November 1
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:30, ESV)

“I read about an instant cake mix that was a big flop. The instructions said all you had to do was add water and bake. The company couldn't understand why it didn't sell -- until their research discovered that the buying public felt uneasy about a mix that required only water. Apparently people thought it was too easy. So the company altered the formula and changed the directions to call for adding an egg to the mix in addition to the water. The idea worked and sales jumped dramatically.
That story reminds me of how some people react to the plan of salvation. To them it sounds too easy and simple to be true, even though the Bible says, "By grace you have been saved through faith...; it is the gift of God, not of works" (Eph. 2:8-9). They feel that there is something more they must do, something they must add to God's "recipe" for salvation. They think they must perform good works to gain God's favor and earn eternal life. But the Bible is clear -- we are saved, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy" (Titus 3:5). Unlike the cake-mix manufacturer, God has not changed His "formula" to make salvation more marketable. The gospel we proclaim must be free of works, even though it may sound too easy.” (R.W.D., “Daily Bread”, June 2, 1992).
I have encountered so many people who thought that making things right with God or accepting Christ was going to be difficult. Almost all who did so confided in me later that it was so easy and wonderful after letting go of all those burdens they were carrying and just submitting to Jesus. Compared to the load some people are carrying, salvation may be the most freeing thing they could ever do. To unburden one’s self spiritually can bring such joy and peace, replacing years and years of guilt-inducing sin and regret.
Marian was only seventeen when she became pregnant. The pregnancy was the result of a one-night stand with her prom date. When Marian missed her period, she hid it from everyone. The boyfriend who had gotten her pregnant never knew. Her parents never knew. Marian went to an older friend with her worries. Later, she went with the same friend to an abortion clinic and ended the pregnancy.
Over the years, Marian’s hidden pregnancy and subsequent abortion complicated many things in her life. Because of the abortion, Marian feared she might not get pregnant again. That can happen in some cases. Marian also worried about her parents and family finding out about the pregnancy and abortion, especially since her family was Roman Catholic. When Marian dated in college, she was very concerned about becoming pregnant. Despite taking the pill, she worried herself sick between periods. After marriage to her college sweetheart, Marian hid her past from her husband. She never told him about the abortion. She also felt so guilty about the abortion that when she went to mass, she often felt worse afterward. The guilt of her past weighed greatly on her heart and soul and mind.
Marian was involved in a wedding at our church. She enjoyed the way I made the bride and groom’s wedding day special. She loved our friendly banter at the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Two weeks after the wedding, Marian came in to see me. I thought she might be there to join the church. After we spoke in my office for only a few minutes, I was shocked to learn about the load of shame Marian was carrying around due to the abortion. We met together for counseling over several months. During that time, we talked about her history, her guilt. She told me everything. She was tired of carrying such a burden. She felt awful about lying to her husband and family. One night, after a particularly difficult session, Marian said she had enough of the pain. She asked what would help her to deal with it. I told her that she had dealt with the pain enough. It was time to let her past go to God and to ask for forgiveness and grace.
We went to the altar together and prayed. I helped her ask for forgiveness. I helped her find the words to say to God. When we finished the prayer, she looked at me and quietly asked, “Is that it? Am I forgiven?”
I responded: “You do believe in Jesus right?”
“Yes, absolutely!” was her unabashed reply.
“You do believe he died on the cross for your sins, right?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“Then, yes, your sins are forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ!” I said with a smile.
She looked at me and said, “Surely, I have to suffer more for my sin, right?”
I then looked her right in the eye and said, “Haven’t you suffered enough? Let your sin stay in God’s hands. It’s done. No more guilt and shame. No more carrying that burden. Jesus’ death on that cross was more than enough to atone for your sin. Out of love for Jesus, just let it go!”
She looked at me and said in a whisper, “Really?”
I whispered back, “Really!”
She clapped and jumped into my arms for a hug and said, “Thank you and thank Jesus!”
To that I had to say, “Amen!”
Months later, Marian visited me again. She smiled more. She seemed lighter on her feet. She was happy again. She told me later that she confessed everything to her husband. He forgave her for hiding everything. Marian is back to attending mass frequently. She is a wonderful addition to her church. She also has a passionate relationship with Jesus that rubs off on so many others.
So many people are burdened with sin and shame. They do not understand how freeing it is to receive God’s grace. God does not want us so burdened with fear and guilt and shame and regret that we cannot enjoy the power of God’s freeing Spirit. Then again, many people like Marian have discovered what Jesus meant by “the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). They have learned how much lighter the heart can be after forgiveness and grace. Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 11:30 that His “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light”. This does not mean that everything in your spiritual life will come up roses or be uncomplicated. It means that when it comes to true faith, life becomes less complicated when you make things right with God. When your sins are forgiven and you are walking down the right paths, there are so many burdens that you can give over to God. You don’t have to make all the decisions. You just have to obey God. Let God handle the big picture. You just hold Jesus’ hand and follow in His footsteps.
Too many Christians want to overcomplicate what it means to be faithful. However, faithfulness means just following in Jesus’ footsteps. Sometimes, it is better to follow Jesus with the innocence of a child instead of complicating it with all the questioning and rationalizations of an adult. Is it any surprise that in Luke 18:17, Jesus taught that the only way to enter heaven is to receive the Kingdom of God “like a child”? Don’t overcomplicate your relationship with Jesus. Being faithful can be easy when you let it!
Remember, its incredibly hard to be a liar. You have to remember the lies, who you told them to, how you embellished them, and why you did it. Then, you have to keep those you lied to from comparing notes and discovering the facts. The truth does set you free from a lot of burdens!
Are you overcomplicating some things in your spiritual life? Are you quick to be honest with Jesus? Are you weighed down by a series of past mistakes or sins? Jesus died on the cross for you. How about letting His sacrifice ease some of your burdens?
That story reminds me of how some people react to the plan of salvation. To them it sounds too easy and simple to be true, even though the Bible says, "By grace you have been saved through faith...; it is the gift of God, not of works" (Eph. 2:8-9). They feel that there is something more they must do, something they must add to God's "recipe" for salvation. They think they must perform good works to gain God's favor and earn eternal life. But the Bible is clear -- we are saved, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy" (Titus 3:5). Unlike the cake-mix manufacturer, God has not changed His "formula" to make salvation more marketable. The gospel we proclaim must be free of works, even though it may sound too easy.” (R.W.D., “Daily Bread”, June 2, 1992).
I have encountered so many people who thought that making things right with God or accepting Christ was going to be difficult. Almost all who did so confided in me later that it was so easy and wonderful after letting go of all those burdens they were carrying and just submitting to Jesus. Compared to the load some people are carrying, salvation may be the most freeing thing they could ever do. To unburden one’s self spiritually can bring such joy and peace, replacing years and years of guilt-inducing sin and regret.
Marian was only seventeen when she became pregnant. The pregnancy was the result of a one-night stand with her prom date. When Marian missed her period, she hid it from everyone. The boyfriend who had gotten her pregnant never knew. Her parents never knew. Marian went to an older friend with her worries. Later, she went with the same friend to an abortion clinic and ended the pregnancy.
Over the years, Marian’s hidden pregnancy and subsequent abortion complicated many things in her life. Because of the abortion, Marian feared she might not get pregnant again. That can happen in some cases. Marian also worried about her parents and family finding out about the pregnancy and abortion, especially since her family was Roman Catholic. When Marian dated in college, she was very concerned about becoming pregnant. Despite taking the pill, she worried herself sick between periods. After marriage to her college sweetheart, Marian hid her past from her husband. She never told him about the abortion. She also felt so guilty about the abortion that when she went to mass, she often felt worse afterward. The guilt of her past weighed greatly on her heart and soul and mind.
Marian was involved in a wedding at our church. She enjoyed the way I made the bride and groom’s wedding day special. She loved our friendly banter at the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Two weeks after the wedding, Marian came in to see me. I thought she might be there to join the church. After we spoke in my office for only a few minutes, I was shocked to learn about the load of shame Marian was carrying around due to the abortion. We met together for counseling over several months. During that time, we talked about her history, her guilt. She told me everything. She was tired of carrying such a burden. She felt awful about lying to her husband and family. One night, after a particularly difficult session, Marian said she had enough of the pain. She asked what would help her to deal with it. I told her that she had dealt with the pain enough. It was time to let her past go to God and to ask for forgiveness and grace.
We went to the altar together and prayed. I helped her ask for forgiveness. I helped her find the words to say to God. When we finished the prayer, she looked at me and quietly asked, “Is that it? Am I forgiven?”
I responded: “You do believe in Jesus right?”
“Yes, absolutely!” was her unabashed reply.
“You do believe he died on the cross for your sins, right?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“Then, yes, your sins are forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ!” I said with a smile.
She looked at me and said, “Surely, I have to suffer more for my sin, right?”
I then looked her right in the eye and said, “Haven’t you suffered enough? Let your sin stay in God’s hands. It’s done. No more guilt and shame. No more carrying that burden. Jesus’ death on that cross was more than enough to atone for your sin. Out of love for Jesus, just let it go!”
She looked at me and said in a whisper, “Really?”
I whispered back, “Really!”
She clapped and jumped into my arms for a hug and said, “Thank you and thank Jesus!”
To that I had to say, “Amen!”
Months later, Marian visited me again. She smiled more. She seemed lighter on her feet. She was happy again. She told me later that she confessed everything to her husband. He forgave her for hiding everything. Marian is back to attending mass frequently. She is a wonderful addition to her church. She also has a passionate relationship with Jesus that rubs off on so many others.
So many people are burdened with sin and shame. They do not understand how freeing it is to receive God’s grace. God does not want us so burdened with fear and guilt and shame and regret that we cannot enjoy the power of God’s freeing Spirit. Then again, many people like Marian have discovered what Jesus meant by “the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). They have learned how much lighter the heart can be after forgiveness and grace. Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 11:30 that His “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light”. This does not mean that everything in your spiritual life will come up roses or be uncomplicated. It means that when it comes to true faith, life becomes less complicated when you make things right with God. When your sins are forgiven and you are walking down the right paths, there are so many burdens that you can give over to God. You don’t have to make all the decisions. You just have to obey God. Let God handle the big picture. You just hold Jesus’ hand and follow in His footsteps.
Too many Christians want to overcomplicate what it means to be faithful. However, faithfulness means just following in Jesus’ footsteps. Sometimes, it is better to follow Jesus with the innocence of a child instead of complicating it with all the questioning and rationalizations of an adult. Is it any surprise that in Luke 18:17, Jesus taught that the only way to enter heaven is to receive the Kingdom of God “like a child”? Don’t overcomplicate your relationship with Jesus. Being faithful can be easy when you let it!
Remember, its incredibly hard to be a liar. You have to remember the lies, who you told them to, how you embellished them, and why you did it. Then, you have to keep those you lied to from comparing notes and discovering the facts. The truth does set you free from a lot of burdens!
Are you overcomplicating some things in your spiritual life? Are you quick to be honest with Jesus? Are you weighed down by a series of past mistakes or sins? Jesus died on the cross for you. How about letting His sacrifice ease some of your burdens?
November 3
“Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again?”
(Jeremiah 7:9–10, NLT)
(Jeremiah 7:9–10, NLT)

Al Gore went public about the evils of global warming and its dangerous effects on the planet with his movie, “An Inconvenient Truth”. While doing so, he lived in a 10,000 sq. ft house that was far from ecologically beneficial to the environment. His electric bill at the time was twelve times the national average at over $1300/month.
A nationally recognized Caucasian celebrity had a photo shoot to promote his acting career. To make himself appear “inclusive”, he had his picture taken at a homeless shelter working beside several black men and serving food to a homeless family. The picture made a splash across the nation. People thought him so relevant, inclusive, and definitely not a racist. His friends knew better. One leaked to the press that the celebrity has never helped at any homeless shelter before or since that shoot and doesn’t even support the shelter shown in the pictures in any way. I bet the celebrity’s publicist had a fit.
When Black Lives Matter showed power in the news cycle earlier this year, several pictures and videos came out of people who took selfies of themselves in front of BLM signs and at protests. Some of these selfie-takers did not support the movement. A few couldn’t even name the reason for the protest that they attended. They just wanted to post their picture supporting it on their online accounts so all their friends could tell them how open and giving and inclusive they are in “real life”.
Virtue signaling is “the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue.” Virtue signaling is what each one of these people above were doing in these situations. They were offering up a public persona that conflicted with their own personal agenda. Because virtue signaling has only been found in the urban dictionary in the past decade, people think it’s a new phenomenon. It is not. It is even displayed openly in the scripture for today.
In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, God exhibited great disdain for the people of Israel and Judah. In today’s scripture from Jeremiah 7, God is critical of the Jewish people who committed great sins like stealing, murder, and committing adultery. They even worshipped other gods like Baal behind closed doors. What was the attitude of those seemingly religious people at the time? “We are safe!”(Jeremiah 7:10) In their reality, they were protected by God due to their being Jewish. However, they did not act faithfully. Despite their presence and chanting at the temple so that all could hear and see their “virtue signaling”, they did not have a real heart for God. After their public display of fake faith, they went “right back” to all those evils again” (Jeremiah 7:10).
Beware of people who are quick to show their moral greatness for all the public to see. All too often, especially in these days of social media, their morality is not real. They are merely virtue signaling. Even in the church, you may have those who like to appear morally pure in public. They are constantly honing their religious image, perfecting their piousness. That is why God does not look at the appearance of any person. God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God is not fooled by shallow displays designed for public consumption and self-promotion. God looks at the motives, the heart, the faith, the soul for confirmation of every public display of goodness and faithfulness.
Jim and Tammy Bakker were extremely well-known evangelists of the 1980’s. They founded the PTL (Praise the Lord) Network that was seen by millions on TV. There were many people at the time who claimed that the Bakkers were more influential than most national leaders in the United States and abroad. But while they were praying and singing and sharing their faith all over networks, the Bakkers were living a lie. It was revealed that Jim Bakker had given $270,000 to Jessica Hahn to keep her silence about sexual improprieties. He also siphoned up large portions of money from his viewers who gave their tithes to his ministry. He drove expensive cars and lived in posh opulence. His wife spent large sums on drugs until she went into rehab for drug dependency. This very same couple who praised God openly on Monday morning TV were living in sin privately. Just as did Judah in the days of Jeremiah, they chanted to God on one day and returned to their evils the next.
God’s wrath tore into Judah less than twenty years after Jeremiah spoke the words written in the scripture for today. All the virtue signaling of the Judeans could not stop what God knew… their hearts were filled with sinfulness. Despite their public displays of faith, God knew better. God would not allow the lies to continue. The Temple was even destroyed.
