surrender, Patrick Morley writes that the church's integrity problem is in the misconception "that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior." He goes on to say, "It is revival without reformation, without repentance."” (Chuck Swindoll, John the Baptizer, p. 16)
I met John at a homeless shelter. John was one of those people who added Jesus to his life, but did not “subtract sin”. He worshiped God on Sunday but took advantage of others on Monday. He had a mean streak. He got even with those he didn’t like. Sometimes, he even treated those he did like with disdain.
When John was in his fifties, he was pretty wealthy. His business dealings had paid off plenty. However, John was very unpleasant to be around. People in church did not like his attitude. When he was warm to you, he felt as oily as a manipulative salesperson. When he was upset with you, he would go to any effort to make your life miserable. Then, something happened to John. His business went under. His home was repossessed. His wife divorced him. His two children didn’t want to be around him. John’s life was a mess. He found himself in a homeless shelter as no family member would take him in. He still had that angry snarl upon his lips and a mean look about his eyes.
Then, John repented. At a worship service one evening, John renewed his commitment to Jesus Christ. Twenty of us prayed over John and laid our hands upon him. Thereafter, John became a very different man. He was gentle and kind. He was not boastful or rude. If a visitor at the shelter asked John about his life, John would say, “God had to take everything away from me before I realized how awesome Jesus really is!” John dedicated himself thereafter to help other homeless men find salvation in Christ.
Let’s be honest in our evaluation. Not all adversity is sent by God. Some people face adversity due to bad genetics, poor decisions, unlucky accidents, or an unhealthy environment. However, if you are living in sin, God may send adversity your way in order to bring you around or cause you to repent. God is doing it to save your soul. God is doing it to stop your self-destruction. It’s a divine form of tough love.
It took the destruction of the Temple and all of Jerusalem, forty years of slavery and exile, and thousands of dead before the Jews rebuilt their relationship with God. Some people will not repent of their wrongs. They will fight to the death to live in their sin. I pray you never feel what its like for God to set HIS face against you. I just hope it doesn’t take that much for you to subtract sin’s influence upon your life. Do you “realize how awesome Jesus really is”?
Today’s Christians may become so politically correct that they only see God as “nice” or “good”. I have heard sermons wherein pastors predicted that God is always going to be nice to people, no matter how much they sin. I’ve met church people who saw God as a “nice old man” who acted more like jolly Santa Claus than the Biblical Lord of all. That view of God does not exist in today’s scripture. It also does not reflect what happened in the sixth century BC. In those days, not only did God reject the sin of the people of Judah, God sent the Babylonian armies to crush the unrepentant Jews. Jerusalem’s protective walls were utterly destroyed. The Temple was burned to the ground. Many mainline pastors try to downplay the destruction caused by God. Some Christians proclaim that the God of the Old Testament was harsh, and Jesus would not cause such devastation. Those who preach and teach only about God’s mercy hide from God’s people the fact that at times God may bring devastation and adversity into a person’s life in order to combat unrepentant sin. God’s grace and forgiveness are legendary. However, when a person refuses to face sin, God’s judgement may be just as powerful. If you sin long enough, God may decide to “set HIS face” against you. If you don’t repent and help evil to flourish, God may reign down adversity upon you.
“In his book I Surrender, Patrick Morley writes that the church's integrity problem is in the misconception "that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior." He goes on to say, "It is revival without reformation, without repentance."” (Chuck Swindoll, John the Baptizer, p. 16)
I met John at a homeless shelter. John was one of those people who added Jesus to his life, but did not “subtract sin”. He worshiped God on Sunday but took advantage of others on Monday. He had a mean streak. He got even with those he didn’t like. Sometimes, he even treated those he did like with disdain.
When John was in his fifties, he was pretty wealthy. His business dealings had paid off plenty. However, John was very unpleasant to be around. People in church did not like his attitude. When he was warm to you, he felt as oily as a manipulative salesperson. When he was upset with you, he would go to any effort to make your life miserable. Then, something happened to John. His business went under. His home was repossessed. His wife divorced him. His two children didn’t want to be around him. John’s life was a mess. He found himself in a homeless shelter as no family member would take him in. He still had that angry snarl upon his lips and a mean look about his eyes.
Then, John repented. At a worship service one evening, John renewed his commitment to Jesus Christ. Twenty of us prayed over John and laid our hands upon him. Thereafter, John became a very different man. He was gentle and kind. He was not boastful or rude. If a visitor at the shelter asked John about his life, John would say, “God had to take everything away from me before I realized how awesome Jesus really is!” John dedicated himself thereafter to help other homeless men find salvation in Christ.
Let’s be honest in our evaluation. Not all adversity is sent by God. Some people face adversity due to bad genetics, poor decisions, unlucky accidents, or an unhealthy environment. However, if you are living in sin, God may send adversity your way in order to bring you around or cause you to repent. God is doing it to save your soul. God is doing it to stop your self-destruction. It’s a divine form of tough love.
It took the destruction of the Temple and all of Jerusalem, forty years of slavery and exile, and thousands of dead before the Jews rebuilt their relationship with God. Some people will not repent of their wrongs. They will fight to the death to live in their sin. I pray you never feel what its like for God to set HIS face against you. I just hope it doesn’t take that much for you to subtract sin’s influence upon your life. Do you “realize how awesome Jesus really is”?
February 10
“Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men [angels] reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.” (Genesis 19:9b–11, ESV)
“The Hope College Women's basketball team had made it to the national playoffs. The final game saw Hope 20 points behind with 10 minutes left to play. The team remained calm and began to narrow the gap. Then with just 5 seconds remaining, a 3-point basket tied the game. The final score was decided by Dina Disney. With no time left on the clock, she sank two free throws to win the game. When television and press interviewers asked her how she stayed calm under so much pressure, Dina said she recited to herself, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."” (Our Daily Bread)
Over and over, Dina Disney found the courage to face the terrific pressure on the basketball court by relying on Jesus for help and strength. She found that Jesus cleared her mind and eased the great pressure of the moment. When you find yourself being pressed from some worldly challenge or obstacle, when life throws you curves, when your anxiety and worry skyrocket, God is there to help. God can hold things together for you or with you. God can lighten your load or bring things into better focus. God can protect and strengthen you. God can greatly affect your situation. Just don’t hesitate to ask!
In the scripture for today from the book of Genesis, Lot was being attacked by the evil people of his city. They came to assault him and his guests. The evil in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were so grievous, that God had sent angels to roam the city and check on the situation. They stayed with Lot, the brother of Abraham, who tried to keep them safe. In today’s scripture, Lot tried to resist the pressure of the evil people who wanted to break down his door. As he fought for the safety of the angels staying with him, the angels jumped in to protect Lot. They pulled Lot to safety when his life was threatened (Genesis 19:9). Then, the angels struck with blindness the people who were threatening murder (Genesis 19:11). Only then did the evil people back away. Only then did the danger of death subside. Only then did the evil pressure outside cease to threaten Lot.
Lot tried to hold back the evil men outside his home to protect the angels. When the pressure became too much for Lot, the angels stepped in to protect him and his family. When evil forces threaten your world, God has the ability to step in to protect you. God can ease the pressure you are under. God’s angels may protect you in ways the world cannot understand. Even God’s word can be a comfort and salvation.
Captain Jerry Curtis’s F-105 plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. He was taken to a prisoner-of-war holding facility in Hanoi, where he was tortured. Communist soldiers and leaders considered Curtis not only a prisoner but a criminal. They sought to break him, crush his spirit, and control his will to live. Curtis, like others in that hellish position, held on. When his jailers bent his body so far that the blood stopped flowing to his arms, he cried out in pain. When they locked him away in solitary confinement to break his spirit, he suffered alone. When they starved him, his body became gaunt. Years later, Jerry Curtis told his home church that God was with him throughout the ordeal. God knew where he was. God was present. POWs tapped out scriptures to one another to help them overcome the terrible pressures. They prayed for one another. While testifying to the people in his home church in 2001 of the many ways God helped him cope, Captain Lewis reiterated over and over how the communist leaders tried desperately to abolish notions of God from the hearts of the men. The jailers confiscated scriptures and would not allow any talk of faith. God's presence and God's Word kept the POWs like Curtis alive. God and the scriptures were of great comfort during that intense time. (See the article in The Temple Daily Telegram, Nov. 10, 2001, “Former POW Attributes Faith as Key to Survival”).
