February 8
“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” (Ephesians 4:14, NLT)
John looked up to Mrs. Benthall. John once called his teacher, "The great Mrs. Benthall", because John attributed Shari Benthall with the utmost respect. Being a High School teacher for many years, Shari Benthall saw many youths pass through the halls of the school in that time. Some did well. Some buckled down and prepared for college or took their education seriously. Others didn’t really want to be in school, some even seeing their education as some sort of prison sentence! John was different. John loved to learn new things. He enjoyed going to school. John's favorite class was History 201, taught by his favorite teacher, “The great Mrs. Benthall”.
Shari Benthall was also a Sunday School teacher in John’s church. She taught middle school. John learned much about Jesus from Mrs. Benthall. In a variety of ways, Shari Benthall enjoyed John’s love of learning. In school, she watched out for John’s welfare. In church, Shari looked for opportunities that might benefit John’s desire to learn.
Not long after John turned seventeen, his church went through a difficult time. His pastor of ten years moved on to another church in another state and a new pastor was called to serve. John liked the new pastor, who seemed to work well with the youth in the church. The pastor was highly motivated to try new programs and explore new ideas during his first few years of ministry at the new church. One of the new programs begun by the new pastor was a favorite for most of the youth and their families. For the first time in his life, John really looked forward to his time at church.
In the process of trying new things, the new pastor did not have time for some of the lesser-attended programs. One of those programs to which the pastor could not devote enough time was begun by Shari Benthall’s mother. As the program languished, Shari became upset with the new pastor. She voiced her concern to several in the church that the pastor was “neglecting his duties” by spending less time on what she deemed a crucial ministry of the church. As time went on, Shari’s dislike of the new pastor grew exponentially.
With trouble brewing between the new pastor and Mrs. Benthall, John was caught in the middle. Mrs. Benthall asked John several times to find out if any youth had issues with the new pastor or disliked him. At school, Mrs. Benthall spoke with John repeatedly about her regrets with the new pastor. John became more and more uncomfortable with the rhetoric. He felt he had to choose between his mentor and the new pastor. When heated words were exchanged between Shari Benthall and the new pastor, John felt forced to choose sides. In the end, John chose to “side with” his mentor. John openly complained about the new pastor even though the pastor had done nothing offensive to John. Over the following months, John’s enjoyment with church faded away. The halls of the church seemed infused with gossip and heated conversations. People were taking sides. Everywhere John turned there was conflict in God’s house.
Because of John’s limited experience and budding faith, he could not see clearly the issues confronting him at church. He sided with his mentor, even though his mentor was obviously biased. John was incapable of seeing the bigger picture. John did not understand how wrong it was for Mrs. Benthall to use her friendship with John to seek out those who had issues with the new pastor. John could not see that Mrs. Benthall was making matters worse for the new pastor because of unfair expectations inherent to the situation. John could feel the tension at church. He could sense the conflict. Out of respect for his mentor, John blamed the pastor for all the issues. He believed that if the pastor were gone or did what Mrs. Benthall asked, the problems would all go away. John’s shallow, budding faith could not understand the truth of the matter, that Mrs. Benthall was stirring up trouble in John’s church and using her friendship with John to make matters worse. All John saw was that Mrs. Benthall listened and cared, and she was wise enough to have all the right answers. John couldn’t even conceive of the possibility that Mrs. Benthall had used John to gain support against the pastor, that Mrs. Benthall was biased against the pastor, and that she had steered John in the wrong direction for true spiritual growth.
Budding Christians like John are vulnerable. They can be manipulated. Their knowledge of spiritual warfare is limited. Their understanding of the complexity of life is undeveloped and tenuous. Their depth of biblical knowledge is lacking. Because of this, newer Christians like John will find themselves being tossed to and fro by issues within the church or because of problems in life. They often find it difficult to discern God’s direction or feel it is impossible to grasp God’s truth.
In the scripture for today from Ephesians, written above, Paul the Apostle urges his fellow Christians to move beyond their immaturity to a better understanding of the faith. Paul doesn’t want the Christians in Ephesus to be “tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching” (Ephesians 4:14). He urges these Christians to grow in their knowledge and wisdom about godly things so that they “will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth”.
When your faith is just developing, it is often difficult to discern when “lies sound like the truth”. Without a strong foundation in biblical knowledge and a deep relationship with God, you might not know who to really trust or uncover lies you are being told. That is why a mature faith is necessary for a healthy spiritual life. Mature faith helps separate out the truth from the lies, the honest people from the liars, the manipulators from the encouragers, and the devil’s games from God’s direction.
In his book, Strength for Today, pastor John MacArthur gave the following piece of wisdom: “The Bible commends child–like (i.e., trusting, humble) faith, but not childish faith. Paul exhorted the Corinthians, “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking … in your thinking be mature” (1 Cor. 14:20.” The scripture for today from Ephesians reiterates this ideal. It too speaks of the importance of being mature in character of faith. It cautions you to be careful of those who may take advantage of some weakness in you. It urges you to move beyond childish thoughts to faithfully mature choices.
Looking back over your life, are there people who have taken advantage of your innocence or trust or immaturity? Is your knowledge of God’s word good enough to give you adequate teaching for the future? Is your faith growing or waning? Is your relationship with God moving to a deeper level or remaining on shallow planes? Our scripture for today urges you to explore a deeper and more mature relationship with God in Christ. Is that where you are headed in your spiritual life right now?
Shari Benthall was also a Sunday School teacher in John’s church. She taught middle school. John learned much about Jesus from Mrs. Benthall. In a variety of ways, Shari Benthall enjoyed John’s love of learning. In school, she watched out for John’s welfare. In church, Shari looked for opportunities that might benefit John’s desire to learn.
Not long after John turned seventeen, his church went through a difficult time. His pastor of ten years moved on to another church in another state and a new pastor was called to serve. John liked the new pastor, who seemed to work well with the youth in the church. The pastor was highly motivated to try new programs and explore new ideas during his first few years of ministry at the new church. One of the new programs begun by the new pastor was a favorite for most of the youth and their families. For the first time in his life, John really looked forward to his time at church.
In the process of trying new things, the new pastor did not have time for some of the lesser-attended programs. One of those programs to which the pastor could not devote enough time was begun by Shari Benthall’s mother. As the program languished, Shari became upset with the new pastor. She voiced her concern to several in the church that the pastor was “neglecting his duties” by spending less time on what she deemed a crucial ministry of the church. As time went on, Shari’s dislike of the new pastor grew exponentially.
With trouble brewing between the new pastor and Mrs. Benthall, John was caught in the middle. Mrs. Benthall asked John several times to find out if any youth had issues with the new pastor or disliked him. At school, Mrs. Benthall spoke with John repeatedly about her regrets with the new pastor. John became more and more uncomfortable with the rhetoric. He felt he had to choose between his mentor and the new pastor. When heated words were exchanged between Shari Benthall and the new pastor, John felt forced to choose sides. In the end, John chose to “side with” his mentor. John openly complained about the new pastor even though the pastor had done nothing offensive to John. Over the following months, John’s enjoyment with church faded away. The halls of the church seemed infused with gossip and heated conversations. People were taking sides. Everywhere John turned there was conflict in God’s house.
Because of John’s limited experience and budding faith, he could not see clearly the issues confronting him at church. He sided with his mentor, even though his mentor was obviously biased. John was incapable of seeing the bigger picture. John did not understand how wrong it was for Mrs. Benthall to use her friendship with John to seek out those who had issues with the new pastor. John could not see that Mrs. Benthall was making matters worse for the new pastor because of unfair expectations inherent to the situation. John could feel the tension at church. He could sense the conflict. Out of respect for his mentor, John blamed the pastor for all the issues. He believed that if the pastor were gone or did what Mrs. Benthall asked, the problems would all go away. John’s shallow, budding faith could not understand the truth of the matter, that Mrs. Benthall was stirring up trouble in John’s church and using her friendship with John to make matters worse. All John saw was that Mrs. Benthall listened and cared, and she was wise enough to have all the right answers. John couldn’t even conceive of the possibility that Mrs. Benthall had used John to gain support against the pastor, that Mrs. Benthall was biased against the pastor, and that she had steered John in the wrong direction for true spiritual growth.
Budding Christians like John are vulnerable. They can be manipulated. Their knowledge of spiritual warfare is limited. Their understanding of the complexity of life is undeveloped and tenuous. Their depth of biblical knowledge is lacking. Because of this, newer Christians like John will find themselves being tossed to and fro by issues within the church or because of problems in life. They often find it difficult to discern God’s direction or feel it is impossible to grasp God’s truth.
In the scripture for today from Ephesians, written above, Paul the Apostle urges his fellow Christians to move beyond their immaturity to a better understanding of the faith. Paul doesn’t want the Christians in Ephesus to be “tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching” (Ephesians 4:14). He urges these Christians to grow in their knowledge and wisdom about godly things so that they “will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth”.
When your faith is just developing, it is often difficult to discern when “lies sound like the truth”. Without a strong foundation in biblical knowledge and a deep relationship with God, you might not know who to really trust or uncover lies you are being told. That is why a mature faith is necessary for a healthy spiritual life. Mature faith helps separate out the truth from the lies, the honest people from the liars, the manipulators from the encouragers, and the devil’s games from God’s direction.
In his book, Strength for Today, pastor John MacArthur gave the following piece of wisdom: “The Bible commends child–like (i.e., trusting, humble) faith, but not childish faith. Paul exhorted the Corinthians, “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking … in your thinking be mature” (1 Cor. 14:20.” The scripture for today from Ephesians reiterates this ideal. It too speaks of the importance of being mature in character of faith. It cautions you to be careful of those who may take advantage of some weakness in you. It urges you to move beyond childish thoughts to faithfully mature choices.
Looking back over your life, are there people who have taken advantage of your innocence or trust or immaturity? Is your knowledge of God’s word good enough to give you adequate teaching for the future? Is your faith growing or waning? Is your relationship with God moving to a deeper level or remaining on shallow planes? Our scripture for today urges you to explore a deeper and more mature relationship with God in Christ. Is that where you are headed in your spiritual life right now?
February 10
“With the loyal you show yourself loyal; with the blameless you show yourself blameless;” (2 Samuel 22:26, NRSV)
Last spring, our town was hit with a terrible storm during the middle of the night. The wind gusts and wind shears were so powerful that a neighbor’s flagpole was bent in half! There were trees down all over town, blocking some roads, and putting holes in roofs. As the new day dawned, I looked out at my yard. There were dozens of branches down from our trees. Siding from next door had been blown into the yard. Toys and garbage and detritus were scattered all over the lawn. A man two blocks over had a tree limb tear out the electric line to his house. Power lines and pieces of telephone poles were lying in our street. The storm left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Newly recovered from surgery, I was limited in my ability to lift even light loads. There were restrictions on what I could do. The electricity was out for hours. The food in the freezers was getting warm and would probably spoil. Laura and I did what we could to get our small camping generator up and running. She helped me clear the driveway, and she left for work in a car that was pockmarked with mud and leaves from the storm. That left me to try and keep the generator going, to take a saw to the limbs that were down, and to try and clear some of the debris. That’s precisely when Louis showed up to help. Louis thought about my situation. He knew that I had surgery. Being one of those truly loyal friends and without being asked, he drove over in his truck filled with tools, and then helped me clear the yard. He made sure we had what we needed and then left to check on the guy two blocks over with the downed power lines.
I felt so blessed that Louis showed up to help. I was so thankful for his aid. I so enjoyed his loyalty to me and my family, his concern to watch over us and check in on us.
Loyal friends are very valuable to life. Sadly, they are also very rare in life. Especially in these times when everybody seems to believe that friendships belong on Facebook and loyalty only belongs to your favorite brands, a loyal friend is a precious commodity.
