March 1
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:6, NLT)
The word “slave” is derived from the root word “slav”. The reason why is that the Slavic people from Eastern Europe were often forced into slavery. They were bought and sold. Many in America consider the history of African-Americans to be the main subject of slavery in the world. What most Americans do not know is that slavery has existed on every continent, with every race of people, and throughout history. Most often, people turned against those of their own race, taking their own into slavery. Black Africans bought and sold black slaves. White Europeans bought and sold Slavic peoples. Asians bought and sold other Asian slaves. Even in the Bible, we are told of Jews who were slaves at the hand of other Jews as well as of the Egyptians and Babylonians and Assyrians. Sadly, slavery is a commonality for too much of human history.
What many Christians do not realize is that spiritual slavery is also widespread throughout human history. As spoken by Paul in our scripture for today, people can be “slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6). Paul wrote these words to Roman Christians. The Romans had many slaves. The practice of slavery was common in the ancient world. In this verse of the Bible, Paul was not writing about the common practice of slavery, but of an evil spiritual slavery. People can be “slaves to sin”. To end this form of slavery, Paul advocated that followers of Christ “crucify” their “old sinful selves”. By putting to death their mortal, worldly, evil ways and uniting themselves with Christ, they could be freed from slavery to sin. The sin would no longer have control over their life.
Are there any sinful thoughts or habits or desires that hold sway in your day?
“Thomas Costain’s history, The Three Edwards, described the life of Raynald III, a fourteenth-century duke in what is now Belgium. Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means “fat.”
After a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald but did not kill him. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald’s size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”
Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year … a prisoner of his own appetite.” (from Bible.org, Dave Wilkenson)
Food enslaved Raynald in the story above. It was the bane of his existence. It kept him a prisoner for so much of his life. Every one of us is a slave at some time to some thing. Behind that slavery is a sin that seeks to control your existence, even to keep you away from Christ. Whatever sin enslaves you keeps you from a lasting and joyful relationship with Christ. In order to be truly faithful, you need to choose Christ OVER that sin. You need to crucify whatever sin controls your desires. If you do not, that sin will corrupt your heart, soul, and mind. It will eat away at your peace. It will come between you and your Lord Jesus.
Jasmine came home from a trip to the store. As she walked into her kitchen, she placed her bags full of new clothes on her cabinet. She took off her coat and then proceeded to her room with her new purchases. In her bedroom, she opened her closet to hang up the new clothes. Only then did she realize that she did not have one spare hanger or spot in the closet for the new clothes. She began to weed through old clothes to find space for the new clothes. One after another, she threw old clothes on the bed only to hang up the new ones in their place. Then, she gathered up her old clothes and placed them in the store bags to later take them to the local Goodwill store.
When Jasmine’s husband came home from work, he saw the bags on the counter. He went through the clothes and when Jasmine came into the room, he remarked, “You bought some new clothes! You went shopping today!”
Jasmine looked shocked and said, “Those are old clothes. I’m taking them to Goodwill.”
Lamar, her husband said, “But, the clothes still have tags on them! Are you taking the wrong clothes to Goodwill?”
When Jasmine went through the bags again, she realized that more than two-thirds of the “old” clothes still had the original tags on them. They were never worn. She had wasted that money. In that very moment, Jasmine realized that she had been binge shopping to make herself feel better since her father’s death. She had been buying things just to placate her sorrow, buying clothes just to ease her grief. As Lamar watched on in shock, Jasmine sank to the floor and sobbed. When she cried out, “God, I’m sorry!”, Lamar thought she had upset him. He said, “Honey, you didn’t do anything to me!”
Jasmine replied, “No, Lamar, I’m telling God that I’m sorry for throwing away our money while trying to run away from my own sadness.”
From the floor of her kitchen, Jasmine finally understood the depths of her sorrow. She realized that she was buying clothes to soothe the hurt in her soul. In a moment of spiritual clarity, Jasmine understood that she needed to deal with her grief and with God. The clothes were never going to bring her happiness or peace.
Shopaholics are slaves to the desire to purchase things. Alcoholics are slaves to drinking. Workaholics fear being out of control or out of money or losing power. Manipulators are slaves to their own ego. You can be a slave to a drug or an attitude, a person, or a way of life. You can be held captive by a habit or be captured by a sinful desire. There are so many ways to succumb to spiritual slavery. In all cases, that spiritual slavery will work its way into other areas of your life. Spiritual slavery will eat away at your peace, cause unintended anxiety and insecurities, and erode your financial independence. It may turn you into a drug addict. It might result in an early death. Spiritual slavery is all too common. It may be affecting you right now.
In the scripture for today, Paul advocated that the Roman Christians “crucify” any thought or emotion or fear or insecurity that enslaved them. He wanted them to “crucify” any sinful thought or emotion or ideal that came between them and Jesus. You are going to have to do the same. You need to put to death any habit or thought or sin or evil in your life that has ensnared your soul and come between you and Jesus. If you do not, things will fall apart in time. True peace will elude you. True joy will be fleeting.
Is there a sin that has captured your soul that you repeat over and over? Is there a thought that tortures your mind? Are there insecurities and fears that control your heart or feed your bad habits? Are you being held prisoner by someone or something or some thought or some past? Jesus wants to know….
What many Christians do not realize is that spiritual slavery is also widespread throughout human history. As spoken by Paul in our scripture for today, people can be “slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6). Paul wrote these words to Roman Christians. The Romans had many slaves. The practice of slavery was common in the ancient world. In this verse of the Bible, Paul was not writing about the common practice of slavery, but of an evil spiritual slavery. People can be “slaves to sin”. To end this form of slavery, Paul advocated that followers of Christ “crucify” their “old sinful selves”. By putting to death their mortal, worldly, evil ways and uniting themselves with Christ, they could be freed from slavery to sin. The sin would no longer have control over their life.
Are there any sinful thoughts or habits or desires that hold sway in your day?
“Thomas Costain’s history, The Three Edwards, described the life of Raynald III, a fourteenth-century duke in what is now Belgium. Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means “fat.”
After a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald but did not kill him. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald’s size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”
Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year … a prisoner of his own appetite.” (from Bible.org, Dave Wilkenson)
Food enslaved Raynald in the story above. It was the bane of his existence. It kept him a prisoner for so much of his life. Every one of us is a slave at some time to some thing. Behind that slavery is a sin that seeks to control your existence, even to keep you away from Christ. Whatever sin enslaves you keeps you from a lasting and joyful relationship with Christ. In order to be truly faithful, you need to choose Christ OVER that sin. You need to crucify whatever sin controls your desires. If you do not, that sin will corrupt your heart, soul, and mind. It will eat away at your peace. It will come between you and your Lord Jesus.
Jasmine came home from a trip to the store. As she walked into her kitchen, she placed her bags full of new clothes on her cabinet. She took off her coat and then proceeded to her room with her new purchases. In her bedroom, she opened her closet to hang up the new clothes. Only then did she realize that she did not have one spare hanger or spot in the closet for the new clothes. She began to weed through old clothes to find space for the new clothes. One after another, she threw old clothes on the bed only to hang up the new ones in their place. Then, she gathered up her old clothes and placed them in the store bags to later take them to the local Goodwill store.
When Jasmine’s husband came home from work, he saw the bags on the counter. He went through the clothes and when Jasmine came into the room, he remarked, “You bought some new clothes! You went shopping today!”
Jasmine looked shocked and said, “Those are old clothes. I’m taking them to Goodwill.”
Lamar, her husband said, “But, the clothes still have tags on them! Are you taking the wrong clothes to Goodwill?”
When Jasmine went through the bags again, she realized that more than two-thirds of the “old” clothes still had the original tags on them. They were never worn. She had wasted that money. In that very moment, Jasmine realized that she had been binge shopping to make herself feel better since her father’s death. She had been buying things just to placate her sorrow, buying clothes just to ease her grief. As Lamar watched on in shock, Jasmine sank to the floor and sobbed. When she cried out, “God, I’m sorry!”, Lamar thought she had upset him. He said, “Honey, you didn’t do anything to me!”
Jasmine replied, “No, Lamar, I’m telling God that I’m sorry for throwing away our money while trying to run away from my own sadness.”
From the floor of her kitchen, Jasmine finally understood the depths of her sorrow. She realized that she was buying clothes to soothe the hurt in her soul. In a moment of spiritual clarity, Jasmine understood that she needed to deal with her grief and with God. The clothes were never going to bring her happiness or peace.
Shopaholics are slaves to the desire to purchase things. Alcoholics are slaves to drinking. Workaholics fear being out of control or out of money or losing power. Manipulators are slaves to their own ego. You can be a slave to a drug or an attitude, a person, or a way of life. You can be held captive by a habit or be captured by a sinful desire. There are so many ways to succumb to spiritual slavery. In all cases, that spiritual slavery will work its way into other areas of your life. Spiritual slavery will eat away at your peace, cause unintended anxiety and insecurities, and erode your financial independence. It may turn you into a drug addict. It might result in an early death. Spiritual slavery is all too common. It may be affecting you right now.
In the scripture for today, Paul advocated that the Roman Christians “crucify” any thought or emotion or fear or insecurity that enslaved them. He wanted them to “crucify” any sinful thought or emotion or ideal that came between them and Jesus. You are going to have to do the same. You need to put to death any habit or thought or sin or evil in your life that has ensnared your soul and come between you and Jesus. If you do not, things will fall apart in time. True peace will elude you. True joy will be fleeting.
Is there a sin that has captured your soul that you repeat over and over? Is there a thought that tortures your mind? Are there insecurities and fears that control your heart or feed your bad habits? Are you being held prisoner by someone or something or some thought or some past? Jesus wants to know….
March 3
“The soul of the lazy craves, but there is nothing, but the person of diligence is richly supplied.” (Proverbs 13:4, LEB)
Famed educator Booker T. Washington recalled the “entrance exam” that earned him a place at the Hampton Institute in Virginia as a young man. The head teacher ordered Washington to take a broom and sweep the classroom. Because he knew this was his chance, he swept the room three times and dusted the furniture four times. When the teacher returned, she inspected the floor closely and ran her handkerchief over the woodwork. Unable to find a speck of dust anywhere, she said, “I guess you will do to enter this institution.” Washington later said that this was the turning point of his life. (p. 21, “Today in the Word”, November, 1996)
Booker T. Washington’s diligence paid off. His hard work and attention to detail in doing that mundane work of cleaning got him started on his education. That diligence was noted by the head teacher in the way he purposefully completed the task she gave him. With that insight, the head teacher was able to predict that Washington would also set his mind to his studies with the same rigor and attention to detail. Washington not only finished his education but excelled in many areas. He founded the Tuskegee Institute while supporting other valuable educational institutions and organizations. Several presidents valued his insights and intelligence.
With a personal trait such as diligence, a person can accomplish many things in life. People who are diligent often excel in education, engineering, technology and many other areas of life where detail is important. Usually, people who are diligent can be trusted to follow through to the best of their ability, to persevere, and to overcome obstacles. They tend to be people who will complete tasks and keep promises. They are often patient, though sometimes persistent.
The spiritual quality of diligence is also extremely valuable in the spiritual life. A spiritually diligent Christian can be counted on to follow through with a mission, to complete their work to the best of his or her ability, and to be a very competent Christian educator. All successful pastors consider it a blessing to have diligent leaders surrounding them. These leaders can be trusted to not only be faithful to scripture, but forthright and honest in their abilities and perceptions. The only problem with a diligent person can be found when they pay TOO MUCH ATTENTION to detail. It is easy to get off track when a committee or church gets mired in too many small issues and lose their perspective or tire of the grind to achieve a goal. Still, a spiritually diligent person is a valuable asset to God when their heart is in the right place and their soul is dedicated to the Almighty.
In the scripture for today from Proverbs, we are taught that there are two extremes of people in the world. Some are lazy (other versions of the Bible call them sluggards). Some are diligent. According to Proverbs 13:4, the “lazy” people are often in want. Because they do not take the time to plan and work hard, they are often left “craving” in the soul. Because they can not be counted on to follow through, they often find themselves unable to complete tasks adequately, must do things over again, or do not get God’s work done right. Spiritually, they overlook important details and quit before God’s work is completed. On the other hand, this scripture also points out that the spiritually “diligent” people are “richly supplied”. Usually, their attention to detail and ability to complete tasks to perfection enables them to move on to new and better things. They follow through for God. They are blessed by God for doing what is right. They will not quit on God when things are only partially completed. They search for answers from God when others might throw in the towel.
When serving the church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I had a particularly difficult few months. It was Lent. I led three worship services a week, visited a dozen people each week in hospitals, taught a Bible Study to over fifty people, and oversaw the work of almost a dozen staff members. While doing all this, a member died each week for six straight weeks. I was needed to coordinate all the funeral arrangements, set up memorial and funeral services, and met with each family to help during their time of grief. My time at work shot up for those six weeks to over 70 hours/week. My wife and children barely saw me. Halfway through those six weeks, I was tired and burning out. After asking God for strength in my prayer to God one day, I set my mind on getting some help. I approached a member of the church and asked her to coordinate members to watch over and visit the shut-ins and people in nursing homes while I attended to the other needs of the church. The person I chose to accomplish this task was considered very “diligent”. When I asked her for help, her response was beautiful. She said, “You get back to your work and let me handle this. I will get it done. Check in weekly and I’ll give you updates.”
For the next two months, she and some other diligent members of the church came through beautifully. Those confined to their homes because of disability and those in nursing homes were in good hands. God worked powerfully through those people AND gave me the needed time to get my work done during an exceedingly difficult time for our church. It was this woman’s wonderful spiritual diligence that saved the day and brought comfort to my soul. I cherish all those who pitched in and helped. I will never forget their efforts; neither will the shut-ins, homebound, and families of those in the nursing homes. God blessed their diligence!
When truly faithful and diligent people oversee God’s work, wonderful things get accomplished. If they can stay on task and do not get lost in the details, diligent people can do amazing things for God. If they do not let their authority cause prideful arrogance, they will be a great blessing to all those they serve. When used with godly discretion, spiritual diligence is a powerful tool God often uses to complete the most difficult tasks.
Do you have spiritual diligence? Have you seen it for the blessing that it is? Is there someone you need to rely on who has this spiritual gift? Some people are born with spiritual diligence. Some people work hard to increase this ability. Either way, spiritual diligence is incredibly helpful to overcome obstacles and for faithful leadership. Maybe, it could help you during this time in your life.
Booker T. Washington’s diligence paid off. His hard work and attention to detail in doing that mundane work of cleaning got him started on his education. That diligence was noted by the head teacher in the way he purposefully completed the task she gave him. With that insight, the head teacher was able to predict that Washington would also set his mind to his studies with the same rigor and attention to detail. Washington not only finished his education but excelled in many areas. He founded the Tuskegee Institute while supporting other valuable educational institutions and organizations. Several presidents valued his insights and intelligence.
With a personal trait such as diligence, a person can accomplish many things in life. People who are diligent often excel in education, engineering, technology and many other areas of life where detail is important. Usually, people who are diligent can be trusted to follow through to the best of their ability, to persevere, and to overcome obstacles. They tend to be people who will complete tasks and keep promises. They are often patient, though sometimes persistent.
The spiritual quality of diligence is also extremely valuable in the spiritual life. A spiritually diligent Christian can be counted on to follow through with a mission, to complete their work to the best of his or her ability, and to be a very competent Christian educator. All successful pastors consider it a blessing to have diligent leaders surrounding them. These leaders can be trusted to not only be faithful to scripture, but forthright and honest in their abilities and perceptions. The only problem with a diligent person can be found when they pay TOO MUCH ATTENTION to detail. It is easy to get off track when a committee or church gets mired in too many small issues and lose their perspective or tire of the grind to achieve a goal. Still, a spiritually diligent person is a valuable asset to God when their heart is in the right place and their soul is dedicated to the Almighty.
In the scripture for today from Proverbs, we are taught that there are two extremes of people in the world. Some are lazy (other versions of the Bible call them sluggards). Some are diligent. According to Proverbs 13:4, the “lazy” people are often in want. Because they do not take the time to plan and work hard, they are often left “craving” in the soul. Because they can not be counted on to follow through, they often find themselves unable to complete tasks adequately, must do things over again, or do not get God’s work done right. Spiritually, they overlook important details and quit before God’s work is completed. On the other hand, this scripture also points out that the spiritually “diligent” people are “richly supplied”. Usually, their attention to detail and ability to complete tasks to perfection enables them to move on to new and better things. They follow through for God. They are blessed by God for doing what is right. They will not quit on God when things are only partially completed. They search for answers from God when others might throw in the towel.
