January 1
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42, NIV84)
"An Arab chief tells the story of a spy captured and sentenced to death by a general in the Persian army. This general had the strange custom of giving condemned criminals a choice between the firing squad and “the big, black door.” The moment for execution drew near, and guards brought the spy to the Persian general, “What will it be,” asked the general, “the firing squad or ‘the big, black door?’”
The spy hesitated for a long time. Finally he chose the firing squad. A few minutes later, hearing the shots ring out confirming the spy’s execution, the general turned to his aide and said, "They always prefer the known to the unknown. People fear what they don’t know. Yet, we gave him a choice.”
“What lies beyond the big door?” asked the aide.
“Freedom,” replied the general. “I’ve known only a few brave enough to take that door.”
The best opportunities in our lives stand behind the forbidding door of the great unknown." (Don McCullough, Solana Beach, California, quoted in Leadership, Winter Quarter, 1992, p. 5)
Life is full of uncertainties. None of us knew a year ago that there would be large-scale lockdowns of this country due to Covid-19. Many families had not prepared for the financial damage that lockdowns would produce. Hospitals and Nursing Homes had not filled stockpiles of needed masks. Even the Center for Disease Control vacillated on its mandates at times, as if it didn’t know which methods to combat the virus were the best choice. In a response to the pandemic, many people experienced paranoia, worry, fear, and a range of emotions. Some apologized later for falling apart while quarantined. People respond differently to the unknown. Some respond with fear or hesitancy. Some face it head-on. Some take a “wait and see” attitude. How do you respond to the unknown, to uncertainty?
A newspaper publisher sent an urgent telegram to a noted astronomer. The newspaper was doing an important series of articles on the possible future exploration of the planet Mars. To compliment the articles, the publisher wanted the astronomer to add his knowledge to the information. The publisher asked the astronomer in the telegram whether there was life on Mars. The publisher demanded 500 words on the topic. The astronomer replied with “Nobody knows.” He wrote the sentence 250 times! (Carl Sagan, Cosmos).
There are many things in this world that can only be explained with “Nobody knows!”. There are so many uncertainties. We still don’t know what lies in the deepest recesses of the Pacific Ocean! We can only guess at how certain genes affect each other in the human body. In Quantum Physics, there are even contradictions in the science that binds the universe together. The most learned scholars can only guess at what might be happening at subatomic levels!
In your time on this earth, you will have to make decisions without all the facts. You will have to choose a direction even when you don’t know the outcome of your decisions. You will have to choose between one job and another without knowing all the intricacies of the situation. You may have to choose whom to marry without knowing whether that person will be forever faithful! Even in your spiritual life, there will be times of uncertainty. You may not understand a feeling you have when you pray. You may not know why a spiritual situation has changed. You may not understand God’s plan and purpose in a child’s death. You may not know which direction God wants you to go.
When faced with doubts and uncertainties, today’s scripture should help. The words of Matthew 24:42 captured a statement of Jesus about the end times. Jesus said, “…keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” You will not know when or why God will choose a perfect moment to come into your life. You don’t know how Jesus will return in the End Times. You can’t say whether Jesus will come powerfully to you in a prayer tonight. You don’t know if the Holy Spirit will fill you with peace this Sunday during worship. So, how do you proceed without knowing all the answers? Jesus gives you direction with the first phrase of the verse for today, “keep watch”! When you don’t have answers, just watch for God’s direction. Feel for God’s guiding hand. Spend time in the company of the Holy Spirit in prayer. Watch for any sign God may give about the way in which you need to go. You may not know all the steps you need to take to eternal life, but God will often point you one step at a time toward the direction of Heaven!
So, when life gets crazy and you don’t have enough answers, keep watch for God! Look for God’s leaning. Seek God’s voice. Follow the Holy Spirit. Let the Bible inform your days. Trust that at the right time, God will show you exactly what you need to know.
The spy hesitated for a long time. Finally he chose the firing squad. A few minutes later, hearing the shots ring out confirming the spy’s execution, the general turned to his aide and said, "They always prefer the known to the unknown. People fear what they don’t know. Yet, we gave him a choice.”
“What lies beyond the big door?” asked the aide.
“Freedom,” replied the general. “I’ve known only a few brave enough to take that door.”
The best opportunities in our lives stand behind the forbidding door of the great unknown." (Don McCullough, Solana Beach, California, quoted in Leadership, Winter Quarter, 1992, p. 5)
Life is full of uncertainties. None of us knew a year ago that there would be large-scale lockdowns of this country due to Covid-19. Many families had not prepared for the financial damage that lockdowns would produce. Hospitals and Nursing Homes had not filled stockpiles of needed masks. Even the Center for Disease Control vacillated on its mandates at times, as if it didn’t know which methods to combat the virus were the best choice. In a response to the pandemic, many people experienced paranoia, worry, fear, and a range of emotions. Some apologized later for falling apart while quarantined. People respond differently to the unknown. Some respond with fear or hesitancy. Some face it head-on. Some take a “wait and see” attitude. How do you respond to the unknown, to uncertainty?
A newspaper publisher sent an urgent telegram to a noted astronomer. The newspaper was doing an important series of articles on the possible future exploration of the planet Mars. To compliment the articles, the publisher wanted the astronomer to add his knowledge to the information. The publisher asked the astronomer in the telegram whether there was life on Mars. The publisher demanded 500 words on the topic. The astronomer replied with “Nobody knows.” He wrote the sentence 250 times! (Carl Sagan, Cosmos).
There are many things in this world that can only be explained with “Nobody knows!”. There are so many uncertainties. We still don’t know what lies in the deepest recesses of the Pacific Ocean! We can only guess at how certain genes affect each other in the human body. In Quantum Physics, there are even contradictions in the science that binds the universe together. The most learned scholars can only guess at what might be happening at subatomic levels!
In your time on this earth, you will have to make decisions without all the facts. You will have to choose a direction even when you don’t know the outcome of your decisions. You will have to choose between one job and another without knowing all the intricacies of the situation. You may have to choose whom to marry without knowing whether that person will be forever faithful! Even in your spiritual life, there will be times of uncertainty. You may not understand a feeling you have when you pray. You may not know why a spiritual situation has changed. You may not understand God’s plan and purpose in a child’s death. You may not know which direction God wants you to go.
When faced with doubts and uncertainties, today’s scripture should help. The words of Matthew 24:42 captured a statement of Jesus about the end times. Jesus said, “…keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” You will not know when or why God will choose a perfect moment to come into your life. You don’t know how Jesus will return in the End Times. You can’t say whether Jesus will come powerfully to you in a prayer tonight. You don’t know if the Holy Spirit will fill you with peace this Sunday during worship. So, how do you proceed without knowing all the answers? Jesus gives you direction with the first phrase of the verse for today, “keep watch”! When you don’t have answers, just watch for God’s direction. Feel for God’s guiding hand. Spend time in the company of the Holy Spirit in prayer. Watch for any sign God may give about the way in which you need to go. You may not know all the steps you need to take to eternal life, but God will often point you one step at a time toward the direction of Heaven!
So, when life gets crazy and you don’t have enough answers, keep watch for God! Look for God’s leaning. Seek God’s voice. Follow the Holy Spirit. Let the Bible inform your days. Trust that at the right time, God will show you exactly what you need to know.
January 3
“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27–28, NRSV)
“Thinking of the fullness and duration of this wonderful life, W. B. Hinson, a great preacher of a past generation, spoke from his own experience just before he died. He said, "I remember a year ago when a doctor told me, 'You have an illness from which you won't recover.' I walked out to where I live 5 miles from Portland, Oregon, and I looked across at that mountain that I love. I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God's own poetry to my soul. Then in the evening I looked up into the great sky where God was lighting His lamps, and I said, ' I may not see you many more times, but Mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and River, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea; and Stars, I shall be alive when you have fallen from your sockets in the great down pulling of the material universe!'” (W. B. Hinson.)
When you have a rock-solid relationship with God, no small ups and downs nor traumatic events will shake that faith. Challenges and problems, trials and tribulations will only strengthen your connection with the Almighty. The faithful have always been confident in eternal life with God. When the apostle Stephen died, he saw God watching him from Heaven in that very moment (Acts 7). Tradition tells us that Peter and Paul willingly followed Jesus though they were martyred. Even Jesus was confident on the cross that God the Father would “receive his Spirit” at the very moment of His death (Luke 23:46). Over and over, people of the Bible were absolutely certain that at the point of death, God would receive them into His Kingdom.
Some people go through life with great doubts about eternal life. They question it. They wonder if the stories are real. Modern atheistic scholars say that at death, there is only a bright light of all the neurons firing in your brain followed by nothing as your heart stops beating and brain is deprived of oxygen. However, I have read many accounts of those who died and came back to tell of dead family who came to visit, of trips to Heaven or the Pearly Gates, even to hell. For anyone who is not an atheist, death is not the end of life. For the faithful, it has always been believed that God is waiting with open arms to receive the obedient servant. For the faithful, there is no need to doubt. From stories in the Bible to stories in history, there is life after death. There is an eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
In the scripture for today, Jesus taught about eternal life to those gathered at the Temple in Jerusalem. To those “sheep” who followed Jesus, there was hope after death. Because Jesus “knew them”, the faithful would be granted eternal life (John 10:27). They would “not perish”. Jesus even went one step further, mentioning that “no one could snatch the faithful dead out of his hand” (John 10:28). If we take Jesus at His word, these verses make clear that if you follow Jesus with a true heart, and listen to Jesus’ voice, Jesus will “know” you. He will know your name. He will know when you die. You will be watched over not only in life but also in death.
Death and dying can be a frightening time for the doubters, the atheists, the lost. They do not know what comes after that last heartbeat. We know what comes after. Jesus taught about it. His resurrection even proved that God has power over death to bring life. Those without faith, those whom Jesus does not know personally, do not have such a clarity about eternal life. According to scripture, they may even end up in hell, Gehenna, or Abaddon. Nobody in their right mind would want to live in such places. However, I’ve never met a person who wouldn’t want to live in Paradise or Heaven after death. So, why is it that people refuse to garner a relationship with Jesus so that should death intrude, they have a hope of eternal life? Sadly, too many have listened to the worldly voices, the naysayers, the doubters, the worldly scholars, the socialists and communists, the soulless. Too many are lost souls on this earth who have no eternal home. But you do, don’t you?
If you have a relationship with Jesus, you are in secure hands. As Jesus makes clear, those who follow Jesus and heed His voice have hope. Because they know Jesus intimately, they will not be lost after death. Nobody can snatch them away from our faithful Lord.
One day, while doing a home visit, I noticed that the family dog sat facing the back door and would not move unless called. As I talked with Mary, I asked her why her dog wasn’t sitting by us. She responded that her husband had left for work out that door. That dog was going to wait patiently at that door all day until her husband came back home. The dog might get a drink, might eat a bit, might investigate a noise, but he was always going to come back to that door until her husband returned.
Faithful people are like Mary's dog. They know Jesus is returning for them. They may have to get things done, but they always are looking for the return of the Master. Death is like that door in Mary’s home. The dog was kept from going with the husband by that door. Death keeps us from going to be with Jesus. Someday, however, the Master of all Heaven and Earth will return. Then, we will walk through that door to eternal life, all under the watchful eyes of the Lord. It was obvious to all Mary’s family that their dog was faithful to the husband and the family. They always knew he would be faithful. At any time, the husband knew that his loyal dog would be waiting at that door upon his return. In the same way, God knows the faithful intimately. He knows you are waiting for His return. He’ll be along shortly to take you through that door.
Don’t let death stop you from complete faith that God watches over you. Don’t let death take away your confidence that Jesus knows your name. You concentrate on following Jesus faithfully. You make sure to listen to Jesus’ voice. God will take care of the rest. Someday, Jesus will come back for you personally. Why? He knows your name, of course!
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. (says the Lord!)” (Isaiah 49:15, ESV)
When you have a rock-solid relationship with God, no small ups and downs nor traumatic events will shake that faith. Challenges and problems, trials and tribulations will only strengthen your connection with the Almighty. The faithful have always been confident in eternal life with God. When the apostle Stephen died, he saw God watching him from Heaven in that very moment (Acts 7). Tradition tells us that Peter and Paul willingly followed Jesus though they were martyred. Even Jesus was confident on the cross that God the Father would “receive his Spirit” at the very moment of His death (Luke 23:46). Over and over, people of the Bible were absolutely certain that at the point of death, God would receive them into His Kingdom.