Surprisingly, loyal people of God are all too rare. The pews in churches are full of those who worship out of obligation or for social interaction. Many church members have to be coaxed and prodded to help with missions, help the church meet its financial obligations, or to secure leaders. Those loyal to the faithful and to God are precious and few. As an example, I know of one local large church of six hundred members whose main governing body went without two important positions because nobody wanted to be bothered with the responsibility. Another church in North Carolina begged its members for someone to help with the youth leadership. Last I heard, youth programs were limited to four a year because of the lack of someone to help the pastor lead the active youth group. Worse yet, one active church in rural Wisconsin begged for help for a dozen of its elderly members who were shut-ins. A few workers were necessary to check in on these home-bound people, pray with them, and bring any needs to the church. Guess what? When nobody volunteered to help, the pastor was chastised for not taking care of it himself. Church members even met to censure the pastor for “neglecting the elderly”. Throughout, nobody lifted a hand to help. Shameful.
The scripture for today is part of a litany of wonderful things God does consistently and frequently. 2 Samuel 22 tells of one man who God saved from death. It tells of God coming to aid “the distressed” in their time of need. It speaks of God’s deliverance of the faithful and God’s judgement upon the wicked. The saving grace of God, redemption, and protection are also presented themes. With all the many ways God is loyal to the faithful, the scripture above from 2 Samuel 22:26 also reminds us that to those who are loyal to God, God “shows Himself loyal”. In other words, when God sees a loyal follower getting the job done for HIM, God makes sure to be loyal to that person. God rewards the loyalty of the true follower with a loyalty of HIS own. Responding to the faithful person who is merciful and trusting and honest and humble and obedient, God will come through for that faithful person with all kinds of equal blessing.
When visiting with an old man from the deep south one day, I was told, “My dog is loyal as loyal can be. Every time I need him, he’s there to protect and serve and help and be obedient. I wish I could say the same for family and friends!” There is something special about the loyalty of a dog. Humans should take note!
God has given us many examples of loyalty in scripture. God even has given us wonderful animals to remind us of the gracious love of a loyal pet. God has blessed us with loyal friends to watch over and protect us. All these should remind us that God notices loyalty and blesses it. Loyalty to God and God’s ways makes churches all the more hospitable and warm. Loyal faith is not only a blessing but blessed.
I will end today’s meditation with wise words from the great preacher, Oswald Chambers….
“It is only the loyal soul who believes that God engineers circumstances. We take such liberties with our circumstances, we do not believe God engineers them, although we say we do; we treat the things that happen as if they were engineered by men. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, and that is to our Lord. The test of loyalty always comes just there. If we learn to worship God in the trying circumstances, He will alter them in two seconds when He chooses.
The idea is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us—” (From My Utmost for His Highest, 1986).
Are you one of God’s loyal followers or just someone puttering along in the faith? When push comes to shove, will you be true to God? When God needs you to stand in the breach, will you be ready and waiting to take your place?
Newly recovered from surgery, I was limited in my ability to lift even light loads. There were restrictions on what I could do. The electricity was out for hours. The food in the freezers was getting warm and would probably spoil. Laura and I did what we could to get our small camping generator up and running. She helped me clear the driveway, and she left for work in a car that was pockmarked with mud and leaves from the storm. That left me to try and keep the generator going, to take a saw to the limbs that were down, and to try and clear some of the debris. That’s precisely when Louis showed up to help. Louis thought about my situation. He knew that I had surgery. Being one of those truly loyal friends and without being asked, he drove over in his truck filled with tools, and then helped me clear the yard. He made sure we had what we needed and then left to check on the guy two blocks over with the downed power lines.
I felt so blessed that Louis showed up to help. I was so thankful for his aid. I so enjoyed his loyalty to me and my family, his concern to watch over us and check in on us.
Loyal friends are very valuable to life. Sadly, they are also very rare in life. Especially in these times when everybody seems to believe that friendships belong on Facebook and loyalty only belongs to your favorite brands, a loyal friend is a precious commodity.
Surprisingly, loyal people of God are all too rare. The pews in churches are full of those who worship out of obligation or for social interaction. Many church members have to be coaxed and prodded to help with missions, help the church meet its financial obligations, or to secure leaders. Those loyal to the faithful and to God are precious and few. As an example, I know of one local large church of six hundred members whose main governing body went without two important positions because nobody wanted to be bothered with the responsibility. Another church in North Carolina begged its members for someone to help with the youth leadership. Last I heard, youth programs were limited to four a year because of the lack of someone to help the pastor lead the active youth group. Worse yet, one active church in rural Wisconsin begged for help for a dozen of its elderly members who were shut-ins. A few workers were necessary to check in on these home-bound people, pray with them, and bring any needs to the church. Guess what? When nobody volunteered to help, the pastor was chastised for not taking care of it himself. Church members even met to censure the pastor for “neglecting the elderly”. Throughout, nobody lifted a hand to help. Shameful.
The scripture for today is part of a litany of wonderful things God does consistently and frequently. 2 Samuel 22 tells of one man who God saved from death. It tells of God coming to aid “the distressed” in their time of need. It speaks of God’s deliverance of the faithful and God’s judgement upon the wicked. The saving grace of God, redemption, and protection are also presented themes. With all the many ways God is loyal to the faithful, the scripture above from 2 Samuel 22:26 also reminds us that to those who are loyal to God, God “shows Himself loyal”. In other words, when God sees a loyal follower getting the job done for HIM, God makes sure to be loyal to that person. God rewards the loyalty of the true follower with a loyalty of HIS own. Responding to the faithful person who is merciful and trusting and honest and humble and obedient, God will come through for that faithful person with all kinds of equal blessing.
When visiting with an old man from the deep south one day, I was told, “My dog is loyal as loyal can be. Every time I need him, he’s there to protect and serve and help and be obedient. I wish I could say the same for family and friends!” There is something special about the loyalty of a dog. Humans should take note!
God has given us many examples of loyalty in scripture. God even has given us wonderful animals to remind us of the gracious love of a loyal pet. God has blessed us with loyal friends to watch over and protect us. All these should remind us that God notices loyalty and blesses it. Loyalty to God and God’s ways makes churches all the more hospitable and warm. Loyal faith is not only a blessing but blessed.
I will end today’s meditation with wise words from the great preacher, Oswald Chambers….
“It is only the loyal soul who believes that God engineers circumstances. We take such liberties with our circumstances, we do not believe God engineers them, although we say we do; we treat the things that happen as if they were engineered by men. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, and that is to our Lord. The test of loyalty always comes just there. If we learn to worship God in the trying circumstances, He will alter them in two seconds when He chooses.
The idea is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us—” (From My Utmost for His Highest, 1986).
Are you one of God’s loyal followers or just someone puttering along in the faith? When push comes to shove, will you be true to God? When God needs you to stand in the breach, will you be ready and waiting to take your place?
February 12
“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.” (2 Peter 1:5–7, NLT)
The scripture above urges you to “supplement your faith with a generous provision” of several important things. Among those listed are moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, brotherly love, and godliness. The list of spiritual “supplements” is informative. It is a reminder that every now and then you need to supplement your spiritual diet. In the same way that a pill of supplements helps to round out your food diet, making it healthy, spiritual supplements will keep you spiritually healthy.
In this list of spiritual supplements, I want to focus on one of the elements included by Peter, namely, godliness. Godliness is often spoken of as “using God as your example” or “acting as if God is in your presence”. I believe godliness is even more comprehensive. I believe that when you supplement your faith life with godliness, you open every area of your life to a keen awareness of God presence with a desire for truly godly action. John MacArthur noted the importance of godliness as a type of “God-consciousness”, where you show reverence to God and an awareness of God in all the areas of your life. MacArthur used these words to describe what he meant:
“Godliness is at the heart of scriptural perseverance. The Greek for “godliness” (eusebeia) denotes a practical awareness of God in every area of life—a God–consciousness. The word could also be translated “true religion” or “true worship.” It gives God His rightful place by worshiping Him properly, something that is not often done in the contemporary church. Genuine public worship is more than “relevant” programs, new rituals, or catchy music—it contains much reverence for God.
If you are truly a Christian, you will also revere God in your devotional life and obediently persevere in His will daily. You will rejoice and be aware of God in every detail of life.” (Strength for Today).
If you want to supplement your faith life with godliness, consider the details of your day and the many moments you experience. In some way, God should permeate each of those areas of activity. If there is some part of your life devoid of godly meaning, work with God on bringing His presence and Holy Spirit into that part of your every day.
Jerry was a stockbroker, a good one. He was successful in seeing trends in companies and society that would translate in the stock price going up or down. Yes, he spent many long hours in front of multiple computer screens reading about company investments and divestments. He read widely about new innovations and trends. His wide area of expertise and knowledge were sought out and prized by some big investors.
To become successful, Jerry neglected his spiritual life. Despite being a Christian, he often found himself too tired after a long work week to pray, read scripture, meditate on faith, or spend time doing missions. Mostly, Jerry used his weekends to recover for the next week, often filling his free time with parties, power vacations, and elaborate toys like jet skis and fast cars.
While at work one day, Jerry noticed his best friend, Kelly, clutch his chest and go down to one knee. Jerry rushed over only to help, only to witness his friend’s last few breaths. The last sentence his best friend said was, “I didn’t want my life to end this way.” Jerry had great respect for Kelly and was shocked at what happened. Over the next few days, Jerry realized he was on the same road as Kelly. Would he die saying, “I don’t want my life to end this way!”?
Over the next few weeks, Jerry began to pray again. He attended his church, even listening to the sermon instead of planning for the week. He recommitted his life to Christ in a prayer after one special service. He began to feel his soul beginning to stir.
Despite the many strides made in his spiritual life, Jerry still felt that there was one area of his life that seemed devoid of God’s presence: work. While working, Jerry felt stress and pressure. He felt a distance from God. It just felt wrong. Have you ever felt something missing in an area of your life? Well, Jerry was determined to find out what was missing in his work life. After a few visits with his pastor and several months of prayers on the matter, Jerry noted what he felt was God’s absence at his work. He resolved to change this immediately. He promised himself to include God every day in his work.
Thereafter, Jerry made some significant changes in his work routine. Some days, Jerry came in to work early to read his Bible while he had his first cup of coffee for the day. Several times a week, Jerry would take a break at lunchtime to walk around a wooded area outside the building and spend time in prayer and contemplation. Jerry even sought out a few guys at work who belonged to a church. Together, they vowed to do mission weekends every three months. On those weekends, the guys would help out at a food pantry or homeless shelter. They might find a shut-in who needed some yard work or a family that needed some kind of repair around the house. Slowly, but surely, Jerry brought God into his everyday life, even work. What Jerry figured out a few years later was that this was “godliness”. It was his way of bringing God into the details of each day.
Is there an area of your life devoid of some true godliness? Maybe, what you need to do right now is figure out ways to invite God into that part of your life. Then again, you might see the need to reconnect with God with a certain goal or intent. Maybe you just need some more prayer time or contemplation. Don’t wait until a life-altering moment to add needed supplements to your spiritual life. Those changes may be the very things that keep you together when all the rest of the world is falling apart!
In this list of spiritual supplements, I want to focus on one of the elements included by Peter, namely, godliness. Godliness is often spoken of as “using God as your example” or “acting as if God is in your presence”. I believe godliness is even more comprehensive. I believe that when you supplement your faith life with godliness, you open every area of your life to a keen awareness of God presence with a desire for truly godly action. John MacArthur noted the importance of godliness as a type of “God-consciousness”, where you show reverence to God and an awareness of God in all the areas of your life. MacArthur used these words to describe what he meant:
“Godliness is at the heart of scriptural perseverance. The Greek for “godliness” (eusebeia) denotes a practical awareness of God in every area of life—a God–consciousness. The word could also be translated “true religion” or “true worship.” It gives God His rightful place by worshiping Him properly, something that is not often done in the contemporary church. Genuine public worship is more than “relevant” programs, new rituals, or catchy music—it contains much reverence for God.