When the pressures of your life threaten, look for God’s help to overcome. God can send angels to help, as HE did with Lot. God’s scriptures can bring you peace in a pressure-filled moment, as Dina Disney proclaimed. God can help you overcome extreme evil, as in the case of Captain Jerry Curtis. In thousands and thousands of ways, God can help when life “presses hard” against you (Genesis 19:9). Just ask for God’s help. Don’t forget to ask! Then, lean on God’s strength. Trust in God’s ability to bring you through.
Over and over, Dina Disney found the courage to face the terrific pressure on the basketball court by relying on Jesus for help and strength. She found that Jesus cleared her mind and eased the great pressure of the moment. When you find yourself being pressed from some worldly challenge or obstacle, when life throws you curves, when your anxiety and worry skyrocket, God is there to help. God can hold things together for you or with you. God can lighten your load or bring things into better focus. God can protect and strengthen you. God can greatly affect your situation. Just don’t hesitate to ask!
In the scripture for today from the book of Genesis, Lot was being attacked by the evil people of his city. They came to assault him and his guests. The evil in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were so grievous, that God had sent angels to roam the city and check on the situation. They stayed with Lot, the brother of Abraham, who tried to keep them safe. In today’s scripture, Lot tried to resist the pressure of the evil people who wanted to break down his door. As he fought for the safety of the angels staying with him, the angels jumped in to protect Lot. They pulled Lot to safety when his life was threatened (Genesis 19:9). Then, the angels struck with blindness the people who were threatening murder (Genesis 19:11). Only then did the evil people back away. Only then did the danger of death subside. Only then did the evil pressure outside cease to threaten Lot.
Lot tried to hold back the evil men outside his home to protect the angels. When the pressure became too much for Lot, the angels stepped in to protect him and his family. When evil forces threaten your world, God has the ability to step in to protect you. God can ease the pressure you are under. God’s angels may protect you in ways the world cannot understand. Even God’s word can be a comfort and salvation.
Captain Jerry Curtis’s F-105 plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. He was taken to a prisoner-of-war holding facility in Hanoi, where he was tortured. Communist soldiers and leaders considered Curtis not only a prisoner but a criminal. They sought to break him, crush his spirit, and control his will to live. Curtis, like others in that hellish position, held on. When his jailers bent his body so far that the blood stopped flowing to his arms, he cried out in pain. When they locked him away in solitary confinement to break his spirit, he suffered alone. When they starved him, his body became gaunt. Years later, Jerry Curtis told his home church that God was with him throughout the ordeal. God knew where he was. God was present. POWs tapped out scriptures to one another to help them overcome the terrible pressures. They prayed for one another. While testifying to the people in his home church in 2001 of the many ways God helped him cope, Captain Lewis reiterated over and over how the communist leaders tried desperately to abolish notions of God from the hearts of the men. The jailers confiscated scriptures and would not allow any talk of faith. God's presence and God's Word kept the POWs like Curtis alive. God and the scriptures were of great comfort during that intense time. (See the article in The Temple Daily Telegram, Nov. 10, 2001, “Former POW Attributes Faith as Key to Survival”).
When the pressures of your life threaten, look for God’s help to overcome. God can send angels to help, as HE did with Lot. God’s scriptures can bring you peace in a pressure-filled moment, as Dina Disney proclaimed. God can help you overcome extreme evil, as in the case of Captain Jerry Curtis. In thousands and thousands of ways, God can help when life “presses hard” against you (Genesis 19:9). Just ask for God’s help. Don’t forget to ask! Then, lean on God’s strength. Trust in God’s ability to bring you through.
February 12
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:7–11, ESV)
In the scripture above, Jesus is speaking to His followers. His hope is given in the last verse.. “that [Jesus’] joy may be in them”….and…. “that their joy may be full” (John 15:11). Jesus wants His followers to have hearts and minds “full” of joy. If you are a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, you should see and feel that joy in your heart and mind. Your joy in Christ should be obvious to others. If it is not, something is wrong.
Let me tell you about two Christian women.
Sandra has been through a lot. Her husband died of cancer in his thirties. She has one teenage daughter, Carly. They are close, but there is a lot of friction in their relationship. While trying to cope with the death of her father, Sandra’s daughter has been difficult. Carly has been on academic probation at school. She’s been grounded several times in the past six months. She’s gotten herself into trouble at school. Carly has been caught drinking and smoking pot. Through it all, Sandra usually has a smile on her face. She is frazzled at times, but usually has a calm demeanor. Sandra’s friends come to her for advice. Sandra’s home is a safe haven for Carly’s friends as well as the women in her grief support group. Sandra’s faith is amazing! When Sandra’s friends at church need some encouragement, she’s the one they call first.
Then, there’s Charlene. Charlene has had a difficult time with breast cancer. She’s had it twice. Despite being a very open and warm young lady in her teens, the cancer changed Charlene. She has turned very negative and depressive. Behind her back, some people in her church call Charlene toxic. She always sees the negative. She can be spiteful. Sometimes, her words are cutting or demeaning. People in Charlene’s church ignore her negative personality knowing that cancer has changed her. They try to be supportive, but it’s not easy.
These two women are both Christians. Sandra is full of the joy of Christ. Charlene is not. Both have had lives impacted by cancer. Both are regular attendees at worship. Both belong to a women’s group at their church. Both are members of a support group. There is so much that these two women have in common. However, where they differ is striking. Since Sandra is full of the joy of Christ, others draw strength from her faith. On the other hand, Charlene has a negative influence in her spheres of influence. She brings people down. Her sadness and negativity can suck the joy out of any room! What separates these two women the most is their joy in Christ. One is infused with it. One needs it desperately.
In the scripture for today, Jesus mentioned that HIS joy was contingent on two things. John 15:7 says that in order to find joy in Christ, you need to “abide in HIM and HIS words”. To find real joy in Christ, you need to have a relationship with Jesus that goes beyond mere knowledge. You need to let Christ inhabit your day, fill your heart, influence your soul and mind. HE must abide in you. Scriptures about Jesus (HIS words), need to fill your day. The second thing required to find full joy in Christ is to “keep HIS commandments”. You can’t be a Christian in name only. You can’t “just” belong to a Christian church. You must live out your faith in Christ, obeying the law of God. According to this scripture, those who do these two things end up “abiding” in Jesus’ love (John 15:9). When Jesus’ love fills your life, Jesus’ joy will fill your world.
I have been in churches that felt more like funeral homes than places of spiritual encouragement. I’ve met Christians who were so difficult that they caused arguments and dissension wherever they went. There are Christians who have gone to church for decades, but who exhibit no joy in their faith. One woman described them to me as church people who look like they suck on lemons. Have you ever met one of these un-joyful churchgoers? Are you one of these spiritual downers?
If you find the joy of Christ missing in your every day, follow the advice of Jesus in today’s scripture. First, let Jesus fully into EVERY area of your life. Abide WITH Him! Then, make sure to follow Jesus’ words, obeying His voice and Spirit. Then, let God’s love in Christ flow into EVERY nook and cranny of your heart and mind. Let that love transform your way of thinking and view of life. If you do these things, you will find yourself filling with the joy of Christ. Others will see it, too! And honestly, others will need it, too!
I have found that those who exude the joy of Christ are crucial to any faithful church. They are great blessings to the spiritual life. Their value shines brightly in this dark world.
Let me tell you about two Christian women.
Sandra has been through a lot. Her husband died of cancer in his thirties. She has one teenage daughter, Carly. They are close, but there is a lot of friction in their relationship. While trying to cope with the death of her father, Sandra’s daughter has been difficult. Carly has been on academic probation at school. She’s been grounded several times in the past six months. She’s gotten herself into trouble at school. Carly has been caught drinking and smoking pot. Through it all, Sandra usually has a smile on her face. She is frazzled at times, but usually has a calm demeanor. Sandra’s friends come to her for advice. Sandra’s home is a safe haven for Carly’s friends as well as the women in her grief support group. Sandra’s faith is amazing! When Sandra’s friends at church need some encouragement, she’s the one they call first.
