November 3
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26, ESV)
Carmen lost her husband in a car crash twelve years ago. He was t-boned at an intersection by a drunk driver who ran a red light. In the first few days, Carmen was numb. Her periods of sobbing were many. During that time, she planned for a funeral while trying to comfort her daughter. Despite being a person of deep faith, she found that her prayers were very difficult to form. She couldn’t concentrate. She couldn’t string together coherent sentences. Half the time, she just cried during her prayer time.
In the months following her husband’s death, Carmen remembers periods when her prayers were full of grief, anger at the drunk driver, anger at her situation, frustration for her daughter, and anguish. Her prayers seemed to hit all the emotions. She will tell you now that she prayed for the drunk driver to suffer. Then, she prayed for all drunk drivers to suffer God’s eternal punishment. Then, she prayed for forgiveness for thinking such terrible thoughts. Sometimes, she prayed full of grief. She expressed to God thoughts of loneliness and fear, of frustration and hope. Carmen poured forth every emotion, every thought, every hurt and pain, every joy to God.
Not long after the accident, Carmen was urged by her pastor to keep a diary of her prayers. Today, she looks at that diary as a written history of her healing. However, the diary also causes her much sadness to read it. There was so much anger in those early prayers. There was such deep depression in them as well. Now, Carmen is ashamed at some of the things she shared with God. Sometimes, she was so selfish. At other times, she was vengeful and bitter. Recently remarried, Carmen is not sure she wants to share the diary with her new husband. She is no longer that same person.
Prayer time is meant for you to pour out your soul to God. In godly prayer, you will work through each issue with divine influence. Prayer is conversation WITH God. It is meant to be a time for you and God to assess your soul. That soul of yours may at times be filled with all kinds of resentments, bitterness, anger, love, hurt, passion, misguided loyalties, and so much more. At times of deep anguish or regret or hurt, your prayers may even be difficult. Words will escape you. The scripture for today from Romans 8 teaches that the Holy Spirit is working in and through your prayers. The Spirit “helps you in your weakness,” helps you form words when deep emotions are choking you. The Holy Spirit also is utilizing that prayer time to heal and ease your soul. Even when you “don’t know what to pray for”, God’s Spirit finds the perfect way for you to communicate with God (Romans 8:26).
Many people do not understand that prayer time is not just a moment to form words for God to hear. It is a deeply powerful time of connection with God. When God’s Holy Spirit is working in your life, that prayer time can impact your decisions, speed your healing, bring needed direction, calm your emotions, ease your mind, and guard your soul. Prayer time will influence you on so many levels; you may not even realize the entire reach of God’s conversation with your heart. When you pray with others, the Holy Spirit may cause you to use words (or even silence!!!) that affect the thoughts and souls of others. You never know how deep that touch of God will go. That’s why corporate and personal prayer are so crucial to your life. Therein, the Holy Spirit causes communication with God to step up to a more powerful level, “interceding” in ways that are “too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).
When was the last time you got up early or stayed up late just to talk with God in prayer? Are you afraid to let God assess the character of your soul in prayer time? When you pray, do you let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts and inform your words, or do you try to control that moment? According to this scripture, you WILL at times not know what to pray for. You will be at a loss for words. You will need God’s Spirit to help you connect with God. Are you okay with God’s control over your prayer life? Are you willing to let God reach out to the messy, confused, or sinful parts of your heart and soul?
In the months following her husband’s death, Carmen remembers periods when her prayers were full of grief, anger at the drunk driver, anger at her situation, frustration for her daughter, and anguish. Her prayers seemed to hit all the emotions. She will tell you now that she prayed for the drunk driver to suffer. Then, she prayed for all drunk drivers to suffer God’s eternal punishment. Then, she prayed for forgiveness for thinking such terrible thoughts. Sometimes, she prayed full of grief. She expressed to God thoughts of loneliness and fear, of frustration and hope. Carmen poured forth every emotion, every thought, every hurt and pain, every joy to God.
Not long after the accident, Carmen was urged by her pastor to keep a diary of her prayers. Today, she looks at that diary as a written history of her healing. However, the diary also causes her much sadness to read it. There was so much anger in those early prayers. There was such deep depression in them as well. Now, Carmen is ashamed at some of the things she shared with God. Sometimes, she was so selfish. At other times, she was vengeful and bitter. Recently remarried, Carmen is not sure she wants to share the diary with her new husband. She is no longer that same person.
Prayer time is meant for you to pour out your soul to God. In godly prayer, you will work through each issue with divine influence. Prayer is conversation WITH God. It is meant to be a time for you and God to assess your soul. That soul of yours may at times be filled with all kinds of resentments, bitterness, anger, love, hurt, passion, misguided loyalties, and so much more. At times of deep anguish or regret or hurt, your prayers may even be difficult. Words will escape you. The scripture for today from Romans 8 teaches that the Holy Spirit is working in and through your prayers. The Spirit “helps you in your weakness,” helps you form words when deep emotions are choking you. The Holy Spirit also is utilizing that prayer time to heal and ease your soul. Even when you “don’t know what to pray for”, God’s Spirit finds the perfect way for you to communicate with God (Romans 8:26).
Many people do not understand that prayer time is not just a moment to form words for God to hear. It is a deeply powerful time of connection with God. When God’s Holy Spirit is working in your life, that prayer time can impact your decisions, speed your healing, bring needed direction, calm your emotions, ease your mind, and guard your soul. Prayer time will influence you on so many levels; you may not even realize the entire reach of God’s conversation with your heart. When you pray with others, the Holy Spirit may cause you to use words (or even silence!!!) that affect the thoughts and souls of others. You never know how deep that touch of God will go. That’s why corporate and personal prayer are so crucial to your life. Therein, the Holy Spirit causes communication with God to step up to a more powerful level, “interceding” in ways that are “too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).
When was the last time you got up early or stayed up late just to talk with God in prayer? Are you afraid to let God assess the character of your soul in prayer time? When you pray, do you let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts and inform your words, or do you try to control that moment? According to this scripture, you WILL at times not know what to pray for. You will be at a loss for words. You will need God’s Spirit to help you connect with God. Are you okay with God’s control over your prayer life? Are you willing to let God reach out to the messy, confused, or sinful parts of your heart and soul?
November 5
““Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1–3, RSV)
Many people do not know that my grandparents had an arranged marriage in the 1920’s. Their parents set it all up. Both of my father’s parents lived in northern Italy. They knew each other. Their families knew each other. My grandfather was smitten by my grandmother and asked her father about marriage. When he found out what was required, he came to the United States alone and secured a job and a place to live. Then, he went back to Italy to claim his wife in the arranged marriage. The entire time my grandfather was in the United States, his greatest goal was to make things ready for his bride. He wanted to make ready all that was needed before he went back to Italy to finalize their wedding. By making preparations and keeping his promises, he would be able to retrieve his new wife and start their new life together in the New World. Their future together was cemented by the plans and preparations my grandfather made for his bride. That future came true as he kept his promises and was faithful.
In our scripture for today, Jesus speaks about His preparations in Heaven for the disciples. He tells the disciples not to worry, nor let their “hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Jesus wanted them to believe in Him enough so that when He came back for them, they would be ready. Many believe Jesus here is speaking about His entrance into Heaven, where God the Father has “many rooms” available for the faithful. Jesus was planning to make things ready there for His disciples, to “prepare a place for them” in Heaven (John 14:3). In the right time, Jesus Himself would come and take them home for eternity. For the disciples, Heaven was to be a whole new world with a beautiful future and a wonderful time of reunification. To the disciples who remained faithful, Heaven was God's reward.
I find it very comforting that Jesus promises two things in the scripture. First, he promises to prepare a place in Heaven for His followers. Second, He promises to “come again” to take them to Heaven. If you are a true disciple of Jesus, these two promises apply to you. If you “believe” (John 14:1) with your whole heart, Jesus is already preparing a place for you in Heaven. Soon, He will “come again” (John 14:3) to take you to Heaven. Jesus’ words leave no place for the fear of death or the life after. Jesus is making preparations. You have a home awaiting you in Heaven. Some day, Jesus will come to take you back with Him to Heaven.
Many years ago, I visited a young boy who was very sick with terminal cancer. He was in a hospice for children. His life on this earth was growing short. When I visited him, he told me to read a story out of a book. I cannot remember the book from which the story came, but the story I will never forget. The story told of a child who was afraid of storms. Whenever a storm hit, the child was told by his mother to sleep with one arm over his head. Then, if anything ever went wrong, angels would know which hand to hold whenever he got afraid. When he and I spoke about the story, the boy asked me if Jesus would ever visit his room. I said it was entirely possible, because Jesus was alive and not limited to a grave. As he took this in, I could tell that he was thinking about something. Two months later, the little guy died. Cancer took his life. When, I spoke with his parents, they mentioned something they thought was odd. The boy died in an unusual position. His arm was above his head. I knew why and explained to them the story from the book. We all shared tears and memories of that boy who kept his arm upheld for when Jesus took him home to Heaven.
That young boy had no doubt that Jesus was coming back for him. Do you have such faith? Do you trust Jesus’ words of this scripture when He tells of preparing a place for you in Heaven? Do you realize that if you truly believe, He promised to take you to your Heavenly home Himself? Are you looking forward to the day when He will visit again, or dreading it?
When it comes to death, Jesus asked his disciples not to “let their hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Jesus has things in hand. He has plans. He has made arrangements. Have you?
In our scripture for today, Jesus speaks about His preparations in Heaven for the disciples. He tells the disciples not to worry, nor let their “hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Jesus wanted them to believe in Him enough so that when He came back for them, they would be ready. Many believe Jesus here is speaking about His entrance into Heaven, where God the Father has “many rooms” available for the faithful. Jesus was planning to make things ready there for His disciples, to “prepare a place for them” in Heaven (John 14:3). In the right time, Jesus Himself would come and take them home for eternity. For the disciples, Heaven was to be a whole new world with a beautiful future and a wonderful time of reunification. To the disciples who remained faithful, Heaven was God's reward.
I find it very comforting that Jesus promises two things in the scripture. First, he promises to prepare a place in Heaven for His followers. Second, He promises to “come again” to take them to Heaven. If you are a true disciple of Jesus, these two promises apply to you. If you “believe” (John 14:1) with your whole heart, Jesus is already preparing a place for you in Heaven. Soon, He will “come again” (John 14:3) to take you to Heaven. Jesus’ words leave no place for the fear of death or the life after. Jesus is making preparations. You have a home awaiting you in Heaven. Some day, Jesus will come to take you back with Him to Heaven.
Many years ago, I visited a young boy who was very sick with terminal cancer. He was in a hospice for children. His life on this earth was growing short. When I visited him, he told me to read a story out of a book. I cannot remember the book from which the story came, but the story I will never forget. The story told of a child who was afraid of storms. Whenever a storm hit, the child was told by his mother to sleep with one arm over his head. Then, if anything ever went wrong, angels would know which hand to hold whenever he got afraid. When he and I spoke about the story, the boy asked me if Jesus would ever visit his room. I said it was entirely possible, because Jesus was alive and not limited to a grave. As he took this in, I could tell that he was thinking about something. Two months later, the little guy died. Cancer took his life. When, I spoke with his parents, they mentioned something they thought was odd. The boy died in an unusual position. His arm was above his head. I knew why and explained to them the story from the book. We all shared tears and memories of that boy who kept his arm upheld for when Jesus took him home to Heaven.
That young boy had no doubt that Jesus was coming back for him. Do you have such faith? Do you trust Jesus’ words of this scripture when He tells of preparing a place for you in Heaven? Do you realize that if you truly believe, He promised to take you to your Heavenly home Himself? Are you looking forward to the day when He will visit again, or dreading it?
When it comes to death, Jesus asked his disciples not to “let their hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Jesus has things in hand. He has plans. He has made arrangements. Have you?
November 6
“For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:8, RSV)
Once there was a man who dared God to speak: “Burn the bush like you did for Moses, God. And I will follow. Collapse the walls like you did for Joshua, God. And I will fight. Still the waves like you did on Galilee, God. And I will listen.”
And so, the man sat by a bush, near a wall, close to the sea and waited for God to speak.
And God heard the man, so God answered. He sent fire, not for a bush, but for a church. He brought down a wall, not of brick, but of sin. He stilled a storm, not of the sea, but of a soul.
