June 2
“That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon replied to God, “… Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them [Israel] properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?” God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”” (2 Chronicles 1:7,10–12, NLT)
Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba. He grew up with famous parents. His family had wealth and success. His future looked bright. When Solomon was chosen to be the next King of Judah, God appeared to Solomon in the night asking, “What do you want? Ask and I will give it to you! (2 Chronicles 1:7). Part of me wonders if this wasn’t a test by God of Solomon’s faith.
To state your greatest desires or wants exposes your innermost thoughts. It explains your hopes and wishes and dreams. It reveals your greatest aims in life. Solomon asked for “the wisdom and knowledge to lead Israel properly” (2 Chronicles 1:10). God was very pleased with Solomon’s response. Solomon could have chosen “wealth, riches, fame, or the death of his enemies” (2 Chronicles 1:11). He did not. By asking for such wisdom and knowledge, Solomon displayed great humility as a king. God not only granted him extraordinary wisdom and knowledge, but God also blessed him with wealth and riches and fame and more. Solomon went on to lead Israel into greatness. In fact, the temple in Jerusalem was originally designed and built during the reign of Solomon!
However, even Solomon’s wisdom and knowledge did not stop him from committing sin before God. When his riches attracted foreign attention and respect, Solomon began to engage in some shady political moves. When Solomon’s power and authority became widely respected in the Middle East, countries such as Egypt and Lebanon and Syria began to negotiate special privileges with him. Some of these political maneuvers involved Solomon marrying foreign wives and receiving foreign wealth. Despite all of Solomon’s wisdom and knowledge, the wives and riches and fame and foreign influences undermined Solomon’s leadership and ethics and values.
Very few people can handle wealth and power and fame. One has only to look at what often happens to powerful people in Washington, D.C. for examples. Look at how Hunter Biden, son of President Biden, has wrecked his life with cocaine and various affairs and shady business practices. Look at the famous people in Hollywood. How many of them have died from drug overdoses, became corrupt from the lavish lifestyles, or committed suicide? How many of the world’s elite were caught traveling to Jeffrey Epstein’s Island to have illicit sex with underage girls? Even the great and wise Solomon in our Bible could not deal with the corruption caused by greatness.
After studying this story of the life of Solomon, John D. Barry made the following observation:
““What would you do if you won the lottery?”
This question always seems to generate the same responses: There’s the person who devises an investment strategy, the dreamer who envisions ending global poverty, the individual who would travel the world, and the person who would buy the house, boat, or car they’ve always wanted.
These responses tell us something about each person’s character and what fulfills them. The root of these desires reveals something about how they perceive their identity in relationship to their culture, family, and God.
What would you do if you came into a large sum of money? How can you align your desires with God’s?” (From Connect the Testaments, June 1 reading).
While teaching His disciples, Jesus mentioned a rich man in one of his parables. The man had become rich through careful planning and luck and the blessing of God. After he became rich, what did the man do? Did he share his wealth with the needy? Did he devote resources and time to helping widows and orphans? The rich man decided to “eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). God was so disgusted at the man’s “covetousness” and greed that God ended his life the very night he decided to spend all his wealth on himself. God called him a “fool” (Luke 12:20). Based on Jesus’ parable, foolish people use their money, wealth, and fame selfishly. This selfish living is reprehensible to God.
An easy life, wealth, riches, and fame may corrupt even the most dedicated of souls. That is why Jesus said it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to gain entrance to Heaven. Be careful in your life to never become selfish. Don’t take your blessings for granted. It is so easy to lose your way in life when pretty things or wealth cause you to leave the path of righteousness. If you ever find your life is becoming easier or your wealth is increasing, be aware that you are traveling into dangerous territory. These things have corrupted many souls. They have the possibility of choking your faith and wrecking your relationship with God (read carefully Mark 4:19).
Our scripture for today began on such a high note: Solomon chose God's wisdom and knowlege over all other things. By his choices that day, Solomon exhibited great faith! Sadly, Solomon was corrupted in his lifetime by the love of worldly treasures. You also have made some very worthy and faithful choices in your life. Please don't let the love of worldly treasures taint your spiritual life in like manner!
To state your greatest desires or wants exposes your innermost thoughts. It explains your hopes and wishes and dreams. It reveals your greatest aims in life. Solomon asked for “the wisdom and knowledge to lead Israel properly” (2 Chronicles 1:10). God was very pleased with Solomon’s response. Solomon could have chosen “wealth, riches, fame, or the death of his enemies” (2 Chronicles 1:11). He did not. By asking for such wisdom and knowledge, Solomon displayed great humility as a king. God not only granted him extraordinary wisdom and knowledge, but God also blessed him with wealth and riches and fame and more. Solomon went on to lead Israel into greatness. In fact, the temple in Jerusalem was originally designed and built during the reign of Solomon!
However, even Solomon’s wisdom and knowledge did not stop him from committing sin before God. When his riches attracted foreign attention and respect, Solomon began to engage in some shady political moves. When Solomon’s power and authority became widely respected in the Middle East, countries such as Egypt and Lebanon and Syria began to negotiate special privileges with him. Some of these political maneuvers involved Solomon marrying foreign wives and receiving foreign wealth. Despite all of Solomon’s wisdom and knowledge, the wives and riches and fame and foreign influences undermined Solomon’s leadership and ethics and values.
Very few people can handle wealth and power and fame. One has only to look at what often happens to powerful people in Washington, D.C. for examples. Look at how Hunter Biden, son of President Biden, has wrecked his life with cocaine and various affairs and shady business practices. Look at the famous people in Hollywood. How many of them have died from drug overdoses, became corrupt from the lavish lifestyles, or committed suicide? How many of the world’s elite were caught traveling to Jeffrey Epstein’s Island to have illicit sex with underage girls? Even the great and wise Solomon in our Bible could not deal with the corruption caused by greatness.
After studying this story of the life of Solomon, John D. Barry made the following observation:
““What would you do if you won the lottery?”
This question always seems to generate the same responses: There’s the person who devises an investment strategy, the dreamer who envisions ending global poverty, the individual who would travel the world, and the person who would buy the house, boat, or car they’ve always wanted.
These responses tell us something about each person’s character and what fulfills them. The root of these desires reveals something about how they perceive their identity in relationship to their culture, family, and God.
What would you do if you came into a large sum of money? How can you align your desires with God’s?” (From Connect the Testaments, June 1 reading).
While teaching His disciples, Jesus mentioned a rich man in one of his parables. The man had become rich through careful planning and luck and the blessing of God. After he became rich, what did the man do? Did he share his wealth with the needy? Did he devote resources and time to helping widows and orphans? The rich man decided to “eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). God was so disgusted at the man’s “covetousness” and greed that God ended his life the very night he decided to spend all his wealth on himself. God called him a “fool” (Luke 12:20). Based on Jesus’ parable, foolish people use their money, wealth, and fame selfishly. This selfish living is reprehensible to God.
An easy life, wealth, riches, and fame may corrupt even the most dedicated of souls. That is why Jesus said it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to gain entrance to Heaven. Be careful in your life to never become selfish. Don’t take your blessings for granted. It is so easy to lose your way in life when pretty things or wealth cause you to leave the path of righteousness. If you ever find your life is becoming easier or your wealth is increasing, be aware that you are traveling into dangerous territory. These things have corrupted many souls. They have the possibility of choking your faith and wrecking your relationship with God (read carefully Mark 4:19).
Our scripture for today began on such a high note: Solomon chose God's wisdom and knowlege over all other things. By his choices that day, Solomon exhibited great faith! Sadly, Solomon was corrupted in his lifetime by the love of worldly treasures. You also have made some very worthy and faithful choices in your life. Please don't let the love of worldly treasures taint your spiritual life in like manner!
June 4
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” (James 1:21, NLT)
As I read the above scripture this morning, I wondered what the scripture meant by “filth”. James 1:21 urges the faithful to “get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives”. To help in this endeavor, the scripture urges the reader to “humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” (James 1:21b). Taken in context, James asks that all followers of Christ replace any “filth and evil” with the Word of God. The scripture claims that this process has the ability to “save your souls”. To understand this transfer in the soul from filth and evil to an established Word of God, I thought we should look more closely at this scripture.
For you to be closer to God, evil and filth have to be ejected from your life. You probably know the definition of “evil”. As defined in most modern dictionaries, evil is what is wicked or sinful or reprehensible. Biblically, evil is what is in opposition to God. Anything that goes against God’s Kingdom, God’s righteousness, or God’s way is considered evil. That is why Satan, sins, wickedness, and much more is defined as evil in the Bible. It all goes against God. However, today’s scripture also urges us to rid our lives of “filth”. Usually, filth is defined as what is dirty. A messy room can be filthy. Stained clothes can be considered filthy. However, this scripture is not claiming messiness is filthy. If you look closely at the Greek in this verse, filthy means “morally impure” or “morally dirty”. The word “filthy”, in its original Greek form, is directly related to morals. A spiritually filthy person has bad morals. Taken in context, a spiritually filthy person has morals that are based on poor or evil standards that go against God’s word. An evil person may sin, but a spiritually filthy person will have bad standards that cause one to continually live in opposition to good and godly ways. In a sense, having spiritual filthiness in one’s life is akin to having a sinful attitude about life choices.
At the meetings of community pastors where I once lived, Father Jake was a regular attender. He was a great friend and a good priest. What I especially loved about Father Jake was that he was “down to earth”. He seldom used lofty religious wording. He didn’t like the pretentiousness of some who considered themselves “religious elites”. He was easy to talk to and a trusted listener.
After one pastors’ meeting, Father Jake spoke with a couple of us who remained. As we swapped stories about issues in our churches, Jake opened up about a member of his congregation named Jerry. Jerry made Father Jake feel uncomfortable. Jerry was very active, always willing to lend a hand for church functions, a good father, and a faithful husband. However, the priest knew that Jerry had another side to his life, a more hidden side. Jerry liked to “cut loose” every now and then. He had some rowdy friends. Together, they would go hunting or fishing, have card parties, or party nights. When the group got together, they would often drink heavily, smoke cigars, party until the wee hours of the night, swear up a storm, visit strip clubs, and become loud and obnoxious. Jerry’s wife knew about the wild nights with this group of guys and was often shocked and embarrassed by their group antics. Several times, friends approached Jerry’s wife with stories of Jerry’s bad behavior and sick jokes when out with “the guys”.
Jerry’s wife asked Father Jake to speak to her husband about the group and their bad behavior. Father Jake approached Jerry privately and they talked. Jake listened politely. In the end, he told Father Jake that this group provided the only way he could handle his stressful life. He wasn’t going to give up the wild parties. He was a devoted husband and father and very supportive of the church. He asked Father Jake to “leave it alone”. Jerry believed that he deserved to live it up and have fun once in a while. He believed that his friends were the perfect outlet to “cut loose”.
Jerry may be a Christian. He may be generous and good when not at one of his wild parties. However, this wild part of Jerry’s life has exposed his filthy behavior. This part of Jerry’s life laid bare his “bad boy” desires and displayed a sinful attitude. Though Jerry considers this part of his life “fun”, his antics while out with the guys is anything from Christian and faithful. It is morally impure.
Jerry is not an evil man. However, he does have a filthy side to his life. The scripture from James 1:21 urges Jerry to rid his life of filth. He needs to replace it with scripture. I find it very interesting that Jerry once remarked to Father Jake that the reason he doesn’t read the Bible very often is that it makes him feel too guilty. One must wonder if God isn’t trying to speak to Jerry about the sordid part of his life.
I have met church goers who were very proud of their younger days when they “sowed their wild oats”. I have met self-confessed Christians who had various addictions. I have worried over church people who considered it their right to act poorly toward others. There are people who go to church on Sunday to beg forgiveness from God for debauchery committed on Saturday nights. According to James 1:21, these people need to “get rid of all the filth and evil in their lives”. ALL the filth and evil, not just some.
I am reminded of a friend from my church who once said to me, “Pastor Dave, you can’t expect people to give up all the fun in their lives in order to be good Christians!” Since when is fun only aligned with moral filth or evil? Why do faithful people believe that being faithful is not enjoyable in itself?
Is there a part of your life that exhibits bad behavior or indecent morals? Is there a desire to do filthy things that you hide from others? Loving God requires that you rid your life of evil and filth. It helps to replace these with joy in studying God’s word and being in God’s presence. If you find that joy and God don’t go together very well, you probably don’t have a healthy relationship with God. If you find that filthy habits keep surfacing in your life, work your best to keep your mind and heart and soul attuned to God and God’s Word. Satan loves to bait the spiritual hook with attractive filth!
For you to be closer to God, evil and filth have to be ejected from your life. You probably know the definition of “evil”. As defined in most modern dictionaries, evil is what is wicked or sinful or reprehensible. Biblically, evil is what is in opposition to God. Anything that goes against God’s Kingdom, God’s righteousness, or God’s way is considered evil. That is why Satan, sins, wickedness, and much more is defined as evil in the Bible. It all goes against God. However, today’s scripture also urges us to rid our lives of “filth”. Usually, filth is defined as what is dirty. A messy room can be filthy. Stained clothes can be considered filthy. However, this scripture is not claiming messiness is filthy. If you look closely at the Greek in this verse, filthy means “morally impure” or “morally dirty”. The word “filthy”, in its original Greek form, is directly related to morals. A spiritually filthy person has bad morals. Taken in context, a spiritually filthy person has morals that are based on poor or evil standards that go against God’s word. An evil person may sin, but a spiritually filthy person will have bad standards that cause one to continually live in opposition to good and godly ways. In a sense, having spiritual filthiness in one’s life is akin to having a sinful attitude about life choices.
At the meetings of community pastors where I once lived, Father Jake was a regular attender. He was a great friend and a good priest. What I especially loved about Father Jake was that he was “down to earth”. He seldom used lofty religious wording. He didn’t like the pretentiousness of some who considered themselves “religious elites”. He was easy to talk to and a trusted listener.