If you find yourself more interested in looking good than being godly, you will not like where this will lead. God does not desire faithful followers who appear to be just and righteous. God wants faithful followers who LIVE OUT justice and righteousness. Shallow forms of faithfulness do not impress Almighty God. In fact, God hates such displays. The prophet Amos reported on how God despised the holy feast days of the sinful Israelites (Amos 5:21). Their sin wrecked God’s acceptance of their offerings. Jeremiah 6 also reiterates this reaction from God. So does Isaiah 1:13, 14. The prophets knew well that virtue signaling is a facade made for public consumption. It is mere smoke and mirrors.
Are you serious about what you believe? Do you care a little too much about your public image and too little about your real relationship with God? Do you talk about the faith but not live it? Are you more show than go? Fake news is all too common today. Evidently, so are fake people. Don’t be one of them! You won’t like what that “fakeness” does to your soul or your relationship with God.
A nationally recognized Caucasian celebrity had a photo shoot to promote his acting career. To make himself appear “inclusive”, he had his picture taken at a homeless shelter working beside several black men and serving food to a homeless family. The picture made a splash across the nation. People thought him so relevant, inclusive, and definitely not a racist. His friends knew better. One leaked to the press that the celebrity has never helped at any homeless shelter before or since that shoot and doesn’t even support the shelter shown in the pictures in any way. I bet the celebrity’s publicist had a fit.
When Black Lives Matter showed power in the news cycle earlier this year, several pictures and videos came out of people who took selfies of themselves in front of BLM signs and at protests. Some of these selfie-takers did not support the movement. A few couldn’t even name the reason for the protest that they attended. They just wanted to post their picture supporting it on their online accounts so all their friends could tell them how open and giving and inclusive they are in “real life”.
Virtue signaling is “the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue.” Virtue signaling is what each one of these people above were doing in these situations. They were offering up a public persona that conflicted with their own personal agenda. Because virtue signaling has only been found in the urban dictionary in the past decade, people think it’s a new phenomenon. It is not. It is even displayed openly in the scripture for today.
In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, God exhibited great disdain for the people of Israel and Judah. In today’s scripture from Jeremiah 7, God is critical of the Jewish people who committed great sins like stealing, murder, and committing adultery. They even worshipped other gods like Baal behind closed doors. What was the attitude of those seemingly religious people at the time? “We are safe!”(Jeremiah 7:10) In their reality, they were protected by God due to their being Jewish. However, they did not act faithfully. Despite their presence and chanting at the temple so that all could hear and see their “virtue signaling”, they did not have a real heart for God. After their public display of fake faith, they went “right back” to all those evils again” (Jeremiah 7:10).
Beware of people who are quick to show their moral greatness for all the public to see. All too often, especially in these days of social media, their morality is not real. They are merely virtue signaling. Even in the church, you may have those who like to appear morally pure in public. They are constantly honing their religious image, perfecting their piousness. That is why God does not look at the appearance of any person. God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God is not fooled by shallow displays designed for public consumption and self-promotion. God looks at the motives, the heart, the faith, the soul for confirmation of every public display of goodness and faithfulness.
Jim and Tammy Bakker were extremely well-known evangelists of the 1980’s. They founded the PTL (Praise the Lord) Network that was seen by millions on TV. There were many people at the time who claimed that the Bakkers were more influential than most national leaders in the United States and abroad. But while they were praying and singing and sharing their faith all over networks, the Bakkers were living a lie. It was revealed that Jim Bakker had given $270,000 to Jessica Hahn to keep her silence about sexual improprieties. He also siphoned up large portions of money from his viewers who gave their tithes to his ministry. He drove expensive cars and lived in posh opulence. His wife spent large sums on drugs until she went into rehab for drug dependency. This very same couple who praised God openly on Monday morning TV were living in sin privately. Just as did Judah in the days of Jeremiah, they chanted to God on one day and returned to their evils the next.
God’s wrath tore into Judah less than twenty years after Jeremiah spoke the words written in the scripture for today. All the virtue signaling of the Judeans could not stop what God knew… their hearts were filled with sinfulness. Despite their public displays of faith, God knew better. God would not allow the lies to continue. The Temple was even destroyed.
If you find yourself more interested in looking good than being godly, you will not like where this will lead. God does not desire faithful followers who appear to be just and righteous. God wants faithful followers who LIVE OUT justice and righteousness. Shallow forms of faithfulness do not impress Almighty God. In fact, God hates such displays. The prophet Amos reported on how God despised the holy feast days of the sinful Israelites (Amos 5:21). Their sin wrecked God’s acceptance of their offerings. Jeremiah 6 also reiterates this reaction from God. So does Isaiah 1:13, 14. The prophets knew well that virtue signaling is a facade made for public consumption. It is mere smoke and mirrors.
Are you serious about what you believe? Do you care a little too much about your public image and too little about your real relationship with God? Do you talk about the faith but not live it? Are you more show than go? Fake news is all too common today. Evidently, so are fake people. Don’t be one of them! You won’t like what that “fakeness” does to your soul or your relationship with God.
November 5
“I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the LORD will do nothing to them, either good or bad.” (Zephaniah 1:12, NLT)

In the days of the prophet Amos, the rich were taking advantage of the poor. Court judges were being bribed. Foreign gods were worshipped in high places. Even religious leaders were falling away from God. Amos was sent by God to bring a message of God’s wrath. God was not only angry at the obvious sinners, but God was also angry with the average person who stood by and did nothing while all these sins were going on publicly. He proclaimed, “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion…. “ (Amos 6:1). It was no time in the history of God’s people to sit idly by while the faith was watered down, the truth was twisted, and God was dishonored. Judgment was pronounced upon those complacent people of faith. Less than forty years after Amos uttered these words, Israel was ravaged by war.
“Complacency is a blight that saps energy, dulls attitudes, and causes a drain on the brain. The first symptom is satisfaction with things as they are. The second is rejection of things as they might be. “Good enough” becomes today’s watchword and tomorrow’s standard. Complacency makes people fear the unknown, mistrust the untried, and abhor the new. Like water, complacent people follow the easiest course—downhill. They draw false strength from looking back.” (“Bits & Pieces”, May 28, 1992, p. 15). Christians who are complacent tend to say nothing when God is mocked. They look away rather than stand up for the faith. They walk away when the going becomes a little difficult. They are fair-weather Christians. If a person courageously stands up for God publicly, the complacent one will shoot the person down for daring to shake up the status quo or cause conflict.
In the book of Revelation, we are told that there were complacent Christians in Laodicea. Their faith was described by the apostle John of Patmos as “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:16). God did not stand for it. God rejected them. The New Testament era Ephesian church was also criticized in Revelation. It too had the tendency to sit idly by instead of being faithful. John noted that these Christians “lost the love of God that they had at first” (Revelation 2:4). Their judgment was that they were “fallen” and “in need of repentance” (Revelation 2:5). Being complacent by backsliding or sitting idly by or doing nothing serious with your faith is reprehensible to God.
In the scripture reading from Zephaniah, included above, the rejection of complacency by God continues. Zephaniah proclaimed to the people of Jerusalem that God was going to search the city “and punish those who sit complacent in their sins” (Zephaniah 1:12). These followers thought God would not notice their little sins, their lack of spiritual backbone, their idle works. They were wrong.
I am very familiar with a church in a large city not too far away. It used to be a beautiful place of worship that held hundreds on a Sunday morning just fifty years ago. Then, the church got a series of complacent pastors. The congregation too became more and more unwilling to do things such as look for new members, lead engaging Sunday School classes, take on missions in the poor neighborhoods surrounding the church, or have spiritual retreats. The Pastor and congregation became more and more self-satisfied. They grew comfortable with their situation. As the pastor aged, so did the congregation. After two decades with the same pastor, the congregation began to settle for his usual sermons. They did not have the time to make up for the pastor’s lack of energy as he grew older. Today, that church is a museum, I kid you not! Now, people only come there to look at the past. There are no new Christians learning about God within its walls. The Sunday School rooms are so quiet you can hear a mouse skitter across the floor! What caused the church’s decline? Complacent people of faith who were content to sit on their laurels.
When was the last time you did something new and vital in the Spirit? How long has it been since you stood up for the faith and were noticed for your godly actions? The complacent are content to go to church and sit in a pew and take their faith no further. How about you? The complacent do not like those who shake up their world with a true revelation from God. The complacent may not respond well to a call for mission work. The complacent not only end up spiritually lazy, but they also suck the passion right out of the truly faithful. They are like a wet blanket on the actions of the Holy Spirit. Are you surrounded by complacent Christians? Have you become one? Is your church content to slowly die? Is your pastor too predictable?
Zephaniah attempted to shake the faithful out of their spiritual coma. It didn’t work. You too may be called by God to wake up those around you. I hope you get better results. Don't be surprised if God needs you to take action or go in a new direction. It's part of being in a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
“Complacency is a blight that saps energy, dulls attitudes, and causes a drain on the brain. The first symptom is satisfaction with things as they are. The second is rejection of things as they might be. “Good enough” becomes today’s watchword and tomorrow’s standard. Complacency makes people fear the unknown, mistrust the untried, and abhor the new. Like water, complacent people follow the easiest course—downhill. They draw false strength from looking back.” (“Bits & Pieces”, May 28, 1992, p. 15). Christians who are complacent tend to say nothing when God is mocked. They look away rather than stand up for the faith. They walk away when the going becomes a little difficult. They are fair-weather Christians. If a person courageously stands up for God publicly, the complacent one will shoot the person down for daring to shake up the status quo or cause conflict.
In the book of Revelation, we are told that there were complacent Christians in Laodicea. Their faith was described by the apostle John of Patmos as “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:16). God did not stand for it. God rejected them. The New Testament era Ephesian church was also criticized in Revelation. It too had the tendency to sit idly by instead of being faithful. John noted that these Christians “lost the love of God that they had at first” (Revelation 2:4). Their judgment was that they were “fallen” and “in need of repentance” (Revelation 2:5). Being complacent by backsliding or sitting idly by or doing nothing serious with your faith is reprehensible to God.
In the scripture reading from Zephaniah, included above, the rejection of complacency by God continues. Zephaniah proclaimed to the people of Jerusalem that God was going to search the city “and punish those who sit complacent in their sins” (Zephaniah 1:12). These followers thought God would not notice their little sins, their lack of spiritual backbone, their idle works. They were wrong.
I am very familiar with a church in a large city not too far away. It used to be a beautiful place of worship that held hundreds on a Sunday morning just fifty years ago. Then, the church got a series of complacent pastors. The congregation too became more and more unwilling to do things such as look for new members, lead engaging Sunday School classes, take on missions in the poor neighborhoods surrounding the church, or have spiritual retreats. The Pastor and congregation became more and more self-satisfied. They grew comfortable with their situation. As the pastor aged, so did the congregation. After two decades with the same pastor, the congregation began to settle for his usual sermons. They did not have the time to make up for the pastor’s lack of energy as he grew older. Today, that church is a museum, I kid you not! Now, people only come there to look at the past. There are no new Christians learning about God within its walls. The Sunday School rooms are so quiet you can hear a mouse skitter across the floor! What caused the church’s decline? Complacent people of faith who were content to sit on their laurels.
When was the last time you did something new and vital in the Spirit? How long has it been since you stood up for the faith and were noticed for your godly actions? The complacent are content to go to church and sit in a pew and take their faith no further. How about you? The complacent do not like those who shake up their world with a true revelation from God. The complacent may not respond well to a call for mission work. The complacent not only end up spiritually lazy, but they also suck the passion right out of the truly faithful. They are like a wet blanket on the actions of the Holy Spirit. Are you surrounded by complacent Christians? Have you become one? Is your church content to slowly die? Is your pastor too predictable?
Zephaniah attempted to shake the faithful out of their spiritual coma. It didn’t work. You too may be called by God to wake up those around you. I hope you get better results. Don't be surprised if God needs you to take action or go in a new direction. It's part of being in a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
November 7
“You neglected the Rock who had fathered you; you forgot the God who had given you birth.” (Deuteronomy 32:18, NLT)

A survey of Christians in the magazine, Discipleship Journal, concerned temptations in life. What I found most interesting in the survey was that Christians who were overwhelmed by temptations felt what made it worse was when they “neglected their time with God”. A full 81% of Christians answered this way. Neglecting God-time occurs due to many factors. While doing research on this very topic I came across a reflection on hisunmeasuredgrace.com’s web site. There were listed the top four ways modern people neglect time with God:
Time gets away from you!
Social media takes that time slot!
Leaving time for God until last!
Spending time reading your Bible and praying without BEING with God!
So, my question for you today is “How much time have you spent in the presence of God lately?”
The scripture reading for today weighs in on this discussion. While in the wilderness, Moses was highly critical of some of the Israelites for the abandonment of their relationship with God. Despite being cared for by God in the wilderness, the people of Israel were tempted to ignore worship and prayer, meditation, and the obedient observance of God’s place in life. The people were drawn more and more to the fertility gods of the Canaanites and enamored with the idols of the neighboring races. The more they ignored God-time, the more they dabbled in the cultic practices of the tribes around them. This resulted in a strained relationship with God that was at the point of fracture.
Moses told the Israelites, “you neglected the Rock who had fathered you; you forgot the God who had given you birth” (Deuteronomy 32:18). Many didn’t respond to the warning. Then, things went from bad to worse. Because they neglected their faith, God stopped listening to their prayers and responding to their pleas. God ghosted them, leaving them to their sin. “The LORD saw this and drew back…. He said, ‘I will abandon them; then see what becomes of them.”” (Deuteronomy 32:19–20). If you neglect God long enough, God will sever your relationship and leave you to deal with life on your own. God longs for a committed relationship with you. God desires your faithful interactions. God will not be ignored for long. Leaving God-time out of your life will exhaust you and damage your soul. It will set you up for failure. It will leave you frustrated and ill-at-ease.
While sitting in an airport lounge, I found myself enjoying a good book when the woman next to me spoke in a whisper, “Are you a pastor?”. I was shocked that she picked up that I was a pastor despite my jeans and t-shirt. As I pondered her question, I realized that she saw the identification tag on my luggage. It had my name, “Rev. Dr. David Ambroso”, printed on it in bold letters. After telling her that I was indeed a pastor, we engaged in a conversation.