And God waited for the man to respond. And he waited … and waited.
But because the man was looking at bushes, not hearts; bricks and not lives, seas and not souls, he decided that God had done nothing.
Finally he looked to God and asked, Have you lost your power?
And God looked at him and said, Have you lost your hearing? (Adapted from Grace for the Moment, Max Lucado, p. 336)
It is all too easy to think that you can’t see or feel God in a situation, because of something God did or didn’t do. I have found in most cases that people can’t see God working, because they are limiting their own insight into God’s abilities and plans. I have also found that God is constantly giving to those who ask, coming through for those who need it, and providing what is needed according to His plans. Humans, however, can be so wrapped up in their own emotions or reasoning that they can’t even see what God is doing right before their eyes. Most don't even ask for what is really needed!
Jerry was very bothered by his boss, Russ. The boss was a penny-pincher who was constantly making comments on his work, pushing him to work more efficiently, and forcing him to keep to a tight schedule. For Jerry and his team of workers, this led to animosity and resentments between the crew and Russ. Behind his back, all of the crew would swear at their boss, blame him, make fun of him, and generally make his life difficult. Jerry didn’t participate in all the “boss bashing fun” of his colleagues, but he didn’t like Russ’ attitude. He even prayed that his boss would be replaced or would just go away.
A year later, Jerry was informed that Russ had died of a heart attack. His prayers were answered! Russ was replaced by a brother of the owner of the company named Corey. Corey had a very different style of leadership. He often would only visit the job site in the morning and just before the workday ended. He didn’t say much and didn’t push the crew. At first, Jerry loved Corey’s form of leadership. The guys were free of Russ’ criticisms and oversight. Jerry even went so far as to thank God for Corey. Then, things began to go wrong on the job site. Guys were leaving messes of materials and not cleaning up after themselves. Deadlines were not met. Safety on the job site became lax. Several workers were hurt on the job and absent for months. Two years into Corey’s leadership had the effect where costs had gone up, work efficiency had gone down, and the company was not able to remain profitable. Because of this, there were less bids won, and half the crew was laid off. Jerry prayed for his job, while asking God to help the company.
At a Christmas dinner that was held for the employees and their spouses, Jerry’s wife came along. She talked with other wives and had a very enjoyable evening. On their way home, Jerry’s wife told him that many of the wives regretted Russ’ death. When Russ was in charge, projects and deadlines were met. The sites were more safe. Work was plentiful. As Jerry listened to his wife, he realized that all along he had prayed for the wrong things. He was asking God to punish Russ and bless Corey due to their leadership effects on his own job. He realized his insights and prayers had been very short-sighted and self-absorbed. From then on, Jerry changed in his view of who and what would comprise his prayers. He promised to listen more to God and trust less in his own perceptions.
The scripture for today promises that every person who “asks” will “receive” (Matthew 7:8). When a person of faith “seeks” God, they will “find” Him. God will grant you wisdom. God will listen to your prayers. If you find that God isn’t answering prayers or you aren’t receiving what you asked for, maybe you aren’t asking rightly. Is what you ask for short-sighted or selfish? It might be that you haven’t received something from God because you aren’t asking for the right things or seeing the truth. It might be that you have your heart set on one way for God to act without realizing that God is going to do something better. Then, because you are blind to the possibilities, you will not perceive God’s work.
If Jesus promised in Matthew 7:8 that the faithful would be heard, would find faith, and would have spiritual doors (or real ones!) opened, you can bank on that happening. However, you must have the eyes to see what God is doing… or you’ll never perceive it. Without true faith, you’ll never understand how God is following through in your life. What might seem like a terrible job loss might end up becoming a great opportunity through God’s motivation. What might seem like a difficult time in life when you had little money might turn into the best period for your marriage or your family. Be careful what you ask for from God. Learn to discern things from God’s perspective. You just might find that what you desired was wrong, what you received from God was right, and what you needed was provided all along.
What have you been asking God for lately? What has motivated you? Have you been seeking the right things for your life or placing your trust in wrong ideas or understandings? Have you trusted God enough? Have you listened to God’s Spirit, or followed its direction?
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
(James 4:3–4, RSV)
And so, the man sat by a bush, near a wall, close to the sea and waited for God to speak.
And God heard the man, so God answered. He sent fire, not for a bush, but for a church. He brought down a wall, not of brick, but of sin. He stilled a storm, not of the sea, but of a soul.
And God waited for the man to respond. And he waited … and waited.
But because the man was looking at bushes, not hearts; bricks and not lives, seas and not souls, he decided that God had done nothing.
Finally he looked to God and asked, Have you lost your power?
And God looked at him and said, Have you lost your hearing? (Adapted from Grace for the Moment, Max Lucado, p. 336)
It is all too easy to think that you can’t see or feel God in a situation, because of something God did or didn’t do. I have found in most cases that people can’t see God working, because they are limiting their own insight into God’s abilities and plans. I have also found that God is constantly giving to those who ask, coming through for those who need it, and providing what is needed according to His plans. Humans, however, can be so wrapped up in their own emotions or reasoning that they can’t even see what God is doing right before their eyes. Most don't even ask for what is really needed!
Jerry was very bothered by his boss, Russ. The boss was a penny-pincher who was constantly making comments on his work, pushing him to work more efficiently, and forcing him to keep to a tight schedule. For Jerry and his team of workers, this led to animosity and resentments between the crew and Russ. Behind his back, all of the crew would swear at their boss, blame him, make fun of him, and generally make his life difficult. Jerry didn’t participate in all the “boss bashing fun” of his colleagues, but he didn’t like Russ’ attitude. He even prayed that his boss would be replaced or would just go away.
A year later, Jerry was informed that Russ had died of a heart attack. His prayers were answered! Russ was replaced by a brother of the owner of the company named Corey. Corey had a very different style of leadership. He often would only visit the job site in the morning and just before the workday ended. He didn’t say much and didn’t push the crew. At first, Jerry loved Corey’s form of leadership. The guys were free of Russ’ criticisms and oversight. Jerry even went so far as to thank God for Corey. Then, things began to go wrong on the job site. Guys were leaving messes of materials and not cleaning up after themselves. Deadlines were not met. Safety on the job site became lax. Several workers were hurt on the job and absent for months. Two years into Corey’s leadership had the effect where costs had gone up, work efficiency had gone down, and the company was not able to remain profitable. Because of this, there were less bids won, and half the crew was laid off. Jerry prayed for his job, while asking God to help the company.
At a Christmas dinner that was held for the employees and their spouses, Jerry’s wife came along. She talked with other wives and had a very enjoyable evening. On their way home, Jerry’s wife told him that many of the wives regretted Russ’ death. When Russ was in charge, projects and deadlines were met. The sites were more safe. Work was plentiful. As Jerry listened to his wife, he realized that all along he had prayed for the wrong things. He was asking God to punish Russ and bless Corey due to their leadership effects on his own job. He realized his insights and prayers had been very short-sighted and self-absorbed. From then on, Jerry changed in his view of who and what would comprise his prayers. He promised to listen more to God and trust less in his own perceptions.
The scripture for today promises that every person who “asks” will “receive” (Matthew 7:8). When a person of faith “seeks” God, they will “find” Him. God will grant you wisdom. God will listen to your prayers. If you find that God isn’t answering prayers or you aren’t receiving what you asked for, maybe you aren’t asking rightly. Is what you ask for short-sighted or selfish? It might be that you haven’t received something from God because you aren’t asking for the right things or seeing the truth. It might be that you have your heart set on one way for God to act without realizing that God is going to do something better. Then, because you are blind to the possibilities, you will not perceive God’s work.
If Jesus promised in Matthew 7:8 that the faithful would be heard, would find faith, and would have spiritual doors (or real ones!) opened, you can bank on that happening. However, you must have the eyes to see what God is doing… or you’ll never perceive it. Without true faith, you’ll never understand how God is following through in your life. What might seem like a terrible job loss might end up becoming a great opportunity through God’s motivation. What might seem like a difficult time in life when you had little money might turn into the best period for your marriage or your family. Be careful what you ask for from God. Learn to discern things from God’s perspective. You just might find that what you desired was wrong, what you received from God was right, and what you needed was provided all along.
What have you been asking God for lately? What has motivated you? Have you been seeking the right things for your life or placing your trust in wrong ideas or understandings? Have you trusted God enough? Have you listened to God’s Spirit, or followed its direction?
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
(James 4:3–4, RSV)
November 8
““I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me, for there is no other savior. I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land. But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot me.” (Hosea 13:4–6, NLT)
If you ask most people what time in life they would like to forget, they’d tell you “bad times”. When bad times, difficult moments, extreme challenges, and damaging obstacles appear, most people desire them to end quickly. Feeling pain or illness, your every waking thought may center around getting better and leaving the sickness or disease behind. However, during bad times people often experience great spiritual learning and growth. They may discover great flashes of insight as their world gets shaken up. Some of the world's greatest literary treasures have been written when the author or a society lived through a great upheaval. In contrast, those who experience an easy life often turn out selfish, egotistical, arrogant, rude, or feel entitled. They often live to benefit only themselves.
The same types of effects can be seen in the human body. Difficult challenges help strengthen the body. Lifting weights stress the muscles and may cause you soreness, but the process will strengthen your muscles and connective tissue. This type of exercise will benefit your neurological system as well as your skeletal system when done effectively. Aerobic exercises will tire you, but will also benefit your heart and lungs and much more. Fasting may be difficult, but it can aid healing, cleanse the body, and clear one’s mind. These are just a few of many proofs that difficulties and challenges can be great for body and soul.
Laziness, loafing around, eschewing needed work, and procrastinating can be hazardous to body and soul. Laziness and laxity can easily cause heart problems, strokes, and more. They can impede one’s desire to learn and grow. They may cause weak bones and general malaise. Having it easy in life can bring lots of free time, but it can be an impediment to learning, knowledge, growth, and self-improvement. Having it too easy usually causes spiritual decay and moral lapses as well as lapses in judgment. That’s why children of successful people often get into legal trouble, take drugs, and die untimely deaths.
Through the Bible, we also learn that times of difficulty can be great times for spiritual growth. When the people of Israel left Egypt and traveled through the wilderness with barely no possessions and a scarcity of food and water, they learned to trust God. They learned what worked with God. Their cries of anguish helped form their relationship of trust with God. In fact, it was during difficult times that Israel learned how to pray, received the Ten Commandments, saw the parting of the Red Sea, overcame the Ten plagues of Egypt, and had some of their greatest leaders like Moses and Aaron. They learned that there is “no other savior” to hold onto save God alone (Hosea 13:4). They were rescued from suffering in Egypt. They were “taken care of in the wilderness” (Hosea 13:5). They were given ample food and water despite “droughts” in that “dry and thirsty land” of the wilderness. Their relationship with God grew very close. Their spiritual wisdom and knowledge increased greatly.
However, our scripture for today also mentions what wrecked the relationship between Israel and God Almighty. When the people left the wilderness and settled in the Promised Land filled with “milk and honey” and lots of good food and water; “when they had eaten and were satisfied”, they became “prideful” and arrogant. They inevitably “forgot” God (Hosea 13:6). A direct result of their easier life became an arrogant and selfish attitude. They no longer had the time to listen or develop their relationship with God. Society broke down over time. Violence and immorality increased.
I have seen this in most people all my life: good times bring periods when God is “forgotten”, and bad times bring periods of deep spiritual growth. An easy or good life can often produce selfishness and greed and apathy toward God. Difficulties can often deepen your spiritual connections with God. I find it interesting that most people pray for God to make life easier, but when life becomes easier most people don’t even take the time to pray! The more successful you get, the more you pour your heart into possessions and achievements. The tougher life is, the more you learn of God’s grace and forgiveness and true peace. Pity the fool who has an easy life. In their lust for worldly goals and possessions, they will never discover God or spiritual depths of knowledge and wisdom. Pity also the fool who has a difficult life and would rather wallow in their pain than seek the God who can bring sweet wholeness and lasting peace.