After one pastors’ meeting, Father Jake spoke with a couple of us who remained. As we swapped stories about issues in our churches, Jake opened up about a member of his congregation named Jerry. Jerry made Father Jake feel uncomfortable. Jerry was very active, always willing to lend a hand for church functions, a good father, and a faithful husband. However, the priest knew that Jerry had another side to his life, a more hidden side. Jerry liked to “cut loose” every now and then. He had some rowdy friends. Together, they would go hunting or fishing, have card parties, or party nights. When the group got together, they would often drink heavily, smoke cigars, party until the wee hours of the night, swear up a storm, visit strip clubs, and become loud and obnoxious. Jerry’s wife knew about the wild nights with this group of guys and was often shocked and embarrassed by their group antics. Several times, friends approached Jerry’s wife with stories of Jerry’s bad behavior and sick jokes when out with “the guys”.
Jerry’s wife asked Father Jake to speak to her husband about the group and their bad behavior. Father Jake approached Jerry privately and they talked. Jake listened politely. In the end, he told Father Jake that this group provided the only way he could handle his stressful life. He wasn’t going to give up the wild parties. He was a devoted husband and father and very supportive of the church. He asked Father Jake to “leave it alone”. Jerry believed that he deserved to live it up and have fun once in a while. He believed that his friends were the perfect outlet to “cut loose”.
Jerry may be a Christian. He may be generous and good when not at one of his wild parties. However, this wild part of Jerry’s life has exposed his filthy behavior. This part of Jerry’s life laid bare his “bad boy” desires and displayed a sinful attitude. Though Jerry considers this part of his life “fun”, his antics while out with the guys is anything from Christian and faithful. It is morally impure.
Jerry is not an evil man. However, he does have a filthy side to his life. The scripture from James 1:21 urges Jerry to rid his life of filth. He needs to replace it with scripture. I find it very interesting that Jerry once remarked to Father Jake that the reason he doesn’t read the Bible very often is that it makes him feel too guilty. One must wonder if God isn’t trying to speak to Jerry about the sordid part of his life.
I have met church goers who were very proud of their younger days when they “sowed their wild oats”. I have met self-confessed Christians who had various addictions. I have worried over church people who considered it their right to act poorly toward others. There are people who go to church on Sunday to beg forgiveness from God for debauchery committed on Saturday nights. According to James 1:21, these people need to “get rid of all the filth and evil in their lives”. ALL the filth and evil, not just some.
I am reminded of a friend from my church who once said to me, “Pastor Dave, you can’t expect people to give up all the fun in their lives in order to be good Christians!” Since when is fun only aligned with moral filth or evil? Why do faithful people believe that being faithful is not enjoyable in itself?
Is there a part of your life that exhibits bad behavior or indecent morals? Is there a desire to do filthy things that you hide from others? Loving God requires that you rid your life of evil and filth. It helps to replace these with joy in studying God’s word and being in God’s presence. If you find that joy and God don’t go together very well, you probably don’t have a healthy relationship with God. If you find that filthy habits keep surfacing in your life, work your best to keep your mind and heart and soul attuned to God and God’s Word. Satan loves to bait the spiritual hook with attractive filth!
June 6
“In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.” (2 Peter 2:3, NLT)
For some of you, this meditation is gonna hurt. For others, it will expose the truth they knew was being hidden from the eyes of the faithful.
In a discussion about false teachers and false prophets who will exploit the church in the days to come, the letter of 2 Peter is full of warnings for the faithful. 2 Peter makes the bold claim that false teachers will fight for a place inside the church. They will pose as ministers and leaders (2 Peter 2:1). They will twist scriptures for their own purposes. Then, 2 Peter makes the claim in the scripture for today that these false teachers and false prophets will become “greedy”. They will use the gospel to “make up clever lies to get hold of your money” (2 Peter 2:3). They will use worldly tactics to manipulate the faithful. One version of the Bible states in this verse that their goal is to “exploit” the faithful.
The world is known for such tactics. It constantly uses “clever lies” to manipulate the masses. Communists and Socialists have relied on clever lies for decades, manipulating the press and communications for more than a century. Their clever use of propaganda twists the truth, alters history to fit an agenda, and forms an attempt the control the populace.
“Clever lies” have grown exponentially in popularity in the present social media era. Because of this, our government wants to start a “Disinformation Governance Board” in order to promote “the truth”. In reality, based on the person chosen to lead the Board, this was just an attempt by the Biden Administration in the United States to control information in the public sphere and promote certain political and ideological agendas. How is this any different from Socialist propaganda? Again, it is just another worldly tactic by a political group to “get hold of your money”.
The Canadian Government gave more than six hundred million dollars to “support” the Canadian Broadcasting System and various other news organizations. What happened then? Well, these same news organizations began to praise government actions, even when they were detrimental to society. The Canadian news organizations became so biased that ordinary citizens in Canada would interrupt broadcasts in order to call the reporters out as liars. Again, worldly tactics utilizing “clever lies” were used by politicians to manipulate the truth and the masses.
Don’t for a moment think that governments and political groups are the only ones to use “clever lies” to manipulate you. The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) sued its rival organization in 2016, the PTO. Even before the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) received the lawsuit papers, the PTA was busy explaining to social media why its lawsuit was relevant and what the PTO was doing wrong. Even though both organizations promote classroom education, learning, and parental involvement (all good things!), this was clearly a money and power grab by the PTA in order to limit its rival’s influence.
Lawsuits, media blitzes, Ad barrages and more are simply tactics often used to hide “clever lies” by greedy individuals to “get hold of your money”. Sadly, these same tactics have been and are used by churches to “control the truth” and manipulate the minds of the faithful. During the Middle Ages, people were taught to never “question the church”. During the days of the Inquisition, church authority was promoted as irrefutable. While the Salem Witch trials were being touted as necessary, church leaders ignored how little evidence there was with many of the victims. Over and over, worldly tactics were used to manipulate the church and church people.
Today, clever lies continue to be told, even in the church.
A pastor who was found guilty of having several affairs in his church, sued the Synod to keep the matter private. The Synod, not wanting to pay exorbitant legal fees, signed documents to keep the records private. The pastor moved to his next church and did the same thing. All this became public in an ecclesiastical trial of the pastor. By the way, the Pastor had the information hidden a second time and took a job at a women’s college dorm!
In the Roman Catholic Church, a good number of priests were found to be committing egregious acts within their congregations. In order to keep the money rolling in and the church clean from the stains of these sins, many diocesan leaders moved these priests to other locations or quietly removed them from public positions. Some of these priests were never even prosecuted for their illegal acts. When the stories of these hidden acts came to light in the 1990’s and later with the lawsuits that followed, some Roman Catholic groups were rendered bankrupt or insolvent. Trust in the Church took a huge blow.
In Evangelical circles, it was discovered that a few televangelists and pastors in large churches were using tithes and gifts and offerings for illegitimate personal use. One pastor siphoned money from his ministry in order to spend it on prostitutes. Another funneled funds into lavish gifts for his own personal use. In one case, a pastor made sure to get close to a member who was dying so that she would change her will to include the pastor as an heir to the property. The family sued.
Please know that very few clergypersons are greedy or have an alternate agenda to manipulate others. It’s only the worldly ones you must watch out for; the ones who are more than capable of using “clever lies” to twist the truth.
Today’s scripture was a warning by Peter for the church in every age. You and I need to be ever vigilant for those “clever lies” that play loosely with the truth. We need to be careful not to be deceived by false teachers and prophets who would twist the gospel for their own benefit. Money has a way of corrupting even the best of people, even pastors and religious leaders. Money placed in the right places has manipulated denominations into supporting LBGQ agendas, sexual gender reexaminations, and social programs that are in NO WAY Biblical. I know personally of money set apart for “mission work” that is being cleverly shifted to political causes. This is occurring in at least ten denominations at the present.
Sin can be cleverly hidden. Your personal sin may be used to manipulate the truth. Your personal offerings may be coopted by unscrupulous individuals to support causes that are against God’s law. Peter claimed this type of greedy sin was occurring already in the first century. He knew it would explode in the End Times. Don’t hide your head in the sand. These “clever lies” can come back to harm you, your family, your community, your country, and the history of the world. Be vigilant against the propaganda and sins utilizing these manipulative tactics. Stand firm in the truth of the gospel. Be pure in heart. Attack the clever lies. Jesus fought for the gospel truth. Peter did the same. You will be in good company to stand with these who tell God’s honest truth in love.
In a discussion about false teachers and false prophets who will exploit the church in the days to come, the letter of 2 Peter is full of warnings for the faithful. 2 Peter makes the bold claim that false teachers will fight for a place inside the church. They will pose as ministers and leaders (2 Peter 2:1). They will twist scriptures for their own purposes. Then, 2 Peter makes the claim in the scripture for today that these false teachers and false prophets will become “greedy”. They will use the gospel to “make up clever lies to get hold of your money” (2 Peter 2:3). They will use worldly tactics to manipulate the faithful. One version of the Bible states in this verse that their goal is to “exploit” the faithful.
The world is known for such tactics. It constantly uses “clever lies” to manipulate the masses. Communists and Socialists have relied on clever lies for decades, manipulating the press and communications for more than a century. Their clever use of propaganda twists the truth, alters history to fit an agenda, and forms an attempt the control the populace.
“Clever lies” have grown exponentially in popularity in the present social media era. Because of this, our government wants to start a “Disinformation Governance Board” in order to promote “the truth”. In reality, based on the person chosen to lead the Board, this was just an attempt by the Biden Administration in the United States to control information in the public sphere and promote certain political and ideological agendas. How is this any different from Socialist propaganda? Again, it is just another worldly tactic by a political group to “get hold of your money”.
The Canadian Government gave more than six hundred million dollars to “support” the Canadian Broadcasting System and various other news organizations. What happened then? Well, these same news organizations began to praise government actions, even when they were detrimental to society. The Canadian news organizations became so biased that ordinary citizens in Canada would interrupt broadcasts in order to call the reporters out as liars. Again, worldly tactics utilizing “clever lies” were used by politicians to manipulate the truth and the masses.
Don’t for a moment think that governments and political groups are the only ones to use “clever lies” to manipulate you. The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) sued its rival organization in 2016, the PTO. Even before the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) received the lawsuit papers, the PTA was busy explaining to social media why its lawsuit was relevant and what the PTO was doing wrong. Even though both organizations promote classroom education, learning, and parental involvement (all good things!), this was clearly a money and power grab by the PTA in order to limit its rival’s influence.
Lawsuits, media blitzes, Ad barrages and more are simply tactics often used to hide “clever lies” by greedy individuals to “get hold of your money”. Sadly, these same tactics have been and are used by churches to “control the truth” and manipulate the minds of the faithful. During the Middle Ages, people were taught to never “question the church”. During the days of the Inquisition, church authority was promoted as irrefutable. While the Salem Witch trials were being touted as necessary, church leaders ignored how little evidence there was with many of the victims. Over and over, worldly tactics were used to manipulate the church and church people.
Today, clever lies continue to be told, even in the church.
A pastor who was found guilty of having several affairs in his church, sued the Synod to keep the matter private. The Synod, not wanting to pay exorbitant legal fees, signed documents to keep the records private. The pastor moved to his next church and did the same thing. All this became public in an ecclesiastical trial of the pastor. By the way, the Pastor had the information hidden a second time and took a job at a women’s college dorm!
In the Roman Catholic Church, a good number of priests were found to be committing egregious acts within their congregations. In order to keep the money rolling in and the church clean from the stains of these sins, many diocesan leaders moved these priests to other locations or quietly removed them from public positions. Some of these priests were never even prosecuted for their illegal acts. When the stories of these hidden acts came to light in the 1990’s and later with the lawsuits that followed, some Roman Catholic groups were rendered bankrupt or insolvent. Trust in the Church took a huge blow.
In Evangelical circles, it was discovered that a few televangelists and pastors in large churches were using tithes and gifts and offerings for illegitimate personal use. One pastor siphoned money from his ministry in order to spend it on prostitutes. Another funneled funds into lavish gifts for his own personal use. In one case, a pastor made sure to get close to a member who was dying so that she would change her will to include the pastor as an heir to the property. The family sued.
Please know that very few clergypersons are greedy or have an alternate agenda to manipulate others. It’s only the worldly ones you must watch out for; the ones who are more than capable of using “clever lies” to twist the truth.
Today’s scripture was a warning by Peter for the church in every age. You and I need to be ever vigilant for those “clever lies” that play loosely with the truth. We need to be careful not to be deceived by false teachers and prophets who would twist the gospel for their own benefit. Money has a way of corrupting even the best of people, even pastors and religious leaders. Money placed in the right places has manipulated denominations into supporting LBGQ agendas, sexual gender reexaminations, and social programs that are in NO WAY Biblical. I know personally of money set apart for “mission work” that is being cleverly shifted to political causes. This is occurring in at least ten denominations at the present.
Sin can be cleverly hidden. Your personal sin may be used to manipulate the truth. Your personal offerings may be coopted by unscrupulous individuals to support causes that are against God’s law. Peter claimed this type of greedy sin was occurring already in the first century. He knew it would explode in the End Times. Don’t hide your head in the sand. These “clever lies” can come back to harm you, your family, your community, your country, and the history of the world. Be vigilant against the propaganda and sins utilizing these manipulative tactics. Stand firm in the truth of the gospel. Be pure in heart. Attack the clever lies. Jesus fought for the gospel truth. Peter did the same. You will be in good company to stand with these who tell God’s honest truth in love.
June 8
I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts. Isaiah 66:2
In his book of meditations, Tim LaHaye wrote the following words:
“DO YOU HAVE anything in your house that’s stolen? Do you have a twinge of guilt that passes through your heart when you think back to a time when you took something that wasn’t yours or said something that wasn’t true? Ever cheated on your taxes? Ever padded your time sheet at work? Ever lied to your boss? your mom? your wife? If so, ever wonder why it still bothers you?