After five minutes of pleasantries, she must have felt comfortable enough to speak to me about private matters. As a sort of confession, she told me about her life as of late. Despite growing up in a wonderful home with loving parents and attending worship weekly, this woman had stopped attending church after her children became teenagers. In the past few years, she had experienced many traumatic events. Her mother died. Her daughter experienced an unwanted pregnancy. Her husband was injured severely in an accident at work. Most recently, this woman was traveling to see her son, who was recovering from major surgery. At a lull in the conversation where she was doing most of the talking, I said only one sentence, “When was the last time you and God had a long talk?”
My question threw her for a loop. She was so busy. She had so much stress. She had her hands full caring for her family. They were all excuses. I then said, “God can’t help you with these overwhelming things in your life if you don’t spend time with Him. Why don’t you and God have a long talk? Spend some time in the arms of God. You’ll feel His healing. You need His kind of care.” After this remark, I thought she was going to move to another area of the lounge or end the conversation right then and there. So, I asked to pray with her in our little corner of the airport lounge. After we spent a few moments in prayer, she said, “I do feel better. I think I needed this.” I told her she needed a lot more of it!
God can’t bring healing and peace and wholeness into your life if you neglect your time with Him. The Holy Spirit can’t reveal the truth to you if you don’t have the time for a little holy self-evaluation. When you neglect your time with God, little cracks will appear in your life. Before they become psychological, emotional, spiritual, or physical breaks, I suggest you make time for God in your every day.
The web site hisunmeasuredgrace.com not only listed four ways modern people neglect time with God, but they also listed four things that help your time with God. Here they are….
Recapture another time slot before the day gets away.
Do NOT get on social media before spending time with God.
Make time with God a priority in your day – like the same time each day if possible.
Don’t just spend time with God. Connect with God during your Quiet Time. Experience and practice His presence.
Every personal relationship in your life takes time and commitment. Your spiritual relationship with God requires these as well. Don’t neglect “the Rock who fathered you” (Deuteronomy 32:18). He cherishes His time with you. Have you spent enough time with Him? If your life is going crazy, when temptations fly hard your way, when the world has you all twisted up, your Lord will be waiting. If you are willing to commit your time to God, HE will more than make it up with His grace and peace.
Time gets away from you!
Social media takes that time slot!
Leaving time for God until last!
Spending time reading your Bible and praying without BEING with God!
So, my question for you today is “How much time have you spent in the presence of God lately?”
The scripture reading for today weighs in on this discussion. While in the wilderness, Moses was highly critical of some of the Israelites for the abandonment of their relationship with God. Despite being cared for by God in the wilderness, the people of Israel were tempted to ignore worship and prayer, meditation, and the obedient observance of God’s place in life. The people were drawn more and more to the fertility gods of the Canaanites and enamored with the idols of the neighboring races. The more they ignored God-time, the more they dabbled in the cultic practices of the tribes around them. This resulted in a strained relationship with God that was at the point of fracture.
Moses told the Israelites, “you neglected the Rock who had fathered you; you forgot the God who had given you birth” (Deuteronomy 32:18). Many didn’t respond to the warning. Then, things went from bad to worse. Because they neglected their faith, God stopped listening to their prayers and responding to their pleas. God ghosted them, leaving them to their sin. “The LORD saw this and drew back…. He said, ‘I will abandon them; then see what becomes of them.”” (Deuteronomy 32:19–20). If you neglect God long enough, God will sever your relationship and leave you to deal with life on your own. God longs for a committed relationship with you. God desires your faithful interactions. God will not be ignored for long. Leaving God-time out of your life will exhaust you and damage your soul. It will set you up for failure. It will leave you frustrated and ill-at-ease.
While sitting in an airport lounge, I found myself enjoying a good book when the woman next to me spoke in a whisper, “Are you a pastor?”. I was shocked that she picked up that I was a pastor despite my jeans and t-shirt. As I pondered her question, I realized that she saw the identification tag on my luggage. It had my name, “Rev. Dr. David Ambroso”, printed on it in bold letters. After telling her that I was indeed a pastor, we engaged in a conversation.
After five minutes of pleasantries, she must have felt comfortable enough to speak to me about private matters. As a sort of confession, she told me about her life as of late. Despite growing up in a wonderful home with loving parents and attending worship weekly, this woman had stopped attending church after her children became teenagers. In the past few years, she had experienced many traumatic events. Her mother died. Her daughter experienced an unwanted pregnancy. Her husband was injured severely in an accident at work. Most recently, this woman was traveling to see her son, who was recovering from major surgery. At a lull in the conversation where she was doing most of the talking, I said only one sentence, “When was the last time you and God had a long talk?”
My question threw her for a loop. She was so busy. She had so much stress. She had her hands full caring for her family. They were all excuses. I then said, “God can’t help you with these overwhelming things in your life if you don’t spend time with Him. Why don’t you and God have a long talk? Spend some time in the arms of God. You’ll feel His healing. You need His kind of care.” After this remark, I thought she was going to move to another area of the lounge or end the conversation right then and there. So, I asked to pray with her in our little corner of the airport lounge. After we spent a few moments in prayer, she said, “I do feel better. I think I needed this.” I told her she needed a lot more of it!
God can’t bring healing and peace and wholeness into your life if you neglect your time with Him. The Holy Spirit can’t reveal the truth to you if you don’t have the time for a little holy self-evaluation. When you neglect your time with God, little cracks will appear in your life. Before they become psychological, emotional, spiritual, or physical breaks, I suggest you make time for God in your every day.
The web site hisunmeasuredgrace.com not only listed four ways modern people neglect time with God, but they also listed four things that help your time with God. Here they are….
Recapture another time slot before the day gets away.
Do NOT get on social media before spending time with God.
Make time with God a priority in your day – like the same time each day if possible.
Don’t just spend time with God. Connect with God during your Quiet Time. Experience and practice His presence.
Every personal relationship in your life takes time and commitment. Your spiritual relationship with God requires these as well. Don’t neglect “the Rock who fathered you” (Deuteronomy 32:18). He cherishes His time with you. Have you spent enough time with Him? If your life is going crazy, when temptations fly hard your way, when the world has you all twisted up, your Lord will be waiting. If you are willing to commit your time to God, HE will more than make it up with His grace and peace.
November 9
“… you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.” (1 Timothy 1:19–20, NET)

There is a word in the scripture above that has gone out of normal use. It is the word, “blaspheme”. Blasphemy is to speak evil of someone or God. From ancient times, this meant to be consumed with hatred and revulsion toward that person or God. Just because the word blaspheme has gone out of normal usage does not mean blasphemy no longer occurs. In fact, it occurs very frequently in social media and even in the news as of late. Long ago, it was considered ominous to “speak evil” of anyone, even someone who died. The phrase, “Do not speak evil of the dead”, was commonly uttered in English parlance. Today, that has changed. People speak ill of others all too often. Poisoned intentions spew forth in many public and private spaces. Evil words are passed along purposefully in order to manipulate others and destroy reputations.
Our scripture for today speaks to the issue of blasphemy. The first letter from Paul to Timothy was meant as a teaching tool for young Timothy, a budding pastor. The entire letter of 1 Timothy contains wisdom garnered by Paul and was meant to instruct young Timothy. In the very first chapter of this letter, Paul mentions two men, “Hymenaeus and Alexander”. These two men were soundly rebuked by the Apostle Paul. He believed they had rejected or “shipwrecked” their faith. They had abandoned true righteousness. After their spiritual error, what came next from these two men was not unpredictable. They began to blaspheme. Paul wrote to Timothy that because of this tendency to blaspheme, they were “handed over to Satan”. Paul was no longer going to pray for their safe-keeping. By speaking evil of others (blaspheming), these men lost their spiritual protection from Paul and ultimately Almighty God.
As I prepared to write this meditation, I studied the original Greek word for “blaspheme”. In New Testament times, the word meant to “speak a word of evil”, “render abusive speech”, “offer strong mockery”, “use derision to destroy another’s reputation”, or “utter personal attacks”. In Greek and Roman eras, blasphemy was a serious taboo. It was seen as cruel, inhumane, and evil. For a Christian to behave in this manner was considered egregious by the Apostle Paul. That is why he had no mercy for Hymenaeus and Alexander. To blaspheme God was especially heinous. True Christians should never do such things. In ancient times during Christian persecution, to prove a person was not a Christian, Roman soldiers would ask people to blaspheme Jesus in order to save their lives. Even these torturers knew that true Christians would not blaspheme their Lord. However, in today’s world blasphemy is not just commonplace in the secular world. It is not only employed to climb up the ladder of success. It is even used as a subversive tactic in Christian circles.
A congregation just outside the city limits of Indianapolis, Indiana, let its pastor go. The reason? A rumor was begun by members who didn’t like the pastor. They smeared his reputation. Before the truth could be told, the pastor was forced to resign.
In a North Carolina congregation, a church leader used a hacker to break into his pastor’s emails. He then began to circulate and manipulate the information he discovered that was obviously meant to be private. This resulted in the pastor not only being forced to leave the church but ended up with the pastor being accused of impropriety by an ecclesiastical council.
A member of a church nearby in Wisconsin had a falling out with the pastor’s wife. The member was so bitter that she made wild accusations about the pastor and his wife in personal conversation with members of the church. The members of the congregation were so embarrassed by the scandalous nature of the accusations that they were embarrassed to broach the subject with the pastor and his wife. For many months, the pastor and his wife were publicly shamed until the ringleader, who had started the rumors, left that church.
Blasphemy is a common tactic in politics. It is often used by governments in propagandistic enterprises, to sway public opinion. It is also dangerously employed by sinful church folk who may be no different from Hymenaeus and Alexander in our scripture for today.
There was a large church out east that had several big events in their yearly calendar. Due to a problem with the weather and scheduling, two big events occurred within hours of each other. The two events were put on by the two women’s groups in the church. When the time came for the first event, the tables were set up. The place settings were elaborately decorated. Then, women from the second event realized that they needed more dinnerware for their own event. They "borrowed" some of the place settings from the other group to complete their preparations. The two women’s groups viciously attacked each other verbally. The pastors were summoned. Accusations and derisions were vehemently exchanged. Fights broke out in the church building and in a local pub. The fight over silverware ended in a church split. Do not underestimate the power of blasphemy to destroy relationships and godly institutions.
Despite the fading of the use of the word blasphemy in modern cultures, there has come a subsequent rise in the use of blasphemy as a social and political weapon. You might be tempted to use it out of vengeance or jealousy or envy. To do so is to go against God.
Did you know that the Beast of the book of Revelation is noted in scripture to be a blasphemer (Revelation 13:6)? Those bound for hell blaspheme God as well (Revelation 16:11,21). Do you want to use the same tactic as Satan’s minions? Should blasphemy ever come out of your mouth for any reason?
Worldly people will use blasphemy against you and God. It is certain. Evil words will be uttered against the good. Satan will see to that. You can’t stop blasphemy from destroying the good. What you can do is make sure that you aren’t the one to wield this hateful weapon.
Have you ever been tempted to utter blasphemies against another person or God? Did you succumb to the temptation? The armies of Satan are known for employing blasphemy. The people of God know well enough to refrain from its use. A lack of faith caused Hymenaeus and Alexander to blaspheme. For their slanderous words and actions, they lost their protection from God. Blasphemy is dangerous business.
Our scripture for today speaks to the issue of blasphemy. The first letter from Paul to Timothy was meant as a teaching tool for young Timothy, a budding pastor. The entire letter of 1 Timothy contains wisdom garnered by Paul and was meant to instruct young Timothy. In the very first chapter of this letter, Paul mentions two men, “Hymenaeus and Alexander”. These two men were soundly rebuked by the Apostle Paul. He believed they had rejected or “shipwrecked” their faith. They had abandoned true righteousness. After their spiritual error, what came next from these two men was not unpredictable. They began to blaspheme. Paul wrote to Timothy that because of this tendency to blaspheme, they were “handed over to Satan”. Paul was no longer going to pray for their safe-keeping. By speaking evil of others (blaspheming), these men lost their spiritual protection from Paul and ultimately Almighty God.
As I prepared to write this meditation, I studied the original Greek word for “blaspheme”. In New Testament times, the word meant to “speak a word of evil”, “render abusive speech”, “offer strong mockery”, “use derision to destroy another’s reputation”, or “utter personal attacks”. In Greek and Roman eras, blasphemy was a serious taboo. It was seen as cruel, inhumane, and evil. For a Christian to behave in this manner was considered egregious by the Apostle Paul. That is why he had no mercy for Hymenaeus and Alexander. To blaspheme God was especially heinous. True Christians should never do such things. In ancient times during Christian persecution, to prove a person was not a Christian, Roman soldiers would ask people to blaspheme Jesus in order to save their lives. Even these torturers knew that true Christians would not blaspheme their Lord. However, in today’s world blasphemy is not just commonplace in the secular world. It is not only employed to climb up the ladder of success. It is even used as a subversive tactic in Christian circles.
A congregation just outside the city limits of Indianapolis, Indiana, let its pastor go. The reason? A rumor was begun by members who didn’t like the pastor. They smeared his reputation. Before the truth could be told, the pastor was forced to resign.
In a North Carolina congregation, a church leader used a hacker to break into his pastor’s emails. He then began to circulate and manipulate the information he discovered that was obviously meant to be private. This resulted in the pastor not only being forced to leave the church but ended up with the pastor being accused of impropriety by an ecclesiastical council.
A member of a church nearby in Wisconsin had a falling out with the pastor’s wife. The member was so bitter that she made wild accusations about the pastor and his wife in personal conversation with members of the church. The members of the congregation were so embarrassed by the scandalous nature of the accusations that they were embarrassed to broach the subject with the pastor and his wife. For many months, the pastor and his wife were publicly shamed until the ringleader, who had started the rumors, left that church.
Blasphemy is a common tactic in politics. It is often used by governments in propagandistic enterprises, to sway public opinion. It is also dangerously employed by sinful church folk who may be no different from Hymenaeus and Alexander in our scripture for today.
There was a large church out east that had several big events in their yearly calendar. Due to a problem with the weather and scheduling, two big events occurred within hours of each other. The two events were put on by the two women’s groups in the church. When the time came for the first event, the tables were set up. The place settings were elaborately decorated. Then, women from the second event realized that they needed more dinnerware for their own event. They "borrowed" some of the place settings from the other group to complete their preparations. The two women’s groups viciously attacked each other verbally. The pastors were summoned. Accusations and derisions were vehemently exchanged. Fights broke out in the church building and in a local pub. The fight over silverware ended in a church split. Do not underestimate the power of blasphemy to destroy relationships and godly institutions.