Some people go through life with great doubts about eternal life. They question it. They wonder if the stories are real. Modern atheistic scholars say that at death, there is only a bright light of all the neurons firing in your brain followed by nothing as your heart stops beating and brain is deprived of oxygen. However, I have read many accounts of those who died and came back to tell of dead family who came to visit, of trips to Heaven or the Pearly Gates, even to hell. For anyone who is not an atheist, death is not the end of life. For the faithful, it has always been believed that God is waiting with open arms to receive the obedient servant. For the faithful, there is no need to doubt. From stories in the Bible to stories in history, there is life after death. There is an eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
In the scripture for today, Jesus taught about eternal life to those gathered at the Temple in Jerusalem. To those “sheep” who followed Jesus, there was hope after death. Because Jesus “knew them”, the faithful would be granted eternal life (John 10:27). They would “not perish”. Jesus even went one step further, mentioning that “no one could snatch the faithful dead out of his hand” (John 10:28). If we take Jesus at His word, these verses make clear that if you follow Jesus with a true heart, and listen to Jesus’ voice, Jesus will “know” you. He will know your name. He will know when you die. You will be watched over not only in life but also in death.
Death and dying can be a frightening time for the doubters, the atheists, the lost. They do not know what comes after that last heartbeat. We know what comes after. Jesus taught about it. His resurrection even proved that God has power over death to bring life. Those without faith, those whom Jesus does not know personally, do not have such a clarity about eternal life. According to scripture, they may even end up in hell, Gehenna, or Abaddon. Nobody in their right mind would want to live in such places. However, I’ve never met a person who wouldn’t want to live in Paradise or Heaven after death. So, why is it that people refuse to garner a relationship with Jesus so that should death intrude, they have a hope of eternal life? Sadly, too many have listened to the worldly voices, the naysayers, the doubters, the worldly scholars, the socialists and communists, the soulless. Too many are lost souls on this earth who have no eternal home. But you do, don’t you?
If you have a relationship with Jesus, you are in secure hands. As Jesus makes clear, those who follow Jesus and heed His voice have hope. Because they know Jesus intimately, they will not be lost after death. Nobody can snatch them away from our faithful Lord.
One day, while doing a home visit, I noticed that the family dog sat facing the back door and would not move unless called. As I talked with Mary, I asked her why her dog wasn’t sitting by us. She responded that her husband had left for work out that door. That dog was going to wait patiently at that door all day until her husband came back home. The dog might get a drink, might eat a bit, might investigate a noise, but he was always going to come back to that door until her husband returned.
Faithful people are like Mary's dog. They know Jesus is returning for them. They may have to get things done, but they always are looking for the return of the Master. Death is like that door in Mary’s home. The dog was kept from going with the husband by that door. Death keeps us from going to be with Jesus. Someday, however, the Master of all Heaven and Earth will return. Then, we will walk through that door to eternal life, all under the watchful eyes of the Lord. It was obvious to all Mary’s family that their dog was faithful to the husband and the family. They always knew he would be faithful. At any time, the husband knew that his loyal dog would be waiting at that door upon his return. In the same way, God knows the faithful intimately. He knows you are waiting for His return. He’ll be along shortly to take you through that door.
Don’t let death stop you from complete faith that God watches over you. Don’t let death take away your confidence that Jesus knows your name. You concentrate on following Jesus faithfully. You make sure to listen to Jesus’ voice. God will take care of the rest. Someday, Jesus will come back for you personally. Why? He knows your name, of course!
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. (says the Lord!)” (Isaiah 49:15, ESV)
January 5
“…but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, ESV)
After falling on my new ice skates when a young boy, my best friend said, “Try again. Get up and watch your balance.” I got up, skated halfway around the rink and fell… hard. As I lay on my back feeling the pain of hitting hard ice, I watched my friend skate over to me. He said, “You can do this. You can learn this. Get up, and let’s go!” Not long after, I skated a full circle on the rink. Then, I skated two. Within a few days of trying, I had it down. I could skate without falling too much. I was amazed at those who could skate backward, who could jump, who could race, but at least I could skate. It was an amazing feeling on skates. You moved so quickly over the ice. It was exhilarating! I never would have felt the joy of skating if my friend had not been there to encourage me, to goad me, to push me to get up after falling.
Falling while skating hurts. It can give you bruises and sore joints. Spiritually falling to sin may not cause bruising, but it will hurt. Sinning always comes back to bite you. It always brings some kind of pain. Some sins lull you into believing that they carry no consequences. It’s not true. There are always consequences when you go against the will of God.
Among the young girls in the youth group was a girl named Marsha. She was quiet and shy. She was withdrawn. Not being particularly good looking, you could see she felt uncomfortable around the pretty girls and handsome boys. She tended to put herself around the fringes of the group. During one youth group meeting, Marcia was called upon to read a scripture to the group. Being a good reader, Marcia read the scripture with real passion. The group was so impressed, she was asked to read a scripture during a special youth service two weeks before Christmas. At first, Marcia declined. Then, the group goaded her into doing it using flattery and peer pressure. Several of the other youth absolutely did not want to do the reading!
During the youth service, different members of the group each had parts. Some were ushers. Some led the music portion. One lead the congregation in a prayer. Then, it was Marcia’s turn. She got up to the lectern to read her scripture. After looking out at all the people gathered, she immediately broke into a sweat. She messed up the reading, missing an entire sentence and stuttering through several words. After the service ended, Marcia left the church with an embarrassed blush on her cheeks. Feeling so self-conscious at her mistakes, she did not return to her church for ten years!
Everyone fails. Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody but Jesus is perfect. Still, some people have this feeling that they can’t participate in worship unless they are right with God. Others won’t become a Sunday School teacher because they are afraid to not have an answer when a child asks a question. I’ve met people who thought only the most devout should be church leaders. I have known those who wouldn’t even come to church because they felt they had failed God one too many times. A church building isn’t a place for perfect people! It is not a place to show off your spiritual prowess or perfection. Worship is a place for people to connect with God, not a stage to show off one’s piety. The church is a place where people go to renew their commitment to God, reorganize their priorities, and continually re-connect with God. It’s a place to repent, start over, and make things right.
“Thomas Edison's manufacturing facilities in West Orange, N.J., were heavily damaged by fire one night in December 1914. Edison lost almost $1 million worth of equipment and the record of much of his work. The next morning, walking about the charred embers of his hopes and dreams, the 67-year-old inventor said: "There is value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew."” (
Alan Loy McGinnis, The Power of Optimism.)
Every now and then, you will have to start anew, start over, pick yourself up from a spiritual fall, dust off the old ways, or make things right. Faithful people can help you do that. The friend who constantly encouraged me to get up and skate again helped me to learn a wonderful ability. The spiritual friend who keeps you accountable can bring you to a better relationship with God. The person who gives you encouragement can help you reclaim self-respect or confidence. It is important when you start anew to surround yourself with encouragers. It is also crucial that when you need to recover from a spiritual fall that you get back up, dust yourself off, and make right with God. Someday, you will look back with joy at your abilities learned through spiritual determination.
When Isaiah wrote chapter 40 of his book, Israel and Judah had just been through very dark times. War had befallen the people of God. Their sin caused the downfall. Beginning with chapter 40, Isaiah relayed that God wanted a new start with the people of Israel. They needed to “wait upon the Lord”. They needed to “renew their strength” in the Lord. If they followed Isaiah’s encouragement, God would help them to “run and not be weary”, “walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Failures, sins, and past mistakes had cost Israel dearly. God wanted them to start over. God was willing to renew their spiritual strength and rebuild their lives if only they came back to true faith.
When you falter and fail, when life knocks you down, when you go through suffering or loss, God will always want you to get back up and make things right. Don’t let a wrong attitude keep you down. Don’t let depression suck the joy out of your day. Don’t let sin keep you from following God’s way. Get yourself back on the right path. Learn from your mistakes. Listen anew for God’s voice. There will be a rainbow at the end of the storm (Genesis 9:13). God keeps His promises! God will be encouraging you… if you but listen for His voice, get back up, and learn from your mistakes.
Does God mean enough to you to dust yourself off and get back out there each time you fail?
Falling while skating hurts. It can give you bruises and sore joints. Spiritually falling to sin may not cause bruising, but it will hurt. Sinning always comes back to bite you. It always brings some kind of pain. Some sins lull you into believing that they carry no consequences. It’s not true. There are always consequences when you go against the will of God.
Among the young girls in the youth group was a girl named Marsha. She was quiet and shy. She was withdrawn. Not being particularly good looking, you could see she felt uncomfortable around the pretty girls and handsome boys. She tended to put herself around the fringes of the group. During one youth group meeting, Marcia was called upon to read a scripture to the group. Being a good reader, Marcia read the scripture with real passion. The group was so impressed, she was asked to read a scripture during a special youth service two weeks before Christmas. At first, Marcia declined. Then, the group goaded her into doing it using flattery and peer pressure. Several of the other youth absolutely did not want to do the reading!
During the youth service, different members of the group each had parts. Some were ushers. Some led the music portion. One lead the congregation in a prayer. Then, it was Marcia’s turn. She got up to the lectern to read her scripture. After looking out at all the people gathered, she immediately broke into a sweat. She messed up the reading, missing an entire sentence and stuttering through several words. After the service ended, Marcia left the church with an embarrassed blush on her cheeks. Feeling so self-conscious at her mistakes, she did not return to her church for ten years!
Everyone fails. Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody but Jesus is perfect. Still, some people have this feeling that they can’t participate in worship unless they are right with God. Others won’t become a Sunday School teacher because they are afraid to not have an answer when a child asks a question. I’ve met people who thought only the most devout should be church leaders. I have known those who wouldn’t even come to church because they felt they had failed God one too many times. A church building isn’t a place for perfect people! It is not a place to show off your spiritual prowess or perfection. Worship is a place for people to connect with God, not a stage to show off one’s piety. The church is a place where people go to renew their commitment to God, reorganize their priorities, and continually re-connect with God. It’s a place to repent, start over, and make things right.
“Thomas Edison's manufacturing facilities in West Orange, N.J., were heavily damaged by fire one night in December 1914. Edison lost almost $1 million worth of equipment and the record of much of his work. The next morning, walking about the charred embers of his hopes and dreams, the 67-year-old inventor said: "There is value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew."” (
Alan Loy McGinnis, The Power of Optimism.)
Every now and then, you will have to start anew, start over, pick yourself up from a spiritual fall, dust off the old ways, or make things right. Faithful people can help you do that. The friend who constantly encouraged me to get up and skate again helped me to learn a wonderful ability. The spiritual friend who keeps you accountable can bring you to a better relationship with God. The person who gives you encouragement can help you reclaim self-respect or confidence. It is important when you start anew to surround yourself with encouragers. It is also crucial that when you need to recover from a spiritual fall that you get back up, dust yourself off, and make right with God. Someday, you will look back with joy at your abilities learned through spiritual determination.
When Isaiah wrote chapter 40 of his book, Israel and Judah had just been through very dark times. War had befallen the people of God. Their sin caused the downfall. Beginning with chapter 40, Isaiah relayed that God wanted a new start with the people of Israel. They needed to “wait upon the Lord”. They needed to “renew their strength” in the Lord. If they followed Isaiah’s encouragement, God would help them to “run and not be weary”, “walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Failures, sins, and past mistakes had cost Israel dearly. God wanted them to start over. God was willing to renew their spiritual strength and rebuild their lives if only they came back to true faith.
When you falter and fail, when life knocks you down, when you go through suffering or loss, God will always want you to get back up and make things right. Don’t let a wrong attitude keep you down. Don’t let depression suck the joy out of your day. Don’t let sin keep you from following God’s way. Get yourself back on the right path. Learn from your mistakes. Listen anew for God’s voice. There will be a rainbow at the end of the storm (Genesis 9:13). God keeps His promises! God will be encouraging you… if you but listen for His voice, get back up, and learn from your mistakes.
Does God mean enough to you to dust yourself off and get back out there each time you fail?
January 9
“Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”” (Exodus 3:1–4, NRSV)
In the scripture for today, it is explained that Moses spent a good while “keeping the flock” for Jethro (Exodus 3:1). Because this verse comes in-between some amazing things in Moses’ life previous and some amazing things on Mt. Sinai, we forget that years passed between Genesis 2 and Genesis 3, maybe decades. Exodus 2:23 informs us that a “long period” had passed, maybe ten or twenty or thirty or more years. We do not know exactly. What we do know is that God’s great leader, Moses, did little more than tending sheep and starting a family. You might look at this period in Moses’ life as a waste of time. However, what you must remember is that God often holds people back until the right time arrives and everything is in place for their mission to begin.
We often forget that nothing is mentioned in the gospels of Jesus’ life from age twelve until almost thirty. For eighteen years, there is no mention of Jesus’ healings or ministry or teaching. The conditions were not yet ripe for Jesus to begin His work. Jesus had to bide His time until God’s plan was ready to go into motion.