If you are truly a Christian, you will also revere God in your devotional life and obediently persevere in His will daily. You will rejoice and be aware of God in every detail of life.” (Strength for Today).
If you want to supplement your faith life with godliness, consider the details of your day and the many moments you experience. In some way, God should permeate each of those areas of activity. If there is some part of your life devoid of godly meaning, work with God on bringing His presence and Holy Spirit into that part of your every day.
Jerry was a stockbroker, a good one. He was successful in seeing trends in companies and society that would translate in the stock price going up or down. Yes, he spent many long hours in front of multiple computer screens reading about company investments and divestments. He read widely about new innovations and trends. His wide area of expertise and knowledge were sought out and prized by some big investors.
To become successful, Jerry neglected his spiritual life. Despite being a Christian, he often found himself too tired after a long work week to pray, read scripture, meditate on faith, or spend time doing missions. Mostly, Jerry used his weekends to recover for the next week, often filling his free time with parties, power vacations, and elaborate toys like jet skis and fast cars.
While at work one day, Jerry noticed his best friend, Kelly, clutch his chest and go down to one knee. Jerry rushed over only to help, only to witness his friend’s last few breaths. The last sentence his best friend said was, “I didn’t want my life to end this way.” Jerry had great respect for Kelly and was shocked at what happened. Over the next few days, Jerry realized he was on the same road as Kelly. Would he die saying, “I don’t want my life to end this way!”?
Over the next few weeks, Jerry began to pray again. He attended his church, even listening to the sermon instead of planning for the week. He recommitted his life to Christ in a prayer after one special service. He began to feel his soul beginning to stir.
Despite the many strides made in his spiritual life, Jerry still felt that there was one area of his life that seemed devoid of God’s presence: work. While working, Jerry felt stress and pressure. He felt a distance from God. It just felt wrong. Have you ever felt something missing in an area of your life? Well, Jerry was determined to find out what was missing in his work life. After a few visits with his pastor and several months of prayers on the matter, Jerry noted what he felt was God’s absence at his work. He resolved to change this immediately. He promised himself to include God every day in his work.
Thereafter, Jerry made some significant changes in his work routine. Some days, Jerry came in to work early to read his Bible while he had his first cup of coffee for the day. Several times a week, Jerry would take a break at lunchtime to walk around a wooded area outside the building and spend time in prayer and contemplation. Jerry even sought out a few guys at work who belonged to a church. Together, they vowed to do mission weekends every three months. On those weekends, the guys would help out at a food pantry or homeless shelter. They might find a shut-in who needed some yard work or a family that needed some kind of repair around the house. Slowly, but surely, Jerry brought God into his everyday life, even work. What Jerry figured out a few years later was that this was “godliness”. It was his way of bringing God into the details of each day.
Is there an area of your life devoid of some true godliness? Maybe, what you need to do right now is figure out ways to invite God into that part of your life. Then again, you might see the need to reconnect with God with a certain goal or intent. Maybe you just need some more prayer time or contemplation. Don’t wait until a life-altering moment to add needed supplements to your spiritual life. Those changes may be the very things that keep you together when all the rest of the world is falling apart!
February 14
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” (Romans 6:12, ESV)
Within you, two competing realities are constantly in competition for your attention. One reality resides with your body. Another reality resides with your soul.
Your body has hormones and chemicals and genetic components. Your body also has a brain that processes many external and internal components of your daily life. Your “mortal body”, comprised of brain and all the physical aspects of your human “shell”, has desires and needs and functions that can control or manipulate how you feel and what you do. Some of your bodily functions need this control to survive, like the neurological processes that help your heart beat as needed and as God functioned. Because of the beauty of God’s creation of the mortal body, your organs can keep you alive through the complex and integrated bodily systems that regulate the chemicals and electrical signals and physical processes that regulate normal bodily function. When functioning correctly, the body is an amazing, beautiful thing.
However, your “mortal body” has a dark side. It is also prone to malfunction and to mislead you. When you have an ear infection, you might not hear the cry of your baby at night. When low on the chemical serotonin in your brain, you might contemplate suicide. When lacking insulin, your body will not process sugar correctly and you could die. When short on adrenaline, you might not feel like running when you are in danger. Because your body is mortal, it may malfunction. Because your body is mortal, your thoughts can become erratic or neurotic. Because your body is not perfect, your mind might interpret things wrongly. You might feel a friend is no longer a friend when it is not true. You might misunderstand a situation and take offense where none was warranted or intended. You might crave a drug that can damage your body. You may take up a habit that will mess up your organs. You might be consumed with a passion that is not only bad for your body but dangerous for your soul. Your “mortal body” can do miraculous things, but it may also make a mess of your life on earth and in heaven.
One of the greatest problems with your “mortal body” is that it can lead you into sin. Your hormones may press your mind to have unprotected sex. They might influence you to do dangerous things, take on habits that are self-destructive, or eat yourself to death. The chemicals in your brain can coax you into feelings such as jealousy, envy, and anger that can destroy a relationship or wreck someone’s day. Many sins come about when you follow baser instincts from your body and brain. Murder can come from anger. Lust can come from unmet needs. Overeating and drug use and narcissism all come from body and brain functions borne from genetic predispositions. In essence, your mortal body is prone to get you into trouble and lead you into sin. Because of all its imperfections, your “mortal body” was never intended to follow you into heaven. For a holy life and heavenly future, God gave you a soul.
The scripture for today contains a warning about your mortal body. It will mess up without a healthy, holy, and faithful soul. Romans 6:12 cautions you to never “let sin reign in your mortal body”. When sin reigns or takes hold, your body will crave all the wrong things, take you to places that will cause you harm, and lead to self-destruction. When the mortal body is corrupted by sin, it will desire for you to “obey its passions” (Romans 6:12b). When that happens, you will become addicted to a sinful lifestyle even if it hurts those you love or damages your relationship with God. When left to its baser instincts, the mortal body can shatter your dreams and crush any hopes for joy in the future.
To combat the tendency of your mortal body to make a mess of your life, God has given you the possibility for a healthy soul. In a perfect world, a healthy soul is connected to God in a spiritual manner. It will correct your vision when your body is clouded by sin. It will prompt you to repent when a sin has captivated your mind. When left to its baser instincts, the mortal body can cause you to be selfish, arrogant, deadly, hurtful, and destructive. The soul that is intimately connected with God will show you the path back to peace and joy and hope and purpose. The body is meant for earthly life. The soul is meant for forever, which is why it is so important that you keep your soul connected with God, pure, undefiled, at peace, and untainted by a degenerate mortal body.
The scripture for today maintains that you have to make a choice between following the baser instincts of your mortal body or listening to the healing direction of a godly soul. You CANNOT let sin “reign in your mortal body”. You must listen to God’s Spirit through your soul. You need to heed your soul’s warnings. You must decide to let God’s Holy Spirit direct your soul into discovering what is true and right and holy. Don’t be swayed by evil. Satan loves to manipulate your mortal body and corrupt your beautiful soul.
In the 1970’s, a close friend of mine talked about his faith with me. We grew up together. We were close. I knew his family. He knew mine. We talked about God many times. We shared many happy moments with mutual friends.
In the late 1970’s, this friend hit puberty. With that change in his body, my friend began to do several things. First, he began to pull away from his family. He constantly complained about his father. He ragged on his sister. He also began to pull away from God. He stopped attending his church. He stopped talking with me. He neglected anything to do with faith in Jesus. The typical teenage angst began to affect his relationships. Puberty also affected his sexual urges. My friend became more reckless. It began with pornography. Later, he began to explore bisexual relationships. By 1988, this close friend was dead with AIDS. His passion for life had translated into many sexual escapades. One of those escapades gave him HIV. My friend's lustful indulgences took his life long before its time.
If you let the baser urges of your mind and body captivate you, they can take you to some bad places. They can end your life. If you let your passions and feelings and carnal desires and fantasies and baser instincts get control, they will lead you down a path to sin. Satan loves to encourage this self-destructive tendency of your body. He loves to manipulate your body and mind in order to permanently damage your soul. He will fill your body with urges and ill-feelings and fill your mind with fantasies and lusts. That’s why the scripture for today is a warning for your soul. You cannot let sin reign in your mortal body. It will destroy your beautiful soul.
It shows when a person has been co-opted by bodily passions. That person may end up abusing drugs, hoarding, stuck in an abusive relationship, hungry for the next fix, or living for the next high. The person’s soul will either be numbed, buried, or damaged. Given enough time, Satan will use the passions of your body to destroy the ability of your soul to connect to God. Then, heaven will be lost, and life will become a series of hellish experiences until hell will become your eternal destination.
Don’t ever underestimate the ability of the passions of the body to destroy your relationship with God and the beauty of your soul. Heed the warning from our scripture for today. God can save you if you only become dead to the sin that tempts you and alive to the Loving One who died for you on a cross! (Romans 6:11 says exactly that!)
What kinds of temptations is your mortal body apt to follow? What earthly passions threaten your peace or your relationship with God? Either you obey God and kill those lusts in your body or mind that threaten your peace, or your soul will be forever shipwrecked on an island of suffering in this life and extending into the next.
Your body has hormones and chemicals and genetic components. Your body also has a brain that processes many external and internal components of your daily life. Your “mortal body”, comprised of brain and all the physical aspects of your human “shell”, has desires and needs and functions that can control or manipulate how you feel and what you do. Some of your bodily functions need this control to survive, like the neurological processes that help your heart beat as needed and as God functioned. Because of the beauty of God’s creation of the mortal body, your organs can keep you alive through the complex and integrated bodily systems that regulate the chemicals and electrical signals and physical processes that regulate normal bodily function. When functioning correctly, the body is an amazing, beautiful thing.
However, your “mortal body” has a dark side. It is also prone to malfunction and to mislead you. When you have an ear infection, you might not hear the cry of your baby at night. When low on the chemical serotonin in your brain, you might contemplate suicide. When lacking insulin, your body will not process sugar correctly and you could die. When short on adrenaline, you might not feel like running when you are in danger. Because your body is mortal, it may malfunction. Because your body is mortal, your thoughts can become erratic or neurotic. Because your body is not perfect, your mind might interpret things wrongly. You might feel a friend is no longer a friend when it is not true. You might misunderstand a situation and take offense where none was warranted or intended. You might crave a drug that can damage your body. You may take up a habit that will mess up your organs. You might be consumed with a passion that is not only bad for your body but dangerous for your soul. Your “mortal body” can do miraculous things, but it may also make a mess of your life on earth and in heaven.
One of the greatest problems with your “mortal body” is that it can lead you into sin. Your hormones may press your mind to have unprotected sex. They might influence you to do dangerous things, take on habits that are self-destructive, or eat yourself to death. The chemicals in your brain can coax you into feelings such as jealousy, envy, and anger that can destroy a relationship or wreck someone’s day. Many sins come about when you follow baser instincts from your body and brain. Murder can come from anger. Lust can come from unmet needs. Overeating and drug use and narcissism all come from body and brain functions borne from genetic predispositions. In essence, your mortal body is prone to get you into trouble and lead you into sin. Because of all its imperfections, your “mortal body” was never intended to follow you into heaven. For a holy life and heavenly future, God gave you a soul.
The scripture for today contains a warning about your mortal body. It will mess up without a healthy, holy, and faithful soul. Romans 6:12 cautions you to never “let sin reign in your mortal body”. When sin reigns or takes hold, your body will crave all the wrong things, take you to places that will cause you harm, and lead to self-destruction. When the mortal body is corrupted by sin, it will desire for you to “obey its passions” (Romans 6:12b). When that happens, you will become addicted to a sinful lifestyle even if it hurts those you love or damages your relationship with God. When left to its baser instincts, the mortal body can shatter your dreams and crush any hopes for joy in the future.