When serving the church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I had a particularly difficult few months. It was Lent. I led three worship services a week, visited a dozen people each week in hospitals, taught a Bible Study to over fifty people, and oversaw the work of almost a dozen staff members. While doing all this, a member died each week for six straight weeks. I was needed to coordinate all the funeral arrangements, set up memorial and funeral services, and met with each family to help during their time of grief. My time at work shot up for those six weeks to over 70 hours/week. My wife and children barely saw me. Halfway through those six weeks, I was tired and burning out. After asking God for strength in my prayer to God one day, I set my mind on getting some help. I approached a member of the church and asked her to coordinate members to watch over and visit the shut-ins and people in nursing homes while I attended to the other needs of the church. The person I chose to accomplish this task was considered very “diligent”. When I asked her for help, her response was beautiful. She said, “You get back to your work and let me handle this. I will get it done. Check in weekly and I’ll give you updates.”
For the next two months, she and some other diligent members of the church came through beautifully. Those confined to their homes because of disability and those in nursing homes were in good hands. God worked powerfully through those people AND gave me the needed time to get my work done during an exceedingly difficult time for our church. It was this woman’s wonderful spiritual diligence that saved the day and brought comfort to my soul. I cherish all those who pitched in and helped. I will never forget their efforts; neither will the shut-ins, homebound, and families of those in the nursing homes. God blessed their diligence!
When truly faithful and diligent people oversee God’s work, wonderful things get accomplished. If they can stay on task and do not get lost in the details, diligent people can do amazing things for God. If they do not let their authority cause prideful arrogance, they will be a great blessing to all those they serve. When used with godly discretion, spiritual diligence is a powerful tool God often uses to complete the most difficult tasks.
Do you have spiritual diligence? Have you seen it for the blessing that it is? Is there someone you need to rely on who has this spiritual gift? Some people are born with spiritual diligence. Some people work hard to increase this ability. Either way, spiritual diligence is incredibly helpful to overcome obstacles and for faithful leadership. Maybe, it could help you during this time in your life.
March 5
“Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips. Selah” (Psalm 140:1–3, NIV84)
A mid-level manager wrote this about her experience at work:
“I once had a boss who, in weekly team meetings, would treat one person like a hero and another person like a total loser who wasn’t doing anything right and was going to bring the team or even the whole business down. We’re talking full-on hazing in a group setting. You never knew who was going to be the victim, so we all dreaded the meeting. Once you realized you weren’t going to be picked on that week, you could breathe a sigh of relief for a second, but then you felt just horrible for the person who was the victim (and you felt really guilty if you were the praised hero that week). Not surprisingly, there wasn’t a lot of substance behind why an individual was being praised or hazed so much; it was just a management technique.” (from www.themuse.com)
What is so incredibly sad about this “management technique” is that it is highly destructive to the employees. This manager caused the employees to live in fear of those meetings, to be afraid to be singled out, to be the subject of hazing. The words used by the manager cruelly damaged the heart and soul of the employees and made them dysfunctional and overly sensitive. Just a few minutes in that meeting were enough to cause an insecure individual to become paranoid.
Some people use their words to excoriate another. Some use their position to debase their subordinates. An insecure manager might over-emphasize the weaknesses or mistakes of employees to elevate his or her own position or status. However, its not only in the workplace this sort of hazing and debasement occurs. It may occur at a town hall, over a kitchen table, on the playground, or at a retail store. It may even take place in the church among “so-called” Christians.
Our scripture for today points out that “those who devise evil plans in their hearts” will “stir up” all kinds of problems (Psalm 140:1). They will even cause wars. One of the signs of these evil people is their “sharp” tongue which is described in this scripture like a “poison of vipers”. Just like the venom of a poisonous snake will cause destruction and death as it courses through the body of a bite victim, the words of an evil person will often be used to cause psychological, emotional, and spiritual trauma to the person on the receiving end. I’m sure you’ve met cruel people in your church or community. While professing to be faithful, even after attending worship, they are known to angrily respond to those around them or throw barbs at others. In a committee meeting, their poisonous words will often cause dissention or division. Their actions will result in hurt feelings and even cause people to leave the church. The scripture for today classifies those with “poisonous” tongues as evil people. Though seemingly religious, they are not on God’s side.
In 2018, a group of people were asked about their childhood. One man gave this account: “Early 80s, I was five years old and we were driving down the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut. I’m super excited about something. My family was getting annoyed that I wouldn’t calm down. So, they pulled over and said, “Get out!” Then, they left me on the side of the road and pulled away. It was only supposed to be a for a minute as a timeout but the next exit for them ended up being quite a while. I was there, crying against the guardrail for over 20 minutes. When they finally came back, I didn’t talk to anyone. It’s been 35+ years and I still don’t forgive them. Anything nice they did afterwards I discounted because I knew they would always be capable of just leaving me on the side of the road.”
The craziest part of this man’s story is that his parents were church goers! They were self-professed Christians! Their words and actions to their son left a life-damaging result. Their two small poisonous words, “Get out!”, are forever etched on this man’s soul.
In the New Testament letter of James, there is wisdom on this same topic. James wrote: “… no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8, ESV). Your words can bring comfort and healing. They can also be “a restless evil” or “deadly poison”. That is why it is so important to choose your words carefully. When you are angry or emotional, don’t blast out whatever comes into your mind. When you are hurting or traumatized, it may be difficult to control your tongue. Still, you must try. For the sake of all those who hear your words, for Jesus’ sake, you must be careful what you say. You never know when what you say may damage another soul for years to come.
Do not let evil thoughts poison your heart and soul and mind. If you do, it will come out when you speak. Your love of Jesus will be shown not only in your attendance at worship but in the words of your mouth and the actions of your body. Any evil in you will be on display for all to hear and see. It will be there when you open your mouth. It will come through in the thoughts you hide and in the actions you take.
Whether speaking to your spouse or child or boss or fellow parishioner, weigh your words carefully. I would rather that your words be a balm for the soul than a poison to destroy.
Quote for the day: “Let the mind of the Master be the master of your mind.”
“I once had a boss who, in weekly team meetings, would treat one person like a hero and another person like a total loser who wasn’t doing anything right and was going to bring the team or even the whole business down. We’re talking full-on hazing in a group setting. You never knew who was going to be the victim, so we all dreaded the meeting. Once you realized you weren’t going to be picked on that week, you could breathe a sigh of relief for a second, but then you felt just horrible for the person who was the victim (and you felt really guilty if you were the praised hero that week). Not surprisingly, there wasn’t a lot of substance behind why an individual was being praised or hazed so much; it was just a management technique.” (from www.themuse.com)
What is so incredibly sad about this “management technique” is that it is highly destructive to the employees. This manager caused the employees to live in fear of those meetings, to be afraid to be singled out, to be the subject of hazing. The words used by the manager cruelly damaged the heart and soul of the employees and made them dysfunctional and overly sensitive. Just a few minutes in that meeting were enough to cause an insecure individual to become paranoid.
Some people use their words to excoriate another. Some use their position to debase their subordinates. An insecure manager might over-emphasize the weaknesses or mistakes of employees to elevate his or her own position or status. However, its not only in the workplace this sort of hazing and debasement occurs. It may occur at a town hall, over a kitchen table, on the playground, or at a retail store. It may even take place in the church among “so-called” Christians.
Our scripture for today points out that “those who devise evil plans in their hearts” will “stir up” all kinds of problems (Psalm 140:1). They will even cause wars. One of the signs of these evil people is their “sharp” tongue which is described in this scripture like a “poison of vipers”. Just like the venom of a poisonous snake will cause destruction and death as it courses through the body of a bite victim, the words of an evil person will often be used to cause psychological, emotional, and spiritual trauma to the person on the receiving end. I’m sure you’ve met cruel people in your church or community. While professing to be faithful, even after attending worship, they are known to angrily respond to those around them or throw barbs at others. In a committee meeting, their poisonous words will often cause dissention or division. Their actions will result in hurt feelings and even cause people to leave the church. The scripture for today classifies those with “poisonous” tongues as evil people. Though seemingly religious, they are not on God’s side.
In 2018, a group of people were asked about their childhood. One man gave this account: “Early 80s, I was five years old and we were driving down the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut. I’m super excited about something. My family was getting annoyed that I wouldn’t calm down. So, they pulled over and said, “Get out!” Then, they left me on the side of the road and pulled away. It was only supposed to be a for a minute as a timeout but the next exit for them ended up being quite a while. I was there, crying against the guardrail for over 20 minutes. When they finally came back, I didn’t talk to anyone. It’s been 35+ years and I still don’t forgive them. Anything nice they did afterwards I discounted because I knew they would always be capable of just leaving me on the side of the road.”
The craziest part of this man’s story is that his parents were church goers! They were self-professed Christians! Their words and actions to their son left a life-damaging result. Their two small poisonous words, “Get out!”, are forever etched on this man’s soul.
In the New Testament letter of James, there is wisdom on this same topic. James wrote: “… no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8, ESV). Your words can bring comfort and healing. They can also be “a restless evil” or “deadly poison”. That is why it is so important to choose your words carefully. When you are angry or emotional, don’t blast out whatever comes into your mind. When you are hurting or traumatized, it may be difficult to control your tongue. Still, you must try. For the sake of all those who hear your words, for Jesus’ sake, you must be careful what you say. You never know when what you say may damage another soul for years to come.
Do not let evil thoughts poison your heart and soul and mind. If you do, it will come out when you speak. Your love of Jesus will be shown not only in your attendance at worship but in the words of your mouth and the actions of your body. Any evil in you will be on display for all to hear and see. It will be there when you open your mouth. It will come through in the thoughts you hide and in the actions you take.
Whether speaking to your spouse or child or boss or fellow parishioner, weigh your words carefully. I would rather that your words be a balm for the soul than a poison to destroy.
Quote for the day: “Let the mind of the Master be the master of your mind.”
March 7
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:1–4, ESV)
BE CAREFUL IN READING THIS MEDITATION TODAY! IT TAKES A MUCH DEEPER LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AND MAY BE EASILY MISINTERPRETED WITH DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES!
If you consider deeply the ramifications of God’s creation, you will discern many interesting things. Today, I have chosen the scripture above to display an interesting tidbit about the character of God that comes through in creation.
In Genesis 1:1-4, God began the work of creation. The first thing God notices about the heavens and earth is that they were “without form and void”. The whole of the universe is chaotic. There is no order to it. So, God sets about first bringing order to that chaos. God separates light from dark. In later days of creation, God separates sun and earth, animal and man, male and female, and so on. Throughout, God brings order to chaos. God does not let chaos reign.
When Einstein, the great physicist, looked at creation, he saw the handiwork of God. He saw order in the midst of seeming chaos. He sought to explain that order using theories and mathematical equations. By doing so, he was explaining how God brought order to creation. Einstein even wrote the following words: “The basic laws of the universe are simple, but because our senses are limited, we can't grasp them. There is a pattern in creation.” Einstein saw patterns or order all over creation. His entire life was spent trying to quantify and explain those patterns, that order.
In the history of God’s dealing with humans, God has set forth the best ways to form life and given us the rationale for His order. God’s laws and the gospel display this order for us. To fight against chaos on this earth, God said not to steal, murder, or covet in the Ten Commandments. For God, each of these sins would destroy God’s natural order and bring chaos to the soul, to families, and to the community. When Israel sinned, God sent prophets to explain how to return to God’s way, how to repent and reclaim God’s perfect order. You see, sin destroys God’s perfect way of life. It caused Adam and Eve to lose their place in the perfect Garden of Eden. Satan does not like God’s ordering of life. He is constantly working to upend God’s sovereign way of life. Those who do not follow God’s rationale are bound to cause misery and death.
Despite the limits of human reasoning, there are people and institutions, governments and organizations that go against God’s created order as well. They seek to bring chaos to order. They do not like God’s order and are determined to overturn it. They do not appreciate God’s handiwork, so they work diligently to nullify it. There are individuals who suggest that God makes lots of mistakes. There are people who deny any notion of intelligent design by a worthy Creator. Some advocate giving children puberty blockers to “correct” these mistakes. Some do sex change operations to correct conceptual errors. A good many advocate against marriage between a man and a woman as put forth in Genesis 2 and Mark 10. Instead, they promote same sex marriage, polygamy, divorce, and more. Even in fashion, you can see those who stand against any godly view of order. They design masculine looking clothes for women and suggest men wear dresses. Those against God’s way bring in cross-dressers to read to children in libraries. They demand transsexuals compete on an even playing field with those of the opposite sex. They teach that divorce is morally right, sins are just self-expression, bad choices are good, good choices are bad, and on and on.
A doctor, an engineer, and a politician were arguing as to which profession was older. "Well," argued the doctor, "without a physician mankind could not have survived, so I am sure that mine is the oldest profession." "No," said the engineer, "before life began there was complete chaos, and it took an engineer to create some semblance of order from this chaos. So engineering is older." "But," chirped the triumphant politician, "who created the chaos?"
Anti-God chaos is sometimes difficult to discern. Something that God has determined to be wrong might not feel wrong at the time. Something unhealthy in the diet may taste wonderful. A bad habit might feel good for a long while. A way of life might feel perfect for you when it will only wreck your future. Human beings often find it difficult to determine the right choices that bring healthy and loving and godly order to life. That’s why God gave us scripture as a help.
Throughout the Bible, God explains what is good and what is bad. God separates out for us what is holy and what is evil. In scripture, we can see how God brings life (see John 6:35). There, God explains how sin brings death (see Romans 5:12). If you do not know scripture well, you cannot adequately be prepared for choosing between good and evil in your life. If you fight against God’s ordering of the universe, you will constantly misunderstand what it means to do what is right or moral or ethical or faithful. Chances are, you will find yourself mired in chaos due to your own poor choices or inferior reasoning. Without the Bible to help you get a handle on God’s way of life, you will be at a loss and stuck in a world of ever-increasing chaos.
When you find that your world has gotten a little too chaotic, look to God for direction and understanding. Search the pages of the Bible for knowledge and comprehension. Through prayer and faithful meditation, let God clear your mind of the chaos and center your heart on the truth. Look to Jesus to save you from a life mired in cycles of sinfulness. You can never find true and lasting peace apart from God’s ways.
As I close, I want to correct how some might view this Bible Meditation. They may think that I am advocating a strict adherence to God’s rules and laws found in the Bible. While I am advocating following God’s law, there are many who have misinterpreted God’s way. The Pharisees are a perfect example. To be faithful, you will fail when you blindly adhere to human interpretations of God’s perfect law. You may also think that I am advocating blindly following the words of the Bible to the letter. I do believe God’s word is infallible. I do believe God’s word is perfect. However, the way you interpret God’s perfect scripture is fallible and imperfect. You might read scripture with biased eyes or to justify your sin. There are so many ways to mess up while attempting to follow God’s perfect order in the universe, even while reading scripture.
In the end, you need to study God’s word, listen for God’s voice, search for God’s wisdom, and then apply God’s order to your world. It is not easy. You may falter and fail. Still, the journey is worth it, and God’s grace is greater than you will ever know. Trust in God. Lean on Jesus. Follow God’s way. When life becomes chaotic, look to God to help you bring order to whatever mess you have created.
If you consider deeply the ramifications of God’s creation, you will discern many interesting things. Today, I have chosen the scripture above to display an interesting tidbit about the character of God that comes through in creation.
In Genesis 1:1-4, God began the work of creation. The first thing God notices about the heavens and earth is that they were “without form and void”. The whole of the universe is chaotic. There is no order to it. So, God sets about first bringing order to that chaos. God separates light from dark. In later days of creation, God separates sun and earth, animal and man, male and female, and so on. Throughout, God brings order to chaos. God does not let chaos reign.
When Einstein, the great physicist, looked at creation, he saw the handiwork of God. He saw order in the midst of seeming chaos. He sought to explain that order using theories and mathematical equations. By doing so, he was explaining how God brought order to creation. Einstein even wrote the following words: “The basic laws of the universe are simple, but because our senses are limited, we can't grasp them. There is a pattern in creation.” Einstein saw patterns or order all over creation. His entire life was spent trying to quantify and explain those patterns, that order.
In the history of God’s dealing with humans, God has set forth the best ways to form life and given us the rationale for His order. God’s laws and the gospel display this order for us. To fight against chaos on this earth, God said not to steal, murder, or covet in the Ten Commandments. For God, each of these sins would destroy God’s natural order and bring chaos to the soul, to families, and to the community. When Israel sinned, God sent prophets to explain how to return to God’s way, how to repent and reclaim God’s perfect order. You see, sin destroys God’s perfect way of life. It caused Adam and Eve to lose their place in the perfect Garden of Eden. Satan does not like God’s ordering of life. He is constantly working to upend God’s sovereign way of life. Those who do not follow God’s rationale are bound to cause misery and death.
