January 1
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
(2 Peter 3:18, ESV)
(2 Peter 3:18, ESV)
My parents love to grow different flowers and plants. Every year, they set aside an area of their backyard to grow tomato plants. They also grow flowers like Hibiscus. Every now and then, they run into problems. Sometimes, the winters are so harsh that perennials are damaged. The plants just won’t grow. The flowers won’t appear. Buds won’t form. When the plants seem to struggle, lack the ability to flower, or die back, they call on a relative who has studied extensively in gardening and soil management. Often, what they find is that the soil is missing a nutrient, there is too little sun, or the weeds have stifled growth. When the problem is corrected, often there is a growth spurt in the plants and an increased harvest.
The spiritual life is a lot like my parent’s garden. There can be periods of growth and decline. Sometimes, harsh times can stifle growth. The lack of good nutrition or exercise or rest can often lead not only to physical problems or disease, but the loss of spiritual vitality. As weeds can stifle the growth of plants if not cut back, little sins and bad habits can decrease spiritual strength or enjoyment if not eliminated. Plants need certain nutrients to blossom or produce fruit. The spiritual life also needs certain conditions to grow and produce spiritual fruit. Even Jesus noticed commonalities between plant care and spiritual formation. That is why He spoke of reaping and sowing, mustard seeds, the fig tree, and many other aspects of plant life in his parables and teachings!
The second letter of Peter contains the scripture for today. In 2 Peter 3:18, there is found a command to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”. Yes, in the original Greek of this verse, the word “grow” is a command not just a regular verb. That means that Peter expected Christians who read his words to “grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus”. It was not a suggestion but a demand. Why did Peter use the word “grow” as a demand and command? Because, like plants, the spiritual life will not grow and bloom without the purposeful work and intention of the follower of Jesus. The greatest growth in faith does not come without care, effort, time, and patience just as in nature.
In my second church, I became very close to a member of the congregation. He and I traveled to a conference together. For several hours in the car, driving to and from the conference each day, we talked about our history and family and work and church projects. The conversations also drifted to spiritual issues, favorite Bible passages, and Bible study. At one point, the member spoke about his dislike of reading the Bible. He said parts of the Bible were difficult to understand. He expressed frustration when he made a New Year’s resolution to read the Bible every day for a year, which lasted about two weeks before he gave up.
After listening to the member’s complaint, I asked, “You are a farmer. Does it take a lot of time and patience and hard work and knowledge to be a good farmer?”
“Of course,” he replied. “Anybody who says different isn’t doing it right!” he said as he beamed with pride. He was a great farmer, with large lands and very good yields.
I responded, “What would you say to a friend of mine who gave up on farming because it took too much hard work and patience?”
The farmer responded, “I’d say he needs to get dedicated and learn more about the land and the crops.”
I turned to him with a smile and teased, “Well, the same thing could be said to a man who gave up on reading his Bible after two weeks. You need to get dedicated and learn more about what you are reading! And, I’d love to teach you some awesome things about your Bible and our Lord!”
Not only did we become good friends on that trip, that farmer never missed a Bible study class at that church. He became one of my most dedicated Bible students, showing his desire to be closer to Jesus and learn more about the depths of God’s Word.
In the letters Peter wrote that are found in our Bible, he included warnings against false prophets and false teachers in the churches (2 Peter 2:1). Peter believed that growing in the “grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ” helped not only to bring one closer to God, but it also prevented the spread of lies and falsehoods in the church. The Believer’s Bible Commentary makes note of this when it reads, “Peter teaches that continued progress in divine things is a great protection against the peril of false teachers. There must be a twofold growth—in grace and in knowledge. Grace is the practical demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit. Growth in grace is not increased head knowledge or tireless activity; it is increasing likeness to the Lord Jesus. Knowledge means acquaintance with the Lord through the word. Growth in knowledge means increasing study of and subjection to His words, works, and ways.” (William MacDonald, p. 2304). Faithfulness involves continually growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus for your own spiritual formation as well as for the health and prosperity of the wider church.
In her reading of this scripture, Diana Wallis made the following conclusion: “The tendency of the heart, even in the best, to depart from God furnishes powerful reason for the exhortation to grow in grace, for in religion, there is no such thing as standing still. A Christian who makes no advancement is going backward. The only course of safety, therefore, as well as comfort, is to make vigorous efforts to grow in grace.” (Take Heart, p. 379). Based on her understanding, either you are growing in your faith or you are declining. There is no standing still. Your knowledge of spiritual things is either increasing or it will falter and wither on the vine.
If Jesus were to ask you today whether your faith is increasing or faltering, what would you say? If HE would question whether your knowledge of God is growing or declining, how would you respond? Do you spend the time to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word? Does your prayer life need a little fertilizer or a complete transplant? Is your spiritual life growing by leaps and bounds or in a death spiral? How would you characterize your spiritual life from God’s perspective? Does it resemble a healthy hibiscus, growing more beautiful each day? Or is it more like a weedy garden, needing a lot of effort and a good deal of patience?
The spiritual life is a lot like my parent’s garden. There can be periods of growth and decline. Sometimes, harsh times can stifle growth. The lack of good nutrition or exercise or rest can often lead not only to physical problems or disease, but the loss of spiritual vitality. As weeds can stifle the growth of plants if not cut back, little sins and bad habits can decrease spiritual strength or enjoyment if not eliminated. Plants need certain nutrients to blossom or produce fruit. The spiritual life also needs certain conditions to grow and produce spiritual fruit. Even Jesus noticed commonalities between plant care and spiritual formation. That is why He spoke of reaping and sowing, mustard seeds, the fig tree, and many other aspects of plant life in his parables and teachings!
The second letter of Peter contains the scripture for today. In 2 Peter 3:18, there is found a command to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”. Yes, in the original Greek of this verse, the word “grow” is a command not just a regular verb. That means that Peter expected Christians who read his words to “grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus”. It was not a suggestion but a demand. Why did Peter use the word “grow” as a demand and command? Because, like plants, the spiritual life will not grow and bloom without the purposeful work and intention of the follower of Jesus. The greatest growth in faith does not come without care, effort, time, and patience just as in nature.
In my second church, I became very close to a member of the congregation. He and I traveled to a conference together. For several hours in the car, driving to and from the conference each day, we talked about our history and family and work and church projects. The conversations also drifted to spiritual issues, favorite Bible passages, and Bible study. At one point, the member spoke about his dislike of reading the Bible. He said parts of the Bible were difficult to understand. He expressed frustration when he made a New Year’s resolution to read the Bible every day for a year, which lasted about two weeks before he gave up.
After listening to the member’s complaint, I asked, “You are a farmer. Does it take a lot of time and patience and hard work and knowledge to be a good farmer?”
“Of course,” he replied. “Anybody who says different isn’t doing it right!” he said as he beamed with pride. He was a great farmer, with large lands and very good yields.
I responded, “What would you say to a friend of mine who gave up on farming because it took too much hard work and patience?”
The farmer responded, “I’d say he needs to get dedicated and learn more about the land and the crops.”
I turned to him with a smile and teased, “Well, the same thing could be said to a man who gave up on reading his Bible after two weeks. You need to get dedicated and learn more about what you are reading! And, I’d love to teach you some awesome things about your Bible and our Lord!”
Not only did we become good friends on that trip, that farmer never missed a Bible study class at that church. He became one of my most dedicated Bible students, showing his desire to be closer to Jesus and learn more about the depths of God’s Word.
In the letters Peter wrote that are found in our Bible, he included warnings against false prophets and false teachers in the churches (2 Peter 2:1). Peter believed that growing in the “grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ” helped not only to bring one closer to God, but it also prevented the spread of lies and falsehoods in the church. The Believer’s Bible Commentary makes note of this when it reads, “Peter teaches that continued progress in divine things is a great protection against the peril of false teachers. There must be a twofold growth—in grace and in knowledge. Grace is the practical demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit. Growth in grace is not increased head knowledge or tireless activity; it is increasing likeness to the Lord Jesus. Knowledge means acquaintance with the Lord through the word. Growth in knowledge means increasing study of and subjection to His words, works, and ways.” (William MacDonald, p. 2304). Faithfulness involves continually growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus for your own spiritual formation as well as for the health and prosperity of the wider church.
In her reading of this scripture, Diana Wallis made the following conclusion: “The tendency of the heart, even in the best, to depart from God furnishes powerful reason for the exhortation to grow in grace, for in religion, there is no such thing as standing still. A Christian who makes no advancement is going backward. The only course of safety, therefore, as well as comfort, is to make vigorous efforts to grow in grace.” (Take Heart, p. 379). Based on her understanding, either you are growing in your faith or you are declining. There is no standing still. Your knowledge of spiritual things is either increasing or it will falter and wither on the vine.
If Jesus were to ask you today whether your faith is increasing or faltering, what would you say? If HE would question whether your knowledge of God is growing or declining, how would you respond? Do you spend the time to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word? Does your prayer life need a little fertilizer or a complete transplant? Is your spiritual life growing by leaps and bounds or in a death spiral? How would you characterize your spiritual life from God’s perspective? Does it resemble a healthy hibiscus, growing more beautiful each day? Or is it more like a weedy garden, needing a lot of effort and a good deal of patience?
January 4
“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7–8, NLT)
I find it interesting that Christians don’t understand the connection between worry and fear and anxiety and the lack of faith. An atheist doesn’t believe in God, because they “can’t see God”. Though this is a matter of faith and of understanding, Christians look at atheists and think to themselves, “How can you NOT see evidence of God? It’s all around us!” And yet, those same Christians who can’t understand the lack of faith by an atheist will turn right around and lack faith in God themselves in another way! How? By being consumed in worry and fear and anxiety. If you believe in God with your whole heart, there are hundreds of scriptures that point to God’s providence, God’s care and protection, and God’s love and assurance. It is a lack of faith by Christians that they get mired in fear and worry and insecurities.
In the daily meditational, Grace for the Moment, the author includes the following insight into this matter:
“We worry. We worry about the IRS and the SAT and the FBI.… We worry that we won’t have enough money, and when we have money we worry that we won’t manage it well. We worry that the world will end before the parking meter expires. We worry what the dog thinks if he sees us step out of the shower. We worry that someday we’ll learn that fat-free yogurt was fattening.
Honestly, now. Did God save you so you would fret? Would he teach you to walk just to watch you fall? Would he be nailed to the cross for your sins and then disregard your prayers? Come on. Is Scripture teasing us when it reads, “He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go”? (Ps. 91:11).
I don’t think so either.”
(Max Lucado, p. 18)
Why do Christians fret and fume and worry about a thousand things if God is in control? Instead of focusing your attention on worry while growing anxious in doing so, let your heart and soul and mind rest in the Lord while you work on the problems around you. How can worry and anxiety help the Christian? Do they not mostly serve to undermine your trust in God and fill you with insecurities?
While studying the history of Rome during World War 2, I found story after story about the hardships suffered during the war. The German leadership was constantly at odds with city leadership and the pope. There were raids and tribunals. People were shot on sight for any sign of subversion or sabotage or collaboration with Britain or America. Food and electricity were infrequent commodities. Bombing and shelling were indiscriminate killers. There was the constant threat of intimidation, incarceration, torture, or death. War was a constant source of disillusionment and hardship. Despite all these terrible times, many Christians wrote about some of their most fond memories occurring during the war. They had memories of sharing food, huddling close together to celebrate Christmas, helping one another through trauma, and worshipping together despite raids and threats and damage and shelling. I found it very interesting that, looking back, these people were not incapacitated by worry and fear. Instead, being filled with the love of Christ, they were motivated to TRUST MORE in God’s grace and WORK TOGETHER to overcome the hardships.
Our scripture for today from the prophet Jeremiah came at a critical time in the history of Judah. War was upon them. Threats of invasion were ever-present. Despite all the anxiety of the times, Jeremiah wrote that the faithful who “have made the Lord their hope and confidence” are “blessed” (Jeremiah 17:7). Because of their faith AND because of their lack of anxiety, the faithful resembled “trees planted along a riverbank”. They “are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8). Essentially, these faithful people in the time of Jeremiah set aside their worry and fear in order to trust in the grace of God. While surrounded by political tumult and military threats, they simply put their trust in the Lord. They were convinced that God would be present and powerful.
The world is full of naysayers and warmongers and fear-dispensers. They “pedal” their worry and fear. They make money off the misery of others. They enjoy it when people are motivated by worry or become unsettled with fear. It makes people easier to control! Political entities use fearmongering and exaggerate threats to manipulate the masses and increase tax revenue. The media overblows or even fabricates stories to sell headlines. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the emotions and motivated by the false narratives. You may be convinced to replace trust in God with fear for tomorrow. Don’t do it!
Your God is master of all! HE created the world and understands so much more of the ways of this world. HE can see the spiritual warring and is not swayed by human maneuvering. God is able to see through the smoke and mirrors to a real understanding of lies and truth. Scripture is there to bring you encouragement. The Holy Spirit is around you in this moment to bring comfort and assurance. Jesus is your Savior and Redeemer. Heaven is your future hope. God’s angels watch over you even now. Why be paralyzed by fear and worry and insecurities? Do you not absolutely put your trust in God?
If you find yourself mired in worry, place your trust in God and find comfort in prayer. Then, let go of your insecurities and get to the tasks God sets before you. Anxiety never solved any problem. Worry won’t empower but only drain you. God is your strength. Lean on HIM. Trust in HIS power.
In the daily meditational, Grace for the Moment, the author includes the following insight into this matter:
“We worry. We worry about the IRS and the SAT and the FBI.… We worry that we won’t have enough money, and when we have money we worry that we won’t manage it well. We worry that the world will end before the parking meter expires. We worry what the dog thinks if he sees us step out of the shower. We worry that someday we’ll learn that fat-free yogurt was fattening.
Honestly, now. Did God save you so you would fret? Would he teach you to walk just to watch you fall? Would he be nailed to the cross for your sins and then disregard your prayers? Come on. Is Scripture teasing us when it reads, “He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go”? (Ps. 91:11).
I don’t think so either.”
(Max Lucado, p. 18)
Why do Christians fret and fume and worry about a thousand things if God is in control? Instead of focusing your attention on worry while growing anxious in doing so, let your heart and soul and mind rest in the Lord while you work on the problems around you. How can worry and anxiety help the Christian? Do they not mostly serve to undermine your trust in God and fill you with insecurities?
While studying the history of Rome during World War 2, I found story after story about the hardships suffered during the war. The German leadership was constantly at odds with city leadership and the pope. There were raids and tribunals. People were shot on sight for any sign of subversion or sabotage or collaboration with Britain or America. Food and electricity were infrequent commodities. Bombing and shelling were indiscriminate killers. There was the constant threat of intimidation, incarceration, torture, or death. War was a constant source of disillusionment and hardship. Despite all these terrible times, many Christians wrote about some of their most fond memories occurring during the war. They had memories of sharing food, huddling close together to celebrate Christmas, helping one another through trauma, and worshipping together despite raids and threats and damage and shelling. I found it very interesting that, looking back, these people were not incapacitated by worry and fear. Instead, being filled with the love of Christ, they were motivated to TRUST MORE in God’s grace and WORK TOGETHER to overcome the hardships.
Our scripture for today from the prophet Jeremiah came at a critical time in the history of Judah. War was upon them. Threats of invasion were ever-present. Despite all the anxiety of the times, Jeremiah wrote that the faithful who “have made the Lord their hope and confidence” are “blessed” (Jeremiah 17:7). Because of their faith AND because of their lack of anxiety, the faithful resembled “trees planted along a riverbank”. They “are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8). Essentially, these faithful people in the time of Jeremiah set aside their worry and fear in order to trust in the grace of God. While surrounded by political tumult and military threats, they simply put their trust in the Lord. They were convinced that God would be present and powerful.