You can be sure that you’re not alone. In fact, guilt is such a widespread problem that the U.S. government has had to set up a “Conscience Fund” as part of its revenue system. This is a fund for all the money that comes in unexpectedly from anonymous, guilt-ridden Americans. Figures show that an average of $45,000 per year is received and deposited into the Conscience Fund, most of it in increments of one to ten dollars.” (Embracing Eternity, p. 152)
I believe the Conscience Fund is a good place for people who have wronged the government or the United States to send a check to make amends. In fact, I believe there should be a way for all of us to make amends in one way or another. That is why in most churches, there is a Prayer of Confession as part of the worship service. It gives each of us a chance to make things right with God, offer a confession, and look for forgiveness.
God views confession and a good conscience in positive light. Our scripture for today bears witness to this fact. God explained to Isaiah the prophet following the fall of Jerusalem and subsequent years of difficulty that he would “bless those who have humble and contrite hearts” (Isaiah 66:2). When God spoke these words, the people of Israel and Judah were recovering from years of sin and punishment. Their sin had caused God to send the armies of Assyria and Babylon to cleanse the land. After forty years, God ended their suffering by bringing a remnant of the people back to Jerusalem and Judah. There, God wanted to begin a new relationship with the Chosen People (Isaiah 40:1-2). Part of this new relationship would involve God’s people being more humble, honoring God, and submitting to God’s law. God desired the people to have “contrite hearts” that were willing to admit mistakes and renounce sins. For a while, the people devoted themselves faithfully to this new relationship.
If you read the scripture following Isaiah 66:2 in the Bible, it is clear that God would not accept a faithful person without a contrite heart. In fact, God promised in Isaiah 66:3-4 that if the people went back to their sinful ways, God was going to give them a life of affliction. God would not ease their burden. According to God, a contrite heart deserves blessing. An evildoer deserves only afflictions.
One of the greatest sins of the Bible is pridefulness. It is a sin that is found alongside other sins such as murder, hate, and stealing. God does not have good things to say about pridefulness, even calling it an abomination and something to be hated. I write these words during “pride month”, a month in the world that celebrates sexual sins in a prideful way with “pride parades” and “pride flags”.
For God, pridefulness is not something to celebrate. It is something wrong with humanity. In our scriptures, over and over God blesses humility and a contrite heart. Over and over God condemns pridefulness and arrogance (see Proverbs 8:13 for example). God saw pridefulness as one of the character flaws that even doomed Satan (see Isaiah 14:13).
Do you have a contrite heart? Are you willing to confess your sin quickly and open yourself up to the grace of God? Has pride clouded your view of yourself? Have you made an effort to right the wrongs that you’ve done? Pride goeth before destruction (Proverbs 16:18)!!!!! If you want God to bless your life, you need to be contrite before HIM!
“DO YOU HAVE anything in your house that’s stolen? Do you have a twinge of guilt that passes through your heart when you think back to a time when you took something that wasn’t yours or said something that wasn’t true? Ever cheated on your taxes? Ever padded your time sheet at work? Ever lied to your boss? your mom? your wife? If so, ever wonder why it still bothers you?
You can be sure that you’re not alone. In fact, guilt is such a widespread problem that the U.S. government has had to set up a “Conscience Fund” as part of its revenue system. This is a fund for all the money that comes in unexpectedly from anonymous, guilt-ridden Americans. Figures show that an average of $45,000 per year is received and deposited into the Conscience Fund, most of it in increments of one to ten dollars.” (Embracing Eternity, p. 152)
I believe the Conscience Fund is a good place for people who have wronged the government or the United States to send a check to make amends. In fact, I believe there should be a way for all of us to make amends in one way or another. That is why in most churches, there is a Prayer of Confession as part of the worship service. It gives each of us a chance to make things right with God, offer a confession, and look for forgiveness.
God views confession and a good conscience in positive light. Our scripture for today bears witness to this fact. God explained to Isaiah the prophet following the fall of Jerusalem and subsequent years of difficulty that he would “bless those who have humble and contrite hearts” (Isaiah 66:2). When God spoke these words, the people of Israel and Judah were recovering from years of sin and punishment. Their sin had caused God to send the armies of Assyria and Babylon to cleanse the land. After forty years, God ended their suffering by bringing a remnant of the people back to Jerusalem and Judah. There, God wanted to begin a new relationship with the Chosen People (Isaiah 40:1-2). Part of this new relationship would involve God’s people being more humble, honoring God, and submitting to God’s law. God desired the people to have “contrite hearts” that were willing to admit mistakes and renounce sins. For a while, the people devoted themselves faithfully to this new relationship.
If you read the scripture following Isaiah 66:2 in the Bible, it is clear that God would not accept a faithful person without a contrite heart. In fact, God promised in Isaiah 66:3-4 that if the people went back to their sinful ways, God was going to give them a life of affliction. God would not ease their burden. According to God, a contrite heart deserves blessing. An evildoer deserves only afflictions.
One of the greatest sins of the Bible is pridefulness. It is a sin that is found alongside other sins such as murder, hate, and stealing. God does not have good things to say about pridefulness, even calling it an abomination and something to be hated. I write these words during “pride month”, a month in the world that celebrates sexual sins in a prideful way with “pride parades” and “pride flags”.
For God, pridefulness is not something to celebrate. It is something wrong with humanity. In our scriptures, over and over God blesses humility and a contrite heart. Over and over God condemns pridefulness and arrogance (see Proverbs 8:13 for example). God saw pridefulness as one of the character flaws that even doomed Satan (see Isaiah 14:13).
Do you have a contrite heart? Are you willing to confess your sin quickly and open yourself up to the grace of God? Has pride clouded your view of yourself? Have you made an effort to right the wrongs that you’ve done? Pride goeth before destruction (Proverbs 16:18)!!!!! If you want God to bless your life, you need to be contrite before HIM!
June 10
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, ESV)
When David came up against Goliath with only a slingshot and a few stones, I’m sure there were many who wondered at David's sanity. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, the soldiers who were present probably determined that the three were doomed. When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, Nebuchadnezzar had already predetermined Daniel was going to die. When Jesus died on a cross, I’m sure the Jewish authorities presumed their plans to silence Jesus had succeeded. God’s chosen people in each these situations succeeded wildly! They overcame unbelievable odds and overwhelming evil forces. You don’t go up against God. You can’t win against God’s chosen ones when they stand with God! When God is for you, “who or what can be against you”? (Romans 8:31). When God is leading you, the forces of evil cannot win. You may suffer in the short term, but God will win out. Those who stand with God always stand with the Victor!
“The choices you make reveal the convictions you embrace.
After King Nebuchadnezzar had gathered all his leaders to the dedication of his golden image, he issued a proclamation that at the sound of his orchestra they were to fall down and worship the image. Those leaders were the most influential and respected people in Babylon, so you might expect them to be people of strong convictions and personal integrity. Sadly, that was not the case, and with only three exceptions they all lacked the courage to say no.
Granted, punishment for disobeying the king’s decree would be severe indeed. But even the threat of a fiery death could not intimidate Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Instead, it simply revealed the depth of their commitment to God. That’s what makes them such remarkable role models. As young men barely twenty years old, they demonstrated tremendous courage and conviction.
Each day Christians face considerable pressure to compromise spiritual integrity and to adopt standards of thought and behavior that are displeasing to the Lord. Young people especially are vulnerable to negative peer pressure and intimidation. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego show us that young people can be spiritual leaders who are strong in their faith and exemplary in their obedience. May that be true of you as well, regardless of your age.” (John MacArthur, Strength for Today)
Have your choices declared you are on God’s side? Who or what can stand against you for long when you stand with God?
A man from a town in Indiana was cited by police for taking inappropriate pictures of a teenager. The man subsequently lost his job and was ostracized. His name was dragged through the mud. His children were teased relentlessly at school. He was kicked out of his church. Why had he taken the pictures of the young boy in underwear? It came out in court that the man, a counselor for teens, had taken pictures of bruises on the young boy who had been beaten by his father. The pictures were later used to finally convict the father of a decade of abuse. The father had previously used his influence to not only keep the abuse quiet but also to attack the man who had taken the pictures. Teachers at the boy’s school praised the man’s actions. A court case proved his innocence. But it was too late. The man and his family had been forced to move and could not move back to that town in Indiana. The abusive father thought he had won a victory by forcing the man to move from the community. In the end, he could not run from the pictures that the heroic counselor had taken to protect the young boy. To this day, many in that small town of Indiana have great respect for that counselor's name.
If God is for you, who can stand against you?
Many Germans in World War 2 wore belt buckles that were imprinted with the words “Gott Mit Uns”, God with us. When the Germans lost in World War 2, many people questioned whether God failed the Germans. In the end, a pastor said it best, “God did not fail the Germans. The Germans failed God. They did not align themselves with God; they aligned themselves with Adolph Hitler. That was their mistake, their sin.” For God to be “for us”, we have to align ourselves with God. Then, it won’t matter what befalls, God will take care of the results and consequences and future.
Are your actions aligned with God? Do you have the courage to stand up for what is right knowing that God is for you? Will you remain firm in your faith when things go poorly because God is for you? If your eyes and purpose and conviction remain firmly focused on following the will of God, don’t be surprised when God stands with you despite whatever befalls you. Friends may fail you. Family may turn against you. The police may arrest you wrongly. Believers may chastise you. But when you are fulfilling God’s will, God is for you even when everyone is against you.
Be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Do not back down from what is right in the eyes of God. In time, you will be vindicated. The world will be shown that God was for you from the beginning!
“The choices you make reveal the convictions you embrace.
After King Nebuchadnezzar had gathered all his leaders to the dedication of his golden image, he issued a proclamation that at the sound of his orchestra they were to fall down and worship the image. Those leaders were the most influential and respected people in Babylon, so you might expect them to be people of strong convictions and personal integrity. Sadly, that was not the case, and with only three exceptions they all lacked the courage to say no.
Granted, punishment for disobeying the king’s decree would be severe indeed. But even the threat of a fiery death could not intimidate Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Instead, it simply revealed the depth of their commitment to God. That’s what makes them such remarkable role models. As young men barely twenty years old, they demonstrated tremendous courage and conviction.
Each day Christians face considerable pressure to compromise spiritual integrity and to adopt standards of thought and behavior that are displeasing to the Lord. Young people especially are vulnerable to negative peer pressure and intimidation. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego show us that young people can be spiritual leaders who are strong in their faith and exemplary in their obedience. May that be true of you as well, regardless of your age.” (John MacArthur, Strength for Today)
Have your choices declared you are on God’s side? Who or what can stand against you for long when you stand with God?
A man from a town in Indiana was cited by police for taking inappropriate pictures of a teenager. The man subsequently lost his job and was ostracized. His name was dragged through the mud. His children were teased relentlessly at school. He was kicked out of his church. Why had he taken the pictures of the young boy in underwear? It came out in court that the man, a counselor for teens, had taken pictures of bruises on the young boy who had been beaten by his father. The pictures were later used to finally convict the father of a decade of abuse. The father had previously used his influence to not only keep the abuse quiet but also to attack the man who had taken the pictures. Teachers at the boy’s school praised the man’s actions. A court case proved his innocence. But it was too late. The man and his family had been forced to move and could not move back to that town in Indiana. The abusive father thought he had won a victory by forcing the man to move from the community. In the end, he could not run from the pictures that the heroic counselor had taken to protect the young boy. To this day, many in that small town of Indiana have great respect for that counselor's name.
If God is for you, who can stand against you?
Many Germans in World War 2 wore belt buckles that were imprinted with the words “Gott Mit Uns”, God with us. When the Germans lost in World War 2, many people questioned whether God failed the Germans. In the end, a pastor said it best, “God did not fail the Germans. The Germans failed God. They did not align themselves with God; they aligned themselves with Adolph Hitler. That was their mistake, their sin.” For God to be “for us”, we have to align ourselves with God. Then, it won’t matter what befalls, God will take care of the results and consequences and future.
Are your actions aligned with God? Do you have the courage to stand up for what is right knowing that God is for you? Will you remain firm in your faith when things go poorly because God is for you? If your eyes and purpose and conviction remain firmly focused on following the will of God, don’t be surprised when God stands with you despite whatever befalls you. Friends may fail you. Family may turn against you. The police may arrest you wrongly. Believers may chastise you. But when you are fulfilling God’s will, God is for you even when everyone is against you.
Be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Do not back down from what is right in the eyes of God. In time, you will be vindicated. The world will be shown that God was for you from the beginning!
June 12
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:1–3, ESV)
The scripture above was originally written by the prophet Isaiah as a prophecy to Jerusalem. Isaiah believed that Jerusalem would be hailed among the nations because of their love of the one true God. The words from Isaiah were written in a time when Judah was struggling. The city of Jerusalem was still in ruins from a war with Babylon. The Temple in Jerusalem was hardly beautiful in those days, still showing the ravages of its destruction in the sixth century before Christ. Despite the bleak surroundings, Isaiah promised that the city would be a shining example for the “nations”, for the “glory of the Lord” had risen upon them (Isaiah 60:1). God’s glory would shine forth as a light to the nations. The kings of the world would be in awe at Jerusalem’s rising from the ashes with the light of God in its midst (Isaiah 60:3). The spiritually minded would be drawn to Jerusalem and God.
Often, faithful people encounter persecution. They are maligned for their beliefs. In modern times, elites view true Christians as backward or misogynistic or close-minded. Many modern atheists denounce all religion as false narratives fomented by blind or ignorant people. Contrary to these views put forth by worldly people, the faithful shine brightly in our dark world. Like Jerusalem in Isaiah 60, true people of God have this innate light of God surrounding them. People are often drawn to them. Those who are beginning to find a relationship with God are attracted to those who shine with God’s light. You are probably one of those people. God probably shines in you. You may not notice, but others do. Despite being an internal spiritual relationship, your faith shows. In big and little ways, it shines as an example to others.
“In 1907 missionary Jesse Brand, young and unmarried, left for India, settling in the disease-ridden Chat Mountains. His friends shuddered at his descriptions of flea-covered rats swarming through the hills and spreading plagues with abandon. But one supporter longed to join him—Evelyn Harris, belle of a fashionable London suburb. She journeyed to India and married him in 1913.