I remember a man from my third congregation. His son developed a terrible illness. The boy could have died. Through many medical procedures, the son grew sicker and sicker. The man went to church more often. He came to me for counseling and prayer. The family came together and supported one another. They often shared hugs and warm wishes despite the many long hours in hospital waiting rooms. Then, in a miraculous healing that occurred, the boy was healed. The doctors couldn’t explain it. One even told me he believed that the many prayers of the church and family played a substantial part! Not long after the boy was healed, I only saw the father once a month. Then, I only saw the family at Christmas and Easter. In the end, they came to church once a year at most. When I ran into the wife at the store, she told me that the father went back to camping on weekends and didn’t have time for church. Last I heard, the couple was having marital issues. I never found out how they fared.
Why do good times bring out the worst in people? I believe that those who have it good think they don’t have a need for God. How sad. That’s like thinking that since you haven’t been sick, society no longer needs doctors and you don’t need insurance. It’s like never experiencing the rest of the world because you have a good life in your small town. When things went well for Israel in the Bible, they also tended to “forget” God. Are you the same? Do good times, good health, lots of money, success and power bring out the worst in you spiritually? If you are in a dark time in your life, enjoy the fact that God may be more visible to you. Are you looking for HIM? That thorn in your side or big obstacle might be the best thing to teach you something about God this year! That difficult choice might make you reevaluate not only your values, but your relationship with Heaven!
The same types of effects can be seen in the human body. Difficult challenges help strengthen the body. Lifting weights stress the muscles and may cause you soreness, but the process will strengthen your muscles and connective tissue. This type of exercise will benefit your neurological system as well as your skeletal system when done effectively. Aerobic exercises will tire you, but will also benefit your heart and lungs and much more. Fasting may be difficult, but it can aid healing, cleanse the body, and clear one’s mind. These are just a few of many proofs that difficulties and challenges can be great for body and soul.
Laziness, loafing around, eschewing needed work, and procrastinating can be hazardous to body and soul. Laziness and laxity can easily cause heart problems, strokes, and more. They can impede one’s desire to learn and grow. They may cause weak bones and general malaise. Having it easy in life can bring lots of free time, but it can be an impediment to learning, knowledge, growth, and self-improvement. Having it too easy usually causes spiritual decay and moral lapses as well as lapses in judgment. That’s why children of successful people often get into legal trouble, take drugs, and die untimely deaths.
Through the Bible, we also learn that times of difficulty can be great times for spiritual growth. When the people of Israel left Egypt and traveled through the wilderness with barely no possessions and a scarcity of food and water, they learned to trust God. They learned what worked with God. Their cries of anguish helped form their relationship of trust with God. In fact, it was during difficult times that Israel learned how to pray, received the Ten Commandments, saw the parting of the Red Sea, overcame the Ten plagues of Egypt, and had some of their greatest leaders like Moses and Aaron. They learned that there is “no other savior” to hold onto save God alone (Hosea 13:4). They were rescued from suffering in Egypt. They were “taken care of in the wilderness” (Hosea 13:5). They were given ample food and water despite “droughts” in that “dry and thirsty land” of the wilderness. Their relationship with God grew very close. Their spiritual wisdom and knowledge increased greatly.
However, our scripture for today also mentions what wrecked the relationship between Israel and God Almighty. When the people left the wilderness and settled in the Promised Land filled with “milk and honey” and lots of good food and water; “when they had eaten and were satisfied”, they became “prideful” and arrogant. They inevitably “forgot” God (Hosea 13:6). A direct result of their easier life became an arrogant and selfish attitude. They no longer had the time to listen or develop their relationship with God. Society broke down over time. Violence and immorality increased.
I have seen this in most people all my life: good times bring periods when God is “forgotten”, and bad times bring periods of deep spiritual growth. An easy or good life can often produce selfishness and greed and apathy toward God. Difficulties can often deepen your spiritual connections with God. I find it interesting that most people pray for God to make life easier, but when life becomes easier most people don’t even take the time to pray! The more successful you get, the more you pour your heart into possessions and achievements. The tougher life is, the more you learn of God’s grace and forgiveness and true peace. Pity the fool who has an easy life. In their lust for worldly goals and possessions, they will never discover God or spiritual depths of knowledge and wisdom. Pity also the fool who has a difficult life and would rather wallow in their pain than seek the God who can bring sweet wholeness and lasting peace.
I remember a man from my third congregation. His son developed a terrible illness. The boy could have died. Through many medical procedures, the son grew sicker and sicker. The man went to church more often. He came to me for counseling and prayer. The family came together and supported one another. They often shared hugs and warm wishes despite the many long hours in hospital waiting rooms. Then, in a miraculous healing that occurred, the boy was healed. The doctors couldn’t explain it. One even told me he believed that the many prayers of the church and family played a substantial part! Not long after the boy was healed, I only saw the father once a month. Then, I only saw the family at Christmas and Easter. In the end, they came to church once a year at most. When I ran into the wife at the store, she told me that the father went back to camping on weekends and didn’t have time for church. Last I heard, the couple was having marital issues. I never found out how they fared.
Why do good times bring out the worst in people? I believe that those who have it good think they don’t have a need for God. How sad. That’s like thinking that since you haven’t been sick, society no longer needs doctors and you don’t need insurance. It’s like never experiencing the rest of the world because you have a good life in your small town. When things went well for Israel in the Bible, they also tended to “forget” God. Are you the same? Do good times, good health, lots of money, success and power bring out the worst in you spiritually? If you are in a dark time in your life, enjoy the fact that God may be more visible to you. Are you looking for HIM? That thorn in your side or big obstacle might be the best thing to teach you something about God this year! That difficult choice might make you reevaluate not only your values, but your relationship with Heaven!
November 10
“If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord.” (Numbers 9:19, NLT)
After leaving Egypt, the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness until it was safe for them to go to the Promised Land in Canaan. I’m sure they wanted to get to that new land flowing with “milk and honey” and lots of other good things. They wanted desperately to settle down after leaving everything behind in Egypt. Throughout the journey, God was leading them. A cloud sent by God hovered over the tabernacle. The cloud was sent by God as a sign to the people of Israel that God was among them, in their midst. When the cloud lifted and moved toward the Promised Land, the people would follow it. When it settled down in one place for a while, the people had to wait there. In the scripture above from the book of Numbers, it mentions that there were many days when the cloud kept the people in one place. They could not advance toward the Promised Land. I’m sure it drove them wild to have to wait long periods for the right time set by God to enter the Promised Land. Sometimes, it’s difficult to simply “stay and perform your duties for the Lord” (Numbers 9:19), especially when you are in a hurry to get somewhere.
Carleton Horn traveled with his family on Interstate-55 through Illinois. He had been driving for hours after visiting family for Thanksgiving. He had only four hours left in his travels until they were home. The family was tired from the previous travels and the big family gathering in his hometown in Eastern Ohio. Passing through a small town, his minivan began to slow. Then, the engine quit. He pulled over and tried to figure out what was wrong. Not knowing why the engine wouldn’t run, he and the family left the vehicle to travel to a farm less than a mile off the road. There, they called for help, as their cell phones weren’t working in the remote countryside. It was getting late; the kids were tired, but everything seemed to flow very smoothly. At that farm, the owner happened to know a local mechanic who could do the work right away. He could get parts overnight. They could be on their way the next day. The owner's wife also arranged to take the family to a local hotel to spend the night. Despite all the dangers of the road and the trek, being out of cell service, and having the engine need work, the family was safe. Realizing how hungry they were, the whole family walked down to a local restaurant for a late dinner. There, they enjoyed a wonderful meal where the people were especially friendly to the weary travelers. Then, they settled in for the night, the children fast asleep in minutes.
Throughout the entire ordeal, the father kept worrying about the bills and the damage to the car. He was upset that the cell phones didn’t work. He was angry that they had to trek almost a mile for help. He was frustrated that his old van failed him. He was upset when the kids got hungry. He worried about the delay. Not knowing for sure when the mechanic would finish, he had to call his boss and miss work for the next day. He was fit to be tied. When the family went to sleep that night, the father couldn’t sleep. His wife tried to calm him, but he was irritated and edgy. As he lay there in the motel bed, all he could think of was that the family should be home at this precise hour. He so resented the entire day. He couldn’t even pray that night before bed.
A week passed, and Carleton was working in the garage on a Sunday morning. His youngest, Paul, came into the garage. He looked downcast. Carleton asked what was wrong. Little Paul replied, “I had so much fun on our adventure after Thanksgiving. I wish we could do it all over again!” The boy then relayed everything that happened and how the family overcame each obstacle! He talked for fifteen minutes straight about the people they met, the meal they had, and how much fun it was to walk for a mile near a dangerous highway! The boy talked animatedly. As the boy finished his iteration of all the events of the trip, Carleton was shocked when the boy said, “It was the best day ever!”
Where Carleton saw the breakdown as an awful setback, Paul saw it as an adventure. Carleton thought the trek to the farmhouse was a chore. Paul saw it as exciting. Carleton regretted all the interruptions to their journey. Paul saw their time together as the best day ever. Sometimes, we lose sight of how precious it is to be in the moment. We are so focused on the future, we miss God’s presence in the here and now. Pressed by the constraints of our own devises, we lose sight of the moments when God wants us to just wait patiently until it is safe or the right time or when the right circumstances will prevail.
Are you willing to pause in your day to take time to wait upon the Lord? Do you see events as your life as only interruptions instead of opportunities? Are you so impatient as to miss precious moments in your rush to be somewhere else? God wanted the Israelites to patiently wait around the tabernacle until the time was right to move on. Are you willing to follow God or wait upon God even when life feels like its rushing by?
Carleton Horn traveled with his family on Interstate-55 through Illinois. He had been driving for hours after visiting family for Thanksgiving. He had only four hours left in his travels until they were home. The family was tired from the previous travels and the big family gathering in his hometown in Eastern Ohio. Passing through a small town, his minivan began to slow. Then, the engine quit. He pulled over and tried to figure out what was wrong. Not knowing why the engine wouldn’t run, he and the family left the vehicle to travel to a farm less than a mile off the road. There, they called for help, as their cell phones weren’t working in the remote countryside. It was getting late; the kids were tired, but everything seemed to flow very smoothly. At that farm, the owner happened to know a local mechanic who could do the work right away. He could get parts overnight. They could be on their way the next day. The owner's wife also arranged to take the family to a local hotel to spend the night. Despite all the dangers of the road and the trek, being out of cell service, and having the engine need work, the family was safe. Realizing how hungry they were, the whole family walked down to a local restaurant for a late dinner. There, they enjoyed a wonderful meal where the people were especially friendly to the weary travelers. Then, they settled in for the night, the children fast asleep in minutes.
Throughout the entire ordeal, the father kept worrying about the bills and the damage to the car. He was upset that the cell phones didn’t work. He was angry that they had to trek almost a mile for help. He was frustrated that his old van failed him. He was upset when the kids got hungry. He worried about the delay. Not knowing for sure when the mechanic would finish, he had to call his boss and miss work for the next day. He was fit to be tied. When the family went to sleep that night, the father couldn’t sleep. His wife tried to calm him, but he was irritated and edgy. As he lay there in the motel bed, all he could think of was that the family should be home at this precise hour. He so resented the entire day. He couldn’t even pray that night before bed.
A week passed, and Carleton was working in the garage on a Sunday morning. His youngest, Paul, came into the garage. He looked downcast. Carleton asked what was wrong. Little Paul replied, “I had so much fun on our adventure after Thanksgiving. I wish we could do it all over again!” The boy then relayed everything that happened and how the family overcame each obstacle! He talked for fifteen minutes straight about the people they met, the meal they had, and how much fun it was to walk for a mile near a dangerous highway! The boy talked animatedly. As the boy finished his iteration of all the events of the trip, Carleton was shocked when the boy said, “It was the best day ever!”
Where Carleton saw the breakdown as an awful setback, Paul saw it as an adventure. Carleton thought the trek to the farmhouse was a chore. Paul saw it as exciting. Carleton regretted all the interruptions to their journey. Paul saw their time together as the best day ever. Sometimes, we lose sight of how precious it is to be in the moment. We are so focused on the future, we miss God’s presence in the here and now. Pressed by the constraints of our own devises, we lose sight of the moments when God wants us to just wait patiently until it is safe or the right time or when the right circumstances will prevail.
Are you willing to pause in your day to take time to wait upon the Lord? Do you see events as your life as only interruptions instead of opportunities? Are you so impatient as to miss precious moments in your rush to be somewhere else? God wanted the Israelites to patiently wait around the tabernacle until the time was right to move on. Are you willing to follow God or wait upon God even when life feels like its rushing by?
