February 1
“Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”” (Daniel 6:19–20, NLT)
King Darius had Daniel thrown into a den of lions. He had done it to please his political compatriots. However, King Darius did not want to see Daniel killed by lions. King Darius knew Daniel well enough to believe his words about God. In fact, Darius was convinced that Daniel’s God was alive and well and active in the world. Despite all this knowledge, because of political decree, King Darius’ hand was forced. Though he threw Daniel to the lions, King Darius still prayed (with fasting according to Daniel 6:18) that Daniel be spared. What gave King Darius hope that Daniel would make it through alive? Darius believed that Daniel’s God was living and active and powerful.
The scripture for today has King Darius coming to the den of lions into which Daniel was condemned. There, the King shouted down “in anguish”, not wanting Daniel to be torn apart by the lions; “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20). In fact, Daniel’s “living God” was able to keep closed the mouths of the lions. Daniel’s life was spared. Daniel’s accusers were not spared. They and their families were shredded by the lions.
The living, active God of Daniel was able to keep Daniel safe. The living and active God of Daniel was respected for HIS power to overcome the situation and protect the innocent. The guilty were punished. The living God made sure that the right one was protected, and evil was overcome.
So many Christians make the mistake of going through life as if God was not living and active and powerful in this world! Daniel did not make such a mistake. Daniel was not only willing to pray to God, he was willing to stand up and be counted among the faithful even when his life was threatened. King Darius learned that not only was Daniel a faithful man, but Daniel’s God was to be feared! Daniel’s God was not limited to a temple or confined to a limit of power. Daniel’s God was and is all powerful, alive and active, and rendering judgments and justice in this world.
Commenting on the scripture from Daniel, George Mueller is quoted as saying:
“How many times we find this expression in the Scriptures, and yet it is just this very thing that we are so prone to lose sight of! We know it is written the living God; but in our daily life there is scarcely anything we practically so much lose sight of as the fact that God is the LIVING GOD; that He is now whatever He was three or four thousand years since; that He has the same sovereign power, the same saving love toward those who love and serve Him as ever He had, and that He will do for them now what He did for others two, three, four thousand years ago, simply because He is the living God, the unchanging One. Oh, how therefore we should confide in Him, and in our darkest moments never lose sight of the fact that He is still and ever will be the LIVING GOD.” (Samuel Hardman, Thoughts for the Quiet Hour)
I was at the hospital with a desperate mother. Her son was very sick, confined to the Intensive Care Ward. As we talked, the mother begged me to pray for her son. After the prayer, she seemed agitated. The boy was her only child. She and her husband had prayed for years for him. She couldn’t get pregnant with another. As the boy lay gravely ill, the mother smiled woefully and said, “I wish there was more I could do.” I responded, “Make sure you pray hard for your boy. And remember, God is alive and well and here with you. Ask for healing. Let your worries fly up to HIS ears. You also have about three hundred more people praying for you and your son, so go right ahead and lean on God!” She took my words to heart. A smile crept back onto her face. She was determined to talk with God about her son. I know for certain that she prayed day and night.
It was only three days later that the mother phoned me to say that her son had shocked the doctors. He suddenly and spontaneously began to get better. The finest minds at the hospital could not figure out why the boy had gotten better. To this day, they cannot figure out what made the boy well! They had stopped treatment days before! However, I knew why the boy was better. A mother prayed to a God who is living and active. God saw fit to heal that boy.
We often forget that God is living and active. God was that way in the days of prophet Daniel, and God is still the same today, twenty-seven hundred years later.
Since God is living and active, what are you needing to pray fervently about today? What challenges have arisen? What spiritual needs are present? Call upon Almighty God. HE listens. HE watches. HE protects. HE is ready to act.
The scripture for today has King Darius coming to the den of lions into which Daniel was condemned. There, the King shouted down “in anguish”, not wanting Daniel to be torn apart by the lions; “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20). In fact, Daniel’s “living God” was able to keep closed the mouths of the lions. Daniel’s life was spared. Daniel’s accusers were not spared. They and their families were shredded by the lions.
The living, active God of Daniel was able to keep Daniel safe. The living and active God of Daniel was respected for HIS power to overcome the situation and protect the innocent. The guilty were punished. The living God made sure that the right one was protected, and evil was overcome.
So many Christians make the mistake of going through life as if God was not living and active and powerful in this world! Daniel did not make such a mistake. Daniel was not only willing to pray to God, he was willing to stand up and be counted among the faithful even when his life was threatened. King Darius learned that not only was Daniel a faithful man, but Daniel’s God was to be feared! Daniel’s God was not limited to a temple or confined to a limit of power. Daniel’s God was and is all powerful, alive and active, and rendering judgments and justice in this world.
Commenting on the scripture from Daniel, George Mueller is quoted as saying:
“How many times we find this expression in the Scriptures, and yet it is just this very thing that we are so prone to lose sight of! We know it is written the living God; but in our daily life there is scarcely anything we practically so much lose sight of as the fact that God is the LIVING GOD; that He is now whatever He was three or four thousand years since; that He has the same sovereign power, the same saving love toward those who love and serve Him as ever He had, and that He will do for them now what He did for others two, three, four thousand years ago, simply because He is the living God, the unchanging One. Oh, how therefore we should confide in Him, and in our darkest moments never lose sight of the fact that He is still and ever will be the LIVING GOD.” (Samuel Hardman, Thoughts for the Quiet Hour)
I was at the hospital with a desperate mother. Her son was very sick, confined to the Intensive Care Ward. As we talked, the mother begged me to pray for her son. After the prayer, she seemed agitated. The boy was her only child. She and her husband had prayed for years for him. She couldn’t get pregnant with another. As the boy lay gravely ill, the mother smiled woefully and said, “I wish there was more I could do.” I responded, “Make sure you pray hard for your boy. And remember, God is alive and well and here with you. Ask for healing. Let your worries fly up to HIS ears. You also have about three hundred more people praying for you and your son, so go right ahead and lean on God!” She took my words to heart. A smile crept back onto her face. She was determined to talk with God about her son. I know for certain that she prayed day and night.
It was only three days later that the mother phoned me to say that her son had shocked the doctors. He suddenly and spontaneously began to get better. The finest minds at the hospital could not figure out why the boy had gotten better. To this day, they cannot figure out what made the boy well! They had stopped treatment days before! However, I knew why the boy was better. A mother prayed to a God who is living and active. God saw fit to heal that boy.
We often forget that God is living and active. God was that way in the days of prophet Daniel, and God is still the same today, twenty-seven hundred years later.
Since God is living and active, what are you needing to pray fervently about today? What challenges have arisen? What spiritual needs are present? Call upon Almighty God. HE listens. HE watches. HE protects. HE is ready to act.
February 3
“And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”” (Isaiah 44:17, ESV)
When you ask an atheist what an idol is, the person may point to a totem pole or a statue of a god on a stand. If you ask a Christian what an idol is, he or she may respond with the same type of answer. Most people, even Christians, see idols as inanimate statues of gods one might view in a museum display or in a Hindu temple. However, there are many more types of idols. In fact, the most common idols are not displayed in a temple or on an altar. They are not even statues. I believe the most common idols today are investments, possessions, or money. These are what most people “worship” in the modern world.
The scripture for today comes from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 44 is all about idols. Isaiah 44: 6 includes the introduction, “This is what the Lord says….”. The words that follow in that chapter are a complete renunciation of idolatry at the time of the prophet Isaiah. The Israelites had fallen into various forms of idol worship.
Isaiah 44 begins with the explanation of how the statue of a traditional ancient idol was made. Isaiah 44:12, for example, explains how a blacksmith forms metals in a refining fire and then hammers the metal into the shape of a godlike creature. He thus forms an idol out of metal. Isaiah 44:13 mentions how an ancient carpenter would do a similar thing to construct an idol made from wood. God told the prophet Isaiah that these statues, these idols, were “nothing”. They had no power and were “worthless” (Isaiah 44:9). In response to all the idolatry, God had a few simple words for the Israelites at the time, “Return to ME!” (Isaiah 44:22).
In these verses of Isaiah 44, an idol was viewed in the likeness or form of a god, as seen by human eyes. Some ancient idols exhibited a man, a mythical beast, or a cherished object of adoration. However, an “idol” really is anything that is worshipped outside of the living God. It could be a statue. It could be a relic. It could be a person. It could be a building. However, an idol could be much different from the typical. It could be money, fame, power, rare metals, rare objects, famous people, or ornate edifices. Christians may even make an idol out of a cross, a rosary, a church building, a cherished pastor, or a family Bible. An idol is anything that you “worship” or value supremely apart from Almighty God.
In the scripture for today from Isaiah 44:17, the idol is what the “worshippers” look to for salvation (notice the words, “Deliver me!” in the scripture!). An idol is anything, apart from God, that people believe can “deliver” them, “save” them. That becomes their god. I have met many people who prayed for doctors to save them. I’ve met politicians who promoted their party or their ideas as able to save a nation or a group. In desperation, I’ve known Christians who prayed for a pastor to save their church, as if God wasn’t the one to do so! I’ve even known lifelong Christians who would rather throw money at a church problem than solve the situation with prayer and a recommitment to God! I’ve known Christians who “idolized” their pastor, their church building, their investments, their endowment, their denomination, and so much more. But all too often, Christians today have become very worldly. They turn to money to fix a situation. When something goes wrong in the church, they throw money at the problem. In all reality, isn’t this a form of money-worship? Isn’t this just another form of idolatry?
In Strength for Today, John MacArthur explains modern idolatry this way:
“Idolatry is more than worshiping some inanimate object; it is having an unworthy conception of God.
Western society, with all its culture and scientific knowledge, is in the same satanic trap that governs the life of an aborigine bowing down to a rock. We all have our gods. Many worship the god of materialism—getting more stuff is their highest pursuit. Others worship the gods of sex or entertainment. Of course, behind all of this is the worship of self.
However, the essence of idolatry is possessing thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It may be creating a god, but it also may be making the true God into something He isn’t, or thinking something about God that is untrue.
God said to the wicked in Psalm 50:21, “You thought that I was just like you.” That’s precisely what some have imagined about God. They have portrayed God after their own sinful mental image of Him. Careless Christians can do this also.”
When things go wrong in your life, ultimately rely on God, not anyone or anything else. When seeking wisdom, do not rely on worldly god-like substitutes like human philosophies or political ideologies or even your flawed reasoning. They all pale in their power before Almighty God. Like statues of idols are cheap and meaningless substitutes for God, worldly things will not heal you or bring peace to your soul.
Forty years ago, I was still learning a lot about what it meant to be faithful. I looked up to several mentors. I studied my Bible. I went to worship regularly. I had a strong relationship with Christ. Despite all this, worldly concepts and ideals would often be proposed by well-meaning Christians as good answers to life’s questions. Sometimes, these Christians were practicing idolatry without even knowing it.
I remember visiting a woman who professed her love of God. She went to church weekly, was generous and gracious. During a difficult time in my life, I asked her what might help when the pressures threatened to overwhelm me. Her response shocked me. She said, “When life gets hectic, I like a bit of retail therapy. It makes me feel better. It eases the soul.” Never having heard of “retail therapy”, I asked her what this was. She responded, “Oh, it’s just a modern thing. It means I go shopping and buy what I like. For some reason, buying a new dress or a piece of new furniture puts me in a better mood. It makes me feel better.” This woman was using “retail therapy” to soothe her soul and bring her peace. It was a materialistic replacement for God’s grace.
Those who practice “retail therapy” find out sooner or later that idols can’t replace God. Buying something you like to ease your soul will not bring lasting healing or relief. The cost of “retail therapy” alone will come back to haunt you in credit card bills. Also, how long until the shine of that new gadget wears off?
There is no substitute for God. There is no need to look for answers, healing, peace, or providence in any other place than in the presence of Christ.
Do you rely on your money to keep you safe? When it comes to COVID-19, do you place your trust in the CDC, in a vaccine, or in God’s hand? When it comes to your future, will your trust funds and retirement funds or your savings or investments ultimately save you? How much do you really trust God in Christ? Where do you go to find “answers to all your problems”? Is it to God? Is it to Google? Is it to your political friends? Is it to a cherished author? Is it to your checkbook? Where is it?
The scripture for today comes from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 44 is all about idols. Isaiah 44: 6 includes the introduction, “This is what the Lord says….”. The words that follow in that chapter are a complete renunciation of idolatry at the time of the prophet Isaiah. The Israelites had fallen into various forms of idol worship.
Isaiah 44 begins with the explanation of how the statue of a traditional ancient idol was made. Isaiah 44:12, for example, explains how a blacksmith forms metals in a refining fire and then hammers the metal into the shape of a godlike creature. He thus forms an idol out of metal. Isaiah 44:13 mentions how an ancient carpenter would do a similar thing to construct an idol made from wood. God told the prophet Isaiah that these statues, these idols, were “nothing”. They had no power and were “worthless” (Isaiah 44:9). In response to all the idolatry, God had a few simple words for the Israelites at the time, “Return to ME!” (Isaiah 44:22).
In these verses of Isaiah 44, an idol was viewed in the likeness or form of a god, as seen by human eyes. Some ancient idols exhibited a man, a mythical beast, or a cherished object of adoration. However, an “idol” really is anything that is worshipped outside of the living God. It could be a statue. It could be a relic. It could be a person. It could be a building. However, an idol could be much different from the typical. It could be money, fame, power, rare metals, rare objects, famous people, or ornate edifices. Christians may even make an idol out of a cross, a rosary, a church building, a cherished pastor, or a family Bible. An idol is anything that you “worship” or value supremely apart from Almighty God.
In the scripture for today from Isaiah 44:17, the idol is what the “worshippers” look to for salvation (notice the words, “Deliver me!” in the scripture!). An idol is anything, apart from God, that people believe can “deliver” them, “save” them. That becomes their god. I have met many people who prayed for doctors to save them. I’ve met politicians who promoted their party or their ideas as able to save a nation or a group. In desperation, I’ve known Christians who prayed for a pastor to save their church, as if God wasn’t the one to do so! I’ve even known lifelong Christians who would rather throw money at a church problem than solve the situation with prayer and a recommitment to God! I’ve known Christians who “idolized” their pastor, their church building, their investments, their endowment, their denomination, and so much more. But all too often, Christians today have become very worldly. They turn to money to fix a situation. When something goes wrong in the church, they throw money at the problem. In all reality, isn’t this a form of money-worship? Isn’t this just another form of idolatry?
In Strength for Today, John MacArthur explains modern idolatry this way:
“Idolatry is more than worshiping some inanimate object; it is having an unworthy conception of God.
Western society, with all its culture and scientific knowledge, is in the same satanic trap that governs the life of an aborigine bowing down to a rock. We all have our gods. Many worship the god of materialism—getting more stuff is their highest pursuit. Others worship the gods of sex or entertainment. Of course, behind all of this is the worship of self.
However, the essence of idolatry is possessing thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It may be creating a god, but it also may be making the true God into something He isn’t, or thinking something about God that is untrue.