Despite the limits of human reasoning, there are people and institutions, governments and organizations that go against God’s created order as well. They seek to bring chaos to order. They do not like God’s order and are determined to overturn it. They do not appreciate God’s handiwork, so they work diligently to nullify it. There are individuals who suggest that God makes lots of mistakes. There are people who deny any notion of intelligent design by a worthy Creator. Some advocate giving children puberty blockers to “correct” these mistakes. Some do sex change operations to correct conceptual errors. A good many advocate against marriage between a man and a woman as put forth in Genesis 2 and Mark 10. Instead, they promote same sex marriage, polygamy, divorce, and more. Even in fashion, you can see those who stand against any godly view of order. They design masculine looking clothes for women and suggest men wear dresses. Those against God’s way bring in cross-dressers to read to children in libraries. They demand transsexuals compete on an even playing field with those of the opposite sex. They teach that divorce is morally right, sins are just self-expression, bad choices are good, good choices are bad, and on and on.
A doctor, an engineer, and a politician were arguing as to which profession was older. "Well," argued the doctor, "without a physician mankind could not have survived, so I am sure that mine is the oldest profession." "No," said the engineer, "before life began there was complete chaos, and it took an engineer to create some semblance of order from this chaos. So engineering is older." "But," chirped the triumphant politician, "who created the chaos?"
Anti-God chaos is sometimes difficult to discern. Something that God has determined to be wrong might not feel wrong at the time. Something unhealthy in the diet may taste wonderful. A bad habit might feel good for a long while. A way of life might feel perfect for you when it will only wreck your future. Human beings often find it difficult to determine the right choices that bring healthy and loving and godly order to life. That’s why God gave us scripture as a help.
Throughout the Bible, God explains what is good and what is bad. God separates out for us what is holy and what is evil. In scripture, we can see how God brings life (see John 6:35). There, God explains how sin brings death (see Romans 5:12). If you do not know scripture well, you cannot adequately be prepared for choosing between good and evil in your life. If you fight against God’s ordering of the universe, you will constantly misunderstand what it means to do what is right or moral or ethical or faithful. Chances are, you will find yourself mired in chaos due to your own poor choices or inferior reasoning. Without the Bible to help you get a handle on God’s way of life, you will be at a loss and stuck in a world of ever-increasing chaos.
When you find that your world has gotten a little too chaotic, look to God for direction and understanding. Search the pages of the Bible for knowledge and comprehension. Through prayer and faithful meditation, let God clear your mind of the chaos and center your heart on the truth. Look to Jesus to save you from a life mired in cycles of sinfulness. You can never find true and lasting peace apart from God’s ways.
As I close, I want to correct how some might view this Bible Meditation. They may think that I am advocating a strict adherence to God’s rules and laws found in the Bible. While I am advocating following God’s law, there are many who have misinterpreted God’s way. The Pharisees are a perfect example. To be faithful, you will fail when you blindly adhere to human interpretations of God’s perfect law. You may also think that I am advocating blindly following the words of the Bible to the letter. I do believe God’s word is infallible. I do believe God’s word is perfect. However, the way you interpret God’s perfect scripture is fallible and imperfect. You might read scripture with biased eyes or to justify your sin. There are so many ways to mess up while attempting to follow God’s perfect order in the universe, even while reading scripture.
In the end, you need to study God’s word, listen for God’s voice, search for God’s wisdom, and then apply God’s order to your world. It is not easy. You may falter and fail. Still, the journey is worth it, and God’s grace is greater than you will ever know. Trust in God. Lean on Jesus. Follow God’s way. When life becomes chaotic, look to God to help you bring order to whatever mess you have created.
March 9
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up...” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
When writing to the Christians in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul included many words of encouragement. Paul mentioned how the Thessalonian Christians received the gospel with joy. He was thankful for their faith in his prayers. He was thrilled with the wonderful welcome the apostles had received. Throughout the letter, Paul gave encouragement and shared his joy at the faithfulness and warmth of those Christians. Near the end of his letter, Paul mentioned all Christians should “encourage one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Paul expected followers of Christ to “build up” others in the faith. Paul wanted Christians to be a blessing for each other, to rely on one another, to love one another, and to be accountable to one another. That is why he wrote the words contained in the scripture for today.
Though the Thessalonian Christians had been welcoming and open in their exchanges with him, the Apostle Paul still reminded them to “encourage one another and build one another up”. If they were already doing this, why did Paul mention it? I believe that Paul wanted to emphasize the importance of their keeping this welcoming tradition alive. Paul knew that some of the other churches, notably the church in Corinth, were wracked with jealousy, envy, strife, and bitterness. The Corinthian church suffered from one church fight after another. They fought about who had more faith, which spiritual gifts were better, and who was more important in the church. The Thessalonian church didn’t have those problems. Still, it was better to warn the Thessalonian Christians to remember to encourage one another and build one another up rather than to see these important virtues cast aside or torn asunder. Did you know that these two churches were only three hundred and fifty miles apart? Today, you can drive from one city to another in a car in only 6 hours. Paul did not want the mess in Corinth to migrate to the church in Thessalonica. He wanted them to remain a loving and welcoming and encouraging community.
As a pastor for three decades, I have met with hundreds of pastors and thousands of laypeople. Throughout my many discussions about church life, I have found that many churches have problems with encouragement. The pastors and laypeople I talked to often mentioned parishioners who tore others down instead of building each other up. As an example, a pastor I recently had the pleasure of interviewing told me that his church was totally unlike any he had ever served. I asked him what was so different in his new church. He smiled and said, “This is the first church I’ve ever been in that cared deeply about the welfare of its pastor and people”.
Is it so unusual to have a church that is full of encouragement, where people look out for one another? I guess so. Sadly, too many churches are like Corinth. They are filled with people who fight with one another over doctrine, faith issues, spiritual gifts, and theology. Too few churches are like the one in Thessalonica, filled with encouragement and a deep care for one another. One might also infer that today there are more church people who act like the Corinthian Christians. They fight and debate. They nitpick over small issues. They are more concerned with pomp and appearances. They lack love. There are too few Christians today resembling the Thessalonian Christians, who are quick to encourage and support others in their community.
Once during Queen Victoria’s reign, she heard that the wife of a common laborer had lost her baby. Having experienced deep sorrow herself, she felt moved to express her sympathy. So, she called on the bereaved woman one day and spent some time with her. After she left, the neighbors asked what the queen had said. “Nothing,” replied the grieving mother. “She simply put her hands on mine, and we silently wept together.”
When was the last time you brought comfort to another Christian in need? How often have you held the hand of someone who is suffering or in tears?
I have found that the most effective Christians are those willing to put aside their own issues to encourage and comfort others. They are willing to set aside petty differences to hold the hand of one who is hurting or offer a shoulder to lean on in a time of need. Would this describe you? Do people feel comforted in your presence? Would a friend in need feel safe coming to you for help?
In the 1960’s, Father Peter Scholtes was very inspired by the words of Jesus in John 13:35. In that verse of the Bible, Jesus told his followers that true disciples will be known by their love. He then penned a famous hymn using his inspiration. Today, that hymn is sung all over the globe commemorating Jesus’s words. The verses include: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love!”
Do people know you are a Christian by your encouragement and love? Do your words tend to build others up or tear them down? The Apostle Paul was convinced that Christians need to encourage one another and build one another up. I am hoping you are living proof of that conviction.
Though the Thessalonian Christians had been welcoming and open in their exchanges with him, the Apostle Paul still reminded them to “encourage one another and build one another up”. If they were already doing this, why did Paul mention it? I believe that Paul wanted to emphasize the importance of their keeping this welcoming tradition alive. Paul knew that some of the other churches, notably the church in Corinth, were wracked with jealousy, envy, strife, and bitterness. The Corinthian church suffered from one church fight after another. They fought about who had more faith, which spiritual gifts were better, and who was more important in the church. The Thessalonian church didn’t have those problems. Still, it was better to warn the Thessalonian Christians to remember to encourage one another and build one another up rather than to see these important virtues cast aside or torn asunder. Did you know that these two churches were only three hundred and fifty miles apart? Today, you can drive from one city to another in a car in only 6 hours. Paul did not want the mess in Corinth to migrate to the church in Thessalonica. He wanted them to remain a loving and welcoming and encouraging community.
As a pastor for three decades, I have met with hundreds of pastors and thousands of laypeople. Throughout my many discussions about church life, I have found that many churches have problems with encouragement. The pastors and laypeople I talked to often mentioned parishioners who tore others down instead of building each other up. As an example, a pastor I recently had the pleasure of interviewing told me that his church was totally unlike any he had ever served. I asked him what was so different in his new church. He smiled and said, “This is the first church I’ve ever been in that cared deeply about the welfare of its pastor and people”.
Is it so unusual to have a church that is full of encouragement, where people look out for one another? I guess so. Sadly, too many churches are like Corinth. They are filled with people who fight with one another over doctrine, faith issues, spiritual gifts, and theology. Too few churches are like the one in Thessalonica, filled with encouragement and a deep care for one another. One might also infer that today there are more church people who act like the Corinthian Christians. They fight and debate. They nitpick over small issues. They are more concerned with pomp and appearances. They lack love. There are too few Christians today resembling the Thessalonian Christians, who are quick to encourage and support others in their community.
Once during Queen Victoria’s reign, she heard that the wife of a common laborer had lost her baby. Having experienced deep sorrow herself, she felt moved to express her sympathy. So, she called on the bereaved woman one day and spent some time with her. After she left, the neighbors asked what the queen had said. “Nothing,” replied the grieving mother. “She simply put her hands on mine, and we silently wept together.”
When was the last time you brought comfort to another Christian in need? How often have you held the hand of someone who is suffering or in tears?
I have found that the most effective Christians are those willing to put aside their own issues to encourage and comfort others. They are willing to set aside petty differences to hold the hand of one who is hurting or offer a shoulder to lean on in a time of need. Would this describe you? Do people feel comforted in your presence? Would a friend in need feel safe coming to you for help?
In the 1960’s, Father Peter Scholtes was very inspired by the words of Jesus in John 13:35. In that verse of the Bible, Jesus told his followers that true disciples will be known by their love. He then penned a famous hymn using his inspiration. Today, that hymn is sung all over the globe commemorating Jesus’s words. The verses include: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love!”
Do people know you are a Christian by your encouragement and love? Do your words tend to build others up or tear them down? The Apostle Paul was convinced that Christians need to encourage one another and build one another up. I am hoping you are living proof of that conviction.
March 11
“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9, NLT)
It is not uncommon to hear the following sentences from the mouths of mere mortals:
“Next week, I’m going to fly out to see my brother.”
“I’ve got enough money saved up for my retirement.”
“As soon as I graduate, I’m going to move to Georgia.”
“That won’t happen!”
All these statements imply that the person is in control of his or her own destiny. In reality, none of the statements may come true. These people don’t know if they will die in an accident before the statement is fulfilled. They don’t know if aircraft will be grounded due to some unforeseen consequences. They don’t know if something like a COVID virus may pop up and wreck their financial picture. So often, we think and speak and act as if we are in control. The only one in control on this earth is God. Our scripture for today makes that abundantly clear.
Proverbs is a book about wisdom. In Proverbs 16:9, the author wants the reader to understand that though humans “make our plans”, the Lord will “determine” what will really happen. Only God knows which human plans will endure with time. It is arrogant and unrealistic to assume your plans will go off to perfection. You can’t control that! Some people make contingencies to “ensure” their plans will go off without a hitch. That too is deceptive. There are factors and consequences you may not foresee, to which you cannot plan at the present. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Hindsight is 20/20.” This statement reinforces that looking back, reality becomes clearer. But even with hindsight, there might be things you misinterpret, fail to perceive, or take for granted. Life is full of chaos and accidents and unforeseen consequences. Only God knows all the answers.
“Money magazine reported in its January 1997 issue that a group of people were asked which is longer, the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal, and then asked how certain they were that their answer was correct. Among those who were 60% certain, 50% of them got the answer right--meaning that this group was 10% too sure. But among those who were 90% certain, only 65% got the answer right, meaning that this group was 25% too sure.
Apparently, according to this reported study, the more convinced we are of our knowledge, the bigger the gap between what we actually know and what we think we know. Such overconfidence leads to an illusion of control. As we overestimate the value of our own skills and knowledge, it leads us to make mistakes.
One of the hardest challenges for people is to accept just how little they really know. An example of overestimated knowledge took place a few years ago when a Spanish national lottery winner was asked how he selected the ticket number. He answered that he was positive his lucky number ended in 48--because, he said, “I dreamed of the number seven for seven straight nights. And seven times seven is 48.”” (“The McIntosh Church Growth Network”, Vol. 9, Issue 6, June 1997).
In your spiritual life, you need to be careful that you don’t overestimate your connection with God. You need to realize your own human inability to understand many things in life. You are not God. Some things are out of your control. You don’t have all the answers. Life is full of surprises. Accidents may shake up your perfectly ordered world. Unforeseen occurrences can rattle your calm and cloud your future. When you have true faith in God, however, you can count on God’s providence. God knows where you are and what you need (See Matthew 6:8). God is fully aware of your limitations. Though your plans may be imperfect, the scripture for today explains that God “determines” the steps you take. God can guide you through unforeseen circumstances. God can protect you in ways you cannot even comprehend.
So, when your plans start to fall apart, look to your Lord God. Seek God’s guidance and direction. Listen for God’s voice in prayer. Meditate on God’s word to correct your thinking. Trust in God’s providence. Then, look for God’s hand to guide you. You are not alone in this world. Though you cannot plan for every contingency, God will determine your steps. Yes, you need to make plans in your life. However, don’t be surprised when your plans fall apart. Life is complicated and unpredictable…. except to God!
When plans change, do you look to God for help? When your plans are derailed, do you fuss and fume instead of checking-in with God? Are you overconfident in your decisions? God can see where you cannot. God knows what you do not. If you want the best answers and direction in life, you know where to look, right?
“Next week, I’m going to fly out to see my brother.”
“I’ve got enough money saved up for my retirement.”
“As soon as I graduate, I’m going to move to Georgia.”
“That won’t happen!”
All these statements imply that the person is in control of his or her own destiny. In reality, none of the statements may come true. These people don’t know if they will die in an accident before the statement is fulfilled. They don’t know if aircraft will be grounded due to some unforeseen consequences. They don’t know if something like a COVID virus may pop up and wreck their financial picture. So often, we think and speak and act as if we are in control. The only one in control on this earth is God. Our scripture for today makes that abundantly clear.
Proverbs is a book about wisdom. In Proverbs 16:9, the author wants the reader to understand that though humans “make our plans”, the Lord will “determine” what will really happen. Only God knows which human plans will endure with time. It is arrogant and unrealistic to assume your plans will go off to perfection. You can’t control that! Some people make contingencies to “ensure” their plans will go off without a hitch. That too is deceptive. There are factors and consequences you may not foresee, to which you cannot plan at the present. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Hindsight is 20/20.” This statement reinforces that looking back, reality becomes clearer. But even with hindsight, there might be things you misinterpret, fail to perceive, or take for granted. Life is full of chaos and accidents and unforeseen consequences. Only God knows all the answers.
“Money magazine reported in its January 1997 issue that a group of people were asked which is longer, the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal, and then asked how certain they were that their answer was correct. Among those who were 60% certain, 50% of them got the answer right--meaning that this group was 10% too sure. But among those who were 90% certain, only 65% got the answer right, meaning that this group was 25% too sure.
Apparently, according to this reported study, the more convinced we are of our knowledge, the bigger the gap between what we actually know and what we think we know. Such overconfidence leads to an illusion of control. As we overestimate the value of our own skills and knowledge, it leads us to make mistakes.
One of the hardest challenges for people is to accept just how little they really know. An example of overestimated knowledge took place a few years ago when a Spanish national lottery winner was asked how he selected the ticket number. He answered that he was positive his lucky number ended in 48--because, he said, “I dreamed of the number seven for seven straight nights. And seven times seven is 48.”” (“The McIntosh Church Growth Network”, Vol. 9, Issue 6, June 1997).
In your spiritual life, you need to be careful that you don’t overestimate your connection with God. You need to realize your own human inability to understand many things in life. You are not God. Some things are out of your control. You don’t have all the answers. Life is full of surprises. Accidents may shake up your perfectly ordered world. Unforeseen occurrences can rattle your calm and cloud your future. When you have true faith in God, however, you can count on God’s providence. God knows where you are and what you need (See Matthew 6:8). God is fully aware of your limitations. Though your plans may be imperfect, the scripture for today explains that God “determines” the steps you take. God can guide you through unforeseen circumstances. God can protect you in ways you cannot even comprehend.
So, when your plans start to fall apart, look to your Lord God. Seek God’s guidance and direction. Listen for God’s voice in prayer. Meditate on God’s word to correct your thinking. Trust in God’s providence. Then, look for God’s hand to guide you. You are not alone in this world. Though you cannot plan for every contingency, God will determine your steps. Yes, you need to make plans in your life. However, don’t be surprised when your plans fall apart. Life is complicated and unpredictable…. except to God!