November 12
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.” (James 3:14–15, RSV)
At times, your soul will not feel comfortable in this world. When you have committed your heart and soul to God, worldly practices and humanistic pridefulness will feel wrong to you. The scripture above from the biblical book of James bears witness to this dichotomy. The world has its own ideals and goals. It thrives on what is “earthly, unspiritual, devilish” (James 3:15). The faithful soul will rebel against “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” in your heart (James 3:14). These feelings and attitudes will compete against a faithful life. If you begin to have these worldly feelings, they will make your soul feel uncomfortable and unholy. If you feel totally at home in this world, your soul is surely not aligned with the one true God.
Susan and her four best friends were very close in High School. There, they formed a clique that was formidable. Other students wanted to be in their group, it being so popular. However, Susan and her best friends were also ruthless. If Susan had a problem with another girl, the whole clique ostracized her. If one member of this clique felt threatened, the whole group would lash out at whomever or whatever stood in their way. In the decade following High School, this clique continued to hold sway in their small town. Online, they constantly used cyberbullying to get their way. They employed various tactics to demean, belittle, or subdue any challengers. Ambition, jealousy, and rivalry were at the center of this clique. One member of their group runs a blog for the community. In it, she uses gossip and innuendo to spread their version of the truth. Another one of Susan’s friends runs the Facebook page for their women’s reading group. She often conveys opinions and ideas that others are expected to adopt and maintain. Discussions are highly controlled. If you voted for the wrong candidate, liked the wrong music group, made friends with the wrong people, you’d soon find yourself with backhanded slams and off-handed comments online and in person. Susan and her friends wielded worldly tactics to their best effort to control and manipulate those around them.
Karen wanted desperately to be accepted in High School. She tried over and over to be a part of Susan’s clique. After months of following the group around and backing their tactics, Karen became a member of the group. She wasn’t a best friend of Susan, but she was among Susan’s friends and contacts. However, when Karen went away in college, she lost contact with the group.
During her college years, Karen traveled with several mission groups and became very close to a church group. She was baptized and started a mission organization of her own. After college, she moved back to her hometown and sought out her old friends. However, it took her only a few tense and awkward moments to realize that she no longer fit in with the clique. Their cyberbullying and worldly ambitions slapped Karen awake. How could she have been friends with them in High School? Her soul was reacting violently with her past and the tactics used by the clique in the present. The clique attacked her via social media. Members of the group tried repeatedly to belittle her life. They called her a crazy Christian. Karen felt very alone during this period of her life. Being faithful to God meant she had to choose to stay away from her friends. They were too worldly, too focused on money and possessions. Karen no longer fit in. Her heart had to choose between her old friends and her new relationship with God. Ultimately, Karen sided with her soul and chose new friends. The old friends made sure she suffered for that choice.
In our scripture for today, James is highly critical of worldly wisdom that does not “come down from above” (James 3:15). This worldly wisdom is not of God. It has no relationship to Him, is not obedient to Him, and has no knowledge of His truth.
“What is the motive of someone who lives according to worldly wisdom? “Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition.” The Greek word translated “bitter” also means “harsh” and is used of bitter, undrinkable water. “Bitter jealousy” carries the idea of a harsh, bitter self–centeredness that produces a resentful attitude toward others. People with bitter jealousy live in a world that focuses on themselves. They react in a jealous manner toward anyone who threatens their territory, accomplishments, or reputation. They resent anyone who threatens to crowd their slice of this world. They consider people who differ from them as implacable enemies. And they are bitterly jealous of anyone who is successful.” (Strength for Today, John MacArthur)
Does your soul feel uncomfortable when around jealousy or selfish ambition? Do you hold on a little too tightly to things of this world? Do you submit to friends with worldly desires? Do you stand up for a godly life even in the face of opposition?
Susan and her four best friends were very close in High School. There, they formed a clique that was formidable. Other students wanted to be in their group, it being so popular. However, Susan and her best friends were also ruthless. If Susan had a problem with another girl, the whole clique ostracized her. If one member of this clique felt threatened, the whole group would lash out at whomever or whatever stood in their way. In the decade following High School, this clique continued to hold sway in their small town. Online, they constantly used cyberbullying to get their way. They employed various tactics to demean, belittle, or subdue any challengers. Ambition, jealousy, and rivalry were at the center of this clique. One member of their group runs a blog for the community. In it, she uses gossip and innuendo to spread their version of the truth. Another one of Susan’s friends runs the Facebook page for their women’s reading group. She often conveys opinions and ideas that others are expected to adopt and maintain. Discussions are highly controlled. If you voted for the wrong candidate, liked the wrong music group, made friends with the wrong people, you’d soon find yourself with backhanded slams and off-handed comments online and in person. Susan and her friends wielded worldly tactics to their best effort to control and manipulate those around them.
Karen wanted desperately to be accepted in High School. She tried over and over to be a part of Susan’s clique. After months of following the group around and backing their tactics, Karen became a member of the group. She wasn’t a best friend of Susan, but she was among Susan’s friends and contacts. However, when Karen went away in college, she lost contact with the group.
During her college years, Karen traveled with several mission groups and became very close to a church group. She was baptized and started a mission organization of her own. After college, she moved back to her hometown and sought out her old friends. However, it took her only a few tense and awkward moments to realize that she no longer fit in with the clique. Their cyberbullying and worldly ambitions slapped Karen awake. How could she have been friends with them in High School? Her soul was reacting violently with her past and the tactics used by the clique in the present. The clique attacked her via social media. Members of the group tried repeatedly to belittle her life. They called her a crazy Christian. Karen felt very alone during this period of her life. Being faithful to God meant she had to choose to stay away from her friends. They were too worldly, too focused on money and possessions. Karen no longer fit in. Her heart had to choose between her old friends and her new relationship with God. Ultimately, Karen sided with her soul and chose new friends. The old friends made sure she suffered for that choice.
In our scripture for today, James is highly critical of worldly wisdom that does not “come down from above” (James 3:15). This worldly wisdom is not of God. It has no relationship to Him, is not obedient to Him, and has no knowledge of His truth.
“What is the motive of someone who lives according to worldly wisdom? “Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition.” The Greek word translated “bitter” also means “harsh” and is used of bitter, undrinkable water. “Bitter jealousy” carries the idea of a harsh, bitter self–centeredness that produces a resentful attitude toward others. People with bitter jealousy live in a world that focuses on themselves. They react in a jealous manner toward anyone who threatens their territory, accomplishments, or reputation. They resent anyone who threatens to crowd their slice of this world. They consider people who differ from them as implacable enemies. And they are bitterly jealous of anyone who is successful.” (Strength for Today, John MacArthur)
Does your soul feel uncomfortable when around jealousy or selfish ambition? Do you hold on a little too tightly to things of this world? Do you submit to friends with worldly desires? Do you stand up for a godly life even in the face of opposition?
November 15
“Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” (Revelation 3:4, RSV)
Less than one hundred years after Jesus died, there were Christian churches dotting places in Israel, Syria, Jordan, Asia Minor, and much farther away. The followers of Christ were growing exponentially. The gospels telling of Jesus and the letters of Paul and Peter and James were being shared among the faithful even in large cities like Rome and in places near the Egyptian pyramids. Revelation chapter three mentions a church in Sardis. Sardis was on the Hermus River in Ancient Asia Minor. It was not far from the coastal city of Ephesus. Today, it is located in Eastern Turkey.
In the church in Sardis, there were good and bad Christians. The bad Christians in that church were spiritually dead (Revelation 3:1), meaning they were Christian in name only. They did not live out the faith. They were baptized but did not continue to worship in Christ and remain holy. They used to be more faithful but had gone back on their promises to God. Their lives were no longer characterized by their faithful deeds (Revelation 3:2). They needed to repent but refused to do so (Revelation 3:3). However, not all the Christians were backsliders who no longer practiced their faith and worshiped our Lord. Among the Christians in Sardis were good and faithful Christians. These faithful ones were praised in Revelation 3:4. There, it is mentioned that their “names” were among the faithful known to God. They did not live in sin. They had remained committed to God. They did not “soil their garments” with sinful living. This verse also promised that they would soon be clothed “in white”, which means they had a future in Heaven. In the last few words of Revelation 3:4, the good and faithful Christians were described as “worthy” to God. In Greek, this word “worthy” meant that they had “great merit or value” to God. Are you also a “worthy” Christian?
Three things characterized those who were NOT worthy Christians in Sardis. These unworthy Christians had a faith that waned with time, were unwilling to repent when they did wrong, and were Christian in name only. The worthy Christians did the opposite. Their faith did not weaken or falter with the years. They repented openly but lived righteously. They practiced their faith with deep commitment. Which would best describe your faith in the last ten years? How about in the last ten weeks? Has your value or worth to God increased or decreased with time?
For many years, I took mission trips with youth. On one memorable trip, the youth were working at a homeless shelter. There, they helped fix, paint, and decorate the shelter. They also acquired extra food for the residents. During part of the day, all the youth would spend time sharing stories or playing board games with the homeless men and women. The youth also ate side by side with the homeless people each lunch hour.
I remember two of the youth talking with a homeless man during that trip. The man stated that he had messed up his life with drugs and thoroughly wrecked his financial situation as a result. When he ran out of money, he made a change. He quit spending money on drugs and began to help out at the shelter. He was baptized and attended worship daily. He told the youth that drugs can destroy a life or family or community. What the man didn’t know was that one of the two youth to whom he spoke had just started using drugs. As the homeless man spoke, he had a captive audience listening intently. As I walked up to the three as they talked, the homeless man said, “I still feel worthless some days.”
I responded immediately to his words with my own. I said, “You are definitely worth a lot to God and to us today!” He looked at me with shocked eyes. I wondered if anyone had ever told him how much worth he had to God in his new Christian life.
After making mistakes or messing up, it is easy to think yourself worthless. Depression and failures can make you feel like you don’t much matter. Medical issues can cause you to feel like you don’t have much strength or ability. Financial strains can cripple your net worth, prompting you to reevaluate your value to family and society. However, God views your worth in different measure. According to Revelation 3, a committed faith and repentant heart count for much. A life filled with deeds of righteousness matters. When you live faithfully relying on God, you are worthy. Your life has great value. God has deemed you precious.
Be careful you don’t ever view yourself as worthless when God deems you worthy. Also, don’t ever become Christian in name only, leaving your spiritual passion and righteous living behind. What could make you ever desire to become worthless before Heaven’s throne?
In the church in Sardis, there were good and bad Christians. The bad Christians in that church were spiritually dead (Revelation 3:1), meaning they were Christian in name only. They did not live out the faith. They were baptized but did not continue to worship in Christ and remain holy. They used to be more faithful but had gone back on their promises to God. Their lives were no longer characterized by their faithful deeds (Revelation 3:2). They needed to repent but refused to do so (Revelation 3:3). However, not all the Christians were backsliders who no longer practiced their faith and worshiped our Lord. Among the Christians in Sardis were good and faithful Christians. These faithful ones were praised in Revelation 3:4. There, it is mentioned that their “names” were among the faithful known to God. They did not live in sin. They had remained committed to God. They did not “soil their garments” with sinful living. This verse also promised that they would soon be clothed “in white”, which means they had a future in Heaven. In the last few words of Revelation 3:4, the good and faithful Christians were described as “worthy” to God. In Greek, this word “worthy” meant that they had “great merit or value” to God. Are you also a “worthy” Christian?
Three things characterized those who were NOT worthy Christians in Sardis. These unworthy Christians had a faith that waned with time, were unwilling to repent when they did wrong, and were Christian in name only. The worthy Christians did the opposite. Their faith did not weaken or falter with the years. They repented openly but lived righteously. They practiced their faith with deep commitment. Which would best describe your faith in the last ten years? How about in the last ten weeks? Has your value or worth to God increased or decreased with time?
For many years, I took mission trips with youth. On one memorable trip, the youth were working at a homeless shelter. There, they helped fix, paint, and decorate the shelter. They also acquired extra food for the residents. During part of the day, all the youth would spend time sharing stories or playing board games with the homeless men and women. The youth also ate side by side with the homeless people each lunch hour.