God said to the wicked in Psalm 50:21, “You thought that I was just like you.” That’s precisely what some have imagined about God. They have portrayed God after their own sinful mental image of Him. Careless Christians can do this also.”
When things go wrong in your life, ultimately rely on God, not anyone or anything else. When seeking wisdom, do not rely on worldly god-like substitutes like human philosophies or political ideologies or even your flawed reasoning. They all pale in their power before Almighty God. Like statues of idols are cheap and meaningless substitutes for God, worldly things will not heal you or bring peace to your soul.
Forty years ago, I was still learning a lot about what it meant to be faithful. I looked up to several mentors. I studied my Bible. I went to worship regularly. I had a strong relationship with Christ. Despite all this, worldly concepts and ideals would often be proposed by well-meaning Christians as good answers to life’s questions. Sometimes, these Christians were practicing idolatry without even knowing it.
I remember visiting a woman who professed her love of God. She went to church weekly, was generous and gracious. During a difficult time in my life, I asked her what might help when the pressures threatened to overwhelm me. Her response shocked me. She said, “When life gets hectic, I like a bit of retail therapy. It makes me feel better. It eases the soul.” Never having heard of “retail therapy”, I asked her what this was. She responded, “Oh, it’s just a modern thing. It means I go shopping and buy what I like. For some reason, buying a new dress or a piece of new furniture puts me in a better mood. It makes me feel better.” This woman was using “retail therapy” to soothe her soul and bring her peace. It was a materialistic replacement for God’s grace.
Those who practice “retail therapy” find out sooner or later that idols can’t replace God. Buying something you like to ease your soul will not bring lasting healing or relief. The cost of “retail therapy” alone will come back to haunt you in credit card bills. Also, how long until the shine of that new gadget wears off?
There is no substitute for God. There is no need to look for answers, healing, peace, or providence in any other place than in the presence of Christ.
Do you rely on your money to keep you safe? When it comes to COVID-19, do you place your trust in the CDC, in a vaccine, or in God’s hand? When it comes to your future, will your trust funds and retirement funds or your savings or investments ultimately save you? How much do you really trust God in Christ? Where do you go to find “answers to all your problems”? Is it to God? Is it to Google? Is it to your political friends? Is it to a cherished author? Is it to your checkbook? Where is it?
February 5
“Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient...” (2 Timothy 2:23–24, NRSV)
One church in Charlotte, North Carolina had its hands full with an elderly woman of the congregation. Every church has problem-members, but some of these people really stand out. A seventy-some year-old elderly woman at that church in Charlotte was notorious for her diatribes at the church business meetings. At the annual congregational meeting every year in January, leaders would discuss the financial picture of the church, big issues from the past year, and share goals for the upcoming year. During these meetings, members were allowed to get up and talk about their joys and concerns. Every year, one woman always got up to speak. Members nicknamed her “Blaster Betty”.
“Blaster Betty” always found something to complain about at each and every congregational meeting. One year, “Blaster Betty” criticized the noise coming from children in the nursery. She suggested the church spend $40,000 to sound-proof the nursery room. Another year, “Blaster Betty” proposed that the pastors visit all shut-ins twice a month. As she put it, “The pastors have nothing better to do anyway. They might as well earn their keep.” Usually, “Blaster Betty” proposed spending money the church could not afford or adding onerous duties to the pastor’s time. Everyone in the congregation knew that Betty would find something to “stir the pot”.
At work, in the family, or around the neighborhood, you may have your own “Blaster Betty” to stir the pot. These types of people always cause trouble. Usually, they like to cause a controversy. They enjoy nothing better than a good old church fight or neighborhood drama. Like a fireplace poker can prod a smoking log to burst into flames, these people poke away at issues and sore spots to encourage dissention and division. Wherever they go, they inevitably create chaos and ill-feelings.
The New Testament churches also dealt with people who liked to stir the pot. That is why Paul encouraged the budding pastor, Timothy, to avoid getting caught up in their “stupid and senseless controversies”. These contentious people would inherently “breed quarrels” (2 Timothy 2:23). In contrast, Paul explained to Timothy that “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, and patient” (2 Timothy 2:24). It is the duty of children of God to stay away from infighting by acts of kindness and patience. Paul also encouraged the Ephesian church in the same manner, writing them to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). All too many people are defensive, selfish, and worldly. Paul did not want these destructive attitudes to cause infighting in the churches.
There are not only “Blaster Betty” types of people in your world. There may be “Blaster Betty” thoughts that threaten to consume your mind. You might find your attitudes and feelings slipping into the negative. When things don’t go your way, you might get defensive, become argumentative, or push buttons in others. These negative attitudes and feelings are not only destructive in the church but destructive of your mind and soul. They also erode and damage relationships. If you find yourself slipping into this negative mindset, you will always find something wrong in your soul behind the change. Fears, insecurities, resentments, or little jealousies can bubble up in passive-aggressive behaviors or angry rants. Soul-searching and repentance are needed immediately, before Satan adds his own evil to stir the pot all the more!
At an assembly plant in Ohio, workers were on edge. A hiring freeze was on. Sales were down. The economy was slipping into a recession. With money tight, managers decided to layoff one-third of the workforce in a portion of the plant. Then, they added all the duties of those who were laid off on the shoulders of the workers who kept their jobs. Stress was rampant. Workers feared the future. The company was on shaky ground.
Steve worked at that plant. While not laid off, his responsibilities at the plant doubled. Essentially, he was doing the jobs of two workers. The extra work and longer hours made Steve stressful. He was burning out. He didn’t have time to eat right. He drank a little too much. His stomach bothered him a little too much.
Steve also brought home the stress of his workday. He was ill-tempered. If the children were having so much fun that they got a little noisy, he would yell at them at the top of his lungs! If Steve’s wife made the smallest mistake, she was thoroughly chastised. Steve’s mood was often soured by bad news or paying the bills. Even in his spiritual life, Steve became thoroughly negative. On the way to worship, he would complain about the pastor or the music. On the way home from worship, he would complain about the service as being a waste of time. Steve was not aware of how negative his words were becoming, nor how much his soul was suffering from the bad attitude. The inner quarrels of heart and soul and mind eroded Steve’s relationship with family members as well as his relationship with God. It took Steve years to figure out how much the inner quarrels ate away at his peace and stole his patience.
Quarrels and quarrelsome people wreak havoc in our world. Don’t become one of those “Blaster Betties”. Keep watch over your soul. Make sure negative thoughts and attitudes don’t cloud your spiritual life, choking out joy and peace and holy patience. Be careful that you don’t keep quarrelsome friends. Their penchant to stir the pot might unsettle your soul or cause irreparable harm. Protect yourself from quarrelsome situations. Infrequently, you may be able to bring some peace to those who stir the pot. More often than not, they will find a way to drag you into their drama.
“Blaster Betty” always found something to complain about at each and every congregational meeting. One year, “Blaster Betty” criticized the noise coming from children in the nursery. She suggested the church spend $40,000 to sound-proof the nursery room. Another year, “Blaster Betty” proposed that the pastors visit all shut-ins twice a month. As she put it, “The pastors have nothing better to do anyway. They might as well earn their keep.” Usually, “Blaster Betty” proposed spending money the church could not afford or adding onerous duties to the pastor’s time. Everyone in the congregation knew that Betty would find something to “stir the pot”.
At work, in the family, or around the neighborhood, you may have your own “Blaster Betty” to stir the pot. These types of people always cause trouble. Usually, they like to cause a controversy. They enjoy nothing better than a good old church fight or neighborhood drama. Like a fireplace poker can prod a smoking log to burst into flames, these people poke away at issues and sore spots to encourage dissention and division. Wherever they go, they inevitably create chaos and ill-feelings.
The New Testament churches also dealt with people who liked to stir the pot. That is why Paul encouraged the budding pastor, Timothy, to avoid getting caught up in their “stupid and senseless controversies”. These contentious people would inherently “breed quarrels” (2 Timothy 2:23). In contrast, Paul explained to Timothy that “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, and patient” (2 Timothy 2:24). It is the duty of children of God to stay away from infighting by acts of kindness and patience. Paul also encouraged the Ephesian church in the same manner, writing them to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). All too many people are defensive, selfish, and worldly. Paul did not want these destructive attitudes to cause infighting in the churches.
There are not only “Blaster Betty” types of people in your world. There may be “Blaster Betty” thoughts that threaten to consume your mind. You might find your attitudes and feelings slipping into the negative. When things don’t go your way, you might get defensive, become argumentative, or push buttons in others. These negative attitudes and feelings are not only destructive in the church but destructive of your mind and soul. They also erode and damage relationships. If you find yourself slipping into this negative mindset, you will always find something wrong in your soul behind the change. Fears, insecurities, resentments, or little jealousies can bubble up in passive-aggressive behaviors or angry rants. Soul-searching and repentance are needed immediately, before Satan adds his own evil to stir the pot all the more!
At an assembly plant in Ohio, workers were on edge. A hiring freeze was on. Sales were down. The economy was slipping into a recession. With money tight, managers decided to layoff one-third of the workforce in a portion of the plant. Then, they added all the duties of those who were laid off on the shoulders of the workers who kept their jobs. Stress was rampant. Workers feared the future. The company was on shaky ground.
Steve worked at that plant. While not laid off, his responsibilities at the plant doubled. Essentially, he was doing the jobs of two workers. The extra work and longer hours made Steve stressful. He was burning out. He didn’t have time to eat right. He drank a little too much. His stomach bothered him a little too much.
Steve also brought home the stress of his workday. He was ill-tempered. If the children were having so much fun that they got a little noisy, he would yell at them at the top of his lungs! If Steve’s wife made the smallest mistake, she was thoroughly chastised. Steve’s mood was often soured by bad news or paying the bills. Even in his spiritual life, Steve became thoroughly negative. On the way to worship, he would complain about the pastor or the music. On the way home from worship, he would complain about the service as being a waste of time. Steve was not aware of how negative his words were becoming, nor how much his soul was suffering from the bad attitude. The inner quarrels of heart and soul and mind eroded Steve’s relationship with family members as well as his relationship with God. It took Steve years to figure out how much the inner quarrels ate away at his peace and stole his patience.
Quarrels and quarrelsome people wreak havoc in our world. Don’t become one of those “Blaster Betties”. Keep watch over your soul. Make sure negative thoughts and attitudes don’t cloud your spiritual life, choking out joy and peace and holy patience. Be careful that you don’t keep quarrelsome friends. Their penchant to stir the pot might unsettle your soul or cause irreparable harm. Protect yourself from quarrelsome situations. Infrequently, you may be able to bring some peace to those who stir the pot. More often than not, they will find a way to drag you into their drama.
February 7
“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7, RSV)
When the Bible translators worked with Chol Indians in Southern Mexico, they looked for a word or phrase among the people there that would best describe the word “peace” used in the Bible. It took a few days, but they chose the Chol words for “a quiet heart” to use in their Bible translation. They thought these words best explained what the Biblical concept of peace meant for the Chol people.
I like the Chol words that were chosen to explain the Biblical concept of peace. “A quiet heart” implies that a person’s inner temperament is calm and rested. It implies that one’s soul is not conflicted or agitated or longing. When a Christian soul is at peace, there is a quiet calm that settles throughout body and mind. Thoughts are not racing. The heart is not stirred. A tranquility spreads throughout one’s being. This is truly what it means to experience the peace God gives. How often do you experience “a quiet heart”?
The scripture reading from Philippians chosen for today explains how the faithful acquire “the peace of God”. Philippians 4:6 explains that when a person has “no anxiety about anything”, peace will be abundant. How do you shed anxiety? Easy. Philippians 4:6 also gives this answer. It teaches that anxiety disappears when “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” you open yourself up to God. If you are willing to trust in God, lean on God, hope in God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving in your heart, the peace of God will settle throughout your body and soul. The lack of peace occurs when a person is unwilling to trust in God. It comes about when a person refuses to lean on God through prayer. Those who lack peace do not express their needs and hurts to God. OR they are unwilling to express thanksgiving and praise for their blessings. When you find yourself lacking peace, it is best to search heart and soul for the lack of trust in God, missing prayer time, the deficiency of supplication, or the absence of thanksgiving. When any of these crucial elements is missing, the peace of God will vaporize.
If you read between the lines in the scripture for today, it becomes painfully obvious that the peace of God has nothing whatsoever to do with the absence of problems, the lack of money, good health, or suffering. A person can be hurting yet experience the peace of God. Life can be chaotic, yet one can experience the peace of God coursing through heart and soul and mind. When you are deeply connected with God, your prayers are frequent and open. When you are willing to trust in the providence of God and bursting with thanksgiving and praise, the peace of God will find you. That peace from God will quiet your anxiety and ease your mind.
Darla came home from work all stressed out. The day had been chaotic. Recently, Darla had found it best to just pour herself a glass of wine and sit quietly on her sofa in order to calm down from work related stress. After doing this every day for two weeks, Darla’s roommate commented on the behavior. She told Darla, “I thought you were a Christian! Why are you drinking every day? Is this the only way you can calm down?” Darla’s roommate knew that Darla’s family had a history of alcoholism. The roommate made the comment out of concern. The look Darla gave her was incredulous. The roommate decided to keep her comments to herself.
Over the next few days, her roommate’s words kept echoing in Darla’s mind. Was she right? Was Darla slipping into a habit where alcohol was the best answer to calm her after a hectic day at work?
The next Sunday, Darla was at worship when the pastor commented during the sermon that after John the Baptist’s death, Jesus “withdrew from there by boat to be alone” (Matthew 14:13). The pastor went on to explain that Jesus needed to connect with God the Father to mourn John’s death. When these words came out of the pastor’s mouth, Darla immediately thought back to her roommate’s comment. Darla realized that she had turned to alcohol to ease her mind after a hectic workday instead of praying with God for peace and calm and healing.
Darla is like many of us. We do not realize how often we look for comfort or peace or security or joy in the wrong places. Instead of praying, we take comfort in food or drink or video games or sex or a hobby. We think that buying a new gadget will bring joy. We look to worldly sources of entertainment to ease the stress. We seek the accolades of others on Facebook to placate our insecurities. We think that something in this world will take care of all our problems. All this brings about more anxiety instead of less. The peace of God never comes, because we are focused on worldly sources for comfort and assurance. As Christians, we should know better. Today’s scripture is just one more reminder that anxiety leaves when one is filled with the peace of God. That only occurs when we trust in God enough that “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” we lean on God’s grace.
How much of God’s peace have you been experienced lately? Are you filled with anxiety? Do you worry about too many things? Maybe you need to reclaim today’s scripture. Maybe you too are forgetting to pray enough. It might be that you haven’t counted your blessings. Maybe your thoughts and feelings are wrapped in all the wrong things instead of “keeping your heart and mind in Christ Jesus”?