Sometimes, you may feel like you aren’t doing enough or not being effective. It may be because you have removed yourself from actively doing things for God. It may also be that God is preparing you for an important work. Sometimes, God will pull you back from active work. During that time, God will strengthen your heart, increase the efficacy of your prayers, or develop a deeper or stronger faith. Those times when you are held back are not wasted. God is preparing you. God is working on something in your heart or soul. God might be healing some hurt or forcing you to work on your attitude. All in all, God is not done with you yet. Your life and actions are a part of God’s plans. You need to do your part, even if that means you must stand down for a while.
“Some of God’s best workers have been laid aside for long periods. Moses was forty years in the desert, doing nothing but tending sheep. One greater than Moses, our blessed Savior, was thirty years preparing. When you are retired or inactive, prepare for the time when God will again use you. If you are put on the shelf, do not rust; pray that the Master will polish you, so that when He uses you again you will be fully ready for the work.
While you are laid aside, I want you to pray for others that are working. Help them and encourage them. Do not get into that peevish, miserable frame of mind that grudges and undervalues other’s efforts. Some people, when they cannot do anything, do not like anybody else to work. Promise that if you cannot help, you will never hinder. Spend time in prayer, that you may be fit for the Master’s use.
At the siege of Gibraltar, when the fleet surrounded it and determined to storm the old rock, the governor fired red–hot shot (shotgun-type pellets) down on the ships. ...gunners on the ramparts were firing away, and every garrison soldier wanted to join them. What did those who could not fire a gun do? They heated the shot. And that is what you must do.
Your pastor is the master gunner, so heat the shot for him. Keep the furnace going, so that when a sermon is fired off it will be red–hot because of your earnest prayers. When you see your friends sitting in Sunday school or standing in the street working for God, if you cannot join them, say, “Never mind. If I can contribute nothing else, my prayers will heat the shot.”” (Charles Spurgeon, Beside Still Waters, p. 9)
Are you good at working hard for God? How well do you deal with times when God has you preparing but not active? When you are not actively working for God, do you use that time away to prepare your heart and soul for what is to come next? Do you use the quiet periods in your spiritual life wisely, or just become spiritually lazy?
Where do you think God is going to use you next? How well prepared are you for a spiritual battle to come? Sometimes, the best you can do is prepare for that day when the Lord will need you to be ready.
We often forget that nothing is mentioned in the gospels of Jesus’ life from age twelve until almost thirty. For eighteen years, there is no mention of Jesus’ healings or ministry or teaching. The conditions were not yet ripe for Jesus to begin His work. Jesus had to bide His time until God’s plan was ready to go into motion.
Sometimes, you may feel like you aren’t doing enough or not being effective. It may be because you have removed yourself from actively doing things for God. It may also be that God is preparing you for an important work. Sometimes, God will pull you back from active work. During that time, God will strengthen your heart, increase the efficacy of your prayers, or develop a deeper or stronger faith. Those times when you are held back are not wasted. God is preparing you. God is working on something in your heart or soul. God might be healing some hurt or forcing you to work on your attitude. All in all, God is not done with you yet. Your life and actions are a part of God’s plans. You need to do your part, even if that means you must stand down for a while.
“Some of God’s best workers have been laid aside for long periods. Moses was forty years in the desert, doing nothing but tending sheep. One greater than Moses, our blessed Savior, was thirty years preparing. When you are retired or inactive, prepare for the time when God will again use you. If you are put on the shelf, do not rust; pray that the Master will polish you, so that when He uses you again you will be fully ready for the work.
While you are laid aside, I want you to pray for others that are working. Help them and encourage them. Do not get into that peevish, miserable frame of mind that grudges and undervalues other’s efforts. Some people, when they cannot do anything, do not like anybody else to work. Promise that if you cannot help, you will never hinder. Spend time in prayer, that you may be fit for the Master’s use.
At the siege of Gibraltar, when the fleet surrounded it and determined to storm the old rock, the governor fired red–hot shot (shotgun-type pellets) down on the ships. ...gunners on the ramparts were firing away, and every garrison soldier wanted to join them. What did those who could not fire a gun do? They heated the shot. And that is what you must do.
Your pastor is the master gunner, so heat the shot for him. Keep the furnace going, so that when a sermon is fired off it will be red–hot because of your earnest prayers. When you see your friends sitting in Sunday school or standing in the street working for God, if you cannot join them, say, “Never mind. If I can contribute nothing else, my prayers will heat the shot.”” (Charles Spurgeon, Beside Still Waters, p. 9)
Are you good at working hard for God? How well do you deal with times when God has you preparing but not active? When you are not actively working for God, do you use that time away to prepare your heart and soul for what is to come next? Do you use the quiet periods in your spiritual life wisely, or just become spiritually lazy?
Where do you think God is going to use you next? How well prepared are you for a spiritual battle to come? Sometimes, the best you can do is prepare for that day when the Lord will need you to be ready.
January 11
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Joshua 1:7–8, NLT)
Emanuel Cleaver II, a Democratic Representative from Missouri, ended the opening day prayer before the 119th Congress by saying, “Amen and a woman” (See a video of it below). Instead of ending the prayer with the normal “Amen, he ended the prayer with “Amen and a woman” to be politically correct. Let me tell you, his words are not only politically incorrect they are biblically ignorant. The word “Amen” comes from the Greek word “Αμήν”, meaning “so be it” or “so let it be”. This word has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with “men” or “man” or even “human”. Rep. Cleaver may have sounded politically correct and knowledgeable to his ignorant peers, but the biblically learned among his associates would have known he was not making any sense. As a Christian, you need to be knowledgeable about the Bible and God, so that you may be able to tell when someone is playing with biblical words to sound impressive or make a point. You need to know the Bible in order to stop people like this congressman from turning a biblical word into a farce. You also need to know the faith well enough that you are not led astray by the likes of this congressman; those who preach political correctness and NOT true faithfulness. Political correctness is his God. From his statement, it is what he worshipped in his prayer.
Every year, fewer and fewer people attend what many deem as “old fashioned Bible classes”. Many churches have done away with confirmation programs and even adult Bible classes. Some churches only teach children about the Bible. Some church leaders think they can learn all they need to know about the Bible from the pulpit on Sunday morning during worship. All these churches will lack basic biblical knowledge. Sunday morning worship focuses on showing reverence and honor to God. Its focus is not always on learning God’s word or meditating on God’s truth. To grow in your faith, you need to take the next step. You need to actively study the Bible and meditate on its meaning. Bible Study classes, Bible reading programs, courses on the Bible and many other training tools will help you to learn God’s word. Without a well-rounded study of the Bible, you will be swayed by worldly people who play around with God’s word and peddle their own brand of truth.
After Moses died, as narrated near the end of the book of Deuteronomy, Joshua was chosen to lead the people of Israel to the new land promised by God. In the verses for today, Joshua reminded the people that Moses left a “Book of Instruction” for the people to read and obey, namely much of what we have today in Genesis through Deuteronomy (Joshua 1:8). Moses wanted the people to meditate continually upon God’s word. Joshua wanted the Israelites to “be careful to obey all the instructions” that Moses left the people as written in the Book of the law, i.e. the first Bible. After telling them twice in two verses to obey the words in the Bible, Joshua reminded the people to “meditate on it day and night”. The Bible isn’t some book you pick up and read like a novel. It is meant to be weighed, pondered, relished, studied, plumbed for its significant messages. There is so much depth of meaning in the Bible that even after a lifetime of study, I still learn many things about it constantly. You will, too!
“It is said that when the famous missionary, Dr. David Livingstone, started his trek across Africa he had 73 books in 3 packs, weighing 180 pounds. After the party had gone 300 miles, Livingstone was obliged to throw away some of the books because of the fatigue of those carrying his baggage. As he continued on his journey his library grew less and less, until he had but one book left--his Bible.” (Today in the Word, April, 1989, P.28). If the great missionary David Livingstone, a highly trained pastor, believed the Bible to be the most important book for his ministry, you can be sure it is absolutely vital for your spiritual life!
“A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. Evangelist Robert L. Sumner tells about him in his book The Wonders of the Word of God. The victim's face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He was just a new Christian, and one of his greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the Bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in braille. Much to his dismay, however, he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been destroyed by the explosion. One day, as he brought one of the braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters, and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, I can read the Bible using my tongue! At the time Robert Sumner wrote his book, the man had "read" through the entire Bible four times.” (Robert L. Sumner, The Wonders of the Work of God.)
Have you kept up with your Biblical studies? Have you spent time “meditating on it day and night” or only when you feel up to it? Attacks on God and the Bible occur frequently. Will your knowledge of God and God’s word be able to keep you grounded in the Word of God when push comes to shove?
Every year, fewer and fewer people attend what many deem as “old fashioned Bible classes”. Many churches have done away with confirmation programs and even adult Bible classes. Some churches only teach children about the Bible. Some church leaders think they can learn all they need to know about the Bible from the pulpit on Sunday morning during worship. All these churches will lack basic biblical knowledge. Sunday morning worship focuses on showing reverence and honor to God. Its focus is not always on learning God’s word or meditating on God’s truth. To grow in your faith, you need to take the next step. You need to actively study the Bible and meditate on its meaning. Bible Study classes, Bible reading programs, courses on the Bible and many other training tools will help you to learn God’s word. Without a well-rounded study of the Bible, you will be swayed by worldly people who play around with God’s word and peddle their own brand of truth.
After Moses died, as narrated near the end of the book of Deuteronomy, Joshua was chosen to lead the people of Israel to the new land promised by God. In the verses for today, Joshua reminded the people that Moses left a “Book of Instruction” for the people to read and obey, namely much of what we have today in Genesis through Deuteronomy (Joshua 1:8). Moses wanted the people to meditate continually upon God’s word. Joshua wanted the Israelites to “be careful to obey all the instructions” that Moses left the people as written in the Book of the law, i.e. the first Bible. After telling them twice in two verses to obey the words in the Bible, Joshua reminded the people to “meditate on it day and night”. The Bible isn’t some book you pick up and read like a novel. It is meant to be weighed, pondered, relished, studied, plumbed for its significant messages. There is so much depth of meaning in the Bible that even after a lifetime of study, I still learn many things about it constantly. You will, too!
“It is said that when the famous missionary, Dr. David Livingstone, started his trek across Africa he had 73 books in 3 packs, weighing 180 pounds. After the party had gone 300 miles, Livingstone was obliged to throw away some of the books because of the fatigue of those carrying his baggage. As he continued on his journey his library grew less and less, until he had but one book left--his Bible.” (Today in the Word, April, 1989, P.28). If the great missionary David Livingstone, a highly trained pastor, believed the Bible to be the most important book for his ministry, you can be sure it is absolutely vital for your spiritual life!
“A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. Evangelist Robert L. Sumner tells about him in his book The Wonders of the Word of God. The victim's face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He was just a new Christian, and one of his greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the Bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in braille. Much to his dismay, however, he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been destroyed by the explosion. One day, as he brought one of the braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters, and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, I can read the Bible using my tongue! At the time Robert Sumner wrote his book, the man had "read" through the entire Bible four times.” (Robert L. Sumner, The Wonders of the Work of God.)
Have you kept up with your Biblical studies? Have you spent time “meditating on it day and night” or only when you feel up to it? Attacks on God and the Bible occur frequently. Will your knowledge of God and God’s word be able to keep you grounded in the Word of God when push comes to shove?
January 13
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1, NIV84)
“Health” magazine from Canada gave me a good laugh. It relayed this joke:
Q. What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
A. A nervous wreck.
I know, it’s juvenile! I know, the joke may cause you to roll your eyes! As I read these words, it struck me that many people today are nervous wrecks. Our world has been turned upside down. COVID lockdowns have forced people to remain inside. Public restrictions have not permitted some families to go to funerals of loved ones. Business rules today often require visitors to wear masks. Many churches in the world are required to keep attendance below twenty-five percent of seated capacity due to government regulations. There is a change in the government of America. There are shortages of supplies. More than fifty percent of Americans believe a civil war is looming. The dark days of winter are upon us, making the average length of sunshine each day in the northern hemisphere the shortest of all the year. I could go on and on. There are many reasons for the average person to become a nervous wreck.
Those who have a strong relationship with God need to hear the scripture for today. It speaks to these times. It speaks to situations where things are turned upside down or dangers abound. It speaks to turbulent times and periods of change. Jesus spoke the words found in John 14:1. Not long before He died, Jesus encouraged His followers to remember to “not let their hearts be troubled”. The Pharisees and Sadducees hated Jesus. Many doubted His miracles. Herod had already tried to kill Him (Matthew 2). Jewish authorities sought to silence Jesus. Satan toyed with Him (Matthew 4). Despite all these heavy issues and problems that threatened His soul, Jesus did not want His followers to be handicapped and traumatized by fear. He did not want their hearts troubled, their every minute fixated with anxieties.
According to a study mentioned on sermonillustrations.com, an average person’s anxiety is focused on….