Despite the fading of the use of the word blasphemy in modern cultures, there has come a subsequent rise in the use of blasphemy as a social and political weapon. You might be tempted to use it out of vengeance or jealousy or envy. To do so is to go against God.
Did you know that the Beast of the book of Revelation is noted in scripture to be a blasphemer (Revelation 13:6)? Those bound for hell blaspheme God as well (Revelation 16:11,21). Do you want to use the same tactic as Satan’s minions? Should blasphemy ever come out of your mouth for any reason?
Worldly people will use blasphemy against you and God. It is certain. Evil words will be uttered against the good. Satan will see to that. You can’t stop blasphemy from destroying the good. What you can do is make sure that you aren’t the one to wield this hateful weapon.
Have you ever been tempted to utter blasphemies against another person or God? Did you succumb to the temptation? The armies of Satan are known for employing blasphemy. The people of God know well enough to refrain from its use. A lack of faith caused Hymenaeus and Alexander to blaspheme. For their slanderous words and actions, they lost their protection from God. Blasphemy is dangerous business.
November 11
“So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day.” (Genesis 35:19–20, ESV)

After you die, how will people remember you? Will they know you believed in Jesus? Will they see you as a pushy sort of religious nut? Will they miss you? What kind of legacy will you leave behind?
You can never know in this lifetime how people will view your life after your death. You have to die before we find out. You also can’t affect your legacy after you die; you can only do it while you are yet alive. I have met people so fearful of having a bad image after they die that they never share any negative feelings or even their own personal beliefs. I have met Christians who cared more about the contents of the will they would leave behind than the souls that would live on afterward. God sent you into this world for a reason. Have you used your days to make a difference? Will we miss you when you are gone? Will people be glad you are no longer around? What kind of mark will you leave on this world?
“Several years ago, I read about James Lewis Pettigru. His life was so exemplary that after his death the community erected a tombstone inscribed with these words: UNAWED BY OPINION, UNSEDUCED BY FLATTERY, UNDISMAYED BY DISASTER, HE CONFRONTED LIFE WITH COURAGE, AND DEATH WITH CHRISTIAN HOPE.” (“Our Daily Bread”, May 29, 1995) Pettigru was much loved. His faith was so cherished that the community remembered his strength of Christian character even after he was gone.
In the scripture for today, we read of Rachel’s death. Rachel, wife of Jacob, died during childbirth. By giving life to her son, Benjamin, she gave up her life for his. It was a terrible time for Jacob. To commemorate his beloved wife, Jacob “set up a pillar over her tomb” (Genesis 35:19). The pillar was designed and built with such care that it lasted for centuries. Genesis 35:20 even says it is “there to this day”. Along with the pillar, living on are the stories of Jacob and Rachel in our Bible. These have taught many generations about the origins of our faith, God’s work among the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Bible, and so much more. It is a beautiful legacy.
Some legacies are not so beautiful.
A wealthy Christian farmer loved his work in the fields. He cherished the land he had bought and cultivated over his long life. As he grew into his sixties, he began to think about what would happen in the event of his death. He wrote up a will dividing his land among his four children. He left the house to his only daughter. He let his family know the contents of the will. The children stood to inherit the equivalent of a quarter million dollars each in land and assets.
When the farmer turned seventy, two of the sons made him angry. One son had moved away and did not care to keep in touch. He didn’t come home to help in the fields or pitch-in during the hectic harvest. The farmer had another son who hated farming and had taken up a construction job. Only one of the sons helped out on the farm. The daughter helped out at the homestead with cooking and cleaning and caring for the family. The absence of two of his children irked the farmer. He resented their distance. Then, at the age of seventy-four, the farmer broke his leg falling from the tractor. His daughter and one son helped him get better. The farmer was so bitter about the lack of help from two of the sons that he removed them from his will. Thus began numerous family arguments and fights.
Over the next ten years, the farmer used his will to intimidate the son and daughter who cared for him and the farm. He constantly threatened to take their names of the will as well if they didn’t do this or that. In his late eighties, unbeknownst to all the children, the farmer visited his lawyer and changed the will. In the final will, the farmer gave away all his money and land to a local church he had attended for years. He did it out of spite. He wanted his children to be angry when they found out what he had done. Everything the farmer did at the end was out of malice.
What was the result of the farmer’s will? The church was sued. The farmer’s children became terribly upset with each other. There were threats and insults. None of the children ever went to church again.
What kind of legacy did this Christian farmer leave behind? Sure, he gave a large gift to his church, but he left much resentment in his wake. From what I’ve seen of that inheritance, it has caused more people to stop believing in God than the good it could have done. In that community, the farmer’s name has become synonymous with how to mess up your family and church family for generations.
Jesus didn’t have land or money to leave after he died. Instead, he left behind to all generations the beautiful gift of the gospel. He worked his whole life on a legacy of faith, sharing, love, and obedience to God the Father. Many like me have dedicated our lives to furthering His mission, reaching out in His name. He left quite the legacy.
Now, how about you? Will your faith be remembered and cherished? Because of your life and death, will people desire to know more about Jesus, or will they fight each other over your belongings? Are you training the next generation to grow closer to God after you are gone? Do your children worship your money more than your Lord?
Be mindful of what you are leaving behind, the markers that will have meaning after you die. Your legacy will still be speaking long after your voice grows silent in the grip of death.
You can never know in this lifetime how people will view your life after your death. You have to die before we find out. You also can’t affect your legacy after you die; you can only do it while you are yet alive. I have met people so fearful of having a bad image after they die that they never share any negative feelings or even their own personal beliefs. I have met Christians who cared more about the contents of the will they would leave behind than the souls that would live on afterward. God sent you into this world for a reason. Have you used your days to make a difference? Will we miss you when you are gone? Will people be glad you are no longer around? What kind of mark will you leave on this world?
“Several years ago, I read about James Lewis Pettigru. His life was so exemplary that after his death the community erected a tombstone inscribed with these words: UNAWED BY OPINION, UNSEDUCED BY FLATTERY, UNDISMAYED BY DISASTER, HE CONFRONTED LIFE WITH COURAGE, AND DEATH WITH CHRISTIAN HOPE.” (“Our Daily Bread”, May 29, 1995) Pettigru was much loved. His faith was so cherished that the community remembered his strength of Christian character even after he was gone.
In the scripture for today, we read of Rachel’s death. Rachel, wife of Jacob, died during childbirth. By giving life to her son, Benjamin, she gave up her life for his. It was a terrible time for Jacob. To commemorate his beloved wife, Jacob “set up a pillar over her tomb” (Genesis 35:19). The pillar was designed and built with such care that it lasted for centuries. Genesis 35:20 even says it is “there to this day”. Along with the pillar, living on are the stories of Jacob and Rachel in our Bible. These have taught many generations about the origins of our faith, God’s work among the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Bible, and so much more. It is a beautiful legacy.
Some legacies are not so beautiful.
A wealthy Christian farmer loved his work in the fields. He cherished the land he had bought and cultivated over his long life. As he grew into his sixties, he began to think about what would happen in the event of his death. He wrote up a will dividing his land among his four children. He left the house to his only daughter. He let his family know the contents of the will. The children stood to inherit the equivalent of a quarter million dollars each in land and assets.
When the farmer turned seventy, two of the sons made him angry. One son had moved away and did not care to keep in touch. He didn’t come home to help in the fields or pitch-in during the hectic harvest. The farmer had another son who hated farming and had taken up a construction job. Only one of the sons helped out on the farm. The daughter helped out at the homestead with cooking and cleaning and caring for the family. The absence of two of his children irked the farmer. He resented their distance. Then, at the age of seventy-four, the farmer broke his leg falling from the tractor. His daughter and one son helped him get better. The farmer was so bitter about the lack of help from two of the sons that he removed them from his will. Thus began numerous family arguments and fights.
Over the next ten years, the farmer used his will to intimidate the son and daughter who cared for him and the farm. He constantly threatened to take their names of the will as well if they didn’t do this or that. In his late eighties, unbeknownst to all the children, the farmer visited his lawyer and changed the will. In the final will, the farmer gave away all his money and land to a local church he had attended for years. He did it out of spite. He wanted his children to be angry when they found out what he had done. Everything the farmer did at the end was out of malice.
What was the result of the farmer’s will? The church was sued. The farmer’s children became terribly upset with each other. There were threats and insults. None of the children ever went to church again.
What kind of legacy did this Christian farmer leave behind? Sure, he gave a large gift to his church, but he left much resentment in his wake. From what I’ve seen of that inheritance, it has caused more people to stop believing in God than the good it could have done. In that community, the farmer’s name has become synonymous with how to mess up your family and church family for generations.
Jesus didn’t have land or money to leave after he died. Instead, he left behind to all generations the beautiful gift of the gospel. He worked his whole life on a legacy of faith, sharing, love, and obedience to God the Father. Many like me have dedicated our lives to furthering His mission, reaching out in His name. He left quite the legacy.
Now, how about you? Will your faith be remembered and cherished? Because of your life and death, will people desire to know more about Jesus, or will they fight each other over your belongings? Are you training the next generation to grow closer to God after you are gone? Do your children worship your money more than your Lord?
Be mindful of what you are leaving behind, the markers that will have meaning after you die. Your legacy will still be speaking long after your voice grows silent in the grip of death.
November 13
“If you, O LORD, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you? But you are willing to forgive, so that you might be honored.” (Psalm 130:3–4, NET)

“Amputees often experience some sensation of a phantom limb. Somewhere, locked in their brains, a memory lingers of the nonexistent hand or leg. Invisible toes curl, imaginary hands grasp things, a “leg” feels so sturdy a patient may try to stand on it. For a few, the experience includes pain. Doctors watch helplessly, for the part of the body screaming for attention does not exist.
One such patient was my medical school administrator, Mr. Barwick, who had a serious and painful circulation problem in his leg but refused to allow the recommended amputation. As the pain grew worse, Barwick grew bitter. “I hate it!” he would mutter about the leg. At last he relented and told the doctor, “I can’t stand it anymore. I’m through with that leg. Take it off.” Surgery was scheduled immediately. Before the operation, however, Barwick, asked the doctor. “What do you do with legs after they’re removed?” “We may take a biopsy or explore them a bit, but afterwards we incinerate them,” the doctor replied. Barwick proceeded with a bizarre request: “I would like you to preserve my leg in a pickling jar. I will install it on my mantle shelf. Then, as I sit in my armchair, I will taunt that leg, ‘Hah! You can’t hurt me anymore!”
Ultimately, he got his wish. But the despised leg had the last laugh. Barwick suffered phantom limb pain of the worst degree. The wound healed, but he could feel the torturous pressure of the swelling as the muscles cramped, and he had no prospect of relief. He had hated the leg with such intensity that the pain had unaccountably lodged permanently in his brain.
To me, phantom limb pain provides wonderful insight into the phenomenon of false guilt. Christians can be obsessed by the memory of some sin committed years ago. It never leaves them, crippling their ministry, their devotional life, their relationships with others. They live in fear that someone will discover their past. They work overtime trying to prove to God they’re repentant. They erect barriers against the enveloping, loving grace of God. Unless they experience the truth in I John 3:19-20 that “God is greater than our conscience,” they become as pitiful as poor Mr. Barwick, shaking his fist in fury at the pickled leg on the mantle.” (Dr. Paul Brand, as quoted on Bible.org)
False guilt is a common phenomenon in Christian circles. It often plagues those who have low self-esteem, a tragic past, a sinful past, or who have not dealt adequately with their past. It is commonly utilized by the powerful to manipulate the vulnerable. You need to protect yourself from false guilt. It never helps but often harms your spiritual life and relationships. It will damage or destroy your relationship with God. That is why it is a ploy preferred by Satan.
In Psalm 130, our scripture reading for today, the author of these verses wrote about sin’s debt-load. Sin piles up over time. Were you to have to keep track of all your sins, the guilt and shame would be overwhelming. If God did not forgive your sins, their influence over you would grow and grow. The sins would eat away at your spiritual life and overpower you with their corruptive influences. That is why the author of Psalm 130 wrote plainly, “If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, who could stand before you?”(Psalm 130:3). Every sin, no matter how large or small, is a rejection of God and righteousness. Human beings have a deep and enduring penchant for sin. Worldly thoughts inhabit our minds. Weaknesses can grow over time. Even when the church pronounces your forgiveness, you might be tempted to think that your sin is too great to just release to God. You might feel obligated to hold on to each failure. Enemies or even friends might encourage you to remember your sin so that you can be controlled in some way. To this, the Psalmist wrote: “BUT you (Lord) are willing to forgive, so that you might be honored” (Psalm 130:4). If taken in its entirety, this verse reminds us that to honor God, we must let forgiveness occur. You can’t honor God if after you are forgiven, you stay mired in false guilt.
1 John 1:9 clarifies the matter even further….“If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NIV). By carefully analyzing this verse, it becomes crystal clear that God can be trusted to forgive you. Then, after forgiveness is given by God, HE wants you to be purified from all unrighteousness. Lingering doubts and enduring shame are not what God wills for those who are forgiven. When HE forgives you, He desires the sin to be cleansed from your body and soul and mind. It should not continue to destroy you from the inside out through false guilt.
Litsa Williams wrote about her father’s death using these words: “When my dad died I remember well the intense guilt I had in the months that followed. Though his death didn’t fit into one of the categories known for guilt, that didn’t stop me from feeling guilty. I felt guilt that I wasn’t a match for a bone marrow transplant, though rationally I knew I had no control over that. I had guilt that I hadn’t called him more during my first year of college, guilt that in the hospital we had told him it was okay to let go and that we would be okay without him. When my sister’s boyfriend died of an overdose years later, my guilt went to a new level. I rehashed all the things I felt I should have done, all the negative thoughts I had over the years, and approximately a million other guilt-thoughts that often plague survivors of substance losses.” (Got Guilt, July 24, 2014 whatsyourgrief.com). Can you feel her pain? Do you see the guilt that eats at her soul? Survivor guilt, insecurities, fears because of past failures and so much more can bring all kinds of false guilt your way. It can so easily pile up and overwhelm you. Some false guilt may have to do with sin. Some of it may not have to do with anything in reality. You just feel guilty.
Out of an intense love of God, you will need to put away false guilt. This is required for you to experience true joy. How can you give thanks to God when you won’t allow God’s grace to permeate your every cranny? If you want to really show thanksgiving to God this month, maybe you need to start with your guilt. If you have been forgiven and cleansed by God, the guilt has got to go. It doesn’t belong in your heart, soul, or mind. Put away that negativity that has no place in your every day. If you remain mired in false guilt long enough, Satan will put it to use one way or another. Doesn’t Jesus mean more to you? His death on that cross more than covers the cost of your guilt.