I remember two of the youth talking with a homeless man during that trip. The man stated that he had messed up his life with drugs and thoroughly wrecked his financial situation as a result. When he ran out of money, he made a change. He quit spending money on drugs and began to help out at the shelter. He was baptized and attended worship daily. He told the youth that drugs can destroy a life or family or community. What the man didn’t know was that one of the two youth to whom he spoke had just started using drugs. As the homeless man spoke, he had a captive audience listening intently. As I walked up to the three as they talked, the homeless man said, “I still feel worthless some days.”
I responded immediately to his words with my own. I said, “You are definitely worth a lot to God and to us today!” He looked at me with shocked eyes. I wondered if anyone had ever told him how much worth he had to God in his new Christian life.
After making mistakes or messing up, it is easy to think yourself worthless. Depression and failures can make you feel like you don’t much matter. Medical issues can cause you to feel like you don’t have much strength or ability. Financial strains can cripple your net worth, prompting you to reevaluate your value to family and society. However, God views your worth in different measure. According to Revelation 3, a committed faith and repentant heart count for much. A life filled with deeds of righteousness matters. When you live faithfully relying on God, you are worthy. Your life has great value. God has deemed you precious.
Be careful you don’t ever view yourself as worthless when God deems you worthy. Also, don’t ever become Christian in name only, leaving your spiritual passion and righteous living behind. What could make you ever desire to become worthless before Heaven’s throne?
November 17
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13, NKJV)
Growing up, I often saw professional baseball players chewing tobacco. Many pitchers in the National Leagues used the stuff. I never got excited about the prospect of emulating their love of chewing tobacco. It tasted awful to me. I also knew that chewing tobacco increased the chances of certain types of cancer. I just didn’t think that allure was worth it. However, a couple of my friends on the high school baseball team did chew tobacco. When the coach found out about it, he immediately issued a rule that it was forbidden. Two of my friends continued to chew but hid their use of it.
After a big game against a rival school, one of the two inserted some chewing tobacco into his mouth before leaving the locker room. As he walked out of the building, the baseball coach was standing just outside. Not wanting to get caught chewing, he swallowed the mouthful. Gulp. The response by his body was not long coming. He grew sick to his stomach. His gut wrenched. He felt like throwing up. He was sick for hours. His body was not meant to ingest tobacco. In like manner, your soul was not meant to ingest sin.
When you sin, your body and mind and soul all react. Sin was not meant to live in you. When you sin, serious side effects begin to affect you. Unless you come clean, repent, and work through the sin, that sin will cause unwanted hurts and fears and pains and regrets. Buried sins can haunt you. They can fill you with remorse. Emotional and psychological trauma can easily result. Fears and self-loathing borne as a consequence of sin can darken your days and invade your dreams at night.
In our scripture for today, the author expresses that hidden sin will cause you to “not prosper” (Proverbs 28:13). Unconfessed sin will hold you back. It changes your future options. Sin has a way of dampening your enjoyment of life. In a study of what young people desire most in life today, prosperity was listed as one of the top five goals of their lives. They wanted to prosper financially and materially. I bet most of those who were in that study did not realize that hidden sin destroys future prosperity. It has a way of cutting you off from future growth and enjoyment, success and peace. Our scripture for today confirms this connection between covered or buried sin and the lack of prosperity in life.
The scripture for today also gives God’s prescription for hidden or covered sin. You need to “confess and forsake” those sins in order to find forgiveness and “mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). There are no shortcuts in this process. You can’t just ignore sin. It won’t go away. It will eat at you in ways you are not aware. You may bury it in your mind and think it gone forever, but then it will rear its ugly head again in the future. Would you cover up a wound in your arm with dirt to hide it? Wouldn’t it get infected? Probably. The same thing happens with sin that is buried with your past. It causes spiritual and emotional and psychological infections and illness in your heart and soul and mind.
When you sin, you must get that sin out of your life. The only good way to do that is with God’s help. An adequate prescription is found in the verse for today. First, you shouldn’t cover up that sin. Second, you need to confess that sin to God and/or to someone who can help you work out why you committed such an act. It often helps to discuss a sin with someone who loves you and cares about you. For centuries, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians have urged members to “go to confession”. There, with the help of a priest, a person would work through that sin with God’s help to find forgiveness. The third and final requirement to shed your sin involves “forsaking” that sin. That means to swear it off; to refuse it the next time you are tempted. Jesus told a woman who was accused of adultery that she was forgiven but needed to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). The final hurtle to ensure forgiveness is to endeavor never to fall prey to the same sin again in the future. Repeated sins are some of the most dangerous to your soul!
If you read closely this scripture above from Proverbs, you will find by the end of the verse that mercy is the result when you are forgiven. If you follow through the process of uncovering your sin, confessing your sin, and forsaking that sin in the future, what you will find is “mercy”. God will forgive you. God will cleanse your heart and soul and mind. There is no better way to get rid of the effects of sin. Anybody who tells you otherwise is lying.
After a big game against a rival school, one of the two inserted some chewing tobacco into his mouth before leaving the locker room. As he walked out of the building, the baseball coach was standing just outside. Not wanting to get caught chewing, he swallowed the mouthful. Gulp. The response by his body was not long coming. He grew sick to his stomach. His gut wrenched. He felt like throwing up. He was sick for hours. His body was not meant to ingest tobacco. In like manner, your soul was not meant to ingest sin.
When you sin, your body and mind and soul all react. Sin was not meant to live in you. When you sin, serious side effects begin to affect you. Unless you come clean, repent, and work through the sin, that sin will cause unwanted hurts and fears and pains and regrets. Buried sins can haunt you. They can fill you with remorse. Emotional and psychological trauma can easily result. Fears and self-loathing borne as a consequence of sin can darken your days and invade your dreams at night.
In our scripture for today, the author expresses that hidden sin will cause you to “not prosper” (Proverbs 28:13). Unconfessed sin will hold you back. It changes your future options. Sin has a way of dampening your enjoyment of life. In a study of what young people desire most in life today, prosperity was listed as one of the top five goals of their lives. They wanted to prosper financially and materially. I bet most of those who were in that study did not realize that hidden sin destroys future prosperity. It has a way of cutting you off from future growth and enjoyment, success and peace. Our scripture for today confirms this connection between covered or buried sin and the lack of prosperity in life.
The scripture for today also gives God’s prescription for hidden or covered sin. You need to “confess and forsake” those sins in order to find forgiveness and “mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). There are no shortcuts in this process. You can’t just ignore sin. It won’t go away. It will eat at you in ways you are not aware. You may bury it in your mind and think it gone forever, but then it will rear its ugly head again in the future. Would you cover up a wound in your arm with dirt to hide it? Wouldn’t it get infected? Probably. The same thing happens with sin that is buried with your past. It causes spiritual and emotional and psychological infections and illness in your heart and soul and mind.
When you sin, you must get that sin out of your life. The only good way to do that is with God’s help. An adequate prescription is found in the verse for today. First, you shouldn’t cover up that sin. Second, you need to confess that sin to God and/or to someone who can help you work out why you committed such an act. It often helps to discuss a sin with someone who loves you and cares about you. For centuries, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians have urged members to “go to confession”. There, with the help of a priest, a person would work through that sin with God’s help to find forgiveness. The third and final requirement to shed your sin involves “forsaking” that sin. That means to swear it off; to refuse it the next time you are tempted. Jesus told a woman who was accused of adultery that she was forgiven but needed to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). The final hurtle to ensure forgiveness is to endeavor never to fall prey to the same sin again in the future. Repeated sins are some of the most dangerous to your soul!
If you read closely this scripture above from Proverbs, you will find by the end of the verse that mercy is the result when you are forgiven. If you follow through the process of uncovering your sin, confessing your sin, and forsaking that sin in the future, what you will find is “mercy”. God will forgive you. God will cleanse your heart and soul and mind. There is no better way to get rid of the effects of sin. Anybody who tells you otherwise is lying.
November 19
“...but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”” (Hebrews 10:38, ESV)
Jake and Andrea were married for twelve years when their marriage hit a difficult patch of time. Until then, they seemed very happy with one another. Their two children had done well in school and were active in the Sunday School. The family was often at worship, helping out with mission projects, and active in several groups.
Two months after celebrating their twelfth wedding anniversary, Jake began to have some problems at work that were very stressful. Not wanting to bring his work problems home, he didn’t tell Andrea. To work off his stress, he began to go fishing more often. He also began to go out with his friends more regularly. At the same time, Andrea joined a book club at the local library. The kids were growing older, and she longed for more female friends. The sharing at the book club became the highlight of her week. She enjoyed the camaraderie and felt herself growing emotionally with each book they read. The combination of Jake’s stress and Andrea’s new friendships caused the two to pull away from each other. Jake was gone a lot. When he was home, he seemed unhappy. Andrea took care of the kids, which she loved doing, but felt that Jake wasn’t doing his part of the parenting. Soon, the two found themselves arguing a little too much and having sex only once every few weeks. Month after month found them pulling away from each other. Jake found comfort with his friends. Andrea began to complain more and more about Jake at her book club. The two were barely talking. Their marriage was in trouble.
After months more of frustrations with their marriage, Jake found out about a couple’s retreat sponsored by their church. He told Andrea that he wanted them to go. She said they couldn’t afford it and didn’t want to leave the kids with their grandparents for an entire weekend. She mentioned that the book club was having a book sale to raise funds for new projects that weekend, and she didn’t want to miss it. In the weeks following this exchange, Jake and Andrea began to pull away even further from each other. When she would complain, he would roll his eyes and walk off. When Jake went out with his friends, he came home drunk more and more frequently. The family began to skip worship and Sunday school. The cohesiveness began to disintegrate. The marriage was failing. It wasn’t obvious how bad it was until Andrea stormed out with the kids one evening to visit her family. They didn’t come home for three days.
At this point in their story, Jake and Andrea came to visit me. During the first few counseling sessions, we began to see patterns of behavior that damaged their relationship. The most common was their pulling away from each other. The more stressful Jake’s job became, the more he pulled away from Andrea. The more that Andrea got involved with her friends and the kids, the more she ignored Jake. The two felt miles apart. Despite their differences, I began to work with them on this separation. Over time, they began to grow closer and more loving. After months in counseling, their marriage healed nicely. Their faith helped them to weather this storm. A deep love for God brought them together. They were able to share more, communicate more effectively, and found time to go out on dates! The animosity was replaced with renewed love and care.
What drove this couple into marriage problems was the way in which circumstances pulled them away from each other. This happens in often in marriages, friendships, and relationships. When one person pulls away, the other may become lonely or hurt. Inevitably, the distancing causes problems with communication. There are less chances to show affection and care and love. This same pulling away can also be found in your relationship with God. When busy, you might be tempted to sleep in on Sunday mornings instead of going to worship. Having a problem with someone at church, you might find it easier to just stay away for a while. Stress might cause you to be miles away when the pastor preaches. A sin might make you feel uncomfortable around your pastor. Long days at work might shrink your prayer time. Depression may make you feel like pulling back from commitments. Problems in your life or serious health issues may cause you to put the blame on God. There are many things that may pull you away from God and weaken your faith. Though needing to get closer with God, many people choose to pull back from God instead. This will never bring good results.
The scripture for today from Hebrews 10 was written for the benefit of early Christians who had pulled away from God. Due to persecution at that time period, many Christians pulled away from the faith. They found it easier to stay away from worship and those in need. At a time when God wanted the faithful to rely on one another, too many left behind their faith and commitments. Like the disciples who fled Jesus when he was arrested (Mark 14:50), the followers to whom Hebrews was written “shrank back” when God wanted them to pull together (Hebrews 10:38).
Our scripture for today from Hebrews urged the Christians to remain “righteous” and have “faith” during difficult times. Instead of “shrinking back” from one another and God, they were encouraged to be of good courage, remain faithful, continue their righteous work, and hold tightly to God in Christ.
When the strains and pressures of life press down upon you, do you pull back from God? When your life gets busy or you get stressed, do you shrink back from your responsibilities? Does your faith falter when challenged? Do you let people or things come between you and God, between you and those you love, between you and friends in Christ? Pulling away, running away, and shrinking back from your responsibilities and faith don’t just hurt hose you love. God sees "no pleasure" coming from a faithful person who pulls back from a righteous life (Hebrews 10:38b).