The world is full of naysayers and warmongers and fear-dispensers. They “pedal” their worry and fear. They make money off the misery of others. They enjoy it when people are motivated by worry or become unsettled with fear. It makes people easier to control! Political entities use fearmongering and exaggerate threats to manipulate the masses and increase tax revenue. The media overblows or even fabricates stories to sell headlines. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the emotions and motivated by the false narratives. You may be convinced to replace trust in God with fear for tomorrow. Don’t do it!
Your God is master of all! HE created the world and understands so much more of the ways of this world. HE can see the spiritual warring and is not swayed by human maneuvering. God is able to see through the smoke and mirrors to a real understanding of lies and truth. Scripture is there to bring you encouragement. The Holy Spirit is around you in this moment to bring comfort and assurance. Jesus is your Savior and Redeemer. Heaven is your future hope. God’s angels watch over you even now. Why be paralyzed by fear and worry and insecurities? Do you not absolutely put your trust in God?
If you find yourself mired in worry, place your trust in God and find comfort in prayer. Then, let go of your insecurities and get to the tasks God sets before you. Anxiety never solved any problem. Worry won’t empower but only drain you. God is your strength. Lean on HIM. Trust in HIS power.
January 6
“Correct me, LORD, but only with justice— not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.” (Jeremiah 10:24, NIV84)
Josh’s bad mood had been growing for days. He noticed too many little projects left undone at home. There were noises from his old car that normally wouldn’t bother him but did that week. It all started when Josh was turned down for a promotion that he felt he deserved. Feeling overlooked and unappreciated, the rejection got to Josh. His mood turned sour. His thoughts were filled with anger and resentment.
On Wednesday, Josh was in a particularly bad mood. He yelled a little too much at the children during breakfast. He became frustrated at work when a project manager did not do things his way. After work, he shouted for five straight minutes at another motorist blocking his way while driving just under the speed limit. Then, during the dinner hour, Josh complained to his wife about the boring meal and soggy meat.
On Wednesday night, Josh went to bed. He skipped his normal prayer time because he was upset. His wife knew better than to even say, “Good night!”, fearing a tirade from his lips. However, that night, Josh had a dream. In it, he was taken back to his wedding day. He was so happy that day. Then, Josh viewed his youngest daughter telling him how much she loved him. After two more visions of good days gone by, Josh heard what he determined was the voice of God while dreaming. God said, “I have blessed you over and over. I have surrounded you with love. I have given you redemption on the cross. And you cuss out your children and push away the wife I gave you?” When Josh woke the next morning, he said to himself, “Well, God sure gave it to me last night. I got spanked good!” He spent the rest of that day spreading good cheer. He brought a smile and a little bit of happiness to every person he encountered. He learned his lesson.
Have you ever been spanked by God? Have you ever felt God hitting back hard for a sin you are committing or a destructive habit that is becoming spiritually harmful?
God’s “spankings” may be imparted during sickness, an accident, a mess, a breakdown, major disruptions to your day, harsh words from a loved one that you needed to hear, or a low point in your life. They often occur when you get in a spiral of sin, where you keep repeating a sin over and over. God’s “spankings” can be light, like the sting in your mind when you realize you were wrong. They can also be very heavy, like a doctor saying that your alcoholism has caused major liver damage and possible liver failure. Some people are too naïve or irreverent to realize when God gives a correction. Wise and faithful people know better. They know to repent and change their ways.
After years of sinning, the people of Judah had fallen away from God. The prophet Jeremiah was told that the time was coming when Judah would suffer for her insolence. God had enough. The people were worshipping idols (Jeremiah 10). Lying, slander and adultery were commonplace (Jeremiah 9). Even the priests were sinning openly against God! It had to stop. Jeremiah knew God’s wrath was coming. In our scripture for today, Jeremiah pleaded with God saying, “Correct me, O Lord, but only in justice – not in your anger…” (Jeremiah 10:24). Jeremiah wanted the people of Judah to respond in the same way… with respect and repentance. Jeremiah knew that he was a sinful man. He just hoped that his country would also recognize their own responsibility in the corruption of the land. Jeremiah desired God to correct his ways, but not overly harshly. Jeremiah knew that God had the ability to correct a person with a light hand or a very heavy hand. Jeremiah prayed and pleaded for leniency from God.
There are dozens of scriptures that speak about God’s correction. Way back in the days of Moses, this “correction” of God was noted. Deuteronomy 8:5 cautions the Israelites that “as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.” One of the most notable scriptures on the topic comes from the epistle to the Hebrews: “God disciplines those HE loves” (Hebrews 12:6). It is important that you remember that God’s doesn’t enjoy disciplining a person to see their pain and suffering. On the contrary, God disciplines those HE LOVES! God corrects people to keep them close, to spare them harm, and to protect them.
A father and son were taking a trip to see grandma. They were driving in an old Ford pickup that usually sat next to the old barn. Because the “regular” family car was in the shop for repairs, the father chose the old Ford for the short trip twenty miles away to grandma’s house. The son was looking forward to seeing his “Nana”. The boy was very close to his grandmother, often spending summer days playing on her farm.
As the old Ford lumbered along toward grandma’s house, the father slowed to a stop by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Sternly, the father reached out his hand and said, “Son, do what I say right now. Take my hand and let me pull you out this side of the truck.” The boy wanted to ask questions. His father’s harsh voice made the young boy feel fear that he had done something wrong. Just as he was about to protest, his father made “an angry face” toward him. The boy closed his mouth, grabbed his father’s hand, and was pulled out of the car. With tears in his eyes, the boy asked, “What did I do, daddy?” The father pointed back into the old Ford. There, peaking out from under the seat was a poisonous snake that had found its way into the truck while it sat next to the old barn.
To save his son’s life, that father had to interrupt their travel to remove his son from danger. For a while, the son couldn’t understand what was happening. Only later, when he saw the snake, did the boy realize the hazard under the seat. Similarly, you will be in spiritual danger at times because of poor choices, moral lapses, or the situation. Then, God needs to step in to protect you. If you dabble in a habitual sin, you may attempt to convince yourself that there are no downsides, when in fact you are treading a morally dangerous path. Then, God has to step in to correct you in order to save you from the peril that awaits down the road should you continue in that wrong direction.
A good parent does not spank a child to cause that child undue pain. The good parent would only spank a child to protect, save, help, or teach that child. I am NOT in any way advocating spanking a child is the first choice. For some children, it may even be a bad choice for discipline. However, as a child of God, you may find God “spanking” or correcting you for your own good (spanking you with justice, i.e. in Jeremiah 10:24). It might be the only corrective measure that saves your soul. Don’t overlook the benefits of a good spanking by God!
On Wednesday, Josh was in a particularly bad mood. He yelled a little too much at the children during breakfast. He became frustrated at work when a project manager did not do things his way. After work, he shouted for five straight minutes at another motorist blocking his way while driving just under the speed limit. Then, during the dinner hour, Josh complained to his wife about the boring meal and soggy meat.
On Wednesday night, Josh went to bed. He skipped his normal prayer time because he was upset. His wife knew better than to even say, “Good night!”, fearing a tirade from his lips. However, that night, Josh had a dream. In it, he was taken back to his wedding day. He was so happy that day. Then, Josh viewed his youngest daughter telling him how much she loved him. After two more visions of good days gone by, Josh heard what he determined was the voice of God while dreaming. God said, “I have blessed you over and over. I have surrounded you with love. I have given you redemption on the cross. And you cuss out your children and push away the wife I gave you?” When Josh woke the next morning, he said to himself, “Well, God sure gave it to me last night. I got spanked good!” He spent the rest of that day spreading good cheer. He brought a smile and a little bit of happiness to every person he encountered. He learned his lesson.
Have you ever been spanked by God? Have you ever felt God hitting back hard for a sin you are committing or a destructive habit that is becoming spiritually harmful?
God’s “spankings” may be imparted during sickness, an accident, a mess, a breakdown, major disruptions to your day, harsh words from a loved one that you needed to hear, or a low point in your life. They often occur when you get in a spiral of sin, where you keep repeating a sin over and over. God’s “spankings” can be light, like the sting in your mind when you realize you were wrong. They can also be very heavy, like a doctor saying that your alcoholism has caused major liver damage and possible liver failure. Some people are too naïve or irreverent to realize when God gives a correction. Wise and faithful people know better. They know to repent and change their ways.
After years of sinning, the people of Judah had fallen away from God. The prophet Jeremiah was told that the time was coming when Judah would suffer for her insolence. God had enough. The people were worshipping idols (Jeremiah 10). Lying, slander and adultery were commonplace (Jeremiah 9). Even the priests were sinning openly against God! It had to stop. Jeremiah knew God’s wrath was coming. In our scripture for today, Jeremiah pleaded with God saying, “Correct me, O Lord, but only in justice – not in your anger…” (Jeremiah 10:24). Jeremiah wanted the people of Judah to respond in the same way… with respect and repentance. Jeremiah knew that he was a sinful man. He just hoped that his country would also recognize their own responsibility in the corruption of the land. Jeremiah desired God to correct his ways, but not overly harshly. Jeremiah knew that God had the ability to correct a person with a light hand or a very heavy hand. Jeremiah prayed and pleaded for leniency from God.
There are dozens of scriptures that speak about God’s correction. Way back in the days of Moses, this “correction” of God was noted. Deuteronomy 8:5 cautions the Israelites that “as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.” One of the most notable scriptures on the topic comes from the epistle to the Hebrews: “God disciplines those HE loves” (Hebrews 12:6). It is important that you remember that God’s doesn’t enjoy disciplining a person to see their pain and suffering. On the contrary, God disciplines those HE LOVES! God corrects people to keep them close, to spare them harm, and to protect them.
A father and son were taking a trip to see grandma. They were driving in an old Ford pickup that usually sat next to the old barn. Because the “regular” family car was in the shop for repairs, the father chose the old Ford for the short trip twenty miles away to grandma’s house. The son was looking forward to seeing his “Nana”. The boy was very close to his grandmother, often spending summer days playing on her farm.
As the old Ford lumbered along toward grandma’s house, the father slowed to a stop by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Sternly, the father reached out his hand and said, “Son, do what I say right now. Take my hand and let me pull you out this side of the truck.” The boy wanted to ask questions. His father’s harsh voice made the young boy feel fear that he had done something wrong. Just as he was about to protest, his father made “an angry face” toward him. The boy closed his mouth, grabbed his father’s hand, and was pulled out of the car. With tears in his eyes, the boy asked, “What did I do, daddy?” The father pointed back into the old Ford. There, peaking out from under the seat was a poisonous snake that had found its way into the truck while it sat next to the old barn.
To save his son’s life, that father had to interrupt their travel to remove his son from danger. For a while, the son couldn’t understand what was happening. Only later, when he saw the snake, did the boy realize the hazard under the seat. Similarly, you will be in spiritual danger at times because of poor choices, moral lapses, or the situation. Then, God needs to step in to protect you. If you dabble in a habitual sin, you may attempt to convince yourself that there are no downsides, when in fact you are treading a morally dangerous path. Then, God has to step in to correct you in order to save you from the peril that awaits down the road should you continue in that wrong direction.
A good parent does not spank a child to cause that child undue pain. The good parent would only spank a child to protect, save, help, or teach that child. I am NOT in any way advocating spanking a child is the first choice. For some children, it may even be a bad choice for discipline. However, as a child of God, you may find God “spanking” or correcting you for your own good (spanking you with justice, i.e. in Jeremiah 10:24). It might be the only corrective measure that saves your soul. Don’t overlook the benefits of a good spanking by God!
January 9
“Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4, ESV)
At a liberal church in the big city, a family of four came for their usual worship. They had been members at that church for a long time; the children were baptized there, even the mother had been baptized there as a child. As long time church goers, the family had seen some changes throughout the years, but none of those changes would ever compare to what happened after Pastor Jennifer arrived.
Pastor Jennifer was the congregation’s first openly gay pastor. She was a big advocate for gay rights and transsexual advocacy. Though the scriptures were read in the church every Sunday (but only using inclusive language to not offend!), Pastor Jennifer’s sermons were usually about how Jesus was an advocate for the poor, for those who were marginalized, and for the hurting. She often mentioned that in modern times, Jesus would be pro-choice, pro-LGBTQIA+, and defend other modern liberal causes. For more than a year, the family listened to Pastor Jennifer and were supportive of her ministry.
Then, one Sunday, a crossdressing man walked into the sanctuary for worship. He/she was a visitor. This man dressed like a woman, wore her hair like a woman, and acted like a woman. His low voice and muscularity betrayed that he was a man. After attending worship for a few weeks, he began to be accepted by many in the church. The young family of four, though, had some issues.
First, the father didn’t like how people in the church praised the man for his “faithfulness to himself and his love for crossdressing.” Even the pastor, upon seeing him/her one Sunday, not only welcomed him/her but called him a spiritual hero from the pulpit. After he/she was constantly lifted up as an example, the children began to ask questions about sexuality, dressing up, why the man was faithful, and other uncomfortable questions to which the father had no good answers. When the father asked the pastor why the man was receiving such praise and telling her about the questioning of the children, the pastor called the man transphobic and out of touch with the gospel. The family left that church and never returned.
In that liberal church, faithfulness was determined more by what pronouns you use, how accepting you were to worldly people and issues, and how inclusive you were in word and action. They didn’t even see the need to baptize people as that was just “an old, antiquated form of patriarchy”. In that church, the Democratic Party was opening praised as godly and moral, while Republicans were condemned as hate groups and the devil. From the pulpit, that pastor praised abortion rights, transexual rights, and Democratic Party causes. She advocated people march in Pride parades and protest against anybody who disagreed with their politics, often labeling other groups as hate groups, misogynists, racists, homophones, transphobes, and more. If you didn’t believe the liberal teachings of that church, you were deemed a hypocrite, sinner, and hopelessly lost.
If you think for one moment I am exaggerating in anything in the story above, you are wholly incorrect. I am stating exactly what happened and what they believe. Pastor Jennifer is proud to stand for these causes and believes I am a racist, sexist, morally bankrupt CIS white man who should not be preaching from any pulpit. Her church is well-known to me. I have several friends who have left that church to join another. A few of the members of that church spoke to me anonymously about what they observed, preferring to “stay out of it” in order not to be labeled and ostracized by other members. This church is open every Sunday. Their brand of the gospel is preached every week from a pulpit. Their attendance and membership are dwindling, but they have some very wealthy members and a large endowment which will make sure the church stays open for decades to come.
Many churches have turned vastly more worldly in the last fifty years or so. In these churches, your political ideology and causes determine how faithful you are, not your love of Jesus or the gospel. Missions are defined as advocacy. They use their money to promote gay rights, transgender rights, pro-choice groups, and more. They will even have paid “missionaries” who are actually political “advocates”, because they promote all kinds of liberal causes while fighting anything seen as traditionally biblical. In these churches, how you use pronouns is more important than being faithful to Jesus. They are politically correct in everything they do. Their Bible readings and songs and forms of worship use politically correct language ONLY! Traditional hymns usually have their words “corrected” and only politically “checked” scriptures are allowed in print and to be read during worship. Sadly, they are NOT biblically correct in much of anything. In fact, most of these churches and church people do not read and study the Bible regularly. When they do, they change the words of scripture to “best suit modernity”. When they pray, it is often to “God”, in whatever meaning or form that entails. They won’t use patriarchal words for God or Jesus like Lord, Master, King of Kings, or even the pronoun “He” for Jesus.