To combat the tendency of your mortal body to make a mess of your life, God has given you the possibility for a healthy soul. In a perfect world, a healthy soul is connected to God in a spiritual manner. It will correct your vision when your body is clouded by sin. It will prompt you to repent when a sin has captivated your mind. When left to its baser instincts, the mortal body can cause you to be selfish, arrogant, deadly, hurtful, and destructive. The soul that is intimately connected with God will show you the path back to peace and joy and hope and purpose. The body is meant for earthly life. The soul is meant for forever, which is why it is so important that you keep your soul connected with God, pure, undefiled, at peace, and untainted by a degenerate mortal body.
The scripture for today maintains that you have to make a choice between following the baser instincts of your mortal body or listening to the healing direction of a godly soul. You CANNOT let sin “reign in your mortal body”. You must listen to God’s Spirit through your soul. You need to heed your soul’s warnings. You must decide to let God’s Holy Spirit direct your soul into discovering what is true and right and holy. Don’t be swayed by evil. Satan loves to manipulate your mortal body and corrupt your beautiful soul.
In the 1970’s, a close friend of mine talked about his faith with me. We grew up together. We were close. I knew his family. He knew mine. We talked about God many times. We shared many happy moments with mutual friends.
In the late 1970’s, this friend hit puberty. With that change in his body, my friend began to do several things. First, he began to pull away from his family. He constantly complained about his father. He ragged on his sister. He also began to pull away from God. He stopped attending his church. He stopped talking with me. He neglected anything to do with faith in Jesus. The typical teenage angst began to affect his relationships. Puberty also affected his sexual urges. My friend became more reckless. It began with pornography. Later, he began to explore bisexual relationships. By 1988, this close friend was dead with AIDS. His passion for life had translated into many sexual escapades. One of those escapades gave him HIV. My friend's lustful indulgences took his life long before its time.
If you let the baser urges of your mind and body captivate you, they can take you to some bad places. They can end your life. If you let your passions and feelings and carnal desires and fantasies and baser instincts get control, they will lead you down a path to sin. Satan loves to encourage this self-destructive tendency of your body. He loves to manipulate your body and mind in order to permanently damage your soul. He will fill your body with urges and ill-feelings and fill your mind with fantasies and lusts. That’s why the scripture for today is a warning for your soul. You cannot let sin reign in your mortal body. It will destroy your beautiful soul.
It shows when a person has been co-opted by bodily passions. That person may end up abusing drugs, hoarding, stuck in an abusive relationship, hungry for the next fix, or living for the next high. The person’s soul will either be numbed, buried, or damaged. Given enough time, Satan will use the passions of your body to destroy the ability of your soul to connect to God. Then, heaven will be lost, and life will become a series of hellish experiences until hell will become your eternal destination.
Don’t ever underestimate the ability of the passions of the body to destroy your relationship with God and the beauty of your soul. Heed the warning from our scripture for today. God can save you if you only become dead to the sin that tempts you and alive to the Loving One who died for you on a cross! (Romans 6:11 says exactly that!)
What kinds of temptations is your mortal body apt to follow? What earthly passions threaten your peace or your relationship with God? Either you obey God and kill those lusts in your body or mind that threaten your peace, or your soul will be forever shipwrecked on an island of suffering in this life and extending into the next.
February 16
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19, ESV)
I woke up one morning last fall in terrible pain. I could hardly move my shoulder. I thought to myself, “I just slept on it wrong. The pain will go away. I’ve got things to do on my web site. I have to help my parents install a new door. I have to find time to help that needy friend”. I had all kinds of plans, and no shoulder was going to interrupt my intentions. I was wrong. God had other plans. In the weeks and months that followed, my shoulder pain became unbearable, culminating in a total shoulder replacement just before Christmas. Then, for the next six weeks, I could not use my one arm, could not update my web site, could not write my daily meditations. I could barely eek out a few words on my phone or my email using on-screen keyboards and lots of frustrations.
I could have gotten riled up. Most people would have become irritable, resentful, or fallen into a deep depression. That’s when it hit me. God put me here on a new path where I can’t do what I’m used to doing. I wonder what God is doing. I wonder what God is going to show me. With a renewed openness to God, I set about praying and meditating on the new direction God was sending me. I vowed NOT to get bogged down in what I couldn’t do. I set my mind on finding out what God had planned for the near future.
The scripture above from the book of Isaiah reflects my attitude. It contains the words of God to the prophet Isaiah. Spoken by God at a time when the Israelites were bogged down in post-war suffering and exile and dark times, this scripture was God’s way of saying that it was time to do “a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19a). God was making new plans. God was going to lead Judah and Jerusalem down a new path of righteousness. God was going to resurrect a new Kingdom from the ashes of the previous war. In similar manner, God was going to do a new thing with me!
You and I are in a new time today. Covid-19 has changed the world we live in. Some people are bound up with fear, uncertain how to function in society without masks or social distancing or mandates. Some people are so caught up in looking backward that even as God is moving in new directions right now, they are holding on to the past, grasping at misinformation, ignoring scientific principles, overlooking outdated views about social life, and generally unaware of the possibilities for good and evil coming our way.
Every now and then, God changes direction. When the time is right, God begins a “new thing”. Your job isn’t to complain or get bogged down in the past or tripped up by what you may have lost. According to the second half of the scripture for today, you are to look for how God might “make a way” for you through the changes. God is saying the same thing to you today that God said to the people in the days of Isaiah, “Don’t you perceive it?” Can’t you see what God is doing? Are you open to God’s new direction?
So many people, even too many Christians, cannot make the transition when God does “a new thing.” Some are unable to cope with change. Some are afraid to learn new things. A good many will not even look to God for direction. All too many can’t perceive that new path God is making. God is clearing the way for the future, but they are caught in the mire of past regrets, full of trepidation at the changes looming before them, and fearful for what lies ahead. Rather than grasping the hand of God and going down that new path, they stop on that old familiar road. They will not follow God. They will not adapt. They will not take that step in a new direction.
If the people in the days of Isaiah had not followed God, so many things would not have happened to Judah and Jerusalem. The temple may never have been rebuilt. The walls of the city of Jerusalem might have been abandoned to the desert winds. Prophesies would never have been spoken. The coming of Jesus would have changed. But God had plans, plans for great things. Nothing was going to stop the coming of the Son of God. So, God put the people of Israel and Judah on notice. HE was doing a new thing. They better get up and get going. It was time to follow that new way God had arranged for the present.
Following a wonderful spiritual retreat, Joe was fired up by an awesome renewed connection with God. For the first time in his life, he made a real commitment to God. Kneeling down at an altar, he gave his life to Christ. He vowed to be a faithful man of God. But then, Joe began to perceive something in his spiritual life. God wanted Joe to take on a difficult task in his church. Joe felt God’s call to start a new ministry to middle-school children. Not being an outgoing kind of guy or a leader, Joe balked at where God was leading him. He had never done a ministry with youth before. He wasn’t trained for that! That kind of ministry wasn’t his kind of thing. Joe decided to back off. Whenever he perceived God calling him to that ministry, Joe would ignore the call. He would shirk his responsibility. In the end, Joe’s personal relationship with God took a nosedive. To this day, Joe is back to being a Christmas and Easter Christian. The beautiful, powerful spiritual moments from the retreat are now a part of Joe’s past. There is little of God in his present days. Joe could not adapt to God’s call. Joe could not take the leap of faith required to grow in the Lord.
The Bible is full of people who cast aside convention and mistakes and the past in order to walk a new path with God. The blessings they received by following God’s call to do “a new thing” changed lives and futures and history. Abraham followed God’s call to leave his home in Ur and travel to a new land. There, he received a son who was called to establish the nation of Israel. The prophet Amos was a simple shepherd. He left his home of Tekoa to follow God’s prophesies and attempted to save Israel from destruction at the hands of Assyria. At the time, Israel wouldn’t change its ways and was utterly beaten down by the Assyrians. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fishermen of one sort or another. They left their nets to follow Jesus. Their ministry with Jesus changed the world! The Apostle Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Rather than going back to his old ways, he began to preach and teach in the name of Jesus. His writings now make up most of our New Testament! Each and every one of these people had to adapt to God’s changes and follow down a new path in life.
Lately, is God changing the path you have been on? Do you perceive anything different in your relationship with God? Don’t be surprised if God calls you to do “a new thing” every now and then. Sometimes, the only way to end up where God wants you is to leave the familiar and trust in His direction.
I could have gotten riled up. Most people would have become irritable, resentful, or fallen into a deep depression. That’s when it hit me. God put me here on a new path where I can’t do what I’m used to doing. I wonder what God is doing. I wonder what God is going to show me. With a renewed openness to God, I set about praying and meditating on the new direction God was sending me. I vowed NOT to get bogged down in what I couldn’t do. I set my mind on finding out what God had planned for the near future.
The scripture above from the book of Isaiah reflects my attitude. It contains the words of God to the prophet Isaiah. Spoken by God at a time when the Israelites were bogged down in post-war suffering and exile and dark times, this scripture was God’s way of saying that it was time to do “a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19a). God was making new plans. God was going to lead Judah and Jerusalem down a new path of righteousness. God was going to resurrect a new Kingdom from the ashes of the previous war. In similar manner, God was going to do a new thing with me!
You and I are in a new time today. Covid-19 has changed the world we live in. Some people are bound up with fear, uncertain how to function in society without masks or social distancing or mandates. Some people are so caught up in looking backward that even as God is moving in new directions right now, they are holding on to the past, grasping at misinformation, ignoring scientific principles, overlooking outdated views about social life, and generally unaware of the possibilities for good and evil coming our way.
Every now and then, God changes direction. When the time is right, God begins a “new thing”. Your job isn’t to complain or get bogged down in the past or tripped up by what you may have lost. According to the second half of the scripture for today, you are to look for how God might “make a way” for you through the changes. God is saying the same thing to you today that God said to the people in the days of Isaiah, “Don’t you perceive it?” Can’t you see what God is doing? Are you open to God’s new direction?
So many people, even too many Christians, cannot make the transition when God does “a new thing.” Some are unable to cope with change. Some are afraid to learn new things. A good many will not even look to God for direction. All too many can’t perceive that new path God is making. God is clearing the way for the future, but they are caught in the mire of past regrets, full of trepidation at the changes looming before them, and fearful for what lies ahead. Rather than grasping the hand of God and going down that new path, they stop on that old familiar road. They will not follow God. They will not adapt. They will not take that step in a new direction.
If the people in the days of Isaiah had not followed God, so many things would not have happened to Judah and Jerusalem. The temple may never have been rebuilt. The walls of the city of Jerusalem might have been abandoned to the desert winds. Prophesies would never have been spoken. The coming of Jesus would have changed. But God had plans, plans for great things. Nothing was going to stop the coming of the Son of God. So, God put the people of Israel and Judah on notice. HE was doing a new thing. They better get up and get going. It was time to follow that new way God had arranged for the present.
Following a wonderful spiritual retreat, Joe was fired up by an awesome renewed connection with God. For the first time in his life, he made a real commitment to God. Kneeling down at an altar, he gave his life to Christ. He vowed to be a faithful man of God. But then, Joe began to perceive something in his spiritual life. God wanted Joe to take on a difficult task in his church. Joe felt God’s call to start a new ministry to middle-school children. Not being an outgoing kind of guy or a leader, Joe balked at where God was leading him. He had never done a ministry with youth before. He wasn’t trained for that! That kind of ministry wasn’t his kind of thing. Joe decided to back off. Whenever he perceived God calling him to that ministry, Joe would ignore the call. He would shirk his responsibility. In the end, Joe’s personal relationship with God took a nosedive. To this day, Joe is back to being a Christmas and Easter Christian. The beautiful, powerful spiritual moments from the retreat are now a part of Joe’s past. There is little of God in his present days. Joe could not adapt to God’s call. Joe could not take the leap of faith required to grow in the Lord.