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can't be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced
(source: www.sermonillustrations.com)
Jesus dealt with His own anxieties by leaning on God the Father. That is why in the scripture for today, Jesus asked His followers to counter their anxiety by “trusting in God” and “trusting in Him” (John 14:1). If you fully trust that God has your back, you have no need to be paralyzed by fear or to worry about all the things that can go wrong tomorrow. Will God not be there tomorrow? Is God not strong enough to take care of you no matter what happens?
A miserable looking woman recognized F. B. Meyer on the train and ventured to share her burden with him. For years she had cared for a crippled daughter who brought great joy to her life. She made tea for her each morning, then left for work, knowing that in the evening the daughter would be there when she arrived home. But the daughter had died, and the grieving mother was alone and miserable. Home was not “home” anymore.
Meyer gave her wise counsel. “When you get home and put the key in the door,” he said, “say aloud, ‘Jesus, I know You are here!’ and be ready to greet Him directly when you open the door. And as you light the fire tell Him what has happened during the day; if anybody has been kind, tell Him; if anybody has been unkind, tell Him, just as you would have told your daughter. At night stretch out your hand in the darkness and say, ‘Jesus, I know You are here!’”
Some months later, Meyer was back in that neighborhood and met the woman again, but he did not recognize her. Her face radiated joy instead of announcing misery. “I did as you told me,” she said, “and it has made all the difference in my life, and now I feel I know Him.” (Warren Wiersbe, The Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 194)
In the next few months, focus your efforts on trusting God. Don’t let the craziness of this world capture your soul. You might be surprised how your trust in God will lighten the load, ease the pressure, release the stress, and bring joy to your day. Why don’t you start with a prayer promising to trust God above all else?
Q. What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
A. A nervous wreck.
I know, it’s juvenile! I know, the joke may cause you to roll your eyes! As I read these words, it struck me that many people today are nervous wrecks. Our world has been turned upside down. COVID lockdowns have forced people to remain inside. Public restrictions have not permitted some families to go to funerals of loved ones. Business rules today often require visitors to wear masks. Many churches in the world are required to keep attendance below twenty-five percent of seated capacity due to government regulations. There is a change in the government of America. There are shortages of supplies. More than fifty percent of Americans believe a civil war is looming. The dark days of winter are upon us, making the average length of sunshine each day in the northern hemisphere the shortest of all the year. I could go on and on. There are many reasons for the average person to become a nervous wreck.
Those who have a strong relationship with God need to hear the scripture for today. It speaks to these times. It speaks to situations where things are turned upside down or dangers abound. It speaks to turbulent times and periods of change. Jesus spoke the words found in John 14:1. Not long before He died, Jesus encouraged His followers to remember to “not let their hearts be troubled”. The Pharisees and Sadducees hated Jesus. Many doubted His miracles. Herod had already tried to kill Him (Matthew 2). Jewish authorities sought to silence Jesus. Satan toyed with Him (Matthew 4). Despite all these heavy issues and problems that threatened His soul, Jesus did not want His followers to be handicapped and traumatized by fear. He did not want their hearts troubled, their every minute fixated with anxieties.
According to a study mentioned on sermonillustrations.com, an average person’s anxiety is focused on….
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can't be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced
(source: www.sermonillustrations.com)
Jesus dealt with His own anxieties by leaning on God the Father. That is why in the scripture for today, Jesus asked His followers to counter their anxiety by “trusting in God” and “trusting in Him” (John 14:1). If you fully trust that God has your back, you have no need to be paralyzed by fear or to worry about all the things that can go wrong tomorrow. Will God not be there tomorrow? Is God not strong enough to take care of you no matter what happens?
A miserable looking woman recognized F. B. Meyer on the train and ventured to share her burden with him. For years she had cared for a crippled daughter who brought great joy to her life. She made tea for her each morning, then left for work, knowing that in the evening the daughter would be there when she arrived home. But the daughter had died, and the grieving mother was alone and miserable. Home was not “home” anymore.
Meyer gave her wise counsel. “When you get home and put the key in the door,” he said, “say aloud, ‘Jesus, I know You are here!’ and be ready to greet Him directly when you open the door. And as you light the fire tell Him what has happened during the day; if anybody has been kind, tell Him; if anybody has been unkind, tell Him, just as you would have told your daughter. At night stretch out your hand in the darkness and say, ‘Jesus, I know You are here!’”
Some months later, Meyer was back in that neighborhood and met the woman again, but he did not recognize her. Her face radiated joy instead of announcing misery. “I did as you told me,” she said, “and it has made all the difference in my life, and now I feel I know Him.” (Warren Wiersbe, The Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 194)
In the next few months, focus your efforts on trusting God. Don’t let the craziness of this world capture your soul. You might be surprised how your trust in God will lighten the load, ease the pressure, release the stress, and bring joy to your day. Why don’t you start with a prayer promising to trust God above all else?
January 15
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:16, ESV)
Dozens of times in the scriptures we read how God wanted His people to listen. Often, they were told to listen to God’s warnings (Jeremiah 17:24), follow God’s voice, and heed His commands (Exodus 15:26). It is a common theme in scripture that you need to trust in what God commands and seek His direction. All this involves listening for God’s voice while seeking understanding in any given situation. However, our scripture for today turns that upside down. In Jeremiah 23:16, the Lord tells the people of faith to “not listen to the words of the prophets”. The reason? They were lying to God’s people, giving them “vain hopes”, telling “visions of their own minds” that were “not from the mouth of the Lord”. Often in history, God spoke through prophets and judges, elders and apostles, pastors and preachers. However, every now and then the appointed spiritual leaders that were revered among God’s people were not speaking God’s word. They were passing along words of selfish interest. In the time of Jeremiah, there were false prophets who wanted to calm the people all the while God was upset with their sins. These false leaders were preaching soothing messages to placate the people instead of telling them the truth about their considerable sins.
In Jeremiah 6:14, the prophet Jeremiah was highly critical of these same false prophets. He noted that they were constantly preaching about peace, when there was no peace in the land. Why did the prophets do all this false preaching and teaching? They were being manipulated by political leaders, especially their kings and the religious authorities, to make the decisions of the leaders more acceptable in the sight of the people even though these decisions were evil. Essentially, their preaching was more propaganda than prophecy. God would not accept these distortions of the truth. God spoke through Jeremiah telling the people to stop listening to these false prophets and look for the true voice of God.
False prophets using religious or political propaganda have often been in conflict with the message of God. In New Testament times, this was a common theme. Jesus warned about “false prophets” that would attempt to deceive the faithful (Matthew 24:11, Mark 13:22). Peter warned about “false teachers” who would introduce “destructive heresies” into the churches (2 Peter 2:1). John warned that every Christian should “test the spirits” of religious leaders because false prophets would be among them. (1 John 4:1). Even the book of Revelation mentions that Satan and the Beast used a false prophet to deceive the faithful by clouding the truth (Revelation 16:13, 19:20). One title for Satan is deceiver after all (Revelation 12:9)! The Bible wants to make clear that not only are there prophets, but there are also false prophets. God’s truth needs to be separated from the lies and deceptions of false leaders.
In Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler used propaganda very effectively. Hitler used his propaganda minister named Joseph Goebbels to spin all the news given to the German people to benefit the Nazi regime. Joseph Stalin used propaganda very successfully to hide the persecution of many cultural groups. However, its not just political leaders who use propaganda effectively. Religious leaders employ it as well. When churches were closing in my home denomination due to poor leadership, some leaders claimed the closings would help the church to become purer and more focused! When splits occurred in the Methodist churches, some leaders explained that the Methodist church needed to “speak to modern times” and shake off its old traditions. When propaganda occurs inside and outside the church, it is often difficult to figure out God’s truth. The truth is being twisted to such an extent that it is difficult to see which way is faithful.
While Jeremiah told the people not to listen to the false prophets, at the same time false prophets were urging the people to ignore Jeremiah! It was only years later after the exile that Jeremiah was proven to be the one delivering God’s true message. Years from now, you might find out who was speaking the truth to your world today. You might be the one deceived. You might be listening to the propaganda. You might know the real truth. Though it is difficult to detect at times, God’s truth is out there in the world. God is still speaking. False prophets are still lying. Will you figure out what God is really saying?
Through dedicated prayer, a thorough knowledge of God’s Word, and by communing with the Holy Spirit, you may be able to glean God’s honest truth. This search is extremely important, not only to you but to future generations. Satan’s deceptions cause pain and destruction. God’s truth sets you free (John 8:32). Satan’s lies will cause you to lose your way and become hopeless (John 8:44). God’s truth will bring peace (Zechariah 8:16).
Is there a type of propaganda you are susceptible to believing? Are there some worldly truths that have deceived your thinking? Dedicate yourself to learning God’s truth. Nothing else can replace it!
In Jeremiah 6:14, the prophet Jeremiah was highly critical of these same false prophets. He noted that they were constantly preaching about peace, when there was no peace in the land. Why did the prophets do all this false preaching and teaching? They were being manipulated by political leaders, especially their kings and the religious authorities, to make the decisions of the leaders more acceptable in the sight of the people even though these decisions were evil. Essentially, their preaching was more propaganda than prophecy. God would not accept these distortions of the truth. God spoke through Jeremiah telling the people to stop listening to these false prophets and look for the true voice of God.
False prophets using religious or political propaganda have often been in conflict with the message of God. In New Testament times, this was a common theme. Jesus warned about “false prophets” that would attempt to deceive the faithful (Matthew 24:11, Mark 13:22). Peter warned about “false teachers” who would introduce “destructive heresies” into the churches (2 Peter 2:1). John warned that every Christian should “test the spirits” of religious leaders because false prophets would be among them. (1 John 4:1). Even the book of Revelation mentions that Satan and the Beast used a false prophet to deceive the faithful by clouding the truth (Revelation 16:13, 19:20). One title for Satan is deceiver after all (Revelation 12:9)! The Bible wants to make clear that not only are there prophets, but there are also false prophets. God’s truth needs to be separated from the lies and deceptions of false leaders.
In Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler used propaganda very effectively. Hitler used his propaganda minister named Joseph Goebbels to spin all the news given to the German people to benefit the Nazi regime. Joseph Stalin used propaganda very successfully to hide the persecution of many cultural groups. However, its not just political leaders who use propaganda effectively. Religious leaders employ it as well. When churches were closing in my home denomination due to poor leadership, some leaders claimed the closings would help the church to become purer and more focused! When splits occurred in the Methodist churches, some leaders explained that the Methodist church needed to “speak to modern times” and shake off its old traditions. When propaganda occurs inside and outside the church, it is often difficult to figure out God’s truth. The truth is being twisted to such an extent that it is difficult to see which way is faithful.
While Jeremiah told the people not to listen to the false prophets, at the same time false prophets were urging the people to ignore Jeremiah! It was only years later after the exile that Jeremiah was proven to be the one delivering God’s true message. Years from now, you might find out who was speaking the truth to your world today. You might be the one deceived. You might be listening to the propaganda. You might know the real truth. Though it is difficult to detect at times, God’s truth is out there in the world. God is still speaking. False prophets are still lying. Will you figure out what God is really saying?
Through dedicated prayer, a thorough knowledge of God’s Word, and by communing with the Holy Spirit, you may be able to glean God’s honest truth. This search is extremely important, not only to you but to future generations. Satan’s deceptions cause pain and destruction. God’s truth sets you free (John 8:32). Satan’s lies will cause you to lose your way and become hopeless (John 8:44). God’s truth will bring peace (Zechariah 8:16).
Is there a type of propaganda you are susceptible to believing? Are there some worldly truths that have deceived your thinking? Dedicate yourself to learning God’s truth. Nothing else can replace it!
January 17
“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17, RSV)
Licensed Veterinary Technician Ryan Corrigan notes that “Horses that are broken to follow their leader out of respect are more enjoyable than those that follow out of fear” (www.wikihow.com). He devotes an entire web page to healthy and safe methods of breaking a horse. A broken horse is not only more amenable to human aid, that horse learns to trust more easily, and is able to be taught much more effectively. A wild horse can injure a rider, is not reliable, and is difficult to train. A wild horse should not be ridden. A horse should not be broken too early in its life as it can develop joint problems. An older horse requires special handling to break it effectively. There is a good time and a bad time to break a horse.
In the scripture for today, God talks about a “broken spirit” (Psalm 51:17). A broken spirit occurs when a person is not self-satisfied, egotistical, self-centered, or narcissistic. Like a horse, a human being cannot be trained well without a broken spirit. A horse that is broken can be a highly effective aid. A human that has a broken spirit and is meek and respectful to God is much more effectively used in the service of our Lord. Psalm 51:17 states that the “broken spirit” is found in a person who has a “broken and contrite heart”. But what exactly is a contrite heart?