Now, before you go all “anti-liberal” on me here, let’s talk about the other side of the coin. I know other churches where if you suggest a divorced person may go to heaven, you are labeled as a sinner. If you take the time to pray with “certain people”, you are made an outsider and not allowed any opportunity to be a teacher or leader. If you talk about Biblical women leaders like Miriam, Deborah,Lydia, and Deborah, you are questioned about not being very “true to the Bible”. If you vote Democrat, you are shunned. Holding the hand of a woman while praying with her is seen as promiscuousness. The Bible is often interpreted in terms of nationalism, full of patriotic themes like industriousness and independence. Wealth is often seen as a sign that you are blessed. Holiness is determined not by your relationship with God or by your missionary activity, rather it is determined by who your friends are and by your standing in the community. Your faithfulness might also be determined by your last name or your heritage or the color of your skin or your genes. In a few of these churches, racism is openly accepted (by blacks or whites or Asians or the ethnicity of the “in-group”), though almost never promoted. Outsiders are given the cold shoulder, with inclusivity reserved for the “in- group”. The gospel must be interpreted from a traditional point of view. Any hint against “traditional values” in a gospel interpretation or sermon or in one’s words or actions is swiftly corrected. Like their liberal counterparts, these churches and church people also are very worldly in their attitudes and worship and beliefs.
James 4:4, the scripture for today, is a clear reminder that the gospel and the world are constantly at odds with one another. They do not belong together. They are antithetical. James wrote that “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). Those who “wish to make friends with the world (and worldly values) makes himself an enemy of God”. These are harsh words. They essentially say that worldly customs and ideals and philosophies should not form any basis for belief or practice in the church. The gospel, God’s word, the Bible, should inform and correct all actions in the church. 2 Timothy 3:16 states that “all scripture is inspired by God and suitable for reproof, correction, and training in righteousness…” Thus, God’s word needs to be the rule by which all church actions and functions are measured.
Despite James’ warning about keeping the gospel and the world far apart, people still find ways to bring their worldly ways into the church. When this happens, it always taints the purity of the soul of the church, even corrupting it. In no time, the gospel will be slightly changed to suit the members. Fearing this very thing, Paul wrote that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV). In essence, Paul and James were strong advocates against the church falling into worldliness and being corrupted by the ways of this world.
Today’s scripture is a reminder to keep worldly ideas and values and philosophies out of your spiritual life and out of your church. This is a difficult thing to do. You may not even realize the way some worldly notions are being taught in your church. When you were young, worldly ideals may have been taught you by parents and Sunday School teachers who didn’t realize the implications. Taking on ingrained worldliness in your church may get you shunned. Church people who don’t realize how they have backslidden into worldliness will fight you tooth and nail, shun you, and vilify your actions.
How many sermons have you heard preached on James 4:4? How often does your church speak out against worldly ways while practicing their own forms of worldliness? Be ever on guard against worldliness creeping into your spiritual life. Once there, it will forever taint the gospel, cause problems in your spiritual life, and be very difficult to overcome.
Are there any worldly notions swimming around in your spiritual life or driving your emotions lately?
Pastor Jennifer was the congregation’s first openly gay pastor. She was a big advocate for gay rights and transsexual advocacy. Though the scriptures were read in the church every Sunday (but only using inclusive language to not offend!), Pastor Jennifer’s sermons were usually about how Jesus was an advocate for the poor, for those who were marginalized, and for the hurting. She often mentioned that in modern times, Jesus would be pro-choice, pro-LGBTQIA+, and defend other modern liberal causes. For more than a year, the family listened to Pastor Jennifer and were supportive of her ministry.
Then, one Sunday, a crossdressing man walked into the sanctuary for worship. He/she was a visitor. This man dressed like a woman, wore her hair like a woman, and acted like a woman. His low voice and muscularity betrayed that he was a man. After attending worship for a few weeks, he began to be accepted by many in the church. The young family of four, though, had some issues.
First, the father didn’t like how people in the church praised the man for his “faithfulness to himself and his love for crossdressing.” Even the pastor, upon seeing him/her one Sunday, not only welcomed him/her but called him a spiritual hero from the pulpit. After he/she was constantly lifted up as an example, the children began to ask questions about sexuality, dressing up, why the man was faithful, and other uncomfortable questions to which the father had no good answers. When the father asked the pastor why the man was receiving such praise and telling her about the questioning of the children, the pastor called the man transphobic and out of touch with the gospel. The family left that church and never returned.
In that liberal church, faithfulness was determined more by what pronouns you use, how accepting you were to worldly people and issues, and how inclusive you were in word and action. They didn’t even see the need to baptize people as that was just “an old, antiquated form of patriarchy”. In that church, the Democratic Party was opening praised as godly and moral, while Republicans were condemned as hate groups and the devil. From the pulpit, that pastor praised abortion rights, transexual rights, and Democratic Party causes. She advocated people march in Pride parades and protest against anybody who disagreed with their politics, often labeling other groups as hate groups, misogynists, racists, homophones, transphobes, and more. If you didn’t believe the liberal teachings of that church, you were deemed a hypocrite, sinner, and hopelessly lost.
If you think for one moment I am exaggerating in anything in the story above, you are wholly incorrect. I am stating exactly what happened and what they believe. Pastor Jennifer is proud to stand for these causes and believes I am a racist, sexist, morally bankrupt CIS white man who should not be preaching from any pulpit. Her church is well-known to me. I have several friends who have left that church to join another. A few of the members of that church spoke to me anonymously about what they observed, preferring to “stay out of it” in order not to be labeled and ostracized by other members. This church is open every Sunday. Their brand of the gospel is preached every week from a pulpit. Their attendance and membership are dwindling, but they have some very wealthy members and a large endowment which will make sure the church stays open for decades to come.
Many churches have turned vastly more worldly in the last fifty years or so. In these churches, your political ideology and causes determine how faithful you are, not your love of Jesus or the gospel. Missions are defined as advocacy. They use their money to promote gay rights, transgender rights, pro-choice groups, and more. They will even have paid “missionaries” who are actually political “advocates”, because they promote all kinds of liberal causes while fighting anything seen as traditionally biblical. In these churches, how you use pronouns is more important than being faithful to Jesus. They are politically correct in everything they do. Their Bible readings and songs and forms of worship use politically correct language ONLY! Traditional hymns usually have their words “corrected” and only politically “checked” scriptures are allowed in print and to be read during worship. Sadly, they are NOT biblically correct in much of anything. In fact, most of these churches and church people do not read and study the Bible regularly. When they do, they change the words of scripture to “best suit modernity”. When they pray, it is often to “God”, in whatever meaning or form that entails. They won’t use patriarchal words for God or Jesus like Lord, Master, King of Kings, or even the pronoun “He” for Jesus.
Now, before you go all “anti-liberal” on me here, let’s talk about the other side of the coin. I know other churches where if you suggest a divorced person may go to heaven, you are labeled as a sinner. If you take the time to pray with “certain people”, you are made an outsider and not allowed any opportunity to be a teacher or leader. If you talk about Biblical women leaders like Miriam, Deborah,Lydia, and Deborah, you are questioned about not being very “true to the Bible”. If you vote Democrat, you are shunned. Holding the hand of a woman while praying with her is seen as promiscuousness. The Bible is often interpreted in terms of nationalism, full of patriotic themes like industriousness and independence. Wealth is often seen as a sign that you are blessed. Holiness is determined not by your relationship with God or by your missionary activity, rather it is determined by who your friends are and by your standing in the community. Your faithfulness might also be determined by your last name or your heritage or the color of your skin or your genes. In a few of these churches, racism is openly accepted (by blacks or whites or Asians or the ethnicity of the “in-group”), though almost never promoted. Outsiders are given the cold shoulder, with inclusivity reserved for the “in- group”. The gospel must be interpreted from a traditional point of view. Any hint against “traditional values” in a gospel interpretation or sermon or in one’s words or actions is swiftly corrected. Like their liberal counterparts, these churches and church people also are very worldly in their attitudes and worship and beliefs.
James 4:4, the scripture for today, is a clear reminder that the gospel and the world are constantly at odds with one another. They do not belong together. They are antithetical. James wrote that “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). Those who “wish to make friends with the world (and worldly values) makes himself an enemy of God”. These are harsh words. They essentially say that worldly customs and ideals and philosophies should not form any basis for belief or practice in the church. The gospel, God’s word, the Bible, should inform and correct all actions in the church. 2 Timothy 3:16 states that “all scripture is inspired by God and suitable for reproof, correction, and training in righteousness…” Thus, God’s word needs to be the rule by which all church actions and functions are measured.
Despite James’ warning about keeping the gospel and the world far apart, people still find ways to bring their worldly ways into the church. When this happens, it always taints the purity of the soul of the church, even corrupting it. In no time, the gospel will be slightly changed to suit the members. Fearing this very thing, Paul wrote that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV). In essence, Paul and James were strong advocates against the church falling into worldliness and being corrupted by the ways of this world.
Today’s scripture is a reminder to keep worldly ideas and values and philosophies out of your spiritual life and out of your church. This is a difficult thing to do. You may not even realize the way some worldly notions are being taught in your church. When you were young, worldly ideals may have been taught you by parents and Sunday School teachers who didn’t realize the implications. Taking on ingrained worldliness in your church may get you shunned. Church people who don’t realize how they have backslidden into worldliness will fight you tooth and nail, shun you, and vilify your actions.
How many sermons have you heard preached on James 4:4? How often does your church speak out against worldly ways while practicing their own forms of worldliness? Be ever on guard against worldliness creeping into your spiritual life. Once there, it will forever taint the gospel, cause problems in your spiritual life, and be very difficult to overcome.
Are there any worldly notions swimming around in your spiritual life or driving your emotions lately?
January 11
“... to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (Acts 26:18, ESV)
Written above is part of the calling of the Apostle Paul. Jesus asked Paul to “open the eyes” of those who are living in “darkness” (Acts 26:18a). These people living in darkness were under the “power of Satan”. They were lost. They were sinful. Only when their eyes are opened could these people ever see their true relationship to God and the power of evil that has captured them. Only when they “turn from darkness” through confession of sin and redemption in Christ can they ever hope to “find a place among those who are sanctified”, thus have a chance at eternal life in Heaven. Otherwise, sin will destroy them. Satan will corrupt them. Darkness will envelop them. And they will be doomed. Paul was called by Jesus to help save these people from a terrible future full of shame and regret and hopelessness, mired in sinful pursuits and lost causes.
If you read this scripture closely, you may see that the beginning of the process of salvation and redemption occurs when those who are in sin “open their eyes” to the reality of their spiritual condition. Unless they “open their eyes”, they are blind to all the evil games that Satan plays. Unless they “open their eyes”, they will be in darkness, not understanding their purpose in this world. Paul’s call was to “open the eyes” of people to see God’s plan of salvation. Everything else good that happened in the believer would come from their willingness to have their eyes opened, confess their sin, turn from darkness to light, and reject Satan. ONLY THEN, would their sins be forgiven and they be given a place in Heaven. God’s plan of salvation begins with “opening the eyes” of those in sin and ends with their receiving forgiveness and sanctification through Jesus Christ.
Nothing good will happen unless people have their eyes opened to God’s plan of salvation. There can be no forgiveness of sin. There can be no redemption. There will be no salvation. There will be no Heaven.
A man drank half of bottle of whiskey while lying in bed. He was not an alcoholic. He was getting drunk from the swarm of regrets that had consumed his every waking thought. Darrell got married when his girlfriend became pregnant at twenty years of age. Darrell was only twenty-two. When his daughter came along, Darrell enjoyed her presence but was overwhelmed at the responsibilities of taking care of a newborn. Little Elizabeth was up every few hours wanting to be fed. Diapers had to be changed regularly. She had to be bathed and held. Sometimes, Elizabeth would cry for half an hour. The only way they could get her to fall asleep was to take her for a short ride in the car. Lacking sleep and overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and costs of a newborn, Darrell and his wife began to argue. They resented the situation. Darrell blamed his wife for the pregnancy. His wife called Darrell a lazy, stupid, worthless redneck. After a particularly bad argument, Darrell’s wife took the baby and stormed off to her mother’s house. That’s when Darrell grabbed the whiskey and drowned himself in his sorrow.
Awakening ever so slowly from the haze of drunkenness, Darrell heard a man shouting at him to “Get up now!”. With the room spinning from the onset of a hangover, Darrell barely realized that the room was filled with smoke. The man yelling at him to get up was a firefighter. Only then did Darrell realize that his house was on fire and his life was in danger.
A portable electric heater had overloaded an extension cord. This caused the fire. Darrell did not realize that the extension cord was getting hot. He did not realize that the electric cord was covered with a rug and could start a fire. The phone call from a neighbor to the local fire department and the rescue by the fireman saved Darrell from a fiery death that night.
Darrell may have been saved from smoke inhalation and death by fire that night, but his life was still in jeopardy. Darrell was not only blind to the inherent dangers of an overheated extension cord buried under a rug, he was also blind to a good number of other issues and problems in his life. Darrell had sex with his girlfriend and got her pregnant. He didn’t realize how the pregnancy would change his life. He did not understand how the stress of a newborn would damage his relationships and be such a heavy responsibility. At this point in his life, Darrell also didn’t realize how he would resort to drinking heavily whenever he got overwhelmed or upset. Rather than work things out, he would “check out” with alcohol. Darrell also was not a good example of a husband and father. He resented having to take care of his daughter, preferring instead to go out with his friends. He did not talk to God before becoming marrying his wife, who was herself immature and unreasonable. Darrell did not plan the pregnancy. When things didn’t go his way, he fussed and fumed and lashed out. Darrell was blind to so many aspects and consequences and issues in his life.
The fire changed a lot in Darrell. Darrell realized he could have died that night. His daughter could have grown up without a father. His wife would have been a single parent and overwhelmed herself.
You could say that the fire opened Darrell’s eyes to so much of his life that was wrong. Darrell proceeded to make some big changes. Recovering from smoke inhalation in the hospital, Darrell knelt by his bedside and gave his life to Jesus. He vowed to take responsibility for his actions and for his family. He promised God never to drink away his problems ever again. Three months later, Darrell and his wife joined a church. They enrolled little Elizabeth in Sunday School. They spent almost every Sunday worshipping God. They prayed together before every meal. Darrell and his wife prayed together often, went on dates to uplift one another, and became trusted friends. For the next few years, Darrell’s life was not easy. He had a lot of making up to do. However, Darrell did pretty well for himself. This year, Darrell is celebrating thirty years of marriage. His daughter is married and has kids of her own. At Christmas this past year, Darrell told his best friend that, “if God hadn’t opened my eyes in that fire, I would have messed up everything.”
Some people are going through life blind to so many things. There are many souls living from day to day without realizing they need God. Some Christians are living in spiritual darkness, unable to confess a sin that is holding them back from forgiveness. Some people have had their eyes opened to what needs to be done but they refuse to turn things around, face facts, or seek answers from God. There are lost souls blindly grasping for worldly thrills. People are living paycheck to paycheck without realizing the social and political maneuvering that has damaged their ability to earn a living. Computer users mindlessly spend hours on TikTok seeking laughs that only satisfy for a few moments. Like sheep, people are being led astray. They are blind to the wolves that keep them from seeing the truth and recognizing their need for salvation in Jesus Christ.
That’s why you and I are called, like Paul, to open the eyes of others. You may do it by sharing the gospel. You may be an example. You might be the firefighter who gives someone a chance to live. You might be the friend who listens and offers godly advice. You might be the parent who brings up a child to pray and seek God. You might be the friend who forgives. You might be the only person who loves a person like God would have it. You may be the husband or wife who is truly “faithful” in every aspect of that word.
Is there some darkness that has blinded you? Have your eyes been opened by God? Are you willing to confess your sins and be forgiven? Will Heaven be in your future? All good questions… needing an answer only you can give.
If you read this scripture closely, you may see that the beginning of the process of salvation and redemption occurs when those who are in sin “open their eyes” to the reality of their spiritual condition. Unless they “open their eyes”, they are blind to all the evil games that Satan plays. Unless they “open their eyes”, they will be in darkness, not understanding their purpose in this world. Paul’s call was to “open the eyes” of people to see God’s plan of salvation. Everything else good that happened in the believer would come from their willingness to have their eyes opened, confess their sin, turn from darkness to light, and reject Satan. ONLY THEN, would their sins be forgiven and they be given a place in Heaven. God’s plan of salvation begins with “opening the eyes” of those in sin and ends with their receiving forgiveness and sanctification through Jesus Christ.