Two months after celebrating their twelfth wedding anniversary, Jake began to have some problems at work that were very stressful. Not wanting to bring his work problems home, he didn’t tell Andrea. To work off his stress, he began to go fishing more often. He also began to go out with his friends more regularly. At the same time, Andrea joined a book club at the local library. The kids were growing older, and she longed for more female friends. The sharing at the book club became the highlight of her week. She enjoyed the camaraderie and felt herself growing emotionally with each book they read. The combination of Jake’s stress and Andrea’s new friendships caused the two to pull away from each other. Jake was gone a lot. When he was home, he seemed unhappy. Andrea took care of the kids, which she loved doing, but felt that Jake wasn’t doing his part of the parenting. Soon, the two found themselves arguing a little too much and having sex only once every few weeks. Month after month found them pulling away from each other. Jake found comfort with his friends. Andrea began to complain more and more about Jake at her book club. The two were barely talking. Their marriage was in trouble.
After months more of frustrations with their marriage, Jake found out about a couple’s retreat sponsored by their church. He told Andrea that he wanted them to go. She said they couldn’t afford it and didn’t want to leave the kids with their grandparents for an entire weekend. She mentioned that the book club was having a book sale to raise funds for new projects that weekend, and she didn’t want to miss it. In the weeks following this exchange, Jake and Andrea began to pull away even further from each other. When she would complain, he would roll his eyes and walk off. When Jake went out with his friends, he came home drunk more and more frequently. The family began to skip worship and Sunday school. The cohesiveness began to disintegrate. The marriage was failing. It wasn’t obvious how bad it was until Andrea stormed out with the kids one evening to visit her family. They didn’t come home for three days.
At this point in their story, Jake and Andrea came to visit me. During the first few counseling sessions, we began to see patterns of behavior that damaged their relationship. The most common was their pulling away from each other. The more stressful Jake’s job became, the more he pulled away from Andrea. The more that Andrea got involved with her friends and the kids, the more she ignored Jake. The two felt miles apart. Despite their differences, I began to work with them on this separation. Over time, they began to grow closer and more loving. After months in counseling, their marriage healed nicely. Their faith helped them to weather this storm. A deep love for God brought them together. They were able to share more, communicate more effectively, and found time to go out on dates! The animosity was replaced with renewed love and care.
What drove this couple into marriage problems was the way in which circumstances pulled them away from each other. This happens in often in marriages, friendships, and relationships. When one person pulls away, the other may become lonely or hurt. Inevitably, the distancing causes problems with communication. There are less chances to show affection and care and love. This same pulling away can also be found in your relationship with God. When busy, you might be tempted to sleep in on Sunday mornings instead of going to worship. Having a problem with someone at church, you might find it easier to just stay away for a while. Stress might cause you to be miles away when the pastor preaches. A sin might make you feel uncomfortable around your pastor. Long days at work might shrink your prayer time. Depression may make you feel like pulling back from commitments. Problems in your life or serious health issues may cause you to put the blame on God. There are many things that may pull you away from God and weaken your faith. Though needing to get closer with God, many people choose to pull back from God instead. This will never bring good results.
The scripture for today from Hebrews 10 was written for the benefit of early Christians who had pulled away from God. Due to persecution at that time period, many Christians pulled away from the faith. They found it easier to stay away from worship and those in need. At a time when God wanted the faithful to rely on one another, too many left behind their faith and commitments. Like the disciples who fled Jesus when he was arrested (Mark 14:50), the followers to whom Hebrews was written “shrank back” when God wanted them to pull together (Hebrews 10:38).
Our scripture for today from Hebrews urged the Christians to remain “righteous” and have “faith” during difficult times. Instead of “shrinking back” from one another and God, they were encouraged to be of good courage, remain faithful, continue their righteous work, and hold tightly to God in Christ.
When the strains and pressures of life press down upon you, do you pull back from God? When your life gets busy or you get stressed, do you shrink back from your responsibilities? Does your faith falter when challenged? Do you let people or things come between you and God, between you and those you love, between you and friends in Christ? Pulling away, running away, and shrinking back from your responsibilities and faith don’t just hurt hose you love. God sees "no pleasure" coming from a faithful person who pulls back from a righteous life (Hebrews 10:38b).
November 23
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philemon 1–3, NIV84)
When writing to Philemon, Paul and Timothy addressed their short (one-chapter) letter with warm and caring words. They called Philemon a “dear friend and fellow worker” for Christ (Philemon 1). The apostles also sent words of care and comfort to Apphia and Archippus, whom tradition names as Philemon’s wife and son. They ended the introduction of the letter asking for God’s “grace” and “peace” to be forthcoming (Philemon 3). It is a typical letter format for the early apostles like Paul and Timothy.
What I would like you to notice in the scripture above is that Philemon, Apphia and Archippus all were a part of a church that met in Philemon’s home (Philemon 2). These small churches were called “house churches” because they usually met in a person’s house or on their property. There is not a lot of archaeological evidence to give us a real picture of the size of a house church nor the layout of the worship space. What we do know is that in New Testament times, the people often didn’t build a “church”. In fact, the word “church” usually referred to a group of PEOPLE who worshiped at a particular place (as used here in Philemon 2) or to describe the whole of Christianity (1 Timothy 3:5,15). The place early Christians worshiped in many cases was a simple house or home. Sometimes, the church met in the house of a widow (Colossians 4:15). House churches also met in the homes of couples such as Aquila and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:19). These house churches formed the first places of worship for the earliest Christians less than one hundred years after Jesus’ resurrection.
If you didn’t have a place to worship in your city, would you open up your house to the faithful? I have encountered many Christians who have opened up their homes for Bible Studies, Small Group meetings, worship, and more. Their home is not just a personal space, it is a holy space meant for whatever purpose God deems worthy. Early Christianity thrived in the homes of faithful people just like you. It can also thrive when you make your home a refuge for God’s people.
The Christian church in China has for decades suffered brutal repression and persecution. When communistic regimes took power not long after World War Two, repression and persecution among Christians ensued. The atheistic state deemed Christianity to be a threat to its existence. Most church buildings were closed. Many were destroyed outright. The worshipers had to gather in stealth. For many Christians in modern China, house churches are their only option for worship. In fact, I pray daily for two "house church leaders" in China. These Chinese Christians have dedicated themselves to open as many homes as possible for the gospel message!
In this holiday-filled time of year, many people will gather in homes of relatives and friends. They might meet together for a Thanksgiving dinner. A friend may offer a warm meal and conversation during the Christmas season. A person from work might invite some friends to a party. As you gather, remember those Christians in years past who made a safe place for the faithful. As you eat together, consider the early Christians who shared communion around a dinner table. When you pray, remember the faithful who sat together before a fireplace for warmth and sought God’s protection while in prayer. As you enjoy the season, consider what you could do to help others experience Christ when visiting your home!
What I would like you to notice in the scripture above is that Philemon, Apphia and Archippus all were a part of a church that met in Philemon’s home (Philemon 2). These small churches were called “house churches” because they usually met in a person’s house or on their property. There is not a lot of archaeological evidence to give us a real picture of the size of a house church nor the layout of the worship space. What we do know is that in New Testament times, the people often didn’t build a “church”. In fact, the word “church” usually referred to a group of PEOPLE who worshiped at a particular place (as used here in Philemon 2) or to describe the whole of Christianity (1 Timothy 3:5,15). The place early Christians worshiped in many cases was a simple house or home. Sometimes, the church met in the house of a widow (Colossians 4:15). House churches also met in the homes of couples such as Aquila and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:19). These house churches formed the first places of worship for the earliest Christians less than one hundred years after Jesus’ resurrection.
If you didn’t have a place to worship in your city, would you open up your house to the faithful? I have encountered many Christians who have opened up their homes for Bible Studies, Small Group meetings, worship, and more. Their home is not just a personal space, it is a holy space meant for whatever purpose God deems worthy. Early Christianity thrived in the homes of faithful people just like you. It can also thrive when you make your home a refuge for God’s people.
The Christian church in China has for decades suffered brutal repression and persecution. When communistic regimes took power not long after World War Two, repression and persecution among Christians ensued. The atheistic state deemed Christianity to be a threat to its existence. Most church buildings were closed. Many were destroyed outright. The worshipers had to gather in stealth. For many Christians in modern China, house churches are their only option for worship. In fact, I pray daily for two "house church leaders" in China. These Chinese Christians have dedicated themselves to open as many homes as possible for the gospel message!
In this holiday-filled time of year, many people will gather in homes of relatives and friends. They might meet together for a Thanksgiving dinner. A friend may offer a warm meal and conversation during the Christmas season. A person from work might invite some friends to a party. As you gather, remember those Christians in years past who made a safe place for the faithful. As you eat together, consider the early Christians who shared communion around a dinner table. When you pray, remember the faithful who sat together before a fireplace for warmth and sought God’s protection while in prayer. As you enjoy the season, consider what you could do to help others experience Christ when visiting your home!
November 24
“John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.” (Mark 9:38–41, ESV)
Have you ever heard someone say that anyone who is not in their church or denomination or religious group is lesser? I heard a sermon thirty years ago which stated that a person who is not Wisconsin Synod Lutheran is not right with God. A Roman Catholic priest told my parents that they were going to hell, because they were not practicing Catholics. He also said that to give them communion was a waste of bread and wine because “they were going to hell anyway”. A man from an independent Baptist church once said that he couldn’t talk with me, because I was not saved according to his church’s standards. A friend told me that my kids could no longer play with his kids, because he just joined a church where fraternizing with “lost” people was playing with the devil. I witnessed a liberal pastor tell a woman that her beliefs were “so quaint and very outdated”. In doing so, the pastor looked at the woman as if she could hardly be considered a worthy, intellectual, discerning Episcopal member. Many, many Christians get caught up in religious elitism where they pick and choose who is saved and not saved, holy and unholy, righteous and unrighteous. These folks often make their determinations based on traditions, denominations, worldly views, and selfish principles. Jesus’ words in the scripture for today are a slap in the face to these practices and thoughts.
While staying in the town of Capernaum, Jesus took the time to converse with and teach his disciples. During the dialogue, John mentioned to Jesus that his group of the disciples had witnessed “someone casting out demons” in Jesus name (Mark 9:38). On seeing this occur, the disciples “tried to stop him”. The man was not a “true follower” of Jesus. How dare someone just go out and do God’s work without being an “official” disciple!!!! Yes, I’m being facetious. The disciples were exhibiting their own form of elitist thinking. They didn’t stop the man because he was doing an exorcism incorrectly. They tried to stop the man because he wasn’t one of the twelve. He wasn’t part of the close inner-circle of Jesus. Jesus’ response was quick and corrective. He commanded the disciples, saying “DO NOT stop him” (Mark 9:39). Jesus explained his chastisement in two ways. First, the man who used Jesus’ name to fight demons was doing “a mighty work” or “miracle”. This person wasn’t likely to denigrate faith in Jesus if he was calling upon the name of Jesus in spiritual warfare against evil. To further explain, Jesus taught the disciples that “the one who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40). Jesus didn’t view this rogue man doing exorcisms in Jesus’ name as an “outsider”. In contrast, Jesus viewed the man as worthy, part of the movement, and to be respected. He might even receive a heavenly “reward” (Mark 9:41)!
Are there people who you might view as an “outsider” in the faith, but whom Jesus might praise for doing great things for God? Are you wary of those who don’t belong to your church or denomination? Do you see yourself as greater than others due to your station in life? Do you look down upon others who don’t have your level of Biblical knowledge? Do you make fun of people who pray differently from your own methods? Do you look down on those whose worship is different from your own? Be very careful of the many forms of exclusion and elitism that can creep into your spiritual life or thoughts. As Jesus taught His disciples in the scripture for today, these thoughts and actions are not right before God.
Twenty years ago, a group of Christians from all over the world gathered in Chicago. I was among them. The gathering was meant to study how to do missions and evangelism. It was sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. After one of the sessions, seven of us men grouped together to pray. At least four of those in our prayer circle were from overseas. When one of the men spoke during the prayer, his English was difficult to understand. He fought to express the right words. When the prayer was finished, one young man from Yale said to me, “I could hardly understand him.” Another from the prayer circle overheard him say it and said, “What is amazing to me is that despite his inability to speak English, the guy has brought several thousand people into the faith in Korea. He’s a powerful missionary evangelist there!” I was wonderfully amazed. God can use people in so many ways to accomplish His great work! You just never know!