When plans change, do you look to God for help? When your plans are derailed, do you fuss and fume instead of checking-in with God? Are you overconfident in your decisions? God can see where you cannot. God knows what you do not. If you want the best answers and direction in life, you know where to look, right?
March 13
“So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.” (Numbers 16:47–48, ESV)
While the people of Israel were in the wilderness on their way to the Holy Land, Moses spoke the words of God while Aaron was a priest over the people. These two men were responsible to Heaven. They were to teach how to be faithful and watch over the doings of the people. They were to decide between right and wrong, good and evil.
In Numbers 16, we are made aware that the people of Israel sinned greatly. When God pronounced judgment upon the sin, the people became angry at Moses and Aaron. In response to the sin and to the evil of the people, God sent a plague down upon Israel. Numbers 16:49 tells us that over fourteen-thousand people died in the plague. To end the plague, our scripture today tells us that Moses ordered Aaron to make “atonement for the people” (Numbers 16:47). Aaron put incense on the altar of God, and prayers were uttered to Heaven begging for mercy. Moses and Aaron interceded between the sinful people and God. God heard their prayer and accepted their atonement. God stopped the plague (Numbers 16:48).
Ever since humans pondered right and wrong, there was this feeling of a connection between sin and judgment. Human beings noticed that sinful actions often brought down the wrath of God. In Greek myth, there were goddesses known as “The Furies”. These women were dressed like hunters and had a specific vocation. They were to cause suffering upon those who committed grievous sins. Sins like killing a parent, adultery, lying under oath, and actions against the gods brought swift retribution. The Furies caused suffering and plagues and all kinds of evil to occur to those who had sinned. Victims could pray to The Furies and plead their case. In response, The Furies would cause suffering and accidents and catastrophes to fall upon those who had done evil. The only thing that would stop the retribution and suffering caused by The Furies was for the guilty to own up to the sin and make atonement. They needed to repent of their sin and do some form of penance and admit to the sin.
Many religions in the history of humankind have noted the connection between sin and the suffering of the guilty. The Jews, the Greeks, the Romans, Muslims, and Christians all believe there is a connection between sinful actions and God’s judgment. All these religions and peoples have noted that the only known antidote for suffering God’s punishment for severe sin was to repent of one’s sin and to accomplish some form of atonement. What is atonement? It is something that you do to make things right again. It is something required by God to show you repent of your sin and reject that sin. Atonement not only proves you repent, but it makes things right between you and God.
In the scripture for today, Moses commands Aaron to burn incense to God in an offering of atonement. Also, Moses and Aaron show signs of repentance on behalf of the people of Israel. They point out the error of the people. They beg for God’s wrath to end. Because of the faithful actions of Moses and Aaron, highlighted with the repentance of the people of Israel, the plague was vanquished. The suffering ended.
Most Christians understand the concept of repentance. They know that when you sin, you must repent of the evil. Through prayer, the repentant person explains how he or she is sorry for the sin. However, many Christians do not understand the concept of atonement. Many believe that all sins only require asking for forgiveness. This is not always true. In some cases, a prayer of repentance is not enough. Some sinful actions require some form of atonement. In order to make things right with God, atonement in these times completes the repentance. Atonement makes things right with God. The relationship with God is thus preserved.
Not every sin requires you to do an act of atonement. Some only require your faith and repentance in response. However, in some situations, God may desire an act of atonement as shown in the scripture for today from the book of Numbers. For example, a particularly terrible sin may require some form of atonement. In some cases, doing atonement will make your soul feel right with God again. When the relationship between you and God is damaged severely, repentance with atonement may be the best way to find peace with God again.
On the cross, Jesus made atonement for the sins of humankind. He was a sacrifice for your sin. Don’t think this frees you from ever making atonement. When your relationship with God becomes severely damaged or you have gone astray from a faithful life, atonement may become necessary. Atonement doesn’t force God to accept your repentance. It merely shows God how far you are willing to go to make things right.
After work, Daniel often went to the bar across the street from his place of employment. It was his usual haunt. Daniel went to the bar after work in order to unwind. Sadly, the more Daniel went to the bar, the more he drank to excess. After a while, his family only saw him stumbling in most evenings or passing out on the couch.
One evening, after a good amount of drinking at the bar after work, Daniel got in an accident. He was charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI or DUI). Because of the injuries suffered by the passengers of the other vehicle, Daniel had to serve time in prison.
While in prison, Daniel offered his life to Christ during an evening worship session. However, Daniel did not feel right with God. That accident haunted his dreams. He just did not feel forgiven, no matter how many times he repented for what he did. Finally, reeling with guilt, he approached the pastor leading the worship sessions. Daniel confided in the pastor about his feelings of being unforgiven. It was then that Daniel heard for the first time about a word called “atonement”. Feeling atonement was needed, Daniel sat down and wrote a long letter to the victims of his accident. He expressed his guilt and shame. He asked for their forgiveness. It helped some.
A month after Daniel sent out the letter, a woman came to visit with him. He recognized her name as one of the victims in the car accident. With much trepidation, he approached the woman in the visitor’s area. There, Daniel got the surprise of his life. The woman thanked him for sending the letter. They talked about the consequences of the accident and the pain she was still experiencing. Daniel’s eyes filled with tears. He told her, “I’ll never be forgiven for what I did.”
Upon hearing his words, the woman asked Daniel to close his eyes. Then, she prayed for them. In her prayer, she asked Jesus to forgive Daniel and be with him. After the prayer, Daniel felt much better. He felt whole again. What he didn’t realize was that the woman needed to see Daniel as much as Daniel needed to see her. The woman had been angry for months about the suffering she endured following the accident. That prayer with Daniel was her atonement as well. By offering up that prayer with the man who had so damaged her own life, she found a powerful peace with God herself.
Atonement is a crucial part of a spiritual life. It doesn’t happen every day, but when it happens, it is life changing. There are times that repentance needs atonement in order to be truly complete. Not always, but sometimes. If you find that your repentance doesn’t seem to make things right with God, atonement might be what you need. Jesus’ atonement on the cross is more than enough to bring forgiveness. But sometimes, in order to deal with guilt and feel God’s grace, atonement may be the perfect prescription for a renewed relationship with Almighty God.
In Numbers 16, we are made aware that the people of Israel sinned greatly. When God pronounced judgment upon the sin, the people became angry at Moses and Aaron. In response to the sin and to the evil of the people, God sent a plague down upon Israel. Numbers 16:49 tells us that over fourteen-thousand people died in the plague. To end the plague, our scripture today tells us that Moses ordered Aaron to make “atonement for the people” (Numbers 16:47). Aaron put incense on the altar of God, and prayers were uttered to Heaven begging for mercy. Moses and Aaron interceded between the sinful people and God. God heard their prayer and accepted their atonement. God stopped the plague (Numbers 16:48).
Ever since humans pondered right and wrong, there was this feeling of a connection between sin and judgment. Human beings noticed that sinful actions often brought down the wrath of God. In Greek myth, there were goddesses known as “The Furies”. These women were dressed like hunters and had a specific vocation. They were to cause suffering upon those who committed grievous sins. Sins like killing a parent, adultery, lying under oath, and actions against the gods brought swift retribution. The Furies caused suffering and plagues and all kinds of evil to occur to those who had sinned. Victims could pray to The Furies and plead their case. In response, The Furies would cause suffering and accidents and catastrophes to fall upon those who had done evil. The only thing that would stop the retribution and suffering caused by The Furies was for the guilty to own up to the sin and make atonement. They needed to repent of their sin and do some form of penance and admit to the sin.
Many religions in the history of humankind have noted the connection between sin and the suffering of the guilty. The Jews, the Greeks, the Romans, Muslims, and Christians all believe there is a connection between sinful actions and God’s judgment. All these religions and peoples have noted that the only known antidote for suffering God’s punishment for severe sin was to repent of one’s sin and to accomplish some form of atonement. What is atonement? It is something that you do to make things right again. It is something required by God to show you repent of your sin and reject that sin. Atonement not only proves you repent, but it makes things right between you and God.
In the scripture for today, Moses commands Aaron to burn incense to God in an offering of atonement. Also, Moses and Aaron show signs of repentance on behalf of the people of Israel. They point out the error of the people. They beg for God’s wrath to end. Because of the faithful actions of Moses and Aaron, highlighted with the repentance of the people of Israel, the plague was vanquished. The suffering ended.
Most Christians understand the concept of repentance. They know that when you sin, you must repent of the evil. Through prayer, the repentant person explains how he or she is sorry for the sin. However, many Christians do not understand the concept of atonement. Many believe that all sins only require asking for forgiveness. This is not always true. In some cases, a prayer of repentance is not enough. Some sinful actions require some form of atonement. In order to make things right with God, atonement in these times completes the repentance. Atonement makes things right with God. The relationship with God is thus preserved.
Not every sin requires you to do an act of atonement. Some only require your faith and repentance in response. However, in some situations, God may desire an act of atonement as shown in the scripture for today from the book of Numbers. For example, a particularly terrible sin may require some form of atonement. In some cases, doing atonement will make your soul feel right with God again. When the relationship between you and God is damaged severely, repentance with atonement may be the best way to find peace with God again.
On the cross, Jesus made atonement for the sins of humankind. He was a sacrifice for your sin. Don’t think this frees you from ever making atonement. When your relationship with God becomes severely damaged or you have gone astray from a faithful life, atonement may become necessary. Atonement doesn’t force God to accept your repentance. It merely shows God how far you are willing to go to make things right.
After work, Daniel often went to the bar across the street from his place of employment. It was his usual haunt. Daniel went to the bar after work in order to unwind. Sadly, the more Daniel went to the bar, the more he drank to excess. After a while, his family only saw him stumbling in most evenings or passing out on the couch.
One evening, after a good amount of drinking at the bar after work, Daniel got in an accident. He was charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI or DUI). Because of the injuries suffered by the passengers of the other vehicle, Daniel had to serve time in prison.
While in prison, Daniel offered his life to Christ during an evening worship session. However, Daniel did not feel right with God. That accident haunted his dreams. He just did not feel forgiven, no matter how many times he repented for what he did. Finally, reeling with guilt, he approached the pastor leading the worship sessions. Daniel confided in the pastor about his feelings of being unforgiven. It was then that Daniel heard for the first time about a word called “atonement”. Feeling atonement was needed, Daniel sat down and wrote a long letter to the victims of his accident. He expressed his guilt and shame. He asked for their forgiveness. It helped some.
A month after Daniel sent out the letter, a woman came to visit with him. He recognized her name as one of the victims in the car accident. With much trepidation, he approached the woman in the visitor’s area. There, Daniel got the surprise of his life. The woman thanked him for sending the letter. They talked about the consequences of the accident and the pain she was still experiencing. Daniel’s eyes filled with tears. He told her, “I’ll never be forgiven for what I did.”
Upon hearing his words, the woman asked Daniel to close his eyes. Then, she prayed for them. In her prayer, she asked Jesus to forgive Daniel and be with him. After the prayer, Daniel felt much better. He felt whole again. What he didn’t realize was that the woman needed to see Daniel as much as Daniel needed to see her. The woman had been angry for months about the suffering she endured following the accident. That prayer with Daniel was her atonement as well. By offering up that prayer with the man who had so damaged her own life, she found a powerful peace with God herself.
Atonement is a crucial part of a spiritual life. It doesn’t happen every day, but when it happens, it is life changing. There are times that repentance needs atonement in order to be truly complete. Not always, but sometimes. If you find that your repentance doesn’t seem to make things right with God, atonement might be what you need. Jesus’ atonement on the cross is more than enough to bring forgiveness. But sometimes, in order to deal with guilt and feel God’s grace, atonement may be the perfect prescription for a renewed relationship with Almighty God.
March 15
“But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.” (Luke 17:25, NLT)
It is not uncommon for worthy people to feel the sting of rejection. Inventors often face ridicule for their new products. Dreamers are often made fun of for their hopes or pursuits. “In 1902, the poetry editor of Atlantic Monthly returned a stack of poems with this note, ‘Our magazine has no room for your vigorous verse.’ The poet was Robert Frost. In 1894 an English teacher noted on a teenager’s report card, ‘A conspicuous lack of success.’ The student was Winston Churchill. In 1905, the University of Bern turned down a doctoral dissertation as ‘irrelevant and fanciful.’ The writer of that paper was Albert Einstein.” (“Signs of the Times”, March 1988, p. 12). Even when you are right or faithful or worthy or successful, people will still find a reason to reject you or your thinking.
For some reason, many Christians think that a faithful life will cause them to be respected by others of the world. Many Christians also believe their faith will be wholly accepted and lauded in Christian circles. In all reality, many of those in the Bible were rejected by the world and by their fellow believers. Noah was ridiculed by those who watched him build the ark. Jeremiah was placed in chains by his fellow Jews before the exile. Jesus, too, faced his detractors. The Herodians saw him as a threat. The Pharisees despised his theology. The High Priest would not respect Jesus’ authority. Pontius Pilate was forced to crucify Jesus for political reasons. Many rejected Jesus’ teachings (see esp. John 6:66), some preferring not to be seen with Jesus in public or in the light of day (John 12:42, John 3:2). Our scripture for today even records Jesus’ words about rejection. He expected rejection. He believed he would “suffer terribly” because of His true faith (Luke 17:25). Biblical heroes have all faced their detractors. They were publicly humiliated and scorned. What makes you think you will not face your own rejections? What makes you think those close to you will not reject the truth, your wisdom, your God, or you?
King David of our Bible had some great achievements in his life. He defeated the giant Goliath in battle. He was honored by King Saul. He earned the praise of thousands. He was popular among the soldiers as a worthy commander and revered by many enemies of his day. Still, David suffered many rejections in his life. King Saul turned against him. Some of Israel’s great soldiers fought against him. One of David’s greatest rejections came at the hand of his own son, Absalom. Absalom was envious of David and vowed to supersede David’s authority and grandeur. Absalom rebelled against David’s authority, had sex with David’s concubines (2 Samuel 16:22), and tried to usurp the throne. In the end, Absalom died while trying to pursue and kill David. Because of Absalom’s actions, David lived through the death of another son. David may have been the beloved one of God, but he knew well the sting of rejection and suffered greatly because of it.
When Amy was a senior in High School, her best friend approached her after school. The friend asked, “Amy, want to go get something to eat after practice?” Amy responded, “No, that’s OK. I’ll be too tired to enjoy it anyway.” The next day, Amy’s friends were kidding around about their visit to the fast-food joint the evening before. They teased each other about an encounter with Seniors, whispered about a cute Sophomore who showed up there, and generally joked around about all the antics displayed at the meal. Later, Amy told her best friend that she felt out of the loop and regretted not eating out with the others. Amy’s best friend spoke earnestly when she said, “Why do you always pull back when I know you want to have fun?” Amy just shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
What is remaining unsaid between Amy and her best friend is that Amy feels rejected. She was adopted at birth. Because of this, she feels like she was rejected by her parents. Amy also feels less a part of her family. Because she is the only adopted child of three children in her family, she feels like an outsider. Finally, Amy was adopted by a lower-middle class family. She rarely has new clothes. She rarely has money to go shopping. She has barely enough to go out to eat with her friends a couple of times a month. All these things affect Amy’s self-perception. Because of her circumstances, Amy feels rejected. She feels like a fifth wheel and an outsider. What Amy does not yet realize is that SHE is responsible for those feelings of rejection. SHE is perpetuating her own negativity. Her own thoughts are causing her to feel like an outsider. Her own insecurities have made her much less approachable.
If you let rejections define you, they will eat away at your own self-worth. They will cause you to doubt what is right. They will even cause problems for your soul. If you allow rejections to fester, they will cause depression, self-doubt, anger, and in extreme cases self-destruction. Jesus would not allow rejection to define him. There are no references in scripture of Jesus feeling self-defeatist or self-destructive due to all the rejections he faced. Even on the cross, he did not give in to the rejections. He prayed for his oppressors. He suffered while retaining an abundance of love.
Rejections are great teachers in life. Either they define you or you learn to deal with them. If you let rejections define you, they will bother you endlessly. They will beat you up and bring forth problems with self-worth. If you learn to faithfully deal with rejections, they will make you stronger. The rejections will help hone your communication skills. They will teach you how to handle negativity. They will strengthen your character. When you are rejected for telling the truth or for being faithful, see it as a sign. Great heroes of the Bible suffered the very same thing.
In the end, how you handle rejection tells everyone (including God) about who you are in your heart and soul. Rejections reveal the level of your commitment, the strength of your character, your honesty, your trustworthiness, and your faith. What have your responses to rejection revealed about you lately?