Nothing good will happen unless people have their eyes opened to God’s plan of salvation. There can be no forgiveness of sin. There can be no redemption. There will be no salvation. There will be no Heaven.
A man drank half of bottle of whiskey while lying in bed. He was not an alcoholic. He was getting drunk from the swarm of regrets that had consumed his every waking thought. Darrell got married when his girlfriend became pregnant at twenty years of age. Darrell was only twenty-two. When his daughter came along, Darrell enjoyed her presence but was overwhelmed at the responsibilities of taking care of a newborn. Little Elizabeth was up every few hours wanting to be fed. Diapers had to be changed regularly. She had to be bathed and held. Sometimes, Elizabeth would cry for half an hour. The only way they could get her to fall asleep was to take her for a short ride in the car. Lacking sleep and overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and costs of a newborn, Darrell and his wife began to argue. They resented the situation. Darrell blamed his wife for the pregnancy. His wife called Darrell a lazy, stupid, worthless redneck. After a particularly bad argument, Darrell’s wife took the baby and stormed off to her mother’s house. That’s when Darrell grabbed the whiskey and drowned himself in his sorrow.
Awakening ever so slowly from the haze of drunkenness, Darrell heard a man shouting at him to “Get up now!”. With the room spinning from the onset of a hangover, Darrell barely realized that the room was filled with smoke. The man yelling at him to get up was a firefighter. Only then did Darrell realize that his house was on fire and his life was in danger.
A portable electric heater had overloaded an extension cord. This caused the fire. Darrell did not realize that the extension cord was getting hot. He did not realize that the electric cord was covered with a rug and could start a fire. The phone call from a neighbor to the local fire department and the rescue by the fireman saved Darrell from a fiery death that night.
Darrell may have been saved from smoke inhalation and death by fire that night, but his life was still in jeopardy. Darrell was not only blind to the inherent dangers of an overheated extension cord buried under a rug, he was also blind to a good number of other issues and problems in his life. Darrell had sex with his girlfriend and got her pregnant. He didn’t realize how the pregnancy would change his life. He did not understand how the stress of a newborn would damage his relationships and be such a heavy responsibility. At this point in his life, Darrell also didn’t realize how he would resort to drinking heavily whenever he got overwhelmed or upset. Rather than work things out, he would “check out” with alcohol. Darrell also was not a good example of a husband and father. He resented having to take care of his daughter, preferring instead to go out with his friends. He did not talk to God before becoming marrying his wife, who was herself immature and unreasonable. Darrell did not plan the pregnancy. When things didn’t go his way, he fussed and fumed and lashed out. Darrell was blind to so many aspects and consequences and issues in his life.
The fire changed a lot in Darrell. Darrell realized he could have died that night. His daughter could have grown up without a father. His wife would have been a single parent and overwhelmed herself.
You could say that the fire opened Darrell’s eyes to so much of his life that was wrong. Darrell proceeded to make some big changes. Recovering from smoke inhalation in the hospital, Darrell knelt by his bedside and gave his life to Jesus. He vowed to take responsibility for his actions and for his family. He promised God never to drink away his problems ever again. Three months later, Darrell and his wife joined a church. They enrolled little Elizabeth in Sunday School. They spent almost every Sunday worshipping God. They prayed together before every meal. Darrell and his wife prayed together often, went on dates to uplift one another, and became trusted friends. For the next few years, Darrell’s life was not easy. He had a lot of making up to do. However, Darrell did pretty well for himself. This year, Darrell is celebrating thirty years of marriage. His daughter is married and has kids of her own. At Christmas this past year, Darrell told his best friend that, “if God hadn’t opened my eyes in that fire, I would have messed up everything.”
Some people are going through life blind to so many things. There are many souls living from day to day without realizing they need God. Some Christians are living in spiritual darkness, unable to confess a sin that is holding them back from forgiveness. Some people have had their eyes opened to what needs to be done but they refuse to turn things around, face facts, or seek answers from God. There are lost souls blindly grasping for worldly thrills. People are living paycheck to paycheck without realizing the social and political maneuvering that has damaged their ability to earn a living. Computer users mindlessly spend hours on TikTok seeking laughs that only satisfy for a few moments. Like sheep, people are being led astray. They are blind to the wolves that keep them from seeing the truth and recognizing their need for salvation in Jesus Christ.
That’s why you and I are called, like Paul, to open the eyes of others. You may do it by sharing the gospel. You may be an example. You might be the firefighter who gives someone a chance to live. You might be the friend who listens and offers godly advice. You might be the parent who brings up a child to pray and seek God. You might be the friend who forgives. You might be the only person who loves a person like God would have it. You may be the husband or wife who is truly “faithful” in every aspect of that word.
Is there some darkness that has blinded you? Have your eyes been opened by God? Are you willing to confess your sins and be forgiven? Will Heaven be in your future? All good questions… needing an answer only you can give.
January 13
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23, ESV)
“YOU AND I HAVE a problem. It’s not a little problem, and it’s not something we can cure on our own. It’s something we don’t talk about much and might like to deny in front of others, but that doesn’t make it less true.
The problem is, we’re sinners. We do things we know are wrong, and we can’t help ourselves. Even though our sins hurt others and heap guilt on our heart, we still sin. We lie, we gossip, we bicker, we lash out, we think impure thoughts. Sometimes we lose our temper and say things we don’t mean—things that are neither true nor fair but are biting enough to hurt, so they serve their purpose. Other times we deceive in order to get our way. We tell half-truths in hopes that it’s better than a whole lie, but in our heart we know it’s still wrong. We can no more stop ourselves from sinning than we could keep the sun from rising. It’s a universal problem that every man and woman has to live with.” (LaHaye and Jenkins, Embracing Eternity, p. 13)
Even if you are saved, you sin. A sin may be small, like the white lie you tell another person to spare her feelings. A sin may be huge like blaspheming the name of God or slander or pride or murder. The human condition implies we are imperfect beings. God created us to be without sin. However, sin entered humanity soon after creation. Genesis tells us that Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2). In doing so, sin entered humanity. Satan was pleased to corrupt your world.
The scripture for today confirms that “ALL HAVE SINNED” (Romans 3:23). Good people have done it. Bad people have relished doing it. All have sinned. We come up “short” to God’s standard (Romans 3:23b). When Paul wrote Romans, chapter 7, he expounded on how sin creeps into one’s life: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:14–15, ESV). You can desire with your whole being to live your life without sinning, but in a few hours or days or weeks, sin will tempt you and then own you. That is why God wishes that you should repent and confess your sins. That is why God gives us grace and forgiveness. Sin is endemic in this fallen world.
Sin ultimately leads to another problem. Sin leads to death. Paul wrote a few chapters after our scripture for today that the wages or cost of sin is death (Romans 6:23). You can see this in Jesus’ life. He was perfect, sinless, loving, compassionate, full of knowledge and wisdom, the Son of God. How did humanity respond to Jesus? They put him to death by crucifixion. What you may not realize is that sin always causes various forms of death. It can kill a human being, a soul, a hope, a future, a dream. Sin always brings death with it. Adam and Eve were meant to live forever in the Garden of Eden. Sin ended their future in Eden by causing their deaths. Sin ends many hopes and dreams and aspirations in our world. It permeates everything good. It destroys everything it touches.
On May 22nd, 2022, a congregation in Indiana heard their pastor say in a sermon, “I committed adultery. It was nearly twenty years ago. It continued far too long. It involved one person, and there’s been no other, nor any other situation unbecoming conduct for the last 20 years. I will not use the Bible to defend, protect, and deflect my past sin. I have no defense- I committed adultery. To say it plainly, I did not make a mistake, I didn’t have an issue, I didn’t have an affair, I didn’t make a misjudgment. I sinned.” A member of that church videotaped the words that morning. In response, condemnation and recriminations went viral. People were up in arms, angry, unforgiving. Why? This pastor is a man. He, like every other human being, is prone to sin against Almighty God. Though the pastor is held to a higher standard, people should not be shocked at his admission of sin. Though a pastor, he is fallible. Though a child of God, he can be motivated to sin. One person responded to this news of the pastor’s confession with the words, “Well, he just killed his career.” The wages of sin is always death of one sort or another.
Thankfully, Jesus died on a cross to forgive our sins. Though members of that congregation in Indiana may not forgive that pastor, despite his confession before God and the congregation, God can forgive his sin. God is THE source of grace and forgiveness and redemption in this world. Only through the grace of God can you recover from a sinful past.
One way that Satan controls good people is that he reminds them of their sin. Even when God has given grace and forgiveness, Satan will throw past sins in the face of the believer. Satan loves to cause shame, guilt, and hurt for past sin. Through these emotions, it is Satan’s intent to keep the sin alive, keep the believer living with regret, and keep grace from bringing hope. It is God’s desire to bring forgiveness and grace. Jesus died on the cross to bring redemption and overcome the burden of sin. Don’t listen to Satan’s lies. Don’t let sin control you. Let God’s grace enfold you. Repent and confess to your sin. Then, let God’s grace and forgiveness clean up the mess!
Do you need to deal with a past sin, even one from twenty years ago? Repent and confess your sin. Is there regret or pain from a sin long ago? Let God’s grace cast away the guilt and stain of that past sin. Is someone you love mired in a recurring sin? Pray for his or her soul. Offer to that person God’s grace. Every soul suffers from sin. Every soul hungers for forgiveness and grace. Even yours.
The problem is, we’re sinners. We do things we know are wrong, and we can’t help ourselves. Even though our sins hurt others and heap guilt on our heart, we still sin. We lie, we gossip, we bicker, we lash out, we think impure thoughts. Sometimes we lose our temper and say things we don’t mean—things that are neither true nor fair but are biting enough to hurt, so they serve their purpose. Other times we deceive in order to get our way. We tell half-truths in hopes that it’s better than a whole lie, but in our heart we know it’s still wrong. We can no more stop ourselves from sinning than we could keep the sun from rising. It’s a universal problem that every man and woman has to live with.” (LaHaye and Jenkins, Embracing Eternity, p. 13)
Even if you are saved, you sin. A sin may be small, like the white lie you tell another person to spare her feelings. A sin may be huge like blaspheming the name of God or slander or pride or murder. The human condition implies we are imperfect beings. God created us to be without sin. However, sin entered humanity soon after creation. Genesis tells us that Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2). In doing so, sin entered humanity. Satan was pleased to corrupt your world.
The scripture for today confirms that “ALL HAVE SINNED” (Romans 3:23). Good people have done it. Bad people have relished doing it. All have sinned. We come up “short” to God’s standard (Romans 3:23b). When Paul wrote Romans, chapter 7, he expounded on how sin creeps into one’s life: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:14–15, ESV). You can desire with your whole being to live your life without sinning, but in a few hours or days or weeks, sin will tempt you and then own you. That is why God wishes that you should repent and confess your sins. That is why God gives us grace and forgiveness. Sin is endemic in this fallen world.
Sin ultimately leads to another problem. Sin leads to death. Paul wrote a few chapters after our scripture for today that the wages or cost of sin is death (Romans 6:23). You can see this in Jesus’ life. He was perfect, sinless, loving, compassionate, full of knowledge and wisdom, the Son of God. How did humanity respond to Jesus? They put him to death by crucifixion. What you may not realize is that sin always causes various forms of death. It can kill a human being, a soul, a hope, a future, a dream. Sin always brings death with it. Adam and Eve were meant to live forever in the Garden of Eden. Sin ended their future in Eden by causing their deaths. Sin ends many hopes and dreams and aspirations in our world. It permeates everything good. It destroys everything it touches.
On May 22nd, 2022, a congregation in Indiana heard their pastor say in a sermon, “I committed adultery. It was nearly twenty years ago. It continued far too long. It involved one person, and there’s been no other, nor any other situation unbecoming conduct for the last 20 years. I will not use the Bible to defend, protect, and deflect my past sin. I have no defense- I committed adultery. To say it plainly, I did not make a mistake, I didn’t have an issue, I didn’t have an affair, I didn’t make a misjudgment. I sinned.” A member of that church videotaped the words that morning. In response, condemnation and recriminations went viral. People were up in arms, angry, unforgiving. Why? This pastor is a man. He, like every other human being, is prone to sin against Almighty God. Though the pastor is held to a higher standard, people should not be shocked at his admission of sin. Though a pastor, he is fallible. Though a child of God, he can be motivated to sin. One person responded to this news of the pastor’s confession with the words, “Well, he just killed his career.” The wages of sin is always death of one sort or another.
Thankfully, Jesus died on a cross to forgive our sins. Though members of that congregation in Indiana may not forgive that pastor, despite his confession before God and the congregation, God can forgive his sin. God is THE source of grace and forgiveness and redemption in this world. Only through the grace of God can you recover from a sinful past.
One way that Satan controls good people is that he reminds them of their sin. Even when God has given grace and forgiveness, Satan will throw past sins in the face of the believer. Satan loves to cause shame, guilt, and hurt for past sin. Through these emotions, it is Satan’s intent to keep the sin alive, keep the believer living with regret, and keep grace from bringing hope. It is God’s desire to bring forgiveness and grace. Jesus died on the cross to bring redemption and overcome the burden of sin. Don’t listen to Satan’s lies. Don’t let sin control you. Let God’s grace enfold you. Repent and confess to your sin. Then, let God’s grace and forgiveness clean up the mess!
Do you need to deal with a past sin, even one from twenty years ago? Repent and confess your sin. Is there regret or pain from a sin long ago? Let God’s grace cast away the guilt and stain of that past sin. Is someone you love mired in a recurring sin? Pray for his or her soul. Offer to that person God’s grace. Every soul suffers from sin. Every soul hungers for forgiveness and grace. Even yours.
January 15
“But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22, NLT)
One of the things that drives people away from loving Jesus is misplaced religiosity. Religiosity is normally defined as “a strong belief or feeling”. Others define it as “the quality or state of being religious”. You might think by the definition that religiosity would be a good thing. Good Christians should have strong beliefs, right? If the religious devotion is in line with God’s will, yes. However, religious devotion can be wrongly applied. When a person cares more about how their faith appears to others than to God, their religiosity becomes people pleasing. When a Christian is more concerned with how polished a sermon is rather than how biblically correct it is, the person’s religiosity will become worldly. It is possible for a Christian to be more religious than faithful. Then, their religiosity becomes a shallow example for others to follow. When one’s beliefs become overly concerned with appearances, power, or worldly standards, the resulting religiosity is even despised by God.
To increase attendance, a church designed a promotion. Anyone in the church who attended worship every Sunday for a year was given an award. Their names would be printed in the bulletin, included in a newsletter article, and each would receive a certificate. After one year, twenty-three people were given recognition for perfect attendance. The program was so well received, the church continued the promotion another five years. At the end of five years, only one man had attended worship every Sunday for all five years. He received a special award, a certificate, and a credit card worth $25. Excited about the accomplishment, the pastor asked the man to come forward during worship on “Perfect Attendance Sunday”. After the winner was given his gifts, the pastor asked him, “Jed, how do you feel about being recognized?” The man’s response surprised all present. He said, “I’m glad we had this promotion and it was hard to make it every Sunday for five years. There were times I was tired, running behind, and even under the weather; but I still would not miss worship. Then again, some of those Sundays I may have been here more in body than in spirit. My mind wandered and I couldn’t concentrate on much of anything. I sure am sorry about that.”
Jed’s honest response hinted to a problem with the perfect attendance program. It was so easy to get caught up winning the award when your heart was not even focused on God. Some Sundays, Jed cared more about perfect attendance than about the quality of his worship. Then, Jed’s attendance was concerned more with religiosity for the award than faithfulness to God. Jed’s honesty hinted at a strong faith. However, even Jed had to admit that a perfect attendance award didn’t mean he was perfectly in tune with God every Sunday!