Then, there’s Charlene. Charlene has had a difficult time with breast cancer. She’s had it twice. Despite being a very open and warm young lady in her teens, the cancer changed Charlene. She has turned very negative and depressive. Behind her back, some people in her church call Charlene toxic. She always sees the negative. She can be spiteful. Sometimes, her words are cutting or demeaning. People in Charlene’s church ignore her negative personality knowing that cancer has changed her. They try to be supportive, but it’s not easy.
These two women are both Christians. Sandra is full of the joy of Christ. Charlene is not. Both have had lives impacted by cancer. Both are regular attendees at worship. Both belong to a women’s group at their church. Both are members of a support group. There is so much that these two women have in common. However, where they differ is striking. Since Sandra is full of the joy of Christ, others draw strength from her faith. On the other hand, Charlene has a negative influence in her spheres of influence. She brings people down. Her sadness and negativity can suck the joy out of any room! What separates these two women the most is their joy in Christ. One is infused with it. One needs it desperately.
In the scripture for today, Jesus mentioned that HIS joy was contingent on two things. John 15:7 says that in order to find joy in Christ, you need to “abide in HIM and HIS words”. To find real joy in Christ, you need to have a relationship with Jesus that goes beyond mere knowledge. You need to let Christ inhabit your day, fill your heart, influence your soul and mind. HE must abide in you. Scriptures about Jesus (HIS words), need to fill your day. The second thing required to find full joy in Christ is to “keep HIS commandments”. You can’t be a Christian in name only. You can’t “just” belong to a Christian church. You must live out your faith in Christ, obeying the law of God. According to this scripture, those who do these two things end up “abiding” in Jesus’ love (John 15:9). When Jesus’ love fills your life, Jesus’ joy will fill your world.
I have been in churches that felt more like funeral homes than places of spiritual encouragement. I’ve met Christians who were so difficult that they caused arguments and dissension wherever they went. There are Christians who have gone to church for decades, but who exhibit no joy in their faith. One woman described them to me as church people who look like they suck on lemons. Have you ever met one of these un-joyful churchgoers? Are you one of these spiritual downers?
If you find the joy of Christ missing in your every day, follow the advice of Jesus in today’s scripture. First, let Jesus fully into EVERY area of your life. Abide WITH Him! Then, make sure to follow Jesus’ words, obeying His voice and Spirit. Then, let God’s love in Christ flow into EVERY nook and cranny of your heart and mind. Let that love transform your way of thinking and view of life. If you do these things, you will find yourself filling with the joy of Christ. Others will see it, too! And honestly, others will need it, too!
I have found that those who exude the joy of Christ are crucial to any faithful church. They are great blessings to the spiritual life. Their value shines brightly in this dark world.
February 17
“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude” (Psalm 32:5, NLT)
There is a very strong connection between sin and guilt. If you find yourself feeling guilty, chances are that you are dealing with some kind of sin. However, that sin my not be what you think it is. The guilt may be for the wrong thing. The sin may not be what initially comes to mind.
Trinity was a leader in her youth group at her church. She was a well-rounded and capable leader. When one of the youth got into trouble, Trinity usually knew about it before the parents. She was well-attuned to the youth group and the needs of each under her care. She was loved and respected. However, Trinity had a side to her that she did not share with anyone. She had come from a broken home and had an abortion by the time she was twenty. She had been in several relationships that all failed miserably. She had the bad habit of picking wrong boyfriends and suffering the consequences.
After a gathering of the youth, Trinity retreated to the youth group meeting room. Alone, she began to cry. It was more a sob. It was the seventh anniversary of her abortion. Trinity felt awful for that past. By contributing time to the youth, she wanted to prevent others from making the same mistakes as she did when young. While in tears, her pastor walked by the room and heard her sobs. He stopped inside and found Trinity’s face covered with wet. The pastor didn’t say anything. He just went to her and put his arm around her and started praying.
After a few minutes, Trinity began to tell her pastor of the anniversary of her abortion. She spilled it all. She let all the emotion out. Then, the pastor surprised her by asking just three questions. “Trinity, did you ask God for forgiveness for the abortion?” She nodded. “Did you feel God was telling you that you were forgiven?” Again, she nodded. Then, he said, “Trinity, the next question is a tough one. Did you ever forgive yourself?” Without a word, the tears began to flow again. Then, the two talked for a long while. Thereafter, Trinity began to realize that her guilt was no longer because of the abortion. Her tears were caused by her unwillingness to forgive herself for what she did. Though she knew God had forgiven her, Trinity couldn’t move forward with her life because her guilt held her back. It stunted her own spiritual growth. It stopped the healing process. She couldn’t feel God’s love pouring out upon her.
You may find yourself feeling guilty of a past sin. Mistakes of the past can haunt you. Sins of the present can add to past guilt. You might think a past sin is controlling your life when it might be something else. It might be guilt over a past mistake that keeps you from full communion with God. It might be self-hatred or a misguided sense of perfection that causes you to beat yourself up for sins of the past. Guilt has a way of holding you back from wholeness.
I have found that guilt stunts spiritual growth. It harms God’s healing powers. It erodes one’s spiritual peace and security. It feeds fears and insecurities. It harms relationships. It will cause you to assume the wrong things, blame the wrong things, believe the wrong things.
In the scripture above from Psalm 32:5, David spoke about sin and guilt. David was known for his own failures. He caused the death of Uriah. He had an affair with Bathsheba. He made mistakes raising his sons. He lied to himself and to God. He tried to hide his sin from others. He tried to cover up his guilt. Throughout his life, David grew closer to God. In this Psalm, you can see David’s spiritual maturity learned from many failures. David mentioned in this verse that when he sinned, he learned to confess right away. Rather than hiding his guilt, he learned to open up to God. In this verse, David confessed how amazing it was to be forgiven. When repentance was done right, “all guilt was gone” (Psalm 32:5).
My hope is that in your spiritual life that you learn how to work through your sinfulness. I pray you learn to confess to God quickly and without reservation. I hope you open up to God. Instead of hiding your sin, I pray you work through everything until “your guilt is gone”.
If you find that guilt has captured your mind, reflect with God upon the real reasons why. The guilt may not be caused by a previous sin, but instead by an entirely new sin. You might be too prideful to let go of a failure in judgment. You might be letting negative thoughts cloud your present reality. You might be holding on to guilt when God wants you to grasp forgiveness and healing.
Is there some guilt residing in your thoughts each day? If so, what is feeding it?
Trinity was a leader in her youth group at her church. She was a well-rounded and capable leader. When one of the youth got into trouble, Trinity usually knew about it before the parents. She was well-attuned to the youth group and the needs of each under her care. She was loved and respected. However, Trinity had a side to her that she did not share with anyone. She had come from a broken home and had an abortion by the time she was twenty. She had been in several relationships that all failed miserably. She had the bad habit of picking wrong boyfriends and suffering the consequences.
After a gathering of the youth, Trinity retreated to the youth group meeting room. Alone, she began to cry. It was more a sob. It was the seventh anniversary of her abortion. Trinity felt awful for that past. By contributing time to the youth, she wanted to prevent others from making the same mistakes as she did when young. While in tears, her pastor walked by the room and heard her sobs. He stopped inside and found Trinity’s face covered with wet. The pastor didn’t say anything. He just went to her and put his arm around her and started praying.
After a few minutes, Trinity began to tell her pastor of the anniversary of her abortion. She spilled it all. She let all the emotion out. Then, the pastor surprised her by asking just three questions. “Trinity, did you ask God for forgiveness for the abortion?” She nodded. “Did you feel God was telling you that you were forgiven?” Again, she nodded. Then, he said, “Trinity, the next question is a tough one. Did you ever forgive yourself?” Without a word, the tears began to flow again. Then, the two talked for a long while. Thereafter, Trinity began to realize that her guilt was no longer because of the abortion. Her tears were caused by her unwillingness to forgive herself for what she did. Though she knew God had forgiven her, Trinity couldn’t move forward with her life because her guilt held her back. It stunted her own spiritual growth. It stopped the healing process. She couldn’t feel God’s love pouring out upon her.