The New Living Translation of the Bible considers the word “contrite” to mean “repentant”. If you do not realize your failings, you won’t realize the need to repent. If you think you are perfect, you won’t repent. If you think you are seldom or never wrong, you won’t see the need to repent. If you are arrogant and haughty, you won’t want to repent. God can do so much more with the person who has a repentant, contrite heart. In fact, being repentant, according to the verse for today, is considered by God to be an “acceptable sacrifice” to God. If you want to please God, be a person who is quick to repent when failing. Be a person who is willing to admit your mistakes and make things right. You will go a long way to being a blessing to God when harboring a contrite heart!
Glenn was extraordinarily successful in the business world. He began a computer parts and repair business in the early 1990’s. After twenty years in the business, he owned several stores. When he retired, Glenn was a multi-millionaire. He was well known for his scholarships, community non-profit fund drives, and being a president of the Chamber of Commerce. However, in his church, Glenn was not well received. One member described him as “pompous as a peacock”. Glenn liked to be the center of attention. He loved the accolades he received when his photo got into the newspaper showing him giving away scholarships to lucky high school seniors. He cherished his business awards, even buying an expensive oak case to house his trophies and plaques.
When in his late sixties, Glenn became seriously ill with cancer. Not long after, his wife died. At this period of his life, Glenn no longer received awards and accolades. Often, he was too weak to get out of bed. He was lonely. Because he had spent so much of his life winning business achievements, his children were not close. Instead of growing closer to God in his last days, Glenn became an angry and bitter recluse. His home health nurses quit one after another. On one occasion when his pastor visited, Glenn told the clergyman that he probably came only for a “handout” from Glenn’s considerable savings account. Another time, Glenn threatened the pastor that he was not going to give one dime of his estate to the church for a stained-glass window unless he received a large plaque of at least 24”x 36” underneath the window! Glenn spent his whole life as a member of his church. Throughout that time, until the end of his life, he failed to show any evidence of a contrite heart. When Glenn died, there were few people at his funeral. Those that did come were business associates. Glenn could have done wonderful things with a contrite spirit. Instead, Glenn spent most of his time fluffing his resume and his bank account. He is remembered today for his wealth, not his faith.
Chuck Swindoll wrote the following words to pastors and church leaders: “God will not despise a broken and contrite heart… The greatest gift you can give your congregation is a genuine model of your humanity. Admit your weakness, or your unresolved conflicts, and then let yourself be broken about it by God. It may be between you and your wife; it may be between you and your staff member, it may be an unforgiving spirit, even alcoholism, incest, pornography—maybe gluttony, or plagiarism, or a critical spirit. It could be the sin of pride, or those sins that Jesus hated most; those of hypocrisy. Release it to God. If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”” (Men of Action, 1996).
Are you too prideful to admit your weaknesses and repent when you falter? Is there a little too much selfishness in your thoughts? Are you too quick to tout your successes? Maybe the best gift you can give God today is your own contrite heart…
In the scripture for today, God talks about a “broken spirit” (Psalm 51:17). A broken spirit occurs when a person is not self-satisfied, egotistical, self-centered, or narcissistic. Like a horse, a human being cannot be trained well without a broken spirit. A horse that is broken can be a highly effective aid. A human that has a broken spirit and is meek and respectful to God is much more effectively used in the service of our Lord. Psalm 51:17 states that the “broken spirit” is found in a person who has a “broken and contrite heart”. But what exactly is a contrite heart?
The New Living Translation of the Bible considers the word “contrite” to mean “repentant”. If you do not realize your failings, you won’t realize the need to repent. If you think you are perfect, you won’t repent. If you think you are seldom or never wrong, you won’t see the need to repent. If you are arrogant and haughty, you won’t want to repent. God can do so much more with the person who has a repentant, contrite heart. In fact, being repentant, according to the verse for today, is considered by God to be an “acceptable sacrifice” to God. If you want to please God, be a person who is quick to repent when failing. Be a person who is willing to admit your mistakes and make things right. You will go a long way to being a blessing to God when harboring a contrite heart!
Glenn was extraordinarily successful in the business world. He began a computer parts and repair business in the early 1990’s. After twenty years in the business, he owned several stores. When he retired, Glenn was a multi-millionaire. He was well known for his scholarships, community non-profit fund drives, and being a president of the Chamber of Commerce. However, in his church, Glenn was not well received. One member described him as “pompous as a peacock”. Glenn liked to be the center of attention. He loved the accolades he received when his photo got into the newspaper showing him giving away scholarships to lucky high school seniors. He cherished his business awards, even buying an expensive oak case to house his trophies and plaques.
When in his late sixties, Glenn became seriously ill with cancer. Not long after, his wife died. At this period of his life, Glenn no longer received awards and accolades. Often, he was too weak to get out of bed. He was lonely. Because he had spent so much of his life winning business achievements, his children were not close. Instead of growing closer to God in his last days, Glenn became an angry and bitter recluse. His home health nurses quit one after another. On one occasion when his pastor visited, Glenn told the clergyman that he probably came only for a “handout” from Glenn’s considerable savings account. Another time, Glenn threatened the pastor that he was not going to give one dime of his estate to the church for a stained-glass window unless he received a large plaque of at least 24”x 36” underneath the window! Glenn spent his whole life as a member of his church. Throughout that time, until the end of his life, he failed to show any evidence of a contrite heart. When Glenn died, there were few people at his funeral. Those that did come were business associates. Glenn could have done wonderful things with a contrite spirit. Instead, Glenn spent most of his time fluffing his resume and his bank account. He is remembered today for his wealth, not his faith.
Chuck Swindoll wrote the following words to pastors and church leaders: “God will not despise a broken and contrite heart… The greatest gift you can give your congregation is a genuine model of your humanity. Admit your weakness, or your unresolved conflicts, and then let yourself be broken about it by God. It may be between you and your wife; it may be between you and your staff member, it may be an unforgiving spirit, even alcoholism, incest, pornography—maybe gluttony, or plagiarism, or a critical spirit. It could be the sin of pride, or those sins that Jesus hated most; those of hypocrisy. Release it to God. If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”” (Men of Action, 1996).
Are you too prideful to admit your weaknesses and repent when you falter? Is there a little too much selfishness in your thoughts? Are you too quick to tout your successes? Maybe the best gift you can give God today is your own contrite heart…
January 19
“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed…” (Romans 6:17, ESV)
They say that New Year’s Resolutions on average will last only two weeks. Very few, a minute percentage, are ever kept for the entire year. It’s not that people don’t want to succeed with their resolutions. It’s not that they don’t have important goals. When it comes down to it, most people are not prepared to make a total commitment to that resolution. They are not fully behind whatever changes are required to keep that resolution. People like to talk about making things better, making resolutions, coming up with plans to overcome problems… they just don’t often follow through with a commitment that endures. The same thing can be said about many Christians.
Christians, for the most part, know what God in Christ desires of them. Most have read the Bible, worshiped, learned the basics of the faith. The problem is that all Christians do not endeavor to be totally committed to Jesus Christ under whatever circumstances they find themselves. When a problem in a local church arises, some Christians will lose the desire to keep worshiping. When a favorite pastor retires, some Christians will drift away, unable to change allegiances. When being a Christian costs a person some amount of pain or discomfort or financial obligation, some will give up the cause. Being a true Christian requires you be totally committed to follow God wherever HE takes you.
William Booth started the Salvation Army. The goal of the Salvation Army was to help the poor who are in difficult circumstances. On one occasion, Booth was known to write: “I will tell you the secret: God has had all that there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, even with greater opportunities, but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart and caught a vision of what Jesus Christ could do with me and them, on that day I made up my mind that God should have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army, it is because God has had all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.”
Booth didn’t launch and nurture the Salvation Army with lots of money and wealthy backers. He didn’t do it because it was easy. He didn’t work among the needy to be lauded by history. Booth began his work with the Salvation Army to reach the poor in the name of Jesus Christ. In this mission, he was totally committed. He was not going to back down or let the ministry fail. Why? God didn’t have part of his heart, God had “all the adoration” of Booth’s heart, “all the power” of Booth’s will, and “all the influence” of his life. Booth gave his ALL. He was "all in"; totally committed to the endeavor.
There may come a time when God will require you to be “all in”. You will have to choose to follow with total commitment to God’s work or step aside while God finds another who is “all in”. In the book of Revelation, God was disgusted with the Laodicean church. They were “lukewarm” in their faith (Revelation 3:16). They were not totally committed to the Lord. Though God had blessed these Christians with a good life and enough money to prosper, they pulled back when God had a need (Revelation 3:17). How would you respond to a new expectation from God? What riches would you not give up in order to follow God faithfully?
At a gospel rally in North Carolina, the evangelist gave a powerful sermon. Thereafter, he asked all who desired to a stronger commitment to Jesus to walk up the center aisle to the altar. The first man to leave his seat walked straight up to the altar and knelt. The pastor prayed that he might be forgiven of all sin and receive direction from the Holy Spirit. Following the man’s lead, more and more came forward. After the service, that first man who went to the altar approached his best friend and said, “Whew! I was worried.”
“About what?” said his best friend.
“I was so afraid God was going to tell me I had to go into the mission field. I’m so relieved that never came up! I’m so thrilled that I don’t have to leave everything behind!”
Dare I say this man was not willing to be “all in” for Jesus? What do you think? Do you see total commitment in this man’s words or a desire to live a comfortable faith life? Can a person believe wholeheartedly in Jesus without an absolute commitment to the Lord? Will you only believe in God if HE requires what you want to give instead of what HE needs?
The Apostle Paul wrote the scripture for today to the fledgling Roman church. He gave thanks to God that the Roman Christians had set aside their sinful ways to hold on to Jesus. They were not only “obedient from the heart” but “committed” to the teaching of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:17). Being obedient and being committed are two different ideals, but they often function together. An obedient Christian is always committed to Jesus’ teaching. A committed Christian will be obedient to the will of God. Obedience and commitment to God always occur together in the true Christian. You can’t have obedience to Christ without a total commitment to our Savior. You can’t be totally committed to Jesus unless you are willing to obey Christ above all others.
If I were to ask five people who know you the best today, would they say you are totally committed to Jesus Christ? Would they see you as an obedient child of God? If not, you have work to do. Which area of your faith needs help, your obedience to Jesus or your total commitment to the mission of Christ? Paul saw both obedience and the commitment in the Roman Church as proof of their salvation. Wouldn’t God want to see the same in you?
Christians, for the most part, know what God in Christ desires of them. Most have read the Bible, worshiped, learned the basics of the faith. The problem is that all Christians do not endeavor to be totally committed to Jesus Christ under whatever circumstances they find themselves. When a problem in a local church arises, some Christians will lose the desire to keep worshiping. When a favorite pastor retires, some Christians will drift away, unable to change allegiances. When being a Christian costs a person some amount of pain or discomfort or financial obligation, some will give up the cause. Being a true Christian requires you be totally committed to follow God wherever HE takes you.
William Booth started the Salvation Army. The goal of the Salvation Army was to help the poor who are in difficult circumstances. On one occasion, Booth was known to write: “I will tell you the secret: God has had all that there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, even with greater opportunities, but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart and caught a vision of what Jesus Christ could do with me and them, on that day I made up my mind that God should have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army, it is because God has had all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.”
Booth didn’t launch and nurture the Salvation Army with lots of money and wealthy backers. He didn’t do it because it was easy. He didn’t work among the needy to be lauded by history. Booth began his work with the Salvation Army to reach the poor in the name of Jesus Christ. In this mission, he was totally committed. He was not going to back down or let the ministry fail. Why? God didn’t have part of his heart, God had “all the adoration” of Booth’s heart, “all the power” of Booth’s will, and “all the influence” of his life. Booth gave his ALL. He was "all in"; totally committed to the endeavor.
There may come a time when God will require you to be “all in”. You will have to choose to follow with total commitment to God’s work or step aside while God finds another who is “all in”. In the book of Revelation, God was disgusted with the Laodicean church. They were “lukewarm” in their faith (Revelation 3:16). They were not totally committed to the Lord. Though God had blessed these Christians with a good life and enough money to prosper, they pulled back when God had a need (Revelation 3:17). How would you respond to a new expectation from God? What riches would you not give up in order to follow God faithfully?
At a gospel rally in North Carolina, the evangelist gave a powerful sermon. Thereafter, he asked all who desired to a stronger commitment to Jesus to walk up the center aisle to the altar. The first man to leave his seat walked straight up to the altar and knelt. The pastor prayed that he might be forgiven of all sin and receive direction from the Holy Spirit. Following the man’s lead, more and more came forward. After the service, that first man who went to the altar approached his best friend and said, “Whew! I was worried.”
“About what?” said his best friend.
“I was so afraid God was going to tell me I had to go into the mission field. I’m so relieved that never came up! I’m so thrilled that I don’t have to leave everything behind!”