By going to worship, being a church member, and giving in the collection plate, it may look like you are religious. These actions may cause others to perceive that you are a faithful person. However, you could easily be religious but not faithful. You could be religious but not obedient to God. A person’s religiosity makes them appear to be godly. A person’s obedience to the will of God confirms that a person is truly faithful. It is possible to be religious without being obedient and faithful to God.
In the days of the prophet Samuel, King Saul was tasked to defeat the Amalekites. The Amalekites had been attacking Israel for years. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 describes how the Amalekites would ambush Hebrews making their exile from Egypt. Exodus 17 speaks to the Amalekites making war against Israel while traversing toward Canaan. Moses, Joshua, and all the other leaders of that era feared warring Amalekites. Saul was tasked with defeating them one final time.
When God called Saul to defeat the Amalekites in battle, it was the prophet Samuel who delivered the message. Along with the plan to defeat the Amalekites, God had one expectation: Israel was NOT allowed to take any spoils from the battle. After Saul defeated the Amalekites, he decided to take spoils anyway. God was angry at Saul’s choices. Saul was not listening to God. Saul was not being obedient. Saul was making sacrifices to God and calling out to God during battle, but Saul was not following through on God’s commands. While Saul acted religious in his leadership, he was far from obedient to God’s will.
At this moment in the history of Israel, Samuel spoke the word of God. He stated: “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22). The prophet Samuel expressed the will of God in saying that Saul’s obedience was lacking. Saul may have been following through on religious protocol, but he was not being faithful to the will of God.
Because Saul was religious but not obedient to the will of God, God rejected Saul as King. Everything fell apart for Saul a short time later.
Be careful that you don’t become more religious than obedient. If you are more concerned that your prayers sound good than are faithful, you might be more religious than obedient. If your worship feels more like an obligation than a joyful offering, you might be more religious than obedient. If your spiritual life seems more like ritual, if singing hymns does not encourage your soul, if doubts are clouding your judgment, you may be more religious than obedient.
Religiosity without obedience is like a cheerleader with no school spirit. The cheerleader may be shouting out cheers at the game, but she may not look very cheerful while doing it. AND a cheerleader without spirit isn’t very inspiring to the team. Do you understand this modern parable?
To increase attendance, a church designed a promotion. Anyone in the church who attended worship every Sunday for a year was given an award. Their names would be printed in the bulletin, included in a newsletter article, and each would receive a certificate. After one year, twenty-three people were given recognition for perfect attendance. The program was so well received, the church continued the promotion another five years. At the end of five years, only one man had attended worship every Sunday for all five years. He received a special award, a certificate, and a credit card worth $25. Excited about the accomplishment, the pastor asked the man to come forward during worship on “Perfect Attendance Sunday”. After the winner was given his gifts, the pastor asked him, “Jed, how do you feel about being recognized?” The man’s response surprised all present. He said, “I’m glad we had this promotion and it was hard to make it every Sunday for five years. There were times I was tired, running behind, and even under the weather; but I still would not miss worship. Then again, some of those Sundays I may have been here more in body than in spirit. My mind wandered and I couldn’t concentrate on much of anything. I sure am sorry about that.”
Jed’s honest response hinted to a problem with the perfect attendance program. It was so easy to get caught up winning the award when your heart was not even focused on God. Some Sundays, Jed cared more about perfect attendance than about the quality of his worship. Then, Jed’s attendance was concerned more with religiosity for the award than faithfulness to God. Jed’s honesty hinted at a strong faith. However, even Jed had to admit that a perfect attendance award didn’t mean he was perfectly in tune with God every Sunday!
By going to worship, being a church member, and giving in the collection plate, it may look like you are religious. These actions may cause others to perceive that you are a faithful person. However, you could easily be religious but not faithful. You could be religious but not obedient to God. A person’s religiosity makes them appear to be godly. A person’s obedience to the will of God confirms that a person is truly faithful. It is possible to be religious without being obedient and faithful to God.
In the days of the prophet Samuel, King Saul was tasked to defeat the Amalekites. The Amalekites had been attacking Israel for years. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 describes how the Amalekites would ambush Hebrews making their exile from Egypt. Exodus 17 speaks to the Amalekites making war against Israel while traversing toward Canaan. Moses, Joshua, and all the other leaders of that era feared warring Amalekites. Saul was tasked with defeating them one final time.
When God called Saul to defeat the Amalekites in battle, it was the prophet Samuel who delivered the message. Along with the plan to defeat the Amalekites, God had one expectation: Israel was NOT allowed to take any spoils from the battle. After Saul defeated the Amalekites, he decided to take spoils anyway. God was angry at Saul’s choices. Saul was not listening to God. Saul was not being obedient. Saul was making sacrifices to God and calling out to God during battle, but Saul was not following through on God’s commands. While Saul acted religious in his leadership, he was far from obedient to God’s will.
At this moment in the history of Israel, Samuel spoke the word of God. He stated: “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22). The prophet Samuel expressed the will of God in saying that Saul’s obedience was lacking. Saul may have been following through on religious protocol, but he was not being faithful to the will of God.
Because Saul was religious but not obedient to the will of God, God rejected Saul as King. Everything fell apart for Saul a short time later.
Be careful that you don’t become more religious than obedient. If you are more concerned that your prayers sound good than are faithful, you might be more religious than obedient. If your worship feels more like an obligation than a joyful offering, you might be more religious than obedient. If your spiritual life seems more like ritual, if singing hymns does not encourage your soul, if doubts are clouding your judgment, you may be more religious than obedient.
Religiosity without obedience is like a cheerleader with no school spirit. The cheerleader may be shouting out cheers at the game, but she may not look very cheerful while doing it. AND a cheerleader without spirit isn’t very inspiring to the team. Do you understand this modern parable?
January 17
“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:14, NIV)
Nestled among the pages of my Bible is a scripture that seems unusual at first. In Romans 13:14, Paul asks that Christians in Rome “clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ”. At first, this scripture seemed odd to me. How do you “put on” Jesus like clothing? How do you wear God? But to think of this scripture so literally is to miss the point. Today, I want you to read this scripture in a new light. See it as Paul intended. If you understand it rightly, it will strengthen your faith to face your everyday challenges.
Would you think it wise to go around naked in the dead of winter? How long would you last if you walked around in the snow without a shred of clothing? If you did such a thing, wouldn’t people think you were foolish, living dangerously, or downright insane? Of course! Now, think of your faith, your salvation, as something you spiritually clothe yourself with each day. Just as clothing protects you from the elements, so too, your salvation protects you from spiritual attacks and poor choices. Material clothing protects your body from harmful UV rays, from blasts of cold, and from many other natural hazards. Spiritual “clothing” such as your faith and your spiritual gifts don’t protect your natural body from the elements, but they do protect you from the spiritual hazards of everyday living. You would be insane to face a brutal blizzard without layers of clothing as a protection. Why wouldn’t it be just as insane to face spiritual battles each day without layers of spiritual protection?
A number of scriptures in our Bible speak about being “clothed” in spiritual protection. Isaiah told the people of Judah to rejoice in the Lord for God has “clothed us with garments of salvation and arrayed us in a robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). Paul told the Ephesian Christians to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). How did Paul say to do that? By “putting on the full armor of God” so that you can “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). Because you are a faithful child of God, you are adorned with spiritual clothing. You are not spiritually “naked”. You have spiritual protection. You bear the “armor” of God. Your spiritual clothing is not visible to the naked eye. It is not out in the open for all to see. However, Satan is able to see it. Evil forces notice your spiritual protection. They fear your spiritual sword and have a difficult time battling you when you wear your spiritual armor.
When you face spiritual battles, you realize the power of spiritual clothing. You make sure to don your spiritual armor. Martin Luther was quoted as saying that he would not begin a day without prayer. In truth, he exclaimed that without prayer to start his day, the devil would overpower him throughout that day. The first thing many people do when getting up for the day is put on appropriate clothing. So true, the faithful Christian needs to don appropriate spiritual clothing to face the day. On a warm day, you might dress in something light and airy. On a cold day, you may want to don a sweater or heavy jacket. Some days, you may need only light spiritual “clothing”. You might just begin your day with a Bible reading and a short prayer before getting up. On spiritually demanding days, you may find yourself spending an hour or two in prayer, or searching the Bible for a scripture to fortify your soul.
A good friend of mine had a cold that just didn’t seem to go away. For several months, he would get up in the morning and cough multiple times. Throughout the day, he found himself coughing, yet he didn’t have an itch in his throat. He figured it was his body’s way of dealing with the last remnants of a virus. As he went about his day working on the farm, he felt fatigued. Then, came the back pain. For two weeks, he took anti-inflammatories and hobbled around. After two months of these symptoms, he woke up one morning sweating. Then, when he got out of bed to dress, he found himself struggling to breathe. It seemed this virus was getting out of control. With his wife’s encouragement, he took off work to see the doctor.
When the doctor saw my friend, he was sent immediately to the hospital for tests. Though the doctors and nurses initially thought he was having heart problems, they soon found that he had an aneurysm on his aorta. It was so enlarged that they could not operate. If it burst, he would bleed to death internally. He asked, “How long do I have, Doc?” The response he got took his breath away for a few seconds. The doctor replied, “A few hours, a couple of days maybe? It could burst at any moment. It’s terribly enlarged. The aorta can’t take much more.”
Upon hearing these words, my friend’s wife fell apart. She sobbed. Tears stained her makeup and ran down on her pretty dress. She could hardly believe her big, strong farmer husband was going to die in hours or days. What would she do without him? After an emotional hour of tears and preparations at the hospital, the family was called together to be by the bedside of my friend for his final hours.
Though I couldn’t get there in time, I was told later that my friend spent every chance he could get with his Bible and in prayer. When the doctors and nurses were out of the hospital room, my friend would take his wife’s hand and pray. While his wife slept that first night, he spent hours reading his Bible and talking with God. People were shocked at his calm demeanor. I realized that he was putting on his spiritual armor for his final battle in life. Soon, he would face his Lord. He wouldn’t want to be naked when facing His Savior!
In the quiet night after a few days, my friend died. Spiritually dressed and ready to meet Jesus, he took the next step into eternal life.
I would not think of getting up out of bed and facing the world without dressing up for the day. I also would never think of doing God’s work without the appropriate spiritual armor. I often write these meditations early in the morning while I’m readying myself for the day. While doing my own meditations and praying for people like you, I ask the Lord what kinds of armor you or I might need today. Then, I pray for both of us. I study scripture to equip you for your spiritual challenges. Through these meditations, I help you hone your armor for your spiritual battles.
Is today going to be one of those days when you might need a little more spiritual armor? Do you sense a spiritual temptation? Is there a spiritual war brewing nearby? God has given you spiritual clothing and spiritual armor. Don’t you dare think of going into battle without it! Put it on each and every day when you wake up. Some nights, it might be safer if you just sleep in it as well!
Would you think it wise to go around naked in the dead of winter? How long would you last if you walked around in the snow without a shred of clothing? If you did such a thing, wouldn’t people think you were foolish, living dangerously, or downright insane? Of course! Now, think of your faith, your salvation, as something you spiritually clothe yourself with each day. Just as clothing protects you from the elements, so too, your salvation protects you from spiritual attacks and poor choices. Material clothing protects your body from harmful UV rays, from blasts of cold, and from many other natural hazards. Spiritual “clothing” such as your faith and your spiritual gifts don’t protect your natural body from the elements, but they do protect you from the spiritual hazards of everyday living. You would be insane to face a brutal blizzard without layers of clothing as a protection. Why wouldn’t it be just as insane to face spiritual battles each day without layers of spiritual protection?
A number of scriptures in our Bible speak about being “clothed” in spiritual protection. Isaiah told the people of Judah to rejoice in the Lord for God has “clothed us with garments of salvation and arrayed us in a robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). Paul told the Ephesian Christians to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). How did Paul say to do that? By “putting on the full armor of God” so that you can “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). Because you are a faithful child of God, you are adorned with spiritual clothing. You are not spiritually “naked”. You have spiritual protection. You bear the “armor” of God. Your spiritual clothing is not visible to the naked eye. It is not out in the open for all to see. However, Satan is able to see it. Evil forces notice your spiritual protection. They fear your spiritual sword and have a difficult time battling you when you wear your spiritual armor.
When you face spiritual battles, you realize the power of spiritual clothing. You make sure to don your spiritual armor. Martin Luther was quoted as saying that he would not begin a day without prayer. In truth, he exclaimed that without prayer to start his day, the devil would overpower him throughout that day. The first thing many people do when getting up for the day is put on appropriate clothing. So true, the faithful Christian needs to don appropriate spiritual clothing to face the day. On a warm day, you might dress in something light and airy. On a cold day, you may want to don a sweater or heavy jacket. Some days, you may need only light spiritual “clothing”. You might just begin your day with a Bible reading and a short prayer before getting up. On spiritually demanding days, you may find yourself spending an hour or two in prayer, or searching the Bible for a scripture to fortify your soul.
A good friend of mine had a cold that just didn’t seem to go away. For several months, he would get up in the morning and cough multiple times. Throughout the day, he found himself coughing, yet he didn’t have an itch in his throat. He figured it was his body’s way of dealing with the last remnants of a virus. As he went about his day working on the farm, he felt fatigued. Then, came the back pain. For two weeks, he took anti-inflammatories and hobbled around. After two months of these symptoms, he woke up one morning sweating. Then, when he got out of bed to dress, he found himself struggling to breathe. It seemed this virus was getting out of control. With his wife’s encouragement, he took off work to see the doctor.
When the doctor saw my friend, he was sent immediately to the hospital for tests. Though the doctors and nurses initially thought he was having heart problems, they soon found that he had an aneurysm on his aorta. It was so enlarged that they could not operate. If it burst, he would bleed to death internally. He asked, “How long do I have, Doc?” The response he got took his breath away for a few seconds. The doctor replied, “A few hours, a couple of days maybe? It could burst at any moment. It’s terribly enlarged. The aorta can’t take much more.”
Upon hearing these words, my friend’s wife fell apart. She sobbed. Tears stained her makeup and ran down on her pretty dress. She could hardly believe her big, strong farmer husband was going to die in hours or days. What would she do without him? After an emotional hour of tears and preparations at the hospital, the family was called together to be by the bedside of my friend for his final hours.
Though I couldn’t get there in time, I was told later that my friend spent every chance he could get with his Bible and in prayer. When the doctors and nurses were out of the hospital room, my friend would take his wife’s hand and pray. While his wife slept that first night, he spent hours reading his Bible and talking with God. People were shocked at his calm demeanor. I realized that he was putting on his spiritual armor for his final battle in life. Soon, he would face his Lord. He wouldn’t want to be naked when facing His Savior!
In the quiet night after a few days, my friend died. Spiritually dressed and ready to meet Jesus, he took the next step into eternal life.
I would not think of getting up out of bed and facing the world without dressing up for the day. I also would never think of doing God’s work without the appropriate spiritual armor. I often write these meditations early in the morning while I’m readying myself for the day. While doing my own meditations and praying for people like you, I ask the Lord what kinds of armor you or I might need today. Then, I pray for both of us. I study scripture to equip you for your spiritual challenges. Through these meditations, I help you hone your armor for your spiritual battles.
Is today going to be one of those days when you might need a little more spiritual armor? Do you sense a spiritual temptation? Is there a spiritual war brewing nearby? God has given you spiritual clothing and spiritual armor. Don’t you dare think of going into battle without it! Put it on each and every day when you wake up. Some nights, it might be safer if you just sleep in it as well!
January 20
“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’” (Isaiah 45:9, NLT)
In a forum for bisexuals, transgenders, cross-dressers, and other folks, one person wrote in anguish, “Why did God make me this way? I should be a woman, but I was born a male. Just because I have an X and Y chromosome society forces its will upon me. They say I’m supposed to be a man. I do not have to be a man. I don’t feel like a man inside. In my heart of hearts, I’m not a man. I had surgery to correct this physical mistake in my body. Finally, people treat me like a woman. Finally, I feel like a woman, though I was not born this way.” This person is not alone in his/her understanding of God and gender. Many young people are going through gender dysphoria, where they do not associate with their gender and fight the genetic components they were born with. Many see their gender as a mistake. A good share of them blames God for this “mistake”.