One such patient was my medical school administrator, Mr. Barwick, who had a serious and painful circulation problem in his leg but refused to allow the recommended amputation. As the pain grew worse, Barwick grew bitter. “I hate it!” he would mutter about the leg. At last he relented and told the doctor, “I can’t stand it anymore. I’m through with that leg. Take it off.” Surgery was scheduled immediately. Before the operation, however, Barwick, asked the doctor. “What do you do with legs after they’re removed?” “We may take a biopsy or explore them a bit, but afterwards we incinerate them,” the doctor replied. Barwick proceeded with a bizarre request: “I would like you to preserve my leg in a pickling jar. I will install it on my mantle shelf. Then, as I sit in my armchair, I will taunt that leg, ‘Hah! You can’t hurt me anymore!”
Ultimately, he got his wish. But the despised leg had the last laugh. Barwick suffered phantom limb pain of the worst degree. The wound healed, but he could feel the torturous pressure of the swelling as the muscles cramped, and he had no prospect of relief. He had hated the leg with such intensity that the pain had unaccountably lodged permanently in his brain.
To me, phantom limb pain provides wonderful insight into the phenomenon of false guilt. Christians can be obsessed by the memory of some sin committed years ago. It never leaves them, crippling their ministry, their devotional life, their relationships with others. They live in fear that someone will discover their past. They work overtime trying to prove to God they’re repentant. They erect barriers against the enveloping, loving grace of God. Unless they experience the truth in I John 3:19-20 that “God is greater than our conscience,” they become as pitiful as poor Mr. Barwick, shaking his fist in fury at the pickled leg on the mantle.” (Dr. Paul Brand, as quoted on Bible.org)
False guilt is a common phenomenon in Christian circles. It often plagues those who have low self-esteem, a tragic past, a sinful past, or who have not dealt adequately with their past. It is commonly utilized by the powerful to manipulate the vulnerable. You need to protect yourself from false guilt. It never helps but often harms your spiritual life and relationships. It will damage or destroy your relationship with God. That is why it is a ploy preferred by Satan.
In Psalm 130, our scripture reading for today, the author of these verses wrote about sin’s debt-load. Sin piles up over time. Were you to have to keep track of all your sins, the guilt and shame would be overwhelming. If God did not forgive your sins, their influence over you would grow and grow. The sins would eat away at your spiritual life and overpower you with their corruptive influences. That is why the author of Psalm 130 wrote plainly, “If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, who could stand before you?”(Psalm 130:3). Every sin, no matter how large or small, is a rejection of God and righteousness. Human beings have a deep and enduring penchant for sin. Worldly thoughts inhabit our minds. Weaknesses can grow over time. Even when the church pronounces your forgiveness, you might be tempted to think that your sin is too great to just release to God. You might feel obligated to hold on to each failure. Enemies or even friends might encourage you to remember your sin so that you can be controlled in some way. To this, the Psalmist wrote: “BUT you (Lord) are willing to forgive, so that you might be honored” (Psalm 130:4). If taken in its entirety, this verse reminds us that to honor God, we must let forgiveness occur. You can’t honor God if after you are forgiven, you stay mired in false guilt.
1 John 1:9 clarifies the matter even further….“If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NIV). By carefully analyzing this verse, it becomes crystal clear that God can be trusted to forgive you. Then, after forgiveness is given by God, HE wants you to be purified from all unrighteousness. Lingering doubts and enduring shame are not what God wills for those who are forgiven. When HE forgives you, He desires the sin to be cleansed from your body and soul and mind. It should not continue to destroy you from the inside out through false guilt.
Litsa Williams wrote about her father’s death using these words: “When my dad died I remember well the intense guilt I had in the months that followed. Though his death didn’t fit into one of the categories known for guilt, that didn’t stop me from feeling guilty. I felt guilt that I wasn’t a match for a bone marrow transplant, though rationally I knew I had no control over that. I had guilt that I hadn’t called him more during my first year of college, guilt that in the hospital we had told him it was okay to let go and that we would be okay without him. When my sister’s boyfriend died of an overdose years later, my guilt went to a new level. I rehashed all the things I felt I should have done, all the negative thoughts I had over the years, and approximately a million other guilt-thoughts that often plague survivors of substance losses.” (Got Guilt, July 24, 2014 whatsyourgrief.com). Can you feel her pain? Do you see the guilt that eats at her soul? Survivor guilt, insecurities, fears because of past failures and so much more can bring all kinds of false guilt your way. It can so easily pile up and overwhelm you. Some false guilt may have to do with sin. Some of it may not have to do with anything in reality. You just feel guilty.
Out of an intense love of God, you will need to put away false guilt. This is required for you to experience true joy. How can you give thanks to God when you won’t allow God’s grace to permeate your every cranny? If you want to really show thanksgiving to God this month, maybe you need to start with your guilt. If you have been forgiven and cleansed by God, the guilt has got to go. It doesn’t belong in your heart, soul, or mind. Put away that negativity that has no place in your every day. If you remain mired in false guilt long enough, Satan will put it to use one way or another. Doesn’t Jesus mean more to you? His death on that cross more than covers the cost of your guilt.
November 16
“And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.” Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”” (Ruth 2:4–7, ESV)

Every now and then I hear the phrase, “What are the chances of that!” Usually it is said when something unusual happens in a person’s day, like when a series of amazing coincidences taking place. While I do believe there are many coincidences in this world, I do not believe all events are mere coincidence. Some of those special events are, in fact, works of God’s hand. They are divinely inspired miracles. They are the inspired work of Almighty God breaking into our world to accomplish something so very important.
“While waiting in a cemetery to conduct a funeral service, Charles Simeon walked among the graves, looking at the epitaphs. He found one that arrested him....
When from the dust of death I rise,
To claim my mansion in the skies,
E’en then shall this be all my plea--
“Jesus hath lived and died for me.”
He was so impressed with that gospel message that he looked for someone in the cemetery with whom he might share it. He saw a young woman, obviously distressed, and called her over to read the epitaph. He took her address and visited her the next day. The home was a scene of poverty and squalor. The woman’s old mother was dying of asthma, and two little children, very dirty, were trying to warm themselves by a small fire. Simeon prayed with the family, visited them again, and found assistance for them. Later, the young woman told Simeon that she had been in the cemetery five hours and was contemplating suicide when he called her to read the epitaph. Because of his concern she trusted Christ, and the family situation was changed.” (Warren Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 217).
Charles Simeon had no knowledge that this woman was suicidal, yet he stopped her suicide. He had no clue that she needed to see that epitaph on the tombstone, but he just happened to show her the writing. Were the events coincidence? Some would say they were. However, I have found that coincidences seem to occur more often with people of God. I believe this is because they are being divinely inspired to do or say something at the perfect moment for something holy to occur. It takes faith to envision the meaning behind some of these surprising coincidences. But, once you have faith, a surprising share of coincidences indicate that God is more active in this world than many comprehend.
In the scripture for today, a godly man named Boaz was overseeing work in his fields. It was the time of the year when the poor and needy were gleaning the extra crops from the fields so that they would not go hungry. As Boaz eyed the needy and his own workers gathering in the fields, he greeted them with a blessing, “The Lord be with you!” (Ruth 2:4). With this enthusiastic blessing, it is obvious that Boaz was thrilled that so many people were able to be fed with the crops that had been grown. He did not seem to mind the presence of the needy. When his eyes fell upon Ruth, however, Boaz didn’t recognize her. Rather than approaching her with questions, he asked his workers about her identity. They explained that she was “a young Moabite woman who came with Naomi”. This helped Boaz to recognize her place in the community. As a further explanation, the workers further described how Ruth hardly rested as she toiled many hours in the fields that day. (Ruth 2:7).
This random meeting in the fields by the landowner and one needy woman may not seem like much. In a book, it might garner just one paragraph as an aside. However, this meeting of Boaz and Ruth was not coincidence. Their meeting that day changed history. Boaz ended up marrying Ruth. One of their great-grandchildren was King David. One of their descendants was Jesus Christ. One seemingly random meeting between two people in a field one day changed the course of the world. If you read more of the book of Ruth, you can see further evidence how God had a hand in their meeting that day. It was not mere coincidence that they ended up together.
Your life will no doubt have events shaped by the hand of God. You might be tempted to label a lot of unusual events as coincidences. Don’t be so sure. God may be actively working in unexpected ways to which you are clueless. Hebrews 13:2 explains that impromptu events in your life may be caused by angels of which you are completely unaware. When God acts, HE doesn’t usually put up a sign that says, “God was here! Take notice!” That does not mean you shouldn’t look further and examine the meaning behind some of the coincidences in your life. Might some exhibit more clearly the intent of God?
Don’t be tempted to see every coincidence as a sign from God. On the other hand, don’t ever assume that God is not behind some of those unusual turns of events in your life. Since God is alive and active in your world, HE may indeed affect circumstances beyond your control. His hand will be behind some incredibly significant moments of your life. Of that, you can be certain.
Have you noticed some coincidences in your life lately? How might God have used a few to shape your situation? Even small coincidences inspired by the hand of God will usually have huge impacts upon your life.
“While waiting in a cemetery to conduct a funeral service, Charles Simeon walked among the graves, looking at the epitaphs. He found one that arrested him....
When from the dust of death I rise,
To claim my mansion in the skies,
E’en then shall this be all my plea--
“Jesus hath lived and died for me.”
He was so impressed with that gospel message that he looked for someone in the cemetery with whom he might share it. He saw a young woman, obviously distressed, and called her over to read the epitaph. He took her address and visited her the next day. The home was a scene of poverty and squalor. The woman’s old mother was dying of asthma, and two little children, very dirty, were trying to warm themselves by a small fire. Simeon prayed with the family, visited them again, and found assistance for them. Later, the young woman told Simeon that she had been in the cemetery five hours and was contemplating suicide when he called her to read the epitaph. Because of his concern she trusted Christ, and the family situation was changed.” (Warren Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 217).
Charles Simeon had no knowledge that this woman was suicidal, yet he stopped her suicide. He had no clue that she needed to see that epitaph on the tombstone, but he just happened to show her the writing. Were the events coincidence? Some would say they were. However, I have found that coincidences seem to occur more often with people of God. I believe this is because they are being divinely inspired to do or say something at the perfect moment for something holy to occur. It takes faith to envision the meaning behind some of these surprising coincidences. But, once you have faith, a surprising share of coincidences indicate that God is more active in this world than many comprehend.
In the scripture for today, a godly man named Boaz was overseeing work in his fields. It was the time of the year when the poor and needy were gleaning the extra crops from the fields so that they would not go hungry. As Boaz eyed the needy and his own workers gathering in the fields, he greeted them with a blessing, “The Lord be with you!” (Ruth 2:4). With this enthusiastic blessing, it is obvious that Boaz was thrilled that so many people were able to be fed with the crops that had been grown. He did not seem to mind the presence of the needy. When his eyes fell upon Ruth, however, Boaz didn’t recognize her. Rather than approaching her with questions, he asked his workers about her identity. They explained that she was “a young Moabite woman who came with Naomi”. This helped Boaz to recognize her place in the community. As a further explanation, the workers further described how Ruth hardly rested as she toiled many hours in the fields that day. (Ruth 2:7).
This random meeting in the fields by the landowner and one needy woman may not seem like much. In a book, it might garner just one paragraph as an aside. However, this meeting of Boaz and Ruth was not coincidence. Their meeting that day changed history. Boaz ended up marrying Ruth. One of their great-grandchildren was King David. One of their descendants was Jesus Christ. One seemingly random meeting between two people in a field one day changed the course of the world. If you read more of the book of Ruth, you can see further evidence how God had a hand in their meeting that day. It was not mere coincidence that they ended up together.
Your life will no doubt have events shaped by the hand of God. You might be tempted to label a lot of unusual events as coincidences. Don’t be so sure. God may be actively working in unexpected ways to which you are clueless. Hebrews 13:2 explains that impromptu events in your life may be caused by angels of which you are completely unaware. When God acts, HE doesn’t usually put up a sign that says, “God was here! Take notice!” That does not mean you shouldn’t look further and examine the meaning behind some of the coincidences in your life. Might some exhibit more clearly the intent of God?
Don’t be tempted to see every coincidence as a sign from God. On the other hand, don’t ever assume that God is not behind some of those unusual turns of events in your life. Since God is alive and active in your world, HE may indeed affect circumstances beyond your control. His hand will be behind some incredibly significant moments of your life. Of that, you can be certain.
Have you noticed some coincidences in your life lately? How might God have used a few to shape your situation? Even small coincidences inspired by the hand of God will usually have huge impacts upon your life.
November 18
“Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11, NRSV)

In the scripture above from the pages of Ephesians, it is listed that the devil employs “wiles”. The word “wiles” is not in common use today. The word has fallen out of favor. Some Bible versions use different words to describe this characteristic of Satan. Instead of “the wiles of the devil”, the English Standard Version of the Bible uses the phrase “the schemes of the devil” while the New Living Translation prefers “the strategies of the devil”. By looking at these versions together, it is possible to see more clearly that the wiles of the devil are strategies or schemes that the devil uses to manipulate you to sin or succumb to temptation.
Like Satan, worldly people who reject God’s ways are also prone to wiles and schemes. Also in Ephesians, Paul wrote that the “cunning of men” produces “craftiness in deceitful wiles” (Ephesians 4:14). Taken together, the Bible makes clear that the devil and some people have this in common; they employ wiliness, craftiness, and deceitfulness. They will use their smarts to get their way, control a situation, or manipulate people. Their “wiles” make it so that they care more about an outcome in their favor than the damage their deceitfulness might engender.
Two brothers were getting ready to boil some eggs to color for Easter. “I’ll give you a dollar if you let me break three of these on your head,” said the older one.
“Promise?” asked the younger.
“Promise!” Gleefully, the older boy broke two eggs over his brother’s head.
Standing stiff for fear the gooey mess would get all over him, the little boy asked, “When is the third egg coming?” “It’s not,” replied the brother. “That would cost me a dollar.”
In this humorous exchange, one brother used his craftiness to tease his other brother. It was mostly harmless. What happens when that craftiness is used for harm?
A husband and wife had serious marital problems. At first, the most pressing issue was that the husband had an addiction to cocaine. Every now and then, he would go off for a few days and become totally trashed. In the process, he blew thousands of dollars a month. This penchant grew into a habit, then into an addiction in the span of about four years. During that time, the two fought more and more. Their three young children began to take sides. The entire family walked on eggshells.