For some reason, many Christians think that a faithful life will cause them to be respected by others of the world. Many Christians also believe their faith will be wholly accepted and lauded in Christian circles. In all reality, many of those in the Bible were rejected by the world and by their fellow believers. Noah was ridiculed by those who watched him build the ark. Jeremiah was placed in chains by his fellow Jews before the exile. Jesus, too, faced his detractors. The Herodians saw him as a threat. The Pharisees despised his theology. The High Priest would not respect Jesus’ authority. Pontius Pilate was forced to crucify Jesus for political reasons. Many rejected Jesus’ teachings (see esp. John 6:66), some preferring not to be seen with Jesus in public or in the light of day (John 12:42, John 3:2). Our scripture for today even records Jesus’ words about rejection. He expected rejection. He believed he would “suffer terribly” because of His true faith (Luke 17:25). Biblical heroes have all faced their detractors. They were publicly humiliated and scorned. What makes you think you will not face your own rejections? What makes you think those close to you will not reject the truth, your wisdom, your God, or you?
King David of our Bible had some great achievements in his life. He defeated the giant Goliath in battle. He was honored by King Saul. He earned the praise of thousands. He was popular among the soldiers as a worthy commander and revered by many enemies of his day. Still, David suffered many rejections in his life. King Saul turned against him. Some of Israel’s great soldiers fought against him. One of David’s greatest rejections came at the hand of his own son, Absalom. Absalom was envious of David and vowed to supersede David’s authority and grandeur. Absalom rebelled against David’s authority, had sex with David’s concubines (2 Samuel 16:22), and tried to usurp the throne. In the end, Absalom died while trying to pursue and kill David. Because of Absalom’s actions, David lived through the death of another son. David may have been the beloved one of God, but he knew well the sting of rejection and suffered greatly because of it.
When Amy was a senior in High School, her best friend approached her after school. The friend asked, “Amy, want to go get something to eat after practice?” Amy responded, “No, that’s OK. I’ll be too tired to enjoy it anyway.” The next day, Amy’s friends were kidding around about their visit to the fast-food joint the evening before. They teased each other about an encounter with Seniors, whispered about a cute Sophomore who showed up there, and generally joked around about all the antics displayed at the meal. Later, Amy told her best friend that she felt out of the loop and regretted not eating out with the others. Amy’s best friend spoke earnestly when she said, “Why do you always pull back when I know you want to have fun?” Amy just shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
What is remaining unsaid between Amy and her best friend is that Amy feels rejected. She was adopted at birth. Because of this, she feels like she was rejected by her parents. Amy also feels less a part of her family. Because she is the only adopted child of three children in her family, she feels like an outsider. Finally, Amy was adopted by a lower-middle class family. She rarely has new clothes. She rarely has money to go shopping. She has barely enough to go out to eat with her friends a couple of times a month. All these things affect Amy’s self-perception. Because of her circumstances, Amy feels rejected. She feels like a fifth wheel and an outsider. What Amy does not yet realize is that SHE is responsible for those feelings of rejection. SHE is perpetuating her own negativity. Her own thoughts are causing her to feel like an outsider. Her own insecurities have made her much less approachable.
If you let rejections define you, they will eat away at your own self-worth. They will cause you to doubt what is right. They will even cause problems for your soul. If you allow rejections to fester, they will cause depression, self-doubt, anger, and in extreme cases self-destruction. Jesus would not allow rejection to define him. There are no references in scripture of Jesus feeling self-defeatist or self-destructive due to all the rejections he faced. Even on the cross, he did not give in to the rejections. He prayed for his oppressors. He suffered while retaining an abundance of love.
Rejections are great teachers in life. Either they define you or you learn to deal with them. If you let rejections define you, they will bother you endlessly. They will beat you up and bring forth problems with self-worth. If you learn to faithfully deal with rejections, they will make you stronger. The rejections will help hone your communication skills. They will teach you how to handle negativity. They will strengthen your character. When you are rejected for telling the truth or for being faithful, see it as a sign. Great heroes of the Bible suffered the very same thing.
In the end, how you handle rejection tells everyone (including God) about who you are in your heart and soul. Rejections reveal the level of your commitment, the strength of your character, your honesty, your trustworthiness, and your faith. What have your responses to rejection revealed about you lately?
March 17
“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”
(Ephesians 4:17–18, ESV)
(Ephesians 4:17–18, ESV)
The definition of futility is “uselessness” or “pointlessness”. If something is futile, it is useless to have it or utilize it or think it. No matter how much time and effort you put into something that is futile, it will produce nothing than can help the present situation. If you spend a lot of time on something futile, you will ultimately waste your time and energy and maybe money on something that cannot help. It is foolhardy or counterintuitive to waste your effort on something that is futile.
The following story is a humorous anecdote on futility. “One night a thief broke into the single-room apartment of French novelist Honore de Balzac. Trying to avoid waking Balzac, the intruder quietly picked the lock on the writer's desk. Suddenly the silence was broken by a sardonic laugh from the bed, where Balzac lay watching the thief.
"Why do you laugh"? asked the thief.
"I am laughing to think what risks you take to try to find money in a desk by night where the legal owner can never find any by day.” (“Today in the Word”, November 6, 1993)
During that time in his life, Balzac had no extra money. The thief did not know that. Balzac found it very humorous that the thief was “wasting his time” in the futile attempt to look for money from a destitute man. The thief had no idea the break-in was pointless. Balzac knew for certain it to be a wasted effort.
There are things in your life that will also be a wasted effort. You may put hours and hours into futile thinking or actions. Do you recognize when you are wasting valuable time or money in futility? For example, have you ever worried over and over about “what-ifs” in a situation that hasn’t even occurred yet? That thinking is futile. Did you ever try to “fix” a person, making them think or do what you want? It doesn’t work. You don’t have the control or ability to fix another person. Have you ever worried for hours about something beyond your control? That is an exercise in futility. If you cannot control something, why are you trying to find ways to control it?
There are also many who put forth tons of wasted effort in spiritual futility (Ephesians 4:17). The scripture for today contains Paul’s observation that Gentiles rejected godly thinking. Because they refused to include the possibility that Almighty God has control in this world, their understanding was “darkened” (Ephesians 4:18). They were "in the dark", so to speak. Their rejection of God and godly ways forced them to find answers to life that didn't include God. According to Paul, that was an example of futility. Those who reject the possibility of God being in control are doomed to the “futility of their minds”. They can make all the plans and arrangements and decisions they wish, but they will never amount to anything fruitful and eternal. If God is removed from thoughtful consideration in your life, futile thinking will take over.
I have seen many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, who got lost in futile thinking. They spent hours and money and time and effort on things that didn't matter in the long run. They wasted their God-given hours and days caught up in worldly pursuits that won’t matter in eternity. They might have acted religiously, but their efforts never amounted to anything for God.
Latisha loves God. She attends church regularly and is generous in her giving. She is caring and compassionate and forgiving. But, much of Latisha’s time in prayer is futile. Rather than growing closer to God, Latisha’s prayers leave her empty. Latisha always and without fail prays every morning. When doing so, she reads a prayer from a book of prayers. While reading, she doesn’t ponder the meaning of her words. She doesn’t look for the spiritual meaning of that time. If you ask Latisha what she read, she will have to look back and reread it. She has little to no comprehension of what she is reading. She believes that by simply saying those words, her relationship with God will grow. She even has deluded herself into believing that her prayers will make her more precious in God’s sight. Because she prays every day, she has convinced herself that she is a good Christian and will go to heaven. Is this what defines a faithful Christian who knows God?
I can give you a number of examples where God rejected the prayers of those in the Bible who were going through the motions or sinning while praying. If you use your prayer time only to read someone else’s carefully written words, it is not really a prayer. Prayer is conversation WITH God. It is not a time to merely recite words. It is time to think and speak them to God and to listen for God’s response. The words of prayers in a printed book don’t have magical properties. They can’t magically make you holy or faithful or right in the eyes of God all by themselves. If it were so, you could recite a “Hail Mary”, and you would magically have all your sins forgiven and make a place for yourself in Heaven. That’s not how faith works. Faith is not magical, it is holy. It is not determined by your words alone but by all your actions and thoughts and beliefs as well. Ultimately, your faith is judged by God. Printed words can never replace God. You can’t fake your way into Heaven.
There are other ways even serious Christians can spiritually be caught up in the “futility of their minds”. If you spend hours and hours pondering if you’ll be forgiven by God or if you’ll go to Heaven, you are wasting your time. You can’t make God forgive you. You can’t force God to accept you into Heaven. You only can submit to God and place your faith in God thereafter. Some Christians play the “what-if” game for hours and hours. “What if God doesn’t love me?” “What will I do if so-and-so doesn’t forgive me?” “Will God forgive me?” “What if I think a sinful thought a second before I die?” “When will I see God?” You can spend hours and hours contemplating so many things of the faith without any definite answers. Is that how God wants you to spend your time when there are souls that need the gospel and missions needing workers?
As another example of futile religious thinking, some Christians get all caught up in human faith traditions and rules. Jesus ran into this with the Pharisees. The Pharisees emphasized the importance of the words of the law while ignoring the meaning of the law. They spent centuries determining how many steps you could walk on a Sabbath day, whether you could pull an ox out of a pit on the Sabbath day, and so much more. They, in all futility, felt that they could make a law for every situation. They also deluded themselves into thinking that if you followed the letter of every law, you could go to Heaven. In essence, these laws became what they worshipped. Somewhere along the way, they made the law divine and tossed away God’s ultimate sovereignty over every situation of life. Do you ever get all worked up over the letter of the law and ignore God’s purpose in the law?
I have met Christians who spent way too much time on things that don’t matter ultimately to God. One church in Pennsylvania fought over how much silverware to keep in the church kitchen. Another church in Missouri spent hours determining whether a chandelier was appropriate for an entryway to the sanctuary. The committee involved considered that the type of chandelier you bought ultimately determined whether you were faithful in God’s eyes.
The Apostle Paul believed that faithful people should not get all caught up on futile thinking. Even religious futile thinking is a waste of valuable time and effort. In your spiritual life, keep your mind and heart and soul and thoughts focused on the will of God. Don’t get so caught up in the details of life that you miss the big picture of God’s perspective. Don’t think things to death. Don’t make little issues into big ones. Don’t worry about those things with which you have no control. Deal with those things God wishes you to deal with. Trust the Lord for the rest. Life is too short to spend long moments analyzing to death things that ultimately will have no bearing on your relationship with God.
The following story is a humorous anecdote on futility. “One night a thief broke into the single-room apartment of French novelist Honore de Balzac. Trying to avoid waking Balzac, the intruder quietly picked the lock on the writer's desk. Suddenly the silence was broken by a sardonic laugh from the bed, where Balzac lay watching the thief.
"Why do you laugh"? asked the thief.
"I am laughing to think what risks you take to try to find money in a desk by night where the legal owner can never find any by day.” (“Today in the Word”, November 6, 1993)
During that time in his life, Balzac had no extra money. The thief did not know that. Balzac found it very humorous that the thief was “wasting his time” in the futile attempt to look for money from a destitute man. The thief had no idea the break-in was pointless. Balzac knew for certain it to be a wasted effort.
There are things in your life that will also be a wasted effort. You may put hours and hours into futile thinking or actions. Do you recognize when you are wasting valuable time or money in futility? For example, have you ever worried over and over about “what-ifs” in a situation that hasn’t even occurred yet? That thinking is futile. Did you ever try to “fix” a person, making them think or do what you want? It doesn’t work. You don’t have the control or ability to fix another person. Have you ever worried for hours about something beyond your control? That is an exercise in futility. If you cannot control something, why are you trying to find ways to control it?
There are also many who put forth tons of wasted effort in spiritual futility (Ephesians 4:17). The scripture for today contains Paul’s observation that Gentiles rejected godly thinking. Because they refused to include the possibility that Almighty God has control in this world, their understanding was “darkened” (Ephesians 4:18). They were "in the dark", so to speak. Their rejection of God and godly ways forced them to find answers to life that didn't include God. According to Paul, that was an example of futility. Those who reject the possibility of God being in control are doomed to the “futility of their minds”. They can make all the plans and arrangements and decisions they wish, but they will never amount to anything fruitful and eternal. If God is removed from thoughtful consideration in your life, futile thinking will take over.
I have seen many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, who got lost in futile thinking. They spent hours and money and time and effort on things that didn't matter in the long run. They wasted their God-given hours and days caught up in worldly pursuits that won’t matter in eternity. They might have acted religiously, but their efforts never amounted to anything for God.
Latisha loves God. She attends church regularly and is generous in her giving. She is caring and compassionate and forgiving. But, much of Latisha’s time in prayer is futile. Rather than growing closer to God, Latisha’s prayers leave her empty. Latisha always and without fail prays every morning. When doing so, she reads a prayer from a book of prayers. While reading, she doesn’t ponder the meaning of her words. She doesn’t look for the spiritual meaning of that time. If you ask Latisha what she read, she will have to look back and reread it. She has little to no comprehension of what she is reading. She believes that by simply saying those words, her relationship with God will grow. She even has deluded herself into believing that her prayers will make her more precious in God’s sight. Because she prays every day, she has convinced herself that she is a good Christian and will go to heaven. Is this what defines a faithful Christian who knows God?
I can give you a number of examples where God rejected the prayers of those in the Bible who were going through the motions or sinning while praying. If you use your prayer time only to read someone else’s carefully written words, it is not really a prayer. Prayer is conversation WITH God. It is not a time to merely recite words. It is time to think and speak them to God and to listen for God’s response. The words of prayers in a printed book don’t have magical properties. They can’t magically make you holy or faithful or right in the eyes of God all by themselves. If it were so, you could recite a “Hail Mary”, and you would magically have all your sins forgiven and make a place for yourself in Heaven. That’s not how faith works. Faith is not magical, it is holy. It is not determined by your words alone but by all your actions and thoughts and beliefs as well. Ultimately, your faith is judged by God. Printed words can never replace God. You can’t fake your way into Heaven.
There are other ways even serious Christians can spiritually be caught up in the “futility of their minds”. If you spend hours and hours pondering if you’ll be forgiven by God or if you’ll go to Heaven, you are wasting your time. You can’t make God forgive you. You can’t force God to accept you into Heaven. You only can submit to God and place your faith in God thereafter. Some Christians play the “what-if” game for hours and hours. “What if God doesn’t love me?” “What will I do if so-and-so doesn’t forgive me?” “Will God forgive me?” “What if I think a sinful thought a second before I die?” “When will I see God?” You can spend hours and hours contemplating so many things of the faith without any definite answers. Is that how God wants you to spend your time when there are souls that need the gospel and missions needing workers?
As another example of futile religious thinking, some Christians get all caught up in human faith traditions and rules. Jesus ran into this with the Pharisees. The Pharisees emphasized the importance of the words of the law while ignoring the meaning of the law. They spent centuries determining how many steps you could walk on a Sabbath day, whether you could pull an ox out of a pit on the Sabbath day, and so much more. They, in all futility, felt that they could make a law for every situation. They also deluded themselves into thinking that if you followed the letter of every law, you could go to Heaven. In essence, these laws became what they worshipped. Somewhere along the way, they made the law divine and tossed away God’s ultimate sovereignty over every situation of life. Do you ever get all worked up over the letter of the law and ignore God’s purpose in the law?
I have met Christians who spent way too much time on things that don’t matter ultimately to God. One church in Pennsylvania fought over how much silverware to keep in the church kitchen. Another church in Missouri spent hours determining whether a chandelier was appropriate for an entryway to the sanctuary. The committee involved considered that the type of chandelier you bought ultimately determined whether you were faithful in God’s eyes.
The Apostle Paul believed that faithful people should not get all caught up on futile thinking. Even religious futile thinking is a waste of valuable time and effort. In your spiritual life, keep your mind and heart and soul and thoughts focused on the will of God. Don’t get so caught up in the details of life that you miss the big picture of God’s perspective. Don’t think things to death. Don’t make little issues into big ones. Don’t worry about those things with which you have no control. Deal with those things God wishes you to deal with. Trust the Lord for the rest. Life is too short to spend long moments analyzing to death things that ultimately will have no bearing on your relationship with God.
March 19
“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” (Proverbs 13:20, NLT)
Carl and Damien were best friends from second grade onward. During Elementary School days, they were always found on the playground together. When they were in Junior High, they took the same classes so they could be together all day long. Upon entering High School, they were near inseparable. However, during High School, things changed for Carl. Carl grew up in a Christian home and after a youth mission trip one summer, he grew closer and closer to God. Damien was raised in a stressful situation with a brother in prison and a father who was an alcoholic. Damien had a rough childhood and never really knew God. Damien grew more and more restless as High School wore on.