You may not be aware, but the person in the story above who went through a sex change operation will have a terribly difficult life. He/she will have to go through many surgeries to “correct” things in the body. He/she will require hormones and other drugs for the rest of his/her life. There will be many complications. There may even be regrets for the consequences. Statistics show that people with gender dysphoria often become mentally ill. Too many commit suicide or end up on anti-depressants or mood altering drugs for life. The trans-gendered person above will have a difficult time being accepted in society, finding a job, keeping a job, and much more. Socially awkward situations and family arguments will erupt constantly over the lifestyle choices he/she has made.
It is not only transgenders or transsexuals or who believe they were “born wrong” or were a “mistake” of God. There are “furries” (people who enjoy dressing up like their favorite animals in public and private spaces) who feel the same way. Some of them believe they should have been born a dog or cat or another animal. People who were born with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism, addiction, stealing, pedophilia, or an inherited genetic defect sometimes blame God for their troubles. Many see God as the one who made the mistakes at conception.
Even you may have a tendency to blame God for your attitude, your looks, your weight, your wealth, or your heritage. You might go around with a chip on your shoulder because you didn’t inherit a lot of wealth, marry up, find love, or get A’s in school. Let’s be honest, its easy to blame God or others when the problem lies within yourself.
Decades ago, the United States Army made its slogan, “Be all you can be!”. People watched the Army commercials and dreamt of seeing the world and fighting for a righteous cause. The scripture for today, paints a different slogan for you to grasp onto. The scripture for today is essentially saying, “BE all God made you to be!”. Sadly, few people accept such a godly model. Too many want to play
God. They want to be in control of everything. They want to call all the shots. If they don’t want to be a man, they reserve the right to become a woman. If they don’t like how humans act, they want to be a furry. When they don’t like the situation, they fuss and fume and fight and complain. That is why there are so many videos of “Karen’s” complaining to the manager about treatment, photos of ideally proportioned women in makeup ads, and Facebook pages filled with people whose lives seem “perfect”.
In the scripture for today, the prophet Isaiah proclaims, “Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it?” (Isaiah 45:9). These questions imply that clay has no right to complain about its creator or its part in the creation. Once the clay takes shape, it will be used as the creator intended, serving a useful place in the world. In similar manner, you were created by God for a special purpose. Your entry into this world was never a “mistake”. Even Jesus saw people who were born with an illness and then healed as symbols of God’s glory (John 11:4, John 11:40, Acts 3:12-13).
There is an old adage that says, “Bloom where you are planted!”. This saying does not mean that a person should grow and bloom in another pot or another field. A person is “planted” in the perfect place by God. It is there that the person should bloom. This does not imply that a person should be content with mediocrity or waste his or her life away because of the situation. Instead, it urges all people to find reason to bloom like a beautiful flower; no matter where the soil or what the situation.
There is an old story of a poor man who hated getting the water for his home. Sadly, the water well was a good distance away, and his only bucket had a rotten base that leaked. Every day that the poor man got water, he would complain and complain about his “stupid bucket full of holes” that leaked all the way home. Then, one day, a beloved friend came to visit the poor man. When the friend walked in, the man was about to give an apology for his humble abode, his shabby clothing, and his lack of extra food. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the beloved friend smiled and exclaimed, “My, you’ve worked hard to make such a beautiful entrance up to your home!”
The poor man replied, “How is that, my friend?”
The beloved friend then explained, “Look at all the flowers that have grown up alongside the pathway to your house. It’s just beautiful. I only wish the path to my home were so beautiful!”
It was only in that moment that the poor man realized that his leaky bucket had watered the flowers all the way from the well to his home. And the flowers that bloomed along the watered path were rather beautiful!
Sometimes, we don’t see the beauty God has placed around us. We are quick to complain, jealous of the advantages of others, and overly concerned with our own inadequacies. Instead, we need to praise God for what we do have, take advantage of the beauty God has placed around us, and bloom where we are planted!
Since God did not make a mistake in sending you to this world at this exact time, how have you responded to God’s grace? Do you wish you were someone else? Are you jealous of another? Do you envy those with more wealth or natural talents? Will you complain to your Maker in Heaven about what you lack or instead praise God for all you might accomplish? Will you bloom where you are planted or try to correct what you see as God’s mistakes? “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator!” (Isaiah 45:9a!)
You may not be aware, but the person in the story above who went through a sex change operation will have a terribly difficult life. He/she will have to go through many surgeries to “correct” things in the body. He/she will require hormones and other drugs for the rest of his/her life. There will be many complications. There may even be regrets for the consequences. Statistics show that people with gender dysphoria often become mentally ill. Too many commit suicide or end up on anti-depressants or mood altering drugs for life. The trans-gendered person above will have a difficult time being accepted in society, finding a job, keeping a job, and much more. Socially awkward situations and family arguments will erupt constantly over the lifestyle choices he/she has made.
It is not only transgenders or transsexuals or who believe they were “born wrong” or were a “mistake” of God. There are “furries” (people who enjoy dressing up like their favorite animals in public and private spaces) who feel the same way. Some of them believe they should have been born a dog or cat or another animal. People who were born with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism, addiction, stealing, pedophilia, or an inherited genetic defect sometimes blame God for their troubles. Many see God as the one who made the mistakes at conception.
Even you may have a tendency to blame God for your attitude, your looks, your weight, your wealth, or your heritage. You might go around with a chip on your shoulder because you didn’t inherit a lot of wealth, marry up, find love, or get A’s in school. Let’s be honest, its easy to blame God or others when the problem lies within yourself.
Decades ago, the United States Army made its slogan, “Be all you can be!”. People watched the Army commercials and dreamt of seeing the world and fighting for a righteous cause. The scripture for today, paints a different slogan for you to grasp onto. The scripture for today is essentially saying, “BE all God made you to be!”. Sadly, few people accept such a godly model. Too many want to play
God. They want to be in control of everything. They want to call all the shots. If they don’t want to be a man, they reserve the right to become a woman. If they don’t like how humans act, they want to be a furry. When they don’t like the situation, they fuss and fume and fight and complain. That is why there are so many videos of “Karen’s” complaining to the manager about treatment, photos of ideally proportioned women in makeup ads, and Facebook pages filled with people whose lives seem “perfect”.
In the scripture for today, the prophet Isaiah proclaims, “Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it?” (Isaiah 45:9). These questions imply that clay has no right to complain about its creator or its part in the creation. Once the clay takes shape, it will be used as the creator intended, serving a useful place in the world. In similar manner, you were created by God for a special purpose. Your entry into this world was never a “mistake”. Even Jesus saw people who were born with an illness and then healed as symbols of God’s glory (John 11:4, John 11:40, Acts 3:12-13).
There is an old adage that says, “Bloom where you are planted!”. This saying does not mean that a person should grow and bloom in another pot or another field. A person is “planted” in the perfect place by God. It is there that the person should bloom. This does not imply that a person should be content with mediocrity or waste his or her life away because of the situation. Instead, it urges all people to find reason to bloom like a beautiful flower; no matter where the soil or what the situation.
There is an old story of a poor man who hated getting the water for his home. Sadly, the water well was a good distance away, and his only bucket had a rotten base that leaked. Every day that the poor man got water, he would complain and complain about his “stupid bucket full of holes” that leaked all the way home. Then, one day, a beloved friend came to visit the poor man. When the friend walked in, the man was about to give an apology for his humble abode, his shabby clothing, and his lack of extra food. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the beloved friend smiled and exclaimed, “My, you’ve worked hard to make such a beautiful entrance up to your home!”
The poor man replied, “How is that, my friend?”
The beloved friend then explained, “Look at all the flowers that have grown up alongside the pathway to your house. It’s just beautiful. I only wish the path to my home were so beautiful!”
It was only in that moment that the poor man realized that his leaky bucket had watered the flowers all the way from the well to his home. And the flowers that bloomed along the watered path were rather beautiful!
Sometimes, we don’t see the beauty God has placed around us. We are quick to complain, jealous of the advantages of others, and overly concerned with our own inadequacies. Instead, we need to praise God for what we do have, take advantage of the beauty God has placed around us, and bloom where we are planted!
Since God did not make a mistake in sending you to this world at this exact time, how have you responded to God’s grace? Do you wish you were someone else? Are you jealous of another? Do you envy those with more wealth or natural talents? Will you complain to your Maker in Heaven about what you lack or instead praise God for all you might accomplish? Will you bloom where you are planted or try to correct what you see as God’s mistakes? “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator!” (Isaiah 45:9a!)
January 22
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:1–2, NLT)
If you think about it, the Apostle Paul had many long and difficult roads to walk. He traveled many miles, often alone. He was shipwrecked, beaten, and imprisoned. He was rejected by whole groups of people. He was sometimes left alone to suffer. This went on for many years. Despite the truth of the matter, Paul wrote the above words from Ephesians 4:1-2 to the church people in Ephesus. With the words written, he expressed his hope that the Christians there would not only live a worthy life, but that they would “be patient with one another” and “make allowance for each other’s faults” (Ephesians 4:2). Paul was not just offering up platitudes. He lived this way. He practiced what he preached. And, you can never say that Paul was impatient. When it came to God in Christ, Paul was willing to keep on preaching and teaching as long as he could. Paul patiently worked toward the day when he was called home to Heaven.
Do you patiently endure hardships and challenges and difficult people? Are you willing to follow God’s plan for your life even when the road seems long, or painful moments arise?
Paul was just one of many in the Bible who had to be patient while waiting for God to act or for circumstances to change for the better. Isaiah was sent to preach God’s word to a sinful Israel. God told Isaiah that the people would reject his preaching for a long time. This even prompted the prophet Isaiah to ask God, “How long, O Lord?” (Isaiah 6:11). Isaiah was willing to speak for God, but the road was difficult, people would not listen to God’s voice, and Israel continued to sin. Isaiah suffered in many ways. He was vilified, mocked, rejected. In a weak moment, Isaiah begged God to tell him how long he had to endure this suffering.
Difficult situations are hard to endure. Difficult people make it even more arduous. Some people, even those who know God, even good people, may fall into sin. When they do, they don’t want to hear about it. Some will even retaliate against you, slander your good name, or make light of your hard work. In the scripture for today, Paul commands you to be patient with difficult people. It’s not that you withhold God’s word from them. You just may have to suffer all kinds of negativity from them. You need to “be patient” and “make allowance for their faults out of love” (Ephesians 4:2). This won’t be easy, but it will be faithful to Jesus’ plan for your salvation.
Think about this:
Abraham had to wait until he was 100 years old for a promise from God about a special son to be born was fulfilled. Sarah, his wife, had to wait until she was 90!
Joseph, son of Jacob, suffered a long time in prison waiting for his chance at freedom. And he was innocent of all charges and wrongfully accused!
Moses had to travel through the wilderness and deal with the sin of murder for years before God called him to lead the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt.
Jeremiah was ignored and mistreated for prophesying in the name of God. They even beat him and put him into stocks in the public square to humiliate him. But every word he spoke from God came true.
Despite following God’s will and performing a miracle, Elijah was given a death sentence by the King and Queen of Israel.
Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt in order to save baby Jesus from the wrath of Herod. Many accounts list they may have had to endure two years of hardship in Egypt to keep Jesus safe.
I could go on and on about people in the Bible who had to suffer and endure patiently in their faithful quest to pursue God’s plan. Having patience is not easy. Being patient while suffering is painful. Remaining patient when you are wronged, slandered, made fun of, and falsely accused is downright torture. Still, to be faithful to God, your patience is required. It is a sign of your true faith.
John MacArthur wrote this about the scripture for today: “patience accepts God’s plan for everything. It doesn’t question God. A patient person says, “Lord, if this is what You have planned for me, that’s all right.” Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Since God is in control, we can be patient, waiting for Him to work out His will.” (Strength for Today)
But will you be patient in the day of testing? Will you “make allowances” for the faults of others or stew and become bitter with their rejection? Shallow Christians believe that patience is easy and people will readily turn away from sin. Those with a deep and knowledgeable faith know better. We know that patience often requires suffering and that people frequently choose sin over God. You do know that people often default to sin rather than face the truth, right?
How patient are you? Are you patient even when undergoing suffering? Can you handle the ridicule of others despite your knowing and speaking God’s truth? Will you faithfully deal with the faults of others, without resentment and bitterness. and without becoming defensive or negative? Can you endure suffering without losing the ability to love in Jesus’ name?
✧✧✧
Do you patiently endure hardships and challenges and difficult people? Are you willing to follow God’s plan for your life even when the road seems long, or painful moments arise?
Paul was just one of many in the Bible who had to be patient while waiting for God to act or for circumstances to change for the better. Isaiah was sent to preach God’s word to a sinful Israel. God told Isaiah that the people would reject his preaching for a long time. This even prompted the prophet Isaiah to ask God, “How long, O Lord?” (Isaiah 6:11). Isaiah was willing to speak for God, but the road was difficult, people would not listen to God’s voice, and Israel continued to sin. Isaiah suffered in many ways. He was vilified, mocked, rejected. In a weak moment, Isaiah begged God to tell him how long he had to endure this suffering.
Difficult situations are hard to endure. Difficult people make it even more arduous. Some people, even those who know God, even good people, may fall into sin. When they do, they don’t want to hear about it. Some will even retaliate against you, slander your good name, or make light of your hard work. In the scripture for today, Paul commands you to be patient with difficult people. It’s not that you withhold God’s word from them. You just may have to suffer all kinds of negativity from them. You need to “be patient” and “make allowance for their faults out of love” (Ephesians 4:2). This won’t be easy, but it will be faithful to Jesus’ plan for your salvation.
Think about this:
Abraham had to wait until he was 100 years old for a promise from God about a special son to be born was fulfilled. Sarah, his wife, had to wait until she was 90!
Joseph, son of Jacob, suffered a long time in prison waiting for his chance at freedom. And he was innocent of all charges and wrongfully accused!
Moses had to travel through the wilderness and deal with the sin of murder for years before God called him to lead the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt.
Jeremiah was ignored and mistreated for prophesying in the name of God. They even beat him and put him into stocks in the public square to humiliate him. But every word he spoke from God came true.
Despite following God’s will and performing a miracle, Elijah was given a death sentence by the King and Queen of Israel.
Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt in order to save baby Jesus from the wrath of Herod. Many accounts list they may have had to endure two years of hardship in Egypt to keep Jesus safe.
I could go on and on about people in the Bible who had to suffer and endure patiently in their faithful quest to pursue God’s plan. Having patience is not easy. Being patient while suffering is painful. Remaining patient when you are wronged, slandered, made fun of, and falsely accused is downright torture. Still, to be faithful to God, your patience is required. It is a sign of your true faith.
John MacArthur wrote this about the scripture for today: “patience accepts God’s plan for everything. It doesn’t question God. A patient person says, “Lord, if this is what You have planned for me, that’s all right.” Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Since God is in control, we can be patient, waiting for Him to work out His will.” (Strength for Today)
But will you be patient in the day of testing? Will you “make allowances” for the faults of others or stew and become bitter with their rejection? Shallow Christians believe that patience is easy and people will readily turn away from sin. Those with a deep and knowledgeable faith know better. We know that patience often requires suffering and that people frequently choose sin over God. You do know that people often default to sin rather than face the truth, right?
How patient are you? Are you patient even when undergoing suffering? Can you handle the ridicule of others despite your knowing and speaking God’s truth? Will you faithfully deal with the faults of others, without resentment and bitterness. and without becoming defensive or negative? Can you endure suffering without losing the ability to love in Jesus’ name?