In order to deal with the addiction and its toll on the family, the wife began to confide in her best friend at work. The wife’s best friend was a man who was previously divorced. The more they talked and shared, the closer the wife and her best friend became. Then, they began to have an affair. This added to the family problems and fights. When the husband found out about the affair, he spread the news far and wide. In response, the wife shared with coworkers and neighbors about the husband’s use of cocaine. The gossip caused the whole family to feel uncomfortable in worship, so they stopped attending. The mess was compounded with divorce.
To this day, thirty years later, the family members fight among each other. The husband believes the wife was seduced by her best friend (who haven’t talked since). The wife believes all the family’s problems were initiated by her addictive husband. The children have had a very rocky time of it. The family has been in counseling of one type or another for two decades.
This family used to be in church most every Sunday. Now, they all deal with guilt and anger and resentments and more with each other and with God. How did all this happen? A man who had a lot of stress chose to be seduced by a drug. The wife was seduced by her best friend. Both had friends who weighed in on the problems. Some made it worse. No doubt, the devil wanted to see this church-going family fall apart. All in all, the wiles of the devil and bad choices brought highly destructive results.
Beware the wiles of the devil. 1 Peter 5:8 warns that you ““Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV). The devil will watch for your weakness, search day and night for a toe hold in your thoughts. He seeks a way into your day, desires to bend your emotions to his will, and will twist your thoughts to do his bidding.
Ephesians 6:11 gives a way to counter Satan’s wiles. You need to “put on the whole armor of God”. Ephesians 6 lists pieces of that armor that you will need such as truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. Each of these pieces of armor will add to your ability to fight off the devil’s machinations. These, along with the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), will help you fight God’s battles. Each of these pieces of armor and the sword of the Spirit deserve a meditation of its own. I cannot mention all the implications and details here. However, what I can say is that you need ALL the armor to fight Satan. Let God help you perfect each bit of armor to perfection.
The devil has had centuries to hone his craft. He is very good at finding your weaknesses and using his evil wiles. God wants you to overcome. God has given you armor for the fight. God’s Spirit can guide you. God will be there for you on the day of battle. Just make sure you are ready for the fight.
Like Satan, worldly people who reject God’s ways are also prone to wiles and schemes. Also in Ephesians, Paul wrote that the “cunning of men” produces “craftiness in deceitful wiles” (Ephesians 4:14). Taken together, the Bible makes clear that the devil and some people have this in common; they employ wiliness, craftiness, and deceitfulness. They will use their smarts to get their way, control a situation, or manipulate people. Their “wiles” make it so that they care more about an outcome in their favor than the damage their deceitfulness might engender.
Two brothers were getting ready to boil some eggs to color for Easter. “I’ll give you a dollar if you let me break three of these on your head,” said the older one.
“Promise?” asked the younger.
“Promise!” Gleefully, the older boy broke two eggs over his brother’s head.
Standing stiff for fear the gooey mess would get all over him, the little boy asked, “When is the third egg coming?” “It’s not,” replied the brother. “That would cost me a dollar.”
In this humorous exchange, one brother used his craftiness to tease his other brother. It was mostly harmless. What happens when that craftiness is used for harm?
A husband and wife had serious marital problems. At first, the most pressing issue was that the husband had an addiction to cocaine. Every now and then, he would go off for a few days and become totally trashed. In the process, he blew thousands of dollars a month. This penchant grew into a habit, then into an addiction in the span of about four years. During that time, the two fought more and more. Their three young children began to take sides. The entire family walked on eggshells.
In order to deal with the addiction and its toll on the family, the wife began to confide in her best friend at work. The wife’s best friend was a man who was previously divorced. The more they talked and shared, the closer the wife and her best friend became. Then, they began to have an affair. This added to the family problems and fights. When the husband found out about the affair, he spread the news far and wide. In response, the wife shared with coworkers and neighbors about the husband’s use of cocaine. The gossip caused the whole family to feel uncomfortable in worship, so they stopped attending. The mess was compounded with divorce.
To this day, thirty years later, the family members fight among each other. The husband believes the wife was seduced by her best friend (who haven’t talked since). The wife believes all the family’s problems were initiated by her addictive husband. The children have had a very rocky time of it. The family has been in counseling of one type or another for two decades.
This family used to be in church most every Sunday. Now, they all deal with guilt and anger and resentments and more with each other and with God. How did all this happen? A man who had a lot of stress chose to be seduced by a drug. The wife was seduced by her best friend. Both had friends who weighed in on the problems. Some made it worse. No doubt, the devil wanted to see this church-going family fall apart. All in all, the wiles of the devil and bad choices brought highly destructive results.
Beware the wiles of the devil. 1 Peter 5:8 warns that you ““Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV). The devil will watch for your weakness, search day and night for a toe hold in your thoughts. He seeks a way into your day, desires to bend your emotions to his will, and will twist your thoughts to do his bidding.
Ephesians 6:11 gives a way to counter Satan’s wiles. You need to “put on the whole armor of God”. Ephesians 6 lists pieces of that armor that you will need such as truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. Each of these pieces of armor will add to your ability to fight off the devil’s machinations. These, along with the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), will help you fight God’s battles. Each of these pieces of armor and the sword of the Spirit deserve a meditation of its own. I cannot mention all the implications and details here. However, what I can say is that you need ALL the armor to fight Satan. Let God help you perfect each bit of armor to perfection.
The devil has had centuries to hone his craft. He is very good at finding your weaknesses and using his evil wiles. God wants you to overcome. God has given you armor for the fight. God’s Spirit can guide you. God will be there for you on the day of battle. Just make sure you are ready for the fight.
November 20
“O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.” (Psalm 83:1, NIV84)

In the scripture above, Asaph (the author) desired that God come out loud and clear with a message for the earth. The reason why was given in the rest of Psalm 83. The “enemies of God” had been “crafting plans” to do evil among the holy people (Psalm 83:2-3). The nations surrounding Israel gathered together to prepare for war. Assyrians and Edomites and other nations were making pacts to stand up against holy Israel (Psalm 83:6-8). They were subverting God’s will. Asaph wanted desperately for God to lash out, weaken their resolve, and put a fear of Israel among their armies. However, when this was written, God had not yet spoken. God had not yet weakened the resolve of the armies gathered. God seemed to be quiet and aloof and distant.
There are times when you will not be able to get a clear indication from God. You may desire God’s voice to speak, but God will be silent. You might wish for some sign from God but receive no such direction. It can be incredibly frustrating to see evil and injustice growing and prospering. It can be terribly disheartening to witness the derision of those who make fun of faith and God’s omnipotence. You might pray and pray for God to lift His hand and decimate those who are relishing in their wrongs. Despite your many prayers, God may choose to remain silent. God’s direction may seem unclear and ambiguous. God’s plan might seem indecipherable. What do you do then?
“There’s a wonderful story about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment. The Boston investment house could not say enough about the young man. His father, they wrote, was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowe. Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstalls, Peabodys, and other of Boston’s first families. His recommendation was given without hesitation.
Several days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. It read: “We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work.”” (Kathleen Peterson). The bank did not want a listing of the man’s famous family members for their recommendation. They wanted background into his work ethic, an insight into his abilities, and his work history. The recommendation they received was completely ambiguous. Because of the lack of good information, they couldn’t figure out whether to hire the young man or not!
Life can get very ambiguous. You may have to make a life and death decision and not know which road to take. Bad things might be happening to you and you might wonder why. A looming deadline might make you antsy when you have no real prospects or clear answers. When life goes crazy and the world seems uncertain, when evil seems to be winning over good, when your world seems unsettled, you would like to have clear direction from God. You’d love to know when God is going to act and what will be done to make everything right. In those chaotic, difficult times, God may not give clear direction. God may not reveal the perfect path to take. The ambiguity can be terrifying. You might have to make difficult decisions on your own. You might have to make a choice without enough information. You might have to rely on your own abilities. It’s never easy.
When life gets ambiguous, it does not mean that God doesn’t want to make things right. God still wants you to make faithful choices. At times, you may be so busy or harried or upset that you can’t hear God’s “still small voice” breaking through. Your prayers might become so sporadic that your mind is not capable to working through the situation logically. It might be that God wants to see you respond faithfully with out HIS influence. It might be that Satan has clouded your judgment. There are so many reasons for life’s ambiguities and God’s elusive presence. That shouldn’t stop you from making righteous decisions. God may be looking for you to take a faithful stand even when HIS way is unclear to you.
When God’s way seems ambiguous, how do you respond? Do you become fearful? Are you afraid of making mistakes? Is your faith so weak that you won’t do the right thing without God paving the way? Do you get indecisive? Just because life is ambiguous, this does not mean God is absent. Though things may be unclear, that does not mean you should abdicate responsibility. God has given you gifts and His Holy Spirit. Find a way to follow faithfully until the way becomes more understandable.
Someone once said, “How faithful you are is not determined by what you do when everybody is watching. It’s often determined by what you do when nobody is around”. How do you respond when God seems silent or aloof? What kind of choices do you make when on your own? I know you want God never to “keep silent” (Psalm 83:1). I know you like it when God acts and is “not still”. But what do you do when God’s time to act is not yet apparent?
There are times when you will not be able to get a clear indication from God. You may desire God’s voice to speak, but God will be silent. You might wish for some sign from God but receive no such direction. It can be incredibly frustrating to see evil and injustice growing and prospering. It can be terribly disheartening to witness the derision of those who make fun of faith and God’s omnipotence. You might pray and pray for God to lift His hand and decimate those who are relishing in their wrongs. Despite your many prayers, God may choose to remain silent. God’s direction may seem unclear and ambiguous. God’s plan might seem indecipherable. What do you do then?
“There’s a wonderful story about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment. The Boston investment house could not say enough about the young man. His father, they wrote, was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowe. Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstalls, Peabodys, and other of Boston’s first families. His recommendation was given without hesitation.
Several days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. It read: “We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work.”” (Kathleen Peterson). The bank did not want a listing of the man’s famous family members for their recommendation. They wanted background into his work ethic, an insight into his abilities, and his work history. The recommendation they received was completely ambiguous. Because of the lack of good information, they couldn’t figure out whether to hire the young man or not!
Life can get very ambiguous. You may have to make a life and death decision and not know which road to take. Bad things might be happening to you and you might wonder why. A looming deadline might make you antsy when you have no real prospects or clear answers. When life goes crazy and the world seems uncertain, when evil seems to be winning over good, when your world seems unsettled, you would like to have clear direction from God. You’d love to know when God is going to act and what will be done to make everything right. In those chaotic, difficult times, God may not give clear direction. God may not reveal the perfect path to take. The ambiguity can be terrifying. You might have to make difficult decisions on your own. You might have to make a choice without enough information. You might have to rely on your own abilities. It’s never easy.
When life gets ambiguous, it does not mean that God doesn’t want to make things right. God still wants you to make faithful choices. At times, you may be so busy or harried or upset that you can’t hear God’s “still small voice” breaking through. Your prayers might become so sporadic that your mind is not capable to working through the situation logically. It might be that God wants to see you respond faithfully with out HIS influence. It might be that Satan has clouded your judgment. There are so many reasons for life’s ambiguities and God’s elusive presence. That shouldn’t stop you from making righteous decisions. God may be looking for you to take a faithful stand even when HIS way is unclear to you.
When God’s way seems ambiguous, how do you respond? Do you become fearful? Are you afraid of making mistakes? Is your faith so weak that you won’t do the right thing without God paving the way? Do you get indecisive? Just because life is ambiguous, this does not mean God is absent. Though things may be unclear, that does not mean you should abdicate responsibility. God has given you gifts and His Holy Spirit. Find a way to follow faithfully until the way becomes more understandable.
Someone once said, “How faithful you are is not determined by what you do when everybody is watching. It’s often determined by what you do when nobody is around”. How do you respond when God seems silent or aloof? What kind of choices do you make when on your own? I know you want God never to “keep silent” (Psalm 83:1). I know you like it when God acts and is “not still”. But what do you do when God’s time to act is not yet apparent?
November 23
“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” (Proverbs 3:7–8, NLT)

Early one morning in late fall, a sixty-year-old man named Cal had chest pains upon waking. Though fading away in an hour, the pains returned later in the day. Fearing a heart attack, Cal and his wife went to the hospital. There, he was found to have a severe blockage of three arteries supplying his heart. Unable to fix the problem adequately with stents, the doctors opted for Open-Heart Surgery. Cal’s life changed a lot in the next few months. He had regular visits to rehab. His diet was changed. His sleeping schedule was altered. He became slightly depressed and irritable.
Seven months after his surgery, Cal visited his pastor just to talk. While there, he complained about the changes in his life. Then, he mentioned that he was down. He also harped about his stringent diet. On and on for seven minutes straight, he complained. Finally, Cal told his pastor, “I’m so fed up with my life right now. I can’t even concentrate when I pray or focus when I do Bible Study! What is wrong with me!”
Cal didn’t realize something very important about his faith. Do you see what he missed? When your body goes through a serious trauma; your mind and soul are also along for the ride. Accompanying the major surgery that took a great toll on Cal’s body, his mind also suffered. He grew depressed. He also could not concentrate or feel comfortable praying. Thus, his soul was affected. When one part of your life is out of whack, other areas of your life will eventually suffer consequences as well.
It may not surprise you, but “Regular exercise toughens the mind as well as the body. After working out three times a week for six months, [the exercise group in a study] was found to be 20% fitter. Bonus: they also scored 70% better in a test of complex decision making.” (American Health, quoted in November, 1985, Homemade Magazine). Through this and similar studies, scientists have concluded that there is a connection between a fit body and a fit mind. However, it is not just the body and mind that are intimately connected. Your soul is also connected to body and mind. Your soul affects both. Each reacts to the other. When one part of the body-mind-soul connection is weak, the others will be weakened as well. When one is stronger, it will aid the others. When one is corrupted, it will inevitably cause damage to the others.
Long before any of these scientific studies were done to find the interaction between body, mind, and soul, the Bible proclaimed this connection to be true. Our scripture for today points to this connection. Proverbs 3:7 argues that you should “fear the Lord and turn away from evil”. This faithful stance is good for the soul. What does this scripture above say will result from a faithful stance? “THEN you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones” (Proverbs 3:8). A solid connection with God will result in healing and wholeness in your body, even to your bones. The opposite, I’m afraid, is also true.