Be careful that you don’t judge another unworthy, when God has not. Don’t look down on another Christian just because he or she is spiritually a little different. Don’t write off someone because they come from another viewpoint in the world. God can see what you do not! Jesus might think very differently about the person you deem unfit. Then, how will you look to our Lord?
While staying in the town of Capernaum, Jesus took the time to converse with and teach his disciples. During the dialogue, John mentioned to Jesus that his group of the disciples had witnessed “someone casting out demons” in Jesus name (Mark 9:38). On seeing this occur, the disciples “tried to stop him”. The man was not a “true follower” of Jesus. How dare someone just go out and do God’s work without being an “official” disciple!!!! Yes, I’m being facetious. The disciples were exhibiting their own form of elitist thinking. They didn’t stop the man because he was doing an exorcism incorrectly. They tried to stop the man because he wasn’t one of the twelve. He wasn’t part of the close inner-circle of Jesus. Jesus’ response was quick and corrective. He commanded the disciples, saying “DO NOT stop him” (Mark 9:39). Jesus explained his chastisement in two ways. First, the man who used Jesus’ name to fight demons was doing “a mighty work” or “miracle”. This person wasn’t likely to denigrate faith in Jesus if he was calling upon the name of Jesus in spiritual warfare against evil. To further explain, Jesus taught the disciples that “the one who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40). Jesus didn’t view this rogue man doing exorcisms in Jesus’ name as an “outsider”. In contrast, Jesus viewed the man as worthy, part of the movement, and to be respected. He might even receive a heavenly “reward” (Mark 9:41)!
Are there people who you might view as an “outsider” in the faith, but whom Jesus might praise for doing great things for God? Are you wary of those who don’t belong to your church or denomination? Do you see yourself as greater than others due to your station in life? Do you look down upon others who don’t have your level of Biblical knowledge? Do you make fun of people who pray differently from your own methods? Do you look down on those whose worship is different from your own? Be very careful of the many forms of exclusion and elitism that can creep into your spiritual life or thoughts. As Jesus taught His disciples in the scripture for today, these thoughts and actions are not right before God.
Twenty years ago, a group of Christians from all over the world gathered in Chicago. I was among them. The gathering was meant to study how to do missions and evangelism. It was sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. After one of the sessions, seven of us men grouped together to pray. At least four of those in our prayer circle were from overseas. When one of the men spoke during the prayer, his English was difficult to understand. He fought to express the right words. When the prayer was finished, one young man from Yale said to me, “I could hardly understand him.” Another from the prayer circle overheard him say it and said, “What is amazing to me is that despite his inability to speak English, the guy has brought several thousand people into the faith in Korea. He’s a powerful missionary evangelist there!” I was wonderfully amazed. God can use people in so many ways to accomplish His great work! You just never know!
Be careful that you don’t judge another unworthy, when God has not. Don’t look down on another Christian just because he or she is spiritually a little different. Don’t write off someone because they come from another viewpoint in the world. God can see what you do not! Jesus might think very differently about the person you deem unfit. Then, how will you look to our Lord?
November 26
“I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,” (Ephesians 1:16–18, NRSV)
Your eyes tell you a whole lot about the world. They show you when it is light and dark. You can determine friend from foe at a distance. Eyes can help you to navigate through treacherous terrain. They can help you to defend yourself as well as see a spouse’s smile. The eyes can be used to watch over a child, observe signs of illness or distress, and keep you aware of what is going on around you.
The scripture for today mentions that you have more eyes than those on the front of your forehead. Your heart also has eyes (Ephesians 1:17). With those “heart-eyes”, you can see things that the eyes of your forehead cannot. “Heart-eyes” take in all the information of your body and mind and soul and help you to understand things that the eyes of your forehead will miss. According to the scripture for today, the “eyes of your heart” can enlighten your way in life. They can give you hope (Ephesians 1:18). They can sense God’s call. They can perceive God’s voice. Your “heart-eyes” can warm your soul with the knowledge that you have a “glorious inheritance” awaiting you in heaven (Ephesians 1:18).
A big problem with many people today is that while they might be good at using the eyes on their forehead, they are very poor at using the eyes of their heart. Many atheists will only believe what the eyes of their forehead can see, totally ignoring the perception that the “eyes of the heart” can give. People who have been hurt can have such sorrow that the eyes of their heart can be overflowing with tears. Emotions thus can cloud their vision. Others may find that strong emotions arising in the heart due to love, infatuation, lust, or feeling can “blind” the heart. The eyes of the heart will thus not be able to see clearly. I’ve met many business-minded people who were so consumed by work and profits that they ignored the loneliness and longing of the heart. Often, they would close the eyes of the heart to emotions and love and feelings, choosing to suppress these in favor of money or success.
When I met Georgia, she was suffering greatly. Her husband was dying of cancer. Her eyes were often bloodshot with the many tears she endured. Through counseling, we worked through he grief and pain and fear. Knowing her husband was dying caused her heart to ache with pain. She feared the loss of her “other half”, her husband. After her husband died, Georgia worked through the grief and pain over many months. At one of our last counseling sessions a year after her husband died, I asked Georgia if she would ever consider remarrying. Though only in her fifties, she said, “Absolutely not. Never. No way.” I asked her to pray about this and reconsider. Her heart was broken, and the eyes of her heart could not see the possibility of loving arms from another husband.
Three years later, Georgia met a wonderful man who cared for her deeply. In time, they fell in love and were married. They are wonderful together. I teased Georgia about her statement to me that she would “never” consider remarriage. She admitted her reluctance to see any possibility of marriage at the time. In our conversation, she told me that when she met her second husband, it was as if her heart warmed and she could see a future with him. When this happened, it gave her renewed hope that she could have love again. It surprised her to no end. Georgia’s “heart-eyes” had opened again!
Some people go through life with the eyes of their heart closed ever so tightly. They can’t see hope, possibility, the presence of God, nor feel the warmth of true faith. Those who have opened the eyes of the heart can see so much more. They not only can see with the eyes on the forehead but can perceive things that are beyond physical sight. They can sense things that the eyes on one’s forehead cannot ever hope to see.
Just as there are people who have “keen eyesight” that can pick up things clearly at a distance, those with keen “heart eyes” can perceive things that others cannot. They may feel danger before others. They may sense God’s Holy Spirit working in a situation. They may become aware of something being wrong with a person even before others notice any physical signs. The heart-eyes of these individuals can pick up on love or hate or deception before others. They may use the eyes on the forehead for information, but the heart-eyes can process so much more deeply what is going on around them.
I have found that prayer helps to inform and develop one’s “heart-eyes” in a great way. Also, as mentioned in Ephesians 1:18, those with well developed heart-eyes can sense hope where others see no options. They can “see” faith working, where others are left with only simple facts or knowledge.
This week, talk with God in prayer about your “heart-eyes”. See if you can develop better sight for your heart to see. If there is something that is blinding or deceiving your heart’s eyes, work through the emotions or pain or issues that have kept your heart eyes from opening you up to a world that is much greater than just the physical. You might be surprised to learn that you are missing so much while your heart is blinded. There is much more to life than seeing with the eyes on your forehead. When seeing clearly, the eyes of your heart can open you up to a whole new world of possibilities and realities!
The scripture for today mentions that you have more eyes than those on the front of your forehead. Your heart also has eyes (Ephesians 1:17). With those “heart-eyes”, you can see things that the eyes of your forehead cannot. “Heart-eyes” take in all the information of your body and mind and soul and help you to understand things that the eyes of your forehead will miss. According to the scripture for today, the “eyes of your heart” can enlighten your way in life. They can give you hope (Ephesians 1:18). They can sense God’s call. They can perceive God’s voice. Your “heart-eyes” can warm your soul with the knowledge that you have a “glorious inheritance” awaiting you in heaven (Ephesians 1:18).
A big problem with many people today is that while they might be good at using the eyes on their forehead, they are very poor at using the eyes of their heart. Many atheists will only believe what the eyes of their forehead can see, totally ignoring the perception that the “eyes of the heart” can give. People who have been hurt can have such sorrow that the eyes of their heart can be overflowing with tears. Emotions thus can cloud their vision. Others may find that strong emotions arising in the heart due to love, infatuation, lust, or feeling can “blind” the heart. The eyes of the heart will thus not be able to see clearly. I’ve met many business-minded people who were so consumed by work and profits that they ignored the loneliness and longing of the heart. Often, they would close the eyes of the heart to emotions and love and feelings, choosing to suppress these in favor of money or success.
When I met Georgia, she was suffering greatly. Her husband was dying of cancer. Her eyes were often bloodshot with the many tears she endured. Through counseling, we worked through he grief and pain and fear. Knowing her husband was dying caused her heart to ache with pain. She feared the loss of her “other half”, her husband. After her husband died, Georgia worked through the grief and pain over many months. At one of our last counseling sessions a year after her husband died, I asked Georgia if she would ever consider remarrying. Though only in her fifties, she said, “Absolutely not. Never. No way.” I asked her to pray about this and reconsider. Her heart was broken, and the eyes of her heart could not see the possibility of loving arms from another husband.
Three years later, Georgia met a wonderful man who cared for her deeply. In time, they fell in love and were married. They are wonderful together. I teased Georgia about her statement to me that she would “never” consider remarriage. She admitted her reluctance to see any possibility of marriage at the time. In our conversation, she told me that when she met her second husband, it was as if her heart warmed and she could see a future with him. When this happened, it gave her renewed hope that she could have love again. It surprised her to no end. Georgia’s “heart-eyes” had opened again!
Some people go through life with the eyes of their heart closed ever so tightly. They can’t see hope, possibility, the presence of God, nor feel the warmth of true faith. Those who have opened the eyes of the heart can see so much more. They not only can see with the eyes on the forehead but can perceive things that are beyond physical sight. They can sense things that the eyes on one’s forehead cannot ever hope to see.
Just as there are people who have “keen eyesight” that can pick up things clearly at a distance, those with keen “heart eyes” can perceive things that others cannot. They may feel danger before others. They may sense God’s Holy Spirit working in a situation. They may become aware of something being wrong with a person even before others notice any physical signs. The heart-eyes of these individuals can pick up on love or hate or deception before others. They may use the eyes on the forehead for information, but the heart-eyes can process so much more deeply what is going on around them.
I have found that prayer helps to inform and develop one’s “heart-eyes” in a great way. Also, as mentioned in Ephesians 1:18, those with well developed heart-eyes can sense hope where others see no options. They can “see” faith working, where others are left with only simple facts or knowledge.
This week, talk with God in prayer about your “heart-eyes”. See if you can develop better sight for your heart to see. If there is something that is blinding or deceiving your heart’s eyes, work through the emotions or pain or issues that have kept your heart eyes from opening you up to a world that is much greater than just the physical. You might be surprised to learn that you are missing so much while your heart is blinded. There is much more to life than seeing with the eyes on your forehead. When seeing clearly, the eyes of your heart can open you up to a whole new world of possibilities and realities!
November 28
“He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.” (Romans 8:4, NLT)
There are a great many people who walk this earth believing their goals and failures and promise and success hinges on their genes or past. They believe that if you were born with good genes, you will most certainly succeed in life; and if you were born with a bad genetic history, you are doomed to repeat the failures of your ancestors. In counseling, I’ve heard people complain that that they should not be held responsible for their past mistakes, because it was in their genes. I’ve witnessed others who have a big bad event in their past that looms over their present days. Today’s scripture reminds us that your sinful past or genetic predispositions do not hinder you from living a holy and virtuous and joyful life. When you follow God’s Spirit, you are living a new life dedicated by God and blessed by God’s direction. When you repented of your sins and took on a new life in Christ, the slate was wiped clean. Your relationship with God began anew. Following God’s Holy Spirit from now on instead of your sinful nature will bless you in ways you cannot even comprehend.
“Perhaps your childhood memories bring more hurt than inspiration. The voices of your past cursed you, belittled you, ignored you. At the time, you thought such treatment was typical. Now you see it isn’t. And now you find yourself trying to explain your past. Do you rise above the past and make a difference? Or do you remain controlled by the past and make excuses?
Think about this. Spiritual life comes from the Spirit! Your parents may have given you genes, but God gives you grace. Your parents may be responsible for your body, but God has taken charge of your soul. You may get your looks from your mother, but you get eternity from your Father, your heavenly Father. And God is willing to give you what your family didn’t…” (Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 350). God wants you to have a blessed life and holy future.