I like the Chol words that were chosen to explain the Biblical concept of peace. “A quiet heart” implies that a person’s inner temperament is calm and rested. It implies that one’s soul is not conflicted or agitated or longing. When a Christian soul is at peace, there is a quiet calm that settles throughout body and mind. Thoughts are not racing. The heart is not stirred. A tranquility spreads throughout one’s being. This is truly what it means to experience the peace God gives. How often do you experience “a quiet heart”?
The scripture reading from Philippians chosen for today explains how the faithful acquire “the peace of God”. Philippians 4:6 explains that when a person has “no anxiety about anything”, peace will be abundant. How do you shed anxiety? Easy. Philippians 4:6 also gives this answer. It teaches that anxiety disappears when “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” you open yourself up to God. If you are willing to trust in God, lean on God, hope in God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving in your heart, the peace of God will settle throughout your body and soul. The lack of peace occurs when a person is unwilling to trust in God. It comes about when a person refuses to lean on God through prayer. Those who lack peace do not express their needs and hurts to God. OR they are unwilling to express thanksgiving and praise for their blessings. When you find yourself lacking peace, it is best to search heart and soul for the lack of trust in God, missing prayer time, the deficiency of supplication, or the absence of thanksgiving. When any of these crucial elements is missing, the peace of God will vaporize.
If you read between the lines in the scripture for today, it becomes painfully obvious that the peace of God has nothing whatsoever to do with the absence of problems, the lack of money, good health, or suffering. A person can be hurting yet experience the peace of God. Life can be chaotic, yet one can experience the peace of God coursing through heart and soul and mind. When you are deeply connected with God, your prayers are frequent and open. When you are willing to trust in the providence of God and bursting with thanksgiving and praise, the peace of God will find you. That peace from God will quiet your anxiety and ease your mind.
Darla came home from work all stressed out. The day had been chaotic. Recently, Darla had found it best to just pour herself a glass of wine and sit quietly on her sofa in order to calm down from work related stress. After doing this every day for two weeks, Darla’s roommate commented on the behavior. She told Darla, “I thought you were a Christian! Why are you drinking every day? Is this the only way you can calm down?” Darla’s roommate knew that Darla’s family had a history of alcoholism. The roommate made the comment out of concern. The look Darla gave her was incredulous. The roommate decided to keep her comments to herself.
Over the next few days, her roommate’s words kept echoing in Darla’s mind. Was she right? Was Darla slipping into a habit where alcohol was the best answer to calm her after a hectic day at work?
The next Sunday, Darla was at worship when the pastor commented during the sermon that after John the Baptist’s death, Jesus “withdrew from there by boat to be alone” (Matthew 14:13). The pastor went on to explain that Jesus needed to connect with God the Father to mourn John’s death. When these words came out of the pastor’s mouth, Darla immediately thought back to her roommate’s comment. Darla realized that she had turned to alcohol to ease her mind after a hectic workday instead of praying with God for peace and calm and healing.
Darla is like many of us. We do not realize how often we look for comfort or peace or security or joy in the wrong places. Instead of praying, we take comfort in food or drink or video games or sex or a hobby. We think that buying a new gadget will bring joy. We look to worldly sources of entertainment to ease the stress. We seek the accolades of others on Facebook to placate our insecurities. We think that something in this world will take care of all our problems. All this brings about more anxiety instead of less. The peace of God never comes, because we are focused on worldly sources for comfort and assurance. As Christians, we should know better. Today’s scripture is just one more reminder that anxiety leaves when one is filled with the peace of God. That only occurs when we trust in God enough that “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” we lean on God’s grace.
How much of God’s peace have you been experienced lately? Are you filled with anxiety? Do you worry about too many things? Maybe you need to reclaim today’s scripture. Maybe you too are forgetting to pray enough. It might be that you haven’t counted your blessings. Maybe your thoughts and feelings are wrapped in all the wrong things instead of “keeping your heart and mind in Christ Jesus”?
February 9
“So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” (Romans 1:24–25, NLT)
Evil lies to people all the time. Sadly, all too many fall for the lies. Even people who profess Jesus Christ as Lord can become deluded into believing lies. It has happened before many times in history. Every time, it caused suffering and downfall and death. Every single time. When you play around with the truth, when you fall for the lies, it will always… always… come back to bite you big time, whether you are a person or a nation.
Today, our world is filled with liars who would like you to believe their lies. They have, as our scripture for today includes, “traded the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:24). These people have degraded the truth, hid the truth, falsified documents, and much more in order to spread lies and deception and delusion. In doing so, they have perpetrated evil. Yet, they are so delusional, they call the truth a lie and lies the truth. Don’t be sucked in by their lies. It will only end in pain and suffering.
There are people today suffering from a lie. They believed that living a certain lifestyle was not harmful. Some used prescription drugs to damage their kidneys. Some used alcohol to damage their livers. Some used street drugs that caused a stroke and damaged other vital organs. They believed a lie and are now paying for their mistake. Each now must hope for a new organ or die a painful death. What do some do? They begin to believe in more lies. They talk themselves into another delusion. How? They believe that the organs used for transplants were taken from people who gladly wanted to offer them up. In some cases, this is true. People have donated kidneys to a friend or relative or out of love. Some have donated bone marrow, knowing it could easily save the life of a cancer patient. Some have donated eyes and bodies to science or for organ donation and after a car accident, which has saved many. However, one of the biggest “harvesters” of organs today is China. There, people are accused falsely of crimes in order to put them into prison. While there, their organs are removed to be sold on black markets and in exchanges all over the world. This is why they often ask medical questions before a person is accused of a crime or goes to prison in China. It is a lucrative market worth millions and billions. Yet, many all over the world are under the delusion that the organ they are receiving comes from a pure and holy gift, not from an illegal harvesting of innocent and guilty prisoners. Katrina Lantos Swett, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, called this practice “An Unspeakable Crime against humanity” at the recent International Religious Freedom Summit. She acknowledged that medical leadership and governments throughout the world cover up this great lie.
Lies are common in the political world, which frequently uses lies or innuendos to shape a false narrative. The Biden Administration in the United States proudly touted in 2021 that not only is the economy great, but the U.S. has the “fastest growing economy in the world”. This is a lie. There are 50 countries that have faster growing economies as reported by CNN, a liberal news source that constantly supports Biden policies. Even they called this claim by Biden a falsehood. The democratic leadership in the United States stated that by 2022, 8.6 million jobs had been “created” since they got full control of the Presidency, Senate, and House of Representatives in 2020. What they are actually reporting are people going back to work after COVID-19 lockdowns. These jobs weren’t created. It’s all a lie meant to sway public opinion. In Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau froze bank accounts, encouraged the damaging of property, and did everything in his power to hurt those who spoke out against his own draconian government procedures in lockdowns. Trudeau even shouted “follow the science” to push lies and his own political agenda. I could easily tell you of a thousand more lies spread by politicians throughout the world. In everything from spending to taxes to social programs to economic news and so much more, lies are told more than the truth in politics. Only a very precious few can be trusted.
The medical establishment lies all the time. The CDC leadership in 2020 said masks wouldn’t help the spread of COVID-19. Then, later that year, they reversed themselves and said the masks would help. Now, medical professionals know that the surgical masks that presently pollute the oceans and landfills never really were a good deterrent for COVID-19. As for the vaccine for COVID-19, there were other lies. On December 14, 2021, Joe Biden went on record that people vaccinated for COVID-19 “do not spread the disease to anyone else.”. Another lie. In fact, the vaccines were NEVER tested for transmission before rolled out to the public. So, all the while Hollywood was telling people who would not get the vaccine that the unvaccinated were “killing grandma and grandpa” while the vaccinated were saving the world from the epidemic, they were spouting absolutely unadulterated lies that were spread by social media and even protected by Big Tech and Big Pharma.
Speaking of Big Tech and their lies, we have come to find out that much of the lies spread around the world recently were supported and encouraged by Big Tech. During the pandemic, Facebook and Google and Twitter and Reddit and many other outlets blocked doctors and nurses and medical professionals and even health specialists from spreading the truth about COVID-19 and MRNA vaccines and other therapies. When it was discovered that Vitamin D supplementation and a healthy diet and certain medications and over-the-counter therapies could help the transmission and recovery from COVID-19, Big Tech colluded to silence the truth. Paid by political and social groups and Big Pharma, they silenced people who desperately tried to bring you the truth. By doing so, they accused millions of disinformation while being the biggest source of disinformation in history! They lied on a global scale.
Now, let’s center on the church. It too is tainted with lies. In fact, those who would love to tell you the truth are often silenced in the church. I have been threatened, ridiculed publicly, and even lost my job when I expressed the truth. In one church, I tried to stop the practice of under-the-table dealing of contracts being issued to “favorites”. I was told to be quiet. In another church, I was threatened to keep quiet about abuses (some illegal) that were occurring. I and my family were threatened with “bad things happening” if I did anything about it. I did do something about it and suffered the consequences.
What many people do not know is that politics and ideologies now run many denominations. Seminarians and pastoral candidates are culled based on their political views and ideological stances more than their faith and biblical integrity. For example, I know of at least a dozen people who were kept from ministry because they would not adhere to liberal political beliefs. I know of pastors who were criticized when they dared to say that God “hates divorce” (Malachi 2:16), that “grooming” of children is wrong, that giving children as young as ten the option of gender reassignment surgery was evil, that fornication and adultery are sinful, and that portraying transsexuals as inherently godly people is a worldly practice that should not occur in the church. Trust me when I tell you that MOST denominations choose pastors NOT from a biblical perspective but based on political and ideological biases. And yet, we are lied to that the churches aren’t permeated with worldly practices and leadership.
Chances are, you are bombarded with lies from social media, the news, friends, family, and even well-meaning church people every day. BUT just when you think this is all new or that the end time must be coming, realize that lies have been a bane to the faithful since the beginning of time. Satan lied to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden!
Today’s scripture shows that lies were also a problem in the first century churches. Paul, who was a Roman citizen, knew that many worldly lies came from Rome and Roman leadership. He warned about lies being spread and growing in the churches. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians that when worldly sin corrupted people, God “abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired” (Romans 1:24). When this happened, “they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies”. They also “exchanged the truth for a lie” by “worshipping the things God created rather than the Creator”. Even in today’s world, we can see how people do “degrading things with each other’s bodies”. There are children who undergo sex change operations. There are psychologically ill people who self-mutilate. I’ve seen the picture of one devil worshipper who had a surgery to place bony horns on his head. Another tattooed evil symbols on his chest. Nazis forced Auschwitz prisoners to tattoo their prison numbers on their forearms. Women have breast augmentations in order to better sell themselves for sexual favors. Drug dealers have plastic surgeries to cover up their crimes. On and on, the lies of the world cause humans to worship themselves and their accomplishments. They promote “the worship of the things God created rather than the Creator Himself” (Romans 1:25).
Paul was convinced that Roman Christians needed to keep worldly lies out of the church. He also was convinced that every Christian should keep worldly lies out of his or her own life. When you allow lies to replace God’s truth, all kinds of evil things can and will crop up in and around you. Worldly lies can only enslave you. Your only recourse is, as Jesus said, that “the truth will set you free”. What truth? God’s truth. There is no other truth.
Today, our world is filled with liars who would like you to believe their lies. They have, as our scripture for today includes, “traded the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:24). These people have degraded the truth, hid the truth, falsified documents, and much more in order to spread lies and deception and delusion. In doing so, they have perpetrated evil. Yet, they are so delusional, they call the truth a lie and lies the truth. Don’t be sucked in by their lies. It will only end in pain and suffering.
There are people today suffering from a lie. They believed that living a certain lifestyle was not harmful. Some used prescription drugs to damage their kidneys. Some used alcohol to damage their livers. Some used street drugs that caused a stroke and damaged other vital organs. They believed a lie and are now paying for their mistake. Each now must hope for a new organ or die a painful death. What do some do? They begin to believe in more lies. They talk themselves into another delusion. How? They believe that the organs used for transplants were taken from people who gladly wanted to offer them up. In some cases, this is true. People have donated kidneys to a friend or relative or out of love. Some have donated bone marrow, knowing it could easily save the life of a cancer patient. Some have donated eyes and bodies to science or for organ donation and after a car accident, which has saved many. However, one of the biggest “harvesters” of organs today is China. There, people are accused falsely of crimes in order to put them into prison. While there, their organs are removed to be sold on black markets and in exchanges all over the world. This is why they often ask medical questions before a person is accused of a crime or goes to prison in China. It is a lucrative market worth millions and billions. Yet, many all over the world are under the delusion that the organ they are receiving comes from a pure and holy gift, not from an illegal harvesting of innocent and guilty prisoners. Katrina Lantos Swett, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, called this practice “An Unspeakable Crime against humanity” at the recent International Religious Freedom Summit. She acknowledged that medical leadership and governments throughout the world cover up this great lie.
Lies are common in the political world, which frequently uses lies or innuendos to shape a false narrative. The Biden Administration in the United States proudly touted in 2021 that not only is the economy great, but the U.S. has the “fastest growing economy in the world”. This is a lie. There are 50 countries that have faster growing economies as reported by CNN, a liberal news source that constantly supports Biden policies. Even they called this claim by Biden a falsehood. The democratic leadership in the United States stated that by 2022, 8.6 million jobs had been “created” since they got full control of the Presidency, Senate, and House of Representatives in 2020. What they are actually reporting are people going back to work after COVID-19 lockdowns. These jobs weren’t created. It’s all a lie meant to sway public opinion. In Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau froze bank accounts, encouraged the damaging of property, and did everything in his power to hurt those who spoke out against his own draconian government procedures in lockdowns. Trudeau even shouted “follow the science” to push lies and his own political agenda. I could easily tell you of a thousand more lies spread by politicians throughout the world. In everything from spending to taxes to social programs to economic news and so much more, lies are told more than the truth in politics. Only a very precious few can be trusted.
The medical establishment lies all the time. The CDC leadership in 2020 said masks wouldn’t help the spread of COVID-19. Then, later that year, they reversed themselves and said the masks would help. Now, medical professionals know that the surgical masks that presently pollute the oceans and landfills never really were a good deterrent for COVID-19. As for the vaccine for COVID-19, there were other lies. On December 14, 2021, Joe Biden went on record that people vaccinated for COVID-19 “do not spread the disease to anyone else.”. Another lie. In fact, the vaccines were NEVER tested for transmission before rolled out to the public. So, all the while Hollywood was telling people who would not get the vaccine that the unvaccinated were “killing grandma and grandpa” while the vaccinated were saving the world from the epidemic, they were spouting absolutely unadulterated lies that were spread by social media and even protected by Big Tech and Big Pharma.
Speaking of Big Tech and their lies, we have come to find out that much of the lies spread around the world recently were supported and encouraged by Big Tech. During the pandemic, Facebook and Google and Twitter and Reddit and many other outlets blocked doctors and nurses and medical professionals and even health specialists from spreading the truth about COVID-19 and MRNA vaccines and other therapies. When it was discovered that Vitamin D supplementation and a healthy diet and certain medications and over-the-counter therapies could help the transmission and recovery from COVID-19, Big Tech colluded to silence the truth. Paid by political and social groups and Big Pharma, they silenced people who desperately tried to bring you the truth. By doing so, they accused millions of disinformation while being the biggest source of disinformation in history! They lied on a global scale.