✧✧✧
January 24
“He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money.” (Mark 6:8, NLT)
The scripture above informs our meditation today. These were some of the instructions given by Jesus to the disciples as they were sent out to do their ministry. As part of their learning, Jesus wanted the disciples to taken nothing with them except a walking stick. He made sure they did not take any money. Why? You’d think Jesus would want the disciples to be fully supplied for their ministerial work? Instead, he sent them out ill-prepared, or so it seemed. Actually, Jesus was fully preparing His disciples for their work. By making sure they had “no food, no traveler’s bag, and no money”, Jesus made sure that the disciples leaned solely on God for their work. There were no other “crutches” to lean on. God would be the foundation of their work. God’s Spirit would suffice. God would feed them along the way through the generosity of others. The disciples would thus learn that money does not fulfill a ministry. Faith in God is required for any godly work.
You might think, “Of course, faith in God is required for ministerial work! Isn’t this obvious?” No, it is not. Well-meaning Christians, even pastors, often rely on their own talents, their money, their tact, their education, their degrees, their connections in ministry. Sadly, too few rely completely on God. Jesus wanted His disciples to learn that spreading the gospel required the Holy Spirit, NOT material possessions. God would provide the material possessions along the way. It was the Holy Spirit, the gospel message, God’s presence that were the main ingredients for holy work!
How often do you rely on a gift of money to help a situation, when another gift may have been better suited? Have you ever given money to God’s work so that you didn’t have to give of yourself? If you have used money as a crutch, you can't truly rely on God for your holy work. It’s not that your money is worthless to God. It’s not that money can’t help a ministry. You just need to learn that money may grease the wheels of godly work, but it won’t replace the gospel, or faith, or the love of God, or trust in God!!!!!
“Cyrus McCormick’s father dreamed of inventing a machine to harvest crops. He tinkered for years, but it was Cyrus who became famous for inventing the reaper. Cyrus went to Chicago at age 38 with $60 in his pocket to open his factory. By age 40 he was a millionaire. He met a young lady from New York, Nettie Fowler. Nettie was striking, tall, graceful, with shining brown eyes. The radiance on her face, Cyrus learned, came from her relationship with Christ. They fell in love and married on January 26, 1859. Nettie was 26 years younger than Cyrus, and the couple enjoyed 26 years together.
Cyrus’ death in 1884 left Nettie wealthy beyond belief. What did she do with her money? She established McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago for young Presbyterian ministers. She enabled John R. Mott of the Student Volunteer Movement to go to the ends of the earth to organize student missions. She helped form the World’s Student Christian Federation. She contributed to the evangelic campaigns of D. L. Moody. She supported Wilfred Grenfell, missionary to Labrador, and George Livingstone Robinson, archaeologist to Petra. She funded Tusculum College in Tennessee, and gave generously to educational efforts in Appalachia. She absorbed herself in Asian missions, and her house off Michigan Avenue in Chicago became a Christian halfway house between the Orient and the West, a center of international Christianity. It was always full of missionaries and overseas Christians. She improved the water supply in one country, provided a hospital in another, and a Christian college in another. She built a women’s clinic in Persia and a seminary in Korea. She sent agricultural machines to India.
She did it all in the name of Christ. But she never thought of herself as a great giver. Others, she felt, did more. She could give money, but “… the greatest gift of all comes from the self-sacrifice and devotion of missionaries,” she said.
You can tell where people’s hearts are by looking at their check stubs.” (Robert J. Morgan, On This Day)
Some people learn about faith best by relying on the generosity of God and others. Some people learn about faith by giving away their material possessions. Which kind of person are you?
Jesus could tell where His disciples hearts stood by withholding material support during their missionary work. Our Lord wanted to see if they were ready to fully trust in God’s providence!
It takes faith to trust fully in God’s grace. It takes true faith to start a holy work for God relying on God alone for success. There are times that God will want you to put away your material possessions for a while, to lean on His Spirit, to trust in His providence. When you face God on Judgment Day, your material possessions will bring no comfort or support. That faith in your soul will be measured. Will you be found wanting or fully stocked with complete trust in God?
You might think, “Of course, faith in God is required for ministerial work! Isn’t this obvious?” No, it is not. Well-meaning Christians, even pastors, often rely on their own talents, their money, their tact, their education, their degrees, their connections in ministry. Sadly, too few rely completely on God. Jesus wanted His disciples to learn that spreading the gospel required the Holy Spirit, NOT material possessions. God would provide the material possessions along the way. It was the Holy Spirit, the gospel message, God’s presence that were the main ingredients for holy work!
How often do you rely on a gift of money to help a situation, when another gift may have been better suited? Have you ever given money to God’s work so that you didn’t have to give of yourself? If you have used money as a crutch, you can't truly rely on God for your holy work. It’s not that your money is worthless to God. It’s not that money can’t help a ministry. You just need to learn that money may grease the wheels of godly work, but it won’t replace the gospel, or faith, or the love of God, or trust in God!!!!!
“Cyrus McCormick’s father dreamed of inventing a machine to harvest crops. He tinkered for years, but it was Cyrus who became famous for inventing the reaper. Cyrus went to Chicago at age 38 with $60 in his pocket to open his factory. By age 40 he was a millionaire. He met a young lady from New York, Nettie Fowler. Nettie was striking, tall, graceful, with shining brown eyes. The radiance on her face, Cyrus learned, came from her relationship with Christ. They fell in love and married on January 26, 1859. Nettie was 26 years younger than Cyrus, and the couple enjoyed 26 years together.
Cyrus’ death in 1884 left Nettie wealthy beyond belief. What did she do with her money? She established McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago for young Presbyterian ministers. She enabled John R. Mott of the Student Volunteer Movement to go to the ends of the earth to organize student missions. She helped form the World’s Student Christian Federation. She contributed to the evangelic campaigns of D. L. Moody. She supported Wilfred Grenfell, missionary to Labrador, and George Livingstone Robinson, archaeologist to Petra. She funded Tusculum College in Tennessee, and gave generously to educational efforts in Appalachia. She absorbed herself in Asian missions, and her house off Michigan Avenue in Chicago became a Christian halfway house between the Orient and the West, a center of international Christianity. It was always full of missionaries and overseas Christians. She improved the water supply in one country, provided a hospital in another, and a Christian college in another. She built a women’s clinic in Persia and a seminary in Korea. She sent agricultural machines to India.
She did it all in the name of Christ. But she never thought of herself as a great giver. Others, she felt, did more. She could give money, but “… the greatest gift of all comes from the self-sacrifice and devotion of missionaries,” she said.
You can tell where people’s hearts are by looking at their check stubs.” (Robert J. Morgan, On This Day)
Some people learn about faith best by relying on the generosity of God and others. Some people learn about faith by giving away their material possessions. Which kind of person are you?
Jesus could tell where His disciples hearts stood by withholding material support during their missionary work. Our Lord wanted to see if they were ready to fully trust in God’s providence!
It takes faith to trust fully in God’s grace. It takes true faith to start a holy work for God relying on God alone for success. There are times that God will want you to put away your material possessions for a while, to lean on His Spirit, to trust in His providence. When you face God on Judgment Day, your material possessions will bring no comfort or support. That faith in your soul will be measured. Will you be found wanting or fully stocked with complete trust in God?
January 26
“For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.” (1 Corinthians 9:16–17, ESV)
“There is a story of an old missionary who was returning home from Africa. He was on the same ship with President Teddy Roosevelt who had been in Africa for a big game hunt. When the ship docked in New York, great crowds greeted the president, but the old missionary and his wife walked off the ship unnoticed.
“It just doesn’t seem right,” said the missionary to his wife in a rather bitter tone. “We give our lives in Africa to win souls to Christ, and when we arrive home, there’s no reward or anyone to meet us. The president shoots some animals and gets a royal welcome.” As they were praying before they went to bed, the missionary sensed that the Lord was saying to him, “Do you know why you haven’t received your reward yet? Because you’re not home.”
That’s what Paul had in mind in his spiritual service. He didn’t want to receive superficial or temporal acclaim. He was willing to wait until he went home—his ultimate home—to receive what God had promised him. Are you willing to wait?” (John MacArthur, Truth for Today, p. 36)
When you make a real commitment to God backed up by real work for God, a reward is in store for you. You haven’t earned this reward. It comes as a gift from the God who sent you. It comes from the Lord who redeemed you on the cross. Paul did not see his work for God as something to “boast” about. The scripture for today even quotes Paul as saying that if he preached the gospel, “that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me.” (1 Corinthians 9:15). Paul was CALLED to do this work. Paul dedicated his life to Jesus and in return, he received the call to preach the gospel to all the nations. Paul will not receive Heaven as his reward as a result of the hours he preached or the lives he saved. The scripture states clearly that Paul already had his reward. It came with his salvation. In response, Paul was “entrusted with a stewardship”. He was given a job to do, a mission, a work for God. His work out of love for Jesus was to spread the gospel to all the nations. What is the work God has set you apart to do?
I believe that each person who accepts Jesus as Lord also is given special tasks by God. God will supply the saved person with the ability to accomplish these special tasks by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). YOU are “entrusted with a stewardship” to complete these tasks for God (1 Corinthians 9:16). Do you even know what tasks God has planned for you to accomplish?
People who lack a commitment to Jesus often think that the tasks that Jesus wants of them are to give in the collection plate, attend church as often as possible, be baptized, and be a church member. These are NOT the main tasks given by Jesus! Jesus did not send the disciples out to do missionary work by commanding them to “Go join a church!” He urged Paul and Silas and Luke to go build churches, but church membership was never a missionary end for people. While the disciples and Jesus are recorded as praying and worshipping, there is no mention that the work they are to do it just to pray or just to worship. Praying and worshipping help support a person’s relationship with God. They also bless other faithful people. These are not the missionary work Jesus entrusted to His disciples.
As examples of the missionary work given to the disciples and apostles, we need only to study the New Testament. There, Jesus told His disciples in the gospels to fight evil (including evil spirits), share the good news of Christ, heal people, and more. He also encouraged them to teach others of the Bible and the Kingdom of God, giving them parables as examples. Jesus gave other examples to His disciples of how they should teach by offering up sermons like that found in Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ last words to the disciples at His ascension was for them to make disciples, preach, teach, and baptize (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus did not tell them to just go to church, be a church member, sing in the choir, or give their tithe. Their true work for Jesus involved a commitment to a personal calling.
I was leading a Bible Study at a nursing home. I don’t remember the scripture or the day or even the name of the nursing home now, but I remember the look of utter frustration on the face of a woman in attendance. After studying a Bible passage for half an hour, she raised her hand and said, “I’ve been a member of my church all my life. I thought I was saved and going to heaven because I was a church member. Right now, after studying scripture for a few months, I’m beginning to see that being a Christian involves a lot more than just being a church member. But I’m angry now. I’m in my 80’s and my life is almost over. I’m sad just thinking of all the things I could have done in Jesus’ name! I thought my membership and baptism were enough. It was wrong to think so!”
Paul mentioned in the scripture that he was “entrusted with a stewardship” by Jesus. It was a holy calling with holy works to do. Missionaries have their missions. Preachers preach. Teachers teach. What were you “entrusted with a stewardship” by Jesus to accomplish? How have you made disciples, healed others, fought evil, shared the gospel, and taught others about faith in Jesus? I hope this answer comes easy to you. It says a whole lot regarding your level of faith and commitment. It explains the reason Jesus gave you a reward for your acceptance of salvation.
“It just doesn’t seem right,” said the missionary to his wife in a rather bitter tone. “We give our lives in Africa to win souls to Christ, and when we arrive home, there’s no reward or anyone to meet us. The president shoots some animals and gets a royal welcome.” As they were praying before they went to bed, the missionary sensed that the Lord was saying to him, “Do you know why you haven’t received your reward yet? Because you’re not home.”
That’s what Paul had in mind in his spiritual service. He didn’t want to receive superficial or temporal acclaim. He was willing to wait until he went home—his ultimate home—to receive what God had promised him. Are you willing to wait?” (John MacArthur, Truth for Today, p. 36)
When you make a real commitment to God backed up by real work for God, a reward is in store for you. You haven’t earned this reward. It comes as a gift from the God who sent you. It comes from the Lord who redeemed you on the cross. Paul did not see his work for God as something to “boast” about. The scripture for today even quotes Paul as saying that if he preached the gospel, “that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me.” (1 Corinthians 9:15). Paul was CALLED to do this work. Paul dedicated his life to Jesus and in return, he received the call to preach the gospel to all the nations. Paul will not receive Heaven as his reward as a result of the hours he preached or the lives he saved. The scripture states clearly that Paul already had his reward. It came with his salvation. In response, Paul was “entrusted with a stewardship”. He was given a job to do, a mission, a work for God. His work out of love for Jesus was to spread the gospel to all the nations. What is the work God has set you apart to do?
I believe that each person who accepts Jesus as Lord also is given special tasks by God. God will supply the saved person with the ability to accomplish these special tasks by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). YOU are “entrusted with a stewardship” to complete these tasks for God (1 Corinthians 9:16). Do you even know what tasks God has planned for you to accomplish?
People who lack a commitment to Jesus often think that the tasks that Jesus wants of them are to give in the collection plate, attend church as often as possible, be baptized, and be a church member. These are NOT the main tasks given by Jesus! Jesus did not send the disciples out to do missionary work by commanding them to “Go join a church!” He urged Paul and Silas and Luke to go build churches, but church membership was never a missionary end for people. While the disciples and Jesus are recorded as praying and worshipping, there is no mention that the work they are to do it just to pray or just to worship. Praying and worshipping help support a person’s relationship with God. They also bless other faithful people. These are not the missionary work Jesus entrusted to His disciples.
As examples of the missionary work given to the disciples and apostles, we need only to study the New Testament. There, Jesus told His disciples in the gospels to fight evil (including evil spirits), share the good news of Christ, heal people, and more. He also encouraged them to teach others of the Bible and the Kingdom of God, giving them parables as examples. Jesus gave other examples to His disciples of how they should teach by offering up sermons like that found in Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ last words to the disciples at His ascension was for them to make disciples, preach, teach, and baptize (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus did not tell them to just go to church, be a church member, sing in the choir, or give their tithe. Their true work for Jesus involved a commitment to a personal calling.
I was leading a Bible Study at a nursing home. I don’t remember the scripture or the day or even the name of the nursing home now, but I remember the look of utter frustration on the face of a woman in attendance. After studying a Bible passage for half an hour, she raised her hand and said, “I’ve been a member of my church all my life. I thought I was saved and going to heaven because I was a church member. Right now, after studying scripture for a few months, I’m beginning to see that being a Christian involves a lot more than just being a church member. But I’m angry now. I’m in my 80’s and my life is almost over. I’m sad just thinking of all the things I could have done in Jesus’ name! I thought my membership and baptism were enough. It was wrong to think so!”
Paul mentioned in the scripture that he was “entrusted with a stewardship” by Jesus. It was a holy calling with holy works to do. Missionaries have their missions. Preachers preach. Teachers teach. What were you “entrusted with a stewardship” by Jesus to accomplish? How have you made disciples, healed others, fought evil, shared the gospel, and taught others about faith in Jesus? I hope this answer comes easy to you. It says a whole lot regarding your level of faith and commitment. It explains the reason Jesus gave you a reward for your acceptance of salvation.
January 28
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:18, NLT)
Every now and then when reading your Bible, you will come across words that don’t make sense at first glance. Today’s scripture contains something that seems odd to modern thought. Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18 that the Christians in Ephesus would have “their hearts flooded with light” in order to “understand” the gospel message. Modern educational systems are fully aware that a person’s understanding and knowledge come from thinking with the brain, not with thinking from the heart! However, in ancient times, it was believed that a person thought with the heart. Ancient understanding saw the heart as the source of wisdom and knowledge. The heart was known in ancient times as the “seat of understanding”. We now know that the brain is the source of these things. However, that doesn’t change the meaning behind today’s scripture. Here in Ephesians, Paul is hoping for those good people in Ephesus to find “understanding”. How would they do this? By God “flooding” them with spiritual light to bring divine wisdom. Essentially, Paul was hoping these Christians would let the Holy Spirit shine a light on their spiritual lives, bringing needed understanding to their relationship with God.