The Bible is full of people who cast aside convention and mistakes and the past in order to walk a new path with God. The blessings they received by following God’s call to do “a new thing” changed lives and futures and history. Abraham followed God’s call to leave his home in Ur and travel to a new land. There, he received a son who was called to establish the nation of Israel. The prophet Amos was a simple shepherd. He left his home of Tekoa to follow God’s prophesies and attempted to save Israel from destruction at the hands of Assyria. At the time, Israel wouldn’t change its ways and was utterly beaten down by the Assyrians. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fishermen of one sort or another. They left their nets to follow Jesus. Their ministry with Jesus changed the world! The Apostle Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Rather than going back to his old ways, he began to preach and teach in the name of Jesus. His writings now make up most of our New Testament! Each and every one of these people had to adapt to God’s changes and follow down a new path in life.
Lately, is God changing the path you have been on? Do you perceive anything different in your relationship with God? Don’t be surprised if God calls you to do “a new thing” every now and then. Sometimes, the only way to end up where God wants you is to leave the familiar and trust in His direction.
February 19
“If you break the covenant of the LORD your God by worshiping and serving other gods, his anger will burn against you, and you will quickly vanish from the good land he has given you.”” (Joshua 23:16, NLT)
In the days following Moses’ departure from Israel, Joshua was given full leadership of God’s people. During this reign of Joshua, clear intent was made by the leaders of Israel to purify their relationship with God. While Israel was in Egypt, the people were accustomed to the hearing about the pantheon of Egyptian gods. They were exposed to Canaanite gods. They knew about idols and idolatry. Despite the knowledge that there is one God above all whose name is Yahweh, Israel kept dabbling in the worship or reverence for these other gods. Joshua sought to end all forms of idolatry, as did God’s prophets and leaders before and after. Sadly, the fact is that when people are left to their own devices, they often gravitate away from the true God to other deities. They might even acknowledge that our God is the one true God while worshipping other things. The very first commandment God gave at Mt. Sinai was that there be “no other gods” put before the one true God. This commandment was put in place because of the tendency, even for faithful people, to play around with other gods or worship other things.
It is surprising to me that Christians today think that religious people can’t carry on with other gods or worship other things. It was commonplace in both Old and New Testaments. It was common in history. Do we think today that we have moved beyond idolatry and idols and idol worship and revering other gods? Hardly. These things are as common today as they ever were. That is why you need to examine your spiritual life and end these tendencies. You need to look at your heart and actions and determine if you are pure in heart, in a committed relationship with the one true God, and living faithfully to Jesus your Savior.
If you spoke to Pastor Jerry, you would hear about the grace of God. Jerry grew up in a dysfunctional household with a mother who drank and a father who was largely absent. Despite being dedicated Baptists, this Texas family had its problems. Against all odds, Jerry found great comfort in the church. When his mother went on a drinking binge, Jerry often would stay away from home. His favorite place to “hide” was with a family down the street that were also members of Jerry’s Baptist church. It was there that Jerry really learned about God. It was during prayer late one night at that neighbor’s home that Jerry gave his life to Christ.
In his thirties, Jerry left his job in retail sales and went to seminary in Dallas. He spent four years getting a degree and becoming an ordained Baptist minister. During his late thirties and forties, Jerry served three churches. He had a beautiful wife and three lovely daughters. He seemed to have it all. But Pastor Jerry had a secret life. He had a gambling addiction. It started with a few bets on sports games. From there, it evolved into an obsession. When he wasn’t in church or doing things with his family, Jerry was looking up odds and placing bets. When members of his church heard his phone beeping with a text during a meeting, they assumed someone in the church was just keeping in touch with their pastor. On the contrary, many of those texts were notifications from his bookie.
After years of this hidden obsession, Jerry’s finances began to unravel. His wife constantly complained about not having enough money to buy some of the necessities for the family. Truth be told, Jerry went through several dry spells where his bets went south. He lost a lot of money. His family and home life suffered from the loss of funds.
After a series of bad bets, Jerry’s wife left him. Some serious problems at his church caused Jerry many headaches as well. With his world falling apart and in debt “up to his eyeballs”, Jerry asked a close friend and fellow pastor for help. After months of prayer and conversation, Jerry’s pastor friend said, “Jerry, its time you own up to the fact that you have been cheating on God. Your gambling has messed with your marriage, your family life, and your finances. It also has competed with your passion for God. You are going to have to choose to keep serving your addiction to gambling or serve God. You can’t do both. One must go. Today, you have to choose between them.”
Jerry chose to follow God. He gave up on his addiction to gambling. He paid his debts. He made up with his wife. Yes, Jerry has a constant desire to go back to gambling. In truth, he can hardly watch a sports game without thinking about the odds. But Jerry loves God more. He loves his family. He loves Jesus. He made a clear choice to place God first. His obsession with gambling would never again come between him and Jesus.
Anything that comes between you and God is in competition for your heart and soul. It is directly in competition with God. If you allow anything to be more important in your life than God in Christ, you are worshipping that “thing” more than God. That “thing” will become your god. You will become an idolator. And that thing will cause friction in every area of your life, including your relationship with Jesus.
Joshua 23:16 was clear that “worshipping and serving other gods” would break your “covenant” with God. This will cause God’s “anger to burn against you”. Blessings from God will dry up. Friction with God and others will be the result. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself tempted to worship some thing or person or philosophy or ideal. Jews and Christians have failed God in this way for centuries, even from the beginning of time.
James 4:8 commands the faithful to “purify their hearts” when “your loyalty is divided between God and the world” (NLT). If anything but God rises up in your life to occupy most of your thoughts, things will need to change. If there is a fear that consumes your day, it will come between you and God. If there is some doubt or insecurity in your belief, it will cause you to pull away from your Lord. A heart that is consumed by some earthly passion will encounter friction with God. Do it long enough and you will incur the wrath of God (Joshua 23:16c). Everything will go downhill after that.
If you find your days full of anxiety or fear or trouble or temptation, check that something isn’t trying to compete for your attention or devotion. Worldly desires will keep you on a rollercoaster of tribulations. Only God can bring true peace and wholeness to your every day.
It is surprising to me that Christians today think that religious people can’t carry on with other gods or worship other things. It was commonplace in both Old and New Testaments. It was common in history. Do we think today that we have moved beyond idolatry and idols and idol worship and revering other gods? Hardly. These things are as common today as they ever were. That is why you need to examine your spiritual life and end these tendencies. You need to look at your heart and actions and determine if you are pure in heart, in a committed relationship with the one true God, and living faithfully to Jesus your Savior.
If you spoke to Pastor Jerry, you would hear about the grace of God. Jerry grew up in a dysfunctional household with a mother who drank and a father who was largely absent. Despite being dedicated Baptists, this Texas family had its problems. Against all odds, Jerry found great comfort in the church. When his mother went on a drinking binge, Jerry often would stay away from home. His favorite place to “hide” was with a family down the street that were also members of Jerry’s Baptist church. It was there that Jerry really learned about God. It was during prayer late one night at that neighbor’s home that Jerry gave his life to Christ.
In his thirties, Jerry left his job in retail sales and went to seminary in Dallas. He spent four years getting a degree and becoming an ordained Baptist minister. During his late thirties and forties, Jerry served three churches. He had a beautiful wife and three lovely daughters. He seemed to have it all. But Pastor Jerry had a secret life. He had a gambling addiction. It started with a few bets on sports games. From there, it evolved into an obsession. When he wasn’t in church or doing things with his family, Jerry was looking up odds and placing bets. When members of his church heard his phone beeping with a text during a meeting, they assumed someone in the church was just keeping in touch with their pastor. On the contrary, many of those texts were notifications from his bookie.
After years of this hidden obsession, Jerry’s finances began to unravel. His wife constantly complained about not having enough money to buy some of the necessities for the family. Truth be told, Jerry went through several dry spells where his bets went south. He lost a lot of money. His family and home life suffered from the loss of funds.
After a series of bad bets, Jerry’s wife left him. Some serious problems at his church caused Jerry many headaches as well. With his world falling apart and in debt “up to his eyeballs”, Jerry asked a close friend and fellow pastor for help. After months of prayer and conversation, Jerry’s pastor friend said, “Jerry, its time you own up to the fact that you have been cheating on God. Your gambling has messed with your marriage, your family life, and your finances. It also has competed with your passion for God. You are going to have to choose to keep serving your addiction to gambling or serve God. You can’t do both. One must go. Today, you have to choose between them.”
Jerry chose to follow God. He gave up on his addiction to gambling. He paid his debts. He made up with his wife. Yes, Jerry has a constant desire to go back to gambling. In truth, he can hardly watch a sports game without thinking about the odds. But Jerry loves God more. He loves his family. He loves Jesus. He made a clear choice to place God first. His obsession with gambling would never again come between him and Jesus.
Anything that comes between you and God is in competition for your heart and soul. It is directly in competition with God. If you allow anything to be more important in your life than God in Christ, you are worshipping that “thing” more than God. That “thing” will become your god. You will become an idolator. And that thing will cause friction in every area of your life, including your relationship with Jesus.
Joshua 23:16 was clear that “worshipping and serving other gods” would break your “covenant” with God. This will cause God’s “anger to burn against you”. Blessings from God will dry up. Friction with God and others will be the result. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself tempted to worship some thing or person or philosophy or ideal. Jews and Christians have failed God in this way for centuries, even from the beginning of time.
James 4:8 commands the faithful to “purify their hearts” when “your loyalty is divided between God and the world” (NLT). If anything but God rises up in your life to occupy most of your thoughts, things will need to change. If there is a fear that consumes your day, it will come between you and God. If there is some doubt or insecurity in your belief, it will cause you to pull away from your Lord. A heart that is consumed by some earthly passion will encounter friction with God. Do it long enough and you will incur the wrath of God (Joshua 23:16c). Everything will go downhill after that.
If you find your days full of anxiety or fear or trouble or temptation, check that something isn’t trying to compete for your attention or devotion. Worldly desires will keep you on a rollercoaster of tribulations. Only God can bring true peace and wholeness to your every day.
February 21
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44, ESV)
Ever feel a tug at your heart, soul, or mind? Have you ever felt a strong spiritual desire? It might be God the Father drawing you in to His plan and purpose. It might be the Holy Spirit looking for a way into your soul. Jesus might want to spend some time with you. God might need you to change your ways.
Richard was a deep-sea diver. He worked for a company that fixed under-sea pipelines, laid fiber-optic cables, or welded underwater platforms. He was a well-built, powerful man. He worked hard for a living. He lived in a beautiful house, fully paid for with the generous income he received from his dangerous vocation. Richard enjoyed his job, but he also had several passions. He loved to hunt, to ski, and to “tinker” in his workshop.
When I met Richard, he was recovering from an accident at work. He had just gone through surgery and had dedicated himself to physical therapy at the hospital and home. He wasn’t one to sit around. He was one of those people who believed hard work accomplished the most benefits in life. So, he worked hard as a diver, worked hard in his garden and landscaping projects, and worked hard in his physical therapy. He was one tough hombre.
At first, I did not believe that Richard was very spiritual. He was a hard worker, a guy who pushed the envelope, one who got the job done. He enjoyed working with his hands. He could weld beautifully, even in the harsh Atlantic. Very active in his work life and sports life, I didn’t figure his spiritual life would be so active as well. I was wrong.