Now, let’s center on the church. It too is tainted with lies. In fact, those who would love to tell you the truth are often silenced in the church. I have been threatened, ridiculed publicly, and even lost my job when I expressed the truth. In one church, I tried to stop the practice of under-the-table dealing of contracts being issued to “favorites”. I was told to be quiet. In another church, I was threatened to keep quiet about abuses (some illegal) that were occurring. I and my family were threatened with “bad things happening” if I did anything about it. I did do something about it and suffered the consequences.
What many people do not know is that politics and ideologies now run many denominations. Seminarians and pastoral candidates are culled based on their political views and ideological stances more than their faith and biblical integrity. For example, I know of at least a dozen people who were kept from ministry because they would not adhere to liberal political beliefs. I know of pastors who were criticized when they dared to say that God “hates divorce” (Malachi 2:16), that “grooming” of children is wrong, that giving children as young as ten the option of gender reassignment surgery was evil, that fornication and adultery are sinful, and that portraying transsexuals as inherently godly people is a worldly practice that should not occur in the church. Trust me when I tell you that MOST denominations choose pastors NOT from a biblical perspective but based on political and ideological biases. And yet, we are lied to that the churches aren’t permeated with worldly practices and leadership.
Chances are, you are bombarded with lies from social media, the news, friends, family, and even well-meaning church people every day. BUT just when you think this is all new or that the end time must be coming, realize that lies have been a bane to the faithful since the beginning of time. Satan lied to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden!
Today’s scripture shows that lies were also a problem in the first century churches. Paul, who was a Roman citizen, knew that many worldly lies came from Rome and Roman leadership. He warned about lies being spread and growing in the churches. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians that when worldly sin corrupted people, God “abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired” (Romans 1:24). When this happened, “they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies”. They also “exchanged the truth for a lie” by “worshipping the things God created rather than the Creator”. Even in today’s world, we can see how people do “degrading things with each other’s bodies”. There are children who undergo sex change operations. There are psychologically ill people who self-mutilate. I’ve seen the picture of one devil worshipper who had a surgery to place bony horns on his head. Another tattooed evil symbols on his chest. Nazis forced Auschwitz prisoners to tattoo their prison numbers on their forearms. Women have breast augmentations in order to better sell themselves for sexual favors. Drug dealers have plastic surgeries to cover up their crimes. On and on, the lies of the world cause humans to worship themselves and their accomplishments. They promote “the worship of the things God created rather than the Creator Himself” (Romans 1:25).
Paul was convinced that Roman Christians needed to keep worldly lies out of the church. He also was convinced that every Christian should keep worldly lies out of his or her own life. When you allow lies to replace God’s truth, all kinds of evil things can and will crop up in and around you. Worldly lies can only enslave you. Your only recourse is, as Jesus said, that “the truth will set you free”. What truth? God’s truth. There is no other truth.
February 11
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house… .” (1 Kings 8:27–29, ESV)
The scripture above contains words spoken by Solomon at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. At this momentous occasion, Solomon offered up not only formalities but prayers. 1 Kings 8:27-29 hovers between both formality and prayer. In the first half of the scripture, Solomon explained to the people how surprising it was that God would “indeed dwell on the earth” (1 Kings 8:27). God created the universe, every galaxy seen by every telescope ever created, and yet God chooses to be present with us on this earth! This is an amazing side to God. God can be in so many places at once. God is not confined by space. God’s Spirit may even dwell in the human heart, soul, and mind. That is also why Solomon proclaimed that “the highest heaven cannot contain” God. And yet, God was willing to come and dwell in the Temple in Jerusalem. AND God is willing to dwell with you! And God can hear the prayers of people said in the Temple (1 Kings 8:29). And God can hear your prayer.
The scripture for today is one among many explanations in the Bible of God’s omnipresence. The word “omnipresence” means to be available everywhere all the time. God is always present. God doesn’t take a vacation from HIS creation. God is aware of everything. That is why in Jeremiah 23:24, God says, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” God is not limited by time nor space. Heaven cannot even contain God (1 Kings 8:27)!
However, let’s explain omnipresence further. There is a difference between God’s omnipresent essence and God’s omnipresent influence. God can keep HIS eyes “open day and night” (1 Kings 8:29) but that doesn’t mean that God is present in the soul of a sinful person! God has omnipresent influence over everything and everyone. God’s influence goes everywhere, even upon the soul of the lost. But, there are times that God’s essence, His being, is pulled away from the presence of sin or evil. For example, Proverbs 15:29 explains that “The Lord is far from the wicked.” Does this mean that God can’t be there? No. What it means is that where evil wickedness endures, God’s purity and essence will not linger. God’s influence will never allow evil to bind with God’s essence and Spirit.
Think of God’s essence and influence this way. A mother takes a young child to the playground. While the child is playing, the mother sits on a park bench a short distance away. The mother’s eyes and ears are on that child, watching over him or her. That shows the mother’s influence. The mother’s essence is further away on a park bench, though her influence is powerfully present.
God's influence is everywhere present. But, God’s essence is reserved for what is holy. God's influence is upon even the soul of the most sinful of human beings. However, God’s Spirit is found in the soul of the holy person or filling a holy space. I would rather have God’s influence AND essence in my life. I want God’s Spirit to be present in my heart and soul. I want God to be close to me. I want God’s eyes to be ever vigilant over me.
Saul was the first King chosen to lead Israel. God graced His coronation. The prophet Samuel blessed His Kingship. But Saul’s insecurities and lust for power became his undoing. After a while, Saul began to ignore God’s commands. Saul did as he pleased. Saul even saw fit to seek direction from a witch at Endor rather than listen to God’s voice. How did God respond to Saul’s blatant sinfulness? The scripture tells us: “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.” (1 Samuel 16:14, ESV). Was God’s omnipresence limited in that the Lord left Saul’s presence? No. God’s essence and Spirit departed from Saul’s soul. God’s influence remained. That is made obvious in that the Lord sent a spirit to torment Paul from then on.
God’s omnipresent influence is everywhere. HIS eyes were upon the Temple “day and night”. They are upon you even now. However, God’s omnipresent essence and Spirit are reserved for holy people and holy places and doing holy work. Wouldn’t you like for not only God’s eyes to be watching over you day and night but for God’s Spirit to be inside your heart, soul, and mind; advising your every decision; adding love and grace to each and every thought?
After a young man asked to be saved, I prayed that he would receive God’s Holy Spirit. I held his hand and prayed that God would bless him and be with him. The next day, I spoke to the young man. I asked how he was doing. He said to me something very relevant to our Bible Study today. He responded, “Yesterday morning, I knew God was out there, in the universe, in the world. Today, I feel God baking love into my heart, speaking with my soul, and showering graceful words into my mind.”
God is able to be omnipresent. God’s eyes are watching everything in all of creation. However, God’s Spirit brings God’s omnipresence home, to the heart and mind and soul. God’s eyes and ears monitor everything. God’s influence is everywhere. But God’s essence and Spirit are special. They are reserved for what is faithful and blessed. I want them reserved for you!
The scripture for today is one among many explanations in the Bible of God’s omnipresence. The word “omnipresence” means to be available everywhere all the time. God is always present. God doesn’t take a vacation from HIS creation. God is aware of everything. That is why in Jeremiah 23:24, God says, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” God is not limited by time nor space. Heaven cannot even contain God (1 Kings 8:27)!
However, let’s explain omnipresence further. There is a difference between God’s omnipresent essence and God’s omnipresent influence. God can keep HIS eyes “open day and night” (1 Kings 8:29) but that doesn’t mean that God is present in the soul of a sinful person! God has omnipresent influence over everything and everyone. God’s influence goes everywhere, even upon the soul of the lost. But, there are times that God’s essence, His being, is pulled away from the presence of sin or evil. For example, Proverbs 15:29 explains that “The Lord is far from the wicked.” Does this mean that God can’t be there? No. What it means is that where evil wickedness endures, God’s purity and essence will not linger. God’s influence will never allow evil to bind with God’s essence and Spirit.
Think of God’s essence and influence this way. A mother takes a young child to the playground. While the child is playing, the mother sits on a park bench a short distance away. The mother’s eyes and ears are on that child, watching over him or her. That shows the mother’s influence. The mother’s essence is further away on a park bench, though her influence is powerfully present.
God's influence is everywhere present. But, God’s essence is reserved for what is holy. God's influence is upon even the soul of the most sinful of human beings. However, God’s Spirit is found in the soul of the holy person or filling a holy space. I would rather have God’s influence AND essence in my life. I want God’s Spirit to be present in my heart and soul. I want God to be close to me. I want God’s eyes to be ever vigilant over me.
Saul was the first King chosen to lead Israel. God graced His coronation. The prophet Samuel blessed His Kingship. But Saul’s insecurities and lust for power became his undoing. After a while, Saul began to ignore God’s commands. Saul did as he pleased. Saul even saw fit to seek direction from a witch at Endor rather than listen to God’s voice. How did God respond to Saul’s blatant sinfulness? The scripture tells us: “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.” (1 Samuel 16:14, ESV). Was God’s omnipresence limited in that the Lord left Saul’s presence? No. God’s essence and Spirit departed from Saul’s soul. God’s influence remained. That is made obvious in that the Lord sent a spirit to torment Paul from then on.
God’s omnipresent influence is everywhere. HIS eyes were upon the Temple “day and night”. They are upon you even now. However, God’s omnipresent essence and Spirit are reserved for holy people and holy places and doing holy work. Wouldn’t you like for not only God’s eyes to be watching over you day and night but for God’s Spirit to be inside your heart, soul, and mind; advising your every decision; adding love and grace to each and every thought?
After a young man asked to be saved, I prayed that he would receive God’s Holy Spirit. I held his hand and prayed that God would bless him and be with him. The next day, I spoke to the young man. I asked how he was doing. He said to me something very relevant to our Bible Study today. He responded, “Yesterday morning, I knew God was out there, in the universe, in the world. Today, I feel God baking love into my heart, speaking with my soul, and showering graceful words into my mind.”
God is able to be omnipresent. God’s eyes are watching everything in all of creation. However, God’s Spirit brings God’s omnipresence home, to the heart and mind and soul. God’s eyes and ears monitor everything. God’s influence is everywhere. But God’s essence and Spirit are special. They are reserved for what is faithful and blessed. I want them reserved for you!
February 14
“Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.” (Psalm 51:4, ESV)
A writer in New York penned a column on a subject she knew would connect with her readers. When she wrote the article, she was determined to set the record straight and expose what she believed was a lie being told in society today. Thus, she wrote about women with obesity. In the article, she complained that the main reason women are obese is due to climate change. She opined that climate change has affected the quality of food, living conditions, and the standard of living. However, there have been climate changes since the beginning of time. When climate change occurred during the ice ages, people were thin. When England went through the Industrial Revolution, and the microclimates in the big cities were seriously affected by pollution, the people were even bordering on malnutrition. Yes, today’s food can lack some nutrients from the soil. Yes, living conditions do change. Yes, processed foods affect overall health. However, we know without a certainty, that the climate can’t force a person to overeat. One’s food choices are personal. Nowhere in the article does the author even imply that obesity may be due to poor choices, self-destructive attitudes, and sinful living.
Several news releases I saw recently focused on places in modern society that were going through terrible changes. There is a new street drug hitting inner cities. The war in the Ukraine is causing shortages in the natural gas supply for Europe. The loss of crops is affecting Eastern Africa. The COVID pandemic has caused terrible pollution in the oceans due to masks being dumped there by unscrupulous countries and corporations. Inflation is decimating the lives of the poor all over the world. Shortages of products are leading to job losses. Instead of taking blame, Russia blamed Nazis for war in Ukraine. President Biden complained that the Climate Crisis was the cause of all these problems and sought an increase in taxes to help alleviate the crisis. One talk show blamed sexism for all the world’s problems and for climate change! A Hollywood starlet proclaimed that misogyny caused all sorts of these issues, and if there was no patriarchy there would be no problems! Over and over, governments and news sources and social media blamed racism, sexism, the patriarchy, woke thinking, liberals, conservatives, technology, Facebook, Google, CNN, and so many more corporations, governments, ideologies, and leaders. What NONE of them spoke to was the FACT that sinful living was and is the greatest source of suffering in modern society.
People want to blame all kinds of things, play the victim, point fingers at others for their problems. Most often, bad results in life can always be traced back to sin. It is either sin in that person or sins committed against them. Yet, only in churches do you hear that sin is a problem. And what is most interesting is that some churches don’t like to even talk about sin as a problem today because the subject is not politically correct! That doesn’t stop the truth that sin is the ultimate source of all the wrongs in your world today.
Until you admit your sin and ask for repentance, your life will continue to feel the effects of sinful living. Until the world admits the suffering caused by sinfulness, there will never be healing and wholeness. Until sin against Almighty God is seen as an ultimate problem, lasting solutions to life’s problems will never be found.
Psalm 51 from our Bible exposed King David’s way of thinking. This psalm was written after David committed adultery with Bathsheba, as stated in the introduction to Psalm 51. As David looked back upon his sinful interactions with Bathsheba, he came to a rightful conclusion. His sin had caused all the suffering. Sexual sin caused David to desire to commit adultery. The sin of pride caused David to have Uriah killed in order to cover up his sin. The sin of selfishness caused David to take Bathsheba as his wife, when he already had a wife! Over and over, David sinned and covered his sin with other sins. Until Psalm 51, David refused to admit that his own sin was the source of everything going wrong in his life.
Only after David confessed and repented for his sin did he find any relief. Finally, David realized that all his problems were due to not only sin against Bathsheba and Uriah and the people of Jerusalem and his faithful soldiers. David ultimately had sinned against God. Finally, the truth gets told! David admitted in Psalm 51:4 that he had sinned ultimately “against God”. This caused “evil in God’s sight”. David was guilty. God was totally “justified” and “blameless” in the entire affair. Only after such a confession did David find lasting comfort from his suffering. Only when he owned up to his own sin and sought God’s justice and mercy were things made right.
While considering the meaning of David’s confession of sin in Psalm 51, John MacArthur wrote:
“If you want to have a decreasing frequency of sin in your life and an increasing amount of spiritual growth, you must acknowledge your responsibility. Don’t blame your circumstances, your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your boss, your employees, or your pastor. Don’t even blame the devil. Your sin is your fault. Certainly the world’s system can contribute to the problem, but sin ultimately occurs as an act of the will—and you are responsible for it.