The Brands labored tirelessly, giving medical aid to thousands. Jesse organized economic assistance and cooperative programs so farmers could get ahead. He negotiated with government officials to use unemployed workers for labor. He took every opportunity to share Christ, in one year preaching 4,000 times in 90 villages. Churches were established. Congregations grew.
And so did the Brand family. Son Paul was born and taught by his mother under a tamarind tree. His nature-loving dad showed him the wonders of nature. At age nine Paul was sent to England for formal education, and his parents pressed on alone.
In the spring of 1928 Jesse contracted blackwater fever. His condition worsened, but he continued working. In early June, his fever reached 104. On June 9, he preached from Isaiah 60: Stand up! Shine! Your new day is dawning. On June 11, 1928 his temperature reached 106 and he was forced to bed. Evelyn sat by him day after day, watching his skin parch, his color yellow, and his life drain away. Local Indians wrapped his body in a mat and carried it on their shoulders to a hillside grave.
Word was flashed to 14-year-old Paul. Two days later Paul received a letter from his dad, mailed by boat before his death. It ended: … and always be looking to God with thankfulness and worship for having placed you in such a delightful corner of the universe as the planet Earth.
Evelyn remained in India, becoming a legend hiking over the mountains with her walking stick, doing the Lord’s work. “Granny Brand” lived to see her son, Dr. Paul Brand, become a famed missionary physician excelling in the treatment of leprosy.” (Robert J. Morgan, On this Day, June 11 excerpt)
Jesse and Evelyn and Paul brand were amazing Christian missionaries. Their faith changed many lives in twentieth century India. Their love for others, especially the hurting, caused others to gravitate toward them. Their faith in Jesus were bright beacons of hope for so many.
Like Jerusalem in the days of Isaiah, there are many people suffering from darkness in modern times. Sin may have taken its toll. Guilt may be a constant reminder of a dark past. Suffering from COVID, war, oppression, political schemes, injustice, illness, hunger, and lies has caused the life of many today to be bleak indeed. Despite all the depressing news of the modern era, the light of God still shines. Chances are, it shines in you. You may or may not see it now, but it is there as a beacon to those in need. Do you not realize how much of God’s light shines in you? Do you not feel the warmth of that light in special moments?
Often, faithful people encounter persecution. They are maligned for their beliefs. In modern times, elites view true Christians as backward or misogynistic or close-minded. Many modern atheists denounce all religion as false narratives fomented by blind or ignorant people. Contrary to these views put forth by worldly people, the faithful shine brightly in our dark world. Like Jerusalem in Isaiah 60, true people of God have this innate light of God surrounding them. People are often drawn to them. Those who are beginning to find a relationship with God are attracted to those who shine with God’s light. You are probably one of those people. God probably shines in you. You may not notice, but others do. Despite being an internal spiritual relationship, your faith shows. In big and little ways, it shines as an example to others.
“In 1907 missionary Jesse Brand, young and unmarried, left for India, settling in the disease-ridden Chat Mountains. His friends shuddered at his descriptions of flea-covered rats swarming through the hills and spreading plagues with abandon. But one supporter longed to join him—Evelyn Harris, belle of a fashionable London suburb. She journeyed to India and married him in 1913.
The Brands labored tirelessly, giving medical aid to thousands. Jesse organized economic assistance and cooperative programs so farmers could get ahead. He negotiated with government officials to use unemployed workers for labor. He took every opportunity to share Christ, in one year preaching 4,000 times in 90 villages. Churches were established. Congregations grew.
And so did the Brand family. Son Paul was born and taught by his mother under a tamarind tree. His nature-loving dad showed him the wonders of nature. At age nine Paul was sent to England for formal education, and his parents pressed on alone.
In the spring of 1928 Jesse contracted blackwater fever. His condition worsened, but he continued working. In early June, his fever reached 104. On June 9, he preached from Isaiah 60: Stand up! Shine! Your new day is dawning. On June 11, 1928 his temperature reached 106 and he was forced to bed. Evelyn sat by him day after day, watching his skin parch, his color yellow, and his life drain away. Local Indians wrapped his body in a mat and carried it on their shoulders to a hillside grave.
Word was flashed to 14-year-old Paul. Two days later Paul received a letter from his dad, mailed by boat before his death. It ended: … and always be looking to God with thankfulness and worship for having placed you in such a delightful corner of the universe as the planet Earth.
Evelyn remained in India, becoming a legend hiking over the mountains with her walking stick, doing the Lord’s work. “Granny Brand” lived to see her son, Dr. Paul Brand, become a famed missionary physician excelling in the treatment of leprosy.” (Robert J. Morgan, On this Day, June 11 excerpt)
Jesse and Evelyn and Paul brand were amazing Christian missionaries. Their faith changed many lives in twentieth century India. Their love for others, especially the hurting, caused others to gravitate toward them. Their faith in Jesus were bright beacons of hope for so many.
Like Jerusalem in the days of Isaiah, there are many people suffering from darkness in modern times. Sin may have taken its toll. Guilt may be a constant reminder of a dark past. Suffering from COVID, war, oppression, political schemes, injustice, illness, hunger, and lies has caused the life of many today to be bleak indeed. Despite all the depressing news of the modern era, the light of God still shines. Chances are, it shines in you. You may or may not see it now, but it is there as a beacon to those in need. Do you not realize how much of God’s light shines in you? Do you not feel the warmth of that light in special moments?
June 14
“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4, NIV)
While attending a worship service in my teens, I looked up during the sermon to see that the acolyte had fallen asleep in his seat. He looked so peaceful. As I looked upon him, I glanced over to his mother seated to my left. She was furious. The acolyte was in front of the whole church! Everyone could see him asleep in his seat! At least there wasn’t an accompanying video for future generations to view!
Some people find worship of God boring.
After a worship service, a mother was standing off to the side of the narthex with her daughter. The mother’s face was seriously stern. Her finger was pointing at the girl. I found out later that during worship, the girl had taken out her phone to answer a text, then sent several other texts. The mother, from three pews away, saw her daughter using her phone and texting. The young lady was grounded for her actions.
Some people see their time in church as a chore.
Daniel grew up in the church. His grandfather was a pastor. His parents were very active. His mother was a Sunday School teacher, while his father was an elder. Daniel’s family were patriarchs and matriarchs in their Lutheran Church. They were greatly respected. Daniel, on the other hand, found church membership to be boring. He attended worship because he “should”. He was a member of the church because he didn’t want to disappoint his parents. He even took a spot on the mission committee to make his family proud. However, if you asked Daniel what he would love to do on a Sunday morning, he would always answer, “I’d rather be fishing!”
Some people are Christian out of obligation.
Carrie is a proud mother of two boys. She wants the best for her family. When she grew up, she was active in her church. She loved the Christmas programs, the beauty of the Advent season decorations, the Easter Egg hunts, and the pretty hymns. Carrie wants those wonderful traditions for her boys. She wants them to see the beauty in the church, appreciate the music of hymns, and enjoy the wholesome friendships that come with church membership. If you ask Carrie to talk about her faith, she doesn’t have much to say. Her Bible was given her when she was a teenager, and she hasn’t opened it in two decades.
Some people are religious, but not in a personal relationship with God.
Every one of the people listed above do not find “delight in the Lord”. They may be Christian. They may be church members. They may even be regular worshippers. However, they do not find being in the presence of God to be a delight. Some are bored with church. Others are only members of a church for personal reasons. None of them have a deep connection with God. None of them have a real love of God in Christ.
I find it curious that people can call themselves “Christian” without having a relationship with Jesus Christ. I can’t figure out why people join a church only to attend once every year or two. So many church members are Christian in name only. They do not have an intense desire to be close to God or a need to even pray from the heart. For many of these people, praying feels unnatural, even foreign. Talking about God makes them uncomfortable. They don’t sense God’s presence. They seem to believe in the “concept” or “idea” of God more than to have experienced the abiding love of God or have a commitment to the living God. Their faith is more cerebral than spiritual. They are more religious than faithful.
I once asked a person in a new member class what it meant to be a Christian. The person happily replied, “It means you go to church!”. I had hoped to hear, “It means you have a relationship with God in CHRIST!” For all too many people, faithfulness has been replaced with religiousness. They are not the same. A faithful person will do what is right out of the love of God. A religious person will do what is right out of obligation or to look good. A faithful person desires to be closer to God. A religious person desires to look pious or godly or reverent. A faithful person seeks God’s direction. A religious person often chooses what to do based on rational choices, worldly wisdom, or tradition. A faithful person prays from the heart. A religious person prays from the head.
Today, reconsider if you “delight in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4). I mean, do you truly “delight” or have “joy” in being around God when you are doing religious or spiritual things? The scripture for today ends by saying that those who “delight in the Lord” are “given the desires of their heart” by God. Sadly, many do not receive such blessings from God because they don’t really delight in the Lord. They may be religious, but they do not have a joy at being in God’s presence.
Do you think of “joy” in your relationship with God? Does “delight” in God shine through in your relationships with others? Does your face light up when you talk about Jesus? Do you get all excited to think about praying or being in the presence of God? How much do you really “delight in the Lord”? Can God ever give you the desires of your heart if your heart isn’t in the right place from the beginning?
Some people find worship of God boring.
After a worship service, a mother was standing off to the side of the narthex with her daughter. The mother’s face was seriously stern. Her finger was pointing at the girl. I found out later that during worship, the girl had taken out her phone to answer a text, then sent several other texts. The mother, from three pews away, saw her daughter using her phone and texting. The young lady was grounded for her actions.
Some people see their time in church as a chore.
Daniel grew up in the church. His grandfather was a pastor. His parents were very active. His mother was a Sunday School teacher, while his father was an elder. Daniel’s family were patriarchs and matriarchs in their Lutheran Church. They were greatly respected. Daniel, on the other hand, found church membership to be boring. He attended worship because he “should”. He was a member of the church because he didn’t want to disappoint his parents. He even took a spot on the mission committee to make his family proud. However, if you asked Daniel what he would love to do on a Sunday morning, he would always answer, “I’d rather be fishing!”
Some people are Christian out of obligation.
Carrie is a proud mother of two boys. She wants the best for her family. When she grew up, she was active in her church. She loved the Christmas programs, the beauty of the Advent season decorations, the Easter Egg hunts, and the pretty hymns. Carrie wants those wonderful traditions for her boys. She wants them to see the beauty in the church, appreciate the music of hymns, and enjoy the wholesome friendships that come with church membership. If you ask Carrie to talk about her faith, she doesn’t have much to say. Her Bible was given her when she was a teenager, and she hasn’t opened it in two decades.
Some people are religious, but not in a personal relationship with God.
Every one of the people listed above do not find “delight in the Lord”. They may be Christian. They may be church members. They may even be regular worshippers. However, they do not find being in the presence of God to be a delight. Some are bored with church. Others are only members of a church for personal reasons. None of them have a deep connection with God. None of them have a real love of God in Christ.
I find it curious that people can call themselves “Christian” without having a relationship with Jesus Christ. I can’t figure out why people join a church only to attend once every year or two. So many church members are Christian in name only. They do not have an intense desire to be close to God or a need to even pray from the heart. For many of these people, praying feels unnatural, even foreign. Talking about God makes them uncomfortable. They don’t sense God’s presence. They seem to believe in the “concept” or “idea” of God more than to have experienced the abiding love of God or have a commitment to the living God. Their faith is more cerebral than spiritual. They are more religious than faithful.
I once asked a person in a new member class what it meant to be a Christian. The person happily replied, “It means you go to church!”. I had hoped to hear, “It means you have a relationship with God in CHRIST!” For all too many people, faithfulness has been replaced with religiousness. They are not the same. A faithful person will do what is right out of the love of God. A religious person will do what is right out of obligation or to look good. A faithful person desires to be closer to God. A religious person desires to look pious or godly or reverent. A faithful person seeks God’s direction. A religious person often chooses what to do based on rational choices, worldly wisdom, or tradition. A faithful person prays from the heart. A religious person prays from the head.
Today, reconsider if you “delight in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4). I mean, do you truly “delight” or have “joy” in being around God when you are doing religious or spiritual things? The scripture for today ends by saying that those who “delight in the Lord” are “given the desires of their heart” by God. Sadly, many do not receive such blessings from God because they don’t really delight in the Lord. They may be religious, but they do not have a joy at being in God’s presence.
Do you think of “joy” in your relationship with God? Does “delight” in God shine through in your relationships with others? Does your face light up when you talk about Jesus? Do you get all excited to think about praying or being in the presence of God? How much do you really “delight in the Lord”? Can God ever give you the desires of your heart if your heart isn’t in the right place from the beginning?
June 18
““Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!”” (Amos 4:12, NLT)
Some verses in the Bible are difficult to understand because the English language cannot impart inflections that imply sarcasm or emotions in the written word. When writing emails or sending letters, a person will help the reader by adding words in parentheses like “(sarcasm!)”, or use an emoji, or will explain a feeling more completely to help give context or feeling to the written word. The Bible contains no such emojis, though every now and then it does give some context to help the reader understand the message.
Amos 4:4 is an example of the God using sarcasm toward Israel. Ironically, God invites the Israelites to carry on in idolatrous worship. This doesn’t make sense unless its sarcasm. God was angry with the Israelites for their worship of other gods, their idolatrous worship practices, and their lack of faith. As a punishment for this idolatry, God caused shortages of food (Amos 4:6), a drought (vv. 7,8), a plague of locusts (v.9) and more. God even caused warfare and catastrophes to the land, hoping the people would change their ways. They did not. As a statement of judgment, God finally told the Israelites to just continue their sin, because God was going to personally bring judgment to the land. In Amos 4:12, God promised to bring disasters upon the people. God also told the people to “prepare to meet” HIS judgment. Amos 4:12 is not a promise of God’s presence but a promise of God being present at their judgment and punishment.
By way of learning about God, do you see that Amos chapter 4 contains information on how God deals with people who have sinned? First, God sent shortages like the shortage of food and famine upon sinful Israel. Then, God caused droughts and plagues and wars and finally catastrophes to occur. All these were meant to incite sinful Israelites to change their ways. When the sinful did not listen to all these “messages of gloom” from God, God brought destruction upon the sinner HIMSELF. If you sin, God will probably do the same. God will show up in your life not to bring salvation but to bring judgment. If you reject God long enough, God will personally direct your final end.