You may find yourself feeling guilty of a past sin. Mistakes of the past can haunt you. Sins of the present can add to past guilt. You might think a past sin is controlling your life when it might be something else. It might be guilt over a past mistake that keeps you from full communion with God. It might be self-hatred or a misguided sense of perfection that causes you to beat yourself up for sins of the past. Guilt has a way of holding you back from wholeness.
I have found that guilt stunts spiritual growth. It harms God’s healing powers. It erodes one’s spiritual peace and security. It feeds fears and insecurities. It harms relationships. It will cause you to assume the wrong things, blame the wrong things, believe the wrong things.
In the scripture above from Psalm 32:5, David spoke about sin and guilt. David was known for his own failures. He caused the death of Uriah. He had an affair with Bathsheba. He made mistakes raising his sons. He lied to himself and to God. He tried to hide his sin from others. He tried to cover up his guilt. Throughout his life, David grew closer to God. In this Psalm, you can see David’s spiritual maturity learned from many failures. David mentioned in this verse that when he sinned, he learned to confess right away. Rather than hiding his guilt, he learned to open up to God. In this verse, David confessed how amazing it was to be forgiven. When repentance was done right, “all guilt was gone” (Psalm 32:5).
My hope is that in your spiritual life that you learn how to work through your sinfulness. I pray you learn to confess to God quickly and without reservation. I hope you open up to God. Instead of hiding your sin, I pray you work through everything until “your guilt is gone”.
If you find that guilt has captured your mind, reflect with God upon the real reasons why. The guilt may not be caused by a previous sin, but instead by an entirely new sin. You might be too prideful to let go of a failure in judgment. You might be letting negative thoughts cloud your present reality. You might be holding on to guilt when God wants you to grasp forgiveness and healing.
Is there some guilt residing in your thoughts each day? If so, what is feeding it?
February 19
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11, NIV)
Inside your heart and mind and being, you have this spiritual body called a soul. It cannot be measured by a scale that is figured in kilograms. It is not something that can be thrown away or excised. It is a part of who you are. It is your spiritual side, the side that senses and feels the Divine. It is what separates you from animals. Animals can sense fear, danger, and many other things, but at this time, animals cannot sense the soul. According to the book of Genesis, God has given you a soul (Genesis 2:7). With it, you look after the animals and earth. With it also, you commune with God. Thus, God has given you a special place in this world. You are God’s representative, one with intimate connection with God. That connection comes in the soul.
There are some in this world who doubt the soul. They may teach it doesn’t exist. They may ignore its yearning and desire to connect with God. Just like a physical heart needs exercise to remain healthy, a spiritual soul that is ignored and disregarded grows weak and gets unhealthy. When a soul is unhealthy, all kinds of bad things can happen. Those without a healthy soul will often fill their lives with unhealthy substitutes. They might desire money, power, status, sex, alcohol or drugs, or so much more. Like an out-of-shape person may harm a heart with unhealthy eating habits and crappy food, the spiritually sick individual will often starve the soul of prayer and necessary spiritual practices or feed it with an unwholesome diet of self-indulgence or sin. If you ignore the body long enough, you will get sick. If you ignore the soul long enough, everything in your life will go to hell. Sometimes, literally.
Dr. George Sweeting has a parable for you today concerning this very subject. He wrote: “Several years ago, our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out, and they would escape from the falls.
I watched one gull which seemed to delay and wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the carcass of a fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss.
The material possessions of this world can entrap us if we become too attached to them. They will take us to our destruction if we cannot give them up.” (An adaptation from Special Sermons for Special Days)
Like a gull that is too enticed in the carcass of a fish to notice it has become trapped in ice, a man can be so engrossed in the desires of this world that he does not even realize when his soul has gone cold. It is so easy for the soul to get caught up in the lifeless pursuits that will eat away at one’s peace and fulfillment. According to Peter, there are things in this world that “wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). These “sinful desires” will erode and damage your relationship with God. They will deaden your connection to the Divine. They will destroy you from the inside out.
Each day, your soul is being fed or starved, nourished or malnourished. Through your attitudes and decisions, fueled by your habits and values, your soul will be at peace or in torment. Your connection with God is partially determined by the health of your soul. A healthy soul will always find connection with God and a feeling of peace. A sick soul will always be filled with unease and dread, insecurity and loneliness.
I read the story of a woman who perished by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. When I saw her picture, I was amazed she could have done it. She looked so alive and vibrant, with so much to live for. Then, I read about her life choices. In her twenties and early thirties, she cheated on her husband and was divorced. Then, she spent ten years on a dozen failed relationships. As she aged, she began to feel alone. She worried about a future with no husband and children, no family of her own. She dabbled with drugs, fell into depression, and then one day twenty years ago, she threw herself off the Bridge to her death. The more I read about her life, the more I realized that this woman had tried many worldly pursuits to find fulfillment and happiness. However, she had done little in her life to feed her hungry soul. In the end, she saw no reason to live. Her soul was too weakened by worldly cares to even put up a fight.
The scripture for today is a clear reminder that your soul needs feeding. Sinful desires and the cares of this world “wage war” on your soul. Just reading the newspapers and watching prime-time TV for a few hours is enough to make anyone feel depressed! It is crucially important that you take time to feed your soul each day. Prayer time, meditations with God’s Word, quiet moments of reflection, and long walks with God will not only feed your soul but give you a whole different view of life. “Abstain from sinful desires” (1 Peter 2:11). Walk away from those things that pull you away from God. Hold tightly to the hand offered by your Lord Jesus. Your soul is craving HIS affection.
There are some in this world who doubt the soul. They may teach it doesn’t exist. They may ignore its yearning and desire to connect with God. Just like a physical heart needs exercise to remain healthy, a spiritual soul that is ignored and disregarded grows weak and gets unhealthy. When a soul is unhealthy, all kinds of bad things can happen. Those without a healthy soul will often fill their lives with unhealthy substitutes. They might desire money, power, status, sex, alcohol or drugs, or so much more. Like an out-of-shape person may harm a heart with unhealthy eating habits and crappy food, the spiritually sick individual will often starve the soul of prayer and necessary spiritual practices or feed it with an unwholesome diet of self-indulgence or sin. If you ignore the body long enough, you will get sick. If you ignore the soul long enough, everything in your life will go to hell. Sometimes, literally.
Dr. George Sweeting has a parable for you today concerning this very subject. He wrote: “Several years ago, our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out, and they would escape from the falls.
I watched one gull which seemed to delay and wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the carcass of a fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss.
The material possessions of this world can entrap us if we become too attached to them. They will take us to our destruction if we cannot give them up.” (An adaptation from Special Sermons for Special Days)
Like a gull that is too enticed in the carcass of a fish to notice it has become trapped in ice, a man can be so engrossed in the desires of this world that he does not even realize when his soul has gone cold. It is so easy for the soul to get caught up in the lifeless pursuits that will eat away at one’s peace and fulfillment. According to Peter, there are things in this world that “wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). These “sinful desires” will erode and damage your relationship with God. They will deaden your connection to the Divine. They will destroy you from the inside out.
Each day, your soul is being fed or starved, nourished or malnourished. Through your attitudes and decisions, fueled by your habits and values, your soul will be at peace or in torment. Your connection with God is partially determined by the health of your soul. A healthy soul will always find connection with God and a feeling of peace. A sick soul will always be filled with unease and dread, insecurity and loneliness.
I read the story of a woman who perished by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. When I saw her picture, I was amazed she could have done it. She looked so alive and vibrant, with so much to live for. Then, I read about her life choices. In her twenties and early thirties, she cheated on her husband and was divorced. Then, she spent ten years on a dozen failed relationships. As she aged, she began to feel alone. She worried about a future with no husband and children, no family of her own. She dabbled with drugs, fell into depression, and then one day twenty years ago, she threw herself off the Bridge to her death. The more I read about her life, the more I realized that this woman had tried many worldly pursuits to find fulfillment and happiness. However, she had done little in her life to feed her hungry soul. In the end, she saw no reason to live. Her soul was too weakened by worldly cares to even put up a fight.