Perhaps one of the best examples of someone who learned how to take responsibility was the prodigal son. When he returned home to his loving father, he said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:21). He was even willing to be treated as a humble laborer because he knew he didn’t deserve anything (v. 19). That is the right attitude of one who confesses sin.” (Truth for Today, p. 56)
Until a person admits his or her own sinful intentions, their situation will not get better. Until you deal with your own sinful tendencies and past, sin will cause harm in your life. Sin will twist your thinking, skew your reality, cause unintended harm to others, and damage your relationship with God. The only way to deal with sin and stop its damaging effects is to follow King David’s example from Psalm 51. You need to repent and confess your sin to Almighty God. You need to take responsibility for sinful thinking. You need to stop blaming other things for your sinful actions. Then, and only then, do you have any chance of overcoming evil in your world. Once you deal with your sin, truth and lies will be exposed for you. Your direction forward will become more clear. Love and peace will find their way back into your heart and soul. And soon, the blessings of God will follow.
Several news releases I saw recently focused on places in modern society that were going through terrible changes. There is a new street drug hitting inner cities. The war in the Ukraine is causing shortages in the natural gas supply for Europe. The loss of crops is affecting Eastern Africa. The COVID pandemic has caused terrible pollution in the oceans due to masks being dumped there by unscrupulous countries and corporations. Inflation is decimating the lives of the poor all over the world. Shortages of products are leading to job losses. Instead of taking blame, Russia blamed Nazis for war in Ukraine. President Biden complained that the Climate Crisis was the cause of all these problems and sought an increase in taxes to help alleviate the crisis. One talk show blamed sexism for all the world’s problems and for climate change! A Hollywood starlet proclaimed that misogyny caused all sorts of these issues, and if there was no patriarchy there would be no problems! Over and over, governments and news sources and social media blamed racism, sexism, the patriarchy, woke thinking, liberals, conservatives, technology, Facebook, Google, CNN, and so many more corporations, governments, ideologies, and leaders. What NONE of them spoke to was the FACT that sinful living was and is the greatest source of suffering in modern society.
People want to blame all kinds of things, play the victim, point fingers at others for their problems. Most often, bad results in life can always be traced back to sin. It is either sin in that person or sins committed against them. Yet, only in churches do you hear that sin is a problem. And what is most interesting is that some churches don’t like to even talk about sin as a problem today because the subject is not politically correct! That doesn’t stop the truth that sin is the ultimate source of all the wrongs in your world today.
Until you admit your sin and ask for repentance, your life will continue to feel the effects of sinful living. Until the world admits the suffering caused by sinfulness, there will never be healing and wholeness. Until sin against Almighty God is seen as an ultimate problem, lasting solutions to life’s problems will never be found.
Psalm 51 from our Bible exposed King David’s way of thinking. This psalm was written after David committed adultery with Bathsheba, as stated in the introduction to Psalm 51. As David looked back upon his sinful interactions with Bathsheba, he came to a rightful conclusion. His sin had caused all the suffering. Sexual sin caused David to desire to commit adultery. The sin of pride caused David to have Uriah killed in order to cover up his sin. The sin of selfishness caused David to take Bathsheba as his wife, when he already had a wife! Over and over, David sinned and covered his sin with other sins. Until Psalm 51, David refused to admit that his own sin was the source of everything going wrong in his life.
Only after David confessed and repented for his sin did he find any relief. Finally, David realized that all his problems were due to not only sin against Bathsheba and Uriah and the people of Jerusalem and his faithful soldiers. David ultimately had sinned against God. Finally, the truth gets told! David admitted in Psalm 51:4 that he had sinned ultimately “against God”. This caused “evil in God’s sight”. David was guilty. God was totally “justified” and “blameless” in the entire affair. Only after such a confession did David find lasting comfort from his suffering. Only when he owned up to his own sin and sought God’s justice and mercy were things made right.
While considering the meaning of David’s confession of sin in Psalm 51, John MacArthur wrote:
“If you want to have a decreasing frequency of sin in your life and an increasing amount of spiritual growth, you must acknowledge your responsibility. Don’t blame your circumstances, your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your boss, your employees, or your pastor. Don’t even blame the devil. Your sin is your fault. Certainly the world’s system can contribute to the problem, but sin ultimately occurs as an act of the will—and you are responsible for it.
Perhaps one of the best examples of someone who learned how to take responsibility was the prodigal son. When he returned home to his loving father, he said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:21). He was even willing to be treated as a humble laborer because he knew he didn’t deserve anything (v. 19). That is the right attitude of one who confesses sin.” (Truth for Today, p. 56)
Until a person admits his or her own sinful intentions, their situation will not get better. Until you deal with your own sinful tendencies and past, sin will cause harm in your life. Sin will twist your thinking, skew your reality, cause unintended harm to others, and damage your relationship with God. The only way to deal with sin and stop its damaging effects is to follow King David’s example from Psalm 51. You need to repent and confess your sin to Almighty God. You need to take responsibility for sinful thinking. You need to stop blaming other things for your sinful actions. Then, and only then, do you have any chance of overcoming evil in your world. Once you deal with your sin, truth and lies will be exposed for you. Your direction forward will become more clear. Love and peace will find their way back into your heart and soul. And soon, the blessings of God will follow.
February 16
“When they found him [Jesus] on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (John 6:25–26, ESV)
Why do you believe in Jesus?
I need you to think seriously about this.
Why do you believe in Jesus?
There are many answers to this question. I have heard thousands. Some believe in Jesus because they were raised that way. Some do it out of spiritual habit… feeling guilty if they don’t worship at church on Sunday morning. There are people who go to church and profess their faith in Jesus but only do it out of a need to be religious. I’ve met people who joined a church because it was politically or socially advantageous. Young people may join a church in order to get married. At a local Lutheran Church, there are members who joined to get a discount on the Christian school run by the church.
Some people join a church. Some people have a relationship with God. You can be a member of a church without making a commitment to Jesus! My friend, Mark, joined his church because his girlfriend was a member there. Thomas, a guy down the street, won’t join a church because he claims his Christian parents who were active church members were “hypocrites”. Janice, a lady at the local pharmacy, believes there is a god but won’t commit to just one god. Some people believe in God out of convenience, some out of a need to fit in, some because they are spiritual, some because being a church member has its advantages. Again, why do you believe in Jesus? Why do you find yourself in worship?
You might think my question is inane, redundant, or obvious. It is none of these things. You see, even in the scripture for today, the crowds sought out Jesus for the wrong reason. They believed in Jesus for the wrong purpose. After Jesus fed thousands with only five loaves of bread and two fish, the people were amazed at the miracle. However, some of those people didn’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God or Savior or Redeemer. They saw Jesus as a good source of food! When Jesus left the site where he fed thousands, some of those poor and hungry people followed him to the next place. They probably thought he would conjure up more food for them! Jesus told the people who followed Him to get more food, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves (of bread).” (John 6:26). Jesus knew these "followers" did not have a newfound love of God. They had more basic motives. They wanted more free food!
Now, before you criticize the motives of those people who followed Jesus to get free food, realize that many people do the same even today! George, a lonely older man in his eighties, loves going to the church for the potluck dinners. He misses the home-cooked meals his wife used to make and enjoys the casseroles especially at the potluck dinners at his church. Carlos goes to St. James Church in order to get food from the food pantry. As he told his best friend, he’d never go there to “just worship God”. Katherine loves to cook. She joined the women’s group at the local church because some of her best friends go there. And, they have their meetings at a local restaurant that she loves.
There are many reasons people approach God or join a church or attend worship. As seen in the scripture for today, Jesus was fully aware that some of those people who came to see Him did not want spiritual food. They wanted physical sustenance. They wanted loaves of bread. They did not realize that there is more to life than food. Even in modernity, the same issues still apply. Some people go around churches or dabble in religion for their own increase. They are not there for God. They are not there to celebrate Jesus’ life and death and resurrection. They just like the music or the food or just need a “religious fix” every now and then to feel better.
Why do you believe in Jesus?
Chances are, you are visiting this web site because you are looking for a deeper relationship with Almighty God. That in itself is a wonderful thing! However, don’t be surprised if now and then, you default to something less noble. It’s easy to forget that Jesus IS your Savior. He IS the reason you worship. Don’t allow yourself to fall into a rut where worship becomes a place to be “entertained”. Be careful when relationships at your church become more important than your relationship with God. If your prayers have become more ritualistic and your time with God seems to be a chore, its time to re-evaluate why you believe in Jesus.
I need you to think seriously about this.
Why do you believe in Jesus?
There are many answers to this question. I have heard thousands. Some believe in Jesus because they were raised that way. Some do it out of spiritual habit… feeling guilty if they don’t worship at church on Sunday morning. There are people who go to church and profess their faith in Jesus but only do it out of a need to be religious. I’ve met people who joined a church because it was politically or socially advantageous. Young people may join a church in order to get married. At a local Lutheran Church, there are members who joined to get a discount on the Christian school run by the church.
Some people join a church. Some people have a relationship with God. You can be a member of a church without making a commitment to Jesus! My friend, Mark, joined his church because his girlfriend was a member there. Thomas, a guy down the street, won’t join a church because he claims his Christian parents who were active church members were “hypocrites”. Janice, a lady at the local pharmacy, believes there is a god but won’t commit to just one god. Some people believe in God out of convenience, some out of a need to fit in, some because they are spiritual, some because being a church member has its advantages. Again, why do you believe in Jesus? Why do you find yourself in worship?
You might think my question is inane, redundant, or obvious. It is none of these things. You see, even in the scripture for today, the crowds sought out Jesus for the wrong reason. They believed in Jesus for the wrong purpose. After Jesus fed thousands with only five loaves of bread and two fish, the people were amazed at the miracle. However, some of those people didn’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God or Savior or Redeemer. They saw Jesus as a good source of food! When Jesus left the site where he fed thousands, some of those poor and hungry people followed him to the next place. They probably thought he would conjure up more food for them! Jesus told the people who followed Him to get more food, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves (of bread).” (John 6:26). Jesus knew these "followers" did not have a newfound love of God. They had more basic motives. They wanted more free food!
Now, before you criticize the motives of those people who followed Jesus to get free food, realize that many people do the same even today! George, a lonely older man in his eighties, loves going to the church for the potluck dinners. He misses the home-cooked meals his wife used to make and enjoys the casseroles especially at the potluck dinners at his church. Carlos goes to St. James Church in order to get food from the food pantry. As he told his best friend, he’d never go there to “just worship God”. Katherine loves to cook. She joined the women’s group at the local church because some of her best friends go there. And, they have their meetings at a local restaurant that she loves.
There are many reasons people approach God or join a church or attend worship. As seen in the scripture for today, Jesus was fully aware that some of those people who came to see Him did not want spiritual food. They wanted physical sustenance. They wanted loaves of bread. They did not realize that there is more to life than food. Even in modernity, the same issues still apply. Some people go around churches or dabble in religion for their own increase. They are not there for God. They are not there to celebrate Jesus’ life and death and resurrection. They just like the music or the food or just need a “religious fix” every now and then to feel better.
Why do you believe in Jesus?
Chances are, you are visiting this web site because you are looking for a deeper relationship with Almighty God. That in itself is a wonderful thing! However, don’t be surprised if now and then, you default to something less noble. It’s easy to forget that Jesus IS your Savior. He IS the reason you worship. Don’t allow yourself to fall into a rut where worship becomes a place to be “entertained”. Be careful when relationships at your church become more important than your relationship with God. If your prayers have become more ritualistic and your time with God seems to be a chore, its time to re-evaluate why you believe in Jesus.
February 18
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” (Luke 6:32, ESV)
When President Trump was in office, he often talked about “fake news”. He pointed out the fact that news outlets would purposefully make up facts or skew reports or even twist reality in order to push a certain political or ideological agenda. Years ago, reporters were counted on to tell the facts. Starting a half century ago, colleges and universities began to promote the concept of “advocacy journalism”. This type of reporting does not believe in telling the facts about a newsworthy event or situation. Rather, it seeks to adopt a non-objective viewpoint in order to sway public opinion. In doing so, it actually becomes a form of propaganda. Sadly, this type of reporting has become the norm. “Fake news” is now commonplace. You often have to scour many different reports in order to separate the truth from all the hidden agendas.
There is another type of fakeness in our world. It too has its own hidden agendas. I call it “fake love”. “Fake love” comes from the same mindset as “fake news”. Fake love also has hidden agendas that are difficult to perceive at first glance. Fake love comes across as a genuine caring for another person. However, this is simply a masquerade, a facade. The person who exhibits fake love will often dole out what seems like love, but its intent is to sway another person while giving the illusion of true concern or warm feelings. Fake love is conditional. It is manipulative. It is not gracious. It has hidden motives and selfishly has strings attached.
When Cecelia met Carlos at work, she immediately became infatuated with him. He was a good-looking guy who was easy to talk to and ready to listen. Cecelia flirted with Carlos whenever he visited her section of the building. Soon, Carlos found ways to stop by and see Cecelia. The two went on several dates and the relationship became very serious.
A month after their first date, Carlos took Cecelia out to a very expensive restaurant to celebrate. Then, a week later, Carlos sent flowers to her at work. Most days, Cecelia had forty or fifty texts from Carlos. He would text her messages telling her how much he loved her looks or clothes, missed her, or expounding on her beauty. Cecelia was smitten. She fell in love fast and hard. Cecelia dreamed of a day when she would marry Carlos, though it had only been two months since their first date! Everything seemed so perfect.
What Cecelia didn’t figure out until months later was that Carlos was narcissistic. He was doing something that counselors call “love bombing”. Carlos would shower gifts on Cecelia, spend lots of time with her, and whisk her off to lavish weekend getaways. It seemed heavenly at first, but this shower of love and attention by Carlos had ulterior motives. Carlos liked to manipulate Cecelia’s time. He kept her from spending time with friends and family. After spending a lot of money on her at a fancy restaurant, he would suggest that they have sex. When Cecelia would not have sex, Carlos at first simply showered her with more gifts. Later, he would pout, acting offended. Carlos would tell Cecelia how they were soul mates and made for one another. Over and over, he commented on her beauty. But then, he would turn around and ask her to spend a holiday with him and not with family as was her tradition. He would expect her to act like a trophy wife at his work events while finding reasons why Cecelia should not spend time with her friends or have a Sunday meal with her family. He bought her flowers and candy and had it delivered to work or home. After a while, Cecelia began to wonder if he did this to look good to others or if he really did care about her. It seemed like he would ask for something just after he gave her a gift or took her to a fancy restaurant. Only months later did Cecelia realize how the many “love bombs” Carlos showered upon her always came with strings attached. When Cecelia prayed, she felt God warning her of Carlos’ intentions.
Fake love usually has hidden agendas. Carlos was a narcissist. He wanted Cecelia to be indebted and devoted to him, so he showered her with gifts and expounded on her beauty. At the same time, he coopted her time and isolated her from friends and family. Carlos wanted to be the center of Cecelia’s world. He wanted her to shower him with attention. To get her to do this, he would barrage her with gifts that over time indebted Cecelia psychologically to Carlos. Then, Carlos used this to dominate Cecelia’s expectations and life choices.
Love bombing is just one of many forms of fake love in our world. It is manipulative and has hidden agendas. Over time, it can become exhausting and psychologically damaging. Like all forms of fake love, there are always strings attached.