God responds in this very same biblical way today to a sinful country or ethnic group or social group. God will often start with little punishments. If the people continue in their sin, God will increase their pain to try and save their souls. If they completely reject what is holy or refuse to make things right, God will personally see to their ultimate judgment.
Mike was a good friend of mine in Junior High. He was a very nice, warm, kind friend. He was lanky and dorky, but intelligent and with a great sense of humor. In the years following our closeness in Junior High, we kept in touch. Mike enjoyed the arts, acting, singing, and poetry. I didn’t like those things much, so we often had different friends. Still, we kept in touch and were close.
After High School, I found out that Mike moved to New York. With his artistic leanings, I figured he went to study there. I found out a few years later that Mike went to New York, because he was interested in pursuing homosexual relationships. New York is much more open to such living. Mike knew I did not support his lifestyle choices. He did know I cared about him deeply, though.
During the 1980’s, Mike went through several hardships. He ran out of money in New York. He was assaulted so badly that he was in the hospital for days. His heart was broken repeatedly over several cruel breakups. He lost his job not once but twice. He also failed to have any lasting friendships, and the friendships he did have were all in the gay community. Mike also quit worshipping God and gave up on any relationship with God. Mike’s family was deeply concerned about his welfare in New York. They begged him to come back home.
Mike did come back home in 1990. He came home in an urn; being cremated following his death. After contracting HIV and AIDS from his lifestyle choices, he died at the age of 27. He was so poor, his family had to pay for his funeral expenses and even the urn in which his ashes were transported. He was their only son. I so hurt for his family.
I believe that long before Mike died that God was sending him warnings. With each “catastrophe” and heartache in his life caused mostly by his lifestyle choices, Mike was clearly aware of the dangers of living in New York and living his lifestyle. Still, he chose to continue his dangerous pursuits, including multiple sexual partners and risky choices. His decisions doomed him in the end. The warnings of his family and from God did not help. I still miss him.
If you are traveling down the wrong path in life, God will send you little warnings. If you do not heed those warnings, God will send misfortunes your way. If you continue in your sin, God will send bigger problems, headaches, and then finally catastrophes to block your harmful direction. If you completely reject God, don’t be surprised if in the end, God comes personally to see to your judgment. My hope is that you never get to “meet God in judgment”. It won’t be a good day. You will suffer greatly.
When little things start to go wrong in your life and misfortunes crop up, check to see if you aren’t engaged in a sinful lifestyle. If big things go wrong in your life, make sure it isn’t God who is causing them. When life takes a bad turn, get closer to God. When your wrong path takes you into dangerous places, look for God to bring you back right again. Don’t be too prideful to confess your sins and change your ways. These may be what save you on the road to destruction.
Sinners will make poor choices. Faithful people may backslide. Troubled souls will often fail to see clearly their direction. Throughout life, God is continually attempting to save every person. Sometimes, the only way to save some souls is through judgment in this life. I hope you never have to hit rock bottom before you realize what got you there. AND don’t blame God when your sinful choices caused misfortunes to head your way!
Amos 4:12 was not just meant for the Israelites in the days of Amos the prophet. This scripture is as relevant today as ever. It may also be a warning to your country. It may be a warning to you.
Amos 4:4 is an example of the God using sarcasm toward Israel. Ironically, God invites the Israelites to carry on in idolatrous worship. This doesn’t make sense unless its sarcasm. God was angry with the Israelites for their worship of other gods, their idolatrous worship practices, and their lack of faith. As a punishment for this idolatry, God caused shortages of food (Amos 4:6), a drought (vv. 7,8), a plague of locusts (v.9) and more. God even caused warfare and catastrophes to the land, hoping the people would change their ways. They did not. As a statement of judgment, God finally told the Israelites to just continue their sin, because God was going to personally bring judgment to the land. In Amos 4:12, God promised to bring disasters upon the people. God also told the people to “prepare to meet” HIS judgment. Amos 4:12 is not a promise of God’s presence but a promise of God being present at their judgment and punishment.
By way of learning about God, do you see that Amos chapter 4 contains information on how God deals with people who have sinned? First, God sent shortages like the shortage of food and famine upon sinful Israel. Then, God caused droughts and plagues and wars and finally catastrophes to occur. All these were meant to incite sinful Israelites to change their ways. When the sinful did not listen to all these “messages of gloom” from God, God brought destruction upon the sinner HIMSELF. If you sin, God will probably do the same. God will show up in your life not to bring salvation but to bring judgment. If you reject God long enough, God will personally direct your final end.
God responds in this very same biblical way today to a sinful country or ethnic group or social group. God will often start with little punishments. If the people continue in their sin, God will increase their pain to try and save their souls. If they completely reject what is holy or refuse to make things right, God will personally see to their ultimate judgment.
Mike was a good friend of mine in Junior High. He was a very nice, warm, kind friend. He was lanky and dorky, but intelligent and with a great sense of humor. In the years following our closeness in Junior High, we kept in touch. Mike enjoyed the arts, acting, singing, and poetry. I didn’t like those things much, so we often had different friends. Still, we kept in touch and were close.
After High School, I found out that Mike moved to New York. With his artistic leanings, I figured he went to study there. I found out a few years later that Mike went to New York, because he was interested in pursuing homosexual relationships. New York is much more open to such living. Mike knew I did not support his lifestyle choices. He did know I cared about him deeply, though.
During the 1980’s, Mike went through several hardships. He ran out of money in New York. He was assaulted so badly that he was in the hospital for days. His heart was broken repeatedly over several cruel breakups. He lost his job not once but twice. He also failed to have any lasting friendships, and the friendships he did have were all in the gay community. Mike also quit worshipping God and gave up on any relationship with God. Mike’s family was deeply concerned about his welfare in New York. They begged him to come back home.
Mike did come back home in 1990. He came home in an urn; being cremated following his death. After contracting HIV and AIDS from his lifestyle choices, he died at the age of 27. He was so poor, his family had to pay for his funeral expenses and even the urn in which his ashes were transported. He was their only son. I so hurt for his family.
I believe that long before Mike died that God was sending him warnings. With each “catastrophe” and heartache in his life caused mostly by his lifestyle choices, Mike was clearly aware of the dangers of living in New York and living his lifestyle. Still, he chose to continue his dangerous pursuits, including multiple sexual partners and risky choices. His decisions doomed him in the end. The warnings of his family and from God did not help. I still miss him.
If you are traveling down the wrong path in life, God will send you little warnings. If you do not heed those warnings, God will send misfortunes your way. If you continue in your sin, God will send bigger problems, headaches, and then finally catastrophes to block your harmful direction. If you completely reject God, don’t be surprised if in the end, God comes personally to see to your judgment. My hope is that you never get to “meet God in judgment”. It won’t be a good day. You will suffer greatly.
When little things start to go wrong in your life and misfortunes crop up, check to see if you aren’t engaged in a sinful lifestyle. If big things go wrong in your life, make sure it isn’t God who is causing them. When life takes a bad turn, get closer to God. When your wrong path takes you into dangerous places, look for God to bring you back right again. Don’t be too prideful to confess your sins and change your ways. These may be what save you on the road to destruction.
Sinners will make poor choices. Faithful people may backslide. Troubled souls will often fail to see clearly their direction. Throughout life, God is continually attempting to save every person. Sometimes, the only way to save some souls is through judgment in this life. I hope you never have to hit rock bottom before you realize what got you there. AND don’t blame God when your sinful choices caused misfortunes to head your way!
Amos 4:12 was not just meant for the Israelites in the days of Amos the prophet. This scripture is as relevant today as ever. It may also be a warning to your country. It may be a warning to you.
June 20
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
Paul, who wrote the scripture above, suffered and died for the faith. Today, we don’t know where he is buried or the exact circumstances of his death. We believe he died in Rome. We know he was a Roman prisoner under house arrest. Upon looking back at his life, there were times I know Paul thought to himself, “Is that all there is to my life? Have I done enough?” As he died, I know for sure he didn’t think this. Why? Because he wrote the scripture for today! In the final phrase of this letter to the Corinthian church, he wrote that “in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
There are many Biblical figures who may have thought at some time in their life that they would not amount to much or their contribution to the faith would be overlooked. God made sure this did not happen.
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. In that day, prostitutes were often considered some of the lowest individuals of society. However, Rahab helped shield and protect two Israelites (Joshua 6:17). She respected the lives of these men. Though undervalued in her society, Rahab’s action is remembered in scripture for all posterity. Her saving grace for two godly men was part of God’s plan to save Israel! Her act of bravery was not in vain!
While at a Pharisee’s home, Jesus’ feet were anointed by a woman whose tears fell down upon his skin. In a loving way, she rubbed Jesus’ feet with ointment. Jesus announced to those gathered that day that the woman’s sins were forgiven. Though overlooked by the head of the house, Jesus did not overlook the woman’s holy actions. He praised them! With the Lord Jesus, her labor was not in vain!
Little and big acts of faith recorded in scripture helped shape God’s kingdom in this world! Those who made these acts of faith are remembered. Their actions were not in vain! God noticed them! God remembered them! God blessed them!
When you are under pressure or undervalued by others, it may seem like your life does not have much value. When your faithful works are overlooked, it may feel like nobody cares about your love of Christ. If society makes fun of your faith, and friends on Facebook ask you to tone down your religious words, you may feel spiritually depressed. However, God notices and celebrates all acts of faith, loving gifts of courage, and examples of forgiveness and grace. They are of great value in God’s eyes!
During the 1990’s, I lead six or seven youth mission trips to help at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and food pantries. At one mission trip to a food pantry in St. Louis, Missouri, a group of youth and youth leaders big enough to fill two big passenger vans devoted themselves to cleaning and painting and upgrading a food pantry at an inner-city church. We worked very hard, even when temperatures crept up into the upper nineties and the humidity was high enough to match the temperatures!
Late one steamy morning, one of the senior high youths was talking to a homeless man. I watched from a short distance, as always, to make sure he was safe. They talked for a good five minutes when the young man from our group ran over to me, asking for the keys to the church van. I gave him the keys, watching him bound over to the van. He unlocked the van, then rummaged through the back. A few moments later, he locked the van and brought me the keys. In his hands was his favorite t-shirt. I took back the keys and watched. He walked over to the homeless man and gave him the t-shirt. I found out later that the t-shirt was a birthday present! The young man from our church gave up his favorite birthday present to a homeless man simply because the homeless man had a need for it! His small act of generous love was not forgotten by me. Now, you know about it. God always knew about it! I’m so glad that God gave me a chance to see that generous act!
With the Lord, your labor is never in vain!
An older gentleman named Charlie waited for me just after a Thanksgiving Eve worship service. He waited until I had finished greeting every person who was in the greeting line following worship. Then, as I walked to my office, Charlie tagged along. On the way, he told me that he had been estranged from his son for ten years. The two had a falling out after Charlie became enraged at his son for making a mistake. It seems that Charlie overreacted to a problem the son created. With his pride shaken, Charlie lashed out at his son. In response, the son pulled back from talking to Charlie. More and more, Charlie felt a tug in his soul to make it right.
After a short conversation, I felt the Charlie was going to do something about the situation. I was right. That year, at Christmas Eve, Charlie sat with his son and the whole family. Charlie was beaming, thankful for the presence of his son. Very few members from the church knew why the son was there, but I was fully aware. Charlie had swallowed his pride, asked for forgiveness from his son, and patched up their relationship. It was a life-changing time for Charlie and his son, and Charlie’s work for the Lord was not in vain!
At times, you may feel that your work for God goes unnoticed. People may not know the steps you have taken to make things right, help a needy person, forgive a slight, or reach out to a shut-in. The many prayers you have uttered when alone may never be known by the world, but God knows! Your labor is not in vain. Every little and big thing you do out of the love of Jesus is not forgotten.
If you find yourself getting a little bit down because you feel undervalued or your loving acts go unnoticed, don’t spend any time dwelling on it! God notices your faith. God celebrates your acts of love. Nothing you do that is righteous or holy or loving or gracious goes unnoticed. Heaven records such acts! Your labor for the Lord will be celebrated forever!
Who might need some help from you in the days ahead? What acts of mercy might need doing? What little acts of generosity or love might benefit another soul? Get to it! Those beautiful acts of labor will never be in vain or come to naught!
There are many Biblical figures who may have thought at some time in their life that they would not amount to much or their contribution to the faith would be overlooked. God made sure this did not happen.
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. In that day, prostitutes were often considered some of the lowest individuals of society. However, Rahab helped shield and protect two Israelites (Joshua 6:17). She respected the lives of these men. Though undervalued in her society, Rahab’s action is remembered in scripture for all posterity. Her saving grace for two godly men was part of God’s plan to save Israel! Her act of bravery was not in vain!
While at a Pharisee’s home, Jesus’ feet were anointed by a woman whose tears fell down upon his skin. In a loving way, she rubbed Jesus’ feet with ointment. Jesus announced to those gathered that day that the woman’s sins were forgiven. Though overlooked by the head of the house, Jesus did not overlook the woman’s holy actions. He praised them! With the Lord Jesus, her labor was not in vain!
Little and big acts of faith recorded in scripture helped shape God’s kingdom in this world! Those who made these acts of faith are remembered. Their actions were not in vain! God noticed them! God remembered them! God blessed them!
When you are under pressure or undervalued by others, it may seem like your life does not have much value. When your faithful works are overlooked, it may feel like nobody cares about your love of Christ. If society makes fun of your faith, and friends on Facebook ask you to tone down your religious words, you may feel spiritually depressed. However, God notices and celebrates all acts of faith, loving gifts of courage, and examples of forgiveness and grace. They are of great value in God’s eyes!
During the 1990’s, I lead six or seven youth mission trips to help at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and food pantries. At one mission trip to a food pantry in St. Louis, Missouri, a group of youth and youth leaders big enough to fill two big passenger vans devoted themselves to cleaning and painting and upgrading a food pantry at an inner-city church. We worked very hard, even when temperatures crept up into the upper nineties and the humidity was high enough to match the temperatures!