In their Junior year in High School, Carl and Damien often went out together. They loved to drive around in Damien’s souped-up Toyota Celica. Carl’s family didn’t have much money, so he enjoyed the freedom of going out with Damien and riding around town looking for fun. Then, one night, everything changed in the relationship between these two teens. While riding around town, Damien spied a girl he wanted to date. Carl and Damien followed her car to a restaurant. There, the boys saw the girl meet a boy on what looked like a date. Damien was terribly upset that this girl was dating someone he thought was a loser. Damien told Carl that he was going to do something about it. While Carl watched, Damien slithered over to the boy’s car and keyed it. Then, he let the air out of all the tires. Laughing, Damien slipped back into the car. Carl was visibly shaken. He could not believe Damien had done this. Frightened, Carl said to his best friend, “What if we get caught?” Damien’s response was that he didn’t care one bit.
A week later Damien and Carl were arrested for criminal damage to property for all that was done to the boy’s vehicle. Though Carl pleaded innocent to the crime, he was privy to it and was in the car when it occurred. He did not report it or do anything to stop it. Both boys had to do community service for weeks that summer. Carl’s parents grounded him, and he lost many privileges at home. Damien’s father laughed about the stunt, saying that Damien was following in his father’s footsteps. Damien was proud of his father’s attention and praise.
During the months following their sentencing, Carl began to pull away from Damien. He began to see that Damien was reckless and not above breaking more laws. Though stuck at home without a car, Carl felt it safer not to be with Damien. He missed his old friend but was afraid to be with him. After graduation, the two lost touch.
What happened to both teens is a testament to the scripture for today. Damien spent the next ten years in a downward spiral. He was arrested for petty theft and driving while intoxicated. He crashed two cars after drinking too much and had a child he barely knew. Carl got his act together. He studied and became an HVAC technician. He was married eight years after high school. Today, he owns his own business.
At a High School reunion, Damien and Carl got reacquainted. Carl was shocked how many things had gone wrong in Damien’s life. Damien learned of Carl’s success and resented him for “having it easy”. The two did not speak for twenty years afterward. As Damien left the class reunion, he told a friend that Carl was a loser. As Carl left the reunion, he commented to himself, “I wonder what would have happened to me if I had remained close to Damien….” That is a particularly important point.
The Believer’s Bible Commentary contains wisdom that relates to this story above. As a reflection upon the scripture for today, the Commentary contained the following words of caution: ““Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Cor. 15:33). A man is often known by the company he keeps. A companion of fools is brought to ruin.” (William McDonald, p. 824). Had Carl remained close to Damien, knowing that Damien was constantly getting into more and more trouble, Carl may well have gotten into trouble himself. Carl may never have settled down to study for his HVAC exams. He may not have completed his training. Proverbs 13:20 clearly divides those who are wise from those who are foolish. The verse makes clear that those who make friends with wise people themselves grow wiser. Those who hang around with fools “get into trouble”. You may think that Proverbs 13:20 is too simplistic. You might desire to give proof of those who made it big despite all kinds of youthful shenanigans. Oh, there are exceptions to the rule. However, for the most part, those you associate with will most definitely influence your thinking and affect your life choices.
Consider these facts. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics and associate with alcoholics (May 2019 Newsletter, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry). Children of divorced parents often fear one or the other parent will stop loving them. This fear affects their choices. Teenagers often become angry and bitter in response to a family separation. Because of the family situation, many teens of divorced parents in inner cities have found themselves drawn to gang life or to the illicit drug world. A person who drinks alcohol or uses illegal drugs will often want their friends to join in the activity. Dysfunctional families, peer pressures, and the presence of illegal substances will affect your choices and your relationships.
This scripture also points to spiritual friendships. If you hang around with a group of people who are atheists, you will often begin to reexamine your relationship with God. By choosing to be friends with those who do not believe in worship, you will be asked to do things on Sunday mornings while others worship. When among people who like to fool around sexually, you might be tempted to do the same. On the other hand, if you have true Christian friends, they will rub off on you. If you have family who believe in the sanctity of marriage, they will help you to deal with marriage issues. When you have best friends who believe in God, you may find great spiritual wisdom and the courage to face challenging obstacles because of their spiritual strength. If your friend next door is faithful, her prayers on your behalf can have powerful effects (James 5:16).
Don’t underestimate the power of family, close friends, and acquaintances. Their influence over your life choices is far greater than you may realize. Their actions will affect your future. Their temptations may coopt you. Their faith may inspire you. Who are your closest friends? With whom do you spend a lot of your time? Following today’s scripture, are they wise or are they foolish? Will they help you or do they tend to get into all kinds of trouble? Do conversations with those closest to you make you a better person or end up causing you to be depressed or negative or bitter?
In their Junior year in High School, Carl and Damien often went out together. They loved to drive around in Damien’s souped-up Toyota Celica. Carl’s family didn’t have much money, so he enjoyed the freedom of going out with Damien and riding around town looking for fun. Then, one night, everything changed in the relationship between these two teens. While riding around town, Damien spied a girl he wanted to date. Carl and Damien followed her car to a restaurant. There, the boys saw the girl meet a boy on what looked like a date. Damien was terribly upset that this girl was dating someone he thought was a loser. Damien told Carl that he was going to do something about it. While Carl watched, Damien slithered over to the boy’s car and keyed it. Then, he let the air out of all the tires. Laughing, Damien slipped back into the car. Carl was visibly shaken. He could not believe Damien had done this. Frightened, Carl said to his best friend, “What if we get caught?” Damien’s response was that he didn’t care one bit.
A week later Damien and Carl were arrested for criminal damage to property for all that was done to the boy’s vehicle. Though Carl pleaded innocent to the crime, he was privy to it and was in the car when it occurred. He did not report it or do anything to stop it. Both boys had to do community service for weeks that summer. Carl’s parents grounded him, and he lost many privileges at home. Damien’s father laughed about the stunt, saying that Damien was following in his father’s footsteps. Damien was proud of his father’s attention and praise.
During the months following their sentencing, Carl began to pull away from Damien. He began to see that Damien was reckless and not above breaking more laws. Though stuck at home without a car, Carl felt it safer not to be with Damien. He missed his old friend but was afraid to be with him. After graduation, the two lost touch.
What happened to both teens is a testament to the scripture for today. Damien spent the next ten years in a downward spiral. He was arrested for petty theft and driving while intoxicated. He crashed two cars after drinking too much and had a child he barely knew. Carl got his act together. He studied and became an HVAC technician. He was married eight years after high school. Today, he owns his own business.
At a High School reunion, Damien and Carl got reacquainted. Carl was shocked how many things had gone wrong in Damien’s life. Damien learned of Carl’s success and resented him for “having it easy”. The two did not speak for twenty years afterward. As Damien left the class reunion, he told a friend that Carl was a loser. As Carl left the reunion, he commented to himself, “I wonder what would have happened to me if I had remained close to Damien….” That is a particularly important point.
The Believer’s Bible Commentary contains wisdom that relates to this story above. As a reflection upon the scripture for today, the Commentary contained the following words of caution: ““Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Cor. 15:33). A man is often known by the company he keeps. A companion of fools is brought to ruin.” (William McDonald, p. 824). Had Carl remained close to Damien, knowing that Damien was constantly getting into more and more trouble, Carl may well have gotten into trouble himself. Carl may never have settled down to study for his HVAC exams. He may not have completed his training. Proverbs 13:20 clearly divides those who are wise from those who are foolish. The verse makes clear that those who make friends with wise people themselves grow wiser. Those who hang around with fools “get into trouble”. You may think that Proverbs 13:20 is too simplistic. You might desire to give proof of those who made it big despite all kinds of youthful shenanigans. Oh, there are exceptions to the rule. However, for the most part, those you associate with will most definitely influence your thinking and affect your life choices.
Consider these facts. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics and associate with alcoholics (May 2019 Newsletter, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry). Children of divorced parents often fear one or the other parent will stop loving them. This fear affects their choices. Teenagers often become angry and bitter in response to a family separation. Because of the family situation, many teens of divorced parents in inner cities have found themselves drawn to gang life or to the illicit drug world. A person who drinks alcohol or uses illegal drugs will often want their friends to join in the activity. Dysfunctional families, peer pressures, and the presence of illegal substances will affect your choices and your relationships.
This scripture also points to spiritual friendships. If you hang around with a group of people who are atheists, you will often begin to reexamine your relationship with God. By choosing to be friends with those who do not believe in worship, you will be asked to do things on Sunday mornings while others worship. When among people who like to fool around sexually, you might be tempted to do the same. On the other hand, if you have true Christian friends, they will rub off on you. If you have family who believe in the sanctity of marriage, they will help you to deal with marriage issues. When you have best friends who believe in God, you may find great spiritual wisdom and the courage to face challenging obstacles because of their spiritual strength. If your friend next door is faithful, her prayers on your behalf can have powerful effects (James 5:16).
Don’t underestimate the power of family, close friends, and acquaintances. Their influence over your life choices is far greater than you may realize. Their actions will affect your future. Their temptations may coopt you. Their faith may inspire you. Who are your closest friends? With whom do you spend a lot of your time? Following today’s scripture, are they wise or are they foolish? Will they help you or do they tend to get into all kinds of trouble? Do conversations with those closest to you make you a better person or end up causing you to be depressed or negative or bitter?
March 22
“Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 148:13–14, ESV)
“It may be that praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value to its scarcity, as Samuel Johnson said, but most of us would prefer to err on the side of giving too much praise than too little. One who would agree was the wife of an old Vermonter named Eb.” Eb was of the opinion that people would get a big head if they were praised even a little. He thought it best to keep any praise to himself. Thus, “old Eb was, like many of his breed, rather stingy with words. He said very little, and then rather grudgingly.”
“One evening he was sitting on the front steps with his wife. The long day’s work, the good supper, and the peaceful sights and sounds of dusk must have softened him up. He took his pipe out of his mouth and said, “When I think of what you’ve meant to me all these years, Judith, sometimes it’s almost more than I can stand not to tell you.”” (“Bits and Pieces”, October 1989, p. 8).
Old Eb is not the only one who withholds his praise. There are many people who have the opinion that praise is not a worthy task. They tend to be highly critical, look for mistakes, and remember wrongs. Often, they are more quick to sling barbs than they are to praise. They feel their vocation in life is to put people in their place. They are hard to please. Even a few moments in the presence of some of these types are enough to make you want to remove yourself far away.
Jackson attended college more to please his parents than to make something of himself. He did not have much self-motivation or a drive to succeed. He was coasting through life. In his first semester in college, Jackson attended a “Sociology 101” class. There, he encountered a difficult professor. When a student raised his or her hand in class, the professor would often say, “What didn’t you understand, Jerry?” or “What is it now, Caroline?”. As a teacher, she was knowledgeable. However, her attitude toward the students was atrocious. Once, when a student with a sociology major came to her office for help on an assignment, the professor belittled her work and told her to get another major. The professor constantly ridiculed students as stupid, lazy, or incompetent.
The more his first semester with that Sociology professor dragged on, the more that Jackson hated college life. That one professor wrecked his will to graduate. Jackson used that professor’s attitude as an excuse to quit school.
When I met Jackson, he was a mess. After quitting college, he lost his way. He felt like a failure. Jackson’s parents were disappointed that he didn’t try harder. To appease his parents, Jackson took a job he hated. He became a cashier at a department store. While there, the manager took Jackson under his wing. He saw something good in Jackson. That manager also knew how to help Jackson do his best. So, the manager gave Jackson tasks that would give him some self-worth. Discovering that Jackson liked working with computers, the manager placed him at the disposal of the IT department. I, too, found things for Jackson to do in the church. I always looked out for Jackson and made time for him no matter how busy my day.
Over the following few years, Jackson blossomed. Learning much at the department store and feeling better about himself, Jackson enrolled in a Computer Technology program taught nights at the Community College. Enjoying his first class, he took more and more classes until graduating at the top of his class. In the years since, Jackson has become a highly successful businessman. He has done very well for himself. Jackson’s church now leans on Jackson for leadership. He is also great with the youth, because he understands how hard it can be to find your way early in life.
Jackson was exposed to a good share of teachers in his life. That Sociology professor turned him away from learning for a good while. It took a few good teachers to bring Jackson back on task after that Sociology teacher just about destroyed his will to learn. Because that Sociology teacher withheld her praise and respect for Jackson, he made poor decisions. When a few of us other teachers supported Jackson and praised his efforts to improve himself, Jackson matured into a wonderful man. Our praise gave him the impetus to overcome obstacles. Our praise made all the difference.
The scripture for today is full of praise. First and foremost, the scripture praises “the name of the Lord” (Psalm 148:13). It is quick to heap praises upon God with such words as “his majesty is above earth and heaven”. However, this scripture does not end the praise with only God. In the final verse of our reading for today, the scripture heaps praise upon “all His saints”, all the holy ones of Israel who are “near” and dear to God (Psalm 148:14). Three times in only two verses, this scripture used the word “praise” to define what people should feel in relationship to God and to all those who are truly faithful.
The world tends to heap praise on the wrong people and in the wrong places. Hollywood heaps up praises on actors and actresses who bring in big box office money. The music industry praises rappers who sing about killing policemen and Cardi-B for her twerking on music videos. The mainstream media is quick to praise their favorite politicians and those who support their agenda. Sports figures with big salaries are praised for their success, while their drug problems and errors in judgement are swept under the rug. In all these places, little attention is paid to the morals and ethics and faithfulness of these individuals.
Not only does God deserve praise as the author of life and truth and holiness, God has determined that faithful people deserve praise as well. In our scripture for today, “saints” are listed as deserving due praise. Who are “saints”? Saints are people who have exhibited true faith, followed through with a holy life, and stood up to tests of character. Saints are those who can be counted on to remain faithful no matter what the circumstances, through thick and thin. They may be loyal friends to God and to you. They may be the ones who kept you on the straight and narrow path that leads to righteousness.
How often do you give praise to God? How often do you praise God before others? How often do you praise the work of the saints around you? Are you too quick to withhold your praise and thanks to family and friends? Those who withhold praise often cause others to feel rejection and insecurities. Those who rightfully praise others can nurture the best in them. The faithful don’t praise others out of flattery or for some personal gain. The faithful see the godly benefit of well-offered praise.
“One evening he was sitting on the front steps with his wife. The long day’s work, the good supper, and the peaceful sights and sounds of dusk must have softened him up. He took his pipe out of his mouth and said, “When I think of what you’ve meant to me all these years, Judith, sometimes it’s almost more than I can stand not to tell you.”” (“Bits and Pieces”, October 1989, p. 8).
Old Eb is not the only one who withholds his praise. There are many people who have the opinion that praise is not a worthy task. They tend to be highly critical, look for mistakes, and remember wrongs. Often, they are more quick to sling barbs than they are to praise. They feel their vocation in life is to put people in their place. They are hard to please. Even a few moments in the presence of some of these types are enough to make you want to remove yourself far away.
Jackson attended college more to please his parents than to make something of himself. He did not have much self-motivation or a drive to succeed. He was coasting through life. In his first semester in college, Jackson attended a “Sociology 101” class. There, he encountered a difficult professor. When a student raised his or her hand in class, the professor would often say, “What didn’t you understand, Jerry?” or “What is it now, Caroline?”. As a teacher, she was knowledgeable. However, her attitude toward the students was atrocious. Once, when a student with a sociology major came to her office for help on an assignment, the professor belittled her work and told her to get another major. The professor constantly ridiculed students as stupid, lazy, or incompetent.
The more his first semester with that Sociology professor dragged on, the more that Jackson hated college life. That one professor wrecked his will to graduate. Jackson used that professor’s attitude as an excuse to quit school.
When I met Jackson, he was a mess. After quitting college, he lost his way. He felt like a failure. Jackson’s parents were disappointed that he didn’t try harder. To appease his parents, Jackson took a job he hated. He became a cashier at a department store. While there, the manager took Jackson under his wing. He saw something good in Jackson. That manager also knew how to help Jackson do his best. So, the manager gave Jackson tasks that would give him some self-worth. Discovering that Jackson liked working with computers, the manager placed him at the disposal of the IT department. I, too, found things for Jackson to do in the church. I always looked out for Jackson and made time for him no matter how busy my day.
Over the following few years, Jackson blossomed. Learning much at the department store and feeling better about himself, Jackson enrolled in a Computer Technology program taught nights at the Community College. Enjoying his first class, he took more and more classes until graduating at the top of his class. In the years since, Jackson has become a highly successful businessman. He has done very well for himself. Jackson’s church now leans on Jackson for leadership. He is also great with the youth, because he understands how hard it can be to find your way early in life.
Jackson was exposed to a good share of teachers in his life. That Sociology professor turned him away from learning for a good while. It took a few good teachers to bring Jackson back on task after that Sociology teacher just about destroyed his will to learn. Because that Sociology teacher withheld her praise and respect for Jackson, he made poor decisions. When a few of us other teachers supported Jackson and praised his efforts to improve himself, Jackson matured into a wonderful man. Our praise gave him the impetus to overcome obstacles. Our praise made all the difference.