The scripture for today is a clear reminder that your soul needs feeding. Sinful desires and the cares of this world “wage war” on your soul. Just reading the newspapers and watching prime-time TV for a few hours is enough to make anyone feel depressed! It is crucially important that you take time to feed your soul each day. Prayer time, meditations with God’s Word, quiet moments of reflection, and long walks with God will not only feed your soul but give you a whole different view of life. “Abstain from sinful desires” (1 Peter 2:11). Walk away from those things that pull you away from God. Hold tightly to the hand offered by your Lord Jesus. Your soul is craving HIS affection.
February 21
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”” (John 14:21, ESV)
There is a world of difference between being a Christian and having a relationship with Christ. In the same manner, you cannot be a true follower of Christ if you are only “religious”. True believers in Jesus do not perform a religious duty alone. They are not practitioners of a religion. When you believe in God, hold Jesus as your Savior, and enjoy the company of the Holy Spirit, your faith becomes a relationship not a religion.
There are places, like hospitals for example, where they may ask what religion you hold. They do this to determine if a chaplain or a priest or a pastor or a rabbi or an imam should be called in case of emergency. Some people do not practice any religion. Some people do. Many Christians will often list their denominational affiliation as their religion. Some will list their home church. That is how secular institutions and organizations often view spiritual people. They want to categorize us according to our religion or religious preference.
If you are a believer in Christ, you don’t simply have a religious preference. You are not only a Christian. You have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. “Religious people” practice their religion through attendance at institutional functions like worship or through giving or donations. They might follow the Ten Commandments or pray a familiar prayer before a meal. However, to be a true Christian means you move beyond having a religious affiliation or just following a few rules. To be a true Christian, you need a relationship with God. True faith is personal, not institutional. It is an intimate connection, not just a membership.
I have met Christians who believe they are part of the Christian religion. They may go to church. They may pray the Lord’s Prayer. They may say their Rosary once in a while. They might give a few dollars in the collection plate or donate to Christian groups or causes. They may be part of the Christian religion, but many do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. They have never gone the next step in their faith to invite the Holy Spirit into their heart. They have not made a personal commitment to follow Jesus’ commands. They are Christian in name only.
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus mentioned the difference between religious people and true believers. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus mentioned that people may call Him Lord, but that doesn’t mean they will go to heaven. In Matthew 7:22, Jesus mentioned that some of His followers may even cast out demons and do miracles in His name, without having a future in heaven. Matthew 7:23 gives the reason why a religious person who knows about Jesus will not be saved by Jesus. The person never really “knew” Jesus. Without a personal, real, committed relationship with Jesus, a Christian in name only will never really “know” Jesus. That person cannot be saved without a committed relationship with Christ.
The same thing happens in marriage all the time. People can fill out a survey and say they have a spouse and have a marriage certificate without being in love, without a truly committed relationship, without a respect for one another. A marriage without true commitment and love is a marriage in name only. In the same vein, a person without a true personal commitment to Jesus Christ, without a desire to follow Jesus’ commandments, is a Christian in name only. This person can say he or she is a Christian but ultimately does not have a relationship with Christ.
Our God is all about a real relationship. The scripture for today from John 14:21 confirms this understanding. In the first half of this verse, Jesus taught that those who have and keep His commandments are those who show love for Him. Then, Jesus makes clear that only those who “love” Him will be loved by the Father. Only those who truly love Jesus will find Jesus “manifest” or present in their lives.
Some religions consider you a believer if you go to worship, give alms, follow through on religious instruction, follow some basic rules, or sign a form. Some Christians also follow this method and have become members of the Christian religion. That does not mean they are in relationship with Christ. If you ever want to see and feel the power of the Holy Spirit, experience saving grace and true forgiveness, you need to go one step further. You need to decide to accept and live out a personal, real, committed relationship with God in Christ. It’s not just knowing about Jesus that makes you faithful. You need to know HIM personally. You need to follow His commandments and heed HIS voice.
If you consider this meditation today as boring and preachy, chances are you are a good, religious person. I’d rather you were excited that Jesus wants a relationship with you. I’d rather you felt a deeper relationship with God. Will Jesus know you personally when you see Him next?
There are places, like hospitals for example, where they may ask what religion you hold. They do this to determine if a chaplain or a priest or a pastor or a rabbi or an imam should be called in case of emergency. Some people do not practice any religion. Some people do. Many Christians will often list their denominational affiliation as their religion. Some will list their home church. That is how secular institutions and organizations often view spiritual people. They want to categorize us according to our religion or religious preference.
If you are a believer in Christ, you don’t simply have a religious preference. You are not only a Christian. You have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. “Religious people” practice their religion through attendance at institutional functions like worship or through giving or donations. They might follow the Ten Commandments or pray a familiar prayer before a meal. However, to be a true Christian means you move beyond having a religious affiliation or just following a few rules. To be a true Christian, you need a relationship with God. True faith is personal, not institutional. It is an intimate connection, not just a membership.
I have met Christians who believe they are part of the Christian religion. They may go to church. They may pray the Lord’s Prayer. They may say their Rosary once in a while. They might give a few dollars in the collection plate or donate to Christian groups or causes. They may be part of the Christian religion, but many do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. They have never gone the next step in their faith to invite the Holy Spirit into their heart. They have not made a personal commitment to follow Jesus’ commands. They are Christian in name only.
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus mentioned the difference between religious people and true believers. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus mentioned that people may call Him Lord, but that doesn’t mean they will go to heaven. In Matthew 7:22, Jesus mentioned that some of His followers may even cast out demons and do miracles in His name, without having a future in heaven. Matthew 7:23 gives the reason why a religious person who knows about Jesus will not be saved by Jesus. The person never really “knew” Jesus. Without a personal, real, committed relationship with Jesus, a Christian in name only will never really “know” Jesus. That person cannot be saved without a committed relationship with Christ.
The same thing happens in marriage all the time. People can fill out a survey and say they have a spouse and have a marriage certificate without being in love, without a truly committed relationship, without a respect for one another. A marriage without true commitment and love is a marriage in name only. In the same vein, a person without a true personal commitment to Jesus Christ, without a desire to follow Jesus’ commandments, is a Christian in name only. This person can say he or she is a Christian but ultimately does not have a relationship with Christ.
Our God is all about a real relationship. The scripture for today from John 14:21 confirms this understanding. In the first half of this verse, Jesus taught that those who have and keep His commandments are those who show love for Him. Then, Jesus makes clear that only those who “love” Him will be loved by the Father. Only those who truly love Jesus will find Jesus “manifest” or present in their lives.
Some religions consider you a believer if you go to worship, give alms, follow through on religious instruction, follow some basic rules, or sign a form. Some Christians also follow this method and have become members of the Christian religion. That does not mean they are in relationship with Christ. If you ever want to see and feel the power of the Holy Spirit, experience saving grace and true forgiveness, you need to go one step further. You need to decide to accept and live out a personal, real, committed relationship with God in Christ. It’s not just knowing about Jesus that makes you faithful. You need to know HIM personally. You need to follow His commandments and heed HIS voice.
If you consider this meditation today as boring and preachy, chances are you are a good, religious person. I’d rather you were excited that Jesus wants a relationship with you. I’d rather you felt a deeper relationship with God. Will Jesus know you personally when you see Him next?
February 24
“He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” (1 Peter 2:23, NLT)
The above verse was written by Peter to describe the actions of Jesus, especially during his time of trial and crucifixion. During those very difficult times, Jesus was mocked, spit upon, and insulted. The soldiers made a crown of thorns with which to bruise and bloody his head. The Jewish leaders rigged Jesus’ trial. He was presumed guilty. He suffered humiliating scourging. Throughout it all, Jesus could have called down angels from Heaven to destroy all the evildoers. He could have threatened to get even at his accusers. He could have retaliated. Peter noticed what Jesus did: “He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered” (1 Peter 2:23). Jesus knew God the Father would judge Him “fairly”. He did not fight back. His action seems passive to some. It seems weak to others. However, his actions served to highlight all the sin of His accusers. It displayed for all future generations His ultimate love for God the Father. It made clear His stand for righteousness over vengeance and retaliation.