God’s love is different from fake love. It is full of grace and mercy. It forgives. It is unconditional. It is uplifting. God doesn’t need to love with strings attached. God does have expectations but does not withhold love to manipulate people or use love as a weapon of control or domination.
In Luke 6:32, Jesus talks about worldly forms of fake love with the statement, “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them!” With these words, Jesus was expressing that worldly love has conditions and expectations with strings attached. Jesus wanted people to know that God’s love is greater than these worldly forms of fake love. God’s love doesn’t use love to control others. God’s love doesn’t have hidden agendas or give false hope. God’s love is meant to uplift not manipulate. God’s love is meant to help a person become whole, not make a person feel indebted and unworthy.
Be careful in your life not to use worldly forms of love. It is all too easy to fall into a pattern where you manipulate another person in a loving way in order to get something in return. If your goal is to gift those cookies you just baked in order to have a person like you, isn’t that a form of manipulation? How is that a gift of love? If you have sex with someone in order to have that person give you something in return, how is that in any way godly? If you withhold your love from another in order to make them feel pain, how is your love like God’s love? Aren’t you using love as a weapon or tool to get your way? Men and woman may implement worldly forms of love in different ways, but the purpose is the same. Worldly forms of love, like fake love, like love bombs, are always given with strings attached. Worldly love often comes with associated costs. It is a calculated love with selfish motives.
Scripture teaches us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Never confuse this love that comes from God with any form of worldly love. Sadly, God’s kind of love is just as rare and sparsely used as it is beautiful and precious.
Do you practice worldly forms of love? How might offering God’s kind of love change things? Who may need a form of God’s love from you today? How might you show Godly love to nurture a needy soul?
There is another type of fakeness in our world. It too has its own hidden agendas. I call it “fake love”. “Fake love” comes from the same mindset as “fake news”. Fake love also has hidden agendas that are difficult to perceive at first glance. Fake love comes across as a genuine caring for another person. However, this is simply a masquerade, a facade. The person who exhibits fake love will often dole out what seems like love, but its intent is to sway another person while giving the illusion of true concern or warm feelings. Fake love is conditional. It is manipulative. It is not gracious. It has hidden motives and selfishly has strings attached.
When Cecelia met Carlos at work, she immediately became infatuated with him. He was a good-looking guy who was easy to talk to and ready to listen. Cecelia flirted with Carlos whenever he visited her section of the building. Soon, Carlos found ways to stop by and see Cecelia. The two went on several dates and the relationship became very serious.
A month after their first date, Carlos took Cecelia out to a very expensive restaurant to celebrate. Then, a week later, Carlos sent flowers to her at work. Most days, Cecelia had forty or fifty texts from Carlos. He would text her messages telling her how much he loved her looks or clothes, missed her, or expounding on her beauty. Cecelia was smitten. She fell in love fast and hard. Cecelia dreamed of a day when she would marry Carlos, though it had only been two months since their first date! Everything seemed so perfect.
What Cecelia didn’t figure out until months later was that Carlos was narcissistic. He was doing something that counselors call “love bombing”. Carlos would shower gifts on Cecelia, spend lots of time with her, and whisk her off to lavish weekend getaways. It seemed heavenly at first, but this shower of love and attention by Carlos had ulterior motives. Carlos liked to manipulate Cecelia’s time. He kept her from spending time with friends and family. After spending a lot of money on her at a fancy restaurant, he would suggest that they have sex. When Cecelia would not have sex, Carlos at first simply showered her with more gifts. Later, he would pout, acting offended. Carlos would tell Cecelia how they were soul mates and made for one another. Over and over, he commented on her beauty. But then, he would turn around and ask her to spend a holiday with him and not with family as was her tradition. He would expect her to act like a trophy wife at his work events while finding reasons why Cecelia should not spend time with her friends or have a Sunday meal with her family. He bought her flowers and candy and had it delivered to work or home. After a while, Cecelia began to wonder if he did this to look good to others or if he really did care about her. It seemed like he would ask for something just after he gave her a gift or took her to a fancy restaurant. Only months later did Cecelia realize how the many “love bombs” Carlos showered upon her always came with strings attached. When Cecelia prayed, she felt God warning her of Carlos’ intentions.
Fake love usually has hidden agendas. Carlos was a narcissist. He wanted Cecelia to be indebted and devoted to him, so he showered her with gifts and expounded on her beauty. At the same time, he coopted her time and isolated her from friends and family. Carlos wanted to be the center of Cecelia’s world. He wanted her to shower him with attention. To get her to do this, he would barrage her with gifts that over time indebted Cecelia psychologically to Carlos. Then, Carlos used this to dominate Cecelia’s expectations and life choices.
Love bombing is just one of many forms of fake love in our world. It is manipulative and has hidden agendas. Over time, it can become exhausting and psychologically damaging. Like all forms of fake love, there are always strings attached.
God’s love is different from fake love. It is full of grace and mercy. It forgives. It is unconditional. It is uplifting. God doesn’t need to love with strings attached. God does have expectations but does not withhold love to manipulate people or use love as a weapon of control or domination.
In Luke 6:32, Jesus talks about worldly forms of fake love with the statement, “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them!” With these words, Jesus was expressing that worldly love has conditions and expectations with strings attached. Jesus wanted people to know that God’s love is greater than these worldly forms of fake love. God’s love doesn’t use love to control others. God’s love doesn’t have hidden agendas or give false hope. God’s love is meant to uplift not manipulate. God’s love is meant to help a person become whole, not make a person feel indebted and unworthy.
Be careful in your life not to use worldly forms of love. It is all too easy to fall into a pattern where you manipulate another person in a loving way in order to get something in return. If your goal is to gift those cookies you just baked in order to have a person like you, isn’t that a form of manipulation? How is that a gift of love? If you have sex with someone in order to have that person give you something in return, how is that in any way godly? If you withhold your love from another in order to make them feel pain, how is your love like God’s love? Aren’t you using love as a weapon or tool to get your way? Men and woman may implement worldly forms of love in different ways, but the purpose is the same. Worldly forms of love, like fake love, like love bombs, are always given with strings attached. Worldly love often comes with associated costs. It is a calculated love with selfish motives.
Scripture teaches us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Never confuse this love that comes from God with any form of worldly love. Sadly, God’s kind of love is just as rare and sparsely used as it is beautiful and precious.
Do you practice worldly forms of love? How might offering God’s kind of love change things? Who may need a form of God’s love from you today? How might you show Godly love to nurture a needy soul?
February 20
“For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”” (Hebrews 10:37–38, ESV)
When Harry met Megan, it was love at first sight. Harry was smitten. Megan, too, fell deeply in love with Harry. Their marriage two years later was celebrated by all. When two children came along over the next seven years, many felt that Harry and Megan were the perfect couple, destined for a long life of treasured memories reminiscent of a love story.
While traveling home for Christmas one year, the car carrying Harry and Megan and their two boys was involved in an accident. There was ice under the snow that covered the road. They skidded into the oncoming lane and were t-boned by a car coming the other direction. Air bags saved Megan, surely. However, at the time, air bags were a security feature limited to the front seat in some cars. Their oldest child, Darrell, suffered a terrible brain injury. He died a week later.
When they lost Darrell, some say the spark left the marriage of Harry and Megan. Megan became angry and often lashed out. Harry became sullen and depressed and retreated inside himself. Then, Harry began to drink heavily. Family and friends knew that Harry and Megan were trying to cope with the death of their son. Still, Megan grew more and more angry, and Harry’s alcoholism sped out of control.
Twelve years and sixteen days after their marriage vows were taken, Megan divorced Harry. She cited in court that he was a miserable drunk. Harry’s lawyer made it clear that Megan was filled with anger and resentment and often lashed out at Harry and others. The reasons for the divorce were obvious to all. However, what was not plainly seen were the consequences of that accident on the spiritual life of the family.
Following the death of their son Darrell, Harry and Megan pulled back from friends and family. They also pulled back from God. Rather than looking to God for strength and love and help and hope, Harry retreated into alcoholism. Megan was consumed by anger. Over the first year, they stopped going to worship. Their other son was pulled out of Sunday School. Over the next couple of years, they only came to worship at Christmas and Easter. Then, they stopped going to church altogether. Prayers were no longer said at the dinner table. Some family suggested that Harry and Megan blamed God for the loss of their son. Others supported the right of Megan and Harry to do whatever they needed to do to get over their grief. Needless to say, Harry and Megan’s mourning slowly but inevitably pushed God out of their lives. The divorce was the culmination of a lost love between husband and wife coupled with the loss of a desire to keep their marriage vows to God. Alcoholism and psychological problems plague the two people even now.
What happened to Harry and Megan’s marriage was indicative of their relationship with God. After the accident, Harry and Megan’s lives began to unravel. Not seeking solace in the arms of God, both looked elsewhere for the strength to go on. Harry found comfort in alcohol. Megan became angry and bitter as she sought to cope with the losses. Over time, not only did their marriage unravel, their love for God faded away.
Accidents, medical emergencies, deaths, job loss, and so many more things occur to people in life. Some people respond to these traumas by becoming closer to God. Others pull away from God as they look for other sources of comfort for their grief. However, it’s not just suffering people who pull away from God. Rich people can pull away from God as they get wrapped up in business affairs or financial issues. Parents can stop spending time with God as their responsibilities to family increase. Those who have jobs with long hours may start sleeping in on Sunday mornings. College students may get so caught up in their studies and college life that they ignore spiritual pursuits. Successful churches may even get so wrapped up in a drive for new building construction that they place too much emphasis on a fund drive and too little emphasis on God’s blessings.
The scripture for today is a reminder that God “takes no pleasure” when a person or church or nation “shrinks back” from faithful living (Hebrews 10:38). When death is ready to take you, will you be looking for Jesus or just regretful of how far you have pulled back from a relationship with God? Have the years brought you closer to God? Have successes pulled your attention away from God? Do you enjoy praying with God or remember when you used to pray more?
Just as two people can “fall out of love” after a car accident, even faithful people can lose their love for God. The scripture from Hebrews acknowledges that some people “shrink back” from God precisely when they should be holding on tightly! When this happens, God finds “no pleasure” in the lost relationship.
If you look at today’s scripture a little more closely, it implies that God finds joy in those who remain close to Him. God loves the faith of the righteous. Jesus is coming back in the end times. When that happens, what will He find? Will there be faith in the world? Will people have forgotten Jesus with the passing years? When Jesus comes for you as you breathe your last, will He see love in your eyes or a shipwrecked faith in your past? That’s up to you.
While traveling home for Christmas one year, the car carrying Harry and Megan and their two boys was involved in an accident. There was ice under the snow that covered the road. They skidded into the oncoming lane and were t-boned by a car coming the other direction. Air bags saved Megan, surely. However, at the time, air bags were a security feature limited to the front seat in some cars. Their oldest child, Darrell, suffered a terrible brain injury. He died a week later.
When they lost Darrell, some say the spark left the marriage of Harry and Megan. Megan became angry and often lashed out. Harry became sullen and depressed and retreated inside himself. Then, Harry began to drink heavily. Family and friends knew that Harry and Megan were trying to cope with the death of their son. Still, Megan grew more and more angry, and Harry’s alcoholism sped out of control.
Twelve years and sixteen days after their marriage vows were taken, Megan divorced Harry. She cited in court that he was a miserable drunk. Harry’s lawyer made it clear that Megan was filled with anger and resentment and often lashed out at Harry and others. The reasons for the divorce were obvious to all. However, what was not plainly seen were the consequences of that accident on the spiritual life of the family.
Following the death of their son Darrell, Harry and Megan pulled back from friends and family. They also pulled back from God. Rather than looking to God for strength and love and help and hope, Harry retreated into alcoholism. Megan was consumed by anger. Over the first year, they stopped going to worship. Their other son was pulled out of Sunday School. Over the next couple of years, they only came to worship at Christmas and Easter. Then, they stopped going to church altogether. Prayers were no longer said at the dinner table. Some family suggested that Harry and Megan blamed God for the loss of their son. Others supported the right of Megan and Harry to do whatever they needed to do to get over their grief. Needless to say, Harry and Megan’s mourning slowly but inevitably pushed God out of their lives. The divorce was the culmination of a lost love between husband and wife coupled with the loss of a desire to keep their marriage vows to God. Alcoholism and psychological problems plague the two people even now.
What happened to Harry and Megan’s marriage was indicative of their relationship with God. After the accident, Harry and Megan’s lives began to unravel. Not seeking solace in the arms of God, both looked elsewhere for the strength to go on. Harry found comfort in alcohol. Megan became angry and bitter as she sought to cope with the losses. Over time, not only did their marriage unravel, their love for God faded away.
Accidents, medical emergencies, deaths, job loss, and so many more things occur to people in life. Some people respond to these traumas by becoming closer to God. Others pull away from God as they look for other sources of comfort for their grief. However, it’s not just suffering people who pull away from God. Rich people can pull away from God as they get wrapped up in business affairs or financial issues. Parents can stop spending time with God as their responsibilities to family increase. Those who have jobs with long hours may start sleeping in on Sunday mornings. College students may get so caught up in their studies and college life that they ignore spiritual pursuits. Successful churches may even get so wrapped up in a drive for new building construction that they place too much emphasis on a fund drive and too little emphasis on God’s blessings.
The scripture for today is a reminder that God “takes no pleasure” when a person or church or nation “shrinks back” from faithful living (Hebrews 10:38). When death is ready to take you, will you be looking for Jesus or just regretful of how far you have pulled back from a relationship with God? Have the years brought you closer to God? Have successes pulled your attention away from God? Do you enjoy praying with God or remember when you used to pray more?
Just as two people can “fall out of love” after a car accident, even faithful people can lose their love for God. The scripture from Hebrews acknowledges that some people “shrink back” from God precisely when they should be holding on tightly! When this happens, God finds “no pleasure” in the lost relationship.
If you look at today’s scripture a little more closely, it implies that God finds joy in those who remain close to Him. God loves the faith of the righteous. Jesus is coming back in the end times. When that happens, what will He find? Will there be faith in the world? Will people have forgotten Jesus with the passing years? When Jesus comes for you as you breathe your last, will He see love in your eyes or a shipwrecked faith in your past? That’s up to you.
February 22
“For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”
(Philippians 1:10, NLT)
(Philippians 1:10, NLT)
There are two words in the verse above that describe the life of a faithful Christian. A person who loves Jesus Christ will be both “pure” and “blameless”. On the surface, these words may seem simple to you. However, their definition will teach you some important aspects of a faithful life that may not appear readily apparent at first reading. In fact, studying these two words opens up a great deal of insight into what it means to be a faithful Christian.