It all started for Richard with a question. While working on a damaged metal pipe on the sea floor, the welder next to Richard had a malfunction with his breathing apparatus. With Richard’s help, the worker was rescued before things got too serious. It could have been a disaster but for the quick action of Richard and his team. When Richard stopped in to see his fellow welder following the incident, the man expressed his thanks and then added, “In that moment, all that went through my mind was, “Am I ready to die?”” Over the next few days and weeks, the man’s question tugged at Richard’s heart and mind. Richard began to think about his life choices. He considered what would happen to his family if he died at the bottom of the sea. He pondered if his life mattered and had meaning.
You might think that Richard was having some emotional trauma. A psychologist might assume he was experiencing some type of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A counselor might deduce he was going through an existential crisis. A doctor might choose to test Richard for depression or anxiety. None of these was the case. Some years later, Richard would gladly tell you what was happening. God was tugging at his heart and soul and mind. God was reaching out for Richard, seeking to come closer to this welder. Jesus wanted a real place in Richard’s life. In response, Richard decided to go back to his religious roots. He began to read and reflect on the Bible. He began attending worship. He became good friends with his pastor. We started going to Bible Studies together. We became brothers in Christ. To this day, we are as tight as any family member could ever be. Our friendship is based on a mutual love of God and a desire to respond to God’s leading.
That heavenly tug may come when you are young. Like with Richard, it may come in a moment of crisis. For some, that tug of God for your heart and soul may come when you are least expecting it. It may come in a quiet night or in a crowded room. You never know when God will suddenly put this overwhelming desire to get a message to you, but that moment will come. Don’t ignore that tug from God. Answering God in that moment will usually be life changing. It was that way with Richard. It is that way with me, as well.
The scripture for today from the gospel of John contains a comment from Jesus. In John 6:44, Jesus explained that “no one” comes close to Jesus “unless the Father who sent me draws him”. Jesus’s words echo what many faithful people experience. God the Father will tug at your heartstrings or pull at your soul when entering a critical spiritual time. You will feel an overwhelming need to seek God’s direction. You will experience this deep desire to spend time with God, do something to rectify a situation, or maybe ease a burden in your soul. That tug might involve reaching out to help another person in need. It might require you to repent and make something right. In whatever manner God tugs away at your heart or soul or mind, one thing is clear. God wants to connect or reconnect with you. Your response is required. Your attention is crucial.
Because God is real, because you matter, because your soul is terribly important God…. You will feel that tug from Heaven. God will use that tug to get your attention. God will draw you closer in order to complete a spiritual task or to fulfill some spiritual need. Someday, I hope you get used to those tugs from God. They are a sign that you two are close, inseparable, destined to be together through all eternity.
Have you felt one of those spiritual tugs lately? Is God drawing you closer for some special reason or purpose?
Richard was a deep-sea diver. He worked for a company that fixed under-sea pipelines, laid fiber-optic cables, or welded underwater platforms. He was a well-built, powerful man. He worked hard for a living. He lived in a beautiful house, fully paid for with the generous income he received from his dangerous vocation. Richard enjoyed his job, but he also had several passions. He loved to hunt, to ski, and to “tinker” in his workshop.
When I met Richard, he was recovering from an accident at work. He had just gone through surgery and had dedicated himself to physical therapy at the hospital and home. He wasn’t one to sit around. He was one of those people who believed hard work accomplished the most benefits in life. So, he worked hard as a diver, worked hard in his garden and landscaping projects, and worked hard in his physical therapy. He was one tough hombre.
At first, I did not believe that Richard was very spiritual. He was a hard worker, a guy who pushed the envelope, one who got the job done. He enjoyed working with his hands. He could weld beautifully, even in the harsh Atlantic. Very active in his work life and sports life, I didn’t figure his spiritual life would be so active as well. I was wrong.
It all started for Richard with a question. While working on a damaged metal pipe on the sea floor, the welder next to Richard had a malfunction with his breathing apparatus. With Richard’s help, the worker was rescued before things got too serious. It could have been a disaster but for the quick action of Richard and his team. When Richard stopped in to see his fellow welder following the incident, the man expressed his thanks and then added, “In that moment, all that went through my mind was, “Am I ready to die?”” Over the next few days and weeks, the man’s question tugged at Richard’s heart and mind. Richard began to think about his life choices. He considered what would happen to his family if he died at the bottom of the sea. He pondered if his life mattered and had meaning.
You might think that Richard was having some emotional trauma. A psychologist might assume he was experiencing some type of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A counselor might deduce he was going through an existential crisis. A doctor might choose to test Richard for depression or anxiety. None of these was the case. Some years later, Richard would gladly tell you what was happening. God was tugging at his heart and soul and mind. God was reaching out for Richard, seeking to come closer to this welder. Jesus wanted a real place in Richard’s life. In response, Richard decided to go back to his religious roots. He began to read and reflect on the Bible. He began attending worship. He became good friends with his pastor. We started going to Bible Studies together. We became brothers in Christ. To this day, we are as tight as any family member could ever be. Our friendship is based on a mutual love of God and a desire to respond to God’s leading.
That heavenly tug may come when you are young. Like with Richard, it may come in a moment of crisis. For some, that tug of God for your heart and soul may come when you are least expecting it. It may come in a quiet night or in a crowded room. You never know when God will suddenly put this overwhelming desire to get a message to you, but that moment will come. Don’t ignore that tug from God. Answering God in that moment will usually be life changing. It was that way with Richard. It is that way with me, as well.
The scripture for today from the gospel of John contains a comment from Jesus. In John 6:44, Jesus explained that “no one” comes close to Jesus “unless the Father who sent me draws him”. Jesus’s words echo what many faithful people experience. God the Father will tug at your heartstrings or pull at your soul when entering a critical spiritual time. You will feel an overwhelming need to seek God’s direction. You will experience this deep desire to spend time with God, do something to rectify a situation, or maybe ease a burden in your soul. That tug might involve reaching out to help another person in need. It might require you to repent and make something right. In whatever manner God tugs away at your heart or soul or mind, one thing is clear. God wants to connect or reconnect with you. Your response is required. Your attention is crucial.
Because God is real, because you matter, because your soul is terribly important God…. You will feel that tug from Heaven. God will use that tug to get your attention. God will draw you closer in order to complete a spiritual task or to fulfill some spiritual need. Someday, I hope you get used to those tugs from God. They are a sign that you two are close, inseparable, destined to be together through all eternity.
Have you felt one of those spiritual tugs lately? Is God drawing you closer for some special reason or purpose?
February 23
“The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.” (Proverbs 13:25, ESV)
The newly appointed manager, Candice, was known by the “higher ups” to be a great performer. She got the job done. However, she was known to walk all over her employees. Candice was never satisfied, constantly belittling those who worked under her. If an employee needed time off for a doctor’s appointment, Candice included in the employee’s work file that the person was known to take too much personal time off. If an employee got sick at work, Candice wouldn’t call in a replacement but make everyone else take up the slack. She did it to increase the bottom line. Of course, the sick employee would be written up for being selfish and lazy. While Candice was manager, bonuses dried up and reprimands became punitive. Though the company made money, the business was a revolving door of dissatisfied and angry ex-employees. The work environment was toxic. One employee described working at that store as “soul-crushing”. I’m sure it was damaging for every soul who worked there.
An upper-management type may look at Candice as a top performing manager. All the employees working at that store saw Candice as hard-nosed, power-hungry, and mean. I look at Candice with different eyes. I see her suffering from a sick or wicked soul. Her lust for money and power shows that her soul has been damaged. This does not excuse her “soul-crushing” tactics. It is simply a sign that when any person has an insatiable lust for power or money, or needs to hurt others, it is a sign of a wicked or damaged soul. A common signal that a soul is turning bad is a lust for things that tend toward evil; lusts for power and control and manipulation. The wicked soul loves self-aggrandizement. The wicked soul enjoys dishing out pain. Not only do wicked souls ALWAYS hurt others, crushing souls along the way, they are usually dissatisfied with what they have. The scripture for today from Proverbs 13:25 describes the wicked person as “suffering want”. They never have enough power. They never have enough material possessions. They never are satisfied with their life. They lust for more, but unlike the righteous, their lusts and greed and envy and wickedness never “satisfy their appetites”.
The scripture for today gives a clear separation between the “righteous” and the “wicked”. Righteous ones are satisfied with things in life. They feel blessed with enough food, material possessions, and with their situation. Even when faced with difficulties or shortages, they feel blessed with what they have. The apostle Paul described the righteous person as “content” (2 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Timothy 6:8). He described true Christians as “content” no matter what they face, knowing God will supply their every real need (Philippians 4:11-13). The wicked, on the other hand, have an insatiable lust for earthly feelings and things. They like to surround themselves with trophies. They brag about their possessions or conquests. But they always want more and more. The scripture for today describes the wicked as always unsatisfied and in “want”. They do not know what it means to be content with their life in body, mind, and soul.
Ted was a Christian his whole life. Though coming from a poor family, Ted was very intelligent. From a young age, teachers saw great promise in Ted. He earned several scholarships and various awards in Middle School, High School, College, and then Graduate School. Getting a degree from an Ivy League school set Ted on a path to make a great name for himself. That he did. By the time he was 30, he was a millionaire. By 45, he owned two companies. Along the way, he was recognized for his business acumen, receiving various awards and recognitions.
Despite his many successes, Ted struggles constantly in his spiritual life. He never feels close with God. Maybe it is because his soul is constantly battered with “want”. It’s not that Ted is a wicked person. He is loved by his employees and friends. His family adores him. No, Ted constantly struggles with a desire to prove himself. He lacks self-worth. His awards don't make him more content, they make him feel the need to strive harder, succeed, and work more hours. At this point in his life, Ted is a spiritual mess. He is afraid of failure, obsessed with his public image, and never feels peace in his soul. He strives constantly to succeed “more”, to become more influential. His houses have grown larger. His bank accounts are more and more bloated. Despite all the success, Ted’s soul is being strangled. His relationship with God is all but non-existent. Ted doesn't realize it, but his soul is suffering from “want”. He will never find true peace or joy or contentment, no matter how rich he becomes or how much he accomplishes. He needs to repent and change his ways.
You don’t have to rich or powerful or a manager or a business owner to “suffer want”. All you have to do is let your soul become damaged or wicked. The righteous are content. They are satisfied with their blessings in life. The wicked or sick soul is never satisfied. If you find yourself being jealous of others, manipulating others, enjoying the suffering of others, or wanting more and more “things” in life, your soul is already sick. You will become less and less at peace. You will find yourself suffering a variety of spiritual and temporal maladies. At some point, your soul will become wicked.
Upon studying the scripture for today, it is clear that the only way to be righteous in life is to monitor your “appetite”. If you are not content with what you have to eat, with where God has put you in life, with what you have been blessed with, with your looks, and in your outlook, your soul is sick. You need to make things right with God right now! When your soul is right with God, you will find yourself satisfied with God’s blessings, satisfied with your situation in life, at peace with your purpose in life, content with your possessions. Instead of feeling “in want”, you will feel blessed. Instead of being consumed with a lust for more, you will be content with what you have.
Is your soul content? Are you lusting after more of “something” in your life? Are you aware of any appetites and lusts and wants? Are you satisfied with your blessings? Answering these questions honestly speaks volumes about what is going on in your soul.