Sadly, we live in a time when many people choose NOT to follow Jesus’ example. They purposefully find ways to mock, belittle, retaliate and get even. The examples are widespread. In a small sample survey recorded in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry, it was found that 45% of teachers had retaliated against a student who caused a problem in their classroom (tenneyschool.com/ the-phenomenon-of-teacher-retaliation). A recent article on workplace issues listed retaliation by employers against workers who pointed out safety violations as commonplace. There are millions of examples of cyber-bullying on social media sites where people sought to damage or destroy a person’s reputation in order to get even. Disgruntled employees have wrecked expensive machines or shot up the workplace or stolen from their employers. Lawyers can threaten or intimidate people to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements to cover up examples of wrongdoing or as a way to exert control.
You’d expect a justice system to be just, but even there we see many examples of retaliation and coercion fueled by divorce or greed, power-grabbing, or political manipulations. Recently, Sheriffs and other police in Virginia spoke up and defended the Second Amendment of the Constitution. You’d think this was nice of them to stand up for a founding principle of our country. However, because of their action, one week later the State Senate voted against giving all the Sheriffs and Deputies in Virginia a raise of 3% because of their actions. A state representative thought it deplorable that because the sheriffs took a stance for what was right that the Democratic controlled State Legislature punished them for taking a stance that looked too Republican!
Even Christians have fallen into the traps of vengeance, retaliation, and spite. I could tell you dozens of stories of church fights (some with fists!), church members getting even for some slight, or pastors belittling people from the pulpit. At a church in Iowa, a member was offended when a Sunday School teacher would not let her daughter be in the lead role in the Christmas program. Over the next few months, the member used every opportunity to smear the teacher, even enlisting her friends in the smear campaign. As further example, there are two churches that I am personally aware who withheld their pastor’s paychecks in order to cause suffering to the pastor’s family. In both situations, the information was withheld from most of the church members in order to hide the misdeeds. In both situations, the leaders wanted to cause harm to the pastor and his family in order to make them pay for some slight.
With retaliation, revenge, and spite becoming so very common in our world, it is important that you take a stand with Jesus. In the scripture for today, Peter made clear that Jesus did not believe in exacting vengeance. That was God the Father’s ultimate authority. On earth and in heaven, Almighty God will make all things right. Until that is done, it is not a human job to retaliate. Human beings do not know the full story, everything at stake, all the good and evil at play. Almighty God is the Judge of this world. God “always judges fairly” (1 Peter 2:23). You may not.
When you find yourself insulted or mocked, threatened or demeaned, take some time to talk it over with God. Remember Jesus’ example given in the verse for today. Do not trust yourself to retaliate rightly. Don’t be deluded into believing that your emotions might not make your blood boil when you are wronged. Emotions and ignorance and the lack of full knowledge can make you blame the wrong person, exact the wrong type of revenge, or attack with vehemence. It is better to let God be the judge. Let God exact the threats. Let God retaliate. Take time to cool off. Let go of your anger. Follow God’s leading.
Vengeance, retaliation, and a threatening attitude have a way of poisoning everything. They can poison your heart, causing anger and envy and jealousy to become constant companions. They can cause infighting and wars, death and destruction. Jesus expects more from you. His example should be enough. Instead of getting even, get right with Jesus! (Did you get the multiple meanings in that last sentence?!!!!)
Sadly, we live in a time when many people choose NOT to follow Jesus’ example. They purposefully find ways to mock, belittle, retaliate and get even. The examples are widespread. In a small sample survey recorded in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry, it was found that 45% of teachers had retaliated against a student who caused a problem in their classroom (tenneyschool.com/ the-phenomenon-of-teacher-retaliation). A recent article on workplace issues listed retaliation by employers against workers who pointed out safety violations as commonplace. There are millions of examples of cyber-bullying on social media sites where people sought to damage or destroy a person’s reputation in order to get even. Disgruntled employees have wrecked expensive machines or shot up the workplace or stolen from their employers. Lawyers can threaten or intimidate people to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements to cover up examples of wrongdoing or as a way to exert control.
You’d expect a justice system to be just, but even there we see many examples of retaliation and coercion fueled by divorce or greed, power-grabbing, or political manipulations. Recently, Sheriffs and other police in Virginia spoke up and defended the Second Amendment of the Constitution. You’d think this was nice of them to stand up for a founding principle of our country. However, because of their action, one week later the State Senate voted against giving all the Sheriffs and Deputies in Virginia a raise of 3% because of their actions. A state representative thought it deplorable that because the sheriffs took a stance for what was right that the Democratic controlled State Legislature punished them for taking a stance that looked too Republican!
Even Christians have fallen into the traps of vengeance, retaliation, and spite. I could tell you dozens of stories of church fights (some with fists!), church members getting even for some slight, or pastors belittling people from the pulpit. At a church in Iowa, a member was offended when a Sunday School teacher would not let her daughter be in the lead role in the Christmas program. Over the next few months, the member used every opportunity to smear the teacher, even enlisting her friends in the smear campaign. As further example, there are two churches that I am personally aware who withheld their pastor’s paychecks in order to cause suffering to the pastor’s family. In both situations, the information was withheld from most of the church members in order to hide the misdeeds. In both situations, the leaders wanted to cause harm to the pastor and his family in order to make them pay for some slight.
With retaliation, revenge, and spite becoming so very common in our world, it is important that you take a stand with Jesus. In the scripture for today, Peter made clear that Jesus did not believe in exacting vengeance. That was God the Father’s ultimate authority. On earth and in heaven, Almighty God will make all things right. Until that is done, it is not a human job to retaliate. Human beings do not know the full story, everything at stake, all the good and evil at play. Almighty God is the Judge of this world. God “always judges fairly” (1 Peter 2:23). You may not.
When you find yourself insulted or mocked, threatened or demeaned, take some time to talk it over with God. Remember Jesus’ example given in the verse for today. Do not trust yourself to retaliate rightly. Don’t be deluded into believing that your emotions might not make your blood boil when you are wronged. Emotions and ignorance and the lack of full knowledge can make you blame the wrong person, exact the wrong type of revenge, or attack with vehemence. It is better to let God be the judge. Let God exact the threats. Let God retaliate. Take time to cool off. Let go of your anger. Follow God’s leading.
Vengeance, retaliation, and a threatening attitude have a way of poisoning everything. They can poison your heart, causing anger and envy and jealousy to become constant companions. They can cause infighting and wars, death and destruction. Jesus expects more from you. His example should be enough. Instead of getting even, get right with Jesus! (Did you get the multiple meanings in that last sentence?!!!!)
February 26
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus...” (Acts 3:19–20, ESV)
“Wabush, a town in a remote portion of Labrador, Canada, was completely isolated for some time. But recently a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it. Wabush now has one road leading into it, and thus, only on one road leading out. If someone would travel the unpaved road for six to eight hours to get into Wabush, there is only way he or she could leave---by turning around.
Each of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin. As in Wabush, there is only one way out--a road built by God himself. But in order to take that road, one must first turn around. That complete about face is what the Bible calls repentance, and without it, there's no way out of town.” (Brian Weatherdon)
Repentance is the first step in any true relationship with God. Repentance establishes one’s faith in God. By repenting, a person admits that he or she is a sinner. The very act of repentance makes clear that God is the one to make things right in this world. You wouldn’t ask forgiveness from God unless you believed God was the final authority from which you can receive ultimate forgiveness and grace. Since repentance is crucial to your faith, how good are you at following through with it, relying on it, accepting it?