Late one steamy morning, one of the senior high youths was talking to a homeless man. I watched from a short distance, as always, to make sure he was safe. They talked for a good five minutes when the young man from our group ran over to me, asking for the keys to the church van. I gave him the keys, watching him bound over to the van. He unlocked the van, then rummaged through the back. A few moments later, he locked the van and brought me the keys. In his hands was his favorite t-shirt. I took back the keys and watched. He walked over to the homeless man and gave him the t-shirt. I found out later that the t-shirt was a birthday present! The young man from our church gave up his favorite birthday present to a homeless man simply because the homeless man had a need for it! His small act of generous love was not forgotten by me. Now, you know about it. God always knew about it! I’m so glad that God gave me a chance to see that generous act!
With the Lord, your labor is never in vain!
An older gentleman named Charlie waited for me just after a Thanksgiving Eve worship service. He waited until I had finished greeting every person who was in the greeting line following worship. Then, as I walked to my office, Charlie tagged along. On the way, he told me that he had been estranged from his son for ten years. The two had a falling out after Charlie became enraged at his son for making a mistake. It seems that Charlie overreacted to a problem the son created. With his pride shaken, Charlie lashed out at his son. In response, the son pulled back from talking to Charlie. More and more, Charlie felt a tug in his soul to make it right.
After a short conversation, I felt the Charlie was going to do something about the situation. I was right. That year, at Christmas Eve, Charlie sat with his son and the whole family. Charlie was beaming, thankful for the presence of his son. Very few members from the church knew why the son was there, but I was fully aware. Charlie had swallowed his pride, asked for forgiveness from his son, and patched up their relationship. It was a life-changing time for Charlie and his son, and Charlie’s work for the Lord was not in vain!
At times, you may feel that your work for God goes unnoticed. People may not know the steps you have taken to make things right, help a needy person, forgive a slight, or reach out to a shut-in. The many prayers you have uttered when alone may never be known by the world, but God knows! Your labor is not in vain. Every little and big thing you do out of the love of Jesus is not forgotten.
If you find yourself getting a little bit down because you feel undervalued or your loving acts go unnoticed, don’t spend any time dwelling on it! God notices your faith. God celebrates your acts of love. Nothing you do that is righteous or holy or loving or gracious goes unnoticed. Heaven records such acts! Your labor for the Lord will be celebrated forever!
Who might need some help from you in the days ahead? What acts of mercy might need doing? What little acts of generosity or love might benefit another soul? Get to it! Those beautiful acts of labor will never be in vain or come to naught!
June 22
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13, NLT)
Can you imagine a world without forgiveness, where every fault you ever committed is forever remembered? What would the world be like if people desired not to forgive but to remember your faults whenever they see you?
A common theme in Jesus’ teachings was the important Christian doctrine of forgiveness. There were many occasions in which Jesus decided to forgive a person. In some of those instances, His forgiving act was rejected or criticized. For example, In Luke 7, Jesus forgave a woman’s sins following her loving act on His behalf. The response of a nearby religious man was that Jesus shouldn’t have done this thing, because the woman was undeserving (Luke 7:39). You might think a religious person would be more forgiving. Sadly, that is not always the case. In Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus talked about the father’s willingness to forgive his son AND the brother’s unwillingness to forgive his brother!
Despite some serious negativity from others, forgiveness became a central tenet of Jesus’ preaching and teaching. Jesus included the line, “forgive us our debts and we forgive our debtors” in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:12). He also told the disciples to forgive others or God the Father would not forgive them (Matthew 6:14,15). Even on the cross, Jesus’ words were teeming with forgiveness. One of Jesus’ final acts in His life was to say from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!” (Luke 23:34). With these words, Jesus was even willing to forgive those who took His own life! Over and over, Jesus taught the importance of forgiveness to the world.
One not uncommon trait in our world today is the creation and nurture of grudges. Grudges are acts of unforgiveness. Dictionaries define a grudge as a “persistent feeling of ill-will or resentment toward another”. In this definition, the word “persistent” stands out as a sign of the lack of forgiveness. Grudges are an attempt not to forgive another. Grudges sour a relationship. Their hurt never goes away. That’s one thing about true forgiveness, it causes the pain of a hurt to recede over time. When a hurt remains unforgiven, it festers. Often, it grows and multiplies in its negative effects on the life of the person with a grudge.
The world is good at fostering an attitude of unforgiveness. By way of example, media companies promote the idea that blacks living today should hold grudges against all white people because some white people kept slaves centuries ago. Even though almost every nationality was known for keeping slaves at some point in ancient times, and black tribal leaders in Africa often sold black slaves to white colonial slave traders, modern day “grudge encouragers” among media companies spur black hatred toward whites. It’s been one hundred and sixty years since the Civil War, and people are still keeping grudges over its themes! There are also nations who keep grudges due to past wars, groups who love to keep records of past wrongs, and writers who foment one group to “hate” another. The world is adept at promoting grudges and divides among people!
When Paul wrote a letter to the Colossian church in the first century, he included the scripture for today. He urged the Christians in Colossae to “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others…” (Colossians 3:13). What does it mean to “make allowance for each other’s faults”? First, you must recognize that EVERYONE has faults. You have faults. Some of those faults may be blind to you. Some faults are obvious to everyone. Human beings are imperfect beings. Other than Jesus, human beings will not only make mistakes, but they will also sin against the very God who loves them. They will make poor choices. Emotions will get the better of them. You are susceptible to mistakes, sins, poor judgments, emotional turmoil and so much more. At some point you will mess up. “Making allowances for each other’s faults” recognizes that people make mistakes and need forgiveness. Therefore, your best course of action is often to admit your mistakes, have a forgiving heart, and never forget to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Thankfully, Jesus made forgiveness in our world an easier proposition!
If it weren’t for the importance placed on forgiveness by Jesus, I believe our world would be a much more cruel place. I believe grudges, hatred, war, conflict, and persistent arguments would be a huge part of life, destroying much of the joy in life. Forgiveness is a concept that makes your world a better place. It is a joy to behold. Though the pursuit of forgiveness means someone messed up, it is also a concept that is blessed by God and required for true healing.
Without forgiveness, the world suffers. Without forgiveness, there might be a part of your life that continues to fester ill-will or pain. Forgiveness is God’s preferred method of bringing reconciliation and peace. If a forgiving heart is not one of your strengths, you will find yourself holding on to hurts too long, unable to get past mistakes, and lacking grace and mercy. Is there a part of your life needing a little forgiveness today? Out of the love of Jesus, would you be willing to bring a forgiving attitude along with you today?
A common theme in Jesus’ teachings was the important Christian doctrine of forgiveness. There were many occasions in which Jesus decided to forgive a person. In some of those instances, His forgiving act was rejected or criticized. For example, In Luke 7, Jesus forgave a woman’s sins following her loving act on His behalf. The response of a nearby religious man was that Jesus shouldn’t have done this thing, because the woman was undeserving (Luke 7:39). You might think a religious person would be more forgiving. Sadly, that is not always the case. In Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus talked about the father’s willingness to forgive his son AND the brother’s unwillingness to forgive his brother!
Despite some serious negativity from others, forgiveness became a central tenet of Jesus’ preaching and teaching. Jesus included the line, “forgive us our debts and we forgive our debtors” in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:12). He also told the disciples to forgive others or God the Father would not forgive them (Matthew 6:14,15). Even on the cross, Jesus’ words were teeming with forgiveness. One of Jesus’ final acts in His life was to say from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!” (Luke 23:34). With these words, Jesus was even willing to forgive those who took His own life! Over and over, Jesus taught the importance of forgiveness to the world.
One not uncommon trait in our world today is the creation and nurture of grudges. Grudges are acts of unforgiveness. Dictionaries define a grudge as a “persistent feeling of ill-will or resentment toward another”. In this definition, the word “persistent” stands out as a sign of the lack of forgiveness. Grudges are an attempt not to forgive another. Grudges sour a relationship. Their hurt never goes away. That’s one thing about true forgiveness, it causes the pain of a hurt to recede over time. When a hurt remains unforgiven, it festers. Often, it grows and multiplies in its negative effects on the life of the person with a grudge.
The world is good at fostering an attitude of unforgiveness. By way of example, media companies promote the idea that blacks living today should hold grudges against all white people because some white people kept slaves centuries ago. Even though almost every nationality was known for keeping slaves at some point in ancient times, and black tribal leaders in Africa often sold black slaves to white colonial slave traders, modern day “grudge encouragers” among media companies spur black hatred toward whites. It’s been one hundred and sixty years since the Civil War, and people are still keeping grudges over its themes! There are also nations who keep grudges due to past wars, groups who love to keep records of past wrongs, and writers who foment one group to “hate” another. The world is adept at promoting grudges and divides among people!
When Paul wrote a letter to the Colossian church in the first century, he included the scripture for today. He urged the Christians in Colossae to “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others…” (Colossians 3:13). What does it mean to “make allowance for each other’s faults”? First, you must recognize that EVERYONE has faults. You have faults. Some of those faults may be blind to you. Some faults are obvious to everyone. Human beings are imperfect beings. Other than Jesus, human beings will not only make mistakes, but they will also sin against the very God who loves them. They will make poor choices. Emotions will get the better of them. You are susceptible to mistakes, sins, poor judgments, emotional turmoil and so much more. At some point you will mess up. “Making allowances for each other’s faults” recognizes that people make mistakes and need forgiveness. Therefore, your best course of action is often to admit your mistakes, have a forgiving heart, and never forget to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Thankfully, Jesus made forgiveness in our world an easier proposition!
If it weren’t for the importance placed on forgiveness by Jesus, I believe our world would be a much more cruel place. I believe grudges, hatred, war, conflict, and persistent arguments would be a huge part of life, destroying much of the joy in life. Forgiveness is a concept that makes your world a better place. It is a joy to behold. Though the pursuit of forgiveness means someone messed up, it is also a concept that is blessed by God and required for true healing.
Without forgiveness, the world suffers. Without forgiveness, there might be a part of your life that continues to fester ill-will or pain. Forgiveness is God’s preferred method of bringing reconciliation and peace. If a forgiving heart is not one of your strengths, you will find yourself holding on to hurts too long, unable to get past mistakes, and lacking grace and mercy. Is there a part of your life needing a little forgiveness today? Out of the love of Jesus, would you be willing to bring a forgiving attitude along with you today?
June 24
“So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. ...” (Esther 7:10, ESV)
Over the years, I have found that many Christians do not read the Old Testament consistently. They may page through a few Psalms. They might read the original creation stories in Genesis. They might pick up a Bible during the Christmas season to read the prophets’ predictions of Jesus’ coming into the world. Sadly, this is the full extent of knowledge for some Christians when it comes to the Old Testament. There is so much more to learn from those books! Don’t you realize that in Jesus’ time, the Old Testament WAS the Bible for the Jewish people?
Our scripture for today comes from the Old Testament book of Esther. The story of Esther is often read during the Jewish festival of Purim. Esther was a Jewish queen during a difficult time in Jewish history when the people of Israel were slaves in foreign lands. In Esther 7, we hear of a man named Haman, who hated the Jewish man, Mordecai. Haman manipulated the Persian King to make the Jews appear as threats to the Persian Kingdom. Haman encouraged the Persian King to persecute the Jews. He even arranged for some gallows to be erected on which to kill his Jewish enemies, like Mordecai. When the Jews would not bow down to the Persian King, as to a God, the King planned to kill Mordecai and others. This was all a part of Haman’s scheme. Everything seemed to be going to plan until Esther intervened on Mordecai’s behalf, informing the Persian King of the devious plot to kill Mordecai and others. The King was so enraged at Haman’s ploys, the King had Haman executed on the very gallows the schemer had planned for Mordecai’s death.
The irony in this story is overwhelming. The schemer is put to death on his own gallows. The evil plan is thwarted by a person that Haman considered evil! The hater (Haman) desired to kill his enemies, but in fact, his hatred was his own undoing. The scripture for today exposes this irony. It states for the record: “they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai” (Esther 7:10).
Hatred has a way of getting under your skin and causing all manner of ill-will. In the story of Haman and Mordecai, it caused suffering and threats of death. Hatred frames the groundwork for much of the pain and suffering in our world. It is the main source of fuel for war, abuse, neglect, racism, and many other real “isms”. What many people do not realize is that Hatred has a way of coming back to bite the person who hates. Even though hatred is directed toward another, it always comes back to hurt or haunt the hater.
George Washington Carver (1864–1943) overcame terrible racial prejudice to establish himself as a renowned American educator. Spurning the temptation to give in to bitterness for the way he was treated, Carver wisely wrote, “Hate within will eventually destroy the hater.” Hatred will always be self-destructive.
Though hatred has shown itself to be self-destructive in the Bible, it wasn’t until the twentieth century that psychologists really began to equate hatred with self-destructive behaviors and thoughts. Though the Bible explained the connection thoroughly (remember the story of Cain killing his brother Abel?), psychologists were late in discovering this connection. Thankfully, through therapy, they too have helped to expose the self-destructive hatred sick people harbor inside the heart and mind.
Recently, I read an article online from Alisa Kaufman (Psy. D), who wrote: “Do you find yourself thinking a lot about who has done you wrong, and all the injustices that have been done to you? Do you ruminate often about insults thrown your way? Do you notice that you start having physical reactions? Perhaps, you feel tension in your head and neck or your shoulders and stomach. Do you notice that you are eating a bag of potato chips while thinking about how angry you are? These are examples of how anger can start distorting thoughts and trigger unproductive/destructive behaviors.” (See psychologytoday.com). Hatred, as a form of extreme anger, can result in terrible consequences not only to those upon whom hatred is directed but upon the person possessed with such anger.