The scripture for today is full of praise. First and foremost, the scripture praises “the name of the Lord” (Psalm 148:13). It is quick to heap praises upon God with such words as “his majesty is above earth and heaven”. However, this scripture does not end the praise with only God. In the final verse of our reading for today, the scripture heaps praise upon “all His saints”, all the holy ones of Israel who are “near” and dear to God (Psalm 148:14). Three times in only two verses, this scripture used the word “praise” to define what people should feel in relationship to God and to all those who are truly faithful.
The world tends to heap praise on the wrong people and in the wrong places. Hollywood heaps up praises on actors and actresses who bring in big box office money. The music industry praises rappers who sing about killing policemen and Cardi-B for her twerking on music videos. The mainstream media is quick to praise their favorite politicians and those who support their agenda. Sports figures with big salaries are praised for their success, while their drug problems and errors in judgement are swept under the rug. In all these places, little attention is paid to the morals and ethics and faithfulness of these individuals.
Not only does God deserve praise as the author of life and truth and holiness, God has determined that faithful people deserve praise as well. In our scripture for today, “saints” are listed as deserving due praise. Who are “saints”? Saints are people who have exhibited true faith, followed through with a holy life, and stood up to tests of character. Saints are those who can be counted on to remain faithful no matter what the circumstances, through thick and thin. They may be loyal friends to God and to you. They may be the ones who kept you on the straight and narrow path that leads to righteousness.
How often do you give praise to God? How often do you praise God before others? How often do you praise the work of the saints around you? Are you too quick to withhold your praise and thanks to family and friends? Those who withhold praise often cause others to feel rejection and insecurities. Those who rightfully praise others can nurture the best in them. The faithful don’t praise others out of flattery or for some personal gain. The faithful see the godly benefit of well-offered praise.
March 24
“Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7–8, NLT)
“A while back on 'The Merv Griffin Show’, the guest was a body builder. During the interview, Merv asked "Why do you develop those particular muscles"?
The body builder simply stepped forward and flexed a series of well-defined muscles from chest to calf. The audience applauded. "What do you use all those muscles for"? Merv asked.
Again, the muscular specimen flexed, and biceps and triceps sprouted to impressive proportions. "But what do you USE those muscles for"? Merv persisted.
The body builder was bewildered. He didn't have an answer other than to display his well-developed frame. I was reminded that our spiritual exercises-Bible study, prayer, reading Christian books, listening to Christian radio and tapes-are also for a purpose. They're meant to strengthen our ability to build God's kingdom, not simply to improve our pose before an admiring audience.” (Gary Gulbranson, Leadership, Summer, 1989, p. 43)
Like the bodybuilder in the story above, many Christians use their knowledge of God to be admired among other people of faith or to show their piety to the world. Too many Christians fail to “train themselves to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7). In fact, for many of those who go to church, there is this feeling that faith is nothing more than a series of rituals or obligations to make themselves acceptable to others or to God. This scripture begs to differ. It offers the view that spiritual “training” in godliness “promises benefits in this life and in the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Spiritual training will benefit your whole existence. It will help you make valuable choices in your life. It will protect you from evil. It will prepare you for eternal life.
Long ago, I was introduced to a very gifted young man. He was an amazing piano player. I met him at a church concert and followed his career. Though never formally trained, he had an ear for music and perfect pitch. He could listen to a tune, then walk to the piano and immediately play it with no sheet music to lean on or instruction to help. After spending some time to get to know this young man, I began to have misgivings about his intentions. Though able to play amazing renditions of every church hymn by heart, he never used his talent to further his spiritual training. He tended to play in his church for the accolades he received and the praise he garnered. He wasn’t using his talent for the glory of God. He was using his talent because he loved music. He also used his talent to further increase his own self-worth and help erase his insecurities. Over the three decades I have known him, this man has not grown closer to God nor deeper in his own faith. He has even openly criticized God and make fun of those who dedicated their life to godly pursuits.
As you grow up in the world, there are things you do to mature. You get education. You learn from mentors. You gather experiences and knowledge to understand your situation. A young person who never is educated will have very limited knowledge. A person who is sheltered in life may not have enough life experiences to make good choices. Without training, any person will lack the ability to mature well. The same thing occurs in the spiritual life. Spiritual maturity can only occur as you learn from mentors, get educated in the Bible and in the Holy Spirit, and when experiences understood through a holy lens help shape your understanding of reality. Without spiritual training, you cannot grow closer to God. Without spiritual training, you may not have enough character to overcome adversity. Without spiritual maturity, you may be easily misled by the wiles of the devil. Without spiritual maturity, you will make too many poor decisions.
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul urges Timothy not to waste his time with “godless ideas and old wives’ tales” (1 Timothy 4:7). Sadly, too many Christians spend their precious time delving into fruitless areas of spiritual maturity. They waste their time trying to interpret myths and legends and pieces of wisdom that do not come from God. They often trust in the magical properties of holy objects or places. They spend too much time looking in the wrong places for spiritual maturity. Paul believed spiritual maturity and spiritual training were crucial to the life of the church and to every individual. The time needed to attain that maturity and training should not be wasted looking in the wrong places for wisdom that will not satisfy long-term.
Would you call yourself spiritually mature? How much time do you devote to spiritual training? If you find that your closeness with God has not been solid as of late, it may be that you’ve been neglecting some part of your spiritual work for the Lord. Should you find yourself making a lot of mistakes lately, maybe its time to reconnect with God Almighty and relearn a few things. Don’t get overly enthused with religious rituals or dabble in the metaphysical. Dedicate yourself to some quality training time with the Lord of the Universe. As today’s scripture explains, every moment devoted to spiritual training will benefit you from now on and forever.
The body builder simply stepped forward and flexed a series of well-defined muscles from chest to calf. The audience applauded. "What do you use all those muscles for"? Merv asked.
Again, the muscular specimen flexed, and biceps and triceps sprouted to impressive proportions. "But what do you USE those muscles for"? Merv persisted.
The body builder was bewildered. He didn't have an answer other than to display his well-developed frame. I was reminded that our spiritual exercises-Bible study, prayer, reading Christian books, listening to Christian radio and tapes-are also for a purpose. They're meant to strengthen our ability to build God's kingdom, not simply to improve our pose before an admiring audience.” (Gary Gulbranson, Leadership, Summer, 1989, p. 43)
Like the bodybuilder in the story above, many Christians use their knowledge of God to be admired among other people of faith or to show their piety to the world. Too many Christians fail to “train themselves to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7). In fact, for many of those who go to church, there is this feeling that faith is nothing more than a series of rituals or obligations to make themselves acceptable to others or to God. This scripture begs to differ. It offers the view that spiritual “training” in godliness “promises benefits in this life and in the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Spiritual training will benefit your whole existence. It will help you make valuable choices in your life. It will protect you from evil. It will prepare you for eternal life.
Long ago, I was introduced to a very gifted young man. He was an amazing piano player. I met him at a church concert and followed his career. Though never formally trained, he had an ear for music and perfect pitch. He could listen to a tune, then walk to the piano and immediately play it with no sheet music to lean on or instruction to help. After spending some time to get to know this young man, I began to have misgivings about his intentions. Though able to play amazing renditions of every church hymn by heart, he never used his talent to further his spiritual training. He tended to play in his church for the accolades he received and the praise he garnered. He wasn’t using his talent for the glory of God. He was using his talent because he loved music. He also used his talent to further increase his own self-worth and help erase his insecurities. Over the three decades I have known him, this man has not grown closer to God nor deeper in his own faith. He has even openly criticized God and make fun of those who dedicated their life to godly pursuits.
As you grow up in the world, there are things you do to mature. You get education. You learn from mentors. You gather experiences and knowledge to understand your situation. A young person who never is educated will have very limited knowledge. A person who is sheltered in life may not have enough life experiences to make good choices. Without training, any person will lack the ability to mature well. The same thing occurs in the spiritual life. Spiritual maturity can only occur as you learn from mentors, get educated in the Bible and in the Holy Spirit, and when experiences understood through a holy lens help shape your understanding of reality. Without spiritual training, you cannot grow closer to God. Without spiritual training, you may not have enough character to overcome adversity. Without spiritual maturity, you may be easily misled by the wiles of the devil. Without spiritual maturity, you will make too many poor decisions.
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul urges Timothy not to waste his time with “godless ideas and old wives’ tales” (1 Timothy 4:7). Sadly, too many Christians spend their precious time delving into fruitless areas of spiritual maturity. They waste their time trying to interpret myths and legends and pieces of wisdom that do not come from God. They often trust in the magical properties of holy objects or places. They spend too much time looking in the wrong places for spiritual maturity. Paul believed spiritual maturity and spiritual training were crucial to the life of the church and to every individual. The time needed to attain that maturity and training should not be wasted looking in the wrong places for wisdom that will not satisfy long-term.
Would you call yourself spiritually mature? How much time do you devote to spiritual training? If you find that your closeness with God has not been solid as of late, it may be that you’ve been neglecting some part of your spiritual work for the Lord. Should you find yourself making a lot of mistakes lately, maybe its time to reconnect with God Almighty and relearn a few things. Don’t get overly enthused with religious rituals or dabble in the metaphysical. Dedicate yourself to some quality training time with the Lord of the Universe. As today’s scripture explains, every moment devoted to spiritual training will benefit you from now on and forever.
March 26
“Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high, and let no light shine on it. Let the darkness and utter gloom claim that day for its own. Let a black cloud overshadow it, and let the darkness terrify it. Let that night be blotted off the calendar, never again to be counted among the days of the year, never again to appear among the months.” (Job 3:4–6, NLT)
The scripture above is Job’s statement about the day he was born. He hated being born. After Job suffered terribly with the loss of his health and family, friends urged him to give up. His wife told him to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9). He fell into a deep depression. His view of life was all doom and gloom. Joyful praise disappeared to be replaced by bitterness and complaints against his life. At least he did not curse God nor give up on his faith, which happens all too often in this world. In a deep spiral of depression, Job wrote the words for today’s scripture. He cursed the day he was born. He saw his birth not as a day of celebration but of “utter gloom” with a “black cloud to overshadow it” (Job 3:4-5). Deep in this gloomy state, Job found it impossible to feel joy or be filled with praise. All he could do was bring negativity to each and every day.
There are times when people get caught in this cycle of doom and gloom. They just do not feel joy, even when in God’s presence. They have lost the will to praise God. Some kind of calamity or accident or loss or illness has driven them into a fit of sadness. When in that sad state, they are caught in a spiral of negative thinking. They lose self-worth, become bitter and resentful, and lose hope. Have you ever been in such a dark place in your life?
In November, we celebrate Thanksgiving in America. Schools post pictures of harvests and pilgrims and Indians and the Mayflower. Teachers will spend time talking about the origins of the holiday and the traditions of the season. Most think of the Pilgrims who shared that first Thanksgiving as blessed or adventurous. Some were. Many were not. They were in a tough situation. Food was scarce. Winter was coming. The New World held many dangers. Robert Cushman was a pilgrim on the Mayflower. His penned his thoughts while on the Mayflower about coming to the New World. The words are often not discussed in the classrooms today because they are filled with utter gloom and doom. Read the following excerpt about Cushman:
“Just as the sun can be blotted out by an eclipse, so moods of pessimism and doubt can plunge us into spiritual darkness. At times our situation may seem so desperate that we think even God Almighty can’t carry us through. That was the gloomy attitude of Robert Cushman, who recorded his despair on the Mayflower in 1620.
He wrote, “If we ever make a plantation in New England, God works a miracle! Especially considering how scant we shall be of victuals [vittles], and (worst of all) ununited amongst ourselves. If I should write you of all the things that foretell our ruin, I should overcharge my weak head and grieve your tender heart. Only this I pray you. Prepare for evil tidings of us every day. I see not in reason how we can escape. Pray for us instantly.”
In spite of Cushman’s fears, God brought the pilgrims to their destination and enabled them to establish a home in the wilderness.” (“Our Daily Bread”, Sept. 3, 1998).
Despite the gloom and doom in Robert Cushman’s mind, God helped the Pilgrims to make a home in New England. God blessed their work. God was with them. Though Robert Cushman could not feel God’s presence while he was possessed by his doom and gloom, God was there among them.
When speaking with a Roman Catholic priest about church-sponsored exorcisms, he mentioned something remarkably interesting. He said that one common symptom of those possessed by an evil spirit is they take on an “air of doom and gloom”. They become negative. When you mention Jesus to the possessed, they become nauseous and may even vomit. Sometimes, the negativity will be so pronounced that the possessed hurt themselves physically. They cut themselves enough to bleed or bite down on themselves until they cause bruises or bleeding. Caught up in this gloomy state, they become self-destructive. Along with the evil spirit, they become possessed with doom and gloom.
If you find yourself falling into a period of doom and gloom, it is crucial that you reach out for help. At the beginning, you need to reach out to God. Let God hear why you are upset. Don’t be afraid to let out the hurtful thoughts and the anger to God. God needs to cleanse you from all of it. If the doom and gloom begin to take over your life, it may be time to see the doctor AND your pastor or a strong spiritual friend. I have found that at this point some medicines may help, but often the soul just needs to cry out. You will need to express your emotions to a trusted confidant. Just, don’t let yourself sink into a gloomy state for too long. Satan loves to hunt for those who are stuck in depression, especially the faithful (1 Peter 5:8).
God does not want you mired in doom and gloom. Job leaned on others and especially God to come out of his funk. In the end of his book, he was full of praise for the God who was with him throughout his good and bad days. God wants you to feel joyfulness and peace. If you find yourself too wrapped up in the negative, open up your Bible and start reading, pick up a new book of meditations and dedicate yourself to its instruction each and every day, and open up your heart to prayer even if it hurts. If you are deep into gloomy thinking, reach out to a faithful friend, find help, look for places of encouragement, and most of all… seek out your Lord and Savior. Jesus knows exactly how you feel. He went through hell to save you and will gladly walk with you down any dark paths to shine some love upon your hurting soul.
There are times when people get caught in this cycle of doom and gloom. They just do not feel joy, even when in God’s presence. They have lost the will to praise God. Some kind of calamity or accident or loss or illness has driven them into a fit of sadness. When in that sad state, they are caught in a spiral of negative thinking. They lose self-worth, become bitter and resentful, and lose hope. Have you ever been in such a dark place in your life?
In November, we celebrate Thanksgiving in America. Schools post pictures of harvests and pilgrims and Indians and the Mayflower. Teachers will spend time talking about the origins of the holiday and the traditions of the season. Most think of the Pilgrims who shared that first Thanksgiving as blessed or adventurous. Some were. Many were not. They were in a tough situation. Food was scarce. Winter was coming. The New World held many dangers. Robert Cushman was a pilgrim on the Mayflower. His penned his thoughts while on the Mayflower about coming to the New World. The words are often not discussed in the classrooms today because they are filled with utter gloom and doom. Read the following excerpt about Cushman:
“Just as the sun can be blotted out by an eclipse, so moods of pessimism and doubt can plunge us into spiritual darkness. At times our situation may seem so desperate that we think even God Almighty can’t carry us through. That was the gloomy attitude of Robert Cushman, who recorded his despair on the Mayflower in 1620.
He wrote, “If we ever make a plantation in New England, God works a miracle! Especially considering how scant we shall be of victuals [vittles], and (worst of all) ununited amongst ourselves. If I should write you of all the things that foretell our ruin, I should overcharge my weak head and grieve your tender heart. Only this I pray you. Prepare for evil tidings of us every day. I see not in reason how we can escape. Pray for us instantly.”
In spite of Cushman’s fears, God brought the pilgrims to their destination and enabled them to establish a home in the wilderness.” (“Our Daily Bread”, Sept. 3, 1998).
Despite the gloom and doom in Robert Cushman’s mind, God helped the Pilgrims to make a home in New England. God blessed their work. God was with them. Though Robert Cushman could not feel God’s presence while he was possessed by his doom and gloom, God was there among them.
When speaking with a Roman Catholic priest about church-sponsored exorcisms, he mentioned something remarkably interesting. He said that one common symptom of those possessed by an evil spirit is they take on an “air of doom and gloom”. They become negative. When you mention Jesus to the possessed, they become nauseous and may even vomit. Sometimes, the negativity will be so pronounced that the possessed hurt themselves physically. They cut themselves enough to bleed or bite down on themselves until they cause bruises or bleeding. Caught up in this gloomy state, they become self-destructive. Along with the evil spirit, they become possessed with doom and gloom.
If you find yourself falling into a period of doom and gloom, it is crucial that you reach out for help. At the beginning, you need to reach out to God. Let God hear why you are upset. Don’t be afraid to let out the hurtful thoughts and the anger to God. God needs to cleanse you from all of it. If the doom and gloom begin to take over your life, it may be time to see the doctor AND your pastor or a strong spiritual friend. I have found that at this point some medicines may help, but often the soul just needs to cry out. You will need to express your emotions to a trusted confidant. Just, don’t let yourself sink into a gloomy state for too long. Satan loves to hunt for those who are stuck in depression, especially the faithful (1 Peter 5:8).