The Greek word used by Paul in the verse above for the word “pure” is εἰλικρινεῖς. Its original meaning is “sincere” or “without hidden motives”. On the surface, this definition may seem obvious. However, there is history behind this word. John MacArthur explained this well in his book Drawing Near. There, he wrote:
“The Greek words translated “sincere” in verse 10 speaks of genuineness and authenticity. It literally means “without wax” and is an allusion to the practice of inspecting pottery by holding it up to the sunlight. In ancient times pottery often cracked during the firing process. Rather than discarding cracked pieces, dishonest dealers often filled the cracks with wax and sold them to unsuspecting customers. Holding a pot up to the sunlight revealed any flaws and protected the customer from a bad purchase.
Following that analogy, Biblical integrity requires that you be without wax, having no hypocrisy or secret sins that show up when you’re under pressure or facing temptation.”
I find MacArthur’s exposition most revealing. To be a faithful Christian, you need to be genuine. There cannot be hidden flaws that you hide from others or from God. You are the real deal. Your love of God isn’t for show. Your worship of God is wholehearted and straightforward.
There are many people who put on “airs” when they live a Christian life. They act pious and religious while at church but are very different when out of the spiritual limelight. Jesus noticed these religious-acting individuals, seeing them as hypocrites (Matthew 6:16, 7:5). When you look past hypocrites’ religious actions, exposing them to the light of Christ, their double standards become obvious. That’s why the scripture for today asks you to be “pure” and “sincere” in your faith. Jesus doesn’t appreciate double standards nor a faith that is for show.
The second word in our verse today used to define a faithful Christian was “blameless”. This word in Greek means “not giving offense”. Liberal theologians like to point to this word meaning a faithful person is “inclusive” and “politically correct”. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS WORD MEANS! In truth, this word means “to not cause another to stumble or fall”. What this implies is that the faithful Christian does not push others into sin. Being faithful to Jesus means you do not encourage sinful living nor help another person to do something against God. This may actually mean the opposite of politically correct! When one is politically correct, one seeks primarily to not offend others. However, when done wrongly, while not offending others one can offend God! This word in the Bible means to help others to remain faithful to our Lord. Sometimes, do be faithful to Jesus, you must go against worldly ideals of political correctness.
Philippians 1:10 explains Paul’s theology concisely. As a follower of Jesus, your life must be “free from spiritual defects that might be purposefully hidden from others”. To be faithful to Jesus, a person must also never encourage others to sin. When taken to heart, these two actions help define the true character and intention of the person who loves Jesus.
Father Ragheed Ganni was born in 1972 in Iraq. After studying in Rome, Father Ganni requested to be sent back to Iraq to serve his country as a Catholic priest.
One night, after celebrating Mass where his three cousins served as deacons, the four men left the Church. A man approached the group and told Father Ganni to shut down the Church, to which he responded, “How can I close the house of God?”
All four men were told to convert to Islam or die, and they refused. They were shot, and their bodies placed in a car full of explosives so if anyone attempted to remove the bodies, they would be destroyed. Hours later, the police bomb squad disabled the bombs, and the men were buried.
The Official Vatican statement concerning Father Ganni’s death said, “Ragheed’s sacrifice will inspire in the hearts of all men and women of good will a renewed resolve to reject the ways of hatred and violence, to conquer evil with good and to cooperate in hastening the dawn of reconciliation, justice and peace in Iraq.”
Father Ganni’s life was not wasted. He died pure and blameless before the world. Muslim religious zealots took his life because he was a pure and blameless example for Jesus.
There are those who might want you to do impure things. They may even encourage you to sin against God. Some of these people may even claim to be Christian. There are many hypocrites in the world. Some are even found in the church. No hypocrite will ever be pure and blameless in God’s sight. They often hide their spiritual double-standards and worldly lusts. You need to be different. As a faithful Christian, your love of Jesus needs to be genuine. Never forget that true faith requires you to live a “pure and blameless life until the day of Christ’s return” (Philippians 1:10).
The Greek word used by Paul in the verse above for the word “pure” is εἰλικρινεῖς. Its original meaning is “sincere” or “without hidden motives”. On the surface, this definition may seem obvious. However, there is history behind this word. John MacArthur explained this well in his book Drawing Near. There, he wrote:
“The Greek words translated “sincere” in verse 10 speaks of genuineness and authenticity. It literally means “without wax” and is an allusion to the practice of inspecting pottery by holding it up to the sunlight. In ancient times pottery often cracked during the firing process. Rather than discarding cracked pieces, dishonest dealers often filled the cracks with wax and sold them to unsuspecting customers. Holding a pot up to the sunlight revealed any flaws and protected the customer from a bad purchase.
Following that analogy, Biblical integrity requires that you be without wax, having no hypocrisy or secret sins that show up when you’re under pressure or facing temptation.”
I find MacArthur’s exposition most revealing. To be a faithful Christian, you need to be genuine. There cannot be hidden flaws that you hide from others or from God. You are the real deal. Your love of God isn’t for show. Your worship of God is wholehearted and straightforward.
There are many people who put on “airs” when they live a Christian life. They act pious and religious while at church but are very different when out of the spiritual limelight. Jesus noticed these religious-acting individuals, seeing them as hypocrites (Matthew 6:16, 7:5). When you look past hypocrites’ religious actions, exposing them to the light of Christ, their double standards become obvious. That’s why the scripture for today asks you to be “pure” and “sincere” in your faith. Jesus doesn’t appreciate double standards nor a faith that is for show.
The second word in our verse today used to define a faithful Christian was “blameless”. This word in Greek means “not giving offense”. Liberal theologians like to point to this word meaning a faithful person is “inclusive” and “politically correct”. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS WORD MEANS! In truth, this word means “to not cause another to stumble or fall”. What this implies is that the faithful Christian does not push others into sin. Being faithful to Jesus means you do not encourage sinful living nor help another person to do something against God. This may actually mean the opposite of politically correct! When one is politically correct, one seeks primarily to not offend others. However, when done wrongly, while not offending others one can offend God! This word in the Bible means to help others to remain faithful to our Lord. Sometimes, do be faithful to Jesus, you must go against worldly ideals of political correctness.
Philippians 1:10 explains Paul’s theology concisely. As a follower of Jesus, your life must be “free from spiritual defects that might be purposefully hidden from others”. To be faithful to Jesus, a person must also never encourage others to sin. When taken to heart, these two actions help define the true character and intention of the person who loves Jesus.
Father Ragheed Ganni was born in 1972 in Iraq. After studying in Rome, Father Ganni requested to be sent back to Iraq to serve his country as a Catholic priest.
One night, after celebrating Mass where his three cousins served as deacons, the four men left the Church. A man approached the group and told Father Ganni to shut down the Church, to which he responded, “How can I close the house of God?”
All four men were told to convert to Islam or die, and they refused. They were shot, and their bodies placed in a car full of explosives so if anyone attempted to remove the bodies, they would be destroyed. Hours later, the police bomb squad disabled the bombs, and the men were buried.
The Official Vatican statement concerning Father Ganni’s death said, “Ragheed’s sacrifice will inspire in the hearts of all men and women of good will a renewed resolve to reject the ways of hatred and violence, to conquer evil with good and to cooperate in hastening the dawn of reconciliation, justice and peace in Iraq.”
Father Ganni’s life was not wasted. He died pure and blameless before the world. Muslim religious zealots took his life because he was a pure and blameless example for Jesus.
There are those who might want you to do impure things. They may even encourage you to sin against God. Some of these people may even claim to be Christian. There are many hypocrites in the world. Some are even found in the church. No hypocrite will ever be pure and blameless in God’s sight. They often hide their spiritual double-standards and worldly lusts. You need to be different. As a faithful Christian, your love of Jesus needs to be genuine. Never forget that true faith requires you to live a “pure and blameless life until the day of Christ’s return” (Philippians 1:10).
February 24
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18, ESV)
In this politically correct and corrupt world, there are people who daily suppress the truth for selfish profit or promotion, for political or ideological manipulation, or for corporate greed. They might twist facts. They may rewrite history. You can bet that someone who is willing to play fast and loose with the truth is no friend of Jesus Christ. Jesus preached that the truth “sets you free” (John 8:32). He taught that the devil consistently fights the truth and enjoys promoting lies (John 8:44). Is it no surprise that Jesus called Himself “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)?
In the scripture for today from Romans 1:18, Paul adds his voice to the importance of truth and its connection with God. In this verse, Paul explained that God’s wrath goes against “ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men”. And what do these ungodly and unrighteous people do? In their “unrighteousness”, they “suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18b). Do you see the correlation in this verse between those who “suppress the truth” and those who are ungodly and unrighteous? Yes, they are directly related. If you find a person or group or nation that consistently “suppresses the truth”, you can bet that there are ungodly and unrighteous dealings going on. You can also be assured that the ones perpetuating the lies will attack all forms of truth-telling, including the gospel. They will always be vicious toward true people of faith. Always. That is why these people who suppress the truth will always incur the “wrath of God” (Romans 1:18a).
In the past week, we’ve seen ample evidence that the Biden Administration along with government and corporate leaders are suppressing the truth about the train derailment, fire, and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio. Multiple scientists who traveled to the area reported the deaths of millions of fish, invertebrates, farm animals, and more. While standing near the river that was polluted by the chemical spill, one biologist was told a by a government DNR representative that “no fish died in recent days” after the man witnessed thousands of dead fish carcasses downriver from the crash site five minutes before. Evan Lambert, a reporter from News Nation was arrested for reporting on the chemical spill, though all charges were subsequently dropped later. Hmmmm, I wonder why? People visiting the area to do analyses are told to leave the area. Residents were told the water and land were safe by government officials WHILE FISH WERE FLOATING IN THE RIVER AND FARM ANIMALS WERE TIPPING OVER DEAD! When children and adults got sick within hours of the accident, they were told it wasn’t serious. Would you trust these people?
Attempts to keep the truth from you are all around. Tech companies colluded with the United States government and Big Pharma to suppress negative and deadly side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine including cardiomyopathy and heart inflammation and neurological and immunological side effects. The vaccine’s negative effects on the human immune system, especially on the body’s production of IG-4 is only beginning to be uncovered.
The Biden Administration shamelessly reported multiple times that the economy is booming, while personal debt skyrockets and job losses at Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft alone have added up to more than 75,000 people. In Canada, the Trudeau government used the Canadian Press daily to harass protestors, support euthanasia, and curtail the truth about government intrusion into personal finances and the connections between government officials and Chinese bribery. In 2021 and 2022, some of the records and reports about COVID-19 were “revised” by the CDC and Biden Administration. The official reports were changed after the fact to manipulate the truth and stop lawsuits. The use of thermobaric weapons in the Ukraine by Russia goes against the Geneva Convention and thus international accords and restrictions. This gets no news while statements by Meghan Markle and the Kardashians are spread far and wide. The list of wealthy and politically powerful people who visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island where human trafficking was occurring is consistently suppressed from the public, even though Ghislaine Maxwell serves jail time for this very practice.
In the 1940’s, the deadly dangers of DDT were covered up. During the 1960’s, it was Agent Orange causing cancer that was covered up. I wonder what will be covered up this year by governments and corporations and evil people?
Coverups by corporations and governments have happened ever since the beginning of time. Remember how King David covered up his affair of Bathsheba and his murderous plot against Uriah? How about King Ahab and Queen Jezebel’s attempts to silence the prophet Elijah? God’s wrath was turned upon all these politicians in the Bible when they suppressed the truth in their lust for power and control. God will do the same throughout time. It’s a fact expounded clearly in our scripture for today.
Now, before you begin to think that its just corporations and governments doing the suppressing of truth, think again. Individuals do it as well. All too often! When their son was arrested for drug use, a family had his arrest kept from the press and his record expunged. Though a father was abusing his son, neighbors feared the man and thus did not report him to authorities until after the boy ended up in the hospital with broken bones. A mother who drank constantly threatened her children “within an inch of their life” to never tell anyone about the times she passed out or fell down the stairs. There are many ways that individuals “suppress the truth”. All of them are abhorrent to God, who uses the truth to make things right in the world.
The scripture makes abundantly clear that God’s wrath, God’s overwhelming anger, will stand up against ALL who suppress the truth. Have you ever tried to keep the needed truth from being told? God stood against your efforts! Pastors don’t like to talk much or preach about God’s wrath. They would rather talk about God’s love or the blessings and joys of salvation. However, the relationship between the suppression of the truth and ungodliness and God’s wrath needs to be told. God is dead set against the lies people tell in order to suppress God’s truth.
In the end, I want to make one thing clear that has not been discussed so far in this meditation. Part of the “truth” that Satan and the world tries to suppress is that Jesus is Lord! The gospel is seen as dangerous by many (just ask Christians in China for personal examples!). Telling the truth can get you killed in our world! Remember Elijah’s conflict with Ahab and Jezebel in the Bible? Unrighteous, evil, and Satanic people will always find the truth to be dangerous and the gospel to be hazardous to their agendas.
Did you know that more Christians were martyred during the 20th century because of their faith than ALL PREVIOUS CENTURIES COMBINED? Did you know that more Christians are being persecuted than all other religious groups? Contrary to what you hear on the news, persecution against the gospel and the truth is alive and well and prospering in our world today.
Are you going to side with the truth or cower to the lies and coverups? Are you going to stand by the truth of Jesus Christ or go along with the crowd? God’s wrath is already upon those who suppress the truth. Don’t be one of those who must experience God’s wrath in order to face the fact that Jesus is Lord and evil is alive and well and active in the world today.
PS… I was told recently that if I keep writing things like this meditation on my web site, people are going to be coming for me. That’s the truth!
In the scripture for today from Romans 1:18, Paul adds his voice to the importance of truth and its connection with God. In this verse, Paul explained that God’s wrath goes against “ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men”. And what do these ungodly and unrighteous people do? In their “unrighteousness”, they “suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18b). Do you see the correlation in this verse between those who “suppress the truth” and those who are ungodly and unrighteous? Yes, they are directly related. If you find a person or group or nation that consistently “suppresses the truth”, you can bet that there are ungodly and unrighteous dealings going on. You can also be assured that the ones perpetuating the lies will attack all forms of truth-telling, including the gospel. They will always be vicious toward true people of faith. Always. That is why these people who suppress the truth will always incur the “wrath of God” (Romans 1:18a).
In the past week, we’ve seen ample evidence that the Biden Administration along with government and corporate leaders are suppressing the truth about the train derailment, fire, and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio. Multiple scientists who traveled to the area reported the deaths of millions of fish, invertebrates, farm animals, and more. While standing near the river that was polluted by the chemical spill, one biologist was told a by a government DNR representative that “no fish died in recent days” after the man witnessed thousands of dead fish carcasses downriver from the crash site five minutes before. Evan Lambert, a reporter from News Nation was arrested for reporting on the chemical spill, though all charges were subsequently dropped later. Hmmmm, I wonder why? People visiting the area to do analyses are told to leave the area. Residents were told the water and land were safe by government officials WHILE FISH WERE FLOATING IN THE RIVER AND FARM ANIMALS WERE TIPPING OVER DEAD! When children and adults got sick within hours of the accident, they were told it wasn’t serious. Would you trust these people?