When Jen was in college, she was sexually assaulted. For a long time after, she didn’t date. She felt uncomfortable around men. In time, however, she began to overcome her fear and moved on with her life, or so she thought. A year after graduation, Jen walked into an elevator alone. Just before the door closed, a large man with tattoos and a biker’s vest walked into the elevator with her. As the elevator traveled with just the two aboard, Jen’s fears resurfaced. She began to sweat and had difficulty breathing. After getting off the elevator early, Jen’s symptoms seemed to calm down. Her heart stopped racing. A few months later, the same symptoms occurred to Jen during worship. She didn’t understand why she was having these “attacks”. After the humiliation of three bad experiences like this in worship, she stopped attending her church. The attacks continued, occurring more and more frequently. Finally, Jen saw her doctor.
After her doctor reviewed her symptoms, he prescribed some medicine to ease Jen's symptoms. He also enrolled her in a class about anxiety at a neighboring church. She also began to see a counselor. Through several months of different therapies, it was determined that Jen was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It took almost a year for the symptoms to become manageable. Finally, a little over a year later, Jen again attended worship and began to restore her friendships.
What began as physical violence seriously affected Jen’s faith. It kept her out of church life for more than a year. It impacted her spiritual life and her relationships with Christian friends. Physical and emotional and psychological traumas do that. Your body, mind, and spirit all affect each other. To neglect any one of the three will bring difficulties and consequences to the others. The reverse is also true. If you neglect your spiritual life, you will suffer consequences in the other areas of your life. You may think you don’t need God or need to make something right with God without realizing the toll those stands will take upon your body and mind.
Today, do a little self-examination. Which part of the body-mind-soul connection is your weak link? How well do you care for your body? Do you eat well? Do you get enough exercise? How well do you care for your mind? Do you hold grudges? Does anger creep into too many of your thoughts? Are you stressed? Are you too negative? Finally, how well do you nurture your soul? Are you quick to trust in God? Are you willing to let God forgive you? Are you too prideful to repent? Is there something holding you back from joy in Christ?
Seven months after his surgery, Cal visited his pastor just to talk. While there, he complained about the changes in his life. Then, he mentioned that he was down. He also harped about his stringent diet. On and on for seven minutes straight, he complained. Finally, Cal told his pastor, “I’m so fed up with my life right now. I can’t even concentrate when I pray or focus when I do Bible Study! What is wrong with me!”
Cal didn’t realize something very important about his faith. Do you see what he missed? When your body goes through a serious trauma; your mind and soul are also along for the ride. Accompanying the major surgery that took a great toll on Cal’s body, his mind also suffered. He grew depressed. He also could not concentrate or feel comfortable praying. Thus, his soul was affected. When one part of your life is out of whack, other areas of your life will eventually suffer consequences as well.
It may not surprise you, but “Regular exercise toughens the mind as well as the body. After working out three times a week for six months, [the exercise group in a study] was found to be 20% fitter. Bonus: they also scored 70% better in a test of complex decision making.” (American Health, quoted in November, 1985, Homemade Magazine). Through this and similar studies, scientists have concluded that there is a connection between a fit body and a fit mind. However, it is not just the body and mind that are intimately connected. Your soul is also connected to body and mind. Your soul affects both. Each reacts to the other. When one part of the body-mind-soul connection is weak, the others will be weakened as well. When one is stronger, it will aid the others. When one is corrupted, it will inevitably cause damage to the others.
Long before any of these scientific studies were done to find the interaction between body, mind, and soul, the Bible proclaimed this connection to be true. Our scripture for today points to this connection. Proverbs 3:7 argues that you should “fear the Lord and turn away from evil”. This faithful stance is good for the soul. What does this scripture above say will result from a faithful stance? “THEN you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones” (Proverbs 3:8). A solid connection with God will result in healing and wholeness in your body, even to your bones. The opposite, I’m afraid, is also true.
When Jen was in college, she was sexually assaulted. For a long time after, she didn’t date. She felt uncomfortable around men. In time, however, she began to overcome her fear and moved on with her life, or so she thought. A year after graduation, Jen walked into an elevator alone. Just before the door closed, a large man with tattoos and a biker’s vest walked into the elevator with her. As the elevator traveled with just the two aboard, Jen’s fears resurfaced. She began to sweat and had difficulty breathing. After getting off the elevator early, Jen’s symptoms seemed to calm down. Her heart stopped racing. A few months later, the same symptoms occurred to Jen during worship. She didn’t understand why she was having these “attacks”. After the humiliation of three bad experiences like this in worship, she stopped attending her church. The attacks continued, occurring more and more frequently. Finally, Jen saw her doctor.
After her doctor reviewed her symptoms, he prescribed some medicine to ease Jen's symptoms. He also enrolled her in a class about anxiety at a neighboring church. She also began to see a counselor. Through several months of different therapies, it was determined that Jen was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It took almost a year for the symptoms to become manageable. Finally, a little over a year later, Jen again attended worship and began to restore her friendships.
What began as physical violence seriously affected Jen’s faith. It kept her out of church life for more than a year. It impacted her spiritual life and her relationships with Christian friends. Physical and emotional and psychological traumas do that. Your body, mind, and spirit all affect each other. To neglect any one of the three will bring difficulties and consequences to the others. The reverse is also true. If you neglect your spiritual life, you will suffer consequences in the other areas of your life. You may think you don’t need God or need to make something right with God without realizing the toll those stands will take upon your body and mind.
Today, do a little self-examination. Which part of the body-mind-soul connection is your weak link? How well do you care for your body? Do you eat well? Do you get enough exercise? How well do you care for your mind? Do you hold grudges? Does anger creep into too many of your thoughts? Are you stressed? Are you too negative? Finally, how well do you nurture your soul? Are you quick to trust in God? Are you willing to let God forgive you? Are you too prideful to repent? Is there something holding you back from joy in Christ?
November 25
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (James 5:7–8, NIV84)

Do you find it difficult to wait upon the Lord? When you see a problem, your normal thinking might be to fix that problem right now. Upon encountering an obstacle, you might desire to get rid of it without a second thought. Be careful, my friend, sometimes an obstacle or a challenge or a difficulty or an issue might be put in your life for a godly reason. God might be using it to mold some part of your spiritual life, to engender patience in your mind, or to expose something needing work. Rushing too quickly to erase an obstacle in your life might lead to hasty or risky or spiritually damaging conclusions. Let me show you what I mean.
Two rambunctious boys in the second grade were sent to the principal’s office. They had again gotten into trouble for interrupting the class. Both mothers were called and showed up to the principal’s office for a conversation. Each mother went in with her child. All heard the same speech about interruptions and why they should not occur in the classroom.
The mother of the first boy took him home and without a second thought punished him severely. She was so angry at having to take time off work that she let her emotions get the best of her. Her reaction was overzealous. The second mother took her son home and had a long talk with him. She then gave him several jobs to do and throughout the time, they talked over what had happened and what the boy should have done.
The second mother found out that the boys interrupted the class because a girl in their class was hurt on the playground during recess and was afraid to tell anyone. When the class came in from recess, they were told to be quiet and take their seats for a surprise test. The boys protested. They wanted the teacher to help the young girl. The girl lied, saying there was nothing wrong. The boys protested further, knowing that the girl was bleeding down her leg underneath her pants after a nasty fall. Because the girl said there was no problem, the teacher got upset with the boys for interrupting class time and delaying the test. Upon hearing this, the second mother ended all her son’s punishments. She contacted the other mother and relayed the events. While the first mother was busy apologizing for overreacting, the second mother and son were bonding over the whole situation.
The first mother was so quick to punish her son for a perceived wrong, that the whole situation blew up in her face. It resulted in hurt feelings all around. The second mother took the time to gather information, form a plan of action, and handled things very well. Yes, the boys still faced consequences at school. However, the second boy realized that maybe they should have handled things differently. Also, there was the bonus that the second mother and boy grew closer despite the problem at school.
When you jump to hasty conclusions or act too quickly before understanding the implications, you are bound to make mistakes. The same thing occurs in your spiritual life. If a challenge or personal problem occurs, you may want to fix it overzealously. You may want to get rid of it before God even has a chance to help. You might go all nuclear on a friend without understanding the ramifications or even the facts of the matter! James 5:8 is a clear reminder that sometimes just standing firmly in faith and being patient until the Lord reveals the best way to act will uncover the best solutions to a problem.
When feeling ill, are you too quick to find a medical answer instead of letting God work?
Do you throw money at a problem to make it go away instead of finding the most godly solutions for all involved?
Are you patient enough to wait upon the Lord, giving time for God to work out your anger or ease your hurting?
Do you take anxiety medications without seeking peace and ease from God through prayer and other means?
Are you quick to take a pill to fix your symptoms instead of working with God on all your problems?
God will help you, but only if you take the time to look for real, long-lasting, godly solutions. Don’t be so quick to make a problem go away. The Apostle Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7-10 how God used a person who was a “thorn in Paul's flesh” to keep him on the right track. By not ridding himself of this difficult person (who was even sent by Satan!), Paul was able to learn some valuable spiritual lessons from God. At times, that “bad” person in your life might be the very one God will use to bring insight!
Our scripture for today from James 5 reinforces this understanding. James pointed out that patience is not only required “for the land to yield its valuable crop”, it is necessary for the Christian who needs direction. As the farmer waits for the “autumn and spring rains” to nurture the ground, so must you also wait upon the Lord before you act. Not everything in life requires an immediate response or hasty reaction.
"A while back I read a story of a visiting pastor who attended a men's breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country. The group had asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast.
"Lord, I hate buttermilk", the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw white flour". The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn't the only one to feel uncomfortable.
Then the farmer added, "But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen."
Every time you see a Christmas cookie or holiday treat, remember the meditation for today. Like baking, some things from the Lord take time and just the right combination of ingredients to come out perfect. If you rush things, they may leave a bad taste in your mouth!
Two rambunctious boys in the second grade were sent to the principal’s office. They had again gotten into trouble for interrupting the class. Both mothers were called and showed up to the principal’s office for a conversation. Each mother went in with her child. All heard the same speech about interruptions and why they should not occur in the classroom.
The mother of the first boy took him home and without a second thought punished him severely. She was so angry at having to take time off work that she let her emotions get the best of her. Her reaction was overzealous. The second mother took her son home and had a long talk with him. She then gave him several jobs to do and throughout the time, they talked over what had happened and what the boy should have done.
The second mother found out that the boys interrupted the class because a girl in their class was hurt on the playground during recess and was afraid to tell anyone. When the class came in from recess, they were told to be quiet and take their seats for a surprise test. The boys protested. They wanted the teacher to help the young girl. The girl lied, saying there was nothing wrong. The boys protested further, knowing that the girl was bleeding down her leg underneath her pants after a nasty fall. Because the girl said there was no problem, the teacher got upset with the boys for interrupting class time and delaying the test. Upon hearing this, the second mother ended all her son’s punishments. She contacted the other mother and relayed the events. While the first mother was busy apologizing for overreacting, the second mother and son were bonding over the whole situation.
The first mother was so quick to punish her son for a perceived wrong, that the whole situation blew up in her face. It resulted in hurt feelings all around. The second mother took the time to gather information, form a plan of action, and handled things very well. Yes, the boys still faced consequences at school. However, the second boy realized that maybe they should have handled things differently. Also, there was the bonus that the second mother and boy grew closer despite the problem at school.
When you jump to hasty conclusions or act too quickly before understanding the implications, you are bound to make mistakes. The same thing occurs in your spiritual life. If a challenge or personal problem occurs, you may want to fix it overzealously. You may want to get rid of it before God even has a chance to help. You might go all nuclear on a friend without understanding the ramifications or even the facts of the matter! James 5:8 is a clear reminder that sometimes just standing firmly in faith and being patient until the Lord reveals the best way to act will uncover the best solutions to a problem.
When feeling ill, are you too quick to find a medical answer instead of letting God work?
Do you throw money at a problem to make it go away instead of finding the most godly solutions for all involved?
Are you patient enough to wait upon the Lord, giving time for God to work out your anger or ease your hurting?
Do you take anxiety medications without seeking peace and ease from God through prayer and other means?
Are you quick to take a pill to fix your symptoms instead of working with God on all your problems?
God will help you, but only if you take the time to look for real, long-lasting, godly solutions. Don’t be so quick to make a problem go away. The Apostle Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7-10 how God used a person who was a “thorn in Paul's flesh” to keep him on the right track. By not ridding himself of this difficult person (who was even sent by Satan!), Paul was able to learn some valuable spiritual lessons from God. At times, that “bad” person in your life might be the very one God will use to bring insight!
Our scripture for today from James 5 reinforces this understanding. James pointed out that patience is not only required “for the land to yield its valuable crop”, it is necessary for the Christian who needs direction. As the farmer waits for the “autumn and spring rains” to nurture the ground, so must you also wait upon the Lord before you act. Not everything in life requires an immediate response or hasty reaction.
"A while back I read a story of a visiting pastor who attended a men's breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country. The group had asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast.
"Lord, I hate buttermilk", the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw white flour". The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn't the only one to feel uncomfortable.
Then the farmer added, "But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen."
Every time you see a Christmas cookie or holiday treat, remember the meditation for today. Like baking, some things from the Lord take time and just the right combination of ingredients to come out perfect. If you rush things, they may leave a bad taste in your mouth!
November 26
“… but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13–14, NLT)

“On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy held the lead. It looked as if he would win, but as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, “Where is Bannister?” As he turned to look, Bannister took the lead. Landy later told a Time magazine reporter, “If I hadn’t looked back, I would have won!”
One of the most descriptive pictures of the Christian life in the Bible is of an athlete competing in a race. First Corinthians 9:24-27 tells us that discipline is the key to winning. In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are encouraged to lay aside anything that might hinder our spiritual advancement and to stay focused on Christ. And in Philippians 3:12-13, the apostle Paul said, “I press on,…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
Lord, give us endurance as we run this race of life. Help us not to wallow in past failures, but to be disciplined and to shun sinful ways. May we fix our eyes on the eternal goal set before us and keep looking unto Jesus.” (excerpt from Our Daily Bread, August, 1995, August 7).
If you had to examine your thoughts, where do most of them trend, to the past or to the future? Is a part of you stuck in the past, longing for the past, hopelessly mired by sins or mistakes of the past? To be faithful, you need to deal with the past but move on. You may ask God for forgiveness for past mistakes, but don’t let yourself be consumed by regrets and resentments. If you look to the past for too long, it may consume your every day, sucking the life out of your every joy.