God does not want you mired in doom and gloom. Job leaned on others and especially God to come out of his funk. In the end of his book, he was full of praise for the God who was with him throughout his good and bad days. God wants you to feel joyfulness and peace. If you find yourself too wrapped up in the negative, open up your Bible and start reading, pick up a new book of meditations and dedicate yourself to its instruction each and every day, and open up your heart to prayer even if it hurts. If you are deep into gloomy thinking, reach out to a faithful friend, find help, look for places of encouragement, and most of all… seek out your Lord and Savior. Jesus knows exactly how you feel. He went through hell to save you and will gladly walk with you down any dark paths to shine some love upon your hurting soul.
March 28
“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23, ESV)
“The first electric light was so dim that a candle was needed to see its socket. One of the first steamboats took 32 hours to chug its way from New York to Albany, a distance of 150 miles. Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first airplane flight lasted only 12 seconds. And the first automobiles traveled 2 to 4 miles per hour and broke down often. Carriages would pass them with their passengers shouting, “Get a horse!”” (Bible.org)
The paragraph above makes clear that while advancements in technology and science and engineering and machining took time and came slowly, people were glad to chime in with their insults and complaints. Thinking that the first automobiles would amount to nothing, some people were content to not only stick to their horses for transportation but to criticize anyone who sought a better mode of transportation. Some advancements take time. Growth can come in spurts or take years. Advancements often come one step at a time. Now, while some people choose to toil away to better themselves or our world, others are good at only talking or arguing about the changes. While some put forth effort to make a difference, some sit by and judge while doing nothing to better anyone. Are you someone who is willing to put in the effort to make things better or are you one to just talk about how things should be? Do you get down to work when something needs to be done or do you tend to procrastinate and complain about the effort required?
A church in Massachusetts was given a large amount of money from the estate of a member who passed away. The member had only one stipulation for that money listed in the will: the church could spend none of the money on itself. It had to give away all the proceeds. A committee was formed to set up a fund through which the money would be funneled. It sounded like a done deal. This shouldn’t take long, right? The church members fought over who should be on the committee. Then, they fought over where the money should be donated. Then, they fought over the requirements. Then, they argued about who should be able to receive the money. Then, they argued over whether members could receive the money. Argument after argument, differences of opinion raged concerning the new committee. After seven years, they finally decided on the details of the funding. When a vote came in the congregation to approve the committee guidelines, a dozen members quit the church. People were so divided that the vote was tabled, and it went back to the committee for rewording and reconsideration. It took almost ten years before the first dollar was given to a needy family. Then, there were members who fought over whether the needy family was needy enough! All this is to say that sometimes, people can talk something to death. In the meantime, God’s purpose is lost in all the discussion and disagreement and hurt feelings!
The scripture for today comes from the wisdom literature of the Biblical book of Proverbs. In Proverbs 14:23 we are informed of two important points. The first half of the verse tells us that all toil brings “profit”. Hard work brings with it many benefits. Dedicated commitment toward a goal over time has many advantages. A person who exercises regularly will find that his or her body becomes stronger and more efficient. A pastor who diligently offers faithful biblical sermons week after week will discover that the congregation gleans a lot from those messages. A city that devotes time and money and effort to rejuvenate a poor area will often reap benefits to the constituents of increased production and community safety and much more. When you toil at a worthy task, and don’t just talk about what needs to be done, headway will be gained.
Just like there are people who are “all talk”, there are Christians who never seem to accomplish much when they gather. They have a lot to say but aren’t willing to put in the effort to get God’s work done. For some reason, too many people in churches seem to think that simply gathering to be together is good ministry. They think that a coffee hour (when Christians get together and chat over coffee and maybe donuts) is good “work”. It may be a good time for relationship building or social bonding, but its not enough for a healthy faith-life. I’ve met Christians whose only church interaction was to worship and then attend a social hour immediately following. They never attended an adult Bible study or did much in the way of missions, yet they thought themselves “active Christians”. The only activity in their ministry is talking. A relationship with Christ must have more than mere talk. What about mission work? What about feeding the poor? What about educating the young or visiting the sick? What about group prayer? As the scripture for today ends, “mere talk leads only to poverty”. For some Christians, this may mean a poverty of mission work, a poverty of action for Christ, or a poverty of good works.
Have you spent too much time talking or thinking about something needed by you or your family or your church? When will it be time to get God’s jobs done? Have you prayed about a problem repeatedly but failed to work on a solution? There is definitely a time for talk and worship and social interaction and communication and kind words. However, all those words have limits. Sometimes, God needs you to move beyond words toward action. Sometimes, God needs you to step to the plate and get the job done.
Upon reviewing this scripture for today, where might you need to devote some work over the next few weeks or months? Is there a part of your life that needs some committed work? Is there something you have put off that needs completion? Talk about it with God, today. THEN, do something about it!
The paragraph above makes clear that while advancements in technology and science and engineering and machining took time and came slowly, people were glad to chime in with their insults and complaints. Thinking that the first automobiles would amount to nothing, some people were content to not only stick to their horses for transportation but to criticize anyone who sought a better mode of transportation. Some advancements take time. Growth can come in spurts or take years. Advancements often come one step at a time. Now, while some people choose to toil away to better themselves or our world, others are good at only talking or arguing about the changes. While some put forth effort to make a difference, some sit by and judge while doing nothing to better anyone. Are you someone who is willing to put in the effort to make things better or are you one to just talk about how things should be? Do you get down to work when something needs to be done or do you tend to procrastinate and complain about the effort required?
A church in Massachusetts was given a large amount of money from the estate of a member who passed away. The member had only one stipulation for that money listed in the will: the church could spend none of the money on itself. It had to give away all the proceeds. A committee was formed to set up a fund through which the money would be funneled. It sounded like a done deal. This shouldn’t take long, right? The church members fought over who should be on the committee. Then, they fought over where the money should be donated. Then, they fought over the requirements. Then, they argued about who should be able to receive the money. Then, they argued over whether members could receive the money. Argument after argument, differences of opinion raged concerning the new committee. After seven years, they finally decided on the details of the funding. When a vote came in the congregation to approve the committee guidelines, a dozen members quit the church. People were so divided that the vote was tabled, and it went back to the committee for rewording and reconsideration. It took almost ten years before the first dollar was given to a needy family. Then, there were members who fought over whether the needy family was needy enough! All this is to say that sometimes, people can talk something to death. In the meantime, God’s purpose is lost in all the discussion and disagreement and hurt feelings!
The scripture for today comes from the wisdom literature of the Biblical book of Proverbs. In Proverbs 14:23 we are informed of two important points. The first half of the verse tells us that all toil brings “profit”. Hard work brings with it many benefits. Dedicated commitment toward a goal over time has many advantages. A person who exercises regularly will find that his or her body becomes stronger and more efficient. A pastor who diligently offers faithful biblical sermons week after week will discover that the congregation gleans a lot from those messages. A city that devotes time and money and effort to rejuvenate a poor area will often reap benefits to the constituents of increased production and community safety and much more. When you toil at a worthy task, and don’t just talk about what needs to be done, headway will be gained.
Just like there are people who are “all talk”, there are Christians who never seem to accomplish much when they gather. They have a lot to say but aren’t willing to put in the effort to get God’s work done. For some reason, too many people in churches seem to think that simply gathering to be together is good ministry. They think that a coffee hour (when Christians get together and chat over coffee and maybe donuts) is good “work”. It may be a good time for relationship building or social bonding, but its not enough for a healthy faith-life. I’ve met Christians whose only church interaction was to worship and then attend a social hour immediately following. They never attended an adult Bible study or did much in the way of missions, yet they thought themselves “active Christians”. The only activity in their ministry is talking. A relationship with Christ must have more than mere talk. What about mission work? What about feeding the poor? What about educating the young or visiting the sick? What about group prayer? As the scripture for today ends, “mere talk leads only to poverty”. For some Christians, this may mean a poverty of mission work, a poverty of action for Christ, or a poverty of good works.
Have you spent too much time talking or thinking about something needed by you or your family or your church? When will it be time to get God’s jobs done? Have you prayed about a problem repeatedly but failed to work on a solution? There is definitely a time for talk and worship and social interaction and communication and kind words. However, all those words have limits. Sometimes, God needs you to move beyond words toward action. Sometimes, God needs you to step to the plate and get the job done.
Upon reviewing this scripture for today, where might you need to devote some work over the next few weeks or months? Is there a part of your life that needs some committed work? Is there something you have put off that needs completion? Talk about it with God, today. THEN, do something about it!
March 30
“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” (Luke 8:15, NLT)
Maybe you have heard the phrase, “Honesty is the best policy”. Thomas Jefferson wrote that you can’t have wisdom without honesty. For Jefferson, honesty was integral to being wise before God. In a letter to Nathaniel Macon, Jefferson wrote: “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom”.
Many people do not make the connection between wisdom and honesty. For all too many, wisdom involves the acquisition of knowledge. In the Bible, knowledge and wisdom are two different properties. Knowledge can be gleaned from books and experiences and more. Wisdom, on the other hand, is fueled by knowledge but is more akin to common sense mingled with a godly view of life. For biblical writers, wisdom was intimately linked to learning how God works and to the character of God. Wisdom was not the same as philosophy, which can be devoid of any link to God. Wisdom was and is looking at the world through God’s eyes. It is common sense from with a godly perspective. Honesty is understood as proof of wisdom. Even the Ten Commandments talk about honesty with the demands that we neither covet nor steal. Honesty is a requirement for all the faithful who are wise before the Lord.
Not everyone is honest. Not every Christian is honest. In truth, some people are only honest while they are being watched by another. They do not possess the wisdom or character of honesty. They are only honest when they fear getting caught. All too many are inherently dishonest when no one is watching. Left to their own choices, the average person would be dishonest. I’m not being negative about humankind as I write this. There are many examples to prove the point.
“In the late 1980s in Columbus, Ohio, an armored car spilled $2,000,000 on the freeway. Only $400,000 was ever recovered, the rest disappeared with the throngs of people who stopped and scooped up the cash. Some folks were honest enough to return what wasn’t theirs: Melvin Kaiser gave back $57,000. Those who have studied human personality say that if we know the people who lost the money, we’ll generally give it back. However, if we don’t know them, 75% of the time we’ll keep the cash.” (www.bible.org).
Is it wise to be dishonest? Not when you can be caught doing wrong! But is that the only reason for a faithful person to be honest, for fear of getting caught doing wrong? Never. God is always watching and is the eternal judge. To please God, you require the wisdom to be honest even when other humans are not watching your actions. God is watching your actions!
In the scripture for today, Jesus was explaining the parable of sower also known by some as the parable of soils. In Jesus’ explanation, He noted that good soil represents “honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” Understanding Jesus’ words, a faithful person must first and foremost be “honest”. Honesty is as important as being good-hearted, clinging to God’s word, and producing a harvest for God according to this scripture. Some people do not view honesty as a requirement for being faithful. To Jesus, honesty was integral to being a true child of God.
Senator Dan Coats was present at a high school class in Teneck, New Jersey that was teaching values. During the discussion, it was revealed that a girl in the class had not only found but returned $1000 that she found in a lost purse. Here is what the senator also witnessed in the class that day. “The teacher asked for the class’s reaction. Every single one of her fellow students concluded the girl had been “foolish.”” They deemed she should have kept the money or deserved the money more than the careless person who lost the money in the first place. They thought returning the money to the original owner was not required. They did not consider it an issue of honesty or integrity. (See “Imprimus”, Vol. 20 #9, Sept. 1991).
Worldly standards about honesty are continually changing. Years ago, it was considered dishonest to cheat on a test. Now, many consider it dishonest to be “caught” cheating. Some consider it dishonest to borrow or use tools from work. Others consider this to be a perk of the job. A high percentage of seniors in High School no longer consider it dishonest to lie on a college application. Most people believe it to be “financially smart” to swindle people by using cheaper but more inferior products when making repairs. I could give thousands if not millions of examples of the changing views of honesty in the world, let alone from country to country.
As a child of God, you are held to a higher standard. God doesn’t wish you to be honest so that you aren’t “caught”. God desires you to have honesty as a part of your character. People who lie, cheat, and steal will often get ahead in the world. That does not mean you can borrow their dishonest tactics. If you desire to please God, honesty is the wisest place to start. You need to be honest with yourself, honest with others, and honest with God. You need to be trusted whether another human is watching or not. In all reality, God is watching. He desires to see you as an honest, trusted, respected citizen of Heaven. Are you?
Many people do not make the connection between wisdom and honesty. For all too many, wisdom involves the acquisition of knowledge. In the Bible, knowledge and wisdom are two different properties. Knowledge can be gleaned from books and experiences and more. Wisdom, on the other hand, is fueled by knowledge but is more akin to common sense mingled with a godly view of life. For biblical writers, wisdom was intimately linked to learning how God works and to the character of God. Wisdom was not the same as philosophy, which can be devoid of any link to God. Wisdom was and is looking at the world through God’s eyes. It is common sense from with a godly perspective. Honesty is understood as proof of wisdom. Even the Ten Commandments talk about honesty with the demands that we neither covet nor steal. Honesty is a requirement for all the faithful who are wise before the Lord.
Not everyone is honest. Not every Christian is honest. In truth, some people are only honest while they are being watched by another. They do not possess the wisdom or character of honesty. They are only honest when they fear getting caught. All too many are inherently dishonest when no one is watching. Left to their own choices, the average person would be dishonest. I’m not being negative about humankind as I write this. There are many examples to prove the point.
“In the late 1980s in Columbus, Ohio, an armored car spilled $2,000,000 on the freeway. Only $400,000 was ever recovered, the rest disappeared with the throngs of people who stopped and scooped up the cash. Some folks were honest enough to return what wasn’t theirs: Melvin Kaiser gave back $57,000. Those who have studied human personality say that if we know the people who lost the money, we’ll generally give it back. However, if we don’t know them, 75% of the time we’ll keep the cash.” (www.bible.org).
Is it wise to be dishonest? Not when you can be caught doing wrong! But is that the only reason for a faithful person to be honest, for fear of getting caught doing wrong? Never. God is always watching and is the eternal judge. To please God, you require the wisdom to be honest even when other humans are not watching your actions. God is watching your actions!
In the scripture for today, Jesus was explaining the parable of sower also known by some as the parable of soils. In Jesus’ explanation, He noted that good soil represents “honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” Understanding Jesus’ words, a faithful person must first and foremost be “honest”. Honesty is as important as being good-hearted, clinging to God’s word, and producing a harvest for God according to this scripture. Some people do not view honesty as a requirement for being faithful. To Jesus, honesty was integral to being a true child of God.
Senator Dan Coats was present at a high school class in Teneck, New Jersey that was teaching values. During the discussion, it was revealed that a girl in the class had not only found but returned $1000 that she found in a lost purse. Here is what the senator also witnessed in the class that day. “The teacher asked for the class’s reaction. Every single one of her fellow students concluded the girl had been “foolish.”” They deemed she should have kept the money or deserved the money more than the careless person who lost the money in the first place. They thought returning the money to the original owner was not required. They did not consider it an issue of honesty or integrity. (See “Imprimus”, Vol. 20 #9, Sept. 1991).
Worldly standards about honesty are continually changing. Years ago, it was considered dishonest to cheat on a test. Now, many consider it dishonest to be “caught” cheating. Some consider it dishonest to borrow or use tools from work. Others consider this to be a perk of the job. A high percentage of seniors in High School no longer consider it dishonest to lie on a college application. Most people believe it to be “financially smart” to swindle people by using cheaper but more inferior products when making repairs. I could give thousands if not millions of examples of the changing views of honesty in the world, let alone from country to country.
As a child of God, you are held to a higher standard. God doesn’t wish you to be honest so that you aren’t “caught”. God desires you to have honesty as a part of your character. People who lie, cheat, and steal will often get ahead in the world. That does not mean you can borrow their dishonest tactics. If you desire to please God, honesty is the wisest place to start. You need to be honest with yourself, honest with others, and honest with God. You need to be trusted whether another human is watching or not. In all reality, God is watching. He desires to see you as an honest, trusted, respected citizen of Heaven. Are you?
October 31
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
When you make a commitment to God through Jesus Christ, you become a Christian. As you live out the promises and obedience given that relationship, you become a faithful and true Christian. The basis for the word "Christian" is Christ, the Messiah. Thus, when you live for Jesus' sake, you become a "Christian" through that relationship with Jesus. An "Serbian" owes a commitment to Serbia. A "Mohammedan" is an ancient term for one who follows Mohammed. A "Christian" owes his or her life to Christ. That relationship should be the center of one's life and form the crux of who you are.
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!