“The C.S.S. Hunley, a confederate submarine, was originally a boiler, which was made into a 60’ long, cigar shaped sub. Eight men turned a crank attached to a propeller to produce movement, and the ship’s weapon was on explosive charge on a 15-foot pole attached to the bow. The Hunley was actually a deathtrap. More than a dozen men, including H.L. Hunley, the inventor, drowned or suffocated in test dives before the submarine was ready for battle. On February 17, 1964, off the harbor at Charleston, S.C., the Hunley attacked the Union ship Housatonic, crippling the enemy ship but going to the bottom with the victim.” (10,000 Sermon Illustrations)
In the same way that the confederate Hunley, a ship-killer, ended up being killed in her own military action, hatred will damage and destroy those who succumb to its heated anger.
Catherine was a wonderful, intelligent, and insightful teenager. She was much loved among her friends and family and among those in her church. She did very well in her Sunday School classes, was active in the youth fellowship group, and a common sight in worship. However, during Catherine’s sophomore year in high school, she was attacked by another sophomore girl in an online forum. The words exchanged between the two grew very heated. Sadly, a few agitators in the school encouraged the war of words between the two. When some of Catherine’s own words of hatred were made public, not only was she suspended from school, but people at her church were also shocked at what Catherine had written. Even now, ten years later, Catherine still senses the stares of others when she worships at her home church.
If you talk to Catherine today, she will tell you that her high school years were terrible. The online bullying and wars of words took their toll. Looking back, Catherine realized that she had constant bouts of illness during those stressful times. She had persistent diarrhea, nights of nausea, nightmares, and more. She was twice diagnosed with ulcers and lost more than twenty pounds during the most stressful times. She even had a section of her colon removed due to a perforation. Today, she blames most of her high school illnesses to the online fights that stirred up hatred in her heart and soul.
Catherine is not the only Christian dealing with hatred in her past. You may also deal with anger that went out of control, hatred for an injustice, resentment over some slight. Emotions like hatred and anger are dangerous. They may seem “just” at the time, but they carry consequences. It is no surprise to me that Paul wrote the Ephesian church people, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31, ESV). Bitterness, wrath, anger, hatred, slander, and malice all poison one’s heart and soul and mind. Have they ever poisoned you?
Our scripture for today comes from the Old Testament book of Esther. The story of Esther is often read during the Jewish festival of Purim. Esther was a Jewish queen during a difficult time in Jewish history when the people of Israel were slaves in foreign lands. In Esther 7, we hear of a man named Haman, who hated the Jewish man, Mordecai. Haman manipulated the Persian King to make the Jews appear as threats to the Persian Kingdom. Haman encouraged the Persian King to persecute the Jews. He even arranged for some gallows to be erected on which to kill his Jewish enemies, like Mordecai. When the Jews would not bow down to the Persian King, as to a God, the King planned to kill Mordecai and others. This was all a part of Haman’s scheme. Everything seemed to be going to plan until Esther intervened on Mordecai’s behalf, informing the Persian King of the devious plot to kill Mordecai and others. The King was so enraged at Haman’s ploys, the King had Haman executed on the very gallows the schemer had planned for Mordecai’s death.
The irony in this story is overwhelming. The schemer is put to death on his own gallows. The evil plan is thwarted by a person that Haman considered evil! The hater (Haman) desired to kill his enemies, but in fact, his hatred was his own undoing. The scripture for today exposes this irony. It states for the record: “they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai” (Esther 7:10).
Hatred has a way of getting under your skin and causing all manner of ill-will. In the story of Haman and Mordecai, it caused suffering and threats of death. Hatred frames the groundwork for much of the pain and suffering in our world. It is the main source of fuel for war, abuse, neglect, racism, and many other real “isms”. What many people do not realize is that Hatred has a way of coming back to bite the person who hates. Even though hatred is directed toward another, it always comes back to hurt or haunt the hater.
George Washington Carver (1864–1943) overcame terrible racial prejudice to establish himself as a renowned American educator. Spurning the temptation to give in to bitterness for the way he was treated, Carver wisely wrote, “Hate within will eventually destroy the hater.” Hatred will always be self-destructive.
Though hatred has shown itself to be self-destructive in the Bible, it wasn’t until the twentieth century that psychologists really began to equate hatred with self-destructive behaviors and thoughts. Though the Bible explained the connection thoroughly (remember the story of Cain killing his brother Abel?), psychologists were late in discovering this connection. Thankfully, through therapy, they too have helped to expose the self-destructive hatred sick people harbor inside the heart and mind.
Recently, I read an article online from Alisa Kaufman (Psy. D), who wrote: “Do you find yourself thinking a lot about who has done you wrong, and all the injustices that have been done to you? Do you ruminate often about insults thrown your way? Do you notice that you start having physical reactions? Perhaps, you feel tension in your head and neck or your shoulders and stomach. Do you notice that you are eating a bag of potato chips while thinking about how angry you are? These are examples of how anger can start distorting thoughts and trigger unproductive/destructive behaviors.” (See psychologytoday.com). Hatred, as a form of extreme anger, can result in terrible consequences not only to those upon whom hatred is directed but upon the person possessed with such anger.
“The C.S.S. Hunley, a confederate submarine, was originally a boiler, which was made into a 60’ long, cigar shaped sub. Eight men turned a crank attached to a propeller to produce movement, and the ship’s weapon was on explosive charge on a 15-foot pole attached to the bow. The Hunley was actually a deathtrap. More than a dozen men, including H.L. Hunley, the inventor, drowned or suffocated in test dives before the submarine was ready for battle. On February 17, 1964, off the harbor at Charleston, S.C., the Hunley attacked the Union ship Housatonic, crippling the enemy ship but going to the bottom with the victim.” (10,000 Sermon Illustrations)
In the same way that the confederate Hunley, a ship-killer, ended up being killed in her own military action, hatred will damage and destroy those who succumb to its heated anger.
Catherine was a wonderful, intelligent, and insightful teenager. She was much loved among her friends and family and among those in her church. She did very well in her Sunday School classes, was active in the youth fellowship group, and a common sight in worship. However, during Catherine’s sophomore year in high school, she was attacked by another sophomore girl in an online forum. The words exchanged between the two grew very heated. Sadly, a few agitators in the school encouraged the war of words between the two. When some of Catherine’s own words of hatred were made public, not only was she suspended from school, but people at her church were also shocked at what Catherine had written. Even now, ten years later, Catherine still senses the stares of others when she worships at her home church.
If you talk to Catherine today, she will tell you that her high school years were terrible. The online bullying and wars of words took their toll. Looking back, Catherine realized that she had constant bouts of illness during those stressful times. She had persistent diarrhea, nights of nausea, nightmares, and more. She was twice diagnosed with ulcers and lost more than twenty pounds during the most stressful times. She even had a section of her colon removed due to a perforation. Today, she blames most of her high school illnesses to the online fights that stirred up hatred in her heart and soul.
Catherine is not the only Christian dealing with hatred in her past. You may also deal with anger that went out of control, hatred for an injustice, resentment over some slight. Emotions like hatred and anger are dangerous. They may seem “just” at the time, but they carry consequences. It is no surprise to me that Paul wrote the Ephesian church people, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31, ESV). Bitterness, wrath, anger, hatred, slander, and malice all poison one’s heart and soul and mind. Have they ever poisoned you?
June 26
“Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14, NLT)
Life is full of twists and turns. Some of those you can see coming. Many of them you cannot. To deal with the twists and turns of life, you need to adapt to what’s coming your way. At times, you need to play out the cards you were dealt.
“One night in their farm home, the mother of Dwight D. Eisenhower was playing a card game with her boys. Eisenhower explained: “Mother was the dealer, and she dealt me a very bad hand. I began to complain. Mother said, ‘Boys, put down your cards. I want to say something, particularly to Dwight. You are in a game in your home with your mother and brothers who love you. But out in the world you will be dealt bad hands without love. Here is some advice for you boys. Take those bad hands without complaining and play them out. Ask God to help you, and you will win the important game called life.” The president added, “I’ve tried to follow that wise advice always.”” (6000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths)
Accidents will happen. Mistakes will be made. Unforeseen illnesses will arise from time to time. There will be job changes, you will have to move, a family member will die, cars will break down, and so much more. Each time, you will have to adapt. Even with great care, you cannot overcome the inevitability of the trials and tribulations of life. You can plan. You can save money for a rainy day. However, you cannot go through life without its bumps in the road.
“I was driving down a bumpy country road when I saw a bag of cement beside the road. It appeared to have fallen off a delivery truck as it hit one of the bumps in the rough road. Being a person who does not like to see anything wasted, I stopped to pick up the lost bag of cement. When I reached down to pick up this heavy bag, to my surprise, I discovered it was not soft and limber, as I had expected but had solidified into an immovable piece of cement.
Often our lives are like that bag of cement. They take on shapes that were not intended and become hardened in that shape. That bag of cement was meant to become a part of some beautiful structure but, because it did not reach its place of service, it became a useless rock in the form of a bag of cement.
God wants to make something beautiful of your life. Don’t let this purpose be thwarted by a bump in the road of life.” (Ibid.)
Our scripture for today comes with the blunt truth: “nothing is certain in this life.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14). Despite this fact, many Christians fail to prepare for the uncertainty of life. They do not spend time praying to increase the strength of their soul and relationship with God. They do not add to their savings so that they are not living paycheck to paycheck. Many do not exercise, to help the body deal with life’s stresses. All too many just say to themselves, “God will take care of it.” There is no doubt God will take care of the faithful. Still, the faithful need to learn to prepare for the future, adapt to challenges, and trust God through thick and thin. Blind faith won’t prepare you for what’s ahead. Only a deep, trusting respect of God along with a willingness to adapt to the bumps in the road of life will last in the tests of time.
The scripture for today is a reminder for the faithful that God may not only bring “prosperity”. God can also bring “hard times” (Ecclesiastes 7:14a). You need to be faithful in both situations. Some Christians can’t handle prosperity. It causes them to lose faith in God while increasing their faith in wealth. Some Christians can’t handle hard times. They doubt and question God’s faithfulness when their own faith is what is in doubt. How well does your faith hold up with the good and bad?
Though “nothing is certain in this life”, God is the author of life. God is your single best source of strength, courage, and hope. Through good days and bad, learn to hold fast to God. Trust that God is watching over you. Hopefully, the preparations you have made and the faith you hold will prove ready for the trials ahead.
“One night in their farm home, the mother of Dwight D. Eisenhower was playing a card game with her boys. Eisenhower explained: “Mother was the dealer, and she dealt me a very bad hand. I began to complain. Mother said, ‘Boys, put down your cards. I want to say something, particularly to Dwight. You are in a game in your home with your mother and brothers who love you. But out in the world you will be dealt bad hands without love. Here is some advice for you boys. Take those bad hands without complaining and play them out. Ask God to help you, and you will win the important game called life.” The president added, “I’ve tried to follow that wise advice always.”” (6000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths)
Accidents will happen. Mistakes will be made. Unforeseen illnesses will arise from time to time. There will be job changes, you will have to move, a family member will die, cars will break down, and so much more. Each time, you will have to adapt. Even with great care, you cannot overcome the inevitability of the trials and tribulations of life. You can plan. You can save money for a rainy day. However, you cannot go through life without its bumps in the road.
“I was driving down a bumpy country road when I saw a bag of cement beside the road. It appeared to have fallen off a delivery truck as it hit one of the bumps in the rough road. Being a person who does not like to see anything wasted, I stopped to pick up the lost bag of cement. When I reached down to pick up this heavy bag, to my surprise, I discovered it was not soft and limber, as I had expected but had solidified into an immovable piece of cement.
Often our lives are like that bag of cement. They take on shapes that were not intended and become hardened in that shape. That bag of cement was meant to become a part of some beautiful structure but, because it did not reach its place of service, it became a useless rock in the form of a bag of cement.
God wants to make something beautiful of your life. Don’t let this purpose be thwarted by a bump in the road of life.” (Ibid.)
Our scripture for today comes with the blunt truth: “nothing is certain in this life.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14). Despite this fact, many Christians fail to prepare for the uncertainty of life. They do not spend time praying to increase the strength of their soul and relationship with God. They do not add to their savings so that they are not living paycheck to paycheck. Many do not exercise, to help the body deal with life’s stresses. All too many just say to themselves, “God will take care of it.” There is no doubt God will take care of the faithful. Still, the faithful need to learn to prepare for the future, adapt to challenges, and trust God through thick and thin. Blind faith won’t prepare you for what’s ahead. Only a deep, trusting respect of God along with a willingness to adapt to the bumps in the road of life will last in the tests of time.
The scripture for today is a reminder for the faithful that God may not only bring “prosperity”. God can also bring “hard times” (Ecclesiastes 7:14a). You need to be faithful in both situations. Some Christians can’t handle prosperity. It causes them to lose faith in God while increasing their faith in wealth. Some Christians can’t handle hard times. They doubt and question God’s faithfulness when their own faith is what is in doubt. How well does your faith hold up with the good and bad?
Though “nothing is certain in this life”, God is the author of life. God is your single best source of strength, courage, and hope. Through good days and bad, learn to hold fast to God. Trust that God is watching over you. Hopefully, the preparations you have made and the faith you hold will prove ready for the trials ahead.
June 28
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” (Psalm 18:2, NLT)
I believe that every person comes across a time when all you can do is just ”hold on for dear life”. When you are overwhelmed, too many changes hit at once, or a big challenge drops into your lap, you may only be able to hold on to what you value most and get ready for a bumpy ride. Today’s scripture bears witness to God’s ability to be a “rock” in a storm, a source of “protection”, and a “place of safety” (Psalm 18:2).
“An old seaman said, “In fierce storms we can do but one thing. There is only one way (to survive); we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.” Commenting on this idea, Richard Fuller wrote: “This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may—winds, waves, cross seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers—no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm and hold fast your confidence in God’s faithfulness and his everlasting love in Christ Jesus.”” (6000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths).
Carrie woke up one morning with an incredible headache and a need to vomit. This was unusual for her. You see, Carrie was a health nut her whole life. She ate well, slept well, and exercised regularly. She believed that living a healthy life was important for the heart and soul and mind. However, that terrible morning, the headache and nausea made her feel incredibly weak. No amount of saltines, Tums, or Imodium seemed to help her feel better.
Later that day, Carrie convinced herself to go to the doctor. A few hours later, she had some answers. The main culprit for her nausea and headaches was pregnancy. Carrie was six or seven weeks pregnant.