An upper-management type may look at Candice as a top performing manager. All the employees working at that store saw Candice as hard-nosed, power-hungry, and mean. I look at Candice with different eyes. I see her suffering from a sick or wicked soul. Her lust for money and power shows that her soul has been damaged. This does not excuse her “soul-crushing” tactics. It is simply a sign that when any person has an insatiable lust for power or money, or needs to hurt others, it is a sign of a wicked or damaged soul. A common signal that a soul is turning bad is a lust for things that tend toward evil; lusts for power and control and manipulation. The wicked soul loves self-aggrandizement. The wicked soul enjoys dishing out pain. Not only do wicked souls ALWAYS hurt others, crushing souls along the way, they are usually dissatisfied with what they have. The scripture for today from Proverbs 13:25 describes the wicked person as “suffering want”. They never have enough power. They never have enough material possessions. They never are satisfied with their life. They lust for more, but unlike the righteous, their lusts and greed and envy and wickedness never “satisfy their appetites”.
The scripture for today gives a clear separation between the “righteous” and the “wicked”. Righteous ones are satisfied with things in life. They feel blessed with enough food, material possessions, and with their situation. Even when faced with difficulties or shortages, they feel blessed with what they have. The apostle Paul described the righteous person as “content” (2 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Timothy 6:8). He described true Christians as “content” no matter what they face, knowing God will supply their every real need (Philippians 4:11-13). The wicked, on the other hand, have an insatiable lust for earthly feelings and things. They like to surround themselves with trophies. They brag about their possessions or conquests. But they always want more and more. The scripture for today describes the wicked as always unsatisfied and in “want”. They do not know what it means to be content with their life in body, mind, and soul.
Ted was a Christian his whole life. Though coming from a poor family, Ted was very intelligent. From a young age, teachers saw great promise in Ted. He earned several scholarships and various awards in Middle School, High School, College, and then Graduate School. Getting a degree from an Ivy League school set Ted on a path to make a great name for himself. That he did. By the time he was 30, he was a millionaire. By 45, he owned two companies. Along the way, he was recognized for his business acumen, receiving various awards and recognitions.
Despite his many successes, Ted struggles constantly in his spiritual life. He never feels close with God. Maybe it is because his soul is constantly battered with “want”. It’s not that Ted is a wicked person. He is loved by his employees and friends. His family adores him. No, Ted constantly struggles with a desire to prove himself. He lacks self-worth. His awards don't make him more content, they make him feel the need to strive harder, succeed, and work more hours. At this point in his life, Ted is a spiritual mess. He is afraid of failure, obsessed with his public image, and never feels peace in his soul. He strives constantly to succeed “more”, to become more influential. His houses have grown larger. His bank accounts are more and more bloated. Despite all the success, Ted’s soul is being strangled. His relationship with God is all but non-existent. Ted doesn't realize it, but his soul is suffering from “want”. He will never find true peace or joy or contentment, no matter how rich he becomes or how much he accomplishes. He needs to repent and change his ways.
You don’t have to rich or powerful or a manager or a business owner to “suffer want”. All you have to do is let your soul become damaged or wicked. The righteous are content. They are satisfied with their blessings in life. The wicked or sick soul is never satisfied. If you find yourself being jealous of others, manipulating others, enjoying the suffering of others, or wanting more and more “things” in life, your soul is already sick. You will become less and less at peace. You will find yourself suffering a variety of spiritual and temporal maladies. At some point, your soul will become wicked.
Upon studying the scripture for today, it is clear that the only way to be righteous in life is to monitor your “appetite”. If you are not content with what you have to eat, with where God has put you in life, with what you have been blessed with, with your looks, and in your outlook, your soul is sick. You need to make things right with God right now! When your soul is right with God, you will find yourself satisfied with God’s blessings, satisfied with your situation in life, at peace with your purpose in life, content with your possessions. Instead of feeling “in want”, you will feel blessed. Instead of being consumed with a lust for more, you will be content with what you have.
Is your soul content? Are you lusting after more of “something” in your life? Are you aware of any appetites and lusts and wants? Are you satisfied with your blessings? Answering these questions honestly speaks volumes about what is going on in your soul.
February 25
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts…” (Acts 2:46, ESV)
As you read the scripture above from Acts 2:46, your heart might warm. It speaks of the earliest Christians enjoying the company of each other in the days of the early church. They “attended the temple together”. They “broke bread in their homes”, having communion with one another. They often ate together. They had “glad and generous hearts”. You might think the Christians spoken of in this scripture had it easy. The opposite was true. In those times, the Christian Church was under siege. The Romans were clamping down on Christianity. The Jews were persecuting followers of Jesus. If you spoke about Jesus publicly, you were liable to be stoned or imprisoned. Peter and Stephen and Paul all suffered during this period. Many followers of Jesus were tortured and martyred. So, why do we see such a warm view of Christians during this period of intense suffering? How could they have “glad” hearts? Truth be told, these Christians did not let the worldly situation around them dampen their spirits. They enjoyed the company of other faithful people. They were glad to be filled with God’s Spirit and immersed in the love of God. Though suffering was going on around them, they were “glad” for their blessings.
All too often, Christians let a toxic environment creep into their heart and soul. They let the divisiveness and destructiveness and cheating and conniving of this world bring them down. Their joy is turned to sadness. They become cynical or depressed or doubtful. When you lose focus on Jesus as the center of your life, it is all too easy to lose that “gladness” in your soul. Your faith can become “choked with the cares of this world” (Luke 8:14). This will result in a loss of connection with God. Then, the cares of this world will suck that joy and gladness right out of your spirit.
If you want to be faithful, you must endeavor to keep your focus on Jesus. No matter what your circumstances, you need to have a “glad a generous heart” (Acts 2:46). If you find that your joy and gladness are disappearing, something is coming between you and Jesus. Something is deadening thankfulness and praise from your attitude. Something is souring your disposition. That, my dear friend in Christ, is a spiritual problem that needs repentance.
At the end of Hillview Drive in Scottsville, Kentucky is the old Allen County War Memorial Hospital building. Its doors have been closed since 1996. Many say the hospital is haunted today by a Dr. Meredith. It is said that Dr. Meredith devoted a lot of time and effort at that hospital during the 1950’s and 1960’s. He spent hours and hours at the hospital, hoping to help the many people on his hospital wing who were suffering from psychological illness. When he began his work at the hospital, he worked a typical 40-hour work week. However, his work soon grew into an obsession. Dr. Meredith became more and more consumed with helping people with mental health problems. They say that before he was barred from the property, he used to sleep at the hospital a few hours a day only to continue working into the wee hours. Most would say Dr. Meredith became so engrossed in his work that he started to lose his own sanity. The state of Kentucky saw his obsession with patients as a mental illness and barred him from further work at the hospital. Later in his life, Dr. Meredith ended up back in that hospital as a patient! Some say the doctor still walks those empty halls today looking for more patients to help.
Dr. Meredith loved his patients. He cared about their well-being. Over time, however, he lost perspective. He became consumed with his work. He lost focus. His health suffered. The gladness in his heart at helping his patients was replaced with an obsession to “fix” their psychological woes.
Your faith will also suffer if you lose focus on Jesus. When that happens, you will no longer feel joy and gladness in your spirit. If you get too caught up with fixing something or someone, you might lose perspective and become consumed in the issues involved. If your life gets all wrapped up in some habit or you become obsessed with some endeavor, you will sooner or later lose your joy in other things. You might even lose the “gladness” in your faith. I have seen so many people who took on some challenge in life only to see their faith turned to doubt and their joy turned to burnout. When you no longer find yourself glad and thankful to spend time with God, you are headed down the wrong path.
I’ve known Pastor Dan for years. He pastored one church in Kentucky for over twenty years. Dan was a very conscientious soul. He cared about everyone he met. He always had a warm smile and firm handshake. People loved his wit and wisdom. He was a very likeable guy. People flocked to his side. His church grew greatly from his outgoing and loving demeanor.
Despite all Dan’s positive qualities, and he had many, he had one huge failing. Dan would throw himself into his ministry, even to the point of working sixty and seventy hours a week. I remember a number of Christmases where Dan left his family gathering in order to stop in and see a parishioner. The more Dan was revered by the church, the more he neglected his family and his health and even his Bible. Sometimes, Dan would skip prayer time in order to clean his office or call on a shutin. Dan felt he had to always be moving, helping, reaching out, working. He went above and beyond, even when it took a dangerous toll on his own health or family.
During his twentieth year at that church in Kentucky, Dan lost it. His life started to unravel. After years of burnout and overwork, Dan no longer felt joy in his ministry. He drank heavily and in secret. He had an affair. He got so depressed that he would sometimes stay in his pajamas in bed his entire day off. He seemed to age ten years overnight. I almost didn’t recognize him when I saw him last.
Pastor Dan was a beloved minister who lost his gladness and joy in Christ. His love of others became his undoing, his obsession. His joy was replaced with burnout. His focus on Christ was lost. Until he worked through this dark time, my friend lost the ability to sing praises or feel joy in Christ. It took a long time for him to find gladness again.
Despite the dark days facing those early Christians, they always managed to find time to renew their glad hearts in Jesus. They made an effort to be thankful for God’s blessings. They did not let the persecutions and sufferings of the early church dampen their spirits.
As our world reels with all the negatives of COVID-19, a war in the Ukraine, a president who is having mental problems, mask mandates, vaccine mandates, super-high inflation, an increasing population of poor families, the loss of biblical values, and so much more, DO NOT lose your glad heart in Jesus! Take the time to enjoy the warmth that comes when being in the presence of God’s Spirit! Sing songs of praise! Feel God’s healing touch. Have a “glad and generous heart”! Be warmed by God’s great love for you. Cast off the cares of this world for a while! Take a walk and pray! Stop and smell the roses. Be glad in heart today! Find a lasting joy in Christ!
All too often, Christians let a toxic environment creep into their heart and soul. They let the divisiveness and destructiveness and cheating and conniving of this world bring them down. Their joy is turned to sadness. They become cynical or depressed or doubtful. When you lose focus on Jesus as the center of your life, it is all too easy to lose that “gladness” in your soul. Your faith can become “choked with the cares of this world” (Luke 8:14). This will result in a loss of connection with God. Then, the cares of this world will suck that joy and gladness right out of your spirit.
If you want to be faithful, you must endeavor to keep your focus on Jesus. No matter what your circumstances, you need to have a “glad a generous heart” (Acts 2:46). If you find that your joy and gladness are disappearing, something is coming between you and Jesus. Something is deadening thankfulness and praise from your attitude. Something is souring your disposition. That, my dear friend in Christ, is a spiritual problem that needs repentance.
At the end of Hillview Drive in Scottsville, Kentucky is the old Allen County War Memorial Hospital building. Its doors have been closed since 1996. Many say the hospital is haunted today by a Dr. Meredith. It is said that Dr. Meredith devoted a lot of time and effort at that hospital during the 1950’s and 1960’s. He spent hours and hours at the hospital, hoping to help the many people on his hospital wing who were suffering from psychological illness. When he began his work at the hospital, he worked a typical 40-hour work week. However, his work soon grew into an obsession. Dr. Meredith became more and more consumed with helping people with mental health problems. They say that before he was barred from the property, he used to sleep at the hospital a few hours a day only to continue working into the wee hours. Most would say Dr. Meredith became so engrossed in his work that he started to lose his own sanity. The state of Kentucky saw his obsession with patients as a mental illness and barred him from further work at the hospital. Later in his life, Dr. Meredith ended up back in that hospital as a patient! Some say the doctor still walks those empty halls today looking for more patients to help.
Dr. Meredith loved his patients. He cared about their well-being. Over time, however, he lost perspective. He became consumed with his work. He lost focus. His health suffered. The gladness in his heart at helping his patients was replaced with an obsession to “fix” their psychological woes.
Your faith will also suffer if you lose focus on Jesus. When that happens, you will no longer feel joy and gladness in your spirit. If you get too caught up with fixing something or someone, you might lose perspective and become consumed in the issues involved. If your life gets all wrapped up in some habit or you become obsessed with some endeavor, you will sooner or later lose your joy in other things. You might even lose the “gladness” in your faith. I have seen so many people who took on some challenge in life only to see their faith turned to doubt and their joy turned to burnout. When you no longer find yourself glad and thankful to spend time with God, you are headed down the wrong path.