Dare I say this man was not willing to be “all in” for Jesus? What do you think? Do you see total commitment in this man’s words or a desire to live a comfortable faith life? Can a person believe wholeheartedly in Jesus without an absolute commitment to the Lord? Will you only believe in God if HE requires what you want to give instead of what HE needs?
The Apostle Paul wrote the scripture for today to the fledgling Roman church. He gave thanks to God that the Roman Christians had set aside their sinful ways to hold on to Jesus. They were not only “obedient from the heart” but “committed” to the teaching of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:17). Being obedient and being committed are two different ideals, but they often function together. An obedient Christian is always committed to Jesus’ teaching. A committed Christian will be obedient to the will of God. Obedience and commitment to God always occur together in the true Christian. You can’t have obedience to Christ without a total commitment to our Savior. You can’t be totally committed to Jesus unless you are willing to obey Christ above all others.
If I were to ask five people who know you the best today, would they say you are totally committed to Jesus Christ? Would they see you as an obedient child of God? If not, you have work to do. Which area of your faith needs help, your obedience to Jesus or your total commitment to the mission of Christ? Paul saw both obedience and the commitment in the Roman Church as proof of their salvation. Wouldn’t God want to see the same in you?
January 21
“But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.” (Galatians 2:11–13, NLT)
Prejudice is “a preconceived judgment or opinion”. Sadly, most people in the world consider prejudice and racism the same thing. They are not. A racist will judge a person by their racial cues or ethnic birth. A person who is prejudiced will have an opinion or bias toward a person based on any number of factors. A person who is full of prejudice may judge the worth of a person based on their tattered clothes, their uniform, the brand name on their t-shirt, or on any number of other factors. Their race may or may not matter. The person who is prejudicial is liable to look down or look up to a person based entirely on what they wear or where they live. Prejudice even can relate to science. A person might believe one scientist is right purely because of their degree or their schooling. A person might believe a scientific study must be factual depending on who funded it, or which scientists defended it. I believe every human being carries prejudice. Jesus even was prejudicial. He believed God was right in all circumstances!
We must be careful of our prejudices. Some may be right. Some may be wrong. Some may be partially right or partially wrong. Because prejudice is a “preconceived” human judgment, it can lead us in the wrong direction. It can blind us to the truth. It can stop us from seeing God’s work.
“For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely, he would not be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten- pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.” (“Bits & Pieces”, January 9, 1992, pp. 22-23).
Even strong people of faith can be blinded by their prejudices. In the scripture for today from Galatians, Peter and Paul were in a heated disagreement over the ministry to the Gentiles. Peter had been brought up in the Jewish world. The Jews at that time believed that they alone were the chosen nation, the holy people of God. Many Jews thought Gentiles to be heathen and unclean, foreign and unwelcome. Most Jewish people in New Testament times felt that a Gentile entering their home may cause it to be unclean and therefore unlawful before God. When Peter and Paul were in Jerusalem talking about Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, Peter at first was amenable to the ministry. He even ate with the Gentiles, which purist Jews were loathe to do. However, after a few critical Jews spoke to Peter, his old prejudices flared up. The scripture said he separated himself from the Gentiles because they were not “circumcised” (Galatians 2:12). Then, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s example and separated themselves from the Gentiles as well (Galatians 2:13). Paul and Peter argued vehemently about this. Paul even caused it “hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:13). In the end, Peter realized his error and opened himself up to ministry among the Gentiles in the name of Jesus. If Peter wouldn’t have done so, some argue that the Christian church might have been split over this issue forever.
You must always be careful with prejudice. It is important that your prejudice not sway you in a wrong direction when it comes to doing what is right before God. In the scripture for today, Peter was led astray by his prejudice. Thankfully, Paul and other Christians helped Peter to set aside his preconceived notions and fulfill the will of God. You may also be tempted to follow your own preconceived notions. Be careful. They not only could be wrong, but they could also go against the very will of God.
"Dodie Gadient, a schoolteacher for thirteen years, decided to travel across America and see the sights she had taught about. Traveling alone in a truck with camper in tow, she launched out. One afternoon rounding a curve on I-5 near Sacramento in rush-hour traffic, a water pump blew on her truck. She was tired, exasperated, scared, and alone. In spite of the traffic jam she caused, no one seemed interested in helping. Leaning up against the trailer, she prayed, 'Please God, send me an angel . . . preferably one with mechanical experience.'
Within four minutes, a huge Harley drove up, ridden by an enormous man sporting long, black hair, a beard and tattooed arms. With an incredible air of confidence, he jumped off and, without even glancing at Dodie, went to work on the truck. Within another few minutes, he flagged down a larger truck, attached a tow chain to the frame of the disabled Chevy, and whisked the whole 56-foot rig off the freeway onto a side street, where he calmly continued to work on the water pump.
The intimidated schoolteacher was too dumbfounded to talk. Especially when she read the paralyzing words on the back of his leather jacket: 'Hell's Angels -- California'. As he finished the task, she finally got up the courage to say, 'Thanks so much,' and carry on a brief conversation. Noticing her surprise at the whole ordeal, he looked her straight in the eye and mumbled, 'Don't judge a book by its cover. You may not know who you're talking to.' With that, he smiled, closed the hood of the truck, and straddled his Harley. With a wave, he was gone as fast as he had appeared." (Larry D. Wright, “Our America”)
Dodie Gadient had a preconceived notion about the danger of Hell’s Angels. Based on her reaction in this true story, I’m sure she thought she would never be rescued by one!
In order for you to be spiritually healthy and strong, it is important that you deal with your own preconceived notions. It is crucial that you not be led astray by them. Which preconceived notions do you believe? What do you think you will do when faced with a challenge to your wrong beliefs? Will you stubbornly hold on to your biases or be open to God’s truth?
We must be careful of our prejudices. Some may be right. Some may be wrong. Some may be partially right or partially wrong. Because prejudice is a “preconceived” human judgment, it can lead us in the wrong direction. It can blind us to the truth. It can stop us from seeing God’s work.
“For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely, he would not be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten- pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.” (“Bits & Pieces”, January 9, 1992, pp. 22-23).
Even strong people of faith can be blinded by their prejudices. In the scripture for today from Galatians, Peter and Paul were in a heated disagreement over the ministry to the Gentiles. Peter had been brought up in the Jewish world. The Jews at that time believed that they alone were the chosen nation, the holy people of God. Many Jews thought Gentiles to be heathen and unclean, foreign and unwelcome. Most Jewish people in New Testament times felt that a Gentile entering their home may cause it to be unclean and therefore unlawful before God. When Peter and Paul were in Jerusalem talking about Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, Peter at first was amenable to the ministry. He even ate with the Gentiles, which purist Jews were loathe to do. However, after a few critical Jews spoke to Peter, his old prejudices flared up. The scripture said he separated himself from the Gentiles because they were not “circumcised” (Galatians 2:12). Then, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s example and separated themselves from the Gentiles as well (Galatians 2:13). Paul and Peter argued vehemently about this. Paul even caused it “hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:13). In the end, Peter realized his error and opened himself up to ministry among the Gentiles in the name of Jesus. If Peter wouldn’t have done so, some argue that the Christian church might have been split over this issue forever.
You must always be careful with prejudice. It is important that your prejudice not sway you in a wrong direction when it comes to doing what is right before God. In the scripture for today, Peter was led astray by his prejudice. Thankfully, Paul and other Christians helped Peter to set aside his preconceived notions and fulfill the will of God. You may also be tempted to follow your own preconceived notions. Be careful. They not only could be wrong, but they could also go against the very will of God.
"Dodie Gadient, a schoolteacher for thirteen years, decided to travel across America and see the sights she had taught about. Traveling alone in a truck with camper in tow, she launched out. One afternoon rounding a curve on I-5 near Sacramento in rush-hour traffic, a water pump blew on her truck. She was tired, exasperated, scared, and alone. In spite of the traffic jam she caused, no one seemed interested in helping. Leaning up against the trailer, she prayed, 'Please God, send me an angel . . . preferably one with mechanical experience.'
Within four minutes, a huge Harley drove up, ridden by an enormous man sporting long, black hair, a beard and tattooed arms. With an incredible air of confidence, he jumped off and, without even glancing at Dodie, went to work on the truck. Within another few minutes, he flagged down a larger truck, attached a tow chain to the frame of the disabled Chevy, and whisked the whole 56-foot rig off the freeway onto a side street, where he calmly continued to work on the water pump.
The intimidated schoolteacher was too dumbfounded to talk. Especially when she read the paralyzing words on the back of his leather jacket: 'Hell's Angels -- California'. As he finished the task, she finally got up the courage to say, 'Thanks so much,' and carry on a brief conversation. Noticing her surprise at the whole ordeal, he looked her straight in the eye and mumbled, 'Don't judge a book by its cover. You may not know who you're talking to.' With that, he smiled, closed the hood of the truck, and straddled his Harley. With a wave, he was gone as fast as he had appeared." (Larry D. Wright, “Our America”)
Dodie Gadient had a preconceived notion about the danger of Hell’s Angels. Based on her reaction in this true story, I’m sure she thought she would never be rescued by one!
In order for you to be spiritually healthy and strong, it is important that you deal with your own preconceived notions. It is crucial that you not be led astray by them. Which preconceived notions do you believe? What do you think you will do when faced with a challenge to your wrong beliefs? Will you stubbornly hold on to your biases or be open to God’s truth?
January 23
“One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.”
(Proverbs 14:16, ESV)
(Proverbs 14:16, ESV)
If you walk into a candle shop in Massachusetts, you will be greeted with the following sign: "Dogs with big tails not allowed." (contributed by Doris Doane). The sign is a friendly reminder that the store is full of glass and other fragile products. It is a place that needs caution. As a young boy, I often visited my grandfather in his workshop. There, too, caution was needed. The power tools were dangerous. To help me stay aware of the dangers, my grandfather would say, “Mind yourself!” The saying meant that I needed to be aware of the dangers around me. When I started making things with wood, my grandfather would often repeat to me: “Measure twice, and cut once!”. It was a piece of wisdom that has proven itself important on many occasions of my life. It was not unusual for me to mix up numbers in measurements. Instead of remembering to cut a board that was 13 and 5/16 inches, I sometimes would mix up the threes and fives and think I needed to cut a board 15 and 3/16. Usually, by measuring twice, I would figure out my transposition of the numbers before I wasted a piece of valuable wood.
In many areas of life, there are pieces of wisdom or adages or proverbs that remind one to be cautious, to think ahead, to examine one’s choices. Being cautious can save lives, keep you from regrets, save you money, and prepare you for what is ahead.
There is a saying: “Don’t throw caution to the winds”. From what most scholars believe, the adage has been around in its present form since the 1880’s. Various versions of the saying have been around since the 1600’s. The phrase speaks to the dangers of taking risks, being careless, or thinking nothing about the consequences of your actions. For those who are too cautious, it may be good to throw caution to the winds every once in a while. However, for those of the faith, spiritual caution is a valuable character trait. It is an important asset in your spiritual arsenal. It may keep you, and those you love, from harm.
The scripture for today from Proverbs 14:16 is another reminder of the importance of spiritual caution. The proverb included in this verse makes clear that a wise person is cautious. He or she uses that caution to “turn away from evil”. In the second half of this proverb, the fool is seen as throwing caution to the winds. The fool “is reckless and careless”. Without being explicit, this proverb implies that the fool will suffer for their reckless behavior. By not thinking about any future consequences, the fool will easily stumble right into a mess. It is only a matter of time.
Are there times that you play the fool and are reckless or careless? Is there an area of your life where you take unnecessary risks?
In the 1980’s, AIDS was just coming onto the scene. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome caused the body to lose its ability to fight off pathogens, infections, bacteria, and viruses. It is caused by HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus that is passed from person to person through tainted blood and bodily fluids. It can be transmitted from person to person through sex. It was particularly devastating to the Gay community in the 1980’s. Because many Gay people at the time were more promiscuous, with multiple sexual partners, the disease spread widely. It infected thousands during that decade.
A good friend of mine was Gay. He attended church with me, and we often chatted whenever we saw one another. We were close. I remember him learning about AIDS and its devastating effects on the Gay community. His response was often, “AIDS is prevalent in New York and San Francisco. I live in Wisconsin. I don’t have to worry about it here. I’ll be fine.” He died in the early 1990’s from complications due to AIDS.
Throughout history, there have been many people who threw caution to the wind. Some paid for it. Some were lucky not to have suffered consequences. Spiritually, it is important to be cautious of those things that can jeopardize your faith.