Some of you may not know that I give free counseling for soldiers. I have had special training in PTSD counseling and have helped soldiers and their families suffering from this ailment for decades. One of the first soldiers I counseled had a very difficult time adjusting to society. Only two of his team had survived a firefight in Vietnam. For many years, he felt survivor’s guilt. It ate at him day and night. Questions about the firefight nagged his mind daily: "Why did he live while the others died? What could he have done differently? Could he have saved a few more?" Often, he thought about ending his life.
This soldier tried many methods to ease his pain. He tried alcohol and drugs. That didn’t work for very long. He tried psychotherapy at a VA hospital for a year, but to no avail. Then, he found out about me. We talked for months. When I saw the effect that survivor’s guilt had on his heart and soul and mind, I told him that God had a way of dealing with that kind of guilt. I told him that he would never find true peace in his soul unless he gave up the guilt to God. He had to let it go. Out of love for the soldiers who were lost, he had to live on to tell their story. Only by facing his guilt would he ever find peace.
At the time, I thought I might have been too harsh. However, a few days later, he came back and asked what to do. We started with repentance and worked it out from there. He repented of his guilt. He repented for keeping his family distant. He repented for holding God back from his own healing.
In Acts 3:19, Peter spoke to his fellow Israelites in Jerusalem. He urged them to take a new leap with God by repenting and turning back from sin. By doing so, their sins would “be blotted out”. Then, “times of refreshing would come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:20). By repenting, Jesus too would be present in the healing process. However, it would all start with repentance. When Peter spoke these words, Jerusalem had witnessed some terrible events. Jesus was crucified. Roman soldiers and leaders were fighting with zealots and insurrection. The courts were politically motivated. Peter urged his fellow countrymen to repent and make things right. He knew that good times would never come for Jerusalem if the people continued their present course.
This scripture, along with many more in the Bible, remind us that good times and peaceful days will never come if a person or group does not repent and turn back from sin. If they do not acknowledge God, they will not enjoy the forgiveness and grace intended by God. However, some people find it much easier to live in sin, to hold grudges, to cling to the past, to reject God, and to cause suffering. By refusing to repent, they will never find the good times and holy refreshment God is willing to give. The course of their lives will be on a certain downward trajectory.
Today is Ash Wednesday. It is a dedicated day of repentance in the Christian calendar. You will see people who’ve been to church with ashes on their foreheads. The ashes are a sign of repentance, that God is the ultimate source of forgiveness and grace, and that sin is all too prevalent in our world.
This is the first day of the Christian season of Lent. Lent is a time of year to re-examine your faith and re-dedicate yourself to God. It is a time to repent of your sin and turn back from any wrong path you are on. Some people take time during this season to say extra prayers, read a few extra verses in the Bible, go to Lenten services, or fast. I hope whatever you decide to do during Lent reflects your willingness to repent in heart and soul and mind. If you ever want “times of refreshment” in your life, you need to take some steps in God’s direction. You need to expel any lingering sin. You need to let go of debilitating guilt. Like my soldier friend, you will find that good days come only when you are willing to repent of the bad. Closeness with God can only occur with a soul that is willing to be cleansed. There is one way out of sin. It involves repentance.
Each of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin. As in Wabush, there is only one way out--a road built by God himself. But in order to take that road, one must first turn around. That complete about face is what the Bible calls repentance, and without it, there's no way out of town.” (Brian Weatherdon)
Repentance is the first step in any true relationship with God. Repentance establishes one’s faith in God. By repenting, a person admits that he or she is a sinner. The very act of repentance makes clear that God is the one to make things right in this world. You wouldn’t ask forgiveness from God unless you believed God was the final authority from which you can receive ultimate forgiveness and grace. Since repentance is crucial to your faith, how good are you at following through with it, relying on it, accepting it?
Some of you may not know that I give free counseling for soldiers. I have had special training in PTSD counseling and have helped soldiers and their families suffering from this ailment for decades. One of the first soldiers I counseled had a very difficult time adjusting to society. Only two of his team had survived a firefight in Vietnam. For many years, he felt survivor’s guilt. It ate at him day and night. Questions about the firefight nagged his mind daily: "Why did he live while the others died? What could he have done differently? Could he have saved a few more?" Often, he thought about ending his life.
This soldier tried many methods to ease his pain. He tried alcohol and drugs. That didn’t work for very long. He tried psychotherapy at a VA hospital for a year, but to no avail. Then, he found out about me. We talked for months. When I saw the effect that survivor’s guilt had on his heart and soul and mind, I told him that God had a way of dealing with that kind of guilt. I told him that he would never find true peace in his soul unless he gave up the guilt to God. He had to let it go. Out of love for the soldiers who were lost, he had to live on to tell their story. Only by facing his guilt would he ever find peace.
At the time, I thought I might have been too harsh. However, a few days later, he came back and asked what to do. We started with repentance and worked it out from there. He repented of his guilt. He repented for keeping his family distant. He repented for holding God back from his own healing.
In Acts 3:19, Peter spoke to his fellow Israelites in Jerusalem. He urged them to take a new leap with God by repenting and turning back from sin. By doing so, their sins would “be blotted out”. Then, “times of refreshing would come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:20). By repenting, Jesus too would be present in the healing process. However, it would all start with repentance. When Peter spoke these words, Jerusalem had witnessed some terrible events. Jesus was crucified. Roman soldiers and leaders were fighting with zealots and insurrection. The courts were politically motivated. Peter urged his fellow countrymen to repent and make things right. He knew that good times would never come for Jerusalem if the people continued their present course.
This scripture, along with many more in the Bible, remind us that good times and peaceful days will never come if a person or group does not repent and turn back from sin. If they do not acknowledge God, they will not enjoy the forgiveness and grace intended by God. However, some people find it much easier to live in sin, to hold grudges, to cling to the past, to reject God, and to cause suffering. By refusing to repent, they will never find the good times and holy refreshment God is willing to give. The course of their lives will be on a certain downward trajectory.
Today is Ash Wednesday. It is a dedicated day of repentance in the Christian calendar. You will see people who’ve been to church with ashes on their foreheads. The ashes are a sign of repentance, that God is the ultimate source of forgiveness and grace, and that sin is all too prevalent in our world.
This is the first day of the Christian season of Lent. Lent is a time of year to re-examine your faith and re-dedicate yourself to God. It is a time to repent of your sin and turn back from any wrong path you are on. Some people take time during this season to say extra prayers, read a few extra verses in the Bible, go to Lenten services, or fast. I hope whatever you decide to do during Lent reflects your willingness to repent in heart and soul and mind. If you ever want “times of refreshment” in your life, you need to take some steps in God’s direction. You need to expel any lingering sin. You need to let go of debilitating guilt. Like my soldier friend, you will find that good days come only when you are willing to repent of the bad. Closeness with God can only occur with a soul that is willing to be cleansed. There is one way out of sin. It involves repentance.
February 29
“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”” (Genesis 3:8–9, NLT)
During a teaching moment, a father asked his son, “Where are you?”. They were hiking far off a road in a large forest. They had been following a path, but the path seemed to have petered out. The father knew exactly where they were. He wanted to see if the son had kept track, had monitored their changes in direction, knew how to get back to their car in case of emergency. It’s the kind of tracking and pathfinding that boy scouts were taught for years. Often, as a help, the scouts were given a compass. Today, many utilize Global Positioning Systems. As a teaching method, the father made sure they had neither. As they stood, deep in dense forest, the father asked the son again, “Do you know how to get back to the car if something happened to me?” For a moment, the son looked frightened. Then, he looked ashamed. “No,” he replied. “Sorry, Dad. I lost track.”
In the scripture for today, God asked Adam the same question, “Where are you?”. It’s not that God didn’t know. I knew an atheist who made fun of God’s question in this verse. He asserted that God didn’t even know where Adam was, which he believed exhibited God’s inability to know everything. That’s not what's happening in this verse. God knew exactly where Adam was hiding. God asked the question, “Where are you?” as a teaching tool. Like the boy in the forest, God wanted to see if Adam was aware of his situation. God wanted Adam to reflect on what he was doing. It was a teaching moment.