I’ve known Pastor Dan for years. He pastored one church in Kentucky for over twenty years. Dan was a very conscientious soul. He cared about everyone he met. He always had a warm smile and firm handshake. People loved his wit and wisdom. He was a very likeable guy. People flocked to his side. His church grew greatly from his outgoing and loving demeanor.
Despite all Dan’s positive qualities, and he had many, he had one huge failing. Dan would throw himself into his ministry, even to the point of working sixty and seventy hours a week. I remember a number of Christmases where Dan left his family gathering in order to stop in and see a parishioner. The more Dan was revered by the church, the more he neglected his family and his health and even his Bible. Sometimes, Dan would skip prayer time in order to clean his office or call on a shutin. Dan felt he had to always be moving, helping, reaching out, working. He went above and beyond, even when it took a dangerous toll on his own health or family.
During his twentieth year at that church in Kentucky, Dan lost it. His life started to unravel. After years of burnout and overwork, Dan no longer felt joy in his ministry. He drank heavily and in secret. He had an affair. He got so depressed that he would sometimes stay in his pajamas in bed his entire day off. He seemed to age ten years overnight. I almost didn’t recognize him when I saw him last.
Pastor Dan was a beloved minister who lost his gladness and joy in Christ. His love of others became his undoing, his obsession. His joy was replaced with burnout. His focus on Christ was lost. Until he worked through this dark time, my friend lost the ability to sing praises or feel joy in Christ. It took a long time for him to find gladness again.
Despite the dark days facing those early Christians, they always managed to find time to renew their glad hearts in Jesus. They made an effort to be thankful for God’s blessings. They did not let the persecutions and sufferings of the early church dampen their spirits.
As our world reels with all the negatives of COVID-19, a war in the Ukraine, a president who is having mental problems, mask mandates, vaccine mandates, super-high inflation, an increasing population of poor families, the loss of biblical values, and so much more, DO NOT lose your glad heart in Jesus! Take the time to enjoy the warmth that comes when being in the presence of God’s Spirit! Sing songs of praise! Feel God’s healing touch. Have a “glad and generous heart”! Be warmed by God’s great love for you. Cast off the cares of this world for a while! Take a walk and pray! Stop and smell the roses. Be glad in heart today! Find a lasting joy in Christ!
February 27
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)
In the verse above, Jesus describes himself using three important terms. He is “the way”. He is “the truth”. And He is “the life”. If you want to live in a relationship with the Heavenly Father, you need to go through Jesus by appropriating these three terms into your every day. As a Christian, Jesus is our example and our Savior. However, to be in a real, committed relationship with God in Christ, you need to remember Jesus’ description of Himself in this verse. Each of the three terms Jesus used to describe Himself must become a part of your true faith.
If you want to find your “way” in life, a “way” that ends up in Heaven, Jesus is your pointer. He will direct your path. He will show you which way is the best to become faithful and committed. Following Jesus, you need to live in “the truth”. Realize that the world spews lies all the time. Jesus’ truth involves exposing the lies of this world, rejecting the lies you have told yourself, and holding fast to the truth of God’s way. If you want to experience a life free from bondage to sin and relish in the hope for eternal “life”, Jesus is your way. God’s truth is your ticket out of bondage.
As you ponder all the various aspects of this scripture, I would like you to reflect on the fact that the way of Jesus is not easy. It is far easier to believe the lies of this world, to go down paths of your own choosing, to live your own life free from any responsibilities or obligations. If you decide on that direction in life, it may take a while to discover that it is all too easy to be swayed by evil forces, make bad decisions, opt for poor choices, and stand with false ideals. If you do not follow the path set before you by Jesus Christ, you will be lured into sin or wander off into a life filled with bad consequences. When Jesus does not inform your choices, when God’s word is not followed, you will end up in bondage to some form of evil or another. You might succumb to temptations, be subdued by passions or desires, suffer from poor choices, or feel burdened by regret. When you do not follow God’s truth, it is all too easy to believe the lies of this world. You will end up lying to yourself and lying to others. You will then live a lie and be chewed up by its inevitable consequences. Then, what kind of life will you have?
There is an intimate connection between “the way” you live, “the truth” you believe, and “the life” you lead. If all are not intimately bound to Jesus, your future will be in doubt.
A woman went to a lawyer and said she wanted a divorce. The lawyer got out his note pad and proceeded to ask her some questions.
“Do you have any grounds?” he inquired.
“Oh, yes,” she replied. “About three-quarters of an acre.”
The lawyer paused for a moment, then queried, “Do you have a grudge?”
“No,” the woman answered quickly. “But we do have a lovely carport.”
Again, the lawyer paused and then asked, “Does he beat you up?”
“No. I get up before he does every morning,” the woman reported.
Finally, the lawyer blurted, “Lady, why do you want to divorce your husband?”
“It’s because,” she explained, “that man can’t carry on an intelligent conversation.”
(Brent Barlow in Salt Lake City Desert News)
The above story is indeed humorous. Still, there is an undertone concurrent with its humor. The woman wants a divorce because her husband “can’t carry on an intelligent conversation.” In all reality, she can’t carry on an intelligent conversation in court! She probably doesn’t realize that she has as much a problem with intelligence as her husband. She might even be the source of their marriage lacking intelligent conversation! In truth, this woman believes a bunch of lies. She’s lying to herself about what is wrong in her marriage. She’s lying to herself about her own failings. She thinks her husband is the problem and divorce is the best solution. Little does she realize that she needs to repent and learn God’s truth about who she is and what is truly her problem.
When you fail to follow Jesus’ way, the truth you believe will often be salted with all kinds of little lies. This will upset your life. Way, truth, and life are all related. All are integrated in the holy life. If you mess up any one of these three spiritual aims, your future will be filled with ills of all sorts.
Well-known Broadway producer Jed Harris once became convinced he was losing his hearing. He visited a specialist, who pulled out a gold watch and asked, “Can you hear this ticking?”
“Of course,” Harris replied.
The specialist walked to the door and asked the question again.
Harris concentrated and said, “Yes, I can hear it clearly.”
Then the doctor walked into the next room and repeated the question a third time. A third time Harris said he could hear the ticking.
“Mr. Harris,” the doctor concluded, “there is nothing wrong with your hearing. You just don’t listen.”
(Today in the Word, June 9, 1992)
There was a great deal of truth conveyed by the doctor to Jed Harris. Harris thought that he was losing his hearing. In truth, he didn’t listen. Others had probably told Jed Harris this, but he refused to accept it. Only when his doctor said the words did Jed Harris realize his own error.
If you want to make your way through life in a holy manner, Jesus is your best choice. He will direct your steps. He will show you the truth. His words will expose the lies you believe, the falsehoods you tell yourself, the errors of your way. His words will speak to the truth to your life. Only by following His way while holding onto the truth and purging the lies of this world will you end up living a faithful life from now to eternity.
Based on the scripture for today, Jesus has placed it in my heart to ask you three questions. Have you dedicated your every moment to doing things God’s way? Do you hold to God’s truth or believe some lies about your world? Finally, does your life exhibit to others that eternal life is in your future? Jesus IS the way, the truth, and the life. No other way or truth will ever bring you true life. Got it?
If you want to find your “way” in life, a “way” that ends up in Heaven, Jesus is your pointer. He will direct your path. He will show you which way is the best to become faithful and committed. Following Jesus, you need to live in “the truth”. Realize that the world spews lies all the time. Jesus’ truth involves exposing the lies of this world, rejecting the lies you have told yourself, and holding fast to the truth of God’s way. If you want to experience a life free from bondage to sin and relish in the hope for eternal “life”, Jesus is your way. God’s truth is your ticket out of bondage.
As you ponder all the various aspects of this scripture, I would like you to reflect on the fact that the way of Jesus is not easy. It is far easier to believe the lies of this world, to go down paths of your own choosing, to live your own life free from any responsibilities or obligations. If you decide on that direction in life, it may take a while to discover that it is all too easy to be swayed by evil forces, make bad decisions, opt for poor choices, and stand with false ideals. If you do not follow the path set before you by Jesus Christ, you will be lured into sin or wander off into a life filled with bad consequences. When Jesus does not inform your choices, when God’s word is not followed, you will end up in bondage to some form of evil or another. You might succumb to temptations, be subdued by passions or desires, suffer from poor choices, or feel burdened by regret. When you do not follow God’s truth, it is all too easy to believe the lies of this world. You will end up lying to yourself and lying to others. You will then live a lie and be chewed up by its inevitable consequences. Then, what kind of life will you have?
There is an intimate connection between “the way” you live, “the truth” you believe, and “the life” you lead. If all are not intimately bound to Jesus, your future will be in doubt.
A woman went to a lawyer and said she wanted a divorce. The lawyer got out his note pad and proceeded to ask her some questions.
“Do you have any grounds?” he inquired.
“Oh, yes,” she replied. “About three-quarters of an acre.”
The lawyer paused for a moment, then queried, “Do you have a grudge?”
“No,” the woman answered quickly. “But we do have a lovely carport.”
Again, the lawyer paused and then asked, “Does he beat you up?”
“No. I get up before he does every morning,” the woman reported.
Finally, the lawyer blurted, “Lady, why do you want to divorce your husband?”
“It’s because,” she explained, “that man can’t carry on an intelligent conversation.”
(Brent Barlow in Salt Lake City Desert News)
The above story is indeed humorous. Still, there is an undertone concurrent with its humor. The woman wants a divorce because her husband “can’t carry on an intelligent conversation.” In all reality, she can’t carry on an intelligent conversation in court! She probably doesn’t realize that she has as much a problem with intelligence as her husband. She might even be the source of their marriage lacking intelligent conversation! In truth, this woman believes a bunch of lies. She’s lying to herself about what is wrong in her marriage. She’s lying to herself about her own failings. She thinks her husband is the problem and divorce is the best solution. Little does she realize that she needs to repent and learn God’s truth about who she is and what is truly her problem.
When you fail to follow Jesus’ way, the truth you believe will often be salted with all kinds of little lies. This will upset your life. Way, truth, and life are all related. All are integrated in the holy life. If you mess up any one of these three spiritual aims, your future will be filled with ills of all sorts.
Well-known Broadway producer Jed Harris once became convinced he was losing his hearing. He visited a specialist, who pulled out a gold watch and asked, “Can you hear this ticking?”
“Of course,” Harris replied.
The specialist walked to the door and asked the question again.
Harris concentrated and said, “Yes, I can hear it clearly.”
Then the doctor walked into the next room and repeated the question a third time. A third time Harris said he could hear the ticking.
“Mr. Harris,” the doctor concluded, “there is nothing wrong with your hearing. You just don’t listen.”
(Today in the Word, June 9, 1992)
There was a great deal of truth conveyed by the doctor to Jed Harris. Harris thought that he was losing his hearing. In truth, he didn’t listen. Others had probably told Jed Harris this, but he refused to accept it. Only when his doctor said the words did Jed Harris realize his own error.
If you want to make your way through life in a holy manner, Jesus is your best choice. He will direct your steps. He will show you the truth. His words will expose the lies you believe, the falsehoods you tell yourself, the errors of your way. His words will speak to the truth to your life. Only by following His way while holding onto the truth and purging the lies of this world will you end up living a faithful life from now to eternity.
Based on the scripture for today, Jesus has placed it in my heart to ask you three questions. Have you dedicated your every moment to doing things God’s way? Do you hold to God’s truth or believe some lies about your world? Finally, does your life exhibit to others that eternal life is in your future? Jesus IS the way, the truth, and the life. No other way or truth will ever bring you true life. Got it?