In cartoons and comics, authors and artists needed a way for people to get the concept of a person who “gets it”, who comes to a realization, who sees the point. These artisans came to the conclusion that the best way to show in a picture how a person figures something out was to show a light bulb shining over a person’s head. In essence, the lit bulb above the head conveyed the concept that a person could now see something that was previously unknown. Where previously the individual was “in the dark”, the bulb displayed the moment when the person “came to the light”, figured things out, had a revelation!
Even today, people will sometimes see a person “get the point” of a discussion and say to the person, “Ah, I see you got it. I could see the light bulb go on up there in your brain!” In the scripture for today, Paul wanted the Ephesian Christians to “get the point” that God wanted them to see their spiritual role in the battle of good versus evil. God wanted those faithful people to understand that the Holy Spirit reveals important information to those who believe (Ephesians 1:17!). Until they understood God’s purpose and plan, they would be “in the dark” spiritually. They could not understand important concepts like God’s power over evil (Ephesians 1:19) and the importance of Jesus’ resurrection (Ephesians 1:20). Without spiritual enlightenment, they would be susceptible to temptation and sin (Ephesians 2:1-2). Without God’s Spirit, they would be manipulated by worldly ideas that had captured the hearts and minds of so many in this world (Ephesians 2:3). Without God’s wisdom, even people today are blind to the truth and “in the dark” about how good and evil are at work all around them.
While on the computer one morning, Jerry decided to read the digital newspaper from the town where he grew up. One article caught his attention. It was a report about a local farm boy who worked with a large corporation to develop a new product for agricultural development. Jerry was impressed. As he read on, he was surprised to find out that the local farm boy was a neighbor of his growing up named Justin! Jerry sent out an email to see if his old neighbor would like to get together for a coffee at a deli on Main Street. Justin agreed to the meet.
When Jerry and Justin met, there was a warm handshake and smiles exchanged between the two. Though they hadn’t seen each other in over twenty years, their shared experiences growing up kept their conversation lively. At one point in their talk, Justin turned introspective and said, “You know, a lot of things have changed in society since we were kids. I used to think the government represented people. Now, I know they are often looking out for themselves. Before COVID, I thought doctors and hospitals and health care people cared most about helping people. Now, I’m concerned that they have been influenced heavily by corporations and Big Pharma. So much has changed. Some of the people I trusted had my back were not very loyal.” Jerry expressed some of the same concerns. As the two men continued their coffee break, they reflected deeply on the lessons they learned and the people who most inspired their journeys.
Like Jerry and Justin, you will discover that some things in life are an illusion. There are some people you can trust and some you cannot. Ideas you may have thought great at the time were flawed. Institutions you thought would be around forever failed. History you were taught in school may have been skewed. With time comes perspective. With wisdom and learning come deeper reflections, especially when the Holy Spirit is informing your heart and mind.
How does the Holy Spirit enlighten you? Prayer definitely changes you over time. Seeing things around you from God’s perspective and a biblical understanding affects your view of truth. If your relationship with God is deep, you will see spiritual things others are blind to. Wisdom will change your values. Knowledge from God will alter your way of thinking. Good and evil will become more apparent and visible.
2 Timothy 3:16, also written by Paul, is a reminder that Bible study and reflection are a great way to gain wisdom and understanding and enlightenment from God. Prayer and worship enhance one's perception. The presence of the Holy Spirit in heart and mind and soul brings all kinds of spiritual gifts and insight. Do you see what God wants you to see? Do you understand the depths of God’s power and love? Do you perceive the ways that evil attempts to corrupt your good intentions and twist the truth?
In cartoons and comics, authors and artists needed a way for people to get the concept of a person who “gets it”, who comes to a realization, who sees the point. These artisans came to the conclusion that the best way to show in a picture how a person figures something out was to show a light bulb shining over a person’s head. In essence, the lit bulb above the head conveyed the concept that a person could now see something that was previously unknown. Where previously the individual was “in the dark”, the bulb displayed the moment when the person “came to the light”, figured things out, had a revelation!
Even today, people will sometimes see a person “get the point” of a discussion and say to the person, “Ah, I see you got it. I could see the light bulb go on up there in your brain!” In the scripture for today, Paul wanted the Ephesian Christians to “get the point” that God wanted them to see their spiritual role in the battle of good versus evil. God wanted those faithful people to understand that the Holy Spirit reveals important information to those who believe (Ephesians 1:17!). Until they understood God’s purpose and plan, they would be “in the dark” spiritually. They could not understand important concepts like God’s power over evil (Ephesians 1:19) and the importance of Jesus’ resurrection (Ephesians 1:20). Without spiritual enlightenment, they would be susceptible to temptation and sin (Ephesians 2:1-2). Without God’s Spirit, they would be manipulated by worldly ideas that had captured the hearts and minds of so many in this world (Ephesians 2:3). Without God’s wisdom, even people today are blind to the truth and “in the dark” about how good and evil are at work all around them.
While on the computer one morning, Jerry decided to read the digital newspaper from the town where he grew up. One article caught his attention. It was a report about a local farm boy who worked with a large corporation to develop a new product for agricultural development. Jerry was impressed. As he read on, he was surprised to find out that the local farm boy was a neighbor of his growing up named Justin! Jerry sent out an email to see if his old neighbor would like to get together for a coffee at a deli on Main Street. Justin agreed to the meet.
When Jerry and Justin met, there was a warm handshake and smiles exchanged between the two. Though they hadn’t seen each other in over twenty years, their shared experiences growing up kept their conversation lively. At one point in their talk, Justin turned introspective and said, “You know, a lot of things have changed in society since we were kids. I used to think the government represented people. Now, I know they are often looking out for themselves. Before COVID, I thought doctors and hospitals and health care people cared most about helping people. Now, I’m concerned that they have been influenced heavily by corporations and Big Pharma. So much has changed. Some of the people I trusted had my back were not very loyal.” Jerry expressed some of the same concerns. As the two men continued their coffee break, they reflected deeply on the lessons they learned and the people who most inspired their journeys.
Like Jerry and Justin, you will discover that some things in life are an illusion. There are some people you can trust and some you cannot. Ideas you may have thought great at the time were flawed. Institutions you thought would be around forever failed. History you were taught in school may have been skewed. With time comes perspective. With wisdom and learning come deeper reflections, especially when the Holy Spirit is informing your heart and mind.
How does the Holy Spirit enlighten you? Prayer definitely changes you over time. Seeing things around you from God’s perspective and a biblical understanding affects your view of truth. If your relationship with God is deep, you will see spiritual things others are blind to. Wisdom will change your values. Knowledge from God will alter your way of thinking. Good and evil will become more apparent and visible.
2 Timothy 3:16, also written by Paul, is a reminder that Bible study and reflection are a great way to gain wisdom and understanding and enlightenment from God. Prayer and worship enhance one's perception. The presence of the Holy Spirit in heart and mind and soul brings all kinds of spiritual gifts and insight. Do you see what God wants you to see? Do you understand the depths of God’s power and love? Do you perceive the ways that evil attempts to corrupt your good intentions and twist the truth?
January 30
“And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 26:15, ESV)
A good Christian man was at work when his boss came up to him looking rather upset. David smiled as the boss walked over, saying; “Hey, Karl, looks like you aren’t having the best day. Can I help?”
Karl looked David straight in the eye and said, “Did you close last night?”
“Yes, sure did!” responded David.
With eyes burning, Karl answered, “You messed that up, Dave. A machine was left on in a stalled position. Today, its toast. The motor is burned up. AND, during the night, the smoke alarm went off because the motor was left stalled. It’s a freaking five-thousand-dollar machine! How could you not have seen the warning light on the front of the machine when you locked up and shut off the lights?!!!”
David was upset at himself for the oversight. However, later that day, David found out that the new guy, who had stalled the machine, left the motor on in that dangerous condition while he went to ask for help but became distracted and forgot about the problem. David was upset that he got the blame for something the new guy messed up. For days, David fumed. And, when he told Karl about the mix-up, Karl remined Dave that it was still his fault that he didn’t check everything over when he locked up. Karl even wrote up Dave for the error and chastised him in front of the other workers at a team meeting.
David was bothered for weeks over what happened. He was a good man, trustworthy and honest. He didn’t deserve to be dragged through the mud like this. He complained to God in his prayers how it was all unfair.
Two years later, David was at an important church meeting. During the meeting, the chairperson railed on the pastor for being late to the meeting. David said nothing, thinking, “I sure am glad I’m not the pastor! Boy he endured their wrath. I wish they wouldn’t be so hard on him, but I’m not saying a word and getting them mad at me!” At the very moment David thought this, God put in his mind a memory of the day he was chastised wrongly at work. Immediately, David felt guilty for not sticking up for the pastor. David found out later that month that the reason why the Pastor was late was because he was at a private meeting with a person who was dying. The dying person didn’t want anyone to know. The pastor endured the wrath of the committee chairperson for no good reason. It made David feel all the sorrier for his silence. In his mind, David could hear God telling him all over again that he was a hypocrite. God brought to his mind that even Jesus was innocent when he was put on the cross and that David should know better than to let another innocent man suffer wrongly.
Have you ever been critical of a person for no good reason? Have you ever let your emotions overpower your thinking and regretted your words or actions? It is so easy to sin, to make a mess of things, or let your emotions take you down a wrong path filled with anger or resentment or jealousy. Sometimes, even faithful people can go against God without even being aware of the sinfulness involved.
Aaron and Miriam wrongfully criticized Moses’ leadership. They did not at first understand how this went against the will of God. Balaam, the prophet, was motivated by greed to speak out against God’s chosen ones. He didn’t know about it until a donkey explained his sin when an angel of death showed up! Peter denied Jesus three times. But it wasn’t until the cock crowed that he realized his failure. Religious people, good people, faithful people may not realize for a time when they sin or go against the will of God. At moments, this may include you!
Our scripture for today comes near the end of the story of Saul’s conversion. Saul, who was a very religious Jew, considered Christians to be sinful. Saul was convinced that Jesus was not the Son of God. Then, on the way to persecute more Christians, Saul was struck blind. At the very moment blindness overcame him, Saul heard a voice mixed in with thunder. He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The response Saul received changed his life, for Jesus responded back, saying, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 26:15). Just then, Saul became aware that he was wrongfully killing Christians and attacking the name of Jesus. Saul was shaken to the core. Jesus was alive and resurrected! Saul had been so very wrong.
While Saul thought he was acting faithfully and biblically, he was not. Though Saul believed he was in the right, he was woefully wrong! Saul’s hypocrisy was apparent. Saul’s sin was grievous. Worst of all, this whole while Saul was completely clueless to his own sin!
Good people can make very bad choices. Faithful people can have faithless or hypocritical responses. Don’t be surprised if at critical points in your life Jesus comes to correct you. Don’t be caught thinking you are above being a hypocrite or too good to fall into a terrible cycle of sin.
Saul was blind to his own errors. Jesus caused him to lose his sight to be able to comprehend his failure. God may resort to the same with you. In order to save you, God may have to cause big upheavals in your life to help you see your own failures. God may allow you to mess up in order to help you see the wrong road you’ve taken. Jesus may humble you in order to correct you. The Holy Spirit may drown you in guilt for you to feel the pain you wrongfully caused another. Sin can blind the best of people, even you.
Are there some mistaken thoughts or beliefs that are eating away at your soul? Have you been hypocritical in your thinking? Have you recently gone against the will of Jesus without being aware of it? A healthy soul never fails to look for blind-spots to sin or holes in one’s thinking.
Karl looked David straight in the eye and said, “Did you close last night?”
“Yes, sure did!” responded David.
With eyes burning, Karl answered, “You messed that up, Dave. A machine was left on in a stalled position. Today, its toast. The motor is burned up. AND, during the night, the smoke alarm went off because the motor was left stalled. It’s a freaking five-thousand-dollar machine! How could you not have seen the warning light on the front of the machine when you locked up and shut off the lights?!!!”
David was upset at himself for the oversight. However, later that day, David found out that the new guy, who had stalled the machine, left the motor on in that dangerous condition while he went to ask for help but became distracted and forgot about the problem. David was upset that he got the blame for something the new guy messed up. For days, David fumed. And, when he told Karl about the mix-up, Karl remined Dave that it was still his fault that he didn’t check everything over when he locked up. Karl even wrote up Dave for the error and chastised him in front of the other workers at a team meeting.
David was bothered for weeks over what happened. He was a good man, trustworthy and honest. He didn’t deserve to be dragged through the mud like this. He complained to God in his prayers how it was all unfair.
Two years later, David was at an important church meeting. During the meeting, the chairperson railed on the pastor for being late to the meeting. David said nothing, thinking, “I sure am glad I’m not the pastor! Boy he endured their wrath. I wish they wouldn’t be so hard on him, but I’m not saying a word and getting them mad at me!” At the very moment David thought this, God put in his mind a memory of the day he was chastised wrongly at work. Immediately, David felt guilty for not sticking up for the pastor. David found out later that month that the reason why the Pastor was late was because he was at a private meeting with a person who was dying. The dying person didn’t want anyone to know. The pastor endured the wrath of the committee chairperson for no good reason. It made David feel all the sorrier for his silence. In his mind, David could hear God telling him all over again that he was a hypocrite. God brought to his mind that even Jesus was innocent when he was put on the cross and that David should know better than to let another innocent man suffer wrongly.
Have you ever been critical of a person for no good reason? Have you ever let your emotions overpower your thinking and regretted your words or actions? It is so easy to sin, to make a mess of things, or let your emotions take you down a wrong path filled with anger or resentment or jealousy. Sometimes, even faithful people can go against God without even being aware of the sinfulness involved.
Aaron and Miriam wrongfully criticized Moses’ leadership. They did not at first understand how this went against the will of God. Balaam, the prophet, was motivated by greed to speak out against God’s chosen ones. He didn’t know about it until a donkey explained his sin when an angel of death showed up! Peter denied Jesus three times. But it wasn’t until the cock crowed that he realized his failure. Religious people, good people, faithful people may not realize for a time when they sin or go against the will of God. At moments, this may include you!
Our scripture for today comes near the end of the story of Saul’s conversion. Saul, who was a very religious Jew, considered Christians to be sinful. Saul was convinced that Jesus was not the Son of God. Then, on the way to persecute more Christians, Saul was struck blind. At the very moment blindness overcame him, Saul heard a voice mixed in with thunder. He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The response Saul received changed his life, for Jesus responded back, saying, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 26:15). Just then, Saul became aware that he was wrongfully killing Christians and attacking the name of Jesus. Saul was shaken to the core. Jesus was alive and resurrected! Saul had been so very wrong.
While Saul thought he was acting faithfully and biblically, he was not. Though Saul believed he was in the right, he was woefully wrong! Saul’s hypocrisy was apparent. Saul’s sin was grievous. Worst of all, this whole while Saul was completely clueless to his own sin!
Good people can make very bad choices. Faithful people can have faithless or hypocritical responses. Don’t be surprised if at critical points in your life Jesus comes to correct you. Don’t be caught thinking you are above being a hypocrite or too good to fall into a terrible cycle of sin.
Saul was blind to his own errors. Jesus caused him to lose his sight to be able to comprehend his failure. God may resort to the same with you. In order to save you, God may have to cause big upheavals in your life to help you see your own failures. God may allow you to mess up in order to help you see the wrong road you’ve taken. Jesus may humble you in order to correct you. The Holy Spirit may drown you in guilt for you to feel the pain you wrongfully caused another. Sin can blind the best of people, even you.
Are there some mistaken thoughts or beliefs that are eating away at your soul? Have you been hypocritical in your thinking? Have you recently gone against the will of Jesus without being aware of it? A healthy soul never fails to look for blind-spots to sin or holes in one’s thinking.