Letting go of your sinful past is very important to the Christian. When you become a Christian, your life starts over to some extent. Past sins are wiped away. Leave behind the “sinful nature” that caused you to suffer and choose to follow God first and foremost (Romans 8:4). Deciding to follow the Holy Spirit in your life involves giving your old sins to God, and following God’s direction from here on out. God is responsible for the steps you take while following HIS Holy Spirit. Your past can’t control you if you give it to God. Your genes may try to manipulate your future, but God can overcome any past you bring to the table. Are you willing to let go of your past, your history, your genetic forebears in order to follow the path God sets before you?
When you choose to follow God, you will need to let go of some things from your past. God will direct you in this endeavor. Past mistakes and sins may try to manipulate you in the present, but God will show you which steps to take in order to be faithful. Don’t dwell on "what-ifs" when God is calling the shots. Let God be God. Let God take the lead. If He forgives your past mistakes and sins, shouldn’t you? If He chose you, despite where you came from, why should you have self-doubts? Don’t you think God can overcome your past? I know HE can.
Lynn grew up in a dysfunctional family. When she was five years old, she was sexually assaulted. At the tender age of nine, her mother told her that she was a mistake. Her parents hadn’t wanted any more children, and Lynn was an “oops” pregnancy. Experiencing this history, Lynn always felt inferior, unwanted, and insecure. She let this past control her life. She let it beat her down.
Then, one day, she was introduced to Jesus by a friend at school. Excited by stories of our Savior, she began to pray and read the Bible. When she went to college, she found close friends in a Bible Study group begun by Navigators International. She dated and eventually married a young man from that Bible Study group.
Now in her forties, Lynn is working through some depression. She looks back in her younger days and has regrets. In her deepest heart, she harbors deep emotional scars. She did not let God save this part of her life. Instead, she buried this terrible past. Lynn does not realize it yet, but the only way she will really find peace and closeness with God is to give all those dark thoughts of her past to God. She will have to realize that she is not the sum of her parent’s mistakes nor her past. When she chose God, she inherited forgiveness and grace. Today, she is going to have to shed that past and accept the grace and love God is offering. She will have to choose whether to be tortured her past or accept God’s love. She can no longer hold onto both.
When you offer yourself to God, it comes with a cost. You will have to choose whether to hold onto a sinful past or sinful nature or to follow God totally and completely. Have you made this decision yet? Do you let your sinful nature come back to haunt your present days? How often do you feel the warmth of God’s love hitting every place in your heart and mind?
“Perhaps your childhood memories bring more hurt than inspiration. The voices of your past cursed you, belittled you, ignored you. At the time, you thought such treatment was typical. Now you see it isn’t. And now you find yourself trying to explain your past. Do you rise above the past and make a difference? Or do you remain controlled by the past and make excuses?
Think about this. Spiritual life comes from the Spirit! Your parents may have given you genes, but God gives you grace. Your parents may be responsible for your body, but God has taken charge of your soul. You may get your looks from your mother, but you get eternity from your Father, your heavenly Father. And God is willing to give you what your family didn’t…” (Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 350). God wants you to have a blessed life and holy future.
Letting go of your sinful past is very important to the Christian. When you become a Christian, your life starts over to some extent. Past sins are wiped away. Leave behind the “sinful nature” that caused you to suffer and choose to follow God first and foremost (Romans 8:4). Deciding to follow the Holy Spirit in your life involves giving your old sins to God, and following God’s direction from here on out. God is responsible for the steps you take while following HIS Holy Spirit. Your past can’t control you if you give it to God. Your genes may try to manipulate your future, but God can overcome any past you bring to the table. Are you willing to let go of your past, your history, your genetic forebears in order to follow the path God sets before you?
When you choose to follow God, you will need to let go of some things from your past. God will direct you in this endeavor. Past mistakes and sins may try to manipulate you in the present, but God will show you which steps to take in order to be faithful. Don’t dwell on "what-ifs" when God is calling the shots. Let God be God. Let God take the lead. If He forgives your past mistakes and sins, shouldn’t you? If He chose you, despite where you came from, why should you have self-doubts? Don’t you think God can overcome your past? I know HE can.
Lynn grew up in a dysfunctional family. When she was five years old, she was sexually assaulted. At the tender age of nine, her mother told her that she was a mistake. Her parents hadn’t wanted any more children, and Lynn was an “oops” pregnancy. Experiencing this history, Lynn always felt inferior, unwanted, and insecure. She let this past control her life. She let it beat her down.
Then, one day, she was introduced to Jesus by a friend at school. Excited by stories of our Savior, she began to pray and read the Bible. When she went to college, she found close friends in a Bible Study group begun by Navigators International. She dated and eventually married a young man from that Bible Study group.
Now in her forties, Lynn is working through some depression. She looks back in her younger days and has regrets. In her deepest heart, she harbors deep emotional scars. She did not let God save this part of her life. Instead, she buried this terrible past. Lynn does not realize it yet, but the only way she will really find peace and closeness with God is to give all those dark thoughts of her past to God. She will have to realize that she is not the sum of her parent’s mistakes nor her past. When she chose God, she inherited forgiveness and grace. Today, she is going to have to shed that past and accept the grace and love God is offering. She will have to choose whether to be tortured her past or accept God’s love. She can no longer hold onto both.
When you offer yourself to God, it comes with a cost. You will have to choose whether to hold onto a sinful past or sinful nature or to follow God totally and completely. Have you made this decision yet? Do you let your sinful nature come back to haunt your present days? How often do you feel the warmth of God’s love hitting every place in your heart and mind?
November 29
“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.” (2 Timothy 2:13, NLT)
The scripture above describes Jesus. It also describes the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit as well. They are faithful. Faithfulness is part of their character, their innate being. If they were to stop being faithful, they would no longer be God, for God “remains faithful”. However, even though God is faithful, human beings are given the choice to be faithful or be unfaithful. A faithful person doesn’t change God’s character. An unfaithful person does not change “who God is” (2 Timothy 2:13). Humans may or may not be faithful, whereas God will always be faithful.
Can you imagine what it would be like if God was not faithful? Among the Greek gods, there were many stories of unfaithfulness. The Greek God Zeus cheated on his wife Hera many times. When Hera found out about Hercules being born from another woman, she tried to have him killed. Adultery, swindling, tricks, underhanded power plays and more were common among the Greek gods. They were feared but could not be trusted to be faithful. The character of our God is entirely different. Our God is inherently faithful. You can trust in His Word, find hope in His grace, and rest assured that He is listening to the prayers of the faithful.
God not only is faithful in character, God desires the same quality in you. God wants you to be faithful. Even if others are not faithful to you, you must be faithful to God.
Dave P. made a promise to his sister as she was dying. He would take care of her kids. He would take them in and raise them as his own. When his sister died, Dave took custody of his sister’s two daughters. Dave and his wife, Karen, opened their home to the girls. They made sure the two girls had everything they needed. They showered them with love. Family outings were filled with many good memories. Then, the oldest girl, Sandy, turned sixteen and began to act out. She constantly broke rules, was caught smoking at school, was cited for underage drinking, and served detention on several occasions. When seventeen, Sandy was arrested a second time for underage drinking. Dave went to pick her up from the police station. On the way home in the car, Sandy blurt out, “How can you love me? My Dad left us. My mom died. I’m all alone. Nobody gives a crap about me.”
Thinking for a few moments, Dave reiterated that Sandy was loved. Then he told her that even though she had done so much wrong, he would continue to love Sandy forever. He mentioned how he loved Sandy’s mother and how he would love Sandy. Sandy didn’t have to love Dave, but Dave would always love Sandy. Dave was there to help her for the long haul, for life. In that one moment, it finally broke through to Sandy that Dave really did love her. From that day until today, Sandy has always had a very soft spot in her heart for “my Dave” as she called him.
Having a faithful character is not only part of God’s makeup. It should be part of your intrinsic values as well. When others can count on you to do the right thing, it will help other good people to develop trust in you. Some people may take advantage of your faithfulness, attempting to manipulate you. This sinful action should not stop you from being faithful to God or being a faithful person. It just means you must be wary of those who would use your goodness for evil.
In the scripture for today, we are taught that even when we are unfaithful, God “remains faithful”. Many people complain that God is responsible for atrocities in our world. You might hear them say that “if God was God, he would stop evil from happening.” God has given us the right to choose between good and evil. Some humans choose evil and perpetrate it upon others. This doesn’t mean God is unfaithful. It means that people may not be faithful or trustworthy or good or helpful. In the end, God will deal with evil. In the meantime, faithfulness is a way for God to separate who is like Him and who is not. The more faithful and trustworthy you are, the more you show how much you love God.
Can God trust you? Would others describe you as faithful and true? God is faithful to fulfill all His promises. To the unrighteous, God’s judgment day will come. If you are faithful, you can rest assured that God has a home for you in Heaven. Have faith in God. HE will follow through in your life. HE can be trusted. HE will be there for you.
Can you imagine what it would be like if God was not faithful? Among the Greek gods, there were many stories of unfaithfulness. The Greek God Zeus cheated on his wife Hera many times. When Hera found out about Hercules being born from another woman, she tried to have him killed. Adultery, swindling, tricks, underhanded power plays and more were common among the Greek gods. They were feared but could not be trusted to be faithful. The character of our God is entirely different. Our God is inherently faithful. You can trust in His Word, find hope in His grace, and rest assured that He is listening to the prayers of the faithful.
God not only is faithful in character, God desires the same quality in you. God wants you to be faithful. Even if others are not faithful to you, you must be faithful to God.
Dave P. made a promise to his sister as she was dying. He would take care of her kids. He would take them in and raise them as his own. When his sister died, Dave took custody of his sister’s two daughters. Dave and his wife, Karen, opened their home to the girls. They made sure the two girls had everything they needed. They showered them with love. Family outings were filled with many good memories. Then, the oldest girl, Sandy, turned sixteen and began to act out. She constantly broke rules, was caught smoking at school, was cited for underage drinking, and served detention on several occasions. When seventeen, Sandy was arrested a second time for underage drinking. Dave went to pick her up from the police station. On the way home in the car, Sandy blurt out, “How can you love me? My Dad left us. My mom died. I’m all alone. Nobody gives a crap about me.”
Thinking for a few moments, Dave reiterated that Sandy was loved. Then he told her that even though she had done so much wrong, he would continue to love Sandy forever. He mentioned how he loved Sandy’s mother and how he would love Sandy. Sandy didn’t have to love Dave, but Dave would always love Sandy. Dave was there to help her for the long haul, for life. In that one moment, it finally broke through to Sandy that Dave really did love her. From that day until today, Sandy has always had a very soft spot in her heart for “my Dave” as she called him.
Having a faithful character is not only part of God’s makeup. It should be part of your intrinsic values as well. When others can count on you to do the right thing, it will help other good people to develop trust in you. Some people may take advantage of your faithfulness, attempting to manipulate you. This sinful action should not stop you from being faithful to God or being a faithful person. It just means you must be wary of those who would use your goodness for evil.
In the scripture for today, we are taught that even when we are unfaithful, God “remains faithful”. Many people complain that God is responsible for atrocities in our world. You might hear them say that “if God was God, he would stop evil from happening.” God has given us the right to choose between good and evil. Some humans choose evil and perpetrate it upon others. This doesn’t mean God is unfaithful. It means that people may not be faithful or trustworthy or good or helpful. In the end, God will deal with evil. In the meantime, faithfulness is a way for God to separate who is like Him and who is not. The more faithful and trustworthy you are, the more you show how much you love God.
Can God trust you? Would others describe you as faithful and true? God is faithful to fulfill all His promises. To the unrighteous, God’s judgment day will come. If you are faithful, you can rest assured that God has a home for you in Heaven. Have faith in God. HE will follow through in your life. HE can be trusted. HE will be there for you.
October 30
“And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9–10, RSV)
Some things in life are related. If you affect one, it will affect the other. If you change one, you will change the other. There are millions of examples of this. If you change out dead batteries in a toy for new ones, the toy will come to life again. If you move the thermostat setting up two degrees, the house will warm as the furnace kicks in. When you take the fall leaves out of a blocked gutter, the water should be able to flow through it again. In your spiritual life, there are also related elements that affect one another. Our scripture for today shows some of these elements and how they work together to mold a person into a more effective and beloved child of God.
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
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!