I remember the story of a missionary who had to travel with two members of his church who were female. The females were nurses. He traveled with them to keep them safe and to minister along the way. During one trip into the bush in Africa, a village had been seriously affected by sickness after a tremendous downpour of rain and ensuing mudslides. Many homes were damaged or lost. The only accommodations found for all three was a small one-bedroom house near the hospital. All three were to sleep in the one room. The missionary was married. The two nurses were young and particularly good looking. Not wanting to explain himself to his wife or church because of the closeness of their sleeping arrangements, the missionary slept in the bathroom at the small house. The nurses encouraged him to leave the bathroom and sleep in the main bedroom. He refused. He kept the door closed all night. He arrived home tired and sore, but at least he had in no way compromised himself throughout all their work together.
In the times ahead, I hope you are wise enough to perceive when a situation or problem needs caution. I pray you are not so foolish as to be reckless when it will cost you. Life can throw you into some particularly problematic situations. It may be too easy to throw all caution to the wind. Through prayer, God will often open your eyes to situations that may need wisdom and caution. I just hope at that time, you are proven wise and not foolish.
In many areas of life, there are pieces of wisdom or adages or proverbs that remind one to be cautious, to think ahead, to examine one’s choices. Being cautious can save lives, keep you from regrets, save you money, and prepare you for what is ahead.
There is a saying: “Don’t throw caution to the winds”. From what most scholars believe, the adage has been around in its present form since the 1880’s. Various versions of the saying have been around since the 1600’s. The phrase speaks to the dangers of taking risks, being careless, or thinking nothing about the consequences of your actions. For those who are too cautious, it may be good to throw caution to the winds every once in a while. However, for those of the faith, spiritual caution is a valuable character trait. It is an important asset in your spiritual arsenal. It may keep you, and those you love, from harm.
The scripture for today from Proverbs 14:16 is another reminder of the importance of spiritual caution. The proverb included in this verse makes clear that a wise person is cautious. He or she uses that caution to “turn away from evil”. In the second half of this proverb, the fool is seen as throwing caution to the winds. The fool “is reckless and careless”. Without being explicit, this proverb implies that the fool will suffer for their reckless behavior. By not thinking about any future consequences, the fool will easily stumble right into a mess. It is only a matter of time.
Are there times that you play the fool and are reckless or careless? Is there an area of your life where you take unnecessary risks?
In the 1980’s, AIDS was just coming onto the scene. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome caused the body to lose its ability to fight off pathogens, infections, bacteria, and viruses. It is caused by HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus that is passed from person to person through tainted blood and bodily fluids. It can be transmitted from person to person through sex. It was particularly devastating to the Gay community in the 1980’s. Because many Gay people at the time were more promiscuous, with multiple sexual partners, the disease spread widely. It infected thousands during that decade.
A good friend of mine was Gay. He attended church with me, and we often chatted whenever we saw one another. We were close. I remember him learning about AIDS and its devastating effects on the Gay community. His response was often, “AIDS is prevalent in New York and San Francisco. I live in Wisconsin. I don’t have to worry about it here. I’ll be fine.” He died in the early 1990’s from complications due to AIDS.
Throughout history, there have been many people who threw caution to the wind. Some paid for it. Some were lucky not to have suffered consequences. Spiritually, it is important to be cautious of those things that can jeopardize your faith.
I remember the story of a missionary who had to travel with two members of his church who were female. The females were nurses. He traveled with them to keep them safe and to minister along the way. During one trip into the bush in Africa, a village had been seriously affected by sickness after a tremendous downpour of rain and ensuing mudslides. Many homes were damaged or lost. The only accommodations found for all three was a small one-bedroom house near the hospital. All three were to sleep in the one room. The missionary was married. The two nurses were young and particularly good looking. Not wanting to explain himself to his wife or church because of the closeness of their sleeping arrangements, the missionary slept in the bathroom at the small house. The nurses encouraged him to leave the bathroom and sleep in the main bedroom. He refused. He kept the door closed all night. He arrived home tired and sore, but at least he had in no way compromised himself throughout all their work together.
In the times ahead, I hope you are wise enough to perceive when a situation or problem needs caution. I pray you are not so foolish as to be reckless when it will cost you. Life can throw you into some particularly problematic situations. It may be too easy to throw all caution to the wind. Through prayer, God will often open your eyes to situations that may need wisdom and caution. I just hope at that time, you are proven wise and not foolish.
January 25
“There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the LORD said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”” (1 Kings 19:9–10, NLT)
Every now and then, it’s a good idea to back away and look at the bigger picture. If you are constantly dealing with little problems, it may be difficult to see the causes behind the problems. If you focus all your attention on little annoyances, you might not be able to see the progress in your work. There is such a thing as “proximity blindness”; it is when you can’t see the forest for the trees. When you have proximity blindness, what you need is to back away and seek a broader perspective. Look at things from God’s point of view. See things from a better vantage point. When you are too focused on the details in a situation, you might not be able to see the bigger picture to really understand what is going on around you.
“In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news--man had flown!” (“Daily Bread”, December 23, 1991).
In the scripture for today, Elijah came to a cave. He was fleeing from King Ahab. As he entered the cave, Elijah was a spent man. He was down. He was depressed. All he could focus on was that the King and Queen wanted to kill him, he was fleeing for his life (1 Kings 19:10), the people weren’t listening to his preaching (1 Kings 19:9), God’s altars were being desecrated, and prophets were dying for the faith. All these rejections laid heavily on Elijah’s heart. Each downturn in the spiritual life of Israel took its toll. Elijah was just the shell of a man. He wanted to give up. Elijah was missing the big picture.
In the months previous to entering that cave, God had done some spectacular things through Elijah. The prophets of Baal were defeated. The King and Queen were given clear messages of God’s sovereignty. The people of Israel had rebuilt the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. God’s word was being proclaimed throughout the land. By the hand of Elijah, a child was even raised from the dead! In the previous few days before entering that cave, Elijah was fed by angels not once, but twice! Over and over, God worked in and around Elijah. Still, all that Elijah could see were the negatives, the problems, the annoyances, the threats, and the challenges.
God met Elijah there at the cave. God would not let him stew in his depression. God told Elijah to get back to work. God gave Elijah a new perspective. God mentioned that seven thousand men had remained pure and faithful to God. Those seven thousand would join him in reigniting faith in God throughout the land. Added to that, God had raised up Elisha to extend Elijah’s ministry. God was doing amazing things. It was just difficult for Elijah to see it! He couldn’t see the forest for the trees!
If a business owner gets bogged down by day-to-day challenges, she may not be able to muster a good business plan for the future. If a pastor is overburdened by immediate needs, he may lose the ability to see all that God is doing in the congregation. If a parent focuses on all that a child cannot do, she may miss the amazing things a child has learned. When you deal with a bunch of small annoyances, you may lose the ability to perceive the progress in your situation.
Spiritually, it is common to lose your perspective as well. If you have a sick child, a friend with cancer, a mother-in-law who needs some work in her kitchen, two presents to buy before Christmas, the doorbell ringing with a delivery, the dog next door barking at odd hours, and so much more, you might find yourself too harried to pray. If you let too many annoyances get to you, soon your mind won’t settle enough for you to center your thoughts on God. If you focus your attention for too long on your health problems or worries or insecurities, you might just overlook the person who needs you in that moment. If you talk about yourself too much, a friend might not share with you a deep hurt or pain.
Are you one to get caught up in the little things? Do you wear yourself out focusing on little annoyances? Even great people of the Bible like Elijah made the same mistake. Will you make God straighten you out, or will you be able to grasp the bigger picture on your own?
“In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news--man had flown!” (“Daily Bread”, December 23, 1991).
In the scripture for today, Elijah came to a cave. He was fleeing from King Ahab. As he entered the cave, Elijah was a spent man. He was down. He was depressed. All he could focus on was that the King and Queen wanted to kill him, he was fleeing for his life (1 Kings 19:10), the people weren’t listening to his preaching (1 Kings 19:9), God’s altars were being desecrated, and prophets were dying for the faith. All these rejections laid heavily on Elijah’s heart. Each downturn in the spiritual life of Israel took its toll. Elijah was just the shell of a man. He wanted to give up. Elijah was missing the big picture.
In the months previous to entering that cave, God had done some spectacular things through Elijah. The prophets of Baal were defeated. The King and Queen were given clear messages of God’s sovereignty. The people of Israel had rebuilt the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. God’s word was being proclaimed throughout the land. By the hand of Elijah, a child was even raised from the dead! In the previous few days before entering that cave, Elijah was fed by angels not once, but twice! Over and over, God worked in and around Elijah. Still, all that Elijah could see were the negatives, the problems, the annoyances, the threats, and the challenges.
God met Elijah there at the cave. God would not let him stew in his depression. God told Elijah to get back to work. God gave Elijah a new perspective. God mentioned that seven thousand men had remained pure and faithful to God. Those seven thousand would join him in reigniting faith in God throughout the land. Added to that, God had raised up Elisha to extend Elijah’s ministry. God was doing amazing things. It was just difficult for Elijah to see it! He couldn’t see the forest for the trees!
If a business owner gets bogged down by day-to-day challenges, she may not be able to muster a good business plan for the future. If a pastor is overburdened by immediate needs, he may lose the ability to see all that God is doing in the congregation. If a parent focuses on all that a child cannot do, she may miss the amazing things a child has learned. When you deal with a bunch of small annoyances, you may lose the ability to perceive the progress in your situation.
Spiritually, it is common to lose your perspective as well. If you have a sick child, a friend with cancer, a mother-in-law who needs some work in her kitchen, two presents to buy before Christmas, the doorbell ringing with a delivery, the dog next door barking at odd hours, and so much more, you might find yourself too harried to pray. If you let too many annoyances get to you, soon your mind won’t settle enough for you to center your thoughts on God. If you focus your attention for too long on your health problems or worries or insecurities, you might just overlook the person who needs you in that moment. If you talk about yourself too much, a friend might not share with you a deep hurt or pain.
Are you one to get caught up in the little things? Do you wear yourself out focusing on little annoyances? Even great people of the Bible like Elijah made the same mistake. Will you make God straighten you out, or will you be able to grasp the bigger picture on your own?
January 28
“Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.” (Mark 14:50, NLT)
Sometimes, you don’t know what you don’t know! Every now and then a bit of news may catch you off guard. Your wife may make a comment about a bucket list item that surprises you. Your daughter tells you that she wants to be a gender studies major. A pastor reveals from the pulpit that he is having an affair. A best friend betrays you. There are moments in life when you may think you got a person or situation figured out, but then you are surprised or even shocked when things aren’t quite the way you perceived them. The assumptions you made about a person were not even close to reality. Your first impression of a new boss was all off. Your loved one had a hidden past. There is a lot you don’t know about life. Even small misunderstandings are commonplace.
“Cleveland Amory tells this story about Judge John Lowell of Boston. One morning the judge was at breakfast, his face hidden behind the morning paper. A frightened maid tiptoed into the room and whispered something to Mrs. Lowell's ear. The lady paled slightly, then squared her shoulders resolutely and said, "John, the cook has burned the oatmeal, and there is no more in the house. I am afraid that this morning, for the first time in seventeen years, you will have to go without your oatmeal."
The judge, without putting down his paper, answered, "It's all right, my dear. Frankly, I never cared much for it anyhow."” (“Bits & Pieces”, March 4, 1993, p. 23).
Just when you think you have a person figured out, you find out you don’t!
In the scripture for today, the disciples “deserted” Jesus. They “ran away” (Mark 14:50). After Judas led the armed guard to Jesus and they arrested Him, the disciples fled. The disciples were not ready for what happened. They were so shocked that they could only run away, unable to fathom what was occurring in the Garden of Gethsemane. They did not see it coming. They didn’t believe Jesus would be betrayed by Judas! They hadn’t considered what they would do if Jesus was arrested. With no plan in place, all they could do was run away in fear for their lives.
God knows a lot more than you do. God sees a lot more than you see. It’s easy to be blindsided by wrong assumptions, misread interpretations, or hidden agendas. People are not fully transparent. Life is complicated. There is much that goes on unseen. Don’t overestimate your understanding of a situation. Don’t overlook the belief that you could be wrong. The absolute truth may often surprise you.
I am amazed at people who are overconfident in their abilities, their understanding, their knowledge, their intelligence. Those very same people do not realize that their arrogance may get them into hot water. Their assumptions may lead them astray. Their false beliefs might place them in danger or lead them down a path they should not go. When you are unaware of the truth, it can set you up for a fall. Like the disciples in the scripture for today, you may have no understanding of what is transpiring. You might even find yourself running away when all your well-laid plans fall apart.
For months and months, Jesus explained to his disciples that his life was in danger. Even hours before Judas arrived in Gethsemane with the soldiers, Jesus had hinted at the betrayal during the Last Supper. A scholar once looked at all the hints Jesus gave of his impending arrest and crucifixion. There were found at least twenty times when Jesus hinted at this looming fate. Still, the disciples were caught completely off guard when Judas arrived in Gethsemane. They didn’t know what they didn’t know!