When Chastity was alone for the holidays, she often reminisced. At the forefront of her thoughts was the knowledge that two days before Christmas five years previous, her fiancé Dustin walked out of her life. Whenever Chastity was in a bad mood, memories of the breakup would force their way into her mind and take over her attitude. She would eat too much, drink to forget, be irritable to coworkers and friends. When Chastity’s roommates saw her looking longingly at the Christmas tree in the apartment while eating Rocky Road Ice Cream, they knew to stay away. During those times, Chastity was lost in her sorrows and inconsolable.
John is an elder in his church. He knows exactly how Chastity feels. He didn’t break up with anyone. He lost his wife, Claire, to cancer when she was only thirty-eight. Despite having a strong faith and love for the Lord, John often stares off in space. During these moments, his children know not to ask questions. If they do, John will get upset and hide in his room. Even after four years, John cannot seem to stop the memories that play in his mind day after day. He wonders if there could have been something that would have saved Claire’s life. Did he choose the right doctors? Could an earlier date for the first MRI have saved her? Maybe she was too stressed? John feels guilty for every argument they ever had, every angry word (real or perceived) ever sent her way. Now, depression is John’s constant companion. His past with Claire consumes so many of his waking moments and recurring dreams.
Chastity and John are both Christians. They know God in Christ. If you speak with them, they will talk passionately about Jesus and about salvation. Still, both have been unable to move past their regrets and sorrows. Despite their love for Jesus, they can’t let go of their hurt and pain. They’ve grown accustomed to sadness and remorse and guilt. They even wonder down deep if their suffering isn’t caused by some long-ago sin or because they aren’t good enough. Sadly, they have it all wrong. Their suffering isn’t caused by God. God wants them to find grace and peace. Their suffering is caused by their own mired past. Why can’t they feel God’s love shining through? Why can’t they let go of their past, even for Jesus’ sake? Someday, I hope God’s light breaks through. I hope they will realize that they must choose between their self-destructive ways and God’s life-affirming grace.
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul mentions one thing that he continually focused on throughout his life. Philippians 3:13-14 reveals that Paul endeavored to “forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead”. He did not let his past mistakes and sins and errors corrupt his work for Jesus. He “pressed on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize.. through Jesus Christ”. Despite the fact that Paul made some huge mistakes in his life, including condoning the murder of Stephen, he would not let Jesus down by focusing on that sinful past. He had work to do for Jesus. He had souls to save. He had a “calling”. I’m sure that Satan would have loved to keep Paul focused on past mistakes. However, Paul would not let it happen. He consistently looked forward to what lies ahead and to a future in Heaven.
How well do you focus your thoughts on holy things? Do you get caught up in the past? Do regrets eat at your quiet? Deal with the past, but then let it go to God. Following Paul’s wisdom in Philippians; focus your efforts not on the past you can’t do anything about but rather the future that holds so much promise. Think of Jesus more than you think of regrets, disappointments, sins, or failures. There is so much to look forward to in the Kingdom coming! There is so much more God can do with you today, if you aren’t glued to a problem past…
One of the most descriptive pictures of the Christian life in the Bible is of an athlete competing in a race. First Corinthians 9:24-27 tells us that discipline is the key to winning. In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are encouraged to lay aside anything that might hinder our spiritual advancement and to stay focused on Christ. And in Philippians 3:12-13, the apostle Paul said, “I press on,…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
Lord, give us endurance as we run this race of life. Help us not to wallow in past failures, but to be disciplined and to shun sinful ways. May we fix our eyes on the eternal goal set before us and keep looking unto Jesus.” (excerpt from Our Daily Bread, August, 1995, August 7).
If you had to examine your thoughts, where do most of them trend, to the past or to the future? Is a part of you stuck in the past, longing for the past, hopelessly mired by sins or mistakes of the past? To be faithful, you need to deal with the past but move on. You may ask God for forgiveness for past mistakes, but don’t let yourself be consumed by regrets and resentments. If you look to the past for too long, it may consume your every day, sucking the life out of your every joy.
When Chastity was alone for the holidays, she often reminisced. At the forefront of her thoughts was the knowledge that two days before Christmas five years previous, her fiancé Dustin walked out of her life. Whenever Chastity was in a bad mood, memories of the breakup would force their way into her mind and take over her attitude. She would eat too much, drink to forget, be irritable to coworkers and friends. When Chastity’s roommates saw her looking longingly at the Christmas tree in the apartment while eating Rocky Road Ice Cream, they knew to stay away. During those times, Chastity was lost in her sorrows and inconsolable.
John is an elder in his church. He knows exactly how Chastity feels. He didn’t break up with anyone. He lost his wife, Claire, to cancer when she was only thirty-eight. Despite having a strong faith and love for the Lord, John often stares off in space. During these moments, his children know not to ask questions. If they do, John will get upset and hide in his room. Even after four years, John cannot seem to stop the memories that play in his mind day after day. He wonders if there could have been something that would have saved Claire’s life. Did he choose the right doctors? Could an earlier date for the first MRI have saved her? Maybe she was too stressed? John feels guilty for every argument they ever had, every angry word (real or perceived) ever sent her way. Now, depression is John’s constant companion. His past with Claire consumes so many of his waking moments and recurring dreams.
Chastity and John are both Christians. They know God in Christ. If you speak with them, they will talk passionately about Jesus and about salvation. Still, both have been unable to move past their regrets and sorrows. Despite their love for Jesus, they can’t let go of their hurt and pain. They’ve grown accustomed to sadness and remorse and guilt. They even wonder down deep if their suffering isn’t caused by some long-ago sin or because they aren’t good enough. Sadly, they have it all wrong. Their suffering isn’t caused by God. God wants them to find grace and peace. Their suffering is caused by their own mired past. Why can’t they feel God’s love shining through? Why can’t they let go of their past, even for Jesus’ sake? Someday, I hope God’s light breaks through. I hope they will realize that they must choose between their self-destructive ways and God’s life-affirming grace.
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul mentions one thing that he continually focused on throughout his life. Philippians 3:13-14 reveals that Paul endeavored to “forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead”. He did not let his past mistakes and sins and errors corrupt his work for Jesus. He “pressed on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize.. through Jesus Christ”. Despite the fact that Paul made some huge mistakes in his life, including condoning the murder of Stephen, he would not let Jesus down by focusing on that sinful past. He had work to do for Jesus. He had souls to save. He had a “calling”. I’m sure that Satan would have loved to keep Paul focused on past mistakes. However, Paul would not let it happen. He consistently looked forward to what lies ahead and to a future in Heaven.
How well do you focus your thoughts on holy things? Do you get caught up in the past? Do regrets eat at your quiet? Deal with the past, but then let it go to God. Following Paul’s wisdom in Philippians; focus your efforts not on the past you can’t do anything about but rather the future that holds so much promise. Think of Jesus more than you think of regrets, disappointments, sins, or failures. There is so much to look forward to in the Kingdom coming! There is so much more God can do with you today, if you aren’t glued to a problem past…
November 28
“Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.” (Psalm 73:7, KJV 1900)

Three men were marooned on a desert island. As the days slowly went by, they dreamed of what it would be like to be at home with their friends and family, to be back at their jobs doing the things they loved. One day one of the men found a bottle that contained a genie. He opened the bottle and the genie announced that he would grant each of them one wish.
One of the men said, "Boy, I want to be back in Seattle with my wife and kids." POOF--he was gone.
The second man immediately said,"I want to be back in Portland with my fiancé" and again in a flash he was gone.
The third man was left all alone sitting on the sandy beach. He said, "Boy, it really is lonely with my friends gone. I sure wish they were back here with me again. And POOF--
Be careful what you wish for.
Asaph wrote Psalm 73. He wrote it to explain what he saw as common among the wicked. In his day, the wicked often prospered. They took advantage of others to secure more wealth. They were willing to do whatever it took to get what they wanted. Asaph discerned that the wicked people of his day tended to be “arrogant, though prosperous” (Psalm 73:3). Their bodies were healthy and fit (Psalm 73:4). Despite these outward signs of prosperity, the wealthy wicked people were also inwardly loathsome. They tended to be prideful, haughty, threatening, and filled with ill-will (Psalm 73:6-9). In Psalm 73:7, the scripture chosen for today, Asaph also mentioned that the wicked “have more than heart could wish”. Humorously, the New Living Translation of the Bible used these words for Psalm 73:7, “These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!” These “fat cats” of Asaph’s day got everything they wanted.
You may look at the wealthy and long for what they have. You might daydream of the day you win the lottery or inherit a million dollars. It is normal for humans to want an easy life of wealth and leisure. But what would that do to you? What cost might it convey to your soul? What if you got everything you wanted not only for Christmas, but for the rest of your life?
Upon viewing the wealthy people of His day, Jesus made a comment to His followers. He said, “…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24, ESV). Jesus discerned that as a person got more and more wealthy, they usually lost their faith. They wandered from God’s truth. Even King David succumbed to the temptations of wealth and ease (2 Samuel 11). Taking time off from his duties, he walked up to his roof and surveyed the area. His eyes set upon the wife of another man. Her name was Bathsheba. In no time, David got her pregnant. To cover up his sin, he had her husband Uriah murdered. What caused David’s downfall? A life of ease and luxury. He got what he wished for. It cost him dearly.
During this season of Christmas, people make out gift lists and wish lists. They write down what they long to receive. Sadly, some will receive things that will only cause harm. They might receive exactly what they wished for, but its not what they really needed.
A man was injured on the job. His machine at the plant caught his shirt sleeve and mangled his hand. It resulted in the loss of two fingers and numbness in another finger. The company paid for all medical costs and for all time off. They were very generous. However, when the plant manager came with papers to sign releasing liability, the man went to an expensive lawyer. The lawyer researched the plant and found issues with safety. The lawyer asked the man to complain about other health issues related to the injury. The lawyer convinced the man that he could win a settlement of over a million dollars. In the end, the man did win a huge settlement. Sadly, it also wrecked his life.
Because of the lawsuit, no company would hire the man. Also, because of the windfall of money, the man’s relatives began to beg for money. As the years wore on, the man no longer worked, no longer spoke to most of his family, and regretted not having a reason to get up in the morning. He grew fat. He had more and more arguments with his wife. The two divorced. As he hit his sixties, the man was a lost soul, alone, and clinically depressed. He still had a big bank account, but nothing brought him joy anymore.
Be careful what you wish for.
Very few people can handle wealth or power. Both have corruptive influences. Children who get everything they wish for often become selfish and self-centered. Poor people who win the lottery often die earlier in life (look it up!). Often, what we wish for is not what we really need; not what God sees as necessary. What we wish for may not even be good. Have you ever asked God not for what you wish for but for what you need? Do you know the difference between wants and wishes, needs and desires?
This Christmas, I hope you do not get what you wish for. I hope you get what God has determined that you need to be faithful. I hope your eyes don’t get caught up with desires, but with grace and mercy. I hope you don’t give with strings attached but with love attached. When you get what you want, it may cost you. When you get what you truly need, your faith will blossom.
One of the men said, "Boy, I want to be back in Seattle with my wife and kids." POOF--he was gone.
The second man immediately said,"I want to be back in Portland with my fiancé" and again in a flash he was gone.
The third man was left all alone sitting on the sandy beach. He said, "Boy, it really is lonely with my friends gone. I sure wish they were back here with me again. And POOF--
Be careful what you wish for.
Asaph wrote Psalm 73. He wrote it to explain what he saw as common among the wicked. In his day, the wicked often prospered. They took advantage of others to secure more wealth. They were willing to do whatever it took to get what they wanted. Asaph discerned that the wicked people of his day tended to be “arrogant, though prosperous” (Psalm 73:3). Their bodies were healthy and fit (Psalm 73:4). Despite these outward signs of prosperity, the wealthy wicked people were also inwardly loathsome. They tended to be prideful, haughty, threatening, and filled with ill-will (Psalm 73:6-9). In Psalm 73:7, the scripture chosen for today, Asaph also mentioned that the wicked “have more than heart could wish”. Humorously, the New Living Translation of the Bible used these words for Psalm 73:7, “These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!” These “fat cats” of Asaph’s day got everything they wanted.
You may look at the wealthy and long for what they have. You might daydream of the day you win the lottery or inherit a million dollars. It is normal for humans to want an easy life of wealth and leisure. But what would that do to you? What cost might it convey to your soul? What if you got everything you wanted not only for Christmas, but for the rest of your life?
Upon viewing the wealthy people of His day, Jesus made a comment to His followers. He said, “…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24, ESV). Jesus discerned that as a person got more and more wealthy, they usually lost their faith. They wandered from God’s truth. Even King David succumbed to the temptations of wealth and ease (2 Samuel 11). Taking time off from his duties, he walked up to his roof and surveyed the area. His eyes set upon the wife of another man. Her name was Bathsheba. In no time, David got her pregnant. To cover up his sin, he had her husband Uriah murdered. What caused David’s downfall? A life of ease and luxury. He got what he wished for. It cost him dearly.
During this season of Christmas, people make out gift lists and wish lists. They write down what they long to receive. Sadly, some will receive things that will only cause harm. They might receive exactly what they wished for, but its not what they really needed.
A man was injured on the job. His machine at the plant caught his shirt sleeve and mangled his hand. It resulted in the loss of two fingers and numbness in another finger. The company paid for all medical costs and for all time off. They were very generous. However, when the plant manager came with papers to sign releasing liability, the man went to an expensive lawyer. The lawyer researched the plant and found issues with safety. The lawyer asked the man to complain about other health issues related to the injury. The lawyer convinced the man that he could win a settlement of over a million dollars. In the end, the man did win a huge settlement. Sadly, it also wrecked his life.
Because of the lawsuit, no company would hire the man. Also, because of the windfall of money, the man’s relatives began to beg for money. As the years wore on, the man no longer worked, no longer spoke to most of his family, and regretted not having a reason to get up in the morning. He grew fat. He had more and more arguments with his wife. The two divorced. As he hit his sixties, the man was a lost soul, alone, and clinically depressed. He still had a big bank account, but nothing brought him joy anymore.
Be careful what you wish for.
Very few people can handle wealth or power. Both have corruptive influences. Children who get everything they wish for often become selfish and self-centered. Poor people who win the lottery often die earlier in life (look it up!). Often, what we wish for is not what we really need; not what God sees as necessary. What we wish for may not even be good. Have you ever asked God not for what you wish for but for what you need? Do you know the difference between wants and wishes, needs and desires?
This Christmas, I hope you do not get what you wish for. I hope you get what God has determined that you need to be faithful. I hope your eyes don’t get caught up with desires, but with grace and mercy. I hope you don’t give with strings attached but with love attached. When you get what you want, it may cost you. When you get what you truly need, your faith will blossom.