Attempts to keep the truth from you are all around. Tech companies colluded with the United States government and Big Pharma to suppress negative and deadly side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine including cardiomyopathy and heart inflammation and neurological and immunological side effects. The vaccine’s negative effects on the human immune system, especially on the body’s production of IG-4 is only beginning to be uncovered.
The Biden Administration shamelessly reported multiple times that the economy is booming, while personal debt skyrockets and job losses at Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft alone have added up to more than 75,000 people. In Canada, the Trudeau government used the Canadian Press daily to harass protestors, support euthanasia, and curtail the truth about government intrusion into personal finances and the connections between government officials and Chinese bribery. In 2021 and 2022, some of the records and reports about COVID-19 were “revised” by the CDC and Biden Administration. The official reports were changed after the fact to manipulate the truth and stop lawsuits. The use of thermobaric weapons in the Ukraine by Russia goes against the Geneva Convention and thus international accords and restrictions. This gets no news while statements by Meghan Markle and the Kardashians are spread far and wide. The list of wealthy and politically powerful people who visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island where human trafficking was occurring is consistently suppressed from the public, even though Ghislaine Maxwell serves jail time for this very practice.
In the 1940’s, the deadly dangers of DDT were covered up. During the 1960’s, it was Agent Orange causing cancer that was covered up. I wonder what will be covered up this year by governments and corporations and evil people?
Coverups by corporations and governments have happened ever since the beginning of time. Remember how King David covered up his affair of Bathsheba and his murderous plot against Uriah? How about King Ahab and Queen Jezebel’s attempts to silence the prophet Elijah? God’s wrath was turned upon all these politicians in the Bible when they suppressed the truth in their lust for power and control. God will do the same throughout time. It’s a fact expounded clearly in our scripture for today.
Now, before you begin to think that its just corporations and governments doing the suppressing of truth, think again. Individuals do it as well. All too often! When their son was arrested for drug use, a family had his arrest kept from the press and his record expunged. Though a father was abusing his son, neighbors feared the man and thus did not report him to authorities until after the boy ended up in the hospital with broken bones. A mother who drank constantly threatened her children “within an inch of their life” to never tell anyone about the times she passed out or fell down the stairs. There are many ways that individuals “suppress the truth”. All of them are abhorrent to God, who uses the truth to make things right in the world.
The scripture makes abundantly clear that God’s wrath, God’s overwhelming anger, will stand up against ALL who suppress the truth. Have you ever tried to keep the needed truth from being told? God stood against your efforts! Pastors don’t like to talk much or preach about God’s wrath. They would rather talk about God’s love or the blessings and joys of salvation. However, the relationship between the suppression of the truth and ungodliness and God’s wrath needs to be told. God is dead set against the lies people tell in order to suppress God’s truth.
In the end, I want to make one thing clear that has not been discussed so far in this meditation. Part of the “truth” that Satan and the world tries to suppress is that Jesus is Lord! The gospel is seen as dangerous by many (just ask Christians in China for personal examples!). Telling the truth can get you killed in our world! Remember Elijah’s conflict with Ahab and Jezebel in the Bible? Unrighteous, evil, and Satanic people will always find the truth to be dangerous and the gospel to be hazardous to their agendas.
Did you know that more Christians were martyred during the 20th century because of their faith than ALL PREVIOUS CENTURIES COMBINED? Did you know that more Christians are being persecuted than all other religious groups? Contrary to what you hear on the news, persecution against the gospel and the truth is alive and well and prospering in our world today.
Are you going to side with the truth or cower to the lies and coverups? Are you going to stand by the truth of Jesus Christ or go along with the crowd? God’s wrath is already upon those who suppress the truth. Don’t be one of those who must experience God’s wrath in order to face the fact that Jesus is Lord and evil is alive and well and active in the world today.
PS… I was told recently that if I keep writing things like this meditation on my web site, people are going to be coming for me. That’s the truth!
February 26
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2, ESV)
Did you know that for many web sites, you can purchase “likes” or good reviews? Did you know that there are thousands of workers whose only purpose is to promote a company or product on social media twenty-four hours a day? Even the press secretary for the White House distorts the truth, twists facts, and manipulates circumstances to promote the president and his agenda. There are so many places today where PR workers (Public Relations) consider their job is to promote their employer at all costs, even when the employer is wrong or evil or has been found breaking laws or manipulating the truth. All these modern-day practices are based on the notion that self-promotion is paramount for success with any venture.
Self-promotion is an objective where a person or corporate entity or group uses social media or public sources of information to manipulate the “word on the street” in their favor. When you have a new product on the market or are starting a new business, promoting that endeavor may make the difference between making a living and going bankrupt. Self-promotion is different. It seeks to control how others view the truth. Instead of letting people review your product and comment on it freely, self-promotion types might pay for a good review or silence any negative results on the product. Self-promotion seeks to make yourself or your product more virtuous, perfect, beautiful, successful, or note-worthy. In truth, self-promotion is simply a human endeavor intended to hide the truth about reality in order to accentuate and over-exaggerate all the perceived positives. It skews reality.
There are even computer programs that are specifically made for self-promotion. Photoshop is picture altering software that was designed to help people alter a digital photo to make the subject look better, more enticing, or more perfect. Businesses use Photoshop all the time to remove blemishes from models or make a baked good look more delicious. It is used to cover up mistakes and hide flaws.
After reviewing pictures from a dating app, a man contacted a woman to meet with her. She responded positively. They were to meet at Starbucks for coffee. When the man arrived, he sat at a table and waited for the woman to arrive. After a half an hour, he decided that he was stood up and left. When he contacted the woman via the dating app and complained, she responded that he had been the one to miss the date. At that point, both assumed they had met at the wrong Starbucks. In fact, they had both altered their photographs so much using Photoshop that neither one recognized their date even though they were seated twenty feet away from each other!
There are so many examples of people using self-promotion to alter reality. Beauty magazines retouch almost every picture, removing fatty bulges and skin blemishes from actresses and adding chiseled features to actors. Corporations pay reporters to alter their stories, so their business appear more profitable and help raise stock prices. YouTube algorithms often block certain negative movies and reactions from being seen, even hiding the “thumbs down” numbers from users. Disney works with reviewing sites to alter their movie ratings. Surgeons do liposuction surgery and face-lifts to make people appear younger or healthier. Self-promotion goes on everywhere it seems. From personal pages on Facebook to resumes at work, self-promotion is all the rage.
However, there are times when self-promotion not only alters reality, but it can also come back to bite you.
“A recent news release told of a Charlotte, North Carolina, woman who set a world record while playing a convenience store video game. After standing in front of the game for fourteen hours and scoring an unprecedented seven and a half million points on the game called “Tapper,” the woman was pleased to see a TV crew arriving to record her efforts for posterity. She continued to play while the crew, alerted by her fiancé, prepared to shoot. However, she was appalled to see the video screen suddenly go blank. While setting up their lights, the camera team had accidentally unplugged the game, thus bringing her bid for ten million points to an untimely end! The effort to publicize her achievement became the agent of her ultimate failure.” (10,000 Sermon Illustrations; 2002)
In the same way that the self-promotion backfired for the video game player from Charlotte, self-promotion can backfire on you. Let’s be honest, self-promotion is often just an attempt to deceive others. It is a form of manipulation that attempts to skew impressions or quell negative opinions. However, there are times when negativity can be a good impetus for change. Stopping that needed negativity can block creativity. Also, people who use self-promotion can delude themselves into believing the hype, overexaggerating their own worth, filling them with prideful arrogance.
The biblical book of Proverbs is full of many teachings about the dangers of pride and arrogance and the blessings of faithful humility. A perfect example is given in Proverbs 11:2, which states that “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 16:18 clearly adds that “Pride goes before destruction”. Proverbs 16:5 shows God’s point of view as it relates to human pride when it clarifies: “The LORD detests all the proud of heart.” Humility is seen in Proverbs as both a virtue and a sign of holiness.
The scripture for today considers self-promotion in the same vein as pridefulness. It gives this wisdom to the person who loves God: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:2). This verse is the Bible’s way of saying that the types of self-promotion designed for self-praise is not holy. If another praises your work or value or beauty or faith, that is wonderful if accepted with humility. Self-promotion is often just a prideful endeavor that leads to alienation from God if it is used for selfish purposes.
What would the world be like if businesses were honest about the worth and value of their products? How might the dating scene be helped if people told the truth about who they are and how they look? How much better would our world be if people spoke the truth in love, rather than hiding behind photoshopped photos, keyboard likes, and self-aggrandizement?
In the 1970’s, Karen Carpenter was known all over the world for her beautiful voice and amazing songs. She had many adoring fans and positive reviews. At one interview by a reporter, Karen Carpenter was asked about her weight. She responded how she didn’t like how she looked in pictures in magazines. A close friend of Karen’s thought she looked chubby in some of the pictures. A couple of others close to Karen agreed. These comments pushed Karen Carpenter over the edge. She began to secretly throw up after eating to lose weight. Even when she weighed only 115 lbs., she saw herself as grossly overweight. Soon, she would not allow even one ounce of fat to remain on her body. She slipped into a disease caused Anorexia Nervosa. This made her malnourished, which destroyed her health. She died in 1983 at only 32 years old, weighing less than 80 lbs. And, she still considered herself fat.
Self-promotion can lead to so many negative self-images, it is a surprise that most people don’t become sick like Karen Carpenter. When self-promotion is even successful, it can lead to much suffering in the public eye or the self-delusion of one’s worth. It lies to the world and to the person. It redefines reality and success in damaging ways. It downplays the need for God while inflating human opinion.
Be careful of all forms of pride and arrogance and self-promotion. They are deadly to the spiritual life. They destroy relationships, even a healthy relationship with God.
Self-promotion is an objective where a person or corporate entity or group uses social media or public sources of information to manipulate the “word on the street” in their favor. When you have a new product on the market or are starting a new business, promoting that endeavor may make the difference between making a living and going bankrupt. Self-promotion is different. It seeks to control how others view the truth. Instead of letting people review your product and comment on it freely, self-promotion types might pay for a good review or silence any negative results on the product. Self-promotion seeks to make yourself or your product more virtuous, perfect, beautiful, successful, or note-worthy. In truth, self-promotion is simply a human endeavor intended to hide the truth about reality in order to accentuate and over-exaggerate all the perceived positives. It skews reality.
There are even computer programs that are specifically made for self-promotion. Photoshop is picture altering software that was designed to help people alter a digital photo to make the subject look better, more enticing, or more perfect. Businesses use Photoshop all the time to remove blemishes from models or make a baked good look more delicious. It is used to cover up mistakes and hide flaws.
After reviewing pictures from a dating app, a man contacted a woman to meet with her. She responded positively. They were to meet at Starbucks for coffee. When the man arrived, he sat at a table and waited for the woman to arrive. After a half an hour, he decided that he was stood up and left. When he contacted the woman via the dating app and complained, she responded that he had been the one to miss the date. At that point, both assumed they had met at the wrong Starbucks. In fact, they had both altered their photographs so much using Photoshop that neither one recognized their date even though they were seated twenty feet away from each other!
There are so many examples of people using self-promotion to alter reality. Beauty magazines retouch almost every picture, removing fatty bulges and skin blemishes from actresses and adding chiseled features to actors. Corporations pay reporters to alter their stories, so their business appear more profitable and help raise stock prices. YouTube algorithms often block certain negative movies and reactions from being seen, even hiding the “thumbs down” numbers from users. Disney works with reviewing sites to alter their movie ratings. Surgeons do liposuction surgery and face-lifts to make people appear younger or healthier. Self-promotion goes on everywhere it seems. From personal pages on Facebook to resumes at work, self-promotion is all the rage.
However, there are times when self-promotion not only alters reality, but it can also come back to bite you.
“A recent news release told of a Charlotte, North Carolina, woman who set a world record while playing a convenience store video game. After standing in front of the game for fourteen hours and scoring an unprecedented seven and a half million points on the game called “Tapper,” the woman was pleased to see a TV crew arriving to record her efforts for posterity. She continued to play while the crew, alerted by her fiancé, prepared to shoot. However, she was appalled to see the video screen suddenly go blank. While setting up their lights, the camera team had accidentally unplugged the game, thus bringing her bid for ten million points to an untimely end! The effort to publicize her achievement became the agent of her ultimate failure.” (10,000 Sermon Illustrations; 2002)
In the same way that the self-promotion backfired for the video game player from Charlotte, self-promotion can backfire on you. Let’s be honest, self-promotion is often just an attempt to deceive others. It is a form of manipulation that attempts to skew impressions or quell negative opinions. However, there are times when negativity can be a good impetus for change. Stopping that needed negativity can block creativity. Also, people who use self-promotion can delude themselves into believing the hype, overexaggerating their own worth, filling them with prideful arrogance.
The biblical book of Proverbs is full of many teachings about the dangers of pride and arrogance and the blessings of faithful humility. A perfect example is given in Proverbs 11:2, which states that “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 16:18 clearly adds that “Pride goes before destruction”. Proverbs 16:5 shows God’s point of view as it relates to human pride when it clarifies: “The LORD detests all the proud of heart.” Humility is seen in Proverbs as both a virtue and a sign of holiness.
The scripture for today considers self-promotion in the same vein as pridefulness. It gives this wisdom to the person who loves God: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:2). This verse is the Bible’s way of saying that the types of self-promotion designed for self-praise is not holy. If another praises your work or value or beauty or faith, that is wonderful if accepted with humility. Self-promotion is often just a prideful endeavor that leads to alienation from God if it is used for selfish purposes.
What would the world be like if businesses were honest about the worth and value of their products? How might the dating scene be helped if people told the truth about who they are and how they look? How much better would our world be if people spoke the truth in love, rather than hiding behind photoshopped photos, keyboard likes, and self-aggrandizement?
In the 1970’s, Karen Carpenter was known all over the world for her beautiful voice and amazing songs. She had many adoring fans and positive reviews. At one interview by a reporter, Karen Carpenter was asked about her weight. She responded how she didn’t like how she looked in pictures in magazines. A close friend of Karen’s thought she looked chubby in some of the pictures. A couple of others close to Karen agreed. These comments pushed Karen Carpenter over the edge. She began to secretly throw up after eating to lose weight. Even when she weighed only 115 lbs., she saw herself as grossly overweight. Soon, she would not allow even one ounce of fat to remain on her body. She slipped into a disease caused Anorexia Nervosa. This made her malnourished, which destroyed her health. She died in 1983 at only 32 years old, weighing less than 80 lbs. And, she still considered herself fat.
Self-promotion can lead to so many negative self-images, it is a surprise that most people don’t become sick like Karen Carpenter. When self-promotion is even successful, it can lead to much suffering in the public eye or the self-delusion of one’s worth. It lies to the world and to the person. It redefines reality and success in damaging ways. It downplays the need for God while inflating human opinion.
Be careful of all forms of pride and arrogance and self-promotion. They are deadly to the spiritual life. They destroy relationships, even a healthy relationship with God.