In that teaching moment, Adam was hiding from the Lord God. He and Eve had sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit. God had one small expectation from Adam in the Garden of Eden. God provided everything, gave Adam life, supplied a perfect haven. All God expected was that Adam stay away from one tree in the Garden. Disobeying, Adam followed Eve to the tree and ate from it. It was sinful. The response of Adam to the sin was that he and Eve “hid from the Lord among the trees” (Genesis 3:8). Sin has a way of doing that. It makes you ashamed. It gives you guilt. Adam had failed the Lord God. Now, God wanted Adam to learn from this sin. So, God asked Adam, “Where are you?” It forced Adam not only to respond to the Lord God, but it gave God a chance to see what Adam had learned of his sin.
Don’t be surprised if the Lord God also sets up teachable moments with you. God wants a relationship with you. God wants you to grow and adapt. God wants you to learn and acquire knowledge. Like with Adam, God also may set a teachable moment when you sin. God may ask you to reflect on your errors, think about your shortcomings, determine how you ended up in a bad situation. In essence, God may pose questions to your heart and mind and soul to get you to learn from your mistakes and grow closer to you in the process. Often, learning will have to occur in order for you to be forgiven. The learning process may require you to see your need for repentance. The teaching moment may force you to learn humility or patience. However you look at it, when God asks you a question, it is best you get ready to learn.
Sometimes, God puts questions in your heart, soul, or mind. The question just pops out and gets you thinking. At other times, God may get you to question your motives, intentions, or thinking through the question of another person. A parent or teacher might ask the question God needs answered. In working through the answer, God will work on your soul. Usually, questions from God are spiritually deeper than they initially appear.
At a work picnic, a wife met many of her husband’s long-time friends. Because the couple was recently married after a very short engagement, the wife hadn’t met some of her husband’s co-workers. As they mingled with the group, grabbed a plate for dinner, and visited among the people, the wife noticed a woman averting her eyes from her husband. It happened several times. Her husband didn’t seem to notice. As the picnic finished up, the wife asked her husband, “Who is she?”, nodding toward the woman. The husband looked over, then looked away. He then said, “She works in the office.” The wife turned her husband’s head to look directly into her eyes. She said again, “Who is she?” At her stare, the husband responded sheepishly, “Her name is Kate. She has always flirted with me when I was in the office, but we never dated.” The wife replied, “Do I need to be worried?” Her husband responded immediately, “NO!”
At this work picnic, the wife’s questions revealed her husband’s thoughts on the woman. The wife’s questions had a deeper meaning, though. It became very clear to the husband that his wife felt uneasy with the affectations of the other woman. The wife knew there were distinct possibilities that the woman might try something wrong. The wife wanted her husband to know, to reflect on the woman, to see the woman as a threat of a sort. She wanted her husband to understand the situation. She wanted her husband to see the whole picture. The entire conversation was intended to bring a deeper level of trust between the two. It was a needed reflection and warning much deeper than the simplicity of the original question.
Questions that pop into your mind may be God’s way of forcing you to pause and reflect on something important. It’s not that all questions that pop into your mind are good or right or fair. They may not even be healthy. Still, a question that God inserts into your mind will always have a very important purpose. Usually, it will not be there to cause you suffering or hurt, embarrassment or doubt. Mostly, when God puts a question to you, it is meant to bring about a better relationship with you. You will often know a question is truly from God when it causes you to gain a deeper understanding of your spiritual connection with God.
When God asked Adam where he was, it’s not that God didn’t know. God wanted Adam to make the connection between his hiding and his sin. God wanted Adam to understand what sin does to a human being. God wanted Adam to see that sin will always separate us from God and grace and good. God’s question was part of Adam’s learning process. God’s questions may come during moments of regret or sadness or denial or pain, but they always come with the hope of grace and peace in the end.
What question has God asked you lately? Have you figured out an answer yet? Have you discerned any deeper meanings in a question asked by God?
In the scripture for today, God asked Adam the same question, “Where are you?”. It’s not that God didn’t know. I knew an atheist who made fun of God’s question in this verse. He asserted that God didn’t even know where Adam was, which he believed exhibited God’s inability to know everything. That’s not what's happening in this verse. God knew exactly where Adam was hiding. God asked the question, “Where are you?” as a teaching tool. Like the boy in the forest, God wanted to see if Adam was aware of his situation. God wanted Adam to reflect on what he was doing. It was a teaching moment.
In that teaching moment, Adam was hiding from the Lord God. He and Eve had sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit. God had one small expectation from Adam in the Garden of Eden. God provided everything, gave Adam life, supplied a perfect haven. All God expected was that Adam stay away from one tree in the Garden. Disobeying, Adam followed Eve to the tree and ate from it. It was sinful. The response of Adam to the sin was that he and Eve “hid from the Lord among the trees” (Genesis 3:8). Sin has a way of doing that. It makes you ashamed. It gives you guilt. Adam had failed the Lord God. Now, God wanted Adam to learn from this sin. So, God asked Adam, “Where are you?” It forced Adam not only to respond to the Lord God, but it gave God a chance to see what Adam had learned of his sin.
Don’t be surprised if the Lord God also sets up teachable moments with you. God wants a relationship with you. God wants you to grow and adapt. God wants you to learn and acquire knowledge. Like with Adam, God also may set a teachable moment when you sin. God may ask you to reflect on your errors, think about your shortcomings, determine how you ended up in a bad situation. In essence, God may pose questions to your heart and mind and soul to get you to learn from your mistakes and grow closer to you in the process. Often, learning will have to occur in order for you to be forgiven. The learning process may require you to see your need for repentance. The teaching moment may force you to learn humility or patience. However you look at it, when God asks you a question, it is best you get ready to learn.
Sometimes, God puts questions in your heart, soul, or mind. The question just pops out and gets you thinking. At other times, God may get you to question your motives, intentions, or thinking through the question of another person. A parent or teacher might ask the question God needs answered. In working through the answer, God will work on your soul. Usually, questions from God are spiritually deeper than they initially appear.
At a work picnic, a wife met many of her husband’s long-time friends. Because the couple was recently married after a very short engagement, the wife hadn’t met some of her husband’s co-workers. As they mingled with the group, grabbed a plate for dinner, and visited among the people, the wife noticed a woman averting her eyes from her husband. It happened several times. Her husband didn’t seem to notice. As the picnic finished up, the wife asked her husband, “Who is she?”, nodding toward the woman. The husband looked over, then looked away. He then said, “She works in the office.” The wife turned her husband’s head to look directly into her eyes. She said again, “Who is she?” At her stare, the husband responded sheepishly, “Her name is Kate. She has always flirted with me when I was in the office, but we never dated.” The wife replied, “Do I need to be worried?” Her husband responded immediately, “NO!”
At this work picnic, the wife’s questions revealed her husband’s thoughts on the woman. The wife’s questions had a deeper meaning, though. It became very clear to the husband that his wife felt uneasy with the affectations of the other woman. The wife knew there were distinct possibilities that the woman might try something wrong. The wife wanted her husband to know, to reflect on the woman, to see the woman as a threat of a sort. She wanted her husband to understand the situation. She wanted her husband to see the whole picture. The entire conversation was intended to bring a deeper level of trust between the two. It was a needed reflection and warning much deeper than the simplicity of the original question.
Questions that pop into your mind may be God’s way of forcing you to pause and reflect on something important. It’s not that all questions that pop into your mind are good or right or fair. They may not even be healthy. Still, a question that God inserts into your mind will always have a very important purpose. Usually, it will not be there to cause you suffering or hurt, embarrassment or doubt. Mostly, when God puts a question to you, it is meant to bring about a better relationship with you. You will often know a question is truly from God when it causes you to gain a deeper understanding of your spiritual connection with God.
When God asked Adam where he was, it’s not that God didn’t know. God wanted Adam to make the connection between his hiding and his sin. God wanted Adam to understand what sin does to a human being. God wanted Adam to see that sin will always separate us from God and grace and good. God’s question was part of Adam’s learning process. God’s questions may come during moments of regret or sadness or denial or pain, but they always come with the hope of grace and peace in the end.
What question has God asked you lately? Have you figured out an answer yet? Have you discerned any deeper meanings in a question asked by God?