When Jenni found her husband’s shirt in the laundry basket with a telephone number in the pocket, she figured the number was from work. When he arrived home smelling of a woman’s perfume, Jenni figured it was because he worked in an office with three other women. When her husband’s charge account included several meals at restaurants that she did not know about, Jenni grew suspicious. Eight months after the affair began, Jenni realized what her husband had done.
Jenni approached her best friend with the awful news. “He is cheating on me. I just confronted him, and he owned up to it. I hate him.”
The best friend replied, “I thought you knew, Jenni. People have been talking about it for months since he was spotted at a restaurant with a woman from work.”
Jenni had no idea. She looked back at all the clues she had overlooked, all the signs she had misread. Her life was a mess, and she was paralyzed with fear for the future. Despite being highly intelligent and very attentive, Jenni missed the obvious. She was blindsided by the truth.
Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 10:16: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” If you want to be wise, it is important to realize that you may not know enough to see the big picture. You need to learn to recognize situations where you are vulnerable due to unknowns. It is crucial you be cognizant of dangerous scenarios. Spiritually, it is vital that you be aware of the lure of temptations and the presence of evil. Prayer can help you to examine a situation more thoroughly. The Holy Spirit may hint at your conscience about the presence of important clues to the truth. All in all, trust in God, who knows all. Learn to listen to God’s voice, for God watches your back. Lean on God’s Word to direct your steps. Don't assume you are invulnerable to the wiles of the devil!
“Cleveland Amory tells this story about Judge John Lowell of Boston. One morning the judge was at breakfast, his face hidden behind the morning paper. A frightened maid tiptoed into the room and whispered something to Mrs. Lowell's ear. The lady paled slightly, then squared her shoulders resolutely and said, "John, the cook has burned the oatmeal, and there is no more in the house. I am afraid that this morning, for the first time in seventeen years, you will have to go without your oatmeal."
The judge, without putting down his paper, answered, "It's all right, my dear. Frankly, I never cared much for it anyhow."” (“Bits & Pieces”, March 4, 1993, p. 23).
Just when you think you have a person figured out, you find out you don’t!
In the scripture for today, the disciples “deserted” Jesus. They “ran away” (Mark 14:50). After Judas led the armed guard to Jesus and they arrested Him, the disciples fled. The disciples were not ready for what happened. They were so shocked that they could only run away, unable to fathom what was occurring in the Garden of Gethsemane. They did not see it coming. They didn’t believe Jesus would be betrayed by Judas! They hadn’t considered what they would do if Jesus was arrested. With no plan in place, all they could do was run away in fear for their lives.
God knows a lot more than you do. God sees a lot more than you see. It’s easy to be blindsided by wrong assumptions, misread interpretations, or hidden agendas. People are not fully transparent. Life is complicated. There is much that goes on unseen. Don’t overestimate your understanding of a situation. Don’t overlook the belief that you could be wrong. The absolute truth may often surprise you.
I am amazed at people who are overconfident in their abilities, their understanding, their knowledge, their intelligence. Those very same people do not realize that their arrogance may get them into hot water. Their assumptions may lead them astray. Their false beliefs might place them in danger or lead them down a path they should not go. When you are unaware of the truth, it can set you up for a fall. Like the disciples in the scripture for today, you may have no understanding of what is transpiring. You might even find yourself running away when all your well-laid plans fall apart.
For months and months, Jesus explained to his disciples that his life was in danger. Even hours before Judas arrived in Gethsemane with the soldiers, Jesus had hinted at the betrayal during the Last Supper. A scholar once looked at all the hints Jesus gave of his impending arrest and crucifixion. There were found at least twenty times when Jesus hinted at this looming fate. Still, the disciples were caught completely off guard when Judas arrived in Gethsemane. They didn’t know what they didn’t know!
When Jenni found her husband’s shirt in the laundry basket with a telephone number in the pocket, she figured the number was from work. When he arrived home smelling of a woman’s perfume, Jenni figured it was because he worked in an office with three other women. When her husband’s charge account included several meals at restaurants that she did not know about, Jenni grew suspicious. Eight months after the affair began, Jenni realized what her husband had done.
Jenni approached her best friend with the awful news. “He is cheating on me. I just confronted him, and he owned up to it. I hate him.”
The best friend replied, “I thought you knew, Jenni. People have been talking about it for months since he was spotted at a restaurant with a woman from work.”
Jenni had no idea. She looked back at all the clues she had overlooked, all the signs she had misread. Her life was a mess, and she was paralyzed with fear for the future. Despite being highly intelligent and very attentive, Jenni missed the obvious. She was blindsided by the truth.
Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 10:16: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” If you want to be wise, it is important to realize that you may not know enough to see the big picture. You need to learn to recognize situations where you are vulnerable due to unknowns. It is crucial you be cognizant of dangerous scenarios. Spiritually, it is vital that you be aware of the lure of temptations and the presence of evil. Prayer can help you to examine a situation more thoroughly. The Holy Spirit may hint at your conscience about the presence of important clues to the truth. All in all, trust in God, who knows all. Learn to listen to God’s voice, for God watches your back. Lean on God’s Word to direct your steps. Don't assume you are invulnerable to the wiles of the devil!
January 30
“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12 (ESV)
The book of Revelation tells of the end of the world. It also describes Judgment Day. Part of the judgment before God during that great and terrible time is listed in Revelation 20:19. In that verse we are informed that all the dead are required to “be judged by what they had done” in life. They aren’t judged by their faith in God alone. Their decisions and acts and deeds and more are all brought forth. Depending on what is found, a person will receive eternal life in Heaven or damnation to Hell. What you do in your life, the promises that you make and keep, the actions and words you use to fulfill those promises are all binding on your future.
Romans 14:12, our scripture for today, carries this same theme. It, too, is a warning that every person “will give an account of himself to God”. Your actions and decisions and deeds and choices are all being recorded by God. Your faith will be examined. As a whole, these things will inform God’s decision at the end of days. It is very important that you realize today that you are responsible for your deeds and choices. You are responsible for the level of your faith and your commitment to God. You are responsible for the decisions you made in your life and the actions that followed. How responsible are you?
As the teacher of the second-grade class turned to the blackboard and began writing with her chalk, one of the naughty boys in back of the class pulled back a rubber band and let fly a spit-laden piece of paper right into the head of a girl in the front row. After her yell of surprise, the teacher turned around to find out what caused the commotion. The girl in the front row said she was hit by something. The teacher asked about the culprit. Several of the youngsters pointed at one or the other in the class. Two of the girls each named a different guilty party. All in all, the teacher could not pin the blame on any in the class. As she went back to the board to continue her writing, the guilty boy smiled to himself. He told himself he had gotten by with it. He hadn’t. God knew what he did. Also, the two boys on either side of the guilty party knew not to trust the culprit. Every action in life carries consequences. Even inaction can make you responsible for doing something wrong.
There are many reasons that people don’t want to take responsibility for things in life. Some don’t want to face the consequences, like our naughty boy in the second-grade class. Some don’t like having the pressure. There are those who don’t like being blamed if something goes wrong. On and on the list goes. People don’t like taking responsibility for their own actions, failures, consequences and so much more. But whether you like it or not, someone will be held responsible for every action and consequence come Judgment Day.
“Consider this story told by Bernard L. Brown, Jr., president of the Kennestone Regional Health Care System in the state of Georgia….
Brown once worked in a hospital where a patient knocked over a cup of water, which spilled on the floor beside the patient's bed. The patient was afraid he might slip on the water if he got out of the bed, so he asked a nurse's aide to mop it up. The patient didn't know it, but the hospital policy said that small spills were the responsibility of the nurse's aides while large spills were to be mopped up by the hospital's housekeeping group.
The nurse's aide decided the spill was a large one and she called the housekeeping department. A housekeeper arrived and declared the spill a small one. An argument followed.
"It's not my responsibility," said the nurse's aide, "because it's a large puddle."
The housekeeper did not agree. "Well, it's not mine," she said, "the puddle is too small."
The exasperated patient listened for a time, then took a pitcher of water from his night table and poured the whole thing on the floor. "Is that a big enough puddle now for you two to decide?" he asked.
It was, and that was the end of the argument.” (“Bits & Pieces”, September 16, 1993, p. 22-24).
You may not like the fact that someone is always responsible for each action in life. You may not be happy that God is watching and recording every move you make. Whether you like it or not doesn’t matter. God is still going to assign responsibility to your actions. So, what are you going to do about it?
Can God count on you to make responsible choices? Are you willing to stand behind your decisions? Are there some actions from your past that make you ashamed or regretful? Right now, you need to work through your choices in life. You need to work through with God and others those things that need to be rectified, atoned for, set straight, fixed. You still have time. Once you die, every action of your life is entered in God’s books. It is set it stone. Until the day you die, you can own up to your mistakes and sins. You can make right so many things.
What would make you more responsible in God’s eyes today? What decision from your past can you work through with God? What still needs to be forgiven before you breathe your last?
Romans 14:12, our scripture for today, carries this same theme. It, too, is a warning that every person “will give an account of himself to God”. Your actions and decisions and deeds and choices are all being recorded by God. Your faith will be examined. As a whole, these things will inform God’s decision at the end of days. It is very important that you realize today that you are responsible for your deeds and choices. You are responsible for the level of your faith and your commitment to God. You are responsible for the decisions you made in your life and the actions that followed. How responsible are you?
As the teacher of the second-grade class turned to the blackboard and began writing with her chalk, one of the naughty boys in back of the class pulled back a rubber band and let fly a spit-laden piece of paper right into the head of a girl in the front row. After her yell of surprise, the teacher turned around to find out what caused the commotion. The girl in the front row said she was hit by something. The teacher asked about the culprit. Several of the youngsters pointed at one or the other in the class. Two of the girls each named a different guilty party. All in all, the teacher could not pin the blame on any in the class. As she went back to the board to continue her writing, the guilty boy smiled to himself. He told himself he had gotten by with it. He hadn’t. God knew what he did. Also, the two boys on either side of the guilty party knew not to trust the culprit. Every action in life carries consequences. Even inaction can make you responsible for doing something wrong.
There are many reasons that people don’t want to take responsibility for things in life. Some don’t want to face the consequences, like our naughty boy in the second-grade class. Some don’t like having the pressure. There are those who don’t like being blamed if something goes wrong. On and on the list goes. People don’t like taking responsibility for their own actions, failures, consequences and so much more. But whether you like it or not, someone will be held responsible for every action and consequence come Judgment Day.
“Consider this story told by Bernard L. Brown, Jr., president of the Kennestone Regional Health Care System in the state of Georgia….
Brown once worked in a hospital where a patient knocked over a cup of water, which spilled on the floor beside the patient's bed. The patient was afraid he might slip on the water if he got out of the bed, so he asked a nurse's aide to mop it up. The patient didn't know it, but the hospital policy said that small spills were the responsibility of the nurse's aides while large spills were to be mopped up by the hospital's housekeeping group.
The nurse's aide decided the spill was a large one and she called the housekeeping department. A housekeeper arrived and declared the spill a small one. An argument followed.
"It's not my responsibility," said the nurse's aide, "because it's a large puddle."
The housekeeper did not agree. "Well, it's not mine," she said, "the puddle is too small."
The exasperated patient listened for a time, then took a pitcher of water from his night table and poured the whole thing on the floor. "Is that a big enough puddle now for you two to decide?" he asked.
It was, and that was the end of the argument.” (“Bits & Pieces”, September 16, 1993, p. 22-24).
You may not like the fact that someone is always responsible for each action in life. You may not be happy that God is watching and recording every move you make. Whether you like it or not doesn’t matter. God is still going to assign responsibility to your actions. So, what are you going to do about it?
Can God count on you to make responsible choices? Are you willing to stand behind your decisions? Are there some actions from your past that make you ashamed or regretful? Right now, you need to work through your choices in life. You need to work through with God and others those things that need to be rectified, atoned for, set straight, fixed. You still have time. Once you die, every action of your life is entered in God’s books. It is set it stone. Until the day you die, you can own up to your mistakes and sins. You can make right so many things.
What would make you more responsible in God’s eyes today? What decision from your past can you work through with God? What still needs to be forgiven before you breathe your last?
October 31
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
When you make a commitment to God through Jesus Christ, you become a Christian. As you live out the promises and obedience given that relationship, you become a faithful and true Christian. The basis for the word "Christian" is Christ, the Messiah. Thus, when you live for Jesus' sake, you become a "Christian" through that relationship with Jesus. An "Serbian" owes a commitment to Serbia. A "Mohammedan" is an ancient term for one who follows Mohammed. A "Christian" owes his or her life to Christ. That relationship should be the center of one's life and form the crux of who you are.
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!