Without a husband, unable to even be entirely sure who the father was, Carrie looked at her future with much fear. How would she handle having a child? Should she get an abortion? Was the child healthy? A thousand questions hit her over the next few days. Her carefully crafted life was crumbling. Carrie grew up a Christian. During her college years, she drifted away from God and worship and church life. Now, she vowed to ask God back into her life. She needed help. She needed to deal with all that was coming her way. She looked to God and her faith to restore some balance.
Over the next year, Carrie worked out all the kinks of her pregnancy. A few of the younger women in the church she joined went with her to doctor’s visits. They helped her with the hormonal swings and mood changes. They brought her soup when she had bouts of nausea. They became close friends of the kind that last. Carrie’s prayer time was filled with getting out the fears and hopes and needs that plagued her. Carrie and God grew much closer. By the time her first son was born, Carrie was surrounded by friends and family and had a much stronger faith. Her faith in Jesus kept Carrie sane during that frightening, lonely period of uncertainty in her life. Now, her faith is a great source of comfort for herself, her son, her new husband, and many others.
For centuries, people like Carrie have found great comfort in the shadow of Almighty God. In moments of uncertainty, in times of fear, people will gravitate toward what they value most. In some cases, people will gravitate toward God in Christ. The scripture for today was written by David at a difficult time in his life when he was under a threat of death from foreign armies and from Saul. David chose during these incredibly dangerous times to throw his heart and soul and future into the arms of Almighty God. David knew the Lord was his “rock, his fortress, his savior” (Psalm 18:2). David needed guidance and protection. These he found in the presence of God. Where others might trust in their wealth or political connections or family, David chose a different course. He believed God was the better choice to “shield” him from his enemies. David knew that God could be trusted to be faithful. Where a family member might fail you in the heat of the moment, God would never fail you. God is endlessly trustworthy. God is an enduring source of strength and hope.
Don’t underestimate the power of clinging to God during times of uncertainty. God is a great repository of comfort, protection, and strength. When you are reeling from the blows of unforeseen circumstances or facing seemingly impossible odds, look to your faithful God for direction. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” When you really need it, God will provide the wisdom to see options. God will give you the strength to overcome great obstacles. God can do so much for you. David, who wrote our scripture for today, was entirely convinced that God was his greatest source of hope for the coming challenges. Are you just as convinced?
“An old seaman said, “In fierce storms we can do but one thing. There is only one way (to survive); we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.” Commenting on this idea, Richard Fuller wrote: “This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may—winds, waves, cross seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers—no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm and hold fast your confidence in God’s faithfulness and his everlasting love in Christ Jesus.”” (6000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths).
Carrie woke up one morning with an incredible headache and a need to vomit. This was unusual for her. You see, Carrie was a health nut her whole life. She ate well, slept well, and exercised regularly. She believed that living a healthy life was important for the heart and soul and mind. However, that terrible morning, the headache and nausea made her feel incredibly weak. No amount of saltines, Tums, or Imodium seemed to help her feel better.
Later that day, Carrie convinced herself to go to the doctor. A few hours later, she had some answers. The main culprit for her nausea and headaches was pregnancy. Carrie was six or seven weeks pregnant.
Without a husband, unable to even be entirely sure who the father was, Carrie looked at her future with much fear. How would she handle having a child? Should she get an abortion? Was the child healthy? A thousand questions hit her over the next few days. Her carefully crafted life was crumbling. Carrie grew up a Christian. During her college years, she drifted away from God and worship and church life. Now, she vowed to ask God back into her life. She needed help. She needed to deal with all that was coming her way. She looked to God and her faith to restore some balance.
Over the next year, Carrie worked out all the kinks of her pregnancy. A few of the younger women in the church she joined went with her to doctor’s visits. They helped her with the hormonal swings and mood changes. They brought her soup when she had bouts of nausea. They became close friends of the kind that last. Carrie’s prayer time was filled with getting out the fears and hopes and needs that plagued her. Carrie and God grew much closer. By the time her first son was born, Carrie was surrounded by friends and family and had a much stronger faith. Her faith in Jesus kept Carrie sane during that frightening, lonely period of uncertainty in her life. Now, her faith is a great source of comfort for herself, her son, her new husband, and many others.
For centuries, people like Carrie have found great comfort in the shadow of Almighty God. In moments of uncertainty, in times of fear, people will gravitate toward what they value most. In some cases, people will gravitate toward God in Christ. The scripture for today was written by David at a difficult time in his life when he was under a threat of death from foreign armies and from Saul. David chose during these incredibly dangerous times to throw his heart and soul and future into the arms of Almighty God. David knew the Lord was his “rock, his fortress, his savior” (Psalm 18:2). David needed guidance and protection. These he found in the presence of God. Where others might trust in their wealth or political connections or family, David chose a different course. He believed God was the better choice to “shield” him from his enemies. David knew that God could be trusted to be faithful. Where a family member might fail you in the heat of the moment, God would never fail you. God is endlessly trustworthy. God is an enduring source of strength and hope.
Don’t underestimate the power of clinging to God during times of uncertainty. God is a great repository of comfort, protection, and strength. When you are reeling from the blows of unforeseen circumstances or facing seemingly impossible odds, look to your faithful God for direction. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” When you really need it, God will provide the wisdom to see options. God will give you the strength to overcome great obstacles. God can do so much for you. David, who wrote our scripture for today, was entirely convinced that God was his greatest source of hope for the coming challenges. Are you just as convinced?
June 30
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:1–2, ESV)
The scripture written above is from John 15. It begins a parable from Jesus about a “Vinedresser”. In ancient times, vinedresser’s took care of vineyards. They watched over the plants, the fruit, the harvest of grapes and the eventual wine. The Greek word used her for vinedresser was also used in New Testament times for “farmer” or “gardener”. The word denotes a person who is responsible for the optimal planting and harvesting of the land.
As part of Jesus’ parable, the “vinedresser” watches over the fruit of the land. “Every branch that does not bear fruit he takes away, every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:1-2). The purpose of the vinedresser is to help the planting to succeed. He looks at the fruit as it is growing and separates out the branches that are producing fruit from those that are not. The vinedresser prunes away the branches that just take up space so that more healthy branches may grow and multiply and increase the harvest.
By way of a parable, Jesus also explained that God the Father is the spiritual “vinedresser” where Jesus is “the true vine”. As a spiritual work, God the Father is continually culling out or reshaping Christians who produce no spiritual fruit, no holy harvest, and are taking up space in the church or world. God’s time and Spirit are saved for those who are ready and willing to grow and mature and spread the gospel to others. Even if you are not “removed” from the list of God’s faithful, you may be “pruned” a bit in order to increase your “fruitfulness” in God’s Holy Garden.
There are too many people who are Christians in name only. They take up space in the pews on Sunday morning but have no desire to advance the gospel. They see worship attendance, baptism, or giving as a duty more than an offering to God. They see prayer time as an infrequent bother instead of a joyful and powerful conversation with God. Sadly, there may come a time when God will remove His Spirit from the Christian who only takes up space so that another will be given room to grow and bless the world. God the Father may also prune away the dead branches from the lives of those who aren’t producing much spiritual fruit in order to increase their love or their blessing on the world. If a Christian life produces no real lasting fruit from the gospel, especially after pruning, God has little choice but to look elsewhere for faithful subjects.
“Fruitful” Christians have blessed the world by their faithful actions. They have advanced the gospel by bearing witness to Jesus, reaching out in love, and being a constant source of good works in a world dominated by spiritual darkness. “Fruitful” Christians find ways to share the gospel or advance the Kingdom of God. “Fruitful” Christians always find a way to exhibit the love of Jesus.
“A snug, private hotel room is a welcome site for traveling salesmen after a long day. But imagine arriving at your hotel only to find it so full that rooms had to be shared. That happened on September 14, 1898, at the Central Hotel of Boscobel, Wisconsin. John Nicholson arrived at 9 P.M. to find every room taken. The clerk suggested he share room 19 with a stranger, Samuel Hill.
Before crawling into bed, Nicholson opened his Bible. At age 19 he had promised his dying mother he would read the Bible every night. Hill, asleep in the next bed, awoke. “Mr. Hill,” said Nicholson, “you will pardon me if I keep the light on just a little longer; I make it a practice to read from the Word of God and have a little chat with him before I retire.”
“Read it aloud,” said Hill, jumping up. “I’m a Christian, too.” Nicholson read John 15 and the two knelt for prayer. They stayed up until 2 A.M. discussing the needs of traveling Christians.
Nicholson and Hill bumped into each other again in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. They soon announced plans for an association of Christian salesmen, setting the first meeting for July 1, 1899. Only three showed up—Nicholson, Hill, and William Knights. The men nonetheless launched their organization to mobilize Christian travelers for encouragement, evangelism, and service. They decided to call themselves after the Old Testament character Gideon who was “willing to do whatever God asked.”
Since all the early Gideons were traveling men, the question arose as to how they could be witnesses in the hotels where they spent so much time. Someone suggested the Gideons encourage every hotel they patronize to furnish a Bible for its patrons. At a 1907 Chicago meeting, someone went so far as to suggest Gideons place Bibles in all the rooms of the hotels. The idea was adopted, the first distribution of Bibles occurring at the Superior Hotel in Iron Mountain, Montana, in 1908. Since then, over 750 million copies of Scripture have been distributed in over 170 nations.” (Robert J. Morgan, On This Day, July 1 excerpt)
John Nicholson, Samuel Hill, and William Knights are three very “fruitful” Christians. They saw a need for the gospel of Jesus and supplied the means to get the word out. You may not so powerfully affect the world as these three men. However, your contributions to the work of God are incredibly important. Don’t just take up space in a pew. Don’t become just a name on a church registry. God needs more from you. God needs “fruitful” Christians who find ways to share the gospel. Don’t be pruned from the Tree of Life. Be grafted on to that tree for all eternity! Find ways to share the good news of Jesus Christ and advance the Kingdom of God!
As part of Jesus’ parable, the “vinedresser” watches over the fruit of the land. “Every branch that does not bear fruit he takes away, every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:1-2). The purpose of the vinedresser is to help the planting to succeed. He looks at the fruit as it is growing and separates out the branches that are producing fruit from those that are not. The vinedresser prunes away the branches that just take up space so that more healthy branches may grow and multiply and increase the harvest.
By way of a parable, Jesus also explained that God the Father is the spiritual “vinedresser” where Jesus is “the true vine”. As a spiritual work, God the Father is continually culling out or reshaping Christians who produce no spiritual fruit, no holy harvest, and are taking up space in the church or world. God’s time and Spirit are saved for those who are ready and willing to grow and mature and spread the gospel to others. Even if you are not “removed” from the list of God’s faithful, you may be “pruned” a bit in order to increase your “fruitfulness” in God’s Holy Garden.
There are too many people who are Christians in name only. They take up space in the pews on Sunday morning but have no desire to advance the gospel. They see worship attendance, baptism, or giving as a duty more than an offering to God. They see prayer time as an infrequent bother instead of a joyful and powerful conversation with God. Sadly, there may come a time when God will remove His Spirit from the Christian who only takes up space so that another will be given room to grow and bless the world. God the Father may also prune away the dead branches from the lives of those who aren’t producing much spiritual fruit in order to increase their love or their blessing on the world. If a Christian life produces no real lasting fruit from the gospel, especially after pruning, God has little choice but to look elsewhere for faithful subjects.
“Fruitful” Christians have blessed the world by their faithful actions. They have advanced the gospel by bearing witness to Jesus, reaching out in love, and being a constant source of good works in a world dominated by spiritual darkness. “Fruitful” Christians find ways to share the gospel or advance the Kingdom of God. “Fruitful” Christians always find a way to exhibit the love of Jesus.
“A snug, private hotel room is a welcome site for traveling salesmen after a long day. But imagine arriving at your hotel only to find it so full that rooms had to be shared. That happened on September 14, 1898, at the Central Hotel of Boscobel, Wisconsin. John Nicholson arrived at 9 P.M. to find every room taken. The clerk suggested he share room 19 with a stranger, Samuel Hill.
Before crawling into bed, Nicholson opened his Bible. At age 19 he had promised his dying mother he would read the Bible every night. Hill, asleep in the next bed, awoke. “Mr. Hill,” said Nicholson, “you will pardon me if I keep the light on just a little longer; I make it a practice to read from the Word of God and have a little chat with him before I retire.”
“Read it aloud,” said Hill, jumping up. “I’m a Christian, too.” Nicholson read John 15 and the two knelt for prayer. They stayed up until 2 A.M. discussing the needs of traveling Christians.
Nicholson and Hill bumped into each other again in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. They soon announced plans for an association of Christian salesmen, setting the first meeting for July 1, 1899. Only three showed up—Nicholson, Hill, and William Knights. The men nonetheless launched their organization to mobilize Christian travelers for encouragement, evangelism, and service. They decided to call themselves after the Old Testament character Gideon who was “willing to do whatever God asked.”
Since all the early Gideons were traveling men, the question arose as to how they could be witnesses in the hotels where they spent so much time. Someone suggested the Gideons encourage every hotel they patronize to furnish a Bible for its patrons. At a 1907 Chicago meeting, someone went so far as to suggest Gideons place Bibles in all the rooms of the hotels. The idea was adopted, the first distribution of Bibles occurring at the Superior Hotel in Iron Mountain, Montana, in 1908. Since then, over 750 million copies of Scripture have been distributed in over 170 nations.” (Robert J. Morgan, On This Day, July 1 excerpt)
John Nicholson, Samuel Hill, and William Knights are three very “fruitful” Christians. They saw a need for the gospel of Jesus and supplied the means to get the word out. You may not so powerfully affect the world as these three men. However, your contributions to the work of God are incredibly important. Don’t just take up space in a pew. Don’t become just a name on a church registry. God needs more from you. God needs “fruitful” Christians who find ways to share the gospel. Don’t be pruned from the Tree of Life. Be grafted on to that tree for all eternity! Find ways to share the good news of Jesus Christ and advance the